Funny Stories Of People Being Banned From Places For Doing Bad Stuff (16 pics)

The Surprising Grain that Lowers Cholesterol

When it comes to lowering cholesterol, oatmeal gets most of the glory, but other whole grains have cholesterol-lowering power, too. A new study found that eating barley lowers two types of bad cholesterol by an average of seven percent.

Wait a second. Two types of bad cholesterol? I grew up learning that there were just two types of cholesterol total: LDL (bad) and HDL (good). A doctor even told me that I could remember which was which by pretending that the H in HDL stands for happy. While HDL cholesterol is good and LDL is bad, it turns out that this dichotomy oversimplifies the cholesterol equation. 

To get your true bad cholesterol number, you subtract your HDL from your total cholesterol number, and that number doesn’t always equal your LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is just part of what cardiologists call non-HDL cholesterol. Getting your total non-HDL cholesterol requires a special blood test. High non-HDL cholesterol paired with high triglycerides indicates a higher risk of heart attack.

Lowering your LDL cholesterol is good, but lowering your total non-HDL cholesterol is even better. The barley study from St. Michael’s Hospital found that people who ate barley had lower LDL and non-HDL cholesterol levels.

This isn’t the first study showing that barley is good for our cholesterol levels. Back in 2004, for example, a small-scale study found that barley lowered total cholesterol. What’s new in this study is the data about non-HDL cholesterol. These new findings just underscore barley’s cholesterol-lowering benefits.

Researcher Dr. Vladimir Vuksan explained in a St. Michael’s press release about the study, “The findings are most important for populations at high risk for cardiovascular disease, such as Type 2 diabetics, who have normal levels of LDL cholesterol, but elevated levels of non-HDL or apo B. Barley has a lowering effect on the total bad cholesterol in these high-risk individuals, but can also benefit people without high cholesterol.”

Barley contains a specific type of soluble fiber called beta-glucan. The researchers found that eating between 6.5g and 6.9g of beta-glucan per day had a big impact on both types of bad cholesterol in just four weeks. That’s kind of a lot of cooked barley, though. A cup of cooked barley contains about 2.5g of beta-glucan. To hit the 6.5-6.9g rance, you’d have to eat almost three cups of barley a day or take a supplement.

Oatmeal and barley contain about the same amount of beta-glucan per serving, so you can mix up your whole grains while still getting the cholesterol-lowering benefits. Barley contains more protein and total fiber than oats, though, and it has fewer calories per serving.

10 Delicious and Healthy Reasons to Eat More Cherries This Summer

You know it's Summer when the deliciously sweet and juicy bing, ranier, and other fresh cherry varieties are available at your supermarket or local farmers market. Enjoy them now because their season is short — from May through August. 

Here are 10 reasons why.

1. They Pack a Nutritional Punch: According to the USDA, a serving of sweet cherries(5 ounces, one cup, or about 21 cherries) provides 90 calories, three grams fiber, and is a good source of potassium and vitamin C. Cherries are also a great source of anthocyanins, bioactive compounds that provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cardiovascular, and other benefits. Research also shows that the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin along with the powerful flavonoids, including catechins, found in cherries also contribute to the fruit's healthfulness.
2. They Keep Blood Sugar in Check: According to an international database of glycemic index and glycemic load, cherries have among the lowest glycemic index and glycemic load values of all fruit. The glycemic index for cherries is 22 and the glycemic load is three. The glycemic index measures the effect that a carbohydrate-containing food has on blood sugar levels. A score of 0-55 is considered low. The glycemic load measures the blood sugar response in a standard serving of the food. 

3. They Boost Your Body's Natural Defenses: Cherries are rich in quercetin, a natural flavonoid that is associated with strong antioxidant and health properties. Quercetin helps neutralize potential DNA damage caused by free radicals and may help protect against heart disease and certain cancers, including breast, colon, prostate and lung. In addition, it has strong anti-inflammatory and antihistamine effects. In one animal model study, a quercetin-rich cherry extract helped mitigate the negative health effects associated with a high-fat, obesogenic diet.
4. They're All-American: The United States is the second-leading producer of cherries in the world (Turkey is number one). Sweet cherries (Prunus avium) are grown primarily in Washington, Oregon, and California, while tart cherries (Prunus cerasus) are grown primarily in Michigan, Utah, and Washington.
5. They May Ease Joint Pain: Several studies suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of cherries can help temper inflammation, which affects individuals with arthritis and gout, and contributes to achy joints. One study from USDA study found that bing cherries specifically helped lower participants' blood uric acid levels. High blood uric acid is associated with gout. Another study found that cherry consumption was associated with a 35 percent reduction in incidence of a gout attack over a two-day period. Cherry intake coupled with traditional gout pharmaceuticals reduced incidence of attacks by 75 percent.
6. They're a Natural Sleep Aid: Research shows that tart cherry varieties are rich in melatonin, a compound that helps regulate your body's natural sleep-wake patterns. Studies show that supplements with cherry juice concentrate have been associated with improved sleep.

Related: 15 Foods to Help You Sleep

7. They Help You Get More Out of Your Workouts: Cherries and cherry juice are often promoted for recovery post-exercise because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. One study showed that strength athletes who consumed tart cherry supplement experienced better recovery from intensive strength training, compared to when they took a fruit juice control beverage. Other studies with endurance athletes also link cherry compounds to enhanced recovery following exhaustive exercise.
8. They're More Than Just Pie Filling: Cherries can be incorporated into a wide variety of dishes — from cocktails and appetizers to side dishes and desserts. Here are 13 sweet, savory, and healthy recipes to incorporate fresh cherries into your day — from smoothies and salsa to protein bites and pie.
9. How to Cherry-Pick Cherries: The freshest sweet red cherries will feel firm and will reach their natural full color, which varies depending upon the variety, from the deep-crimson Bing to the super-sweet yellow with red blush Ranier. A bright green stem is also a sign of freshness. Avoid cherries with bruises, blemishes, or cracks.
10. Storage Secrets: To keep fresh cherries at their peak, store unwashed and uncovered in your refrigerator for up to a week. Rinse with water before eating cherries. You can also freeze them. Simply rinse with cold water with stem and pit and let drain. Pack into freezer bags or containers and freeze. They will keep fresh for up to up to a year.

8 health benefits of iced tea

From soothing stress to providing weird minerals you didn't know you need, iced tea provides more than just a refreshing boost.

After water, tea is the most frequently consumed beverage in the world. Which make sense; tea goes hand in hand with images of Asia, the United Kingdom, India, Russia. But how about here in the old United States of America? It might not seem like we have a booming tea culture, but the fact is that on any given day, more than half of the American population drinks tea. But here’s the twist: 85 percent of that tea is served on the rocks.

While heavily sweetened iced tea can’t really be considered a health food, iced tea in general is a super salubrious quaff. Regardless of the temperature it is served at, tea is chock full of good things. There has been much research done, and compelling conclusions that tea can reduce the risk of heart disease, and possibly even help prevent a number of others. In warmer weather, having your tea iced is a great way to reap the benefits all year.

Whether black, green, white or oolong – all of which come from the same plant, just processed differently – all teas do a body good. Here are a few of the ways in which they do so (with the caveat that you aren’t drinking tea drenched in sugar).

1. Keeps you hydrated
Dehydration sucks. Hydration is good. The Harvard School of Public Health lists tea as one of the best sources of hydration, second only to water. Yay!

2. Boosts your antioxidants
Everything is all about the antioxidants these days, we can’t seem to escape the heaping of accolades on these plant compounds that fight cell-damaging free radicals in the body. But if they really prove to be as beneficial as science seems to think they are, then we should be scarfing them down as frequently as possible! And on that note, according to WebMD, tea has about eight to 10 times the polyphenol antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables.

3. Offers a superior swap for sugary soda
A 12-ounce can of regular Coke contains 39 grams of total sugar, which is about 9 1/2 teaspoons of sugar and 140 calories. Twelve ounces of unsweetened iced tea has 0 teaspoons of sugar and 2 calories.

4. May help your teeth
Some research has shown that drinking tea may help prevent tooth loss; tea changes the pH in your mouth, which may prevent cavities. At the very least, it appears not to harm tooth enamel like some beverages do.

5. Could fight cancer
The Tea Association of the USA explains that more than 3,000 published research studies exist that evaluate the role tea and tea compounds, such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), may play in cancers of various sites. The effects apply to a number of different cancers and are linked to varying degrees of significant success.

6. Provides a surprise source of manganese
OK so maybe you don’t go around wondering how you can get more manganese in your diet, but hey, it can’t hurt. An 8-ounce glass of brewed black iced tea provides 520 micrograms of manganese, which is 35 percent of the recommended daily intake for women and 23 percent for men. According to SF Gate, manganese promotes healthy wound healing, helps maintain the strength of your bones and supports your metabolism.

7. Chills the nerves
A British study found that people who drank tea were able to de-stress more quickly than those who didn’t. As well, during the study the tea drinkers – who drank black tea four times a day for six weeks – had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their blood after a stressful event, compared with a control group who drank a placebo.

8. Helps your heart
"There's a lot of literature out there on tea and heart health," says Anna Ardine, clinical nutrition manager at Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "This is a health effect for which there is the strongest evidence."

In fact, reports Today.com, a comprehensive review study found a nearly 20 percent reduction in the risk of heart attack and a 35 percent reduced risk of stroke among those who drank one to three cups of green tea daily. “Those who drank four or more cups of green tea daily had a 32 percent reduction in the risk of having a heart attack and lower levels of LDL cholesterol.”

You can make iced tea by brewing tea traditionally and then adding ice or allowing it to cool, or you can make sun tea. You can use any type of true tea – or herb tea. You can toss in citrus, fruits, herbs or spices when you steep it for additional flavor. Go crazy! Mix things up, how about adding lemon, mint and ginger to black tea? Peaches and lime to white tea? Raspberries and orange slices would go beautifully with Earl Gray. Have a tea free-for-all, have fun ... and reap the many benefits along the way.

Top 11 Science-Based Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds

Eating only a small amount of them can provide you with a substantial quantity of healthy fats, magnesium and zinc.

Because of this, pumpkin seeds have been associated with several health benefits.

These include improved heart health, prostate health and protection against certain cancers.

What’s more, these seeds can be easily incorporated into your diet.

Here are the top 11 health benefits of pumpkin seeds that are supported by science.

1. Full of Valuable Nutrients

Pumpkin seeds are the edible seeds of a pumpkin. They are also known as “pepita” — a Mexican Spanish term.

Unlike the hard white seeds from a carving pumpkin, most pumpkin seeds bought from the supermarket do not have a shell.

These shell-free seeds are flat and oval in shape, and have a green color.

This is what whole (white) and shell-free (green) pumpkin seeds look like:

There are roughly 151 calories in an ounce (28 grams) of shell-free pumpkin seeds, mainly from fat and protein.

In addition, a 1-oz (28-gram) serving contains (1):

• Fiber: 1.7 grams.
• Carbs: 5 grams.
• Protein: 7 grams.
• Fat: 13 grams (6 of which are omega-6s).
• Vitamin K: 18% of the RDI.
• Phosphorous: 33% of the RDI.
• Manganese: 42% of the RDI.
• Magnesium: 37% of the RDI.
• Iron: 23% of the RDI.
• Zinc: 14% of the RDI.
• Copper: 19% of the RDI.

They also contain lots of antioxidants and a decent amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids, potassium, vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and folate.

Pumpkin seeds and seed oil also contain many other nutrients that have been shown to provide health benefits (2, 3). 

Bottom Line: Pumpkin seeds are rich in antioxidants, iron, zinc, magnesium and many other nutrients. An ounce (28 grams) contains about 151 calories.

2. High in Antioxidants

Pumpkin seeds contain antioxidants like carotenoids and vitamin E (4, 5, 6).

Antioxidants can reduce inflammation and protect your cells from harmful free radicals. Because of this, consuming foods rich in antioxidants can help protect against many different diseases (7).

It is thought that the high levels of antioxidants in pumpkins seeds are partly responsible for their positive effects on health.

In one study, inflammation was reduced when rats with arthritis were given pumpkin seed oil. Rats given an anti-inflammatory drug experienced negative side effects, whereas rats given pumpkin seed oil had no side effects (8).

Bottom Line: Pumpkin seeds are full of antioxidants that may help protect against disease and reduce inflammation.

3. Linked to a Reduced Risk of Certain Cancers

Diets rich in pumpkin seeds have been associated with lower levels of stomach, breast, lung, prostate and colon cancers (5).

A large observational study found that eating them was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer inpostmenopausal women (9).

Others studies suggest that the lignans in pumpkin seeds may play a key role in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer (10).

Further test-tube studies found that a supplement containing pumpkin seeds had the potential to slow down the growth of prostate cancer cells (11, 12).

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Bottom Line: Some evidence suggests that pumpkin seeds may help to prevent certain cancers.

4. Improve Prostate and Bladder Health

Pumpkin seeds may help relieve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition where the prostate gland enlarges and can cause problems with urination.

Several studies in humans found that eating these seeds reduced symptoms that are associated with BPH (13).

A study of over 1,400 men looked at the effects of consuming pumpkin seeds on BPH. After one year, men receiving them reported reduced symptoms and a better quality of life (14).

There is also research to suggest that taking pumpkin seeds or their products as supplements can help treat symptoms of anoveractive bladder.

One study found that taking a supplement of 10 grams of pumpkin seed extract daily improved urinary function in 45 men and women with overactive bladders (15).

Bottom Line: Pumpkin seeds may reduce symptoms of benign prostate enlargement and an overactive bladder.

5. Very High in Magnesium

Pumpkin seeds are one of the best natural sources of magnesium. This is important, since magnesium deficiency is common in many Western countries.

In the US, around 79% of adults had a magnesium intake below the recommended daily amount (16).

Magnesium is necessary for more than 600 chemical reactions in the body. Adequate levels of magnesium are important for:

• Controlling blood pressure (17).
• Reducing heart disease risk (18).
• Forming and maintaining healthy bones (19).
• Regulating blood sugar levels (20, 21). 

Bottom Line: Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of magnesium. Healthy magnesium levels are important for your blood pressure, heart health, bone health and blood sugar levels.

6. May Improve Heart Health

Pumpkin seeds are a good source of antioxidants, magnesium, zinc and fatty acids, all of which may help keep your heart healthy (22).

Animal studies have also shown that pumpkin seed oil can help reduce high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.

These are two important risk factors for heart disease (23, 24).

A study involving 35 postmenopausal women found that pumpkin seed oil supplements reduced diastolic blood pressure by 7% and increased the “good” HDL cholesterol by 16% over a 12-week period (25).

Other studies suggest that it may be the nitric oxide enzymes contained in pumpkin seed oil that are responsible for its positive effects on heart health (26).

Nitric oxide helps expand blood vessels, improving blood flow and reducing the risk of plaque growth in the arteries.

Bottom Line: Nutrients in pumpkin seeds may help keep your heart healthy by reducing blood pressure and increasing good cholesterol.

7. Can Lower Blood Sugar Levels

Animal studies have shown that pumpkin, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seed powder and pumpkin juice can reduce blood sugar (27, 28).

This is especially important for people with diabetes, who may struggle to control their blood sugar levels.

Several studies have found that supplementing the diet with pumpkin juice or seed powder reduced blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes (28).

The high magnesium content of pumpkin seeds may be responsible for its positive effect on diabetes.

An observational study involving over 127,000 men and women found that diets rich in magnesium were associated with a 33% lower risk of type 2 diabetes in men and a 34% lower risk in women (29).

More research is needed to confirm this beneficial effect on blood sugar levels. 

Bottom Line: Pumpkin seeds may help reduce blood sugar levels for people with type 2 diabetes. However, more research is needed.

8. Very High in Fiber

Pumpkin seeds are a great source of dietary fiber. Whole seeds provide 5.2 grams of fiber in a single 1-oz (28-gram) serving.

However, pumpkin kernels with the shell removed contain 1.7 grams of fiber per ounce. These are the green pumpkin seeds available in most supermarkets.

A diet high in fiber can promote good digestive health.

In addition, high-fiber diets have been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity (30).

Bottom Line: Whole pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of fiber. Diets high in fiber are associated with many health benefits, including a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

9. May Improve Sperm Quality

Low zinc levels are associated with reduced sperm quality and an increased risk of infertility in men (31).

Since pumpkin seeds are a rich source of zinc, they may help improve sperm quality.

Evidence from one study in mice suggests they may also help protect human sperm from damage caused by chemotherapy and autoimmune diseases (32).

Pumpkin seeds are also high in antioxidants and other nutrients that can contribute to healthy testosterone levels and improve overall health.

Together, all these factors may benefit fertility levels and reproductive function, especially in men.

Bottom Line: The high zinc content of pumpkin seeds may help improve sperm quality and fertility in men.

10. May Help Improve Sleep

If you have trouble sleeping, you may want to eat some pumpkin seeds before bed. They’re a natural source oftryptophan, an amino acid that can help promote sleep.

Consuming around 1 gram of tryptophan daily is thought to help improve sleep (33).

However, you would need to eat around 7 oz (200 grams) of pumpkin seeds to get the necessary 1 gram of tryptophan.

The zinc in these seeds can also help convert tryptophan to serotonin, which is then changed into melatonin, the hormone that regulates your sleep cycle.

In addition, pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of magnesium. Adequate magnesium levels have also been associated with better sleep (34).

Some small studies have found that taking a magnesium supplement improved sleep quality and total sleep time in people with low magnesium levels (35, 36).

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Bottom Line: Pumpkin seeds are a good source of tryptophan, zinc and magnesium, all of which help promote good sleep.

11. Easy to Add to Your Diet

If you’d like to experience the benefits of pumpkin seeds, they’re easy to incorporate into your diet.

In many countries, they’re a popular snack that can be eaten either raw or roasted, salted or unsalted.

As well as eating them alone, you can add them to smoothies or to Greek yogurt and fruit.

You could incorporate them into meals by sprinkling them into salads, soups or cereals. Some people use pumpkin seeds in baking, as an ingredient for sweet or savory bread and cakes.

However, as with many seeds and nuts, they contain phytic acid, which can reduce the bioavailability of some nutrients you eat.

If you eat seeds and nuts regularly, you may want to soak or sprout them to reduce the phytic acid content. Roasting them may also help.

Bottom Line: Pumpkin seeds can be easily incorporated into the diet as a snack or as an additional ingredient in meals or baking.

Do Pumpkin Seeds Have Any Other Benefits?

The rich nutrient content of pumpkin seeds means they may provide many other health benefits, such as improved energy, mood and immune function.

Eating them can help solve dietary deficiencies and may protect against various health problems.

7 health benefits of garlic oil you MUST know

Whether you use garlic in your food or not, including garlic oil in your medicine cabinet is not a bad idea. Right from improving your cholesterol control to lowering your risk of diabetic complications and cancer, garlic oil has numerous health benefits. Wondering where to get it or how to make it at home? Click on the last slide.

Relieves ear pain – The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of garlic oil not only helps in clearing ear wax, which not only unblocks the fluid drainage but also treats ear pain caused due to cough and cold. All you need to do is warm a few drops of garlic oil and put it in the ear to get rid of ear pain 

Keeps cholesterol level in control – Adding garlic oil in your diet not only inhibits hypercholesterolemia but also decreases the atheromatous changes that occur in the aorta, leading to atherosclerosis, heart disease or coronary artery disease, reveals a study published in Atherosclerosis 

Acts as natural remedy to treat toenail fungus – Dip a cotton ball in garlic oil and dab it over the toenail fungus to treat it naturally. The presence of allicin, an antifungal compound in garlic inhibits the fungal growth, thereby aiding in the treatment of fungal infection naturally 

Lowers the risk of various kidney and diabetes complications – A 2003 study published in Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology [4] revealed that including garlic oil in diet for 15 days showed a significant improvement in the liver and kidney functioning. Moreover, it also delays the health complications due to diabetes such as diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy.

Better insulin control – Consumption of 100 mg of garlic oil per kg of body weight every alternate day for 3 weeks showed significant increase in the rate of insulin secretion. It also showed increased insulin sensitivity and improved glycemic control 

Lowers the oxidative damage caused due to nicotine – A major component of tobacco, nicotine, is known to cause numerous health complications like atherosclerosis and degenerative diseases. However, supplementation of garlic oil, which contains antioxidants and essential oils, lowered nicotine-induced oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation 

Inhibits tumour production – Garlic oil when applied around three times a week on the skin was found to inhibit tumour production and also lowers your risk of infections. However, the action is dependent on the dosage of garlic oil 

Garlic oil is easily available in the market. But if you prefer homemade one, then you can try making it at home as well. Add a few cloves of peeled garlic in oil (mustard, ground nut or extra virgin olive oil) and allow it to boil for around 10 – 15 minutes. Cool it down and store it in an airtight container for a week or two.

Velká Amerika: The Czech Grand Canyon

Velká Amerika, or the Great America, is an abandoned limestone quarry located near the village of Mořina, in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, just a few kilometers from Prague. This partially flooded elongated trench is the country’s most photogenic “natural” attraction to be conceived by human activities. The Czechs affectionately call it the Grand Canyon of the Czech Republic.

Quarrying activities started in this region in the late 19th century in response to the great demand for the stone. Limestone was used mostly in industries, to refine sugar from sugar beet, in blast furnaces for producing iron and in manufacture of glass, among others. Mining activities increased again after the first World War, and the quarries at Mořina became deeper and longer, until Velká Amerika became an 800-meter long and 100-meter deep gash on the landscape. After mining operation ceased in 1963, rainwater flooded the hole forming a lake at the bottom.