The Science of Scones

from spectator.uk:

I find that, with the making of scones, as indeed with any baking, it is important to be in the right frame of mind. It’s no good if you become distracted, for example by someone dying suddenly and unexpectedly on the Archers; if so, hiccups, or total disasters, loom.

But I also think that, especially with scones, it’s important not to concentrate too much: speed and agility are key; try to develop a kind of insouciance about it. This lightness of touch helps the aspiring scone-maker to come nearer to creating the accordion-like delicacies that gather fluffy as clouds atop WI fundraiser trestle tables.

Why Nondrinkers May Be More Depressed

from Time:

But if alcohol can lead to depression, does that mean abstaining from alcohol will make you happier? A new study suggests that the opposite actually tends to be true. In fact, those who never drink are at significantly higher risk for not only depression but also anxiety disorders, compared with those who consume alcohol regularly. Read more: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1928187,00.html#ixzz0yDqZfaB8

Why Do Heavy Drinkers Outlive Nondrinkers?

from Time:

"One of the most contentious issues in the vast literature about alcohol consumption has been the consistent finding that those who don't drink actually tend to die sooner than those who do. The standard Alcoholics Anonymous explanation for this finding is that many of those who show up as abstainers in such research are actually former hard-core drunks who had already incurred health problems associated with drinking.

But a new paper in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research suggests that — for reasons that aren't entirely clear — abstaining from alcohol does actually tend to increase one's risk of dying even when you exclude former drinkers. The most shocking part? Abstainers' mortality rates are higher than those of heavy drinkers. (See pictures of booze under a microscope.)

Moderate drinking, which is defined as one to three drinks per day, is associated with the lowest mortality rates in alcohol studies. Moderate alcohol use (especially when the beverage of choice is red wine) is thought to improve heart health, circulation and sociability, which can be important because people who are isolated don't have as many family members and friends who can notice and help treat health problems.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2014332,00.html#ixzz0yC1Ymvug

the top 10 record breakers of the decade

from DailyMail:
Epic Achievements - Longest Time to Hold One's Breath

Tom Sietas (Germany), a man with a mass of AIDA achievements to his name, held his breath underwater for 17 minutes and 33 seconds on the set of ‘Guinness World Records’ in Madrid, Spain, on 30 December 2008.

Health 'Reform' Gets a Failing Grade

from WSJ:

There are important lessons to be learned from recent experience with reform in Massachusetts. Here, insurance mandates similar to those proposed in the federal legislation succeeded in expanding coverage but—despite initial predictions—increased total spending.

health blurb...you can influence how long you live

from Newsvine: To get an extra 14 years of life, don't smoke, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly and drink alcohol in moderation. That's the finding of a study that tracked about 20,000 people in the United Kingdom.

health blurb...GlucoBoy

from engadget: "Targeted at kids with juvenile diabetes, the device rewards timely testing and target blood sugar levels by doling out points that can be used to unlock 2 full length games and 3 additional mini-arcade games, and kids can share point totals and high scores on a related website called GRIP. GlucoBoy is now available in Australia, but the company hopes to have wider availability soon."

health blurb...saying no to junk food?

from the NYTimes: Federal lawmakers are considering the broadest effort ever to limit what children eat: a national ban on selling candy, sugary soda and salty, fatty food in school snack bars, vending machines and a la carte cafeteria lines.

health blurb...diet

I heard on the radio today that skipping breakfast lowers your metabolism and makes you gain weight. They said this is a common method used by sumo wrestlers to increase their weight.

health blurb...standing for weight loss

from abc news: "In most cases, exercise alone, according to a team of scientists at the University of Missouri, isn't enough to take off those added pounds. The problem, they say, is that all the stuff we've heard the last few years about weight control left one key factor out of the equation. When we sit, the researchers found, the enzymes that are responsible for burning fat just shut down."

health blurb...20 worst foods in America

The 20 Worst Foods in America
The U.S. food industry has declared war on your waistline. Here's how to disarm its weapons of mass inflation

Here's an example of two. Nice article with good alternatives at the culprit restaurants...
Worst Starter
2 Chili's Awesome Blossom
2,710 calories 203 g fat
194 g carbs 6,360 mg sodium


The Worst Food in America
1 Outback Steakhouse Aussie Cheese Fries with Ranch Dressing
2,900 calories 182 g fat
240 g carbs

health blurb...winter colds

Finally, someone has a reasonable answer to why colds and flu are more common in the Winter. From LiveScience: "A new animal study suggests that the influenza virus' success hinges on low relative humidity and cold temperatures. Such conditions keep the virus more stable and in the air longer than warm, humid conditions, scientists said. 'We found that the flu's transmission period is much, much longer when temperatures and humidity levels are low,' Palese told LiveScience."

health blurb...satsumas

One of the things I enjoy about this time of year...satsuma oranges. For about 2 months these are in season, they are pretty cheap, no seeds and delicious.

health blurb

Lifehouse teams with Allstate to combat teen deaths from car accident epidemic- 6,000 teens per year die in car accidents. Allstate asked Jason Wade to come up with a song about this topic:

health blurb...brocolli-extract instead of sun tan lotion

Prof Paul Talalay, of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, said: "Treatment with broccoli extract alleviates skin damage and reduces the risk of cancer. from the Mirror.

health blurb...addiction

"Does offering a place for people to get high make us more humane than running soup kitchens as our grandparents did? For Harris and many others, the false alternatives are either do something or nothing.Dalrymple’s solution is to shut down clinics claiming to treat addicts. By this he means, stop treating drug abuse as a medical illness. Hence, close up those methadone programs....compulsory residential treatment and legal supervision have been very successful in reducing drug use and illegal activity among participants. from mercatornet

health blurb...why do we eat worms?

from earthtimes.org:
"Why do we eat worms? Because they are good for our health, especially our skin," she added.

Female professionals in China are increasingly embracing culinary dishes featuring a variety of insects from worms to grasshoppers, a report says.

Sports blurb...Free Taco

DON'T FORGET: Tomorrow is free taco day at Taco Bell since a base was stolen in the World Series. Go to any Taco Bell between 2pm and 5pm and pick yours up. Here is the link. BTW, this is a $0.77 value so don't waste alot of gas finding one. It's a top choice for "eating healthier at fast food"

health blurb...drunken elephants electrocuted

I ran across this story in our daily newspaper and thought I'd google it. Come to find out this isn't such a rare occurrence -drunken elephants. Apparently marauding packs of elephants can acquire a taste for rice beer. Fermented fruit has been traditionally thought to contribute to the bar-room atmosphere of elephant rampage.

Sciencedaily says fruit thing is overblown. I guess Paul's message about drinking in excess is universal.

Seattle Times: "Six Asiatic wild elephants were electrocuted as they went berserk after drinking rice beer in India's remote northeast...40 elephants came to a village on Friday looking for food...found beer, which farmers ferment and keep in plastic and tin drums in their huts...They got drunk, uprooted a utility pole carrying power lines and were electrocuted..."

health blurb...food post #2

WELL MAYBE THERE ARE A FEW THINGS OTHER THAN BUGS. Via BoingBoing. The picture amazingly looks like already eaten funnel cakes...or a cow patty.