Blast From The Past: Old School Video Games (39 pics)

15 Things to do for Your Health After Turning 40

All sorts of changes start to occur in our bodies after we turn 40. Unfortunately, many of these changes can ruin our health and increase risk of disease. For instance, muscle loss causes weight gain, while loss of bone mass increases risk of fractures and osteoporosis.

The good news is we can take simple steps to prevent most of these changes. Here’s what you should do after 40 to stay healthy.

1. Boost calcium intake.

Calcium is essential for strong bones. And as I said, bone density decreases as we age. Getting 1,000 mg – 1,200 mg of calcium each day will help keep your bones strong. And as result, lower risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

Increase intake of these plant-based calcium sources. And remember to get enough vitamin D as well.

2. Increase muscle mass.

By the time people hit 40 they’re already losing muscle mass. Doing strength training consistently can help prevent muscle loss and even increase muscle mass.

You don’t even have to go to the gym. Use bodyweight exercises to build muscle and strength. 

3. Don’t use supplements before talking to a doctor.

Some supplements are beneficial, but they can’t fix all health issues. Don’t try to treat every health problem with supplements. Get a blood test to eliminate guesswork and find out which supplements your body truly needs.

4. Regulate blood sugar levels.

High or low blood sugar levels can cause insulin resistance, fatigue and headaches. Luckily, you can regulate blood sugar levels by avoiding processed carbs and sticking to these habits.

5. Eat more antioxidants.

Chances are you know that antioxidants are important. They help fight free radicals which accelerate aging and damage cells. Antioxidant-rich foods also help fight inflammation. Veggies, fruits, and herbs are good antioxidant sources.

6. Eat enough fiber.

Adequate fiber intake will improve bowel movements, lower cholesterol levels and balance blood sugar levels. Women over 40 should consume 25 grams of fiber a day, while men between age 40 and 50 should consume 38 grams of fiber a day.

I may also note that high-fiber foods are loaded with essential nutrients.

7. Quit smoking.

Smoking ruins health in people of all ages. It increases risk of heart disease, cancer, dementia, and other diseases. If you can’t seem to quit smoking, these apps may help you quit.

8. Don’t ignore thyroid issues.

We are more prone to thyroid problems after 40. Don’t ignore common symptoms of thyroid disorder like fatigue, sudden weight gain, dry skin, and so on.

9. Stretch regularly.

Most people over 40 have stiff muscles and joints. Stretching can help loosen these muscles and eliminate pain. It’s important to mention that morning stretches can help you stay energetic all day.

10. Go for annual exams.

You shouldn’t ignore the doctor as you grow older. Seeing a doctor annually will help prevent diseases. It’ll also be wise not to ignore any persistent health issue.

11. Eat more potassium.

Eating more bananas can help lower risk of high blood pressure. Other potassium-rich foods include spinach, potatoes (with the skin on), and avocado.

12. Don’t overdo cardio.

Moderate cardio improves cardiovascular health, but overdoing cardio can cause injuries. For example, excessive cycling is known to cause knee overuse injuries.

13. Take vitamin B12 supplements.

You may need to take vitamin B12 supplements. This nutrient helps keep your skin, hair, and blood healthy.

Vitamin B12 is found in meat, poultry, eggs, fish, and dairy products, so we normally think of B12 deficiency as an issue just for vegetarians and vegans. B12 absorption reduces as we age, so talk to your doctor about whether you should be taking a B12 supplement even if you eat an omnivorous diet.

14. Walk more, drive less.

Walking is a great way to improve heart health and burn more calories. Choose to walk instead of driving when going to the supermarket or local market. Research shows that walking for 15 minutes every day can lower risk of osteoporosis.

15. Eat less.

This advice doesn’t only apply to those who want to lose weight. Research shows that caloric restriction can extend life and lower risk of age-related diseases.

Are Your Favorite Candles Toxic?

Many of us don’t think about what goes into our candles. We light them to fill our homes with the wonderful seasonal scents of apple pie or balsam fir or lavender. We enjoy softly lit romantic dinners beneath their light. We let them flicker wildly as we sink into a warm salt bath. Candles are a relaxing and comforting luxury for many of us. But, depending on what you buy, your candle may be doing more harm than good.

Your average taper or jar candle has some pretty nasty stuff in it. Petroleum-based stuff. When you burn these candles, tiny amounts of toxic byproducts and imperceptible soot particles are released into the air, causing a little bit of indoor pollution. That may not seem like a big deal—it’s just one tiny candle, after all. But, if you are burning these toxic candles week after week, it is possible for the toxins to begin accumulating, particularly in your endocrine and respiratory systems. Ew.

But not all candles are toxic. Some actually cleanse the air. So what should you look for when buying a candle? Ask yourself these things when shopping for a new candle: 

What kind of wax is in it?

Most classic candles are made of paraffin wax—a petroleum derived product. Anything derived from fossil fuels is not clean at all, but paraffin became popular in the mid 1800s because it produces a white, odorless and strong-burning wax from otherwise useless oil sludge. But, when you are burning a paraffin candle, you are releasing those petroleum toxins into your home. Instead, look for cleaner, more natural waxes.

I prefer beeswax candles, especially since buying bee products from sustainable keepersgoes a long way towards saving the endangered honeybee. Plus, beeswax actually acts as an air purifier. That’s right, it’s the anti-paraffin. Soy or coconut-based waxes are good choices, too. Just be on high alert for wax blends. Some companies blend beeswax or soy wax with paraffin, but will market the candles as “beeswax” or “soy candle”. Don’t get fooled. Do your due diligence and read your labels.

What is the wick made of?

There is a whole science to candle wicks. Too wide a wick, the candle will burn too hot and fast. Too narrow, the candle won’t burn properly and there will be walls of unmelted wax. Use the wrong material, the candle will burn unevenly. While most commercial candles have worked out the wick science, many of them ignore the potential toxicity of the wick material. Believe it or not, lead was only banned in candle wicks as recently as 2003! I look for wicks that are 100 percent cotton, hemp or even wood.

How about the fragrance?

I know many people who are very conscious of everything they put in and on their bodies, but seem to turn a blind eye when it comes to candles with artificial fragrances. As a person with sensitivity to chemical fragrances, I find this a tough thing to ignore. Unfortunately, according to the FDA, fragrances need not be divulged on the label. The ingredients are protected as ‘trade secrets’.

So, who knows what potential allergens, toxins or endocrine disruptors lurk inside. And these unnatural chemicals can cause real harm by messing with the nervous system, causing imbalanced hormones and potentially causing cancer. For this reason, try to purchase candles that are only specifically scented with 100 percent essential oils or natural scents. The petrochemicals in artificial fragrances aren’t something to mess around with.

So what candles are safe?

Naturally, the safest candles are the ones you make yourself. And it is not that difficult. One could simply buy a few pounds of bulk beeswax and some wicks, melt the wax down, sprinkle in some of your favorite essential oils, and pour into a mason jar with the affixed wick. Boom, a 30-hour candle.

Not a DIY type? I prefer to buy naturally dyed beeswax tapers when I can from suppliers like Honey Candles. For jar candles, brands like Ethic Supply Co, Keap and Credo Beautyare good places to start. A little effort goes a long way in terms of your health and home.

10 Ways to Alleviate Autumn Allergies

Autumn is here in all its multi-color spendor. For many people it is a time of apple and pumpkin picking, fall fairs and other fall delights, but for allergy sufferers, particularly those suffering from ragweed and other weed allergies, it is a time of sinus congestion, fatigue, asthma and other allergy-related symptoms.

Most people assume they have a cold when these symptoms hit, but may actually be dealing with allergies to mold, dust mites (we are spending more time indoors after all) or to pollens from fall plants.

SYMPTOMS OF ALLERGIES:

Itchy Eyes
Itchy Throat
Sneezing
Sinus Congestion
Runny Nose
Headaches
Watery Eyes
Red and Irritated Eyes
Shortness of Breath
Asthma
Fatigue
Post Nasal Drip

Here are some of my favorite natural remedies to alleviate autumn allergies: 

Reduce Sugar Consumption

Sugar is highly inflammatory and mucus-forming and is best avoided as much as possible, particularly during allergy season.

Vitamin C

Allergies are incredibly stressful to the body’s stress glands, which are known as the adrenal glands. These two triangular-shaped glands sit atop the kidneys and are heavy users of vitamin C, particularly when we are under stress. Increasing vitamin C intake during allergy season can be helpful for dealing with allergy symptoms and inflammation caused by the immune response to allergens. Some people find that 2000 mg of ascorbic acid taken daily is helpful to reduce allergy symptoms.

Vitamin D

Most of us know that vitamin D helps to keep our immune system strong, but few know that it can help improve allergy symptoms, particularly lung function. A vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a rapid decline in lung function, based on research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. You can get vitamin D from moderate sun exposure, food sources, which are largely fish or animal products, or through supplementation of vitamin D3 (experts vary on their recommended doses which are typically 800 to 4000 IU daily).

Vitamin E

Research in the medical journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology found that vitamin E supplementation reduces the severity of nasal symptoms linked to allergies. The study also found that vitamin E may actually reduce the imbalanced immune function at the root cause of allergies, not just the symptoms themselves, which makes vitamin E supplementation great for symptom relief and overall reduction of allergies. A typical dose of vitamin E is 400 IU. Be sure to choose mixed tocopherols since they are absorbed better than other forms.

Quercetin

A natural antihistamine nutrient found in apples and onions, quercetin has an excellent ability to reduce allergy symptoms and improve lung function. Other food sources include: berries, apples, cabbage, cauliflower, nuts, and black, green or white tea. Allergy sufferers may need more than food alone will supply, particularly during allergy season. A typical dose of quercetin is 400 mg daily, ideally taken along with vitamin C.

Nettles

A traditional medicine of Native Americans, double-blind research in Phytotherapy Research has confirmed what these people have known for centuries, that nettles is an effective allergy remedy, particularly for allergic rhinitis (nasal congestion). Follow package directions for the product you choose, which are typically available in tea, loose-leaf herb or tincture (alcohol extract).

Green Tea

Green tea’s natural constituents epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has been found to help many different health conditions, including allergies. Drink 3 cups of unsweetened green tea (or sweeten with the herbal sweetener stevia) daily.

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

A little-known nutrient known as NAC can be helpful for the treatment of allergies. NAC appears to work by reducing the hyper-reactivity of the lungs which is common in allergies. A typical daily dose of NAC is 600 mg.

Perilla

The almost unknown herb, Perilla frutescens, has been found in many studies to be effective in the treatment of nasal and sinus congestion, and eye irritation linked to allergies. It has also been found to be beneficial for allergy-induced asthma. Check out my blog “Study Shows Herb Effective for Seasonal Allergies” for more information. Follow package directions for the product you choose.

Butterbur

Known as Petasites hybridus, this traditional medicine offers relief for allergy symptoms. In as tudy published in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, researchers found it was effective against allergy symptoms. Other research published in the journal Phytotherapy Research found that butterbur inhibited the allergic response and reduced allergic airway inflammation in animals. Follow package directions for the product you choose.

10 Disturbing Facts About Popular Snack Foods

Snacks are a big part of our lives. An after-school snack is a custom that most of us grow up with. Popcorn is a necessity at the movie theater, and chips are perfect for munching on in front of the TV at home.

You wouldn’t throw a party without supplying some sort of finger-food spread. Checkout lanes at many stores are stocked with a variety of snacks, allowing us to make a last-minute grab for something to tide us over until the next meal.

But some of the most popular—and tastiest—snacks have an unappetizing side you might not be aware of.

10Cheetos Mess With Your Mind

Orange-stained fingers are a small price to pay for this delightfully cheesy snack. Classic crunchy Cheetos have been around for almost 70 years. Introduced by Frito-Lay in 1948, the cheese-dusted cornmeal puffs are still one of the top brands in snacking.

But Cheetos did not become insanely popular by accident.

According to food scientist Steven Witherly, Cheetos are an example of “vanishing caloric density.” When a food melts quickly in your mouth, it tricks the brain into thinking that no calories have been consumed.[1] If your brain does not think you are consuming any calories, then it does not send a message to your stomach that you are full.

This makes it easy to plow through an entire bag of Cheetos at once because of their light and airy design. Which is exactly what the manufacturers intended.

9Pretzels Are Bathed In Lye

Those warm, soft pretzels that are perfect for tearing into chunks and eating might have been dipped in a caustic chemical that is capable of dissolving glass.

Lye is commonly used to make soap and unclog drains. It is also used to make traditional Bavarian-style soft pretzels. The pretzel dough is dipped into a mixture of water and lye before being baked. The lye bath is a browning agent that gives pretzels their color.

If no browning agent had been applied to the dough before baking, the pretzels would come out of the oven white. A mix of hot water and baking soda can also be used as a browning agent, but many bakers believe that the lye method yields the best results.[2]

Bakers typically use food-grade lye for this process. Food-grade lye is produced and packaged in a regulated way but remains the chemical equivalent of the cleaning solution.

8Veggie Straws Lack Veggies

Sensible Portions Garden Veggie Straws are advertised as a healthy alternative to regular potato chips. As a result, they are facing a lawsuit. It turns out that Garden Veggie Straws are not any healthier than a bag of Lay’s Classic potato chips, despite the bright pictures of spinach and tomatoes on their packaging.

John Solak and Jim Figger filed a class action lawsuit against Sensible Portions, accusing the company of using false and deceptive marketing to convince consumers that their product is healthier than it really is. Solak and Figger say that they paid a higher price for Garden Veggie Straws compared to other snacks because they believed the product was made from whole vegetables.

The lawsuit states that the plaintiffs never would have purchased Garden Veggie Straws if they had known the product contained only vegetable by-products that lack the nutrients and vitamins found in whole vegetables. Along with monetary compensation, Solak and Figger are seeking an injunction that would prohibit Sensible Portions from continuing to falsely advertise their products in the future.[3]

On the Garden Veggie Straws packaging, one thing that seems to be true is the claim that their product contains 30 percent less fat than the leading potato chips. This is accurate when comparing a single serving of Garden Veggie Straws to a single serving of Lay’s Classic potato chips.

However, that is the only area where the straws trump the chips. Garden Veggie Straws also contain more sodium per serving than Lay’s Classic potato chips, while the chips have higher amounts of dietary fiber, protein, and vitamins.

7Jerky Is A Carcinogen

Jerky seems like a good choice for anyone looking to snack on something loaded with protein. But you might want to find your energy boost elsewhere.

The World Health Organization has classified processed meat as a Group One carcinogen, meaning that convincing evidence exists that the meat causes cancer. Processed meats, including jerky, have been linked to colorectal cancer.

About 34,000 cancer deaths per year worldwide are attributable to diets that are high in processed meat. The more processed meat you consume, the higher your risk becomes. Studies estimate that every 50-gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 percent.[4]

The specific process by which consuming processed meat increases the risk of colorectal cancer is not yet known, but it is likely related to chemicals that are formed when meat is processed or cooked. Some of these chemicals are known or suspected carcinogens.

6Gummy Bears Are More Than Just Sugar And Spice

These snacks are chewy and adorable. They also contain the leftovers from slaughterhouses. Gold-Bears from Haribo are the original gummy bears. Their nutrition page lists gelatin as the ingredient responsible for their trademark chewiness.

Gelatin is a versatile ingredient that comes from animal collagen. In the Middle Ages, it was discovered that animal bones and hides boiled in water created a broth that solidified when cooled. Back then, making gelatin was a long process that involved boiling animal parts for six hours. Only wealthy households with many servants could accomplish the task.[5]

Today, gelatin is commercially manufactured worldwide. Therefore, you do not have to be wealthy to enjoy the chewy gummy bears that owe their existence to boiled animal parts.

5Takis Can Erode Your Stomach Lining

Takis are mini rolled corn chips that come in a variety of flavors. In particular, the spicy flavors have become a hit, especially among kids. But this obsession is sending people to the hospital, and some spicy snack food brands have even been banned by school districts.

People are ending up in the emergency room with gastritis after eating snacks such as Takis. Gastritis is an inflammation or erosion of the stomach lining. Some of the symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, and a burning sensation in the stomach.

Twelve-year-old Andrew Medina of Los Angeles was taken to the doctor because of abdominal pain. He said that it felt similar to a bruise. He also said that he ate 20–30 bags of spicy chips every month.[6]

Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency room physician, believes that the flavoring on spicy snacks affects the pH levels in the stomach, causing it to become painfully acidic. Some kids suffer from stomachaches so severe that they arrive at the hospital doubled over in pain.

4French Fries Are Worse Than You Thought

Due to their high sodium and fat content, french fries are not considered a healthy snack choice to begin with. But they also contain a chemical called acrylamide. First found in certain foods in 2002, acrylamide was recognized as a major concern for humans based on its ability to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

The chemical is not found in raw potatoes. It is formed when they are cooked using high temperature methods such as frying. Researchers have discovered that french fries contain higher levels of acrylamide than other foods.

The level of the chemical rises when cooking is done for longer periods or at higher temperatures. This means that frying potatoes creates more acrylamide than boiling or microwaving them. It also means that crispy brown fries tend to contain more acrylamide than golden yellow ones.

The National Toxicology Program and the International Agency for Research on Cancer consider acrylamide to be a probable human carcinogen. There are regulations on acrylamide for materials that come in contact with food and drinking water. There are no regulations on acrylamide in food itself.[7]

3Fruit Snacks Are No Better Than Candy

Fruit snacks are marketed as a healthy source of vitamins. Many package labels state that they are made with real fruit and contain the daily recommended amount of vitamin C. But that does not mean fruit snacks measure up to real strawberries or bananas. Nutritionally, fruit snacks have more in common with candy than actual fruit.

Fruit snacks lack dietary fiber, an important nutrient supplied by fresh fruit. If you eat just two small pouches of Welch’s Fruit Snacks, you have consumed the same amount of calories and sugar that are in a pack of Starburst candies.

The makers of Welch’s Fruit Snacks are facing a class action lawsuit alleging that their labels are false and misleading. Plaintiff Lauren Hall claims that the company’s labels promise more nutritional benefits than what their product delivers. Hall says that sugar makes up 40 percent of each serving of fruit snacks and as much as 60 percent of Welch’s Fruit ‘n Yogurt Snacks.[8]

It remains to be seen if the lawsuit will result in fruit snacks being moved to the candy aisle. 

Check Your Cheese Sources

Cheese is a popular snack in many forms. String cheese is added to sack lunches, block cheese is sliced for cracker toppings, and shredded cheese is melted over chips to make homemade nachos.

Some cheeses are made using an enzyme called rennet. This enzyme curdles milk during the process of making cheese. It can be found in the fourth stomach of young calves and other milk-fed young mammals.[9]

Natural calf rennet is a by-product of veal. Rennet must be extracted from calves that have been slaughtered before they are weaned. Older calves that have eaten grain or grass do not have the same level of the enzyme in their stomach.

It is thought that rennet was discovered accidentally by ancient Egyptians. They stored milk in containers made from animal stomachs, and the enzyme would have caused the milk to separate into curds.

For people who do not eat meat for ethical reasons, this little-known fact about some cheeses can be an unpleasant discovery. 

Popcorn Can Damage Your Lungs

Popcorn is one of the oldest known snacks. Archaeologists have found evidence that popcorn was made as early as 6,700 years ago in Peru. Back then, popcorn was made by resting a cob on hot coals or heating it directly over a flame.

Today, microwave popcorn makes it easy to enjoy the snack without building a fire. Anyone who has ever popped a bag of popcorn in the microwave knows how good it smells.

But the buttery flavoring that smells so good contains chemicals. Inhaling these chemicals has been proven to cause damage to the lungs. Workers in microwave popcorn manufacturing plants have developed “popcorn lung” after being exposed to the chemical vapors on a regular basis. “Popcorn lung” refers to a condition where the smallest airways of the lungs are damaged and become narrower, making it harder to breathe.

However, it is not just the workers in manufacturing plants who are at risk for popcorn-related lung damage. Wayne Watson of Colorado developed “popcorn lung” after eating two bags of microwave popcorn every day for 10 years. After being diagnosed with lung damage, Watson sued the manufacturer and retailers of the popcorn he had eaten.

He was awarded $7 million dollars in 2012.[10] Watson said that he no longer eats two bags of popcorn each day and only has the snack once in a while when it is prepared on a stovetop.