Nearly Half of US Cancer Deaths Blamed on Unhealthy Behavior

By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — A new look at cancer in the U.S. finds that nearly half of cancer deaths are caused by smoking, poor diet and other unhealthy behaviors.

That's less than commonly-cited estimates from more than 35 years ago, a result of new research methods and changes in American society. Smoking rates have plummeted, for example, while obesity rates have risen dramatically.

The study found that 45 percent of cancer deaths and 42 percent of diagnosed cancer cases could be attributed to what the authors call "modifiable" risk factors. These are risks that are not inherited, and mostly the result of behavior that can be changed, like exposure to sun, not eating enough fruits and vegetables, drinking alcohol and, most importantly, smoking.

A British study conducted in 1981 attributed more than two-thirds of cancer deaths to these factors.

The study used 2014 data and was conducted by the American Cancer Society. It was published online Tuesday in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

"We thought it was time to redo those estimates," said Dr. Otis Brawley, the cancer society's chief medical officer and one of the study's authors.

Smoking was the leading risk by far, accounting for 29 percent of deaths. Excess body weight was next at 6.5 percent, and alcohol consumption was third at 4 percent.

The authors ran separate calculations for different types of cancer by age group and gender to try to account for how risk factors affect different groups of people, then added them together to understand the national picture.

Among the findings:

— Smoking accounted for 82 percent of lung cancers.
— Excess body weight was associated with 60 percent of uterine cancers and about one-third of liver cancers.
— Alcohol intake was associated with 25 percent of liver cancers in men and 12 percent in women; 17 percent of colorectal cancers in men and 8 percent in women; and 16 percent of breast cancers in women.
— Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or tanning beds was associated with 96 percent of skin cancers in men and 94 percent in women.

Richard Clapp, a professor emeritus of environmental health at Boston University expects the new numbers to be will widely cited and used to make decisions about how to spend money on cancer prevention, just as the influential British study from 1981 by researchers Richard Doll and Richard Peto has been.

Clapp said there is still room for improvement, however. He said the study doesn't address how two or more risk factors, like smoking and drinking, might work together in some cancer cases and deaths.

Also, aside from secondhand cigarette smoke, the researchers did not to include outdoor or indoor air pollution because the data on the cancer risk from pollution is not detailed enough to understand the national impact, said the study's lead author, Dr. Farhad Islami.

FDA to Remove Claim that Soy is Good for Your Heart

By MATTHEW PERRONE, AP Health Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators want to remove a health claim about the heart benefits of soy from cartons of soy milk, tofu and other foods, saying the latest scientific evidence no longer shows a clear connection.

Monday's announcement by the Food and Drug Administration marks the first time the agency has moved to revoke a health food claim since it began approving such statements in 1990. The claim that soy protein can reduce heart disease appears on about 200 to 300 products in the U.S., according to industry figures, including popular brands like Silk soy milk.

Calls to WhiteWave Foods Company, which markets Silk brand soy products, were not immediately returned Monday.

The FDA first approved the language about the benefits in 1999 based on studies suggesting soy protein lowered a type of heart-damaging cholesterol in the bloodstream. But some later studies have failed to show a clear link.

One 2005 study by the U.S. government's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that soy products had little effect on bad cholesterol. The FDA began reevaluating the food claim in 2007 and said Monday "the totality of the evidence is inconsistent and not conclusive."

The agency will take comments on its proposal for 75 days before moving ahead.  If the language is removed, companies may still be able to use a less definitive statement about soy's benefits by including a disclaimer or description of the mixed evidence.

Consumer advocates backed the proposal, arguing that earlier research misinterpreted soy's effect on cholesterol.

Bonnie Liebman, a nutrition scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, explained that a person might benefit by replacing red meat with soy, but the benefit would be from the reduction in red meat, not because of anything special in the soy protein.

The FDA estimates it will cost companies between $370,000 and $860,000 in upfront costs to re-label their products, according to a federal filing posted online.

An industry group for soy manufacturers disputed the FDA's decision and pointed to 12 other countries, including Canada, that have approved health labeling claims making the link between soy protein and heart benefits. The group, Soyfoods Association of North America, said it would make its case to the FDA during the comment period.

10 Well-known Health Tips that Are Completely Bogus

Gluten-free, “Farm-to-table,” Non-GMO, Juice cleanse, Paleo; these are just a few of the words we hear on an almost daily basis from people around us who are really into health, fitness, and such and such. We have heard many health enthusiasts argue that the best food to put in our bodies is the organic kind. Many would also argue that eating meat does more harm than good to our health.

The health and fitness movement is like a religion that branches out into different branches with a set of core beliefs – and while some of these beliefs do not agree with one another, the point is that people go to great lengths to stay healthy and be fir (at least for the next few months after making that New Year’s Resolution).

It is because of so much information on health and fitness flooding the internet, many of us are led to believe that all of them work without even finding out if any of them are true, to begin with. So, in this list, we are busting those myths and showing you 10 well-known health tips that are complete hoopla.

#10 - Dark Chocolate is a Healthier Alternative to Sweets

We have all heard of the so-called benefits of Dark Chocolate. Over the internet and in different advertising media, people have made convincing testimonies that dark chocolate has a variety of great things for our health such as improved skin complexion, benefits to our heart, as well as improved brain and memory function.

While there is some truth to it because part of chocolate’s composition is a chemical called flavanol which does improve blood circulation to the brain and, incidentally, gives dark chocolate that sharp, bitter taste; the downside to this is that most chocolate bars that are readily available commercially have little to none of this beneficial chemical at all. Because of the process of how commercial chocolate bars – dark or regular – are prepared, flavanol is practically obliterated to up the levels of taste and flavor. A bar of Hershey’s would have flavanol in it but not enough to even kick start your blood circulation.

#9 - A Thoroughly Washed Chicken is Bacteria Free

Logically, washing raw food before putting it on the stove is an absolutely sound idea. After all, you would not want that raw meat gunk on your plate once you serve it for dinner and among the many meat products in the market, chicken is the most popular animal to be washed before serving.

It has been common practice in many households to give poultry a thorough cleaning before preparing it. While, indeed, you do get to wash off all the bacteria from the carcass, however, this does not mean that you are safe from microbial bacteria.

A splash and a spritz of water can effectively transfer bacteria such as salmonella onto kitchen counters, cutting boards, and even our arms through the water droplets that splash back from the wash.

In truth, washing off bacteria from chicken or any other meat product is an exercise in failure and the best way to kill disease-causing germs and bacteria is to thoroughly and properly cook your food. A good and sufficient blast of heat from cooking can instantly eliminate microbes and germs.

#8 - Antioxidant Supplements are your Frontline Defense against Cancer Cells

We are all guilty of spending hundreds of dollars on dietary supplements and vitamins that promise to keep us in peak condition, but most of us have been duped by supplements claiming that they have antioxidants that can help prevent some cancers and diseases.

While antioxidants are essential to our body chemistry, having an excess of it can be much more harmful. Antioxidants occur naturally and can be easily found in certain fruits such as tomatoes and drinks like different kinds of tea, but the most popular kind of antioxidants come in the form of processed pills and supplements.

The fact of the matter is that the body has both Oxidants and Antioxidants, each keeping the other one in check. But the commercial health supplement market has overplayed the role of antioxidants and has been widely claimed as the one thing that can prevent cancer. Unfortunately, as our bodies consume these supplements on a regular basis, our body chemistry receives an imbalance as these supplements also attack the “good” oxidants in our body, making us much more susceptible to deadly diseases and cancers.

Antioxidant supplements are not entirely evil or harmful. As with anything else concerning diet and our health, everything is a matter of moderation and, if you can opt for more natural sources of antioxidants from the food you consume rather than buying it from a shelf.

#7 - Always Wash Your Hands to Keep Germs at Bay

The first line of defense against diseases is keeping your hands clean, literally. The benefits of washing your hands with soap and water are numerous and have been proven by science to deter illnesses such as the flu.

While it is, indeed, a good practice sometimes we can get a little overboard without even knowing it. Constant hand washing, especially with antibacterial soap, can strip away moisture from our hands and leave them sterile. The chemicals in the soap can eliminate bacteria indiscriminately leaving our palms even more vulnerable to the elements.

There are naturally occurring bacteria in the human body, and this is a by-product of millions of years of evolution. These bacteria actually help prevent diseases and germs from clinging to us and potentially infecting us with disease; the same bacteria that antibacterial soap and chemicals eliminate with constant washing.

Washing your hands should be a practice, but it is much more prudent to keep it at a maximum of two times a day or after doing a really messy job like gardening or picking up after your dog in the park.

#6 - Your Muscles Instantly Turn to Fat if You Don’t Workout

The general myth is that when you decide to quit the gym or give up on working out because of your schedule or because it’s just too hard, the muscle that you have gained will turn into flab.

The truth is that muscle and fat are two different sets of tissue and comparing them is like comparing apples to oranges.

You have to imagine your body as a machine, and each part of it has a role to play, and there are different ways to keep each part of the body in top condition. People who have stopped working out will indeed see a significant change in their bodies and notice that they are gaining an excessive amount of fat. The thing is, muscle mass is lost when it is not constantly exercised. You don’t gain fat when you stop working out. It is quite the reverse. You lose muscle mass when you stop your exercise regimen.

#5 - Juices Can Be A Healthy Alternative to Soda

True and false. A dietician or your doctor may recommend you to consume a glass of fresh fruit juice each day to keep up with your daily vitamin intake, but it is not a healthy alternative to, let’s say Diet Soda.

Fruits are, without a doubt, packed with vitamins and minerals enough to last you an entire day but it is also packed with sugar. Whether it is natural sugar or processed sugar, whatever form it comes in, it is still harmful in large doses, and juices count as one of the culprits.

People swear by juice cleanse and, admittedly, there are positive results from detoxifying by drinking juice for a specific amount of time but without proper information and education, going overboard on juicing can lead to obesity or diabetes.

Another point is that it is a known fact that fruits  - as well as vegetables – lose a considerable amount of their nutritional value when they are put in a blender. So, you’re getting less of the nutrients but still the same amount of sugar. Your best option is still to keep your consumption in moderation.

#4 - Sweat is the Best Way to Know that You Are Burning Fat

Sorry guys, but sweating buckets do not count as losing calories and shedding a few pounds.

Sweating is the body’s natural response to cool down in a hot climate or after an intense activity like running or working out. What triggers this is our metabolism that, to put it plainly, boosts our energy and excites our metabolism.

In fact, weight loss and calorie burning are attributed to our metabolism. Naturally, as we get older, the less energy we need to burn and our metabolism slows down to suit our needs, but to avoid packing on some pounds as we age, a good workout or exercise regimen will keep our body burning through energy as well as unwanted flaws.

While you may think that sitting in a sauna is good for weight loss, the only benefit you are actually getting out of it is opening up your pores and sweating out toxins from the body.

#3 - The Best Way to Get a Six Pack is by Doing Crunches and Sit-ups

Here is an eye-opener. We all have that six-pack we dream of. We do. The human anatomy is designed in such a way that our muscles have a definition no matter our body shape.

The problem with not getting the abdominal muscles we so ever thirst for is not because we don’t take time to develop them; it’s mostly because of our diet.

It has been pointed out by experts that doing crunches or spot training specific points in our bodies – especially the abs – can only do so much. Crunches and sit-ups actually do not shape and sculpt our abdominals. What they do is they strengthen the muscles in that area. Having a proper diet by lessening sugar and sodium from what we eat – coupled with a good workout routine – is a much, much more effective way of getting that beach-ready body.

#2 - Going Gluten Free is the healthiest diet choice you will ever make

This is a trend that has been making waves in the healthy living and diet communities around the world. To them, gluten is some kind of evil substance that ruins your body and invited some diseases. In truth, a gluten-free diet is only necessary for people who have celiac disease.

While many people have claimed of the wonders of a gluten-free diet because they were able to effectively shed pounds, the main reason behind it is because they have eliminated various food items from their table and ended up with a much lower caloric intake and not because they went gluten-free. Having to reduce food portions or eliminating junk from your diet will actually have the same result without needing to go on a trendy gluten-free life choice.

#1 - Carbs Make You Gain Weight

Ask a doctor or a nutrition expert about carbs, and they will most probably say that it is an essential part of any diet.

It is a mystery how this myth came to be and how it continues to catch on without any signs of letting up.

Carbohydrates are a primary source of our body’s energy. Without it, we will simply slow down and be lethargic. The myth that it makes you gain insane amounts of weight it, to be fair, a little bit baseless. While there is a variety of carbohydrates that we can get from different kinds of food, the “good” kind of carbohydrates come from crops like sweet potatoes and fruits. It is the “bad” kind of carbohydrates that give carbs a terrible reputation in the dieting community. Bad carbohydrates essentially give you a quick boost of energy and instantly dips and crash once you’ve used it all up. They are mainly partnered with sugar and starch and have little to no nutritional value like white bread and processed food.

Essentially, carbohydrates aren’t the bad guys. It’s just that we’ve come to love sugar so much that many of us fail to notice that this sinister ingredient is to blame for our widening waistlines.

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And there you have it. 10 completely bogus health facts! Let us know what you think and share your ideas with us in the comments section!

Sources:

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20765578,00.html#myth-crunches-are-the-key-to-flat-abs--0
http://www.rd.com/health/wellness/health-myths-debunked/
http://www.cracked.com/article_22606_6-well-known-health-tips-that-dont-work-at-all.html

12 Things You Do Everyday That Could Probably Kill You

We have all heard the saying “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” but what if the seemingly harmless, ordinary activities and things we do and use are silently exterminating us?

What if the next time we shower in the morning our soap decides to turn to treachery or what if the next time we go to sleep we don’t wake up at all?

Everyday life is fraught with risks and dangers at every turn, and the menial tasks we do are no exception. It’s scary, isn’t it? And it makes you just to want to stay in bed all day and not get up and get out of the house.

So pull your sheet closer and make sure you are all tucked in safe because we are counting down to the 12 things you do every day that could kill you… PROBABLY.

#12 — Sitting

If you are one of the millions of people who work in an office cubicle, staring at your computer screen while sitting all day, then chances are you are inching closer and closer to death’s door.

Several studies by many notable institutions and medical journals have proven that long periods of physical inactivity do have direct negative effects on your health. Illnesses such as high blood pressure, permanent joint and muscle injury, and obesity are but a few of the things that you can get by just sitting all day. That is why most experts recommend that you do a little bit of stretching now and then to stimulate blood flow and your muscles. Also, having a five-minute walk around the office wouldn’t hurt at all.

#11 — Staring at a Screen all Day

Building on the potential lethality of sitting all day, staring at a screen also has adverse effects on the body. Whether it’s at work doing spreadsheets all day or at home binge watching your favourite shows for an entire weekend, this sedentary activity has been known to kill people by increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes by a whopping 113% according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The solution: actually getting out of the house and enjoying some fresh air because it has been shown by various medical journals and publications that by reducing screen time to less than two hours per day can add an estimated 1.4 years to their lifespan.

#10 — Avoiding Flossing

It’s a constant reminder that we are always given by our dentists always to floss to make sure our pearly whites and our gums remain healthy because simply brushing them isn’t enough.

However, many of us are guilty of skipping this step of dental hygiene because it’s just a chore to get into every nook and cranny of our mouths. We may want to change that and get into the habit of flossing though.

It has been shown by the American Academy of Periodontology that not only does skipping flossing lead to gum disease like periodontitis, but it can also induce other diseases to take shape and attack our body such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory ailments, as well as diabetes. So the next time you’re thinking of putting off flossing, you may be actually setting yourself up for a massive heart attack in the future.

#9 — Sleeping Less and Staying Up Too Late

What’s the harm in staying up a few more hours just to catch up on your favourite show and finding out what plot twist awaits you in the next episode? Apparently, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and obesity are a few of those harmful things that wait in the dark while you binge watch or get too immersed on that financial report for your boss.

Sleep deprivation does not only cause health problems. It has also contributed to plenty of roadside accidents that number 40,000 each year because the driver just dozed off behind the wheel.

It turns out you can actually die from having very little sleep overtime. While there is no formal study to conclude exactly how long it takes for a person to expire from not sleeping, experts and researchers estimate it to four months. By that time, you will be experiencing extremely high blood pressure and your cognitive functions slowly shutting down from your body’s lack of substantial energy.

#8 — Lack of Sexual Activity

This may seem funny, but experts agree that having regular sexual activity has benefits to the body aside from pure physical pleasure. It is proven by several studies that sex can, in fact, help burn calories and keep your blood circulation in pretty good shape.

A study conducted by Duke University has even shown that women who had regular sex had better chances of living eight years longer than those who lack it. Also, men who have active sex lives have a 50% reduction in mortality.

So, yes, sex is good for your health just keep it in moderation because going overboard can have negative effects.

#7 — Sun Bathing

We all dream of having the perfect tan and show it off as a testament to a wonderful vacation. After all, the sun is good for our bodies with all that Vitamin D, right?

Well, yes and no. Inarguably the sun does have certain health benefits to keep us in peak condition, having to stay under its rays for longer than recommended is the equivalent of digging our own graves.

With the advent of climate change and global warming, the heat of the sun is becoming more and more dangerous to us humans; if we don’t keep our sunbathing in moderation, we can definitely get more than just a tan.

Melanoma and various skin cancers are the main villains here and melanoma, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, is the reason for the vast majority of skin cancer-related deaths in the world. So the next time you are at the beach or going hiking, make sure to slather on some sunscreen that has the recommended amount of SPF.

#6 — Regularly Taking Pain Killers

Pain is the body’s natural way of letting you know that something is not right. It is a natural response where our body sends signals to our brain to alert us that something is not running properly in our system.

In the presence of pain, many people resort to using pain killers to dull the sensation to go about their day without being interrupted. Some may even go overboard and take them even if it is not prescribed by a physician. It may seem harmless to take pain medication but having too much of it or taking it when your body does not need it at all can result in serious complications such as ulcers, gastrointestinal infections, and even high blood pressure.

Yep, popping that aspirin in your mouth every moment you feel something twitch and ache can actually kill you. So, instead of downing those ibuprofens, see a doctor instead.

#5 — Skipping Breakfast

It’s a busy and fast-paced world, and many of us really do not have the luxury of sitting at a table to enjoy a good breakfast.

However, the old adage that breakfast if the most important meal of the day is true and writing it off your daily schedule is a terrible idea.

Having a meal after waking up in the morning jumpstarts your metabolism and, believe it or not, makes you less likely to binge on junk food and empty calories throughout the day. It is also a great way to manage your stress levels.

In several studies, people who do skip breakfast have shown an increase in poor eating choices throughout the day and consuming a lot of empty calories at night. This can greatly increase a person’s chance of developing type-2 diabetes and gaining an unhealthy amount of weight.

If you find yourself not having enough time to cook yourself a meal in the morning, grab a piece of fruit instead and jumpstart your metabolism. Your body will thank you for it.

#4 — Drinking Coffee

We all love coffee. After all, it has saved us from many sleepless nights back in college while cramming to finish our papers or staying up after hours in the office to put together a decent presentation for the following day.

Whatever our reason, our love affair with coffee is one that can definitely last a lifetime. If we can last a lifetime, that is. It turns out; coffee can kill you and drinking excessive amounts of it can drastically increase the chance of high blood pressure, palpitations, and heart attacks. The culprit is not really coffee itself but the caffeine present in our beloved Cup o’ Joe. It is widely known that caffeine is a stimulant that can be beneficial to our bodies but excessively ingesting it whether in coffee form or in energy drink form can do more than just give us a caffeine crash.

 

#3 — Cleaning

A clean house is a happy house. Nothing is more satisfying than seeing your home all spick and span. You would think that having a clean house is the best way of keeping you alive but your assumptions may be wrong.

While keeping an area clean reduces the risk of infection from germs and bacteria, sometimes it is the process of cleaning that can be harmful to us.

Cleaning agents such as bleach and ammonia – a chemical that is present is almost every detergent and cleaning solutions in the home – can create a deadly concoction that, when mixed together and enters our body in the form of fumes, can cause respiratory problems such as tightening our airways as if our bodies were having a severe allergic reaction.

#2 — Nail Biting

It is a filthy habit. Your mom tells you that it is, your grandma tells you that it is, even your Gym teacher never fails to remind you just how gross a habit biting your nails is.

On a daily basis, our hands and fingers touch almost every surface imaginable. From that counter at the coffee shop to the keyboards we use at work, a number of microorganisms that take a ride on our hands are unimaginable, and the spaces between our fingernails are a hotbed for bacteria.

Since, realistically, we do not constantly wash our hands every minute of every day, bacteria does tend to build up overtime, and they stay there until we sanitize it with antibacterial gels or washing our hands with soap and water.

According to Jim White, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the most common pathogens taking a ride on our fingertips are salmonella and E. coli: bacteria that can easily damage our kidneys and enter our bloodstream - and the quickest way for them to enter our bodies is through nail biting.

So the next time you think of biting those fingernails, just imagine the amount of diarrhea you can potentially get with that filthy habit.

#1 — Drinking Water

Since we were kids, we are always told to drink at least eight glasses of water each day to stay hydrated.

However, drinking excessive amounts of water for whatever reason is the perfect example of the saying “too much of a good thing is bad for you”.

Water intoxication or water poisoning is a real thing and is characterized by an imbalance in the body’s electrolytes which, in turn, disrupts normal brain function. Essentially, through the process of osmosis, water enters our cells, and it got processed and distributed throughout our body. When there is an excess amount of water being absorbed by the cells and the fluids outside of it are now comparatively much lower, the fluids inside the cells shift and causes it to swell.

If any of those cells happen to be the ones in your brain, then you can count on having a massive headache because of the amount of pressure caused by the swollen cells. If the pressure becomes more and more increased, this can then lead to the brain shutting down and cutting off blood circulation that ends up as cerebral edema.

The experience is an unpleasant one as it can ultimately lead to seizures, coma, brain damage, and even death.

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Sources:

http://www.businessinsider.com/activities-that-could-be-killing-you-2013-9

http://whatculture.com/science/8-things-you-do-every-day-that-could-kill-you

https://www.cheatsheet.com/health-fitness/everyday-habits-that-are-killing-you.html/?a=viewall

Insane Things People Have Done Through History to Achieve Eternal Youth

Man is in an endless pursuit to achieve immortality. For as far as mankind’s written history allows us to recall, humanity has always been fascinated in finding ways to extend our lifespan in the hopes of slowing, if not putting a permanent stop, to our body’s inevitable biological aging process. For some, our attempts at prolonging life is limited to the more conventional method of leading a healthy lifestyle by eating nourishing food, exercising and maintaining a positive and tranquil state of mind. 

However, at several points in our past, we find people who have pushed the boundaries of human creativity and imagination in their attempt to gain eternal youth. From a more scientific standpoint that we have today, some of the lengths these individuals had taken during their lifetime to become immortal are not only deemed as completely misguided but could also be regarded as bordering on insanity.  

And so, for this video, let’s enumerate the insane things people have done throughout history to achieve immortality or eternal youth. 

#1 —  Bathing in Sour Donkey Milk

Cleopatra came to be known in history as the last Ptolemaic queen of Egypt and is arguably the most famous member of the Ptolemaic dynasty’s royal line. But other than her role in the Roman political conflicts that eventually led to the downfall of the last dynasty of ancient Egypt, she also gained renown for her striking beauty and irresistible allure. As to how she managed to retain her youthful and brilliant glow, Cleopatra regularly bathed in sour donkey milk. In the ancient times, the donkey’s milk was used as some kind of chemical peel, as the lactic acid it contains peels off the topmost layer of the human skin. The queen was also believed to be fascinated with using other means to maintain and enhance her physical appearance such as utilizing crocodile feces as a rudimentary form of makeup foundation. 

#2 — Drinking the Blood of Gladiators

The Romans were very creative when it came to coming up with various and sometimes revolting concoctions in an attempt to improve their health or extend their lifespan. One example of an unpleasant habit that the Romans largely practiced for centuries is drinking the blood of gladiators. As people who fought to the death for a living, gladiators were highly-regarded for their bravery, strength and vitality. And it was believed that those who would want to inherit a gladiator’s power must drink the warrior’s warm blood in order to consume his essence and soul. In fact, some people who suffered from epilepsy at the time considered the blood of gladiators as an effective cure for their affliction. Their blood was such a hot commodity during this era that people would rush down into the arena and sip a vanquished fighter’s blood straight from his arm or throat to absorb his power. There were also concession stands that made a lucrative living by selling the blood of these gladiators while the blood servings were still warm. 

#3 — Consumption of Immortality Pills & Elixirs of Life

The Western world was not the only civilization interested in finding the answer to attaining eternal youth. Imperial China’s history is also filled with tales of men or groups of people who have dedicated much of their life in concocting immortality pills and elixirs of life that would grant ceaseless existence, be it physical or spiritual. Many Chinese alchemists have dared to make their own formulas of pills and elixirs that could supposedly cease and potentially even reverse the process of human aging. These efforts were largely supported by several emperors as well as members of the noble bloodline who hoped death would not be able to take away their power, influence and legacy. 

The first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, Qin Shi Huang, for example, was not just known for being the first ruler to unify China; he was also known for his obsession in finding the key to immortality. He sent people away to look in different parts of his vast empire for a “real” Elixir of Life that would grant him eternal life. He even took immortality pills which were formulated by his alchemists. In the end, the emperor died young at 39 years of age and the most likely cause of his demise was mercury poisoning, perhaps from all the immortality pills he, consumed during his brief life. 

Unfortunately, the dream of living forever was not exclusive to Qin Shi Huang. Many other emperors of China that came after him also regularly consumed immortality pills and drank elixirs which contained toxic substances, and instead of extending their lives, these pills and elixirs only shortened the duration of their respective reigns.

#4 — Self-Mummification

Mummification is the process which involves the intentional or incidental preservation of a deceased’s skin, flesh and organs. But not all mummified bodies were preserved after their death; some people in the past deliberately commenced the preservation of their corporeal body while they were still alive in order to achieve a superior and more enlightened state of being.  

“Sokushinbutsu” is an ascetic practice of Buddhist monks largely performed in Japan which is believed to have started sometime in the 11th century. This extreme Buddhist practice of asceticism involved the shunning of all worldly pleasures to the point that the monks would enter a process of self-mummification even while they were still alive. The Sokushinbutsu requires a period of around 3,000 days up to ten years before the entire process is completed by devoted monks. They would have to follow a very strict diet referred to as “mokujikigyo,” which literally translates to “eating a tree.” This means that the monk could not eat anything more than the seeds and resins that could be gathered in the mountains, and must abstain from eating cereals. Eventually, these monks would fast and meditate for longer periods of time until they completely starve themselves, denying themselves even the consumption of liquids. Even in this weakened condition, they would continue to be in a state of “jhana” or meditation until they die. Their dehydrated bodies would become naturally preserved mummies that are still revered and venerated by many followers of Buddhism. Some people today even still regard these mummified monks as very much alive although their bodies are said to be in a deep meditative trance. 

Hundreds of Buddhist monks in Japan attempted to achieve this extreme form of meditative state, but only 24 monks so far were granted the status of being the “Living Buddha.” Eventually, the practice of Sokushinbutsu was outlawed by the government of Japan in the late 19th century although self-mummification in their culture still endured until the 20th century. At present, however, Sokushinbutsu is no longer an advocated Buddhist practice in the country. 

#5 — Drinking Gold Chloride

Among the most notable cases of people who have pursued eternal youth is that of Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of King Henry II of France. The king’s official wife was Catherine de’ Medici but he found much comfort in having the widow Diane de Poitiers as his companion even though she was 20 years older than him. History books wrote of her youthful appearance and her porcelain-like skin that never seemed to fade even as she grew older. 

King Henry II’s mistress took great lengths to ensure that she maintained her physique. She kept in shape by swimming daily, horseback riding and hunting. However, her beauty secret that ensured permanence of her great white skin is her regular consumption of an elixir which contained a mixture of gold chloride and diethyl ether. This concoction was very popular at French court and was believed at the time to be an effective anti-aging treatment for its ability to harness the power of the sun and transfer it to its drinker. 

However, Diane de Poitiers’s obsession with keeping her youthful beauty came at a great cost, as her desire to look forever young and the remedy she resorted to in order to preserve her appearance was the one that slowly and eventually killed her. At age 66, her daily dose of gold chloride indeed made her look half her actual age, but she is also thought to have succumbed to the secondary effect of the concoction – that is, chronic gold poisoning. 

Even in modern times, man remains engrossed in its quest for eternal youth and prolonging human life. Most people have chosen to stick with more conventional methods such as maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle, while others have turned to the breakthroughs of medical science for more radical options that would allow them to enhance their beauty and cling onto their youth for as long as possible. The priorities of modern science, of course, are beyond maintaining a person’s young and beautiful aesthetics. The field of medical science is also fixated with making the human body impervious to deterioration by finding a way to permanently suppress cell death and consequently achieve actual physical immortality. 

There’s no certainty when humanity may successfully unlock the secret to eternal life and perpetual youth, but should the time come that we do become immortals, what do you think would life mean for us then if we consciously know that we can never die? Perhaps that is the bigger mystery we should try and answer first.

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SOURCES:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4577860/Man-s-craziest-attempts-history-cheat-death.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemaic_dynasty
http://hippocratescode.com/epilepsy/
http://io9.gizmodo.com/5917027/powdered-mummy-gladiator-blood-and-other-historical-medicines-made-from-human-corpses
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12953616
http://www.allday.com/these-real-people-actually-tried-to-achieve-immortality-2180824159.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pill_of_Immortality
http://io9.gizmodo.com/7-ways-that-people-died-trying-to-become-immortal-1691947345
http://nifymag.com/the-craziest-things-people-have-ever-done-throughout-history-to-try-and-cheat-death/#.WVcLKoiGPb0
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sokushinbutsu
http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-gruesome-and-excruciating-practice-of-mummifying-yo-1515905564
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/6865939/French-kings-mistress-poisoned-by-gold-elixir.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1236916/Dying-look-good-French-kings-mistress-killed-gold-elixir-youth.html

7 Thing You Didn't Know About Chinese Tea

In China, tea is more than just a beverage; it is an integral part of the country’s culture and tradition for several millennia. Tea has a lot to do with the development of Chinese society and its economy, and it has been a constant aspect of the Chinese people’s everyday life. The evolution of tea culture has progressed alongside Chinese culture, arguably making it one of the defining spirits of one of the world’s oldest civilizations. 

And so, if you are interested in learning about Chinese tea, here are seven (7) interesting facts you should know about this famous beverage.

Facts About Chinese Tea

#1 — Discovered 5,000 Years Ago in China

According to legend, tea is said to have been discovered in China by someone named Shennong Shi sometime around 2,500 BC. To the Chinese people, Shennong Shi was the “Divine Farmer,” and was regarded as one of the legendary Three Sovereigns of the country. As the first known Chinese herbal doctor, he is also seen by many as the father of Chinese medicine. 

Shennong Shi found a tea tree through his pursuit of collecting various plants and testing them as medicine. When he tasted this particular herb for the first time, he found that consuming tea had positive effects on the human body that could benefit those who needed to improve their health.

#2 — Originally Used as Medicine

Before the 8th century BC, the Chinese people mainly used tea as medicine before it eventually became a daily beverage. Fresh tea leaves were often boiled and consumed because ancient people thought that tea could reduce the human body’s “heat” and improve a person’s eyesight. In fact, until today, white tea, in particular, is still used in northern China as an antipyretic medicine to treat children who suffer from measles and chicken pox. 

#3 — Second Most Consumed Beverage in China After Water

Sometime between 221 BC and 8 AD, tea leaves were processed by pressing them together and shaping them into balls, drying them, and storing them for later use. From time to time, people crushed these ball-shaped tea leaves and mixed them with other herbs for boiling and drinking. Eventually, this practice became a regular habit that transformed tea into a beverage that is enjoyed by many people today from all walks life in different parts of the world. 

Drinking tea has become a huge part of Chinese culture that the country is filled with teahouses where people regularly meet to socialize with friends or discuss business matters with their colleagues over a good cup of tea. This is why it is not so surprising that tea is the national drink in China and that it is among the most consumed beverages in China, second only to water. 

#4 — Oldest Export from China

Not only was China the first to export tea to foreign traders, the country remains to this day as the world’s largest exporter of tea. Chinese tea was traded to various British traders around the end of the Ming Dynasty when several trading posts for foreign merchants were established in the city of Xiamen in Fujian Province. 

Interestingly, the word “tea” in Mandarin Chinese translates to “cha,” but in Fujian Province, the people of Xiamen referred to tea as “tay,” which the British traders spelt as “tea.” While the word “cha” was the first to spread outside of China, it was the term “tea” that gained ground in countries that spoke the English language and eventually to the rest of the world. 

#5 — Several Types of Chinese Tea

In China, tea can be classified into several types, but some of its main varieties include the following: green tea, black tea, white tea, yellow tea, oolong tea, and dark tea.

GREEN TEA is considered as the most popular type of tea and is also the oldest one of them all. It is concocted from fresh shoots of tea plants and is well-known all over the world for its pale color when boiled with water and it's very strong flavor when consumed.

BLACK TEA is the second most-varied type of Chinese tea, and it is known for its aromatic scent as well as its distinctive reddish color. 

WHITE TEA is the uncured and the unfermented version of green tea, and it is indigenous to the Chinese province of Fujian. This type of tea is famous for its lighter color and its tamer taste compared to the other types of Chinese tea available on the market.

YELLOW TEA is made from naturally-dried damp tea leaves, and it is easily identified not just because of its yellowish color but also because of its distinctive aroma. Regarded as premium-quality tea, it was served as a beverage to the many emperors of China as its yellow shade resembled the nation’s imperial color. 

OOLONG TEA, which is also referred to as blue tea, is actually an unfermented tea made from a combination of green tea and red tea. It is popular for its taste as well as its health benefits, particularly in weight loss. 

DARK TEA is a type of fermented tea believed to have originated in the city of Anhua in Hunan Province around the 16th century. The dark tea’s actual process of fermentation entails multiple steps and is different from other main varieties of tea as it is assisted by bacteria. 

#6 — First Tea Monograph is Chinese

The earliest monograph about tea is called The Classic of Tea or “chájīng,” which was written by Lu Yu sometime between 760 CE and 762 CE during the dominance of the Tang Dynasty. The book contains ten chapters about the mythical origins of Chinese tea, the tools used for drying and storing tea leaves, as well as the proper preparation and consumption of tea. The book also discusses the history of tea as mentioned in Chinese literature and historical records. 

#7 — Serving Tea to Elders & Guests Shows Respect

Chinese tea embodies the spirit of respect, which is why in Chinese culture, serving tea to a guest or an elder is deemed as an expression of a person’s respect and gratitude to the one the tea is offered to. This is also why serving tea is common in special events such as birthdays and the spring festival. In celebration of weddings, tea is also served by the bride and groom to their parents as an expression of gratitude for being raised by them. Tea can also be offered as a form of apology to another person and serving it is seen as a sincere display of one’s regret and submission.

Drinking tea is an essential part of the Chinese people’s social life as its regular practice is regarded in their culture as a demonstration of one’s morality and social status. Its importance as a Chinese tradition and the significant role it plays in Asian culture for many centuries have led many people today to regard the process of making tea and the method of drinking it as an art form. And so, tea is not just a staple beverage to the Chinese people, it is a symbol of a more enlightened and more appreciative way of life, which they intend to keep alive for generations to come. 

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Sources:
https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-tea/
https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-tea/interesting-things-to-learn-about-tea.htm
http://www.chinatravel.com/facts/chinese-tea-culture.htm
http://www.chinawhisper.com/top-10-chinese-tea-facts-you-might-not-know/
https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-tea/tea-classification.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Classic_of_Tea
http://www.china.org.cn/learning_chinese/Chinese_tea/2011-08/03/content_23133510.htm

5 Horrifying Realities of Daily Life in Medieval Times

History has amazing highlights and the civilizations that helped build the world we know of today have a lot to take credit for. From the monolithic pyramids at Giza to the brilliant and provocative artworks of the Renaissance, you would think that living in any of the centuries when mankind was reaching for the stars is something you would want to witness and participate in, but you may want to think twice about it.

While being a badass knight might sound epic to you or being one of Socrates’ valued students is a high honor, it’s the things that happen in between the knightly duties or the lessons at school that you should take heavily into consideration. Daily life in the Medieval Ages or Ancient Rome isn’t as glammed up to be, and the things we have read in our school’s history books have been, pretty much, filtered down to suit the taste of a general, more wholesome audience. Here are five horrifying realities of daily life in the early centuries of the world!

ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER VIDEO

5:  Plumbing Problems

Wikipedia

One of the greatest inventions introduced into human civilization is indoor plumbing. It is something we take extremely for granted on a daily basis. To us, it’s just part of a routine we go through every morning. We sit, we flush, we wash, and once our business is down the drain and off to the sewer system, it is not our business anymore. As they say, out of sight, out of mind. Sadly, the same cannot be said for people living in the days preceding indoor plumbing. Voiding your bowels is an almost non-stop horror movie that you have to live through every waking day and every waking moment of your life.

Take the Ancient Romans for example. You would think that for a civilization that has pioneered a revolutionary system for irrigation through the aqueducts, they would have found a solution to their plumbing problems. At the height of their Empire, the Romans did have a way of meeting the daily demands of bowel movement through a public toilet system. However, there was no sewage management system in place when it comes to dealing with human excrement. The public toilets were also a horror show regarding hygiene, and one would already be risking his health by simply sitting on one of the latrines with pipes that lead directly to a river of poop directly below. Believe it or not, you are even at risk of catching fire using one of these public facilities because of a large amount of methane buildup that’s steaming out of each toilet seat.

The medieval age was no better. In those days, people tried to be innovative and creative regarding getting rid of their offal. Some would dig cesspits and bury their waste, but it would eventually spill over to a neighbor’s yard. One woman named Alice Wade created a sophisticated wooden pipe system that ran underneath her neighbors’ yards and home and led directly to the street where her waste would end up. It was a clever contraption up until it clogged and backed up her neighbors’ sewage and, of course, you can’t fail to notice the accumulation of poop on the street. If you think this is already horrific, most people in those days simply went in the streets or wherever it is that they need to do their business in buildings, public squares, and marketplaces.

Number 4: Traveling Can Be Tricky

Pinterest

Another everyday activity that we can freely do these days is traveling. With the convenience of modern transportation, we can safely move from one place to another no matter the distance. Traveling abroad – or even to a nearby town – back in the day, is a completely different story.
We have all seen the movies where commoners traveled armed only with a walking stick and a rucksack filled with their personal belongings. They would be lucky if they had a horse to ride. One of the most challenging parts of traveling in the ancient world was a safe and clean place to rest. In fact, many travelers had no choice but to sleep out in the open and be vulnerable to the elements and either freeze to death or be attacked by wild animals. Travelling in a group may sound like a logical way to keep safe but you would still run the risk of armed bandits who would not think twice of slitting your throat before running off with your belongings or, in a sudden, ironic twist of fate, run the risk of being robbed and murdered by your companions should conditions become rough.

Ignorance of local customs in a foreign land may also prove to be a problem. Language barriers are the obvious hurdles but in times where political disputes and territorial skirmishes abound, being misinformed of the goings on may land you a one-way ticket to prison – if you’re lucky.

It also goes without saying that food and water can be a problem when you did not plan out your supplies correctly. Food poisoning is rampant especially if you end up foraging and hunting for food that could potentially do more harm to your body than you think. An inn or a monastery are relatively safe places to find lodgings and food to eat, granted that is the elements or bandits did not get to you first. Even the most sophisticated traveling party can be susceptible to the horrors of traveling abroad. Injury and accidents are as common as the air they breathe. In one account in 1190, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I met his untimely death when he drowned crossing the Saleph river during the Third Crusade. I think it’s safe to say that, back then, if you don’t have to go anywhere important, it’s safe to stay at home.

Number 3: No Quarter for the Unemployed

Tudor Place

In any government in any country and any economic system, unemployment is a necessary evil in the cogs of industry and progress. Today, we treat the unemployed humanely and offer help in the form of welfare, career counseling, and many other programs that can help anyone get on their feet and start building a life. I wish the same could be said centuries ago especially in the Medieval Age.

For example, being unemployed in 16th Century England is somewhat considered as a criminal offense. Because the unemployed had to wander and travel from one town to the next looking for any means of income, they would often be seen by law enforcement and other locals as vagrants and are swiftly thrown in jail. Well, the lucky ones at least. More often than not, the unemployed are tied to carts and dragged around town while being flogged and whipped to a bloody pulp. Talk about motivation. However that all changed in 1547 when the flogging law was changed and, instead, a vagrant could have the option of either being branded like cattle or be sold into slavery.

By the time 1600 rolled in, a new set of laws were passed that offered rewards to people who would capture and bring in vagrants. It was, as you can assume, a terrible plan to get the jobless off the streets as most people opted to make this a lucrative form of living by simply tackling and picking up anyone they find sleeping on the streets or suspect of vagrancy.

The government was not at all evil. In some form, they did provide assistance to the poor and the jobless. However, as part of the deal, they will be asked to wear a badge with the letter “P” stitched into it to identify them in a crowd. If an individual refused to wear it, he or she would be fined an equivalent of two weeks’ wages: wages that they did not have in the first place and could not have because they don’t have any form of employment to earn it.

Number 2: Being a Woman is Real, Ridiculously Tough

Crystalinks

The Ancient World, hands down, is brimming with misogyny and testosterone that many societies – except for some that also put women in high regard as their male generals like Sparta – treat the fairer sex as second class citizens and just a means of producing offspring.
A woman’s ordeal in the ancient world begins at birth. In Athens, it was common practice for a couple to leave their new born, a female child exposed to the elements to die.

Rome is no different. Especially in poor families, parents would often choose to raise a son than a daughter saying that a female child is far too burdensome and costs a lot more money to rear. Most families who do have a female infant would opt to kill the child or leave it exposed to the elements instead.The virtue of also keeping your virginity if you were a woman back then was a matter of life and death. An Athenian man who finds out that his unmarried daughter is no longer a virgin will sell her into slavery in the blink of an eye.

Another gruesome story happened in Rome when a priestess of the goddess Vesta lost her virginity before reaching the age of 30. She was promptly buried alive; and in Israel, a woman who lost her virginity before tying the knot could be dragged into the streets and be stoned to death.

Thinking of a dream wedding? Well, if you were living in the days of the Ancient Romans and the early centuries of the Chinese and Japanese empires, you better forget it. Back then, brides were secured by abducting them through invasion, war, and whatever conquest their empires are enterprising on. In some parts of China, the kidnapping of brides was not outlawed until the 1940s. Without kidnapped brides, the Roman Empire would have probably collapsed and crumbled early with accounts of it being told in several legends such as the kidnapping of the Sabine women.

Number 1: Death by Common Cold

HealDove

It goes without saying that the field of medicine is yet to make a revolutionary step forward in the days of the ancient Greeks, Romans, and even the Medieval Ages.

In fact, most deaths that aren’t attributed to illnesses are caused by tiny injuries like cuts and scrapes that, left untreated, led to a severe infection that spread to the vital parts of the body. If a person is lucky, he gets to keep his life but lose an infected limb or two. Among women, childbirth is one of the leading causes of death because of unsanitary practices and environments. An infant is also at high risk of dying due to mishandling and various forms of bacteria present in the surroundings.

Wealth and status are no guarantee to keep you in perfect health. However, history has seen more deaths in crowded urban areas than in far off farmlands. Maybe it is because of the unsanitary conditions of the cities. For one, no one knows where to throw their poop or where to poop. The Black Plague is a result of the lack of upkeep in the cities that has cost millions of lives across Europe. Suffice to say that, with the combination of an overcrowded urban landscape and poor medical information, simply catching the common cold signs you a one way trip to the grave in a matter of days.

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Sources:

http://www.cracked.com/article_22328_5-horrific-old-time-realities-your-history-book-left-out.html

http://listverse.com/2016/11/29/10-horrible-realities-of-being-a-woman-throughout-history/

http://www.historyextra.com/feature/medieval/10-dangers-medieval-period

The Magic of Meditation: How Meditation Can Change Your Brain

Aren’t we all in the constant need to keep up with the 21st-century pace of life? And sometimes, we also do this quite literally – walking fast, talking fast, and basically doing anything in faster than it should be. When you notice that you have been doing this every minute of every day of your life, then you need to stop for a minute or two and breathe. Inhale. Exhale.

Don’t pull your hair out because of how fast everything is. The pace of life is always moving forward, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a break and pause. All you need to do is just sit, breathe, and meditate.

History

The history of meditation and the religious context behind it is inseparable. The emergence of this practice was to “meditate on that desirable light of the divine Savitri, who influences our pious rites" as written in one of the earliest references of meditation in Hindu Vedas. Over time, other forms of meditation had started to develop via Confucianism and Taoism in China as well as Hinduism, Jainism, and early Buddhism in Nepal and India.

In Indian Buddhism, meditation was considered to be a step towards liberation. It started to spread in China, Vietnam, and Korea, where the meditation they taught pointed towards inner tranquility and emphasized self-control, peace, Buddha-natured insights, and the personal expressions of these ideas mainly for the benefit of others. Buddhist meditation is connected with the religion and philosophy of Buddhism, and their pursuit towards enlightenment and nirvana - a transcendent state in which there is freedom from all forms of suffering and existence. It aims to develop mindfulness, concentration, supra-mundane powers, tranquility, and insight to remove unwholesome qualities that they consider to be hindrances in achieving their goal.

How Does Meditation Help You?

Meditation has been known to help reduce stress, and give a greater capacity of relaxation to those who practice it. Whenever we feel pressured or threatened, our body responds to it physically, emotionally, mentally, and sometimes, all together at once. Stress causes a disturbance in the natural homeostasis, or inner physiological balance, of our bodies. It results in the activation of the "fight-or-flight" response which causes the adrenaline rush that we often experience. This is what causes an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, and blood flow to the muscles, and is due to the release of the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine. Meditation creates an opposite reaction to the rush, and that puts the mind and body in a state of relaxation, in which the increased blood pressure, pulse rates, and blood flow decreases.

Another thing associated with the practice of meditation is to improve one’s concentration. A study by Italian neuroscientist Giuseppe Pagnoni found that meditation not only changes brain patterns, but it also improves mental focus and performance. In his study, he performed an MRI to his respondents of the same age and educational level but categorized into two groups as non-meditator and meditators. It was found that the meditators had more stability in their ventral posteromedial cortex which is a region linked to spontaneous thoughts and mind-wandering located on the underside of the brain in the middle of the head.

Those aren't the only benefits of meditation -  it also helps in reducing the chances of developing depression and anxiety. An articles in JAMA Internal Medicine analyzed 47 studies in which the findings showed that meditation does help in managing pain, depression, and anxiety. More and more people are practicing meditation to correct health issues, and meditation classes are even offered in schools and hospitals because of its effectiveness. The focus of mindfulness meditation is to train the brain to focus only on the moment, which is why the mediator is encouraged to think of nothing but his or her breathing and repeat a mantra or listen to certain music. The aim is to let go of the regrets of the past as well as anxieties about the future to achieve a fully relaxed mind. The findings of a study by Italian neuroscientist Giuseppe Pagnoni show that the ventral posteromedial cortex is responsible for the wandering of the mind which is why meditation is undoing depression, a condition characterized by recurring negative thoughts. By stabilizing the ventral posteromedial cortex, it keeps the mind from wandering around to thoughts that cause negativity and keeps one's spirit positive. Again, inhale. And exhale.

Meditation is food for the soul. It nourishes our minds and values qualities like compassion, responsibility, and peacefulness. It helps us in making and keeping better relationships with others and most especially ourselves. The calmness and tranquillity we get from the experience gives us a sense of comfort and stability, allowing us to focus on the positive things in life, and develop a resilience toward the negativity that we encounter on daily basis. Meditation is not merely an activity for relaxation; it’s the world’s greatest therapist.

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Sources:

• https://www.artofliving.org/meditation
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/you-illuminated/201204/brain-scans-show-how-meditation-improves-mental-focus
• http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/01/07/260470831/mindfulness-meditation-can-help-relieve-anxiety-and-depression
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_meditation

Top 7 Amazing Brain Foods

At some point or another, we’ve all tried to improve our diet, whether it was for health reasons, physical appearance, or both. We all aim to have that perfectly health lifestyle, but we often overlook the most complex organ in our body when considering what foods to eat. Our brain is in control not just of our thoughts and feelings, but breathing, heartbeat, senses, and much more. Increasingly more scientific research is showing that what we eat every day actually has a huge impact on our brain functions, affecting our moods, cravings, and overall mental health! The brain is always active, even when we are asleep, and requires a lot of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants  to stay well-nourished and happy. What are the best brain foods you ask? Well, here are 6 of the best foods for maintaining a healthy mind and body!

Hemp Seed & Oil

Our brains actually require cannabinoids, which regulate most of the primary functions in our body including alertness, memory function, emotions, inflammation and cancer defenses. We can produce some of our own cannabinoids but perform best when consuming more from foods like hemp. Hemp's nutritional composition of its oil and protein contain all of the essential amino acids our body needs and in a uniquely perfect ratio (3.5:1~4:1) with over 400 phytonutrients.

Shelled hemp seed contains 33% pure digestible protein and is rich in iron and vitamin E as well as omega-3 and GLA. A recent report funded by the Canadian government states that hemp protein is comprised of 66% high-quality edistin protein and that hemp seed contains the highest percentage of this from any plant source in the world. Hemp also contains 3x more vitamin E than flax. 

Turmeric

Turmeric is the bright yellow aromatic powder from the ginger family and is usually used for flavoring and coloring, and as a spice in Asian cuisines, especially India, like curry. Turmeric contains the anti-inflammatory antioxidant curcumin which acts as a neuroprotective agent against numerous neurological disorders. Research has shown that it acts as protection for your brain against Alzheimer’s disease. India, which uses turmeric as an ingredient for their common food, is known to have the lowest rates of dementia in the world. Health experts believe that this is because of their consumption of turmeric as part of their daily diet in their lifetime.

Curcumin has even been shown to boost memory and stimulate the production of new brain cells, a process known as neurogenesis in which the nervous tissues grow and develop. Curcumin also reverses some biochemical changes made within an aging brain. It binds to heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, and iron, and by doing so, there will be a counteraction to any of the neurotoxic effects these metals may give to our brains.

Blueberries

According to Steven Pratt, MD (author of Superfoods Rx: Fourteen Foods Proven to Change Your Life), blueberries help protect the brain from oxidative stress and reduce the chances of having Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Blueberries are one of the highest antioxidant-rich foods which include vitamin C, vitamin K, and fiber where all are responsible for capturing radicals that damage our cells in the brain to boost and regulate the blood and oxygen flow. Other than destroying these radicals, they rejuvenate brain cells to protect our brains from degeneration and stress, and from the adverse effects of a non-healthy diet like high blood pressure.

Walnuts

Walnuts are a good source of antioxidants, fibres, iron, magnesium, vitamin E, and omega-3s which are all essential for brain development and growth. The human brain is made of 60% structural fat so it  requires high-quality fats like omega-3s, particularly DHA, to keep the brain fluid and flexible.

Research says that walnuts are the best nuts for improving cognitive performances, and prevent age-related illnesses.  A research study at Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center was conducted to study the lifestyle habits of 6,000 people who were unaffected by Alzheimer’s.  It was found that those who have the most intake of vitamin E-rich foods have a lesser chances of developing diseases that are memory and age-related. Maybe there’s a reason walnuts kind of look like our brains….

Avocados

Nowadays, avocados are made into spreads, jams, sandwiches and even ice cream! It is indeed a fatty fruit but it actually contains a monosaturated fat (healthy fat) and helps in regulating a healthy blood flow because it decreases LDL cholesterol – the bad cholesterol – and increases the HDL cholesterol – the good cholesterol – This prevents the hardening of blood vessels. According to a review published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience in 2008, some nutrients, like folate, that are found in avocados can also improve one’s memory and concentration. Another study done in Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute has suggested that folate reduces the risk of a stroke.

Coconut Oil

If you noticed, coconut oil is often mentioned when talking about at-home healing methods. It’s almost as if there is nothing that coconut oil cannot do! According to a research by Dr. Mary Newport, just over two tablespoons of coconut oil (about 35 ml or seven level teaspoons) will help in restoring and renewing neurons, and nerve functions in the brain. Coconut oil consists of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) that convert the oil inside the body to ketones. Ketones are what fuel our brains. The MCT we put into our bodies go directly to our liver to release the newly-converted oil to energy

Coconut oil also works as a natural anti-inflammatory food. It helps prevent memory loss or any age-related illnesses or disorders, and destroys bad bacteria that stay in our stomach organs.

Dark Chocolates

You might have started to worry that none of these foods will satisfy your taste buds but luckily, chocolate can actually be beneficial to our brain health. Dark chocolate is packed with magnesium which increases the production of endorphins and serotonin, and flavonols, which is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. A study published in Neurology  found that dark chocolate decreased blood pressure, and could even lower the chances of having a stroke by 17%!It also contains small amounts of caffeine to improve mental alertness and short-term memory which is why a lot of students also eat dark chocolate while studying.

So those were some of the best foods for a healthy brain. Other superfoods include: eggs, sea vegetables, fermented foods, and leafy greens. It’s imperative to be conscious of the foods that we eat, because they can have a much bigger impact on our bodies than we realize. And remember, having a healthy body also means having a healthy brain!

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References:

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/eat-smart-healthier-brain#2
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/01/12/top-7-brain-foods.aspx
http://www.rd.com/health/conditions/best-brain-food/
http://www.wakingtimes.com/2015/01/13/brain-needs-cannabinoids-dietary-hemp-answer/
https://www.420magazine.com/forums/hemp-news/77372-hemp-perfect-brain-health-food.html