Fast Facts about Human Genetics

Fast Facts about Human Genetics

1. DNA stands for Deoxy-ribo-Nucleic Acid.

2. On February 28, 1953, Francis Crick and James Watson figured out the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).  That structure, a 'double helix', can "unzip" (separate into two long strands) to make copies of itself.  This discovery confirmed suspicions that DNA carried an organism's hereditary information.

3. DNA molecules are linked, one after another, like pearls on a very long string.

4. DNA molecules are the "software" that direct cellular activity and determine everything about an organism - from what it looks like to how long it is likely to live. Genes are pieces of this DNA, and are the fundamental units of heredity.

5. The complete human genome consists of approximately 3 billion DNA molecules.

6. On average, each chromosome has about 65 million DNA molecules.

7. A gene is a stretch of DNA molecules (ranging in length from thousands to tens of thousands of DNA molecules, in some cases they may be even larger).

8. Between genes, along the length of a chromosome, there may be long stretches of DNA, which have no known function.

9. A chromosome contains about 1000 genes.

10. Humans have approximately 30,000 different genes spread out over the 46 chromosomes.

11. Humans get one complete set of genes from each parent.

12. In April 2003, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) celebrates the completion of the human genome sequence and the 50th anniversary of the description of the DNA double helix.

13. The nucleus, or control centre, of a cell, is where the DNA is coiled up into chromosomes. With the exception of reproductive cells, every cell has 46 chromosomes. Twenty-two pairs of the chromosomes are similar in terms of size, shape and genetic content. The twenty-third pair determines the sex of the individual, and is composed of either two x chromosomes (female) or an x and a y chromosome (male).

14. DNA molecules are incredibly long. If all of the DNA from all of your cells was stretched out into a single thread, it would extend to the moon and back about one million times!

15. It takes about eight hours for one of your cells to completely copy its DNA.

16. The human DNA code is made up of about three thousand million A,T, C, and Gs on each side of the DNA strand.

17. If you were to start reciting the order of the ATCGs in your DNA tomorrow morning, at a rate of 100 each minute, 57 years would pass before you reached the end (provided that you did not stop to eat, drink, sleep, use the bathroom etc.)

18. If you were to stretch out the DNA from those 46 chromosomes in one cell and lay it end to end, it would be over 2 yards in length.

19. If the total DNA in one person were laid in a straight line, it would stretch to the sun and back over 30 times (it’s 93 million miles from here to the sun).

20. You could fit one thousand nuclei across the period at the end of this sentence.

21. You could fit one million threads of DNA across the period at the end of this sentence.

22. Humans are 99.9% genetically identical - only 0.1% of our genetic make-up differs.

23. Information, and yet, all of it is contained inside the microscopic nucleus of a cell so tiny that it could easily fit on the head of a pin!

24. Our genes are remarkably similar to those of other life forms. For example, we share 98% of our genes with chimpanzees, 90% with mice, 85% with zebra fish, 21% with worms, and 7% with a simple bacterium such as E. coli.

25. Less than 2% of the total DNA carries instructions to make proteins. The rest is misleadingly called ‘junk’ DNA, because it is a hodge-podge of sequences that does not seem to code for anything.

Pistachio Facts

Pistachio Facts

Pistachios -have been know to be “royalty”. Pistachios are happy and are called “the smiling nut” or “the happy nut” in some cultures. Most people love cracking and eating Pistachios, are intrigued by their color and may say it is their favorite nut. BUT, Pistachios aren’t really nuts! Pistachios are actually “seeds” of red or yellow plum-like fruits. However, everyone calls them nuts because they look like a nut.

So much goodness packed into something so small! Bite into this tasty nut and treat yourself to a highly satisfying, body loving snack. Indulgence with intelligence.

Nutrient dense 
1. Carotenoids
2. ONLY nut that contain significant amounts of the lutein and zeaxanthin, which has been associated with a reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is the most common cause of irreversible blindness in Americans over 65.
3. Highest fiber content (3 g/oz.). Provide 12% of Daily Value which puts it on par with oatmeal.
4. Highest protein compared with other nuts (6 gram/oz).
5. Excellent sources of copper, manganese and vitamin B6.
6. Copper is a major component of many important proteins and enzymes in the proper  development of connective tissues, nerve coverings and skin pigment.  Is also important in heart health.
7. Manganese is important for bone formation and nutrients metabolism.
8. Vitamin B6 plays an important role in the immune system, red blood cell metabolism and hemoglobin productions, and nerve cell communication.
9. Good source of phosphorus, thiamin.

Heart health 
A. No trans fat.
B. Very rich in  phytosterols (plant sterols  that compete with dietary cholesterol for absorption in the body). Plant sterols occur naturally in a variety of foods such as fruits, vegetables, grain products, vegetable oils and nuts such as pistachios.
C. According to a study from Harran University, Turkey, groups who replaced 20% of their calorie intake with pistachios for three weeks showed a decrease in total cholesterol, the  total cholesterol to HDL ratio, and the LDL to HDL ratio.

Antioxidants 
Provides 464 mg GAE (Gallic Acid Equivalents) of Phenolic in 1 ounce of pistachio nuts, which ranked second after pecans among all nuts. Phenolic is believed to account for a major portion of the antioxidant capacity of many plants foods.

Weight control and maintenance 
A research from University of California, Los Angeles showed that patients who  substitute pistachio  nuts for food such as candy bars, dairy products, microwave popcorn, buttered popcorn, and potato chips  with pistachios accounting for 20% of  total calories for three weeks, did not gain body weight.
Significant amount of protein, healthy fat and dietary fiber in pistachios promote feeling of fullness and help people maintain their weight by keeping hunger at bay.

Fun FActs
In America, pistachios were once dyed red to disguise shell imperfections and make the nuts stand out in vending machines.
February 26th is recognized by pistachio lovers as World Pistachio Day; a day to honor the historical nut.
Historically, they were considered a rare delicacy and a favorite of the Queen of Sheba.

Vitamin D - Facts

Vitamin D - Facts

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. It is important for bone health. Having vitamin D in your diet will maintain the proper levels of calcium and phosphorus in your blood.

These two minerals are needed to build strong bones.  Vitamin D also helps keep the immune system functioning normally helping the body resist some types of disease.In adults, getting too little vitamin D can lead to osteoporosis or osteopenia (weak bones). In children, too little can result in rickets. Signs of rickets are muscle weakness, bowed legs, or knocked knees.Other effects of vitamin D are being studied. Some studies suggest adequate vitamin D may protect against certain cancers and lower risk of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Other studies suggest high blood levels of vitamin D may increase the risk of pancreatic and colorectal cancer in some people. More research is needed to establish how vitamin D affects risk of chronic disease.

Dissolves in fat but not in water

Where do you get vitamin D?
You have three sources:
1. Sunlight-in spring, summer, and fall your skin can make it for you. Exposing your arms and legs to sunshine for 15-30 minutes at mid-day will provide all the vitamin D you need for that day. However, sunscreen with a protection factor of 8 or higher reduces your skin’s ability to make vitamin D by more than 95 percent.
2. Foods-Natural sources are oily fish like sardines, salmon, and mackerel; cod liver oil; and eggs. Milk, some orange juice, and cereals can be fortified with vitamin D.
3. Supplements-both multivitamins and single doses of vitamin D are available. Supplements  may contain vitamin D2 or vitmain D3. Both D2 and D3 appear to be equally usable by the body.

On the issue of sunlight exposure, by the way, it turns out that super antioxidants greatly boost your body's ability to handle sunlight without burning. Astaxanthin is one of the most powerful "internal sunscreens" and can allow you to stay under the sun twice as long without burning.

Other powerful antioxidants with this ability include the super fruits like Acai, Pomegranates (POM Wonderful juice), blueberries, etc.

Amazing DNA facts

Amazing DNA facts

DNA stands for Deoxy-ribo-Nucleic Acid. 
1. On February 28, 1953, Francis Crick and James Watson figured out the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).  That structure, a 'double helix', can "unzip" (separate into two long strands) to make copies of itself.  This discovery confirmed suspicions that DNA carried an organism's hereditary information.

2. DNA molecules are linked, one after another, like pearls on a very long string.

3. DNA molecules are the "software" that direct cellular activity and determine everything about an organism - from what it looks like to how long it is likely to live. Genes are pieces of this DNA, and are the fundamental units of heredity.

4. The complete human genome consists of approximately 3 billion DNA molecules.

5. On average, each chromosome has about 65 million DNA molecules.

6. A gene is a stretch of DNA molecules (ranging in length from thousands to tens of thousands of DNA molecules, in some cases they may be even larger).

7. Between genes, along the length of a chromosome, there may be long stretches of DNA, which have no known function.

8. A chromosome contains about 1000 genes.

9. Humans have approximately 30,000 different genes spread out over the 46 chromosomes.

10. Humans get one complete set of genes from each parent.

11. In April 2003, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) celebrates the completion of the human genome sequence and the 50th anniversary of the description of the DNA double helix.

12. The nucleus, or control centre, of a cell, is where the DNA is coiled up into chromosomes. With the exception of reproductive cells, every cell has 46 chromosomes. Twenty-two pairs of the chromosomes are similar in terms of size, shape and genetic content. The twenty-third pair determines the sex of the individual, and is composed of either two x chromosomes (female) or an x and a y chromosome (male).

13. DNA molecules are incredibly long. If all of the DNA from all of your cells was stretched out into a single thread, it would extend to the moon and back about one million times!

14. DNA is found inside every cell in our body (apart from red blood cells).

15. Each cell contains roughly 2 metres of DNA.

16. Humans have roughly 100,000,000,000,000 (100 trillion cells).

17. If you unravelled all of your DNA from all of your cells and laid out the DNA end to end, the strand would stretch from the Earth to the Sun hundreds of times (the sun is approximately 98 million miles away from Earth).

18. You could fit 25,000 strands of DNA side by side in the width of a single adult hair.

19. The DNA is tightly coiled up and structured into 46 chromosomes.

20. Our chromosomes are arranged in pairs. We inherit one copy of the pair from our Mum and one from our Dad.

21. When chromosomes are stained they can be quite easily recognised by their distinctive stripy patterns. This is used to check whether people have the right number of chromosomes and check for any rearrangements.

22. There are approximately 3 billion (3,000,000,000) chemical letters (otherwise known as bases) in the DNA code in every cell in your body.

23. This is a massive amount of information. It would fill 200 yellow pages in small type font.

24. If you tried typing the whole genetic code out (typing at 200 letters per minute) it would take 29 years (without taking any breaks!).

25. The DNA is made up of 4 building blocks (an alphabet of 4 letters spelling out the instructions to help us grow, develop and function).

26. The four letters in the DNA alphabet- A, C, G and T -are used to carry the instructions for making all organisms. The sequence of these letters holds the code - just like the order of letters that makes words mean something. Each set of three letters corresponds to a single amino acid.

27. Sections of DNA that code for proteins are called genes. The complete set of genetic information for an organism is called the genome. The latest estimate is that there are between 20,000 and 25,000 genes in the human genome.

28. We share a lot of DNA with other animals, plants and microorganisms.

29.  Every cell in your body has 46 chromosomes except for egg and sperm cells.

30. Women’s chromosomes are described as 46,XX; men’s as 46,XY.

Women have
46 chromosomes (44 autosomes plus two copies of the X chromosome) in their body cells and are described as 46,XX. 23 chromosomes (22 autosomes plus an X chromosome) in their egg cells.

Men have  
46 chromosomes (44 autosomes plus an X and a Y chromosome) in their body cells and are described as 46,XY. 23 chromosomes (22 autosomes plus an X or Y chromosome) in their sperm cells.

Facts about Niacin - Vitamin B3

Facts about Niacin - Vitamin B 3

Vitamin B3 or niacin or nicotinic acid is essential for proper circulation, healthy functioning of the nervous system and proper protein and carbohydrate metabolism. It is essential for synthesis of sex hormones, cartisone, thyroxin and insulin.

It is contained in liver, fish, poultry, peanut, whole wheat,green leafy vegetables, dates, figs, prunes and tomato. Other good sources of niacin arepeanuts, mushrooms, and seafood. A deficiency can lead to skin eruptions, frequent stools, pellagra, mental depression, insomnia, chronic headaches, digestives disorders and anaemia.

Pellagra could be called the "D" disease. It leads to diarrhea, dementia (memory disorder), dermatitis(skin rash), and death.

Tryptophan, one of the amino acids that make up protein, can be converted to niacin in the body. Tryptophan is found in all types of meats, and in milk, so these foods can be considered sources of niacin!

Because niacin is a water-soluble vitamin, it can be lost when foods are cooked in water. However, most good sources of niacin are not typically cooked in water. Cooking doesn't affect tryptophan content.

The recommended daily allowance is 12 to 20 mg. for adults and 4.8 to 12 mg. for children. Large doses of this vitamin say upto 100 mg. with each meal, preferably together with other B group vitamins, affords relief in case of migraine and high blood pressure caused by nervousness, high cholesterol and arteriosclerosis.

Facts About Riboflavin - Vitamin B2

Facts About Riboflavin - Vitamin B2

Vitamin B2 or riboflavin, also known as vitamin G, is essential for growth and general health as also for healthy eyes, skin, nails and hair. It helps eliminate sore mouth, lips and tongue. It also functions with other substances to metabolis carbohydrates, fats, and protein.

The main sources of this vitamin are green leafy vegetables, milk, cheese, wheat germ, egg, almonds, sunflower, seeds, citrus fruits and tomatoes. Other good sources of riboflavin are meat, eggs, and mushrooms. Riboflavin is easily destroyed when exposed to light. Milk stored in glass and exposed to light loses much of its riboflavin content. Opaque plastic jugs and paper cartons protect the riboflavin in milk. Only small amounts of riboflavin are lost in cooking.

Its deficiency can cause a burning sensation in the legs, lips and tongue, oily skin, premature wrinkles on face and arm and eczema. The recommended daily allowance for this vitamin is 1.6 to 2.6 mg. for adults and 0.6 to one mg for children. Its use in larger quantities, say from 25 to 50 mg. is beneficial in the treatment of nutritional cataracts and other eye ailments, digestive disturbances, nervous depression, general debility, and certain types of high blood pressure.

Interesting Facts About Boys And Girls

Interesting Facts About Boys And Girls

Here i have posted facts for educational purposes only.

Interesting Facts about Girls
1. The vagina is only as deep as your middle finger.

2. The vagina keeps itself clean and healthy by constantly producing mucus which turns white when it’s exposed to the air.Discharge also prevents the vagina from drying out.

3. Discharge will begin to appear some time before your first period begins.

4. Females can ovulate before they have their period.

5. Cramps and painful periods may be caused by low calcium and magnesium levels.

6. The usual amount of blood lost during a period isbetween one and six tablespoons. (120 ml blood and tissue)

7. Menstrual fluid is mostly made up of water.

8. A lot of girls’ hymen are broken through using a tampon or during active sportssuch as horse back riding or cycling. Masturbation, too, can break the hymen. There is an opening in the hymen that lets menstrual fluid flow out.

9. The fallopian tubes are about 10 cm long. The egg travels from the ovary to the uterus along these tubes.

10. Girls are born with about 300,000 eggs.

11. Ovary is about the size of a walnut/olive. The uterus is about the size of a pear/ clenched fist.

12. The average woman has about 500 periods in her lifetime.

13. If a tampon has absorbed as much as it can and has to be changed within 4 hours, try a tampon with a higher absorbency. If a tampon still has lots of whitepatches showing when you take it out after about four hours, try a tampon with lower absorbency. Change your tampon every 4-8 hours.

14. PMS symptoms: breast tenderness, feeling swollen or bloated, change in appetite, headaches, acne or skin rash, constipation or diarrhea, abdominal cramps, feeling sad/tired/irritable or clumsy.

15. You get cramps when your uterus contracts (squeezes) slightly to helpget rid of most of its lining.

16. If you are taking the birth control pill these fivedrugs may interfere with its effectiveness: antihistamines, alcohol, analgesics, antacids, antibiotics.

1`7. A pregnancy test only works 2 weeks after a suspected conception.

Interesting Facts about Boys

1. 17 weeks into a pregnancy, baby boys can have erections.

2. When boys are 8 or 9 years old, their testicles begin tomake sperm for practice.

3. Males have several erections while they are asleep.

4. The epididymis is a coiled tube that is6 metres long (tube that stores sperm)

5. Ejaculate is only one spoonful of fluid.

6. Between the ages of twelve and fourteen the scrotum grows bigger and turns a darkish red and the testicles start to produce testosterone, the male sex hormone, which makes the penis grow.

7. Once puberty starts, testicles produce onemillion sperm per minute, 24 hours/day.

8. Testicles are kept 4-5 degrees cooler than body temperature.

9. The scrotum is made of special skin that is stretchable and shrinkable.

10. Average size penis is about two inches long whenit’s limp and six inches long when erect.

11. Many boys develop breasts during puberty. They need to know that this is normal and that, when their rib cage grows to adult size, those little breasts will spread out and not be so noticeable.

12. It takes boys about three years after the onset of puberty to grow their testicles to adult size.

13. It takes eight to ten years after the onset ofpuberty to grow their penises to adult size.

14. When an erection occurs, a valve at the mouth ofthe bladder closes off so no urine can escape.

15. Adam’s apple- growth of the larynx.

Other Interesting Facts

1. Fraternal twins come from two separate ova and two separate sperm.

2. Identical twins or multiples happen when one sperm fertilizes an ovum and for some unknown reason, it splits into two or more babies.

3. Pregnancy can occur without actual sexual intercourse, and even before ejaculation.

4. Sperm may be present at the tip of the penis, and if the vagina is very aroused and lubricated, sperm may rub off against the vagina.

5. The ovum must be fertilized within 12-24 hours. It takes 10 hours for a sperm to fertilize an egg.

6. Sperm can survive 4-5 days inside a woman’s body.

7. Lack of sleep – try calcium rich bedtime snacks = grilled cheese sandwiches, hot milk, warm baths, hot water bottle, back or foot rub, story.

8. In a recent survey of Grade 9 and 11 students, the main reason for not using condoms was that sex was not planned.

9. 38% of boys and 21% of girls in Grade 11 reported using alcohol or drugs before sex. 2/3 of all STI’s occur in people 25 and younger.

10. Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than HIV.

11. 1 out of 4 girls and 1 out of every 8 boys are sexually abused.

12. There are over 40 brands of condoms on the market.

13. There are two different kinds of sweat glands: eccrine (no odour) and apocrine (odour when it comes into contact with bacteria). Apocrine glands only become active after puberty starts. Females have a lot more apocrine glands than males.

14. Sweat glands are everywhere on your body, except your lips and ears. Each person has about 2.5 million sweat glands.

Salt Facts

Salt Facts

Sodium is an important constituent of the gastric juice and is usually found in all the fluids in the body. It is valuable for eliminating acids from the system in general. Sodium keeps other minerals soluble in blood and is involved in muscle expansion and contraction. Most people get too much sodium, which can cause dizziness, water retention and loss of potassium. We all need a small amount of sodium to keep our bodies working properly.

Americans consume too much sodium. High sodium consumption raises blood pressure, and high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.Heart disease and stroke are the nation’s first and third leading causes of death.Research strongly shows a dose-dependent relationship between consuming too much salt and raised levels of blood pressure.When salt intake is reduced, blood pressure begins decreasing within weeks on average.Populations who consume diets low in salt do not experience the increase in blood pressure with age that is seen in most Western countries.

Sodium chloride is the chemical name for salt.

The words salt and sodium are not exactly the same, yet these words are often used in place of each other. For example, the Nutrition Facts Panel uses “sodium,” whereas the front of the package may say “low salt.”

Ninety percent of the sodium we consume is in the form of salt.

Many of us eat about 3500 milligrams (mg) of sodium every day. Almost one-fourth of that comes naturally in our food. The rest is added at the table with the saltshaker or is added when foods are made or processed. Salt is sodium chloride. All of us should be aware of the amount of salt in our diet. It is very important for those of us that have heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, liver failure, or long-term steroid use. Your doctor will tell you how much salt you can have in a day.

Help lower your blood pressure. 
Help prevent your body from keeping extra water and fluids. 
Help the meds you take work better. 
Decrease your risk for kidney stones and bone loss. 

Tips to cut major sources of salt from your diet. 
Use fresh foods.
Use frozen foods that are plain and nothing added.
Use canned goods that are “with no added salt”.
Use fresh chicken, fish, and lean meat. Avoid canned or processed meats.
Use herbs spices, and salt-free seasoning blends when cooking and at the table.
Cook rice, pasta, and hot cereal without salt.
Cut back on instant or flavored rice, pasta, and cereal mixes.
Choose “convenience” foods that are low in sodium.
Cut back on frozen dinners, pizza, packaged mixes, canned soups or broths, and salad dressings.
Rinse canned foods, such as tuna, to remove some sodium.
Look for low-sodium, reduced-sodium, or no-salt-added foods.
Choose ready-to-eat breakfast cereals that are low in sodium.
Avoid commercially processed, high sodium foods

MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT SEX

10 MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT SEX

Sex is a normal part of healthy adult life, but it is seldom discussed openly. Scientifically valid sources of information on sex are far and few. No wonder there are a multitude of sexual myths and misconceptions floating around. Here, we list some common sexual myths and facts for your benefit:

1. MYTH: Teens don’t get STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)
FACT: About three million teenagers get an STD every year . One in three sexually active young people will get an STD by age 24. STDs are very common in teens living in Spokane.

2. MYTH: You can tell by looking at someone that they have an STD.
FACT:Often, symptoms for an STD don’t show up right away , and sometimes they don’t show up at all. Just because someone has an STD does not mean you can see it. Y ou could definitely have an STD and not know it.

3. MYTH: STDs can be cured.
FACT:Some STDs, like Chlamydia and gonorrhea can be cured with medicines, but they can cause a lot of damage if they’re not treated right away . Other STDs, like herpes, genital warts, and HIV/AIDS, can be controlled but there is no cure for them right now.

4. MYTH:STDs are only passed through sexual intercourse.
FACT:Some STDs, like genital warts and herpes, can be passed just by having genital areas rub against each other . Others, like HIV , can be spread through oral sex.  All STDs can be passed through both vaginal (penis to vagina) and anal (penis to anus) intercourse.

5. MYTH: There’s nothing that can prevent STDs.
FACT: There are lots of ways to protect yourself! The only sure way is to not have sex. If you do have sex, you can protect yourself from STDs by using a condom with lots of water-based lubricant every time. One way to reduce your STD risk is to have sex with only one person who is only having sex with you.

6. MYTH: A girl can’t get pregnant the first time she has sex.
FACT: A girl can definitely get pregnant the first time she has sex, even if she has not started her period yet. Once a girl has ovulated (released an egg) for the first time, she can get pregnant.

7. MYTH:If a girl pees right after she has sex, she won’t get pregnant.
FACT: You pee from a different place than where you have sex, so peeing doesn’t empty out the sperm.

8. MYTH: A girl won’t get pregnant if the guy pulls out before he ejaculates.
FACT:Even if the guy does not ejaculate, some pre-ejaculate, or pre cum, might have escaped his penis. Pre cum has sperm in it too.

9. MYTH: You can’t get pregnant if you have sex standing up.
FACT: You can get pregnant no matter what position you have sex in.

10. MYTH: A girl won’t get pregnant while she has her period.
FACT: Although there are some times when it is more likely for a woman to get pregnant, it is never impossible. Always use protection!

10 healthy facts for kids

10 healthy facts for kids 

1. Foods made from grains and pulses (also called legumes) are ‘powerhouses’ of nutrients they contain:

lots of energy-giving carbohydrates

fibre to keep you regular

protein for strong, growing bodies

vitamins, minerals

small amounts of healthy, unsaturated fat

health-promoting factors, such as antioxidants in whole grains.

2. Foods made from grains
include:
all types of breads, breakfast cereals,rice, porridge, spaghetti, macaroni ,noodles ,couscous ,popcorn, crispbreads
3. A healthy diet for children should include the following each day:
GRAIN FOODS
4 to 7 years - 3 to 7 serves
8 to11 years - 4 to 9 serves
One serve equals 1 cup cooked porridge, 11/3cups of flaked breakfast cereal or 6-8 crispbreads, 2 slices bread, 1 cup of cooked rice, pasta or noodles.
VEGIES (INCLUDING PULSES)
4 to 7 years - 2 to 4 serves 8 to 11 years - 4 to 9 serves One serve equals 1/2cup cooked vegies or 1/3cup cooked or canned pulses (baked beans, chickpeas etc)

4. Foods made from pulses include:
baked beans
hummus
falafel
bean salad
3-bean mix
pappadams

5. An easy way to calculate fibre needs for children is to add 10 to your child’s age. For example, the fibre needs of a 4-year old would be 4 plus 10 = 14 grams of fibre per day.

6. Carbohydrates from grain foods and pulses provide essential energy for growing, active children, to help them play sport and have fun. Children who eat breakfast perform best at school. Toast and cereal is an excellent way to start the day. Healthy snacks between meals, such as bread, crispbreads, cereal-based snack bars and English muffins with toppings, help children to meet their energy and nutrient needs.

7. Carbohydrate foods are great if you’re watching your weight. Around one in five Australian children are overweight or obese. As part of a balanced diet, foods like bread, breakfast cereals, rice, pasta and pulses are not ‘fattening’- but what you put on them may be!

8. Eating a diet rich in foods made from grains, pulses, fruits and vegetables is known to give some protection from diseases such as heart disease, some cancers, diabetes and obesity. These problems can start in childhood.

9. All grain-based foods are nutritious wholegrain foods are best because many of the nutrients in grains are found in the outer layers. Some wholegrain foods (wholemeal or grain breads and crispbreads, or wholegrain breakfast cereal) should be eaten each day for good health and well-being.

10. With such a huge range of grain foods to choose from, it’s easy to eat a different variety every day, and not get bored.

Nutrition Facts - Pasta

Nutrition Facts - Pasta

1. Pasta is a good source of folic acid, a key nutrient in a woman's childbearing years. Folic acid helps to prevent some birth defects (i.e. neural tube) that occur in the early stages of pregnancy.

2. In addition to folic acid, a typical two ounce serving of non egg dry pasta contains valuable levels of iron, riboflavin, thiamine, and niacin. The same two ounce serving contains only one gram of fat, no sodium or cholesterol, and 211 calories.

3. Some pasta may contains natural flavorings to produce colored pasta. More common ones include tomato and spinach powder for red and green pasta.

4. High-quality durum wheat is the main ingredient in U.S. produced pasta. It is from durum wheat, the hardest wheat known to man, that pasta receives its yellow amber color, pleasant nutty flavor and the ability to retain both shape and firmness when cooked.

5. "Durum semolina" appears on most pasta labels. Semolina is the coarsely ground endosperm of durum wheat that's golden in color and very coarse and granular in texture. When mixed with water, a variety of macaroni products are produced. Some pasta labels may also refer to "durum flour" which is a finer granulation of durum produced in the milling process and is primarily used in noodle products.

6. The term "enriched" on a pasta label refers to the additional nutrients, considered essential to a balanced diet, which have been added. These include several components of the vitamin B complex: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and folic acid.

7.  Pasta is a low-fat, high-carbohydrate food. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend eating 6-11 daily servings of grain-based products that are high in complex carbohydrates foods like pasta, breads and cereals -as the foundation of a healthy diet. About 80 percent of the calories in pasta are in the form of complex carbohydrates. "Carbohydrate loading" is still practiced by exercise enthusiasts who need to increase and store muscle glycogen for prolonged, exhaustive exercise, like long-distance running.

8. There are Standards of Identity for various pasta products developed by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as follows:
Macaroni products:are the class of food (spaghetti and vermicelli) each of which is
prepared by drying formed units of dough made from semolina, durum flour, farina, flour, or any combination of two or more of these, with water and with or without one or more of the optional ingredients specified.

9. Noodle Products:are the class of food each of which is prepared by drying formed units of dough made with semolina, durum flour, farina, flour, or any combination of two or more of these with liquid eggs, frozen eggs, dried eggs, egg yolks, frozen yolks, dried yolks, or any combination of two or more of these, with or without water and with or without one or more of the optional ingredients specified. By law, egg noodle products must contain 5.5 percent egg solids by weight.

10. Lycopene, a naturally abundant antioxidant found in tomatoes is another benefit to eating pasta topped with the traditional sauce. Recent research suggests that lycopene helps inhibit certain cancers, including prostate and cervical cancer.

11. Pasta contributes six of the eight essential amino acids to the diet; however, when combined with dairy, meat, or other complementary protein foods, the protein available is a complete protein containing all the essential amino acids, an important food for vegetarians.

10 FUN FACTS ABOUT HEARING

10 FUN FACTS ABOUT HEARING

1. Fish do not have ears, but they can hear pressure changes through ridges on their body.

2. The ear’s malleus, incus and stapes (otherwise known as the hammer, anvil and stirrup) are the smallest bones in the human body. All three together could fit together on a penny.

3. The ear continues to hear sounds, even while you sleep.

4. Sound travels at the speed of 1,130 feet per second, or 770 miles per hour.

5. Dogs can hear much higher frequencies than humans.

6. Ears not only help you hear, but also aid in balance.

7. Snakes hear through the jaw bone and through a traditional inner ear. In essence, snakes have two distinct hearing mechanisms, which helps them hear and catch prey.

8. Sitting in front of the speakers at a rock concert can expose you to 120 decibels, which will begin to damage hearing in only 7 1/2 minutes.

9. Thirty-seven percent of children with only minimal hearing loss fail at least one grade.

10. Male mosquitoes hear with thousands of tiny hairs growing on their antennae.

Little Known Facts About Bananas

Little Known Facts About Bananas

This is interesting. After Reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again. 
Bananas  Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and  glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

1. Depression : According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND  amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

2. PMS : Forget the pills eat a banana. The vitamin B6  it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

3. Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

4. Blood Pressure : This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

5. Brain Power : 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

6. Constipation : High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

7. Hangovers : One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels,while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

8. Heartburn : Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

9. Morning Sickness : Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

10. Mosquito bites : Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

11. Nerves : Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady

12. Ulcers : The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases.  It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

13. Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

14. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) : Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

15. Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

16. Stress : Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be balanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

17. Strokes : According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine" eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

18. Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if  you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

Parsley Facts

Parsley Facts

Parsley is scientifically known as Petroselinum Crispum and is part of the umbelliferae family, whose other members include oregano, cumin and bay leaves. The two types of parsley widely known are curled and Italian. Curled parsley has crinkled and tightly curled leaves, and is the most widely used. Italian parsley has flat leaves that are deeply cut, resembling celery, the flavour is stronger than curled parsley. Both kinds are believed to be native to Sardinia. Curled parsley is frequently used as a garnish as the leaves are quite decorative. All parts of the plant, roots, stems, leaves and seeds are useful and beneficial. 

Did you know
#1. Parsley has most likely been so  altered by cultivation that it’s been around for many centuries in a different form.

#2. Parsley, in it’s original form is said to have formed and sprung from the blood of the Greek hero, Archemorous, the forerunner of death.

#3. The Greeks crowned each of the winners of the Isthmian games with parsley wreaths.

#4. Curled parsley is the most difficult type to grow.

#5. Parsley helps roses to grow, so is beneficial to grow together in a rose garden.

#6. Parsley can be cut for drying at any time and it will keep it’s green colour.

Health Benefits
#1. The foliage of all varieties is rich in iron and vitamins A, B and C.

#2. The oil extracted from the parsley seeds called apiol, is beneficial, with medicinal properties of improving circulation.

#3. Parsley tea, made from the roots or leaves, assists kidney function, digestion and circulation.

#4. Parsley is included in some cosmetic lotions, used for rubbing on the hair and scalp. Used before shampooing it helps to make dark hair look shiny and healthy.

#5. Parsley is also used in herbal lotions for closing large pores and as a freshener for the skin. It also helps to reduce puffiness around the eyes.

#6. Parsley is also used to help control high blood pressure, to aid period pains and rheumatism.

#7 Parsley is also helpful in aiding slimming; reducing water retention, boosting kidney function, and detoxifying.

Facts about Smoking and How to Quit ?

Facts about Smoking and How to Quit ?

Nicotine is the addictive drug in tobacco. New smokers often feel dizzy and sick from tobacco smoke, but some get used to its effects. As they continue to smoke, their bodies learn to depend on nicotine and they can tolerate smoking more and more. When smokers stop they may get cravings and feel anxious, hungry, irritable and find it hard to focus on what they are doing.
Second hand smoking is when a person breathes another person’s tobacco smoke. Sometimes referred to as passive smoke, it can be the smoke that the smoker breathes out (exhaled mainstream smoke) or the smoke from the end of the cigarette (sidestream smoke). Smoking greatly increases your risks for lung cancer, many other cancers, heart disease, and stroke.  It also causes objectionable breath odor and erectile dysfunction. 

1. Smoking harms not just the smoker, but also family members, coworkers and others who breathe the smoker’s cigarette smoke, called secondhand smoke.

2. Among infants to 18 months of age, secondhand smoke is associated with as many as 300,000 cases of bronchitis and pneumonia each year.

3. Secondhand smoke from a parent’s cigarette increases a child’s chances for middle ear problems, causes coughing and wheezing, and worsens asthma conditions.

4. If both parents, a teenager is more than twice as likely to smoke than a young person whose parents are both non smokers.  In households where only one parent smokes, young people are also more likely to start smoking.

5. Pregnant women who smoke are more likely to deliver babies whose weights are too low for the babies’ good health.  If all women quit smoking during pregnancy, about 4,000 new babies would not die each year.

Why Quit?
6. Quitting smoking makes a difference right away you can taste and smell food better.  Your breath smells better.  Your cough goes away.  This happens for men and women of all ages, even those who are older.  It happens for healthy people as well as those who already have a disease or condition caused by smoking.

7. Quitting smoking cuts the risk of lung cancer, many other cancers, heart disease, stroke, other lung diseases, and other respiratory illnesses.

8. Ex-smokers have better health than current smokers.  Ex-smokers have fewer days of illness, fewer health complaints, and less bronchitis and pneumonia than current smokers.

Quitting Tips 
Getting ready to quit: 

9. Set a date for quitting.  If possible, have a friend quit smoking with you.

10. Notice when and why you smoke.  Try to find the things in your daily life that you often do while smoking (such as drinking your morning cup of coffee or driving a car).

11. Change your smoking routines:  Keep your cigarettes in a different place.  Smoke with your other hand.  Don’t do anything else when smoking.  Think about how your feel when you smoke.

12. Smoke only in certain places, such as outdoors.

13. When you want a cigarette, wait a few minutes.  Try to think of something to do instead of smoking; you might chew gum or drink a glass of water.

14. Buy one pack of cigarettes at a time.  Switch to a brand of cigarettes you don’t like.

15. Decrease the number of cigarettes you smoke a day by at least one half.

On the day you quit: 
16. Get rid of all your cigarettes.  Put away your ashtrays.

17. Change your morning routine.  When you eat breakfast, don’t sit in the same place at the kitchen table.

Stay busy. 
18. When you get the urge to smoke, do something else instead.

19. Carry other things to put in your mouth, such as gum, hard candy, or a toothpick.

20. Reward yourself at the end of the day for not smoking.  See a movie or go out and enjoy your favorite meal.

21. Don’t worry if you are sleepier or more short-tempered than usual; these feelings will pass, usually within a few days to one week.

22. Try to exercise take walks or ride a bike.

23. Consider the positive things about quitting, such as how much you like yourself as a non-smoker, health benefits for you and your family, and the example you set for others around you.  A positive attitude will help you through the tough times.

24. When you feel tense, try to keep busy, think about ways to solve the problem, tell yourself that smoking won’t make it any better, and go do something else.

25. Eat regular meals.  Feeling hungry is sometimes mistaken for the desire to smoke.

26. Start a money jar with the money you save by not buying cigarettes.

27. Let others know that you have quit smoking most people will support you.  Many of your smoking friends may want to know how you quit.  It’s good to talk to others about your quitting.

28. If you slip and smoke, don’t be discouraged.  Many former smokers tried to stop several times before they finally succeeded.  Quit again.

Cardomom Facts

Cardomom Facts

Zinziberaceae
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), or Elaichi as it is called in India or Sha Ren in China, has a history as old as the human race. This aromatic herb is a native of southeast India.

It is mentioned in ancient Vedic texts written over 5,000 years ago, and later by Dioscorides in the 5th century BC.

Cardamom grew in the gardens of the King of Babylon in 720 BC. In China during the Tang Dynasty it is said that members of the court chewed the pods when they were granted an audience by the Emperor to ensure that their breath stayed fragrant. It was probably imported into Europe around 1200 AD.  

Enclosed in the green fruit pods are tiny, brown aromatic seeds wrapped in a thin, transparent cover. These seeds are warming with a slightly spicy pungent taste. The seed is what is used for medicinal as well as culinary purposes. Cardamom is the third most expensive spice in the world, as each seed must be handpicked.

Cardamom is most commonly used as a spice in curries and chai teas, but it contains substantial medicinal  qualities  as well.

In both Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is highly regarded for its warming and moving qualities.

As a carminative it helps with a variety of gastro-intestinal issues, like abdominal fullness, nausea, flatulence, diarrhea and vomiting.

It also aids in digestion.

Cardamom is helpful with issues of anorexia, asthma, and bronchitis.

It also helps counteract the effects of mucus forming foods such as dairy products and to detoxify from caffeine-rich coffee by increasing the secretion and discharge of urine. In fact, the Turkish are fond of adding cardamom to their coffee.

The essential oil of cardamom seed is used for its uplifting and invigorating properties and cardamom oil is also used in perfumes and as a stimulant. Cardamom was a favored ingredient in love potions.

The aphrodisiac properties of cardamom are extolled in the book, Arabian Nights.

Pistachio Facts

Pistachio Facts

Pistacia vera 
Anacardiaceae family,

FUN FACT
1. In America, pistachios were once dyed red to disguise shell imperfections and make the nuts stand out in vending machines.

2. February 26th is recognized by pistachio lovers as World Pistachio Day; a day to honor the historical nut.

Nutrient dense 
Carotenoids
ONLY nut that contain significant amounts of the  lutein  and zeaxanthin, which has been associated with a reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration  (AMD). AMD is the most common cause of irreversible blindness in Americans over 65.

Highest  fiber  content  (3 g/oz.). Provide  12% of Daily Value which puts it on par with oatmeal.

Highest  protein  compared with other nuts  (6 gram/oz).

Excellent sources of copper, manganese and vitamin B6.

Copper is a major  component of many important proteins and enzymes in  the proper  development  of
connective tissues, nerve coverings and skin pigment.  Is  also important in heart health. important in heart health.
Manganese  is  important for bone formation and nutrients metabolism.
Vitamin B6 plays an  important  role  in  the immune system, red blood cell metabolism and hemoglobin
productions, and nerve cell communication.
Good source of phosphorus, thiamin.
Heart health 
No trans fat.
Very rich in  phytosterols (plant sterols  that compete with dietary cholesterol for absorption in the body). Plant sterols occur naturally in a variety of foods such as fruits, vegetables, grain products, vegetable oils and nuts  such as pistachios.
According to a study from Harran University, Turkey, groups who replaced 20% of their calorie intake with pistachios for three weeks showed  a decrease in total cholesterol, the  total cholesterol to HDL ratio, and the LDL to HDL ratio.

Antioxidants 
Provides  464 mg GAE (Gallic Acid Equivalents)  of  Phenolic  in 1 ounce  of pistachio nuts, which  ranked second after pecans among all nuts. Phenolic is believed to account for a major portion of the antioxidant capacity of many plants foods.

Weight control and maintenance 
A research from University of California, Los Angeles showed that patients who  substitute pistachio  nuts for food such as candy bars, dairy products, microwave popcorn, buttered popcorn, and potato chips
 with pistachios accounting for 20% of  total calories for three weeks, did not gain body weight.

Significant amount of protein, healthy fat and dietary fiber in pistachios promote feeling of fullness and help people maintain their weight by keeping hunger at bay.

Mushroom Facts

Mushroom Facts

Mushrooms are really not a vegetable, but a fungus.  Fungus is a plant that does not have roots or leaves, does not flower or bear seeds, doesn’t make its own food, and doesn’t need light to grow.  Mushrooms grow best in dark, damp places.

Mushrooms come in many shapes, sizes, and colors.  The umbrella-shape at the top of the mushroom is called the cap and can be the most colorful part.  The underneath side of the cap contains spores and gills. The stem of the mushroom is called the stalk.  The base of the mushroom is called the hyphae.

In ancient times, mushrooms were thought to be magical.  People were forbidden to eat them unless they were warriors or kings.

When mushrooms grow in a circle, they are called fairy rings because people in the olden days thought they were made by fairies dancing in the night.

Since mushrooms are grown from microscopic spores, mushroom farming is a step-by-step process that involves: two phases of composting; spawning (mushroom farmers collecting the spores); casing (a soil mixture that acts as a water reservoir that is placed on top of the mushroom spores); pinning (the growth stage where the shape of the mushroom forms); and harvesting.

Archaeological evidence indicates that humans have been eating mushrooms for thousands of years. The first cultivators of mushrooms appear to have been the Greeks and Romans. Ancient Egyptians considered mushrooms to be food for the royals. The French adored the fungus and began harvesting them in caves during the seventeenth century. These famous fungi didn't reach popularity in the United States until the late 1800s.

Mushrooms are found all over the world and have been a very honored food in many cultures.

About half of the mushrooms harvested in the United States come from the Kennett Square area of Pennsylvania.  Kennett Square has been named the “mushroom capital” of the world. There are over 38,000 mushroom varieties today. Some are edible and some are highly toxic.

Here's a small sample of the most popular edible mushrooms you'll see in the market:  
Agaricus (White or Button) - These mushrooms are the most common variety prepackaged in supermarkets; available fresh, canned, or frozen. White mushrooms are mildly flavored, are tasty when eaten raw but even more flavorful when cooked.

Chanterelles, or Girolle - These trumpet shaped fungi are highly regarded mushrooms favored for their gold to yellow color, and rich flavor, ranging from apricot to earthier tasting. Chanterelles are best eaten fresh, although they are also available dried or canned.

Crimini, or Italian Brown - These mushrooms are similar to the button variety, yet they are darker in color, have a richer flavor, and have a more dense texture. Criminis were once an imported mushroom but are now grown domestically.

Enoki, or Enokitake - This fungi takes on a sproutlike appearance with small caps and thin, long, stems. Native to Japan, white in color, with a light fruity taste, these mushrooms are excellent when served raw in soups and salads.

Morel - These mushrooms are highly priced and highly prized for their intense earthly flavor. They are usually found in the wild, although can now be grown commercially. This conical shaped, honey combed surface fungi is small, with dark brown hues, is suitable for stuffing and is ideal for sauces and stews.

Oyster or Pleurotus - These mushrooms grow in clusters, and range in color from off-white to shades of brown. Subtly tasting like an oyster, its chewy texture is more suited to cooked dishes.

Porcini - Porcini mushrooms are well valued for their meaty texture, interesting flavor, and distinguishing shape. These mushrooms vary in size and are domestically grown or imported from Europe depending on the season. This variety is usually expensive, but is considered one of the finest-tasting mushrooms.

Portobello - These are large cremini-like mushrooms that are sometimes the size of a regular hamburger! These fungi are circular, flat, and long, with a dense, chewy texture. Portobellos are excellent for grilling or roasting.

Shiitake - Shiitake mushrooms were originally cultivated on natural oak logs and only grown in Japan, but are now available domestically. These mushrooms are large, black-brown, and have an earthy rich flavor. This fungi is enjoyed in stir-fry, soups, or even a meat substitute. Dried Shiitakes have more intense flavors and are sometimes preferable to fresh.

Cooked mushrooms are an excellent source of niacin and a good source of riboflavin 

AMAZING FACTS ABOUT HUMAN BODY

AMAZING FACTS ABOUT HUMAN BODY

1. A human being loses an average of 40 to 100 strands of hair a day.

2. A cough releases an explosive charge of air that moves at speeds up to 60 mph.

3. Every time you lick a stamp, you consume 1/10 of a calorie.

4. A fetus acquires fingerprints at the age of three months.

5. A sneeze can exceed the speed of 100 mph.

6. Every person has a unique tongue print.

7. According to German researchers, the risk of heart attack is higher on Monday than any other day of the week.

8. After spending hours working at a computer display, look at a blank piece of white paper. It will probably appear pink.

9. An average human drinks about 16,000 gallons of water in a lifetime.

10. A fingernail or toenail takes about 6 months to grow from base to tip.

11. An average human scalp has 100,000 hairs.

12. It takes 17 muscles to smile and 43 to frown.

13. Babies are born with 300 bones, but by adulthood, we only have 206 in our bodies.

14. Beards are the fastest growing hairs on the human body. If the average man never trimmed his beard, it would grow to nearly 30 feet long in his lifetime.

15. By age sixty, most people have lost half of their taste buds.

16. By the time you turn 70, your heart will have beat some two-and-a-half billion times (figuring on an average of 70 beats per minute).

17. Each square inch of human skin consists of twenty feet of blood vessels.

18. Every human spent half an hour as a single cell.

19. Every square inch of the human body has an average of 32 million bacteria on it.

20. Fingernails grow faster than toenails.

21. Humans shed about 600,000 particles of skin every hour about 1.5 pounds a year. By 70 years of age, an average person will have lost 105 pounds of skin.

22. At rest, a person breathes about 14 to 16 times per minute. After exercise it could increase o over 60 times per minute.

23. New babies at rest breathe between 40 and 50 times per minute. By age five it decreases to around 25 times per minute.

24. The total surface area of the alveoli (tiny air sacs in the lungs) is the size of a tennis court.

25. The lungs are the only organ in the body that can float on water.

26. The lungs produce a detergent-like substance which reduces the surface tension of the fluid lining, allowing air in.

27. Your heart is about the same size as your fist.

28. An average adult body contains about five quarts of blood.

29. All the blood vessels in the body joined end to end would stretch 62,000 miles or two and a half times around the earth.

30. The heart circulates the body's blood supply about 1,000 times each day.


31. The right lung is slightly larger than the left.

32. Hairs in the nose help to clean the air we breathe as well as warming it.

33. The capillaries in the lungs would extend 1,600 kilometres if placed end to end.

34. We get two sets of teeth. Our 20 'Baby Teeth’ are replaced starting at around 6-7 years of age with our 32 ‘Adult Teeth’.

35. 1.5 litres of saliva are produced each day.

36. The oesophagus is approximately 25cm long.

37. Tears and mucus contain an enzyme (lysozyme) that breaks down the cell wall of many bacteria.

38. The brain looks like a giant, wrinkled walnut.

39. Unlike other body cells, brain cells can not regenerate. Once brain cells are damaged they are not replaced.

40. The brain and spinal cord are surrounded and protected by cerebrospinal fluid.

41. The longest muscle in the body is the sartorius, from the outside of the hip, down and across to the inside of the knee. It rotates the thigh outwards and bends the knee.

42. The smallest muscle in the body is the stapedius, deep in the ear. It is only 5mm long and thinner than cotton thread. It is involved in hearing.

43. The biggest muscle in the body is the gluteus maximus, in the buttock. It pulls the leg backwards powerfully for walking, running and climbing steps.

44. The largest bone is the pelvis, or hip bone. In fact it is made of six bones joined firmly together.

45. The longest bone is the 'femur', in the thigh. It makes up almost one quarter of the body's total height.

46. The smallest bone is the 'stirrup', deep in the ear. It is hardly larger than a grain of rice.

47. The ears and end of the nose do not have bones inside them. Their inner supports are cartilage or'gristle', which is lighter and more flexible than bone. This is why the nose and ears can be bent.

48. After death, cartilage rots faster than bone. This is why the skulls of skeletons have no nose or ears.

Shocking Food Facts

Shocking Food Facts 

Even after analyzing food packets, checking out ingredients and swatting up on calorie counts, there are certain things you may not know about your food. Here are seven food facts that may surprise you.

World chocolate supplies are set to run out

It is one of the most popular treats worldwide, so it may come as bad news to many that world chocolate supplies may soon run out. Due to political unrest and dangers to farmers in the Ivory Coast
(where a large proportion of the world's cocoa beans are grown), many fair trade cocoa farmers and trainers have fled the country and chocolate production has hit a low. It has been predicted that supplies of sustainable chocolate are set to run out, and a chocolate drought has been predicted for 2014.

One of the world's most expensive foods is made from saliva

From caviar (fish eggs) to truffles (an edible fungus), it seems that many of the world's most expensive foods are made of dubious substances, and bird's nest soup is no exception. The soup, which is an expensive Chinese delicacy, is made from a particular kind of nest that is created by bird saliva. While many of us would be reluctant to shell out for saliva, the bird nests that form this soup are one of the most expensive animal food products around.

Your food can legally contain bugs and hairs

Most of us wouldn't class insects as a component of our diets; however, you may be eating more of them than you think and, worryingly, these may not be the only unpleasant addition to your diet. In the US, the FDA allows for "natural defects" by permitting a certain amount of bugs and rodent hair to be present in food products. For example, chocolate products may contain an average of 60 insect fragments and one rodent hair per 100g, while citrus fruit juice can contain one maggot per 250ml.

Fruit and vegetables have become less nutritious

Although fruit and vegetables are one of the best sources of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, research findings published in the journal Hort Science suggest that they have actually become less nutritious than they were 50 years ago, due to new agricultural methods which have stripped nutrients from soil. In fact, according to one study, it would take eight oranges to get the same levels of vitamin A as it would in one orange a few generations ago. To make sure you get enough vitamins, try to buy organic produce where possible and eat more fruit and veg.

`Pre-washed' salads may be contaminated with bacteria

Many of us opt for per-washed salads when purchasing our greens. However, a Consumer Reports study has found that per-washed salads may not be as clean as they seem. The study, which tested just over 200 samples of different per-washed salads, found that 39 per cent of those tested contained bacteria called coli form, which is normally used to indicate contamination of food products. While this doesn't mean you should ditch the greens, you should be careful to wash salads thoroughly at home, even if they are advertised as already washed.

Chewing coffee beans can freshen your breath

Coffee may not be the first thing you reach for when looking to freshen your breath, however if you have been eating onions and garlic then it may be just what you need. If you haven't got a toothbrush to hand, then chewing on roasted coffee beans can help extinguish onion or garlic breath. Other good breath fresheners include parsley or mint leaves.

Chocolate is as healthy as fruit

Perhaps this good news comes too late if drought predictions are to be believed, but research has suggested that chocolate can be just as healthy as fruit. When tested and compared to juices from `superfruits' such as blueberries and pomegranate, dark chocolate was found to be higher in antioxidants, which are essential for fighting disease and preventing wrinkles. For a healthy treat, it is best to go for a pure dark chocolate as milk, sugar and too much processing can reduce these health benefits.