Here are this weekend's reading diversions for your personal enlightenment. Have a great long weekend!
Russell Bishop: How Much Does Your Word Mean These Days?
Have you ever told someone you would be there (appointment, teleconference, dinner, party, etc) and then come up with some lame excuse to beg out of the commitment? Not that I'm really proud of the fact, but I know I have.
If all else fails, dieters, drink water - latimes.com
If you've tried everything and still haven't had much success losing weight, it may be time for the latest, greatest idea from scientists who study weight loss. Drink two cups of water before meals.
More U.S. teens are experiencing hearing loss - latimes.com
One in every five teens now has at least a slight hearing loss, which can affect learning, speech perception, social skills development and self-image; one in every 20 has a more severe loss.
Some bottled tea beverages may lack polyphenols - latimes.com
Polyphenols are antioxidants that are thought to promote health by protecting the body's tissues against oxidative stress and related cell damage that can cause cancer, heart disease and inflammation. A typical cup of brewed black or green tea contains 50 to 150 milligrams of polyphenols.
Vitamin D influences more than 200 genes - Diabetes - C-Health
Scientists have found that vitamin D influences more than 200 genes, including ones related to cancer and autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis -- a discovery that shows how serious vitamin D deficiency can be.
Alan Richman's 15 Tips for Ordering Wine In A Restaurant
The sommerlier pours. You sip. You hesitate. Good move. Never say yes to a wine until you're sure it's sound. Try it a second time. A third, minutes later, if you still have doubts. Like sex on a first date, you'll regret it if you're not sure.
5 Healthy Snacks For People With (Or Without) Diabetes
When your stomach starts to rumble, you need a snack that can curb your hunger without blowing your blood sugar. Just like meals, snacks should be a combination of fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
Lessons for students — and parents — as school stars anew - The Boston Globe
If your child is starting kindergarten or preschool, the advice is fairly straightforward: It’s important to establish (and stick to) a consistent bedtime routine, get used to getting up earlier in the morning, and talk to your kids about what they’ll be doing during school hours.
10 Ways to Stay in Control of Your Mind - Dr. Oz's Beauty School - Oprah.com
Eating a banana every day facilitates both cross talk among your brain cells and the effect of certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin and its precursors.
Nutrition Lab: Sticky fruit snacks can't compare to real thing - latimes.com
For parents looking to sneak some nutrition into their kids' school lunches, brightly packaged fruity snacks — many of which promise they're the equivalent of a serving of fruit or more — are undoubtedly tempting. After all, the plastic-wrapped bars, sticks, rolls and strips contain no pits, seeds or cores and require no washing, peeling or slicing. And kids tend to eat them without any fuss.
Recipes for Health - Bruschetta With Tomato Topping - NYTimes.com
You can make your own rusks by drying out thick slices of whole grain bread in the oven.
Eric Maisel, Ph.D.: The Art of Obsessing Compulsively
What is going on? Why are, we as a species, burdened by this debilitating penchant for starting things with great energy and passion and allowing the fire to die out in no time?
Thomas P. Connelly, D.D.S.: The History of Toothpaste: From 5000 BC to the Present
We know the Romans added flavoring, perhaps to help with bad breath and to make their paste more palatable. This flavoring was more or less powdered charcoal and bark (I'm not sure how tasty powdered charcoal really is, though.)
Meg Wolff: The Kale Challenge: You'll Be Hooked in a Week!
Why focus on kale? It's one of the best things you can put into your body - an excellent source of non-dairy calcium, magnesium and fiber.
