Trying to lose weight? Don't turn the heating on yet: Cold temperatures help us burn more fat

It's that time of year when turning on the heating can be extremely tempting.

But resisting the urge won't just save you money - it could also help you lose weight. 

A new study has found that colder temperatures help the body burn calories, by converting so-called 'bad' fat into 'good' fat.

The theory hinges on the different properties of two types of fat.

The troublesome white variety that we are all too familiar with soaks up extra calories and stores them in big bellies, love handles and saddlebag thighs.

الأجواء الباردة تساهم في حرق الدهون
قد يكون الوقت الذي نلجأ فيه لإشعال التدفئة مغريًا، لكن مقاومة هذه الرغبة الملحة لن تحفظ الأموال فقط، إنما ستساهم في حرق الدهون، وخسارة الوزن. فكشفت دراسة أن الأجواء الباردة تساعد الجسم في حرق السعرات الحرارية، وتحويلها من الدهون الضارة إلى الدهون الجيدة. وتتوقف هذه النظرية على نوع الدهون. فالدهون البيضاء تتخزن في البطن، وفي منطقة الفخذين. ويوجد لدى الكبار كمية صغيرة من الدهون البنية الجيدة، وتختص في حرق السعرات الحرارية، كما أنها تساعد على الاحتفاظ بدرجة حرارة الجسم

But adults also have a small amount of a second 'healthy fat'.

This brown fat specialises in burning off calories and generates heat as it does so.

Babies have lots of brown fat to keep them warm and adults that have more brown fat are slimmer than those without.

This could help explain why they remain a healthy weight without much effort, while others struggle to lose weight. 

Previous research has suggested it's possible to make more of it simply by keeping cool.

In the new study, scientists uncovered a molecular process in the brain known to control eating - but also transforms white fat into brown fat.

وتوجد الدهون البنية بوفرة في أجساد الأطفال، ويبدو الكبار الذين يوجد لديهم هذه الدهون أكثر نحافة من نظرائهم الذين لا تتوفر لديهم. وإن ذلك يفسر سبب حفاظهم على أجساد رشيقة دون الحاجة لبذل الجهد لخسارة الوزن. وقالت دراسة سابقة بأنه يمكن الحصول على الدهون البنية المفيدة بالحفاظ على درجة حرارة باردة. وكشفت دراسة جديدة عن عملية جزيئية في الدماغ تتحكم بالطعام، تعمل على تحويل الدهون البيضاء إلى بنية

This process impacts how much energy we burn and how much weight we can lose.

Hunger is the main cause for this evolutionary trigger but being exposed to cold also has the same effect.

The Yale University researchers say the study findings could help in the fight against obesity and related health problems such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, neurological disorders and cancer. 

The study, published in the journal Cell, showed that neurons in the brain that control hunger and appetite also control the 'browning' of white fat.

Researchers stimulated this browning process in mice and found it protected the animals from becoming obese on a high-fat diet.

The changes in hunger-promoting neurons in the brain were then studied.

وتظهر آثار هذه العملية في كمية السعرات الحرارية المحترقة، وكمية الوزن المفقود. ويعد الامتناع عن الطعام أهم الأسباب لخسارة الوزن، كما أن التعرض لأجواء باردة له ذات التأثير. وقال الباحثون من جامعة "ييل" بأن هذه النتائج من شأنها أن تحارب السمنة، والمشاكل المرتبطة بذلك، مثل: داء السكري النوع الثاني، وأمراض القلب، وارتفاع ضغط الدم، والسرطان، والاضطرابات العصبية. وقد وجدت الدراسة أن الخلايا العصبية في الدماغ والتي تتحكم بالشعور بالجوع، والشهية تتحكم في تحويل الدهون البيضاء الضارة إلى الدهون البنية. وقد اختُبرت هذه العملية على الفئران، فساهمت في حمايتها من السمنة

Scientists found a unique sugar acted as a switch to control brain activity - and burn fat.

Professor Xiaoyong Yang, associate professor of comparative medicine and physiology, said: 'Our studies reveal white fat 'browning' as a highly dynamic physiological process that the brain controls,.

'This work indicates that behavioural modifications promoted by the brain could influence how the amount of food we eat and store in fat is burned.'  

The discovery of this brain-to-fat connection could also lead to new strategies to combat obesity, he said.

وحذر باحثون أستراليون من غرف النوم ذات درجات الحرارة المرتفعة من أنها قد تسبب السمنة، فخسارة الوزن قد يكون أمرًا بسيطًا كالابتعاد عن ملطف درجات الحرارة. ووجدوا بأن الأشخاص الذين ناموا في غرف باردة لمدة شهر قد خسروا الوزن بنسب تتراوح ما بين 30-40%. وقد وجد الباحثون بأن الدهون البنية لم تساهم فقط في إبقاء أجسادهم دافئة في الأماكن الباردة، إنما جعلت معالجة الجسم للسكر أسهل

Earlier this year, Australian researchers warned cosy, centrally heated bedrooms may be making us fat – meaning losing weight could be as simple as turning down the radiator.

They found people who slept in colder rooms for a month did lose weight.

Dr Lee, of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, said: 'The big unknown in this study was whether or not we could actually manipulate brown fat to grow and shrink in a human being.

'What we found was that the cold month increased brown fat by around 30-40 per cent.'

The brown fat didn't just keep the men warm when it was cool indoors, it also made it easier for their bodies to process sugar.

Sites: Dailymail, Abunawaf

How can my glasses change from transparent, when I'm inside, to dark when I go outdoors?

Sunglasses or prescription eyeglasses that darken when exposed to the sun were first developed by Corning in the late 1960s and popularized by Transitions in the 1990s. In fact, because of the extreme popularity of the Transitions brand, these lenses are usually referred to as transition lenses. The correct term for these glasses is photochromic or photochromatic, which refers to a specific chemical reaction the lenses have to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

لماذا تصبح بعض النظارات الطبية معتمة في ضوء الشمس

هل خرجت مع أحد أصدقائك في يوم مشمس واندهشت من تحوّل عدساته الشفافة إلى عدسات شمسية معتمة؟! يطلق على هذه العدسات المستخدمة في هذه النظارات اسم (عدسات فوتوكرومك) والّتي تعني “العدسات المتغيّرة بالضّوء”، اسم آخر شائع لهذه العدسات هو ترانزسشن أو العدسات الانتقالية نسبةً إلى الشركة الرائدة في إنتاج هذه العدسات

Photochromic lenses have millions of molecules of substances such as silver chloride or silver halide embedded in them. The molecules are transparent to visible light in the absence of UV light, which is normal for artificial lighting. But when exposed to UV rays, as in direct sunlight, the molecules undergo a chemical process that causes them to change shape. The new molecular structure absorbs portions of the visible light, causing the lenses to darken. The number of molecules that change shape varies with the intensity of the UV rays.

 تحتوي هذه العدسات على بلورات هاليد الفضة (مركب يرتبط فيه الفضة مع أحد الهالوجينات)، وعادة ما يكون كلوريد الفضة. عندما تتعرض هذه البلورات للأشعة فوق البنفسجية الصادرة عن الشمس فإن تركيبها يتغيّر بحيث تصبح داكنة اللون ومعتمة، وتعود للشفافية عند اختفاء مصدر الأشعة فوق البنفسجية. وبما أن إعتام هذه العدسات يعتمد على الأشعة فوق البنفسجية، فإنها تبقى شفافة في المنازل بعيدًا عن ضوء الشمس، كما أنها لا تصبح معتمة عند التعرض للضوء الصناعي، كما أن درجة عتمتها لا تكون كافية في السيارات لأن النوافذ تحجب معظم الأشعة فوق البنفسجية

When you go indoors and out of the UV light, a different chemical reaction takes place. The absence of the UV radiation causes the molecules to "snap back" to their original shape, resulting in the loss of their light absorbing properties. In both directions, the entire process happens very rapidly.

ما يميز هذه العدسات أنها تغني عن حمل نظارات شمسية وطبية، لأنها تؤدي دورهما في آن واحد، كما أنها تحمي العين من الأشعة فوق البنفسجية التي قد تؤدي إلى مرض الماء الأبيض الذي يضعف البصر وقد يؤدي إلى العمى. تتميز هذه العدسات بالقدرة على الإعتام، لكن تغير العدسة من الشفافية إلى العتمة لا يحدث فورًا، حيث أن العدسة قد تستغرق ثلاث دقائق حتى تصبح معتمة. كما أن لدرجة الحرارة تأثير على سرعة عودة العدسات لطبيعتهم الشفافة، حيث أنها تعود للشفافية بسرعة في الجو الحار، على عكس الجو البارد الذي تستغرق فيه وقتًا أطولً

In the original PhotoBrown and PhotoGrey products made by Corning, the lenses are made of glass, and the molecules are distributed evenly throughout the entire lens. The problem with this method was apparent in prescription glasses where different parts of the lens were of varying thickness.

The thicker parts would appear darker than the thinner areas. But with the increasing popularity of plastic lenses, a new method has been developed. By immersing the lenses in a chemical bath, the photochromatic molecules are actually absorbed to a depth of about 150 microns into the plastic. This is much better than a simple coating, which would only be about 5 microns thick and would not provide enough molecules to make the lenses sufficiently dark. This plastic lens absorption process has been popularized by Transitions, the leading manufacturer of photochromic lenses.

An important note about photochromic lenses: because they react to UV light and not to visible light, there are circumstances under which the darkening will not occur. A perfect example of this is in your car. Because the windshield blocks out most UV light, photochromic lenses will not darken. For this reason, most sunglasses with photochromic lenses also have a certain amount of tint already applied to them.

اخترع “روجر أراوجو” العدسات المتغيرة بالضوء عند “كورننغ إنكوربوريتد” الرائدة في صناعة الزجاج والسيراميك، وقد تقدم للحصول على برائعة لاختراعه عام 1963، ولم يحصل عليها إلا في يونيو 1967


لم تكن العدسات الأولى بتلك الكفاءة، وذلك لأن العدسات الطبية التي تحتوي على كلوريد الفضة حينها كانت مصنوعة من الزجاج، وقد كان كلوريد الفضة موزعًا بالتساوي في العدسة، ولذا فإن درجة العتمة تختلف لاختلاف سمك الزجاج من موضع لآخر في العدسة نفسها. وقد وجد المصنعون الحل لهذه المشكلة بعد انتشار استخدام البلاستيك في صنع العدسات الطبية، حيث تُغمر العدسات البلاستيكية في حمام كيميائي بحيث يُمتص كلوريد الفضة إلى عمق 150 ميكرومتر (1 ميكرومتر = 10-6 متر)  من سطح العدسة

Sites: How stuff works, ibda3world

Should I use e-cigarettes to help me quit smoking?

The debate over the safety

and benefits of e-cigarettes is currently heating up.

Electronic cigarettes are battery-powered devices made of plastic or metal that heat a liquid nicotine solution, creating vapour that users inhale.

The $1.5 billion e-cigarette industry says the nicotine vaporizers are a less harmful alternative to smoking tobacco. The World Health Organisation and some regulatory bodies, on the other hand, showed grave concern for people using e-cigarettes and seek more restrictive rules.

With these two opposing school of thoughts, it may be frustrating and worrying for smokers deciding whether to use e-cigarettes as a cessation to tool to help them quit smoking.

قد يبدأ أحدنا التدخين في يوم من الأيام مغلوباً على نفسه بسبب المحيط الاجتماعي حوله، أو انطلاقاً من رغبته الخاصة، وفي كلا الحالتين يبدو أن الضمير الإنساني يبقى حياً داخله، ويحاول ذلك الضمير أن يوقظه بين فترة وأخرى عله يقلع عن هذه العادة السيئة

ففي الغالب يحاول من يبدأ التدخين أن يتركه بعد فترة، ولو على الأقل محاولة واحدة أو اثنتين، ولكن ماذا إن باءت المحاولات بالفشل؟! مع أن الإرادة يمكن أن تحقق المعجزات، لكن كما ذكرت لكم، قد يبقى الإنسان مغلوباً على نفسه بسبب المحيط الاجتماعي حوله، فما الحل

استخدم بعض الناس ما يسمى (علكة التبع) أو (لصاقات النيكوتين) التي لست بصدد تعريفكم بها لأنها أصبحت واسعة الشهرة، لكنها باءت بالفشل عند السواد الأعظم من المدخنين أيضاً


هنا قدم العالم بديلاً جديداً للسجائر العادية، إنها السجائر الإلكترونية، التي تصنع من البلاستيك أو الحديد، وتعمل بواسطة جهاز مزود ببطارية، وهي تقوم برفع حرارة مادة النيكوتين السائل الموجود داخلها حتى يتبخر، مما يمكن المدخنين من استنشاق ذلك البخار

Why many turn to e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid?

1. Mimics experience of tobacco cigarettes

It is estimated that up to 80% of current adult smokers have tried quitting at least once. Quitting is difficult because it is both an addiction and a habit.

When you smoke, you get used to the physical motions of bring the cigarette to your mouth. It’s difficult for users to quit because the muscles and brain are trained to reach for a cigarette.

E-cigarettes allow you to make that familiar hand-to-mouth action just as you would with a tobacco cigarette.

Therefore, it is argued that it is easier for smokers to quit using this tool as compared to smoking cessation aids like nicotine gum or patches.

2. No tobacco

In addition, e-cigarette proponents argue that e-cigarettes offer the advantage of a nicotine delivery service without risking the health consequences of smoking a real tobacco cigarette – there’s no smoke, no carbon monoxide, no odour and no tar. 

Tar is the collection of solid particles that smokers inhale when they light a cigarette. It is a mixture of lots of chemicals, many of which can cause cancer.

One study from an international group of scientists found that the level of toxins in e-cigarettes were 9-450 times lower than in cigarette smoke.

However, they still advised for further study to be done on e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid.

اعتبرتها المعامل المصنعة لها بديلاً عن تدخين التبغ، ووصفتها بأنها أقل ضرراً، في حين أظهرت منظمة الصحة العالمية وبعض جهات المراقبة قلقاً واضحاً بشأنها، وهي تحاول البحث عن قوانين أكثر صرامة لمستخدميها
مع هذين الرأيين المتضاربين، يبدو أنه من الصعب إصدار الحكم فيما إذا كانت هذه الأجهزة مفيدة في الإقلاع عن التدخين أم لا، أو هل هي ضارة أم غير ضارة بشكل عام
لماذا تزايدت النزعة لدى الكثيرين لاستخدام السجائر الإلكترونية كوسيلة مساعدة على ترك تدخين التبغ العادي
إليك السبب
تعتبر السجائر الإلكترونية تجربة مشابهة للتدخين العادي، لكن مع وجود الاعتقاد بأنها أقل ضرراً، أو حتى عديمة الضرر كما يعتقد البعض؛ والتدخين في الحقيقة يصبح عادة مبرمجة في الدماغ، فضلاً عن كونه إدماناً، فتصبح عادة حمل السيجارة وملامستها للشفاه فعلاً تعتاده مثلما تعتاد صنفاً معيناً من الطعام تأكله في فترات متقاربة، أو رياضة تقوم بها كل صباح

لذلك فشلت علكة التبغ ولصاقة التبغ في منع المدخنين من الاستمرار في حمل لفافاتهم، فهي قد تزودهم بالكمية التي يريدون من النيكوتين إشباعاً لإدمانهم، لكنها لم تنجح في جعلهم يتركون هذه العادة في التدخين، أما بالنسبة للسجائر الإلكترونية فهي تشابه التدخين العادي، وتحوي النيكوتين لكنها لا تضر كما ساد الاعتقاد

Why e-cigarettes may be bad for you?

1. Unclear long-term effects of inhaling vapour

The biggest concern most potential users have over e-cigarettes is that e-cigarettes are not regulated by regulatory agencies like the US Food and Drug Administration.

A lack of regulation means that companies are not required to report their product and ingredients listings. This means there can be vast disparities between the amount of nicotine advertised on the packaging and the amount of liquid actually contained.

The nicotine dosage may also vary notably between brands. In addition, there’s no way of knowing what other potential harmful chemicals they contain.

The long-term risk of delivering vapour nicotine to the lungs are also unknown. The bottom line is that the lack of regulation means that the safety of e-cigarettes are unclear.

2. Smokers do not quit vaping nicotine

Smokers are supposed to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking by gradually reducing their nicotine dependency. You start with a higher nicotine level (1.8% is usually a good starting point for moderate smokers), and move down to 1.2%, 0.6% and finally when you are ready, at 0% and smoke only the vapour without the nicotine.

However, studies have found that many users do not actually wean themselves off nicotine and do not move down to a lower nicotine dose.  In fact, there is a high level of dual use of e-cigarettes and conventional tobacco cigarettes among adults.

السبب الآخر هو أن هذه السجائر لا تحوي التبغ الذي تحويه السجائر العادية، والذي يسبب حرقه واستنشاق دخانه أخطاراً صحية تفوق خطر الإدمان، بسبب أحادي أوكسيد الكربون الذي ينتج عن الاحتراق، والقطران الذي يعد خليطاً من العديد المواد الكيميائية التي يعتبر إحدى أخطارها السرطان، فقد أكدت إحدى الدراسات أن نسبة المواد السامة في سيجارة إلكترونية تقل عن نسبتها في السجائر العادية بحوالي 450 مرة، لكن الدراسات نفسها قد أوصت بوجوب دراسة السجائر الإلكترونية ومناقشة إمكانيتها في المساعدة على ترك التدخين


في الواقع، إن السجائر الإلكترونية لا تخضع للرقابة نفسها فيما يتعلق بكمية النيكوتين فيها، وقد لا تصرح الشركات بالنسب الحقيقية التي تحويها هذه السجائر

Prof Simon Chapman of the University of Sydney, argues that tobacco companies want smokers to use e-cigarettes, as well as cigarettes, not instead of them and want to re-socialize public smoking back into fashion.

At the end of the day, nicotine is still addictive, as the Mayo Clinic explains. That means using e-cigarettes even a few times could lead to lifelong cravings for the drug.

On top of that, vaping reinforces the “hand-to-mouth behaviour” which may make it harder for smokers to kick the habit.

Success of e-cigarette as smoking cessation aid is inconclusive

Some research such as a large randomised controlled trial conducted by New Zealand researchers in 2013 found that the quit rate for those using e-cigarettes is low and similar to those using a nicotine patch.

But other studies point to the success of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool over other cessation aids. The truth is that evidence whether e-cigarettes are helping or hurting smokers are pointing in both directions.

E-cigarettes are so new that research hasn’t had a chance to catch up with their meteoric rise in popularity. The body of research is small. Because the devices are so new, many of the studies conducted were funded by e-cigarette manufacturers. While it doesn’t mean the study’s findings are worthless, the results may not be entirely objective either.

لكن دعونا نناقش الأمر من وجهة نظر منطقية، فالمدخنون المستخدمون لهذا النوع من السجائر لا يقلعون عن تدخين مادة النيكوتين، وهذا قد يؤدي بهم إلى الاستمرار في الإدمان عليها بدلاً من استخدام هذا النوع من السجائر في الإقلاع عن التدخين، فهي مزودة بعدة أنواع من السوائل التي تحوي نسباً متفاوتة من النيكوتين، حيث يجب البدء بالنسب المعتادة منه، حوالي 1.8%، ثم يتم تخفيضها إلى 1.2%، وبعدها 0.6%، وصولاً إلى نسبة معدومة 0%، حيث يتم تدخين البخار وحده في هذه الحالة بدون النيكوتين

لكن الإحصائيات أظهرت فشل الكثير من المستخدمين في اتباع هذه الخطة المرجوة، وظهر ميل البعض لاستخدام النوعين من السجائر العادية، والإلكترونية معاً
كما أنها تعزز عادة حمل السجائر وملامستها للشفاه، مما يصعب تركها، لاعتياد الدماغ على هذا الفعل كما ذكرت
لا يزال هذا النوع من السجائر حديث الاستخدام، والبحوث بشأن مضاره وفوائده في بداياتها، لكن يعتقد بعض الأطباء أنها قد تسبب التهاب الرئتين، كما أنها تؤثر على التنفس، ربما لا يلاحظها المستخدمون العاديون لعدم قيامهم بجهد رياضي كاف
لكن وُجد أنها تقلل من المساحة التنفسية في الرئة فلا تعود الرئتان بالقدرة ذاتها على استيعاب المزيد من الأوكسجين أثناء ممارسة الرياضة، ويُلاحظ ذلك عند القيام بنشاط رياضي مجهد قليلاً، حيث تقل القدرة على ممارسة الرياضة بالكفاءة المعتادة.

وهي – كما في تدخين السجائر العادية – تؤثر على القلب والأوعية الدموية، فلا تصل الكمية ذاتها من الدم إلى العضلات، مما يضعف اللياقة العامة، كما تسبب تعباً في عضلة القلب

Conclusion

E-cigarettes may well possibly be the best smoking cessation aid that has come onto the market. Reading testimonies of consumers quitting tobacco cigarettes after using e-cigarettes is certainly heartening.

On the other hand, the body of research on e-cigarettes is currently small and new which means that consumers would not know the full extent of the potential risks.

The fact that the effects have not been fully studied means that you will have to try it at your own risk. – September 12, 2014.

خلاصة الأمر هي أنني أرجو وضوح الفكرة في أذهانكم، فلا بديل عن الإرادة في قضية ترك التدخين، ولا يمكن أن تساعد هذه الملحقات المشابهة للسجائر في تركها، فكما شرحت لكم، لم تظهر السجائر الإلكترونية ذلك الأثر المطلوب، كل ما في الأمر أنها بديل أقل ضرراً، ولكن الأبحاث في طريقها لكشف المزيد، ولا بد أن تظهر الآثار السلبية شيئاً فشيئا

Site: themalaysianinsider, arageek

'Anti-shake' spoon allows Parkinson's sufferers to eat soup and ice cream again

An anti-shake spoon is allowing people with frustrating and disabling tremors enjoy their favourite foods once more.

The Liftware spoon detects and then cancels out shakes and judders, allowing soup, cereal and other hard to manipulate foods be eaten with ease.

The technology, which has been bought by Google, is aimed at Parkinson’s patients and other people with tremors.

الآن مرضى الرعاش يستطيعون تناول الحساء والأيس كريم مرة أخرى

يعتبر مرض باركنسون من الأمراض التي يعاني منها كبار السن حيث يسبب ضعفاً في قدرة الجسم على التحكم بالحركة، ويبقي يديه مهتزتان بدون القدرة على التحكم بها، لذا كان هذا الاختراع الذي يمنع الاهتزاز لمرضى الرعاش المستمر حتى يستطيعون تناول طعامهم بسهولة، والخبر السار أن جوجل قامت بشراء هذه التقنية الذكية التي تسهل للمرضى تناول طعامهم

The £180 spoon has revolutionary electronics in its handle, which can cancel out shakes by 70 per cent

Uncontrollable shaking of the hand or arm is one of the first symptoms of Parkinson’s.

But it can also occur in otherwise healthy people, with four in 100 adults aged 40-plus suffering from an essential tremor that when severe can make eating, drinking and writing extremely difficult.

Cutting-edge electronics hidden in chunky handle of the Liftware spoon sense the tremor.

They then move the handle in the opposite direction, to cancel out the shake.

Similar technology is used in cameras to compensate for unsteady hands.

The spoon’s creators, at San Francisco-based Lift Labs, say that it puts the dignity and enjoyment back into mealtimes.

And that in trials, it cut tremors by more than 70 per cent.

A spokesman said: ‘Mealtime brings people together. It is more than a time for nourishing the body, we nourish our spirit and relationships.

‘A tremor, whether from essential tremor or Parkinson’s disease takes away from this experience, forcing people to focus instead on the basic task of eating.

‘We’ve invented the Liftware spoon to cancel hand tremor and take the frustration out of eating.

‘We are proud to offer a product that allows people to take charge of their tremor.’

At £180 the electronic spoon isn’t cheap – however, it does come with a 30-day money back guarantee.

هذا المرض قد يحدث أيضاً لدى الأصحاء فأربعة من بين كل مئة شخص معرضون للإصابة بهذا المرض، وخصوصاً إن كانت أعمارهم فوق الأربعين عاماً، فهم سيعانون من مرض حركة اهتزاز اليدين اللارادية، وحين يزداد الأمر فإن تناول الطعام سيكون مشكلة كبيرة تواجه هؤلاء المرضى، وستصبح أبسط الأمور أكثر صعوبة مما نتخيل، وتم تطوير هذه التقنية في سان فرانسيسكو، وقالت الشركة بأنه تهدف لإعادة السعادة والمتعة لهؤلاء المرضى

وتعمل هذه الملعقة على وقف 70% من حركة الاهتزاز عند تناول الطعام. ويقول المتحدث باسم الشركة:"يجمع وقت تناول الطعام الناس معًا، وهو أكثر من مجرد الحصول على غذاء، فهو تغذية للروح والعلاقات الأسرية". ويبلغ ثمن هذه الملعقة 291$

وعن آراء من استخدموا هذه الملعقة كيف أنها سمحت له بتناول وجبة الحبوب التي لم يتناولها منذ سنوات، وآخر تناول عدة أطباق من ذات الوجبة. وتهتم جوجل بالتقنيات الصحية التي ستحسن حياة الملايين، وتنفق الكثير من الأموال من أجل تطويرها.

One customer told how the spoon allowed them to eat a bowl of cereal for the first time in years.

Another told how they have eaten ‘multiple bowls’ of soup and cereal without spilling a drop.

Fork and key holder attachments are also planned for the handle, which is comes with an electric toothbrush-like charger.

Announcing its purchase of Lift Labs, Google said the technology ‘could improve quality of life for millions of people’.

Google is increasingly investing in health technology. Its co-founder Sergey Brin has a personal interest in Parkinson’s. His mother has the disease and he carries a gene that raises his odds of developing it.

However, Parkinson’s UK has questioned how useful the spoon will be for the 127,000 Britons with the disease.

Daiga Heisters, the charity’s head of education, said: ‘The majority of people with Parkinson’s only have a tremor when their hand is resting and so this technology won’t help them.’ 

Site: Dailymail

Scientists say they can slow aging by activating a gene with a 'remote'

UCLA biologists says they can slow the aging process by activating a gene by 'remote control.'

Scientists at the university's Molecular Biology Institute published a paper this month that found activating a gene called AMPK in fruit fly cells increased the insects' lifespans by about 30 percent and lived healthier lives.

The treatment could one day be used to increase human lifespan and stave off disease by stimulating the gene in targeted organs or organ systems.

Triggered: By activating AMPK in the cells of fruit flies, researchers at UCLA found they could significantly increase their lifespan

The study found that when AMPK was increased in cells in the nervous system, not only did the those cells age slower but the cells in the intestines did as well.

The reverse was true when AMPK was targeted in intestinal cells. 

After treatment, the fruit flies in the study increased their lifespan from six weeks to eight weeks.

By tweaking levels of AMPK, scientists were allowing cells to dump 'cellular garbage,' components that cells discard due to damage or age.

Discarding this material earlier avoids damage to the cell and prevents the aging process.

David Walker, associate professor at UCLA and senior author of the research, is hopeful that the treatment could one day be used to prevent the debilitating diseases associated with aging.

New life: Biologists at the Molecular Biology Institute at UCLA are hopeful that this research could prevent aging-related diseases like Parkinson's

"Instead of studying the diseases of aging—Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes—one by one, we believe it may be possible to intervene in the aging process and delay the onset of many of these diseases," said Walker.

UCLA Newsroom writes fruit flies are used in gene studies because scientists have already cataloged the entirety of the fruit fly's genes and can activate targeted genes.

The lead author of the study said that a drug used to treat diabetes Type 2 could be used to activate AMPK in humans.

Site: Dailymail

LONG TIME SITTING

Few suggestions to keep your active at workplace:

• Carry out some simple exercises.
• Go for a walk in lunch hour.
• Rinse your eyes with water.
• Sit in a comfortable position.
• Move neck forward or backward.
• Change body positions ferquently.
• Make correct adjustment of chair (height, tilt etc.).
• Avoid elevator. use stairs.

Site: Aarna Systems

Health and Nutritional Benefits of Oranges

Orange is a juicy citrus fruit containing lot of vitamin contents especially Vitamin C. The delicious fruit contains some nutritional elements having lots of nutritional benefits. Oranges contain carpels with many fluid vessels which are specialized hair cells. It mostly comes in winter in its 600 varieties. It is one of the best fruits which comes with disease curable factors. Oranges contain large amount of Vitamin C and calcium, phosphorous, potassium, citrus acid, beta carotene, and aldehyde and alcohol ENE group compounds. Brazil produces highest amount of oranges all over the world.

Nutritional Benefits of Oranges:

1: It is helpful in inflammatory conditions

• Various vitamin contents like Vitamin C are known as a powerful antioxidant for human body. Orange has the ability to reduce oxidant injuries. It provides resistance power against infectious agents.
• Vitamin C protects the body against harmful and pro-inflammatory free radicals present in blood. As we know citrus fruits are rich in Vitamin C, orange is the best for the source of Vitamin C.

2: Good for anti-aging

Presence of bioactive compound like Narigenin which is a good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and a good immune system provider helps in neutralizing the effect of free radicals and the unstable oxygen molecules in human body. These neutralizing effects clears the sign of aging like scars, wrinkles giving you the perfect skin letting you feel the glow and sparkle of your skin. This nutritional benefit of orange is more useful for aging women .

3: Good for skin

Vitamins present in orange posses the good skin maintaining properties providing healthy, glowing, smooth and soft skin. This nutritional benefit of orange is used by cosmetic companies for making their product.

4: Helps in losing weight

• Nutritional benefits of oranges helps in losing weight as they are fat and calorie free fruit containing large amount of fiber. It also contains vital nutrients for human body like thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, magnesium and copper.
• All these contents with fat free elements help in losing weight and providing all necessary elements and vitamins for your body.

5: Orange juice absorbs medicines in the body

One of the very good health benefit of orange juice is that it helps in absorbing the biochemical and physiological effects of medicines which help you cure your disease in a faster processes thus helping in absorbing medicines by the body.

6. Good for vision

Orange contains a good percentage of Vitamin A and various flavonoid contents along with the antioxidant particles like alpha and beta carotenes, beta cryptoxanthin, zea-xanhin and lutein gives you a good skin. As we all know Vitamin A is most essential element for eye sight vision thus keeping your mucous membrane and skin of the eye healthy.

7: Oranges control heartbeat and blood pressure

• Large number of mineral present in orange helps to control the heart rate stable and moderate.
• The minerals are like potassium and calcium controls the sodium action in the human body and maintains blood pressure and heart beat.
• Oranges contain fiber with fat free, sodium free and cholesterol free properties keep your heart healthy.

8: Prevents cancer

Large amount of Vitamin available in orange and other flavonoid antioxidants like alpha and beta carotenes and other antioxidant compounds which helps in preventing cancer.

The most useful nutrition fact of orange is that it is rich in flavonoid that prevents from lungs and cavity cancer.

9: Orange peels lower blood sugar level

Orange peels contain low sugar percentage affect blood sugar levels. Diabetes and metabolic syndrome patients should take Glycemic load lower. This nutritional benefit of orange is useful for diabetic patients.

10: It keeps balance in nutrition

Oranges have essential Vitamin contents, antioxidants, protein, water percentage, fiber, some necessary minerals that helps in keeping your body nutrition in a balanced manner.

Site: Health Digezt

4 Grocery Shopping Tips That Will Save You Calories

Food is an important part of life, but it’s something that you must also be conscious about because consuming too much of the wrong things can lead to weight gain. The choices that you make in the grocery store are the ones that will determine your success during the week. If you learn how to grocery shop properly, you will be more likely to make the good choices that benefit your health and waistline.

The Infamous Rainbow Grapes – Are They Real?

With digital software like Photoshop being used ever so often to alter things so perfectly, it’s hard to tell what’s real anymore. Take these photos of the so-called ‘rainbow grapes’ that have been doing the rounds online for about a month. They’re about the coolest-looking fruit I’ve ever seen, but are they real?

10 important decisions to make during pregnancy

The things you need to do BEFORE the baby arrives:

Pregnancy isn’t all about nesting and choosing the perfect pram – although shopping for baby is the fun part. Becoming parents involves making decisions about everything from giving birth to preparing for the early weeks of life at home with a newborn.

7 Exercises That Will Transform Your Body

Looking for some effective ways to transform your body? There are a few great exercises that will help you to reach your fitness goal. These exercises are easy but effective in strengthening your body along with burning unwanted calories. However, sticking to these exercises is not enough to transform your body, you should also eat healthy and get enough sleep regularly. Don’t waste your precious time doing other workouts, here are seven exercises that will help you transform your body in no time.

HASS FAMILY CALIFORNIA AVOCADO EVERYDAY SALAD

A tossed green salad made by Elizabeth Hass, just the way Rudolph Hass, owner of the original Hass Avocado tree, loved it. Simple, tasty and full of California Avocados. Made with typically on hand ingredients, so it is easy to prepare without much planning. It is made special by the creamy Fresh California Avocado Dressing. Sliced celery and walnuts add some great crunch.

10 Steps for Protecting Kidney Health

Recent studies indicate that 26 million American adults suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD) and that the number is likely to rise unless Americans get serious about prevention. Primary risks include: diabetes; heart disease; high blood pressure; a family history of kidney failure; and age 60-plus. Secondary risks include: obesity; autoimmune diseases; urinary tract infections and systemic infections.

12 ways to keep your brain young

Every brain changes with age, and mental function changes along with it. Mental decline is common, and it’s one of the most feared consequences of aging. But cognitive impairment is not inevitable. Here are 12 ways you can help reduce your risk of age-related memory loss.

10 nutrition-loaded tips for working women

Rashi Chowdhary, nutritionist, inch-loss-expert and owner of The Protein Bake Shop shares ways to keep your energy levels high throughout the day.

Eye Health Tips

Simple Tips for Healthy Eyes

Your eyes are an important part of your health. There are many things you can do to keep them healthy and make sure you are seeing your best. Follow these simple steps for maintaining healthy eyes well into your golden years.

11 Reasons Why You Should Drink Coffee Every Day

There really can't be any adult in this great big world that has never tried coffee. It's consumed everywhere, and judging by the amount of Starbucks locations in the United States alone, (in 2012, there were 10,924!) we love our caffeine.

And that's fine. In fact, there are many advantages to being one of the 54 percent of Americans over 18 who drink coffee everyday. Coffee can be pretty amazing for your brain, your skin and your body. Read on to discover 11 reasons you should wake up and smell the coffee...

1. Americans get more antioxidants from coffee than anything else:

According to a study done in 2005, "nothing else comes close" to providing as many antioxidants as coffee. While fruits and vegetables also have tons of antioxidants, the human body seems to absorb the most from coffee.

Could giving babies antibiotics be linked to obesity in later life? Study finds evidence drugs reprogramme how the gut works

• Scientists gave low doses of penicillin to mice for first month of life.
• Found that those given drug were more likely to become obese as adults.
• Believe medication destroyed gut bacteria which reprogrammed metabolism. 

Foods That Better For Your Heart

The good news for young people is that about 80 percent of heart disease can be prevented through healthy diet and lifestyle choices. That means hitting the gym, quitting smoking, cutting back on any boozehound tendencies, and - perhaps most importantly - cleaning up your nutrition plan. Apart from ditching salty and processed foods, it’s a great idea to load up on eats that actually help your heart. Here, the list to live by. 

Top 10 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Green Tea

Green tea is the healthiest beverage on the planet. It is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that have powerful effects on the body. This includes improved brain function, fat loss, a lower risk of cancer and many other incredible benefits. 

Here are 10 health benefits of green tea that have been confirmed in human research studies. 

1. Green Tea Contains Various Bioactive Compounds That Can Improve Health. 

2. Compounds in Green Tea Can Improve Brain Function and Make You Smarter. 

3. Green Tea Increases Fat Burning and Improves Physical Performance.

4. Antioxidants in Green Tea May Lower Your Risk of Various Types of Cancer.

5. Green Tea May Protect Your Brain in Old Age, Lowering Your Risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. 

6. Green Tea Can Kill Bacteria, Which Improves Dental Health and Lowers Your Risk of Infection. 

7. Green Tea May Lower Your Risk of Type II Diabetes. 

8. Green Tea May Reduce Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease. 

9. Green Tea Can Help You Lose Weight and Lower Your Risk of Becoming Obese. 

10. Green Tea May Decrease Your Risk of Dying and Help You Live Longer.

SITE: Authority Nutrition