Do you ever walk outside from grocery store into the sunlight and immediately feel an urge to sneeze? You’re not alone! I am a sun sneezer, I always sneeze 3-4 times when I walk out into bright sunlight. Honestly find it relieving now. According to a report by Science Line between 10 to 35 percent of the population is affected. This phenomenon is called photic sneeze reflex. Sometimes referred to as the Achoo Syndrome MedicineNet.com defines this as a disorder characterized by nearly uncontrollable paroxysms of sneezing provoked in a reflex fashion by the sudden exposure of a dark-adapted subject to intensely bright light, usually to brilliant sunlight. The number of successive sneezes is usually two or three, but can be up to about 40. MedicineNet.com goes on to explain that this is a genetic trait. Males and females have a 50:50 chance of passing it on to their children.

There is no set in stone scientific to fully explain this, but there are many theories that float around. Live Science explained that sun sneezes occur because of pupillary light reflex, which is when your pupils shrink when stimulated by a bright light. Science line explained that a photic sneeze reflex is caused by a confusion of nerve signals in pathways close to one another. It is hypothesized that for sun sneezers the pupillary light reflex sends signals to the brain to constrict the pupils when exposed to bright sunlight but there is a crossed wire that makes a sneeze happen as well.

There is ongoing research at the University of California, San Francisco looking further into this topic. There is no 100% determined reason as to why this happens to people, but science is getting closer!

As college students, most of us have to grocery shop for ourselves. So when shopping, you’re trying to find the best deals and things that are generally good for you too. The labels are what sell you on the product. Labels contain buzzwords to catch your attention and think their product is superior. Buzzwords that you probably see are phrases like gluten-free, cage-free, antibiotic-free, no added hormones, and the biggest one is all natural. That is what I will be focusing on, what does all natural really mean?

On the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website they explain that they have not really developed a definition for the use of the term natural, however they do not object the use of the term if the food does contain added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substitutes.

What does that mean? When you read the term “natural” or “all natural” it can immediately bring wholesome minimally processed foods to mind. Sounds great, right? Wrong, according to the American Society for Nutrition since the FDA doesn’t really provide a definition for the term natural, it is ultimately up to the food industry as to what it means.  So while they may not contain antibiotics, growth hormones, and other chemicals. In an article by USA Today it was also pointed out that this natural label doesn’t include any standards regarding farm practices. Even if meat is labeled natural, that doesn’t actually mean hormone-free or antibiotic free.

The American Society for Nutrition also pointed out that foods containing natural flavors, sweeteners, and other plant derived substances can be labeled natural. Even if food contains genetically modified ingredients, it can still be labeled natural.

I think that our society believes that the terms natural and organic are synonymous with another, which is absolutely not the case. Unlike natural food, organic food is actually regulated. If you are looking for a wholesome, actually natural option organic is your best bet.

As consumers we have to be aware of what we’re buying, understanding what labels mean is an important first step!

 I recently watched a documentary called “Plastic Paradise” that really opened my eyes. It focused on the great pacific garbage patch, ever heard of it? Here’s a link to the According to the documentary “Plastic Paradise:”

EVERY single piece of plastic that has ever been created since the 19th century is STILL somewhere on this planet.

Think about that, it never goes away. So where is it going? The Pacific Ocean.

GarbagePatch.net explained that this garbage patch is basically comparable to a “big soup of plastic floating in the ocean like oil does. Plastic is not biodegradable so it breaks down into particles just few of a millimeter. Ocean currents basically create a vortex that pushes all of the garbage to the middle. Before you get this idea of a giant island of plastic floating in the middle of the ocean, National Geographic offers a more clear explanation as to what this looks like. The garbage patch is made up of tiny bits of plastic, referred to as microplastics. These microplastics cannot be seen by the naked eye, in fact satellite imagery doesn’t even show a giant patch of garbage.

Why should you care about this? Its not like we live in the ocean..

First off, there is a huge impact on the marine life as well as animals on neighboring islands. For instance, the Albatross bird is something that is affected by this. A substantial amount of this garbage is washing onto the shores of islands in the pacific. These birds are eating garbage and then dying with bellies literally full of plastic. Pictured below is one many birds that have died as a result of this.

Fish are also affected by this, and guess what this one even affects you. A case study done at Montana State University revealed that plastic breaks down in the ocean and releases numerous toxins into the water. Fish then eat these toxic microplastics and then we eat these contaminated fish. Not only should you care about what is happening to marine life and how it effects you- you should recognize that the ocean is not the landfill we have been treating it as.

I highly recommend that you make an effort to watch the film “Plastic Paradise,” it will change your view on a lot of things that you do in your everyday lives. But what can you do to help?

REDUCE YOUR PLASTIC CONSUMPTION!!!

Tree Hugger offered a list of 11 things that you can do to reduce your plastic waste today.

1. Use reusable shopping bags. Between 5 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags are used per year around the world.
2. Get a reusable water bottle.
3. Bring your own thermos to the coffee shop.
4. Choose cardboard over plastic bottles and bags.
5. Say no to straws.
6. Stop using face wash with plastic microbeads!
7. No disposable razors!
8. If you’re a lady, look into alternatives to certain plastic heavy period products.
9. Use glass for food storage.
10. If you have a baby look into cloth diapers
11. Shop in bulk to reduce packaging waste

Try and reduce your plastic consumption!

I feel like the word “superfood’ is everywhere I look anymore. I can’t even check my email without some company emailing me about the latest trend in superfoods. I see things on twitter, I hear people chatting, I see advertisements, they’re the latest trend and they’re hot. All of this hype got me thinking- how super are these foods? Could this just be an amazingly crafted marketing scheme that we, as the obedient consumers that we have been trained to be, can’t get enough of? Before this post gets too far in, a definition may be helpful in understanding what super foods are all about.

According to MedicineNet.com:  Superfood is a non-medical term popularized in the media to refer to foods that can have health-promoting properties such as reducing one’s risk of disease or improving any aspect of physical or emotional health. So-called superfoods may have an unusually high content of antioxidants, vitamins, or other nutrients. MedicineNet.com was also sure to note that there is no accepted medical definition of a superfood.

Perhaps this definition isn’t enough, lets look at the trending superfoods. The lists that come up when looking up superfoods are endless and all seem to have the same exact tag line which follows a standard structure of “(Insert a number between 10-50) Superfoods You Need to be Eating Right Now!” Live Science had a list of the top superfoods at the moment. Some examples that they included were the following:

Blueberries: This particular fruit is popular in the world of superfoods because they are rich in vitamins, fiber, phytochemicals- which are important for disease protection, and antioxidants.

Beans : These are a staple in any list of superfoods for many reasons. Beans have many benefits that include being a source of low-fat protein, insoluble and soluble fiber, and vitamins and minerals. Live Science also noted that many of these vitamins and minerals in beans are missing from the diets of many Americans.

Kale: This leafy green has to be one of the most popular superfoods at the moment. Like other dark veggies, kale is full of vitamins such as A, C, and K, fiber, and calcium.

Healthline took a closer look at superfoods and raised a question much like my own: “Are superfoods really good for you or just marketing hype?” This article points out that yes, these superfoods are packing that punch in the face healthiness that we are all looking for, but one researcher stated “Practically everything in the produce department is a superfood.” You can the nutritional benefits by eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, eggs, walnuts, and yogurt. I think that as consumers, we have a tendency to always be looking for the hot new thing, and food is not immune to that. Sure, we can get just as many antioxidants from blueberries, but the acai berry sounds more exotic and interesting- and is twice the price, so it must be good, right?

We need to take our consumer blinders off and start to understand what we eat and how it benefits us instead of following fads and paying too much money for great marketing. Woman’s Day has a great article for those of us that want the great benefits of superfoods, but can’t shell out the cash. They compiled a list of foods that are cheaper and healthier than the pricier super foods. For instance, another trendy super food is quinoa due to it being packed with fiber, packed with good carbs, and being gluten free. The downside is that it comes in at about $8.00 a box. Woman’s Day offered an alternative that is more than half the price and has an added health benefit that quinoa lacks and that would be the sweet potato. As well as fibers and such, it also contains beta-carotene due to its orange color which helps skin warn of UV ray damage from the sun.

So what does all of this mean? Are superfoods a total sham? No, they aren’t a completely a marketing scheme, but they certainly are a bit overrated. So when shopping for your superfoods, understand that there are more than just kale, quinoa, and exotic fruits.

Hi Everyone!

My name is Hannah Samuels and I am a junior majoring in Communication Arts and Sciences.  This is my first semester at University Park, I transferred from Penn State New Kensington which is outside of Pittsburgh. I love to spend time outside, I especially like to hike and kayak. I suppose something interesting to share would be that I am 20 and married. My husband, who is also 20, and I both go to school here. We decided to get married over spring break last semester and it has been an absolute blast! Here’s a picture from the wedding!

I decided to take this this course because I am slightly scared of science. I feel that my statement alone already makes it pretty clear as to why I have no desire to be a science major. My original career goal was to become an occupational therapist. I had to change because I could not grasp biology, nor did I enjoy it. I am very happy with my decision to switch to my major.

Anyway, here’s a video of llamas on the run—–>  great video of great llamas