Credit: Indigo/Getty Images
Prince William, being a prince, enjoyed a rather lavish lifestyle as a kid. However, now that he's an adult about to be married, some may wonder how that will change.
How does he earn money, what does he pay in rent, what sort of cars do he and Kate Middleton drive? You know, all those tacky questions you wouldn't ask people you know, but figure it's OK to wonder about a royal. Well, wonder no more.
Where will they live?
It has been widely reported that William lives in a private cottage near a Royal Air Force Base in North Wales. The U.K.'s Telegraph reports that William and Kate will probably live there for at least a few more years. Last April, William signed a three-year commitment as a search and rescue helicopter pilot. William rents the cottage for a relatively modest £750 per month, or about $1,217. And, for the record, William reports that he and Kate plan to live in the cottage without the services of a butler.
Royal Wedding
It’s science: We get happier with age
Despite what we might assume about the aging process and the misery anticipated with creaking bones and thinning hair, scientists are reassuring us that we actually grow happier with age.Seniors relax by the sea in Andernos, Southwestern France
Lewis Wolpert, 81-year-old emeritus professor of biology at University College London, tracks the happiness life cycle in his book "You're Looking Very Well." He found that those in their teens and twenties were "averagely happy," a state that declines in family-raising and career-building years.
And then things get better:
"But then, from the mid-forties, people tend to become ever more cheerful and optimistic, perhaps reaching a maximum in their late seventies or eighties."
Why the happiness upswing?
Spring foods to help you shed your winter weight
As spring nudges its way forward, some of us are left with an unpleasant souvenir of winter—an extra “layer.” Though that winter coat might have kept us warm through the long, cold season, by spring it’s time to shed the padding. The good news is many springtime foods promote weight loss naturally, and not just because they’re lighter than those hearty winter dishes. Here are my top picks for spring foods to help you slim down.Don't Miss: 28-Day Meal Plan for a Slimmer You
Strawberries
Strawberries’ fiber content makes them a good choice for weight loss. A two-year study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that people who ate 8 extra grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories per day lost about 4 1/2 pounds. (Women who decreased their fiber intake actually gained weight.) One cup of strawberries has a respectable 3 grams of fiber and more than a full day’s recommended dose of vitamin C—an antioxidant that helps keep skin healthy.Must Read: 7 Foods That Do the Weight-Loss Work For You
Eggs
Eggs are packed with protein, which staves off hunger. In one study, dieters who ate eggs for breakfast felt fuller longer and lost more than twice as much weight as those who got the same amount of calories from a bagel for breakfast.
See the First Photo of Adrianne Palicki as Wonder Woman
Last month, NBC's "Wonder Woman" reboot cast its titular superheroine, with "Friday Night Lights" star Adrianne Palicki stepping into Lynda Carter's invisible plane. Today, the production has released its first image of Palicki in costume as Wonder Woman...and here she is!
As James Hibberd notes on EW.com, "NBC promises the project, if picked up to series, will offer a serious, non-campy take on the DC Comics character."
I'm not entirely sure how that pledge jibes with this image. I understand that this take on Wonder Woman's look is congruent with her costume in the comic books, but the only thing less practical for crime-fighting than vinyl leggings is a bustier (and don't even get me started on the high-heeled boots). A "serious, non-campy" vigilante has to be dressed for speed and flexibility — and, one would hope, utility.
via ca.tv.yahoo.com
10 things hotels won't tell you
1. "In tough times we have to discount - creatively."
For the hotel industry, 2009 was the worst year since the Great Depression, and last year was only slightly better. At its low, the average daily room rate was $97, down from $107 in 2008, and occupancy rates fell below 55 per cent. "This recession has been so traumatic across the board for all types of hotels," says Robert Mandelbaum, research director at Colliers PKF Hospitality Research. In turn, hotels have slashed staff and cut corners. Michael Aschoff, a retired compliance officer from Tampa, Fla., stays in hotels 30 to 50 nights a year and has noticed they've stopped replacing soap and providing body wash and mouthwash. "They have really cut back on little amenities," he says.
But hotels are holding the line on rates, says Travis Rank, director of worldwide sales at Best Western International. Instead, some hotels offer free parking, gift cards or other perks, like a free extra night for customers who book a certain number of nights in a row. Check hotel websites to find these deals - which are likely to be available until 2012, when the industry is expected to recover.
2. "Book with us to get an upgrade."
When you book your room through a third-party site like Expedia or Travelocity, the hotel typically pays a commission - up to 30 per cent. Through their own sites, hotels will usually match the best rates and may offer specials, and many will let you change your reservation without penalty if you've cut out the middleman.
What's more, book directly with the hotel and your "chances of getting an upgrade are vastly improved," says Rank. Hotels also like to save perks for their loyalty-program members. Chris Jones, the general manager of Hotel Indigo in San Diego, says he gives upgrades to about 35 per cent of customers, with priority going to loyalty-card holders. "The hospitality industry is all about relationships," says Fredrik Korallus, executive vice president for global revenue generation at Carlson Hotels. "If you want something, it never hurts to ask."
3. "We can be sneaky about our best deals."
Since most hotels are franchises, individual owners offer the best deals. They're promoted online, via e-mail newsletters and, more recently, through social networking sites like Facebook and Foursquare. Hotel Indigo had 500 followers on Twitter before it even opened, and Jones says last fall he offered $185 rooms to followers for $99 - and booked 45 rooms in two hours. Robert A. Rauch, a managing partner at a San Diego Hilton, says he offers time-sensitive deals and restaurant or spa specials online. Hotels also offer discounts through partners like Visa or American Express, but since hotels aren't always enthusiastic about those, "sometimes it takes some effort" to find them, says Matthew Stone, a professor of travel and tourism at Prince George's Community College in Washington, D.C.
4. "Your room won't really look like this."
Five fashion mistakes that age you
We know that wearing too much makeup and not updating your hairstyle can make you look older. But there are also certain fashion choices that can add years to your look. The good news is that such missteps are easily remedied. Watch this episode for the style choices to avoid and our more youthful styling suggestions.
A loose-fitting pencil skirt:
The whole point of a pencil skirt is to look polished and slyly sexy. We count it as a wardrobe staple, but not if yours doesn't fit properly and looks more like a frumpy, boxy table skirt. A quick trip to the tailor can take care of this problem. Make sure the hem sits at (not below) the knee and the skirt fits snugly at the hips. Wear it with a tucked-in shirt to show off your waist.Matching shoes and handbag:
Your grandma probably told you about this "rule" because when she was in her stylistic prime that's how ladies turned it out. Today, we'd put it in the same category as matching your lipstick to your manicure or wearing coffee-colored pantyhose. DON'T DO IT! The modern view is to create fresh pairings that make people think, "Wow, I never thought that would go together, but it looks fantastic!"
$600 ambulance bill outrages P.E.I. tourist
A tourist from Ontario is shocked by the bill she got for an ambulance ride on P.E.I. last summer.Kelly Morin, from the community of Finch near Ottawa, always wanted to see the Green Gables house in P.E.I. National Park, but couldn't afford the trip on a fixed income. But friends were heading this way, so she tagged along.
Just before the ferry docked at Wood Islands things started going wrong.
"I started to feel very dizzy, and I just couldn't stand," Morin told CBC News recently.
"I passed out."
Morin has hepatitis C, and says this happens when she gets over-excited.
Ferry employees called an ambulance. Morin said her friends could drive her to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown, but she felt she wasn't given the choice. Three months later, Morin got a $600 bill, four times what an Island resident would pay.
"I could have took a jet home. Come on! This is ridiculous," she said.
Japan’s earthquake shifted balance of the planet
Last week's devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan has actually moved the island closer to the United States and shifted the planet's axis.
The quake caused a rift 24 kilometres below the sea floor that stretched nearly 300 kilometres long and 150 kilometres wide, according to the AP. The areas closest to the epicenter of the quake jumped a full 13 feet closer to the United States, geophysicist Ross Stein at the United States Geological Survey told The New York Times.
The world's fifth-largest, 8.8 magnitude quake was caused when the Pacific tectonic plate dived under the North American plate, which shifted Eastern Japan towards North America by about 13 feet (see NASA's before and after photos at right). The quake also shifted the earth's axis by 6.5 inches, shortened the day by 1.6 microseconds, and sunk Japan downward by about two feet. As Japan's eastern coastline sunk, the tsunami's waves rolled in.coast shifted
Why did the quake shorten the day? The earth's mass shifted towards the center, spurring the planet to spin a bit faster. Last year's massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile also shortened the day, but by an even smaller fraction of a second. The 2004 Sumatra quake knocked a whopping 6.8 micro-seconds off the day.
Is stress causing your stomach ache? 3 fixes that may help you feel better
A few months ago, a new scientific paper discussing a link between mental stress and digestive trouble crossed my desk. I was immediately intrigued—partly because at the time I was stressed (it was during the holiday season, work was busy and my husband was traveling a lot on business), but also because at one time or another everyone feels taxed. This was information I knew you, our reader, could use!And sure enough, once word got out among our staff, the whole office was buzzing: How does stress affect my gastrointestinal tract? And because I’m the nutrition editor, I was also asked, are there any soothing foods that I can eat?
Must-Read: Can Ginger Help a Queasy Stomach? Plus More Cures for Common Ailments
6 Spices That Heal
Stressed and Tired? How Cocoa Could HelpI now can answer those questions—thanks to Karen Ansel, who researched and wrote about the topic in the March/April issue of EatingWell Magazine. Here’s what she found:
There’s a reason why when you’re upset, you feel a knot in the pit of your stomach. “The brain and the digestive tract share many of the same nerve connections,” says Douglas A. Drossman, M.D., a gastroenterologist and psychiatrist and co-director of the University of North Carolina Center for Functional GI and Motility Disorders in Chapel Hill. It’s because, in the womb, the nerves that eventually separate into the brain, spinal cord and nerves of the intestine all have the same beginnings and remain interconnected.
NASA Scientist Explains Science Behind 'Supermoon' Phenomenon
The tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan Friday (March 11) set the Internet abuzz with the idea that the moon, which will be at its fullest of the year on March 19, played a role in the devastating natural disaster.
The seed for the idea was planted by an astrologer, who contended that this large full moon – a so-called "supermoon"– would touch off natural disasters like the Japan earthquake since the moon would make its closest approach to Earth in 18 years. Scientists, however, dismissed the notion entirely and now a top NASA scientist is weighing in. [Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in Pictures]
In a statement released Friday, noted NASA scientist Jim Garvin explains the mechanics behind the moon's phases and the causes of the supermoon. Garvin is the chief scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
"'Supermoon' is a situation when the moon is slightly closer to Earth in its orbit than on average, and this effect is most noticeable when it occurs at the same time as a full moon," Garvin wrote in the NASA statement. "So, the moon may seem bigger although the difference in its distance from Earth is only a few percent at such times." [Photos: Our Changing Moon]
The full moon of March will occur next Saturday on March 19, when the moon will be about 221,567 miles (356,577 kilometers) away from Earth. The average distance between the Earth and the moon is about 238.000 miles (382.900 km).
Brighter than Einstein: Schoolgirl has an IQ of 162
In many ways, she's a typical 11-year-old girl. She enjoys swimming, dancing and playing musical instruments. She wants to be a vet when she grows up and she excels in school. Her parents are proud of her.Every parent thinks their child is a genius. Victoria Cowie's parents have her Mensa acceptance to prove it.
Victoria has an IQ of 162. The score puts her ahead of Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking and Bill Gates.
The Wolverhampton-area-raised schoolgirl's intelligence puts her among the top 1 per cent of the British population. (The average IQ is 100. Mensa only accepts those boasting IQs of 148 or higher.) Since her test scores went public, four prestigious schools have approached Victoria with full-scholarship offers.
The child wonder tells The Daily Mail, "When I got the results, I was really surprised. It's quite daunting to be compared to great minds, but it feels good also to be thought of as that clever."
Victoria's parents were pleasantly surprised their child, already identified as exceptionally bright, scored so high. Her mother, Alison, says 'When she was at nursery she had the reading ability of a child twice her age and she won science awards at school. We always knew she was clever — she was always in the top sets and her teachers always praised her — but we never quite thought she'd be in Mensa," according to the The Daily Mail.
Dr. Oz's One-Day Diet
A one-day diet? Ah, you're thinking, there's a trick to this. And you're right. But it's one that you're going to want to play on yourself.
Of course, we all know that in one day you won't fit into Angelina Jolie's castoffs. But you will have proved to yourself that you can do it — which will give you the confidence and courage to try it for one more day. So often we lose sight of our goals, particularly when we catch sight of a slab of cheesecake that reminds us how "deprived" we've been. On the One-Day Diet, every day is the first day.
Now, here's your first dose of motivation: You can lose up to two inches and 10 pounds in four weeks by following our meal plan. Just as important: Follow these simple rules that will help you zero in on key risk factors for weight gain — and conquer them once and for all.
Related: See the full One-Day Diet plan
Rule 1: Renew Your Vows Daily
Start each morning anew, and recommit to sticking to the plan one day at a time, day after day. That helps you keep the energy and motivation that you always bring to a new project...and that can fizzle out once you see how challenging your undertaking is.As you get out of bed, repeat this mantra: "I am going to follow my plan for the next 24 hours" — and remind yourself of the reasons (Your health? That gorgeous little black dress you bought on sale?) you want to lose weight.
Rule 2: Do Something Completely Different Every DayAdd what we call the "George Costanza element" daily. It's based on the Seinfeld character who, in one episode, decided to turn his life around by doing the opposite of what he usually did. (And it worked — at least for 30 minutes.)
Doing something different can help shake up your thought patterns and challenge old habits like "I'm tired; I need a Cinnabon." It's like traveling in a country where they drive on the left-hand side of the road: You're forced to pay more attention to traffic patterns and where all the gears and gadgets are in your car.
Being more mindful about how and when you eat, how you think when you're under stress, and what you could be doing instead will put you in the driver's seat when it comes to your diet. No more popping handfuls of candy, skipping breakfast, or reaching into your grab bag of excuses for why you can't exercise today.
Five Tips For Coping With Food Inflation
For decades, Canadians have been pretty lucky - we've enjoyed a plentiful food supply at a relatively low cost. To see how far cheap food prices have taken us, take a moment to browse the aisles of your local grocery store and count how many kinds of cereals, yogurts, pickles, etc. you can find at any given time. We're spoiled by quantity, selection and price. In fact, the biggest problem many of us have with food is that we eat too much of it.
But the days of cheap food are about to come to an end. Soaring food prices are already leading to social unrest in North Africa and China, and higher prices are on the way in Canada - just last week baked goods giant George Weston Ltd. announced that it's raising prices by an average of five percent to cope with the rising costs of oil, wheat and sugar.
Most economists don't think this is going to be a temporary price hike, either. The high cost of fuel means that foods you're used to enjoying pretty cheaply are going to get harder and more expensive to produce and ship.
Kate Middleton's weight in spotlight ahead of royal wedding
LONDON - How thin is too thin? Not even Kate Middleton has escaped the thorny debate.The willowy princess-to-be's appearance and reported comments during a visit to Northern Ireland sparked some concerns Wednesday about whether she's losing too much weight ahead of the April 29 royal wedding. The subject even became a topic on Twitter.
In front-page newspaper photographs, Middleton appears to be in good health if slightly slimmer than usual, but reporters heard many in the Belfast crowd of well-wishers on Tuesday making comments that she looked a bit gaunt.
One woman, Heather Lindsay, told Middleton "not to lose any more weight," and said Middleton remarked that it was all part of the wedding plan.
Palace officials Wednesday refused to say whether Prince William's fiancee is trying to lose a few pounds before the big day. They also declined to specify her height, weight or to comment on her words in Northern Ireland.
"It was an off-the-cuff comment," said a press aide to Prince Charles who asked not to be identified because of palace protocol. "It's a hugely private matter."
Prince Charles' press aides have been protective of Middleton's privacy since the engagement was announced in November. Middleton was active in many sports during her university days and her weight hasn't seemed to have fluctuated much since then.
Great Lakes phosphorus levels rising, report warns
A mysterious resurgence of phosphorus in the Great Lakes is endangering the aquatic food chain and human health, says a binational agency that advises Canada and the U.S.
Fifteen years after the last programs to control phosphorus runoff ended, the International Joint Commission urged on Wednesday a renewed effort to get the oxygen-depleting chemical out of the water.
The call to action was one of 32 recommendations the commission made to both governments in its biennial report on the state of the Great Lakes at Detroit's Wayne State University.
The report specifically urges the two governments, which are currently renegotiating a binational water quality agreement, to include human health language in the agreement.
The report underlined a growing problem with phosphorous in the Great Lakes, especially in Lake Erie, which over the last few years has seen an increase in algal blooms caused by excessive nutrient runoff such as phosphorous.
Those blooms include blue-green algae — also known as cyanobacteria — which produce toxins that pose a health risk to people and animals when they are exposed to them in large quantities.
"We don't know where the phosphorous is coming from," Bill Bowerman, chair of the IJC's science advisory board and a wildlife ecologist at South Carolina's Clemson University, said during Wednesday's IJC news conference.
Gas savings tips that don’t actually work
Have you filled up your car lately and cringed to see how much a tank of gas sets you back? The average cost of a litre of unleaded gas has climbed above $1.20 in most places, with predictions that international unrest may drive prices even higher. We still have to drive to work and/or school, so we look for ways to squeeze more miles out of that pricey tank -- but do those tricks you hear about amount to real savings? Here are six gas saving tips that don't actually work, and ways you can make the most of a tank.
1. Turning Off the AC
Air conditioning in your home does a number on your electric bill, so it must drain your gas tank too, right? Not so much. Auto testing at Consumer Reports proves that running the AC uses such a nominal amount more in gas, you may as well turn on the AC and be comfortable on a hot day. Rolling down your windows can add drag, zapping your car's efficiency; for best gas mileage, run the fan and keep your windows rolled up.
2. Filling Up When It's Cold Outside
Get your gas in the evening or early morning -- the fuel is cold, and therefore denser. The truth about this myth is that you can barely register a temperature difference, since gas is stored in cool underground tanks, so fill up when you want. There are no savings to be had by waiting until it's cool out.
Lentils Can Help You Lose Belly Fat!
Here's a surprising fact: Canada is the world's largest exporter of lentils, distributing this healthy legume to over 100 different countries annually. Despite that, lentils are under-appreciated in this country. They're staple food for much of the rest of the world, and for good reason: 100 grams of lentils provide 26 grams of protein and 7.5 grams of iron (60 percent of your daily needs). This makes them a great choice for vegetarians, who often struggle to get enough of these body-building nutrients, but they are a great addition to any diet as a healthy and affordable source of protein.
Five reasons why lentils are a superfood
1. High source of vegetarian protein: Protein induces satiety (the feeling of fullness) faster than fats and carbohydrates, and also keeps blood insulin levels from spiking. Frequent insulin spikes can lead to constant elevated blood glucose, and even diabetes.
How To Work With People You Can't Stand
How to Work with People You Can't Stand
By Cheryl Stein
Monster Personal Coach
The reality of life is that we sometimes have to work with people that we don’t like. Worse then that, sometimes we end up working with people that we absolutely hate and wish more than anything that we could vaporize them into oblivion. Although making people disappear is not a good coaching option, there are ways of dealing with the issue that can help the problem disappear.
Be Brutally Honest with Your CoworkerConfronting the person that is making you sick and telling them really nicely what they are doing to make your workday awful can sometimes get them to stop. A lot of the time, people are completely oblivious to how their behavior is making people feel. Bringing their lousy behavior to their attention can be a wake up call to get them to change.
Rise Above the Bad Workplace Behavior
Is there any way to ignore or avoid this person that is driving you crazy? Like your mother taught you when you were five, pretending that you are not affected by the way a person is behaving can get them to stop- especially if they are behaving in a way that is intentionally aimed at hurting you.
Will Your Personality Affect How Long You Live?
By Cynthia Ross Cravit
Do you see the glass as half-full? Pay attention to friends and family? You just might live longer.Aspiring centenarians may want to take a look at their attitude, according to a Mayo Clinic study.
A person’s outlook on life may not only improve longevity but quality of life, researchers say. Optimists are said to experience a higher level of both physical and mental functioning than their pessimist counterparts. Further, optimistic people decreased their risk of early death by a full 50 per cent compared to those who were more pessimistic.
“The wellness of being is not just physical, but attitudinal,” said Dr. Toshihiko Maruta, principal author of the study. “How you perceive what goes on around you and how you interpret it may have an impact on your longevity, and it could affect the quality of your later years.”
Ideas about the associations of personality and health are not new, but have their roots in the bodily humors of ancient Greece.While the exact mechanism of how personality acts as a risk factor for early death or poorer health is unclear, Maruto says it likely has to do with the fact that pessimists have an increased chance for future problems with their physical health, career achievements, and emotional stress — particularly depression.
“Yet another possibility could be more directly biological, like changes in the immune system,” he adds.Researchers found that pessimists scored below the national average on physical functioning, bodily pain, perception of general health, vitality, mental health, and social functioning.
Besides looking at the world through rosier-colored glasses, living a long and healthy life may also mean paying attention to friends and family.Loneliness in people over age 50 greatly increases their risk of high blood pressure, according to a new study at the University of Chicago.
12 Celebrity Body Secrets
At last! Trainers behind beautiful-bodied Halle, Heidi, and Jennifers A. and L. reveal how their clients got their shapes and how you can, too.Also, check out Marie Claire's Tips to Get Sexy, Strong Abs: The Easy Way!
(Photo credit: Dimitrois Kambouris/Wire)
FAB FIGURE: Jennifer Aniston
CELEB TRAINER: Kathy Kaehler
SMART TIPS:1. Eat! One big mistake women make is severely cutting calories, which slows your metabolism and makes you feel deprived. The result? You binge and gain weight.
2. But, eat slowly. After each bite, put down your fork and count to 10. This allows your brain to tell your stomach, "Enough."
3. MUST-DO MOVE: Card shuffle
TARGETS: Inner and outer thighs
HOW TO DO IT: Place 10 playing cards on the floor. Now squat, pick up one card, and shuffle four paces to the right. Squat; put the card down. Shuffle back to the pile, pick another card, and repeat until all 10 cards have been moved to the right.
BOOK: Kathy Kaehler's Celebrity Workouts
(Photo credit: Gregg DeGuire/Wire)
FAB FIGURE: Halle Berry
CELEB TRAINER: Harley Pasternak
SMART TIPS:4. Uphill walking is the best cardio exercise. (Do it outside or on a treadmill's highest incline.) It's easy on your knees while tightening your butt, thighs, and lower legs.
5. Dumbbells are better for muscle toning than weight machines, because they require no adjusting, they allow the body to move naturally, and they can be used for dozens of different exercises (while machines have a limited repertoire).
5 Health Reasons To Not Quit Coffee
By Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D., Associate Nutrition Editor at EatingWell Magazine
I really like coffee. The morning ritual of brewing a cup, the smell that perks me up before I take a sip and, of course, the flavor all make it my favorite beverage aside from water (water’s delicious!). As a registered dietitian and a nutrition editor for EatingWell Magazine, I know that coffee is fine in moderation. It has lots of antioxidants and is low in calories if you don’t load it up with cream and sugar. Nonetheless, I always feel slightly guilty about drinking it—you know, in a “it’s so good, it must be bad” kind of way.
Don’t Miss: 5 “Bad” Foods You Should Be Eating
Which is why I’m always delighted to hear of new reasons that coffee is good for your health...and there are plenty! Over 18,000 studies on coffee have been published in the past few decades, revealing these benefits, many of which Joyce Hendley wrote about in the March/April issue of EatingWell Magazine:
Recipes to Try: Hot Fudge Pudding Cake and Other Coffee-Infused Recipes
Don’t Miss: How to Brew a “Greener” Cup of Coffee1. It protects your heart: Moderate coffee drinkers (1 to 3 cups/day) have lower rates of stroke than noncoffee drinkers, an effect linked to coffee’s antioxidants. Coffee has more antioxidants per serving than blueberries, making it the biggest source of antioxidants in American diets. All those antioxidants may help suppress the damaging effect of inflammation on arteries. Immediately after drinking it, coffee raises your blood pressure and heart rate, but over the long term, it actually may lower blood pressure as coffee’s antioxidants activate nitric acid, widening blood vessels.
2. It diverts diabetes: Those antioxidants (chlorogenic acid and quinides, specifically) play another role: boosting your cells’ sensitivity to insulin, which helps regulate blood sugar. In fact, people who drink 4 or more cups of coffee each day may have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to some studies. Other studies have shown that caffeine can blunt the insulin-sensitivity boost, so if you do drink several cups a day, try mixing in decaf occasionally.
World's sixth mass extinction may be underway -- study
Mankind may have unleashed the sixth known mass extinction in Earth's history, according to a paper released on Wednesday by the science journal Nature.
Over the past 540 million years, five mega-wipeouts of species have occurred through naturally-induced events.
But the new threat is man-made, inflicted by habitation loss, over-hunting, over-fishing, the spread of germs and viruses and introduced species, and by climate change caused by fossil-fuel greenhouse gases, says the study.
Evidence from fossils suggests that in the "Big Five" extinctions, at least 75 percent of all animal species were destroyed.
Palaeobiologists at the University of California at Berkeley looked at the state of biodiversity today, using the world's mammal species as a barometer.
Until mankind's big expansion some 500 years ago, mammal extinctions were very rare: on average, just two species died out every million years.
But in the last five centuries, at least 80 out of 5,570 mammal species have bitten the dust, providing a clear warning of the peril to biodiversity.
"It looks like modern extinction rates resemble mass extinction rates, even after setting a high bar for defining 'mass extinction," said researcher Anthony Barnosky.
This picture is supported by the outlook for mammals in the "critically endangered" and "currently threatened" categories of the Red List of biodiversity compiled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
On the assumption that these species are wiped out and biodiversity loss continues unchecked, "the sixth mass extinction could arrive within as little as three to 22 centuries," said Barnosky.
Compared with nearly all the previous extinctions this would be fast-track.
What Your Feet Reveal About Your Health
By Elizabeth Rogers
Your feet are the mirror of your health. Find out what signs and symptoms you should be aware of, and how they might impact your health and well being.They’re farthest from your heart, but they shouldn’t be the farthest thing from your mind.
Like the rest of our body, our feet under go some changes as we get older. They’re more prone to chronic problems and pains, and any existing conditions can get worse. In addition to years’ worth of wear and tear, bad habits and chronic conditions like diabetes can take their toll. Because what happens to our body also happens to our feet, they can provide early indications of trouble.
“Your feet are a mirror of your health,” says Dr. Sheldon Nadal, a Toronto-based podiatrist with 30 years experience treating foot problems. “If you have poor circulation, if you smoke, if you have a circulatory disease or poor nutrition, it’s going to affect your feet.”
So what signs should we look out for? We spoke with Dr. Nadal about some of the common foot problems and symptoms that affect adults. Here’s what your feet may be trying to tell you.
The symptoms: what do they mean?
Dry or cracking skin. The face isn’t the only place you’ll see the signs of aging. As we get older, skin becomes thinner and drier on the feet too. While dry skin isn’t a crisis, those cracks and cuts can open the way to infection. In most cases, some regular moisturizing will do the trick, but beware of any wounds that won’t heal — they could be a sign of a more serious illness like diabetes.
Peeling and itching. Dry skin can also be a symptom of a fungal infection like the dreaded athlete’s foot, especially when accompanied by peeling, itching, scaling and inflammation. Fungus often shows up in the warm, moist area between the toes where it can easily spread to the nails if left untreated.
Fungus can be easy to pick up, especially if you like to go barefoot on the beach or in the locker room. Your best defence is to keep your feet protected with footwear and keep your feet dry with fresh socks and talcum powder as needed.
Thick, yellow nails. It could be the normal affects of aging, but it could also be a sign of nail fungus. Embarrassment aside, fungus can be difficult to treat because topical medications like creams often aren’t effective and oral medications can have potentially harmful side effects like liver damage. However, new laser treatments are revolutionizing the treatment of fungus — minus any pain or risks.
Another culprit of yellow nails? The chemicals in nail polish can cause damage. It’s a good idea to give your nails a breather, Dr. Nadal advises, especially during the winter when toes aren’t on display. A little sunshine won’t hurt either — the UV rays can even help kill unwanted organisms.
Black or dark toenails. Often the result of an injury, the colour is caused by a bruise under the nail. Unfortunately, the bruise can lead to other problems like a fungal infection or a sore that could become infected. Discoloured nails should be checked out, especially if you have diabetes.
Ingrown toenails. Improper grooming techniques, injury, hereditary and structural problems can all cause the toe nail to curl under and dig painfully into the skin. Poorly fitting shoes are also a cause, so it’s no surprise this problem shows up more often in women than men. Luckily, it can be treated in office by a podiatrist.
In most cases, it’s an issue that can easily be prevented. Make sure to trim your nails properly — always cut straight across rather than rounding edges — and that your shoes fit properly, especially in the toe area.
Pain. There’s one rule when it comes to pain: “Don’t ignore it; it’s not normal,” says Dr. Nadal. Foot pain can have many causes from arthritis to plantar fasciitis, but you’ll need some expert advice to determine the problem and find a treatment.
Osteoarthritis is a common problem, but it’s not the only cause. Pain and inflammation could also be due to a systemic condition like rheumatoid arthritis. Injury and repetitive stress can also cause tendonitis. A proper diagnosis is important because you may need more than painkillers. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can target inflammation, but many podiatrists such as Dr. Nadal also use drug-free treatments like sound wave therapies.
Retirement Living : Beyond Dr. Google
Your health is important, but whose advice can you trust? Here are some secrets for finding reliable information on the internet.Is the internet helping you find the right information for better health or providing you with bad advice? You may not realize it, but the answer is both. So how can you tell the difference?
Health continues to be one of the top topics people search for on the internet. In fact, the Pew Internet and American Life Project found that at least 80 per cent of Americans look for health information online. There are many benefits to having this content available, such as better education and awareness about diseases, finding new research and treatments, and better communication with doctors.
So what’s the problem? Studies over the past decade have found that a lot of online health content isn’t up to par in terms of quality and correctness. More recently, the Pew Internet project found that 75 per cent of people fail to check up on the health-related information they find. In other words, they’re ignoring crucial checks like how recently the content was published and whether the source is reliable.
Where can you find the best advice, and how can you tell if a source is credible? We’ve got the answers.
Start with reliable sources
Academics and media literacy experts know there’s a certain pecking order when it comes to finding reliable content in any field. The reason: it’s all about who is accountable for the information — how well it’s researched, written, reviewed and maintained. Here are some reliable websites to consider:
via 50plus.com
Great Reasons To Love Eggs
How can you not love eggs?! They are so easy to make, really versatile and very nutritious.
So what's with the bad reputation? Are you still hearing that you should avoid the yolk or eggs all together because they are high in fat and can raise your cholesterol? Here are some great reasons to forget the bad advice and get cracking:
- One egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids.
- Eggs are a source of healthy fat. One egg contains just 5 grams of fat and only 1.5 grams of that is saturated fat.
- Eggs are one of the only foods that contain naturally occurring vitamin D.
- According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, there is no significant link between egg consumption and heart disease, In fact, according to one study, regular consumption of eggs may help prevent blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks.
- New research shows that consumption of eggs does not have a negative impact on cholesterol. In fact, recent studies show that regular consumption of two eggs per day does not affect a person's lipid profile and may actually improve it.
- They are a good source of choline, which is an important nutrient that helps regulate the brain, nervous system, and cardiovascular system.
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