Month: July 2014

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Your brain is your best friend

Your brain is your best friend, it controls everything you do, how you feel.

This is how it can make you happy, just by taking a little exercise;

“What triggers happiness in our brain when we exercise?

If you start exercising, your brain recognises this as a moment of stress. As your heart pressure increases, the brain thinks you are either fighting the enemy or fleeing from it. To protect yourself and your brain from stress, you release a protein called BDNF (Brain – Derived Neurothropic Factor). This BDNF has a protective and also a reparative element to your memory neurons and acts as a reset switch. That’s why we often feel so at ease and things are clear after exercising and we have a happy sense of achievement”       Leo Widrich, blog.bufferapp.com

A half hour walk will do. While your brain accounts for only 2% of your body weight, it devours 20% of the energy. There’s a lot going on in there so it pays to look after your best friend. Here’s a list of top foods for the brain;

  1. Wholegrains
  2. Oily fish
  3. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants
  4. Tomatoes, avocados
  5. Water
  6. Dark chocolate
  7. Pumpkin seeds
  8. Broccoli
  9. Nuts

If you look after your brain  – your brain will look after you

Sound health!

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Do you know how alcohol affects your skin? 10 Q&A’s

1. Why does your skin appear dull after drinking?

Alcohol dehydrates your skin and depletes it of vital skin nutrients

2. If you overindulge in alcohol, what long-term effect on facial blood vessels occur?

Drinking alcohol causes facial blood vessels to dilate. Excessive alcohol can cause the vessels to dilate permanently. This causes red spiky veins.

3. Does alcohol consumption affect other skin conditions such as rosacea and psoriasis?

Alcohol may aggravate these skin conditions and cause additional flare ups

4. Which foods should you avoid when suffering a hangover?

Anything fried. Choose nutrient rich foods to reverse some of the negative effects of the drinking from the night before, whole grain toast for example

5. Alcohol depletes which beneficial vitamin?

Vitamin A, an important anti-oxidant

6. Why is vitamin A beneficial to the skin?

Vitamin A is an anti-oxidant that boosts collagen production and skin cell turnover

7. What is the primary physical trait of heavy drinkers?

Heavy drinkers usually have rosy cheeks, a red nose or a flushed face

8. What should you drink along with alcohol to avoid dehydration?

Drinking water along with alcohol will counteract the effects of the alcohol and will decrease dehydration

9. The toxins in alcohol can contribute to what unattractive skin flaw?

Alcohol can cause the build up of cellulite

10. After several drinks, the body will divert oxygen and blood away from where?

The skin. Skin loses important blood circulation because oxygen and blood is diverted to the liver and other organs

Source: Howstuffworks.com

 

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Guinness Paint the Town Black? Never Again

Drinkawaste.com complained about this campaign through the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland

On the basis the slogan, ” Paint the Town Black”  was coined from the phrase ” Paint the Town Red”

Paint the town red, is to engage in a wild spree. The allusion is to the kind of riotous behaviour that results in blood being spilt, according to Urbandictionary.com

Under pressure Diageo/Guinness withdrew the campaign for its alcohol product. It was a clear directive to abuse alcohol on Arthur’s Day and St Patrick’s Day

Now Diageo/Guinness say there will be no more Arthur’s Day. That is good news for the community, the  police, ambulance people, hospitals and others, who had to deal with the mayhem Arthur’s Day created

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Missing Link Between Breast Cancer and Alcohol Discovered

A protein has been identified that plays a key role in the link between drinking alcohol and breast cancer.

Women with higher levels of the molecule in their breasts are more likely to develop cancer if they drink too much, research suggests.

Scientists in Mexico say their discovery could lead to a test showing which individuals are most at risk. Preventative measures could them be taken, such as helping vulnerable people cut down on alcohol.

The protein, an enzyme called CYP2E1, is believed to be involved in breaking down ethanol, otherwise known as alcohol , in the body.

In the process, unstable destructive oxygen molecules called free radicals are generated, which attack cell membranes and DNA.

Free radical damage, or oxidative stress, is known to be linked to cancer as well as other health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.

Alcohol consumption is a long-established risk factor for breast cancer but until now the reason for the link has not been clear.

In this situation why aren’t women being warned of the dangers? How are drinks companies allowed advertise alcohol without any warning? Why is there no breakdown of the composition of alcohol drinks on the bottles or cans?

 

 

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Smithwick’s is 92% water. What’s the secret?

Smithwicks

The average pint of beer is 92% water according to Nutrition.self.com. So what’s the secret?

It must be the alcohol at around 4%. Alcohol is a toxic, intoxicating, addictive drug

Drinks companies don’t like the word, alcohol, even though they get most of their revenues from selling it

That’s why you don’t see alcohol mentioned in advertising or any marketing communications

Instead they ask you to enjoy xxx sensibly. How do you do that? Maybe that’s the secret!