Are you (or your children) a junkie, for junk food?

Scientific research shows that junk food is addictive.  We have recognised that for a long time and that’s why our children don’t get too much access to it.  It’s not just the branded burger bars, but all those brands with massive advertising like cola, crisps/chips, sweets. Consumers are brainwashed into a sense of appreciation although …
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Curry for cancer, arthritis and dementia

It seems that tumeric can fight cancer, as well as arthritis and dementia. Tests by cancer researchers show that a compound curcumin tumeric kills off gullet cancer cells in the lab.  Dr McKenna said “Scientists have known for a long time that natural compounds have the potential to treat faulty cells that have become cancerous …
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Hunger still kills people.

A child dies of hunger every 6 seconds. A nasty statistic that we’d rather ignore. The latest Hunger Report by The International Food Policy Research Institute shows that there are far more people hungry than we imagine. We, who enjoy cars, TV, wifi, chocolate and junk food should be ashamed. Maybe we would be if …
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Sweets for children = violence in adults

The report is full of maybes, but the message is clear: children who are given sweets daily have poor self-control and tend to become unhappy, violent adults. It’s not just the red ones either.  Parents know that red food colour has a tendency to make children frenetic and irritable, but this study illustrates the consequences …
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Smoking bans’ benefits greater than expected.

Two new studies report that smoking bans cut the number of heart attacks in Europe and North America by up to a third.  This “heart gain” is far greater than both originally anticipated and the 10% figure recently quoted by England’s Department of Health. Second-hand smoke is thought to increase the chances of a heart …
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Togetherness – fights pain, increases fun

A study at Oxford University shows that exercising together appears to increase the level of the feel-good endorphin hormones naturally released during physical exertion.  An unexpected result perhaps, though it reinforces the notion that team work is more productive than individual performance. We know that teams can be synergistic, that is 1 + 1 = …
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From nothing to 43 marathons in 51 days. You can do it.

A less than athletic comedian has completed 43 marathons in 51 days in a run for charity.  Wow! If he can do it, so can you and I.  I guess it’s simply getting our of bed that’s the challenge … BBC:  If he can do it… Eddie Izzard’s run 43 marathons in a row. How …
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Getting real about the high price of cheap food

An informative story from Time magazine. Somewhere in Iowa, a pig is being raised in a confined pen, packed in so tightly with other swine that their curly tails have been chopped off so they won’t bite one another. To prevent him from getting sick in such close quarters, he is dosed with antibiotics. The …
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America votes for cocaine with dollar bills.

95% of dollar bills in Washington DC bear traces of cocaine. The lowest proportion is 77% in Salt Lake City. Many are obviously contaminated as they ciculate through banks, ATM and pockets. But it seems like such a big number that a majority of people would condone legalisation.  That day will come when as a …
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Beer for osteoporosis? Not quite.

Spanish researchers found that moderate consumption of beer can help improve bone density.  Unfortunately, it appears that it is phytoestrogens in the beer that are good for bones, not alcohol.  In fact, more than two units of alcohol a day is know to harm bone health.  So it’s better to just eat your veg 🙂 …
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