You Only Have to Drink This Much Soda to Consume 39 Pounds of Sugar a Year

Most people are not aware about all the health dangers of drinking soda. In Mexico (currently the world’s most obese nation) the average person consumes 459 cans of soda per year (or about 146 liters). This is 2nd to only one nation, America, where the average person consumes 487 cans of Soda per year (or 170 liters). According to the Bloomberg Total Health Index, in 2017 Italy has the world’s healthiest people whom consume only about 46 liters of soda per year.

  

The correlation between soda consumption and rising obesity and diabetes rates are well established. But there are many other reasons why this beverage is bad for you. Unfortunately, the sweet taste and inclusion of caffeine, has many people addicted to soda and many consume several cans per day. Other people are confused and tricked into thinking they are drinking a healthy alternative when they choose diet soda. This is unfortunately false as the ingredients used in diet soda are in many cases worse than those in regular soda.

  

Let’s look closer at the health dangers of drinking soda and the impact of soda consumption and why you should think twice about drinking it or allowing your kids to.

Health Dangers of Drinking Soda

Tooth Decay: According to the American Dental Association, soda is a leading contributor to cavities and tooth decay, especially in children. In some places, like territories in the Appalachian Mountains, tooth decay from sodas (like Mountain Dew) are an epidemic. Excessive tooth decay can affect both the nerve endings and the roots of the tooth causing pain and even tooth loss. When you do drink soda, make sure to brush your teeth after doing so.

Renal Problems: Both the acids (like phosphoric acid) and sodium (like sodium bentonite) can cause kidney stones and other renal issues. If you have renal problems and consume soda on a regular basis, you should consider if it is contributing to your condition.

  

Obesity: This is the obvious one and very impactful as carrying extra weight can result in diabetes, heart problems, skeletal issues as well as severely lowering your life longevity. It is estimated that if you consume 1 can of soda per day, you will have consumed over 39 pounds of sugar that year!

Osteoporosis: This affects many women (in particular) and can be very painful as you age. The high levels of phosphate found in soda affect your mineral equilibrium and in-turn damages your bones.

Diabetes: Daily consumption of soda will raise your risk of type 2 diabetes by 15% and promotes insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes can result in cognitive and cardiac impairment. One of the major epidemics in our society is the high rates of diabetes and pre-diabetic conditions in children.

Eliminating soda consumption would be the best way to reduce your children’s risk.
As you can see, when you drink soda there are many potentially harmful impacts to your body. Limiting (or completely eliminating) soda consumption will help you achieve your fitness and weight loss goals faster, live a longer life and maintain overall health as you age.

Cool Facts about the Human Heart (25 pics)

8 Foods You Should Eat Daily for Optimum Health

1. Spinach - It may be green and leafy, but spinach is also the ultimate man food. This noted biceps builder is a rich source of plant-based omega-3s and folate, which help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and osteoporosis. Bonus: Folate also increases blood flow to the penis. And spinach is packed with lutein, a compound that fights age-related macular degeneration. Aim for 1 cup fresh spinach or ½ cup cooked per day. SUBSTITUTES: Kale, bok choy, romaine lettuce FIT IT IN: Make your salads with spinach; add spinach to scrambled eggs; drape it over pizza; mix it with marinara sauce and then microwave for an instant dip. PINCH HITTER: Sesame Stir-Braised Kale Heat 4 cloves minced garlic, 1 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger, and 1 tsp. sesame oil in a skillet. Add 2 Tbsp. water and 1 bunch kale (stemmed and chopped). Cover and cook for 3 minutes. Drain. Add 1 tsp. soy sauce and 1 Tbsp. sesame seeds.

2. Yogurt - Various cultures claim yogurt as their own creation, but the 2,000-year-old food’s health benefits are not disputed: Fermentation spawns hundreds of millions of probiotic organisms that serve as reinforcements to the battalions of beneficial bacteria in your body, which boost the immune system and provide protection against cancer. Not all yogurts are probiotic though, so make sure the label says “live and active cultures.” Aim for 1 cup of the calcium- and protein-rich goop a day. SUBSTITUTES: Kefir, soy yogurt FIT IT IN: Yogurt topped with blueberries, walnuts, flaxseed, and honey is the ultimate breakfast—or dessert. Plain low-fat yogurt is also a perfect base for creamy salad dressings and dips. HOME RUN: Power Smoothie Blend 1 cup low-fat yogurt, 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, 1 cup carrot juice, and 1 cup fresh baby spinach for a nutrient-rich blast.

3. Tomatoes - There are two things you need to know about tomatoes: Red are the best, because they’re packed with more of the antioxidant lycopene, and processed tomatoes are just as potent as fresh ones, because it’s easier for the body to absorb the lycopene. Studies show that a diet rich in lycopene can decrease your risk of bladder, lung, prostate, skin, and stomach cancers, as well as reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. Aim for 22 mg of lycopene a day, which is about eight red cherry tomatoes or a glass of tomato juice. SUBSTITUTES: Red watermelon, pink grapefruit, Japanese persimmon, papaya, guava FIT IT IN: Pile on the ketchup and Ragú; guzzle low-sodium V8 and gazpacho; double the amount of tomato paste called for in a recipe. PINCH HITTER: Red and Pink Fruit Bowl Chop 1 small watermelon, 2 grapefruits, 3 persimmons, 1 papaya, and 4 guavas. Garnish with mint. 

4. Carrots - Most red, yellow, or orange vegetables and fruits are spiked with carotenoids—fat-soluble compounds that are associated with a reduction in a wide range of cancers, as well as reduced risk and severity of inflammatory conditions such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis—but none are as easy to prepare, or have as low a caloric density, as carrots. Aim for ½ cup a day. SUBSTITUTES: Sweet potato, pumpkin, butternut squash, yellow bell pepper, mango FIT IT IN: Raw baby carrots, sliced raw yellow pepper, butternut squash soup, baked sweet potato, pumpkin pie, mango sorbet, carrot cake PINCH HITTER: Baked Sweet Potato Fries Scrub and dry 2 sweet potatoes. Cut each into 8 slices, and then toss with olive oil and paprika. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes at 350°F. Turn and bake for 10 minutes more. 

5. Blueberries – Host to more antioxidants than any other popular fruit, blueberries help prevent cancer, diabetes, and age-related memory changes (hence the nickname “brain berry”). Studies show that blueberries, which are rich in fiber and vitamins A and C, boost cardiovascular health. Aim for 1 cup fresh blueberries a day, or ½ cup frozen or dried. SUBSTITUTES: Açai berries, purple grapes, prunes, raisins, strawberries FIT IT IN: Blueberries maintain most of their power in dried, frozen, or jam form. PINCH HITTER: Açai, an Amazonian berry, has even more antioxidants than the blueberry. Mix 2 Tbsp. of açai powder into OJ or add 2 Tbsp. of açai pulp to cereal, yogurt, or a smoothie.

6. Black Beans - All beans are good for your heart, but none can boost your brain power like black beans. That’s because they’re full of anthocyanins, antioxidant compounds that have been shown to improve brain function. A daily ½-cup serving provides 8 grams of protein and 7.5 grams of fiber, and is low in calories and free of saturated fat. SUBSTITUTES: Peas, lentils, and pinto, kidney, fava, and lima beans FIT IT IN: Wrap black beans in a breakfast burrito; use both black beans and kidney beans in your chili; puree 1 cup black beans with ¼ cup olive oil and roasted garlic for a healthy dip; add favas, limas, or peas to pasta dishes. HOME RUN: Black Bean and Tomato Salsa Dice 4 tomatoes, 1 onion, 3 cloves garlic, 2 jalapeños, 1 yellow bell pepper, and 1 mango. Mix in a can of black beans and garnish with ½ cup chopped cilantro and the juice of 2 limes.

7. Walnuts - Richer in heart-healthy omega-3s than salmon, loaded with more anti-inflammatory polyphenols than red wine, and packing half as much muscle-building protein as chicken, the walnut sounds like a Frankenfood, but it grows on trees. Other nuts combine only one or two of these features, not all three. A serving of walnuts—about 1 ounce, or seven nuts—is good anytime, but especially as a postworkout recovery snack. SUBSTITUTES: Almonds, peanuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts FIT IT IN: Sprinkle on top of salads; dice and add to pancake batter; spoon peanut butter into curries; grind and mix with olive oil to make a marinade for grilled fishor chicken. HOME RUN: Mix 1 cup walnuts with ½ cup dried blueberries and ¼ cup dark chocolate chunks.

8. Oats - The éminence grise of health food, oats garnered the FDA’s first seal of approval. They are packed with soluble fiber, which lowers the risk of heart disease. Yes, oats are loaded with carbs, but the release of those sugars is slowed by the fiber, and because oats also have 10 grams of protein per ½-cup serving, they deliver steady muscle-building energy. SUBSTITUTES: Quinoa, flaxseed, wild rice FIT IT IN: Eat granolas and cereals that have a fiber content of at least 5 grams per serving. Sprinkle 2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed on cereals, salads, and yogurt. PINCH HITTER: Quinoa Salad Quinoa has twice the protein of most cereals, and fewer carbs. Boil 1 cup quinoa in a mixture of 1 cup pear juice and 1 cup water. Let cool. In a large bowl, toss 2 diced apples, 1 cup fresh blueberries, ½ cup chopped walnuts, and 1 cup plain fat-free yogurt.

Foods You Can Use To Get High (10 pics)

Drugs aren't the only things you can use to get high. You can get high from all the foods on this list, but we definitely don't recommend it.

Nutmeg – Consuming 4-8 teaspoons of ground nutmeg might make you hallucinate, but will definitely make you feel awful. 

Sparidae Fish – If you eat the head of a fish from this family, things can get even weirder than they were when you decided to eat a fish head. 

Chili Peppers – It would have to be extremely hot, but that episode of “The Simpsons” when Homer is lead through a spiritual journey by a coyote with Johnny Cash’s voice might not be that far off. 

Rye Bread – When moldy, it’s home to a chemical that can make things pretty trippy. 

Coffee – Did you conveniently forget that caffeine is a drug again? 

Stilton Cheese – Consuming 20 grams of Stilton might make you see some SHIT. Which is cool, because that’s the minimum amount of cheese I’ll eat in a sitting. 

Mulberries – Eating unripe mulberries can make you hallucinate. You’ll want to avoid doing that if intense vomiting is something that you’d consider part of a bad trip. 

Poppy Seed Bagels – You’d have to a lot–like, A LOT–but it’s not like bagels are filling or anything.

Areca Nuts – Chewing Areca nuts is similar to drinking coffee or doing cocaine (depending on how much you chew). 

Stuff With Marijuana In It – This one may seem obvious, but apparently it isn’t to everyone. Take the cop below for example. 

8 Myths About Quitting Smoking

What you don't know about dropping the habit could hurt you. 

You know there are ridiculous amounts of health benefits associated with quitting smoking, but there are also a ton of misconceptions when it comes to actually kicking the habit. So if you or someone you know is hung up on one of these totally false beliefs, allow us to bust the myth so you can say goodbye to cigarettes for good!  

Myth #1: E-Cigarettes will help you quit.
A new study by the University of California in San Francisco found that e-cigarettes are not as effective in helping smokers quit as you might think. The review of 82 studies looked at the impact e-cigarettes had on users and discovered that people who smoked the electronic cigs were actually less likely to quit smoking than people who never used them. 

Myth #2: You'll Definitely Gain Weight
Trust us, those cigarettes aren't keeping you thin; in fact, one study found that smoking may actually make you gain weight. That's just one more reason to kick the habit for good. So why does this myth continue to persist? Well, it's true that if you compensate for smoking by snacking on unhealthy foods, your pants may be fitting a little tighter, but that doesn't have to be the case.  

Myth #3: Quitting is Expensive
Don't want to invest in pricey patches and medications to help you quit? Well, if you do the math, you'll see that they will eventually pay for themselves when you're not constantly buying cigarettes, says Marc L. Steinberg, Ph.D., an assistant professor of addiction psychiatry. Plus, he says, if you have life insurance you will pay much less on your premiums as a non-smoker.

Myth #4: Hookah is a Healthier Alternative to Cigarettes
If you only smoke recreationally--like when you're out on the town, for example--you might think that hitting up a hookah bar is a healthier alternative to getting a little buzz via cigarettes. But you would be wrong. A report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that smoking hookah is at least as toxic as smoking cigarettes and a more recent study by the University of California at San Francisco found that one night of smoking hookah significantly increases your exposure to cancer-causing carcinogens. Yikes.
 

Myth #5: Quitting After Years of Smoking Won't Improve Your Health
It's never too late to get the health benefits of being smoke free, says Steinberg. In fact, after just one year without cigarettes, a person can reduce their risk of heart disease by half, he says. And the benefits don't even take that long to kick in. Twenty minutes after quitting, your heart rate and blood pressure drop. And just 12 hours after your last cigarette, the levels of carbon monoxide in your blood stream normalize. Two to three months after quitting, you can look forward to your lung function and circulation improving.

Myth #6: You Won't Be Able to Deal With Stress Without Smoking
Although a lot of people smoke when they're stressed out, studies have shown that non-smokers are less anxious than smokers, and smokers who quit are less anxious than current ones, says Steinberg. So how did this myth get started? Steinberg says that when people are used to coping with stress by smoking, they might feel more anxious when they quit because they're not sure how to deal with their stress levels. But get this: Since nicotine is a stimulant, there's really no stress-reducing benefits that come with smoking. What might actually be de-stressing a smoker during a smoke break is simply getting away from their desk or a stressful situation and taking time to clear their head, which you can totally do sans cigs.

Myth #7: You'll Lose Your Creative Edge at Work
If you smoke to get a buzz before you get to work in the morning, you might not be doing yourself any favors. Even though you might feel that smoking gives you an edge or a jump on your work, smoking can actually keep you from working to the best of your abilities. Here's the thing, says Steinberg, smokers are more likely to take sick days and get sick more often in general, and if you're not at work or you're fighting a bug, you're not going to be as productive as you could be. Another bummer: Your boss and coworkers might resent the amount of smoke breaks you take because they could be keeping you from getting more work done, he says. 

Myth #8: You'll Lose Your Friends
Obviously you won't be able to pop outside the bar on a night out for a cigarette, but Stenberg says that he's never had a patient say that they've lost friends after kicking the habit. Though trying to quit when you're friends are puffing away can be difficult, try to avoid situations with friends where they'll be smoking and schedule a group shindig that does not leave room for cigarettes. And don't settle for cutting back to just a "social smoker."  

7 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Blueberries

It's a classic in summery fruit salads (not to mention one of our favorite year-round yogurt and oatmeal toppers), well known for its antioxidant prowess and low calorie count. But some of the blueberry's health benefits and fun facts aren't exactly common knowledge. Here are a few things to know about what just might be one of the most popular superfoods around.

1. Blueberries protect against memory loss.
A 2012 study suggested that eating at least one serving of blueberries a week slowed cognitive decline by several years. One possible explanation as to why came from a 2013 study in mice, which found that berries might protect the brain by clearing toxic proteins that accumulate there.

2. Maine produces more blueberries than anywhere else in theworld.
 
At least, according to the University of Maine.

3. They can be used as a natural food dye.
And legend has it that early American colonists boiled them with milk to make gray paint, according to the Produce for Better Health Foundation's Fruits & Veggies More Matters campaign.

4. The perfect blueberry should be "dusty" in color.
 

5. But don't wash off that "dust" until you're ready to dig in.
A rinse softens your blueberries, which can quicken spoiling, according to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

6. The blueberry bush is a relative of the rhododendron -- and the azalea.
 
And along more intuitive lines, also the cranberry.

7. Many blueberry-flavored processed foods do not contain any real blueberries.
Products like bagels, cereals, breads and muffins from brands like Kellogg's, Betty Crocker and General Mills were reported to use combos of sugar, corn syrup, starch, oil and artificial flavors and dyes to create their own mock blueberries, according to a 2011 Consumer Wellness Center investigation, the LA Times reported.

Stunning Photos from a Rather Dangerous Photoshoot in Russia (16 pics)

These beautiful girls were photographed in the snow with a 700 lbs (318 kg) brown bear named Stepan as the leading “man” in the pics. These girls make it look easy but it must have been a little terrifying.