Are You Deficient in Magnesium?

Magnesium is the partner mineral to calcium. Typically wherever calcium is needed in the body, magnesium is also required. Magnesium is Nature’s relaxation and anti-stress mineral, since it plays an important role in helping our bodies combat stress. It is necessary for healthy artery, blood, bone, heart, muscle and nerve function, yet experts estimate that approximately 80 percent of the population in North America may be deficient in this important mineral. 

Magnesium is vitally important to our health and wellbeing. It is involved in the production of energy for most of our bodily processes and even the structuring of our basic genetic material is dependent on adequate amounts of magnesium. Your body also requires adequate supplies of magnesium to manufacture the approximately 500 enzymes needed for basic life and metabolic functions. 

ARE YOU DEFICIENT IN MAGNESIUM?

FOOD SOURCES OF MAGNESIUM

almonds
sesame seeds
sunflower seeds
pumpkin seeds
figs
lemons
apples
dark leafy greens
celery
alfalfa sprouts
brown rice
spinach
avocados

SYMPTOMS OF A MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY

Back pain
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Chronic fatigue
Confusion
Cravings for chocolate
Depression
Dizziness
Epilepsy or convulsions
Excessive body odor
Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
High blood pressure
Hyperactive or restlessness
Inability to control bladder
Insomnia
Irritability or anxiety
Muscle cramps or muscle tension
Nervous tics or twitches, or muscles that twitch or spasm
Pain in knees or hips
Painful and cold feet or hands
Restless legs, especially at night
Seizures, convulsions, or tremors
Sensitive or loose teeth
PMS or painful periods

Of course, many symptoms overlap with other conditions, so just because you have some of the symptoms above doesn’t necessarily mean you are deficient in magnesium. If you have any health conditions, you should consult a qualified physician. If you suspect a magnesium deficiency, consult a qualified nutritionist for testing.

A typical dose of magnesium is 800 mg. daily and is usually taken with calcium supplements. Supplementing with calcium and not taking magnesium can cause a depletion of the body’s reserves of magnesium.

This Vegetable May Cause You to Gain Weight

Eat your vegetables and you’ll be fine, right? According to recent research, that is not universally true. Your health and fitness powerfully depends on which veggies you eat.

In recent years, Harvard released a study that points an accusatory finger at one vegetable in particular for widening our waistlines. This study followed 130,000 people over the course of 20 years. Looking at daily food journals and weekly weight recordings, they were able to draw connections between certain foods and their increased potential for causing weight gain. And, unsurprisingly, they found that one vegetable in particular is more likely to cause your waist to bulge than others.

No, don’t worry. It’s not kale or cauliflower. 

It’s corn.

We all know by now that starchy veggies like peas, corn and potatoes are far and away not in the same nutritional league as kale, chard and spinach. But, many of us may not realize how much starchy veggies actually affect us, nor how much corn we actually consume in our diets.

Why is corn so bad for weight? It has to do with its glycemic load. Corn, like potatoes and peas, is starchy and sweet, which can lead to sharp spikes in blood sugar. Over time, unstable blood sugar levels increase your risk for obesity and diabetes. While a little popcorn or corn on the cob is unlikely to cause much of an issue, the highly processed corn products that have infiltrated our food system are. 

Americans eat absurd amounts of corn daily. Look at any processed food’s ingredients list and you’ll probably see corn oil, (high fructose) corn syrup, corn starch and derivatives thereof. In fact, we eat so much corn that one American tester wrote on CNN that 69 percent of the carbon in his hair was derived from corn (compare that to 5 percent when he lived long-term in Italy). Corn is plaguing our nation, and we are running out of belt notches because of it. Who would have thought a humble vegetable could be so widening?

Of course, corn is more of a grain than a vegetable anyways. The Whole Grain Council actually named corn the whole grain of the month for October. Stop considering corn a vegetable, and we will all be better off.

That’s not saying you shouldn’t enjoy corn. What movie is complete without some homemade popcorn popped in coconut oil? What is a BBQ without some in-season corn on the cob, fresh off the grill? But, corn has become a ubiquitous ingredient in our food system and clearly, based on the research, we should become more vigilant as to how much corn we are actually consuming.

Is Yeast Good or Bad for You?

Yeast has been used for fermentation and baking for thousands of years. Archeologists have found grinding stones and baking chambers for yeasted bread in ancient Egyptian ruins, as well as 4,000-year-old drawings of bakeries and breweries.

Despite yeast’s long history, today bread and other yeast-leavened products are sometimes viewed as unhealthy. Is eating yeast actually harmful to your health? There is no evidence to suggest that it is. In fact, dietary yeast has many nutritional benefits.

WHAT IS YEAST?

Yeasts are single-celled fungi. They feed on sugar and carbohydrates, converting them into carbon dioxide and alcohol. The carbon dioxide is what makes bread rise. While, beer and wine production uses yeast to produce the alcohol.

Four main types of yeast are used in food:

Nutritional Yeast – Available in the form of flakes or a powder, this yeast earns its name. Nutritional yeast is high in protein, fiber, zinc and many B-complex vitamins. It is also a complete protein that contains all nine amino acids that the human body cannot naturally produce. It has a cheese-like flavor and can be added to many different dishes. 

Brewer’s Yeast – Brewer’s yeast has been grown and taken as a supplement for many years due to its high nutritional value. It is available as flakes, tablets, a powder or liquid. A mere 2 tablespoons of brewer’s yeast have 32 percent of your daily recommended intake of protein, as well as significant amounts of B vitamins, minerals and fiber. Brewer’s yeast is also used in beer brewing.

Baking Yeast – This yeast is primarily used to leaven dough for bread and other baked products. It’s not used as a supplement, although it contains various minerals and B vitamins, especially folate.

Torula Yeast – A derivative of molasses, torula yeast is a good source of B vitamins, chromium, amino acids and selenium. It is available as a powder that has a smoky, savory taste. It is sometimes used in vegetarian or vegan dishes to mimic the flavor of meat.

Certain yeasts may interact with medications, so always check with your doctor before adding yeast to your diet.

CAN YEAST BE HARMFUL?

Not all yeasts are beneficial. For example, Candida albicans is one of the most common pathogenic yeasts. It can cause oral, genital and intestinal yeast infections. 

It’s sometimes suggested that eating yeast will encourage Candida growth in your body. There is actually no evidence to support this claim.

An important distinction to make is that Candida and other problem yeasts are completely different species than Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the main species of dietary yeasts. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is not known to cause any health problems in humans.

Also, dietary yeasts are typically dead when you eat them. Baking yeast has been cooked in bread, and nutritional and other supplemental yeasts are also heated to kill the yeast. When you eat inactive yeast like this, your body simply treats it like any other food. It’s digested and the nutrients are absorbed.

Whereas, if you have a Candida infection, the Candida is actively growing and spreading in your body. And it feeds on sugar like other yeasts do.

This means that eating sugar and highly processed, simple carbohydrates will feed a Candida infection, not eating dietary yeasts. Candida yeast overgrowth is also triggered by a high-fat and low-fiber diet, impaired immune function, stress and drugs like antibiotics, birth control pills and steroids.

So, are bread and baked products bad for you because of the yeast? Probably not. But the sugar and low-fiber, refined flour used in many baked goods have the potential to feed a Candida infection.

12 Foods with More Potassium than a Banana

When you’re looking for a potassium-rich food, you probably reach for a banana, but there are a lot of plant-based foods with more potassium than a banana.

WHY WE NEED POTASSIUM

Potassium is an electrolyte that helps us stay properly hydrated. It also controls blood pressure and protects heart, nerve and brain health.

One study found that postmenopausal women who eat a potassium-rich diet are less likely to suffer a stroke. Potassium is also one of the building blocks of strong bones, because it helps our bodies hold onto calcium.

TOO MUCH POTASSIUM

There is such a thing as too much potassium, though it’s very difficult to eat too much potassium in foods. Instead you should be wary of potassium supplements that make it easy to overdo it. There are also some drugs, like blood pressure medication, that cause potassium to accumulate in your body, because they make it harder for your kidneys to filter it out.

If your body accumulates too much potassium, you put yourself at risk for a condition called hyperkalemia, where you’ll experience weakness and an irregular or slow heart rate.  If you have symptoms of hyperkalemia, talk to a doctor, because they can be life-threatening.

For most people, though, too much potassium isn’t an issue. If you want to make sure you’re getting enough of this mineral, try these foods with more potassium than a banana! 

FOODS WITH MORE POTASSIUM THAN A BANANA

To find foods that have more potassium than a banana, I looked at average serving sizes. Comparing cup-to-cup doesn’t make sense here, because some foods, like nuts and seeds, may have more potassium per cup than a banana, but a cup is an overblown serving size. Peanuts, for example, have 27 percent of your daily potassium in a cup, but you wouldn’t eat a cup of peanuts in one sitting or even in one typical day.

One medium banana gives you 12 percent of your daily potassium. Each of the foods below have more potassium per serving than that medium banana:

1. Baked Potato – 26%

A medium skin-on baked potato gives you 26 percent of your daily potassium requirements. That’s more than twice what you get from a medium banana.

2. Sweet Potato – 15%

One medium baked sweet potato with the skin on has 25 percent more potassium than a medium banana.

3. Beet Greens – 19%

Have you ever had beet greens? They taste a lot like Swiss chard, and they’re rich in calcium. Just one half cup of cooked beet greens gives you 19 percent of your potassium for the day.

4. Swiss Chard – 14%

Speaking of Swiss chard—its potassium content is nothing to sneeze at. A half cup of this leafy green gives you more potassium than a banana, and has only 18 calories.

5. White Beans – 34%

A cup of white beans has a whopping 34 percent of your daily potassium—that’s almost three times as much as a banana!

6. Black Beans – 17%

Other beans are high in potassium, too. A cup of black beans gives you five percent more potassium per serving than a banana does.

7. Pinto Beans – 17%

Pinto beans have exactly as much potassium as black beans at 17 percent per cup.

8. Coconut Water – 17%

Its potassium content is one of the reasons that some people drink coconut water after an intense workout. A cup of coconut water gives you a nice potassium boost.

9. Cantaloupe – 14%

You might think of cantaloupe as the filler in an otherwise good fruit salad, but if you’re looking for potassium-rich foods, this melon should be on your list, with 14 percent of your daily potassium in a cup!

10. Lima Beans – 28%

A cup of cooked lima beans gives you over one fourth of your potassium for the day. Pass the succotash!

11. Corn – 14%

The corn in that bowl of succotash is no slouch when it comes to potassium, either. It gives you 14 percent of your daily needs per cup.

12. Kidney Beans – 20%

Kidney beans are packed with potassium, clocking in at one fifth of your daily requirement in a one-cup serving.

Donald Trump's firing of FBI chief deeply troubling: US media

The US media, already at odds with President Donald Trump, on Wednesday criticised him for sacking FBI chief James Comey, saying his abrupt move has cast "grave doubt" on the viability of any further probe into what could be one of the biggest political scandals in America's history.

"The explanation for this shocking move that Mr. Comey's bungling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's private email server violated longstanding Justice Department policy and profoundly damaged public trust in the agency ? is impossible to take at face value," the Editorial Board of the New York Times said in an opinion piece.

Comey, the Director of the Federal Investigation Bureau deserves all the criticism heaped upon him for his "repeated missteps" in that case, but just as certainly, that's not the reason Trump fired him, it said.

By firing Comey, President Trump has "cast grave doubt on the viability of any further investigation into what could be one of the biggest political scandals in the country's history," the paper said.

"Mr. Comey was fired because he was leading an active investigation that could bring down a president," it said, referring to the ongoing probe into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. It also noted that the outcome of the probe could have "potentially ruinous consequences for the administration."

"Comey's firing takes the country closer to the dangerous collision that has been looming since allegations began about possible connections between Trump and his associates and the Russian covert influence operation Comey has been investigating since July," The Washington Post's Opinion writer David Ignatius commented.

Trump will now appoint a new FBI director whose mission will include investigating Trump himself.

Trump's abrupt firing of Comey will intensify focus on the issue Trump has been so eager to dismiss ? his knowledge of contacts between Michael Flynn and other associates and Russia, the opinion piece said.

"Trump has been digging a hole for himself from the beginning on Russia-related issues. It's an odd pattern of behavior. Trump may have done nothing improper involving Russia, but why does he act so defensive?," it asked.

The Los Angeles Times, in an editorial, said, "You can be critical of some of Comey's actions in connection with the Clinton email investigation ? as this page was ? and still be alarmed by the way he has been removed by a president who has his own reasons for wanting to see Comey gone."

"Frankly, the Comey firing is deeply troubling, reminiscent of (President) Richard Nixon's forcing out of special Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox in 1973. Like Comey, Cox was investigating the president," it said.

"Now that Comey is gone there are two urgent priorities that Congress must insist on in its oversight role, the Los Angeles Times commented.

The CNN commented that the firing of Comey was Trump's most unpredictable and dangerous move yet.

The move marked the most unpredictable moment of a presidency that through its first 100-plus days has been the least orthodox in memory, the channel said.
"The explanation for the move, which emerged into the stunned silence it caused, made little logical sense," it said.

"Removing the person charged with overseeing an investigation into a foreign country attempting to influence US elections by hurting one candidate (Clinton) and helping another (Trump) sends a chilling message up and down the federal bureaucracy -- not to mention the populace," it added.

Tension between President Trump and news organisations has been a hallmark of his early administration. Trump has been attacking the media as "fake news" and even boycotted the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner last month. 

Astronauts' exercise capacity mitigates in spaceflight due to alteration in cardiovascular function

Astronauts those who are on long space flights or part of deep space missions have lower exercise capacity, says a new study.

This happens because their heart and muscles lose the efficacy of transporting oxygen to the muscles.

Researchers set out to find why astronauts' exercise capacity decreases between 30 and 50 per cent in long-duration spaceflight.

"It is a dramatic decrease," said Carl Ade, assistant professor at Kansas State University in the US.

"When your cardiovascular function decreases, your aerobic exercise capacity goes down. You can't perform physically challenging activities anymore," said Ade.

"While earlier studies suggest that this happens because of changes in heart function, our data suggests that there are some things happening at the level of the heart, but also at the level of the microcirculation within capillaries," he said.

In addition to improving astronaut health and providing valuable information for future long-duration spaceflights, the research also can help Earth-bound clinical patients with heart failure, Ade said.

While in outer space or on the ISS, astronauts have to perform many physically demanding tasks, from the simpler task of opening a capsule door to potentially more intense future planetary tasks such as helping a fallen crew member.

Just as important is making sure astronauts can perform life-saving tasks when they return to gravity - tasks that could include an emergency landing on Earth or performing extravehicular activities on the surface of Mars, Ade said.

For the study, researchers used data from NASA's Johnson Space Centre on nine astronauts who spent about six months aboard the ISS.

The data included exercise measurements before and after their time in outer space.

The astronauts performed a stationary bike exercise test several months before they launched to the ISS.

Mother sues American Airlines for losing her daughter's ashes

A grieving mother has sued American Airlines for USD 10 million, alleging that she was forced to check in her carry-on luggage containing her daughter's ashes which the airline then misplaced.

Iddy Pierre-Canel has filed a lawsuit against American Airlines claiming that she was forced to check in her carry-on bag on a flight from Baltimore to Tucson, Arizona, with her dead daughter's ashes inside, which was then lost, NBC- affiliate KPNX-TV reported.

Pierre-Canel said her daughter, Carm-Idrelle Casseus, died 28-years-old after a battle with unspecified medical problems.

Pierre-Canel said an American Airlines employee insisted twice that she check in her bag while waiting at the gate on March 5, 2016.

She was quoted as saying that she made it clear she was carrying her daughter's ashes and wanted to keep them close.

"When the plane took off, that's when I realised I didn't have my bag. They said, 'Oh, they checked your bag in,'" she said.

Pierre-Canel said she remembers an employee picking her bags up, but she said she was under the impression they were helping her take the bags to her seat since she was distraught.

Her attorney Lorraine Morey said her client was promised her bags would be the first off the plane. However, when she arrived to Tucson, her bag was nowhere to be found.

American Airlines released a statement regarding the incident, saying, "When we need customers to gate check a bag, we always ask for customers to remove all valuables and important documents. Had we known there were cremated ashes in the bag, we would have had her remove them or found a place for the bag."

"We apologised for losing the items and certainly are very sorry for her terrible loss. A spokesperson for the airline also said Pierre-Canel created an itemised list of what was in that bag," the statement said.

There was an estimated USD 24,000 worth of belongings in the suitcase, but no urn was mentioned on that list.

Morey said that was simple because there was no way to assign a dollar value to her daughter's remains.

The airline returned Pierre-Canel's suitcase 19 days after losing it, but the ashes were not inside.

"I went through it. I was screaming. I was hurt. I wanted to die, because I felt that I failed my child," she said.

The lawsuit, filed on March 17 of this year is for USD 10 million, the report said.

Just last week, American Airlines was hit with another passenger lawsuit.

Australian Michael Anthony Taylor filed a lawsuit seeking 100,000 dollars in damages, claiming he was crushed by two overweight passengers on either side of him on the flight.