• Medical expenditures for people with diabetes are more than twice that of those without diabetes.
• Aspartame has been linked to both headaches and migraines.
• The average child laughs 300 times a day. Adults? A mere 17 times.
• Half of an avocado contains 4.6 grams of fiber, 345 mg of potassium, 57 mg of phytosterols, 114 calories and just 0.2 grams of sugar.
• Facial hair grows faster than any other hair on your body.
• The diameter of your aorta (the main artery leading to your heart) is approximately the same as an average garden hose.
• Fingerprints are formed at about six to 13 weeks in gestation and are one of the last things to disappear after death.
• Like fingerprints, people also have an unique smell all unto themselves.
• Twenty percent more people die of a heart attack on Mondays than any other day of the week.
• The only part of the human body that cannot repair itself is the tooth.
• The rarest blood type in the world is A-H, also known as Bombay blood. It has been found in less than 100 people worldwide.
• The colder your bedroom, the greater the chance of having a nightmare.
• Right-handed people tend to live an average of nine years longer than left-handed people.
• That indentation between your nose and upper lip is called the philtrum. It has no known medical purpose.
• Chocolate was first enjoyed by the ancient Mayans as a fertility-promoting beverage, which is why it was named after the fertility goddess Ixcacao.
• A study by the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago found that the scent of green apples helped to lessen the severity of migraines.
• Your thumb is the same length as your nose.

Findings reported in an article published online on July 29, 2013 in Biological Psychiatry suggest that modern omega-3 fatty acid deficient diets could be the culprit behind the prevalence of anxiety, hyperactivity, and poor cognition observed among many adolescents.

By breeding successive generations of rats that were given diets containing reduced amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, Bita Moghaddam and colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh created a model of the deficiency that has occurred in humans over the past several decades when animals used for meat were switched from an omega-3 rich grass-based diet to one based on grains.  The researchers found an increase in anxiety and hyperactivity in adolescent animals, as well as a reduction in the rate of learning and problem-solving, in comparison to animals given diets that contained adequate amounts of omega-3.

“We have always assumed that stress at this age is the main environmental insult that contributes to developing these conditions in at-risk individuals but this study indicates that nutrition is a big factor, too,” stated Dr Moghaddam. “We found that this dietary deficiency can compromise the behavioral health of adolescents, not only because their diet is deficient but because their parents’ diet was deficient as well. This is of particular concern because adolescence is a very vulnerable time for developing psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and addiction.”

“Our study shows that, while the omega-3 deficiency influences the behavior of both adults and adolescents, the nature of this influence is different between the age groups,” Dr Moghaddam noted. “We observed changes in areas of the brain responsible for decision making and habit formation.”

“It’s remarkable that a relatively common dietary change can have generational effects,” Dr Moghaddam added. “It indicates that our diet does not merely affect us in the short-term but also can affect our offspring.”

 

We know how difficult losing weight can be, and if your best efforts at a healthy diet and regular exercise can’t seem to move those numbers on the scale, there could be more than calories at play in your war against fat.

In fact, research has linked a whole host of environmental toxins (including phthalates, parabens, PCBs and BPA) to disrupted metabolism and fat cell production—with results indicating that these toxins can influence weight gain enough to have earned the moniker “obesogens,” a term that refers to environmental estrogens linked to obesity. To make matters worse, you likely encounter one or all of these fat-promoting chemicals daily, whether you realize it or not.

Take phthalates and parabens, for example. While they only linger in your body for a short time after exposure, they can still wreak havoc on your system—and you’ll find them on the ingredient lists of a number of everyday products, from lotion, soap and makeup to medications and food preservatives.

Chemicals and Weight

This daily deluge of chemicals can sabotage your body’s fat-burning mechanisms by activating receptors involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, reducing leptin levels and insulin sensitivity and contributing to low testosterone levels. This reduction in leptin spells trouble for your weight loss efforts, since balanced levels of the hormone leptin help control appetite and weight.

To deal with those toxins you can’t avoid—and to help your body eliminate any unwanted byproducts released during the fat-burning process—gentle, ongoing detoxification support is your best bet.

Bisphenol A (BPA), meanwhile, has emerged as one of the most ubiquitous endocrine disruptors, as it leaches into your food and drinks from common, everyday packaging—such as can linings, plastic bottles and other containers. So it’s no surprise that you’ll find detectable levels of BPA in the majority of Australian’ bodies—whether it’s in urine, blood, breast milk, or even amniotic and placental tissues^.

Unfortunately, BPA also spells trouble for your waistline. Researchers recently linked elevated BPA levels to high body mass index and abdominal fat in humans.

As if that wasn’t enough there are even more “fattening” chemicals contaminating the food supply. Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)—two pollutants lingering in the water and soil despite no longer being in wide use—are also connected to weight gain, with conventional produce and farm-raised salmon being common sources of exposure. Long-term studies have determined that exposure to these so-called persistent organic pollutants can lead to weight gain, as well as impact cholesterol and blood sugar metabolism—all being linked to heart health.

Lose The Toxins, Lose The Weight

Losing weight can go a long way in minimizing these risks. Ironically, shedding pounds often has the unintended consequence of mobilizing stored toxins, which can remain trapped in fatty tissue for years. That’s another reason why any effort to slim down requires a tandem plan to keep toxic overload at bay.

The first and most obvious step is to minimize your contact with chemical toxins. While it’s impossible to avoid these endocrine-disrupting compounds completely, you can put a significant dent in your exposure to these chemicals—and help your body to better manage its toxic burden in the process—by switching to non-toxic hygiene products and eating a healthy diet packed with clean, organic foods.

To deal with those toxins you can’t avoid—and to help your body eliminate any unwanted byproducts released during the fat-burning process—gentle, ongoing detoxification support is your best bet.

Simply supplementing your breakfast, lunch or dinner with a daily protein shake with all the essential amino acids along with key antioxidants and alkalizing green powders—can help to ensure that your body stays clean and lean.

• Aspartame is made up of two amino acids—aspartic acid (40 percent) and phenylalanine (50 percent)—with the additional 10 percent coming from methanol, an alcohol that breaks down into formaldehyde in your body.
• The ancient Mayans and Aztecs used to drink a cold, unsweetened “health elixir” made from fermented, roasted and crushed cocoa beans; water; and spices like cinnamon and chili peppers.
• Chocolate has an ORAC of 13,120 per 100 grams, which is more than five times that of blueberries, four times that of green tea and twice that of red wine.
• According to Johns Hopkins, everyone has cancer cells in their body. However, they have to be multiplied several billion times to be detectable with a test.
• Your lungs take 20,000 breaths a day.
• Taking 1,200 mg of calcium a day can help prevent kidney stones.
• Mango pulp is often added to facial products due to its ability to prevent acne by cleaning pores.
• Black beans are rich in anthocyanins, antioxidants that have been shown to improve brain function.
• Lipitor is the best-selling prescription drug in the world, raking in $7.7 billion last year.
• People who drink at least four cups of green tea a day have a 20 percent reduced risk of stroke.
• The FDA allows up to 45 percent of frozen strawberries to contain traces of mold—per bag!
• Walnuts are a richer source of omega-3s than salmon.
• Your body creates and kills 15 million red blood cells per second.
• It takes the average person 12 to 14 minutes to fall asleep.
• Don’t peel your apples! The peel contains ursolic acid, which has been linked to a reduced risk of obesity.
• The largest internal organ is the small intestine.

When it comes to health, many people are aware of the major dos and don’ts of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet. However, they tend to only focus on their cholesterol, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI), and overlook another key medical marker: Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs). If ignored, AGEs can also lead to significant damage to an individual’s health over time.

AGEs are harmful compounds that develop in the body or are ingested through certain foods, including browned, sugary, and processed foods. When too many of these foods are consumed, higher than normal levels of AGEs develop and build up in the tissues. This accumulation can damage the organs and body systems and accelerate the aging process from the inside out.

It is important for people to limit the amount of barbecued, sauteed, or even toasted food,said Michelle Davenport, Ph.D., board member, A.G.E. Foundation. “We’ve found that when we cook at higher temperatures, more AGEs form in the food — so our recommendation is to cook your meat at a low temperature for a longer period of time.”

According to the A.G.E. Foundation, the key to lowering AGEs is to reduce heat, extend cooking time and incorporate more water and acid into your food preparation. Water-based cooking methods (i.e., steaming, poaching) dramatically reduce AGEs. “Adding a marinade in the form of lemon, lime or vinegar can cut AGEs by 50 percent,” said Dr. Davenport.

Brightly colored fruits and vegetables and whole grains, which are low in AGEs, are also recommended. Fruits and vegetables like noni, blueberries, olives and cornelian cherries are particularly beneficial, and contain natural elements called iridoids, which can lower a person’s AGE levels.

About the A.G.E. Foundation Founded in 2012, the A.G.E. Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing consumer awareness about Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs), which are harmful compounds in the body linked to aging. The A.G.E. Foundation’s mission is to establish AGEs as a viable health marker, drive conversation about their link to virtually every serious health concern we face today, and provide solutions. It accomplishes this using ongoing research, clinical studies and various public awareness campaigns. www.AGEFoundation.com