Dude Attends His Own Funeral Hosted By His Funny Friends (9 Pics)

20 year old Keiran Cable was spending so much time with his girlfriend Jess that he virtually disappeared from his friends’ lives. They decided to throw him a mock funeral as a way of finally “saying goodbye” to their friendship with him.

“Keiran had been in a relationship for a few months and it felt like he had died because none of us had seen him since then,” said friend Ben Sullivan

“A couple of weeks ago we were all in the pub and we all started saying RIP Keiran”

“We decided if he wasn’t going to come out with us and was going to pretend he was dead then we’d organise a funeral for him”

“One of the boys, Shaun Bundy, organised most of it and he spent Friday and Saturday making the coffin”

“[Keiran] had no idea what was going on. He thought he was coming out to watch the rugby but he” ended up in a coffin

“I borrowed a funeral car and we drove the coffin from pub to pub”

“Another one of the boys, Daniel Bundock, was the vicar, and gave speeches from the Old Testament”
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“The roads were completely closed off, it was epic”

Cable’s reaction? “I was in complete shock and didn’t know what to do or say”

Revealing Candid Snaps Of Hooverville During The Great Depression (26 Pics)

These villages in America were constructed on vacant lots and made from wood and metal. They were named “Hoovervilles” after President Hoover and were quite common until 1940. Here are some pics taken in New York Central Park around this time. 

You Need to Stop Believing These Lies You’ve Been Told About Eating Carbs

There’s a lot of conflicting information out there when it comes to what foods you should nix from your diet in order to eat better. And carbohydrates are one of the most heavily debated. Why? Because there are so many myths surrounding this pivotal part of the food pyramid. Too overwhelmed to figure out what’s real and what’s fake? Here are just seven lies about carbs that you need to stop believing.

Carbs make you fat 

Yes, if you go overboard on pizza and pasta it’ll go straight to your waistline. But it isn’t the carbs that are directly tipping the scale. It’s the sugar in calorie-dense carbohydrate-based foods. “This myth persists because many people who eat a lot of refined carbs and sugar do lose weight when they cut back on these foods,” Susan Bowerman, MS, RD, CSSD tells NBC News. 

Sugar-free = low-carb 

Carbs and sugar are not mutually exclusive. Therefore, these two terms are not interchangeable. As HealthyLivingHowTo.com explains, “carbohydrate content is the sum of its components which include fiber, sugars, starch and sometimes sugar alcohols.” For example, you can go low-card and cut bread products out of your diet, but you could still be getting sugar from eating fruit. 

All carbs are created equal 

Whoever said “a carb is a carb” obviously didn’t do their homework. A piece of fruit isn’t the same as a pastry, right? Courtney Ferreira, RD, tells NBC News that people who say they’re on a low-carb diet are typically “referring to pasta and bread.” She adds that “what many don’t know is that dairy, fruit and vegetables have naturally occurring carbohydrates!” 

Carbs raise your blood sugar 

Again, not all carbohydrates are the same. Complex carbs, like multi-grain bread, can help stabilize blood sugar levels and give you energy. Refined carbs, which is found in white bread and most junk food, will make your blood sugar spike and then crash. (More on that sugar crash in just a bit.) 

Eating carbs causes inflammation 

Because of the link to weight gain, carbohydrates have been connected to inflammation and type 2 diabetes. But as Today’s Dietitian explains, complex carbs can actually have the opposite effect. “High intake of whole grains has been shown to reduce concentrations of inflammatory markers,” the site tells us. 

Low-carb diets are the best 

As you may have already guessed, complex carbohydrates are responsible for giving your body energy. So while a low-carb diet may sound like a must for losing weight and being healthier, it’s actually robbing your body of essentials it needs. Today’s Dietitian tells us that “carbohydrate restriction was linked with a 30% increased risk of mortality from all causes, and a slightly increased risk of cardiovascular events.” 

Carbs make you sleepy 

This is somewhat true. But again, it depends on what kind of carbs you are eating. Sugar-loaded refined carbs, like white pasta, raise your blood pressure before crashing, causing you to feel fatigued. Eating a whole wheat pasta meal won’t give you the same kind of sleepy feeling.

Is Fish “Brain Food” for Older Adults?

In the landmark Global Burden of Disease study, researchers compiled the top 20 causes of death and disability. Number one on the list was high blood pressure, two and three was smoke, and the fourth leading cause of loss of life and health was not eating enough fruit. Lack of exercise was number 10, followed by too much sodium, not enough nuts and seeds, not enough whole grains, and then not enough vegetables. Number 18 on the top 20 list was not getting enough long-chain omega-3 fatty acids like DHA and EPA found in seafood, due to their purported protective effect against heart disease. Even years ago when the study was published, researchers were already questioning the benefits of these fish fats, as more and more randomized controlled trials put them to the test and they failed.

Consumption of fish and fish oil wasn’t only hyped for cardiovascular protection, though. Omega-3s have also been touted to treat depression. However, after taking into account all the negative results that went unpublished, there appears to be no benefit for major depression or for preventing suicide.

What about omega-3s for the prevention of cognitive decline or dementia? The available randomized controlled trials show no benefit for cognitive function with omega-3 supplementation in studies lasting from 6 to 40 months among healthy older adults. 

It may sometimes even make things worse. “Higher current fish consumption predictedworse performance on several cognitive speed constructs. Greater fish consumption in childhood predicted slower perceptual speed and simple/choice reaction time.” This may be due to neurotoxic contaminants, such as mercury, in fishes. We’ve known that the developing brain is particularly sensitive to the damaging effects of mercury, but maybe the aging brain is as well.

This would explain results that have shown higher omega-3 levels to be associated with high levels of cognitive impairment and dementia. More EPA (eicosapentanoic acid) was found in the cognitively impaired, and more DHA (docosahexanoic acid) was found in the demented, presumably because of pollutants like mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in seafood that have been related to cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.

The same cognitive “functions disrupted in adults, namely attention, fine-motor function and verbal memory, are similar to some of those previously reported in children with prenatal exposures,” that is, exposed in the womb. And, the adults exposed to mercury through fish consumption didn’t have only subtle EEG brain wave changes, but “observable deficits in neurobehavioral performance measures,” such as poorer performance on tests of fine motor speed and dexterity, as well as concentration, for example. “Some aspects of verbal learning and memory were also disrupted by mercury exposure,” and the greater the mercury levels, the worse they did.

That study, however, was done downstream of a gold mining operation, which uses a process that uses lots of mercury. Other such studies were done on people eating fish next to chemical plants or toxic spills, or eating whale meat. What about a more mainstream population? An “elite group of well-educated participants”—most were corporate executives like CEOs and CFOs—all living in Florida and wealthy enough to afford so much seafood that at least 43 percent exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s safety limit for mercury were studied. Researchers found that excessive seafood intake, which they defined as more than three to four servings per month of large-mouth fish like tuna, snapper, and bass, elevates mercury levels and causes cognitive dysfunction, resulting in about a 5 percent drop in cognitive performance. This may not seem like much, but it’s “a decrement that no one, let alone a health-conscious and achievement-oriented person, is likely to welcome.”

“It is worth noting the irony in the situation; that is, the fact that corporate executives who chose to overconsume seafood for health reasons sustained a drop in their executive functions. Yet, if a 4.8% drop in executive function due to excessive seafood intake occurs in highly functioning, healthy adults with ample cognitive reserve, the major concern for further study is whether similar [mercury] level elevations in individuals already suffering from cognitive decline might result in substantially greater declines,” particularly with cognitive decline, dementia, and seafood consumption on the rise.

12 Ways to Get the Metabolism of a 25-Year-Old

Drink more H2O 

Ensuring you get the proper amount of water every day is probably one of the oldest health tricks in the book, but it’s not just because it keeps our skin hydrated or helps prevent overeating by helping us feel fuller. A small study in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition found that drinking water can actually lead to weight loss, possibly because it can increase metabolism. “It takes calories to process water, because everything we do takes calories,” says nutritionist Lauren Pincus, “The more water, the more calories you need to expend.” She suggests aiming for around two liters a day, but the exact amount depending on your activity level and age.

Start strength training 

While nutritionists agree that there is no magic food to revving up your metabolism, getting enough exercise, especially the right kind of exercise, is key. Experts suggest strength training two or three times to build lean muscle mass. “A pound of muscle burns up to nine times more calories than a pound of fat,” says nutritionist Lisa Stollman. “Lifting weights is a great way to build muscle mass.” However, the point is not just to build lean muscle mass, but to maintain it. “As we age, we start to lose muscle,” says Pincus. “Strength training not only builds muscle groups to burn more calories, but also helps preserve them and prevent loss.” 

Up your protein intake 

Eating a sufficient quantity of protein at each meal is almost unanimously agreed upon as a critical component of maintaining a rapid metabolism. A recent study by the American Society of Nutrition attested to a higher protein diet making you feel more satiated after eating and maintaining lean muscle mass. But that doesn’t mean you should go to town on a juicy steak every night. “You can only absorb about 30 grams of protein at a time to utilize it for muscle group and repair,” says Pincus, who recommends that you spread protein consumption throughout the day, about 4 ounces with each serving. Not sure how to incorporate healthy lean protein into your mealtime routines? Stollman suggests 2 tablespoons of nuts or nut butter, 8 ounces of low-fat yogurt, either dairy or soy, 2 ounces of tune, 4 tablespoons of hummus, 4 ounces of tofu, or 1 egg, with each meal or snack.

Be mindful when eating 

While most of us might wolf our meals down at our desks or in front of the TV, savoring your food may is better for achieving a healthier weight. Recent research shows that the faster people ate, the more they ate because the hormone that signals that you’re full, cholecystokinin (CCK), takes about 20 minutes to kick in. If you inhale your food, you might consume more than you mean to without realizing you’re full. Nutritionist Keri Gans also suggests maintaining a regular dining schedule as an important component to mindful eating habits. 

Don’t underestimate the importance of sleep 

Don’t cave into that extra episode of Stranger Things: Getting a quality night’s is a critical component of a healthy metabolism. “Too little sleep appears to wreak havoc with leptin and ghrelin, two hormones that regulate appetite,” says nutritionist Elisa Zied. “When you don’t sleep well, you feel hungrier and you tend to eat more and choose more nutrient-poor foods.”

Limit screen time before bed 

It’s no secret that experts recommend putting away blue-light devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, at least an hour before bed to improve sleep quality. However, a recent pilot study from Northwestern University shows that exposure to blue-light at night can impact glucose metabolism. Although the exact correlation is still being studied, John La Puma, MD, suggests ceasing exposure to blue light two hours prior to hitting the sack. “It resets melatonin levels so that getting to sleep becomes harder, and too little sleep means weight gain for most people,” says Dr. La Puma.

Enjoy a cup of coffee and tea  

“Caffeine can increase your metabolism up to 8 percent,” says Stollman. “Brewed tea kicks it up another notch by boosting your metabolism by 10 percent.” Green tea goes above and beyond thanks to its catechins, and the effects add up. Pincus recommends three to four cups a day to potentially burn up to 50 to 100 calories. However, it’s important to refrain from using this an excuse to indulge in flavored lattes or sugary green tea drinks from the store. “Don’t make it into dessert—that defeats the whole purpose,” says Gans.  

Don’t overly restrict calories 

Severely limiting caloric intake can tricking your body into thinking it’s starving. In her book Thin for Life: 10 Keys to Success from People Who Have Lost Weight and Kept it Off, Anne Fletcher writes that “if you cut back on calories, your body protects itself from this state of semi-starvation by slowing down the rate at which it burns food.” While skipping a meal or two might see positive short-term effects, it can be harmful in the long run. 

Don’t forego breakfast 

Running out the door instead of chowing down on some eggs could slow down your metabolism throughout the day. “If you skip protein at breakfast, you lose the opportunity in your day to feed your muscles,” says Pincus. “You can’t double up at dinner since your body can’t utilize more than four ounces at a time.”

Spice it up 

Capsaicin, present in spicy foods like chili and red pepper flakes, might boost metabolism by up to 8 percent. As always, don’t use this as an excuse to eat unhealthier foods like greasy takeout. “Sprinkle on red pepper flakes on eggs in the morning,” advises Gans. “You could even make fish, chicken, or lean beef a little spicier for dinner.”  

Keep moving, even if you’re at your desk 

It’s not just about being a gym rat. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that non-exercise related activity, such as tapping your foot or fidgeting at your desk, can help keep off fat. To integrate more movement into your everyday routine, Pincus suggests opting for a standing or transitional desk, or just making sure you don’t spend the entire workday sedentary. “Set a timer to walk around your office every half an hour, do a few squats, something to keep the body moving,” she says.

Change up your commute 

A recent study by the Royal Society for Public Health found that while a long commute to work obviously decreases physical activity and might eat into time spent at the gym, it can also lead to decreased sleep time and a 29 percent increase in food consumption—and usually unhealthier food at that, since there is less time to prepare meals. Though some people might not have the means (or the climate) to avoid driving or public transportation, subbing in walking or biking for part of the trip could have you feeling more energetic and lean. 

9 Causes of Cancer That Might Surprise You

Consuming too much sugar 

By now you’ve heard time and again how bad sugar is for you. It’s been linked to obesity, heart disease, diabetes—and now also cancer. According to a study done at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, high amounts of sugar in today’s Western diets may increase the risk of breast cancer. (Learn the symptoms of breast cancer to watch for.) The study found that sugar levels in mice comparable with levels in Western diets led to increased tumor growth. “While done on mice, the researchers did try to make the study as close as possible to what happens in humans,” says Leslie Bonci, MPH, RDN, owner of Active Eating Advice. “The mice were fed sugar in doses similar to what Americans eat daily and these mice were genetically predisposed to breast cancer.” The culprit appeared to be fructose, as it exacerbated the inflammatory process. Stick to natural sugar found in fruit and avoid sugar-sweetened beverages, tabletop sweeteners, candy, and desserts.  

Drinking HOT beverages 

Are you the person who orders their morning coffee extra piping hot? You may want to think twice. A systematic review in the International Journal of Cancer of studies on the temperature of beverages found that hot drinks could increase the risk of esophageal cancer. “The theory is that high temperature causes thermal irritation of the esophagus, perhaps predisposing to carcinogenic changes in the esophagus,” explains Bonci. If you can’t drink it any other way, “consider decreasing the amount you consume, so overall, you will not irritate the esophageal mucosa as often,” suggests Bonci.   

 Eating processed meats 

We’re talking about meat that has been cured, salted, or smoked, mainly to help preserve it (read: cold cuts). The International Agency for Research on Cancer evaluated the carcinogenicity of processed meat and found it to be carcinogenic to humans based on evidence that eating it can cause colorectal cancer. They found that quarter-pound portion of this processed meat can up the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 percent. The issue mainly seemed to be with the amount of meat consumed, which means that you don’t need to go cold-turkey vegan. But it’s smart to limit the amount of processed meats you consume, suggests Bonci. “Pick lean red meat instead, which is a great source of protein, iron, and zinc,” she says. 

Imbibing too much alcohol 

If you stick to a drink a day for women or two a day for men, alcohol has many, many health benefits. But drinking more than that can start affecting your risk of cancer and other diseases. According to the National Cancer Institute, based on reviews of many studies, there’s a strong scientifically backed link between alcohol consumption and a few types of cancer. “When alcohol is broken down in the digestive tract, it produces acetaldehyde, which is a toxic chemical,” explains Bonci. “Alcohol also generates reactive oxygen species, which can damage DNA, and alcohol impairs the body's ability to breakdown and absorb nutrients, and can increase estrogen levels, increasing the risk of breast cancer.” Consider quantity and frequency when it comes to drinking. Remember that one drink means one 12-ounce beer, eight-ounce malt liquor drink, five-ounce glass of wine, or one-and-a-half-ounce shot of 80-proof liquor.  

Working the night shift 

While more research still needs to be done on the topic, some studies have linked circadian-disruption from working nights (and therefore having possible sleep issues) with increased cancer risk. “I think a lot has to do with decreased immunity and low level inflammation,” says Sandra Lombardo, MD, general oncologist in New Milford, Connecticut. Though you can’t always choose your shift, it might be safe to pick days if you have the option.  

Being sedentary 

Those living a sedentary lifestyle may need to step up their game—literally. According to the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, physical inactivity has been linked to cardiovascular disease, obesity and, you guessed it, cancer. The relationship between total time sitting and increased cancer risk was proven. Be sure you’re moving daily, as exercise is extremely important. “It brings more oxygen and blood flow to the muscles and organs, which increases cell turnover, and optimizes waste removal,” says Michelle Yagoda, MD, otolaryngologist in New York City, who completed a six-month fellowship including research in head and neck cancer at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. A sedentary lifestyle robs the body of this important jolt to daily maintenance.  

Living overweight 

It goes along with being sedentary, but as the obesity rates continue to rise in America, it’s something more and more people need to be aware of. According to the National Cancer Institute, obesity has been associated with increased risks of esophagus, pancreas, colon and rectum, breast, kidney, and thyroid cancer, just to name a few. “In overweight women especially, fat cells can increase estrogen levels, increasing risk of endometrial and breast cancer,” explains Lombardo. Numerous studies have also found hormonal and inflammatory links between obesity and cancer. Don’t be sedentary, for one.  

Having oral sex 

Listen up ladies and gentlemen—human papillomavirus, also known as HPV, is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. And studies have found that seven percent of Americans have oral HPV. Of those 7 percent though, only 1 percent have oral HPV that can ultimately cause cancer in the neck and throat, known as oropharyngeal cancers. HPV causes cells to become abnormal and it can result in cancer if not treated. There has not yet been much research done on how to prevent oral HPV, but using condoms and dental dams will lower the chances of passing or contracting the infection. 

Taking supplements in excess 

More isn’t always better—especially when it comes to dietary supplements. A study done last year found that excessive use of dietary supplements was linked to increased cancer risk. The study done at the University of Colorado Cancer Center found that when these over-the-counter supplements were taken in excess of the recommended amounts, they could actually increase cancer risk. “Supplements are supposed to be used to correct a deficit, not if someone's micronutrient levels are normal,” says Bonci. Be aware of all the supplements you take and the recommended dosage. “If the amount of any of those is more than 100 to 250 percent of the Dietary Reference Intake, cut back,” suggests Bonci. 

The 3 Big Reasons Americans Are Dying Earlier

Despite all of our modern advances, technology, and medical studies, America is not one of the 10 healthiest countries in the world — in fact, our average life expectancy just dropped for the second year in a row. Even as more and more medical breakthroughs are being discovered, Americans seem to be getting sicker.

So why has the U.S., which was once a global leader in the length of life for its citizens, fallen so far? According to research, there are several deadly reasons.

The current life expectancy in the U.S. 

The new average life expectancy for Americans is 78.7 years, which puts the U.S. behind other developed nations Canada, Germany, Mexico, France, Japan, and the U.K., which have a life expectancy of 80.3 years. But this isn’t because our doctors are failing us or because of some kind of outbreak. The real reasons are (literally) quite sad.

According to experts, there are three main reasons Americans are dying sooner that can be traced back to one general cause. 

1. Drug overdose 

The opioid crisis is certainly partially to blame for the drop in American life expectancy. Between 2000 and 2014, the rate of fatal drug overdoses rose by 137%. And while opioids aren’t entirely to blame, they have a large impact on addiction and overdoses. 

2. Alcohol abuse 

Abusing alcohol is killing Americans at an alarming rate. Alcohol poisoning kills six people every day, 76% of which are adults ages 35-64. Alcoholism tends to be worse in poor communities where people don’t have a lot of opportunities or hope.

3. Suicide

As alarming as the opioid epidemic is, it’s just the tip of an iceberg of an even larger public health crisis. Between 1999 and 2014, suicide rates in America rose by 24%. The suicides are disproportionately affecting white Americans, especially adults aged 25-59 years, those with limited education, and women. They tend to happen most in communities with longstanding social and economic challenges.

4. The real issue: Despair

While it’s not entirely clear why Americans are dying at higher rates from these factors, given the facts we do have, it seems obvious: Economic hardships and the loss of security held by previous generations have put American adults into a state of despair. The U.S. as a whole is rich, but the wealth is not inclusive. The “American dream” seems more out of reach than ever.

The good news: We can change

As depressing as these statistics seem, experts are claiming that change is possible, and that the same things that are good for America’s economy can also be good for the country’s health.

“The solutions to dealing with this problem are not very different from the priorities we should have to strengthen the middle class overall,” said Steven Woolf, director of the Center on Society and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University. “What people in the health field would recommend is improvements in education, employment, and economic opportunities for the low-income and middle-class segments of our population—and those same investments are going to improve economic prosperity and social mobility for much of America; that’s the win-win here.”

Changing our health may be as simple as changing our priorities as a nation.

In some ways, our life expectancy is actually longer

While it’s tragic that more middle-aged Americans are dying from despair-related causes, there is some good news: There has been a decrease in mortality from heart disease and cancer, two of our biggest killers. If we can get a handle on our substance abuse problem as a nation, our collective life expectancy should soon be higher, where it belongs.