Food Pyramids fr/Around the World

10 Food Pyramids From Around The World

Posted: 06/10/11 10:20 AM ET
by Food Republic
foodrepublic.com

The US Food Pyramid may be dead, but many countries around the world still look to the pyramid to convey nutritional advice for its citizens. Americans now can get used to the new MyPlate design — which is similar to Spain, Australia and Britain’s, by the way — but in China, Poland, and elsewhere, we’ve found some creativity.

We also found a lot of similarities between the ways countries tell their citizens to eat — and some differences. While most of the guidelines propose a similar ratio of proteins, grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy to the U.S.’s MyPlate, some contain regionally specific advice. It is clear that dietary images worldwide struggle to strike a balance between comprehensive but chaotic information (see Germany’s 3D pyramid) and simple design with few specifics (see Hungary’s house).

To read more and see some of these other Food Pyramids, go to:   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/food-republic/food-pyramids-around-the-world_b_874409.html#s288487&title=UKs_Eatwell_Plate

 

Fire Up Your Creativity & Passion

6 Techniques to Ignite Your Inner Creativity and Passion

by Ronald Alexander, Ph.D.—Author, ‘Wise Mind, Open Mind’; Executive Director, The OpenMind Training Institute

Posted: 04/26/11 08:54 AM ETMost of us were taught that creativity comes from the thoughts and emotions of the mind. However, the greatest singers, dancers, painters, writers and filmmakers recognize that the most original, and even transformative, ideas actually come from the core of our being, which is accessed through an “open-mind consciousness.”

In ancient traditions, open-mind consciousness was considered to be a spiritual awakening, the great enlightenment that dissolves the darkness of confusion and fear and ushers in peace, happiness, clarity and contentment

To read more, go to:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ronald-alexander-phd/inner-creativity-passion_b_853562.html

European Food Fears

European food outbreak soars; mystery deepens

AP
    • by DAVID RISING and MARIA CHENG, Associated Press – 9 mins ago

BERLIN – The number of people hit by a massive European outbreak of foodborne bacterial infections is a third bigger than previously known and a stunningly high number of patients suffer from a potentially deadly complication than can shut down their kidneys, officials said Wednesday.

The death toll rose to 17, with German authorities reporting that an 84-year-old woman with the complication had died on Sunday.

Medical authorities appeared no closer to discovering either the source of the infection or the mystery at the heart of the outbreak: why the unusual strain of the E. coli bacteria appears to be causing so many cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome, which attacks the kidneys and can cause seizures, strokes and comas.

Germany’s national health agency said 1534 people in the country had been infected by enterohaemorrhagic E.coli, or EHEC, a particularly deadly strain of the common bacteria found in the digestive systems of cows, humans and other mammals. The Robert Koch Institute had reported 1169 a day earlier.

to read more go to:   http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110601/ap_on_he_me/eu_contaminated_vegetables_europe

 

Workplace Weight

New study links obesity to workplace

28.05.2011 | Source:

Pravda.Ru

New study links obesity to workplace. 44455.jpegAccording to new study – today’s workplace is one of the causes of obesity in America. This was determined by researchers at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, LA.

To find this, the information from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics were analyzed from the 1960s to 2008. From this information it was determined that in today’s jobs men burn approximately 142 less calories a day than they did in the past, while women burn 124 less, EpostMediareports.

to read more go to:   http://english.pravda.ru/news/health/28-05-2011/118039-obesity-0/

 

Skin Cells Becoming Neurons

Skin cells ‘turned into neurons’ by US scientists

By Neil BowdlerScience reporter, BBC News

Neurons in the brainAn image of neurons in the brain. The researchers claim such cells can be made from skin cells

A Californian team say they have managed to convert human skin cells directly into functioning brain cells.

The scientists manipulated the process by which DNA is transcribed within foetal skin cells to create cells which behaved like neurons.

The technique had previously been demonstrated in mice, says the report in Nature.

It could be used for neurological research, and might conceivably be used to create brain cells for transplant.

Reprogrammed skin

The scientists used genetically modified viruses to introduce four different “transcription factors” into foetal skin cells. These transcription factors play a role in the “reading” of DNA and the encoding of proteins within the cell.

They found the introduction of these four transcription factors had the effect of switching a small portion of the skin cells into cells which functioned like neurons.

Unlike other approaches, the process did not involve the reprogramming of the skin cells into stem cells, but rather the direct transformation of skin cells into neurons.

to read more go to:    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13567321

 

Herbs for Health

Herbs are not only great in meals for spice and added flavor but are key to the nutritional density in the foods you eat. Herbs can protect you against diseases, clear toxins from your body, and provide you with vitamins and minerals.

Here are some examples of such, from a list of nine assembled by Planet Green:

Basil

Basil provides Vitamins A, C, and K, along with iron, manganese, magnesium, and potassium. Loaded with flavonoids, basil helps prevent cell damage from radiation and oxygen.

Ginger

Treat nausea and an upset stomach with ginger; prevent and treat the common cold with its antiviral components.

Fenugreek

This Mediterranean herb is good for menstrual cramps, menopause symptoms, cholesterol, and diabetes.

Flat Leaf Parsley

Parsley is renowned for containing high levels of antioxidants and is full of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber that help balance cholesterol and ward off constipation.

Turmeric

The Cork Cancer Research Centre’s test results show that turmeric can kill gullet cancer cells in 24 hours!

Sources:

Dr. Mercola’s Comments:

Believe it or not, but common herbs and spices are actually some of the healthiest foods on the planet—topping the list of high ORAC value foods—so you can easily boost the nutritional value of your meal simply by spicing it up a bit. ORAC is a standardized method of measuring the antioxidant capacity of different foods and supplements. The higher the ORAC score, the more effective a food is at neutralizing harmful free radicals.

So, every time you flavor your meals with herbs or spices you are literally “upgrading” your food without adding a single calorie.

The Secret Powers of Herbs and Spices

to read more and find out what herbs are good for what, go to:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/04/9-healing-herbs-and-how-to-use-them-in-your-cooking.aspx