STATES CHRONICLE – If you managed to quit smoking, you might be interested in some tricks to restore the health of your lungs. Fruits and vegetables are the key, as eating apples and tomatoes can repair lung damage and delay their aging. This beneficial effect can be achieved by eating two tomatoes and three apples every day. However, make sure you eat them fresh, as canned products do not have the same effects.

Tomatoes and apples are rich in chemicals which are good for the lungs

The function of all our organs starts declining after a certain age, but you can slow it down by eating healthy and taking care of yourself. You can easily reduce lung damage by choosing a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Researchers discovered that the respiratory function can improve in 10 years if a person quits smoking and eats tomatoes and apples.

After exploring the good chemicals found in these fruits and vegetables, they discovered the optimal effect is achieved after eating two tomatoes and three apples per day. These foods, and apples especially, are abundant in substances which improve the function of the lungs. This way, researchers hope they can reduce smokers’ chances to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).

Lung damage can be slowed down

COPD is actually a general name given to a series of diseases which affect the respiratory system. The condition can easily turn deadly, and affects over 11 million Americans. These people can get the chance to slow down their lung damage and ageing just by eating fresh and healthy.

Researchers performed a study, published in the European Respiratory Journal, where they assessed the lung function of 650 patients. Then, they repeated the same tests over 10 years, and spotted a decline slower by 80 ml in those who consumed a diet rich in tomatoes and apples. The lungs start suffering damage around the age of 30, but the results showed that healthy eating could combat these harmful effects.
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A recently released study showed that the daily use of mouthwash could be increasing a person’s the risk of diabetes. Although it might sound off to some, this research showed that using mouthwash every day might be killing beneficial microbes found in the mouth. These help protect people from diabetes, among others.

The Daily Use of Mouthwash and Why it Might be Detrimental to the Health

Harvard School of Public Health scientists are behind this new study. The researchers observed that people who used mouthwash twice a day presented a 55 percent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It was also noted that a daily use of mouthwash could actually increase the risk of sugar spikes and diabetes over the following three years.

This is the first research that shows a correlation between mouthwash and diabetes. It also is the first to point out that what is largely considered a positive practice that helps with oral hygiene might actually have dangerous consequences. The researchers mentioned that the problem with mouthwash is that its antibacterial ingredients are not selective. This means that the compounds don’t select specific bacteria, they just kill every bacterium they find.

To conduct this research, the scientists monitored 1,206 obese people between 40 and 65 years old. These presented a higher risk of diabetes compared to normal-weight people. During the study, about 17 percent of them developed pre-diabetes or diabetes. The number rose to 20 percent among those who used mouthwash once a day. For participants that used it two times a day, the value rose to 30 percent.

The study team points out that there are other ways to take care of your oral hygiene. Ones that don’t imply the daily use of mouthwash. One of them, for example, is maintaining a healthy diet. Some of the products that can ensure a person’s oral hygiene include apples, cheese, raisins, and spinach. Eating these and washing your teeth every day could help maintain a good oral health without the need for mouthwash.

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STATES CHRONICLE – Nobody wants to have uninvited guests in their house, especially tiny ones with multiple feet. Many people think keeping the house clean will keep bugs out of the house, but a new study revealed it doesn’t actually affect them. Insects have certain spots in our home that they prefer, and knowing where they usually hide might help you make your household unsuitable for them.

Bugs thrive in our homes

The number of bugs hidden inside your home usually depends on the area where it was built. However, there are still certain rooms and spaces where they enjoy nesting, so knowing them might help you get rid of the unwanted tenants.

The main favorite space of bugs are basements, which should come as no surprise. Since they are dark, damp, and closer to the ground, they make for the perfect environment where bugs can thrive. However, this is not the only place you should look out for. Those rooms with more doors and windows are an easy target, as they can get in with no effort.

Also, you should be careful with the rooms with carpets. They can store plenty of dust, which bugs seem to love. Even if you clean up regularly, dust still keeps accumulating. However, the most interesting finding was another one. Insects are immune to any activity undertaken by humans and pets living in the house. That is, they are not disturbed by anything.

Whatever we might do, insects will keep living in our houses

Houses are small ecosystems which can resist serious tidying, pesticide treatments, or curious pets. The study looked at 50 separate houses and the bugs living inside them. Even after accounting for their position, building structure, and cleanliness, the number of insects remained undisturbed.

There’s not much we can do to prevent the unwanted guests to enter our homes. This is why researchers keep looking at the effects they might have on people’s health. The research has been published in the journal Scientific Reports.
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STATES CHRONICLE – One of the essential aspects of dieting correctly is being able to identify the foods which fill you up faster and satiate the appetite quicker.

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Warwick has identified amino acids detected by cells known as tanycytes which help signal to your body that you’re full.

Tanycytes, L-amino Acids, and the Appetite

Tanycytes are specialized ependymal cells that form the ventricular lining over the third ventricle and contact cerebrospinal fluid. These cells have been shown to be capable of detecting glucose. But new research has demonstrated that they also able to detect L-amino acids.

The research paper was published in the journal Molecular Metabolism, a journal that publishes breakthroughs and medicines related to obesity, diabetes, and other related diseases. The study detected and monitored tanycyte response to L-amino acids.

Amino acids are known for their role as building blocks for proteins and intermediates in the metabolism. This latest research showed that tanycytes detected these compounds through two taste receptors.

The detection of L-amino acids triggered the release of calcium ions and ATP. This reacts with the neural network in the hypothalamus to regulate food intake.

L-arginine, L-lysine, and L-alanine seem to have specifically triggered this reaction. Research suggests that foods containing these compounds can help with appetite satiety. In turn, they could potentially lead to the development of new strategies for overcoming obesity and other metabolic disorders.

Some of the meats that trigger this reaction are chicken, mackerel, pork shoulder, and beef sirloin steak. Other foods that also have the same or similar effects are plums, apricots, avocados, lentils, and almonds.

This new study suggests that these foods can help sate the appetite quicker and help patients struggling with obesity develop a diet that makes it easier for them to control their body weight. It’s also possible that scientists could start using this information to develop diet pills, sometime in the future, that can suppress appetite and help people lose weight easier and healthier.

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STATES CHRONICLE – A 60-year-old teacher from North Carolina found a clever trick to convince her students to wash their hands before eating. She used bread to show the kids the effect of unwashed hands on food and taught them a valuable lesson on the importance of hygiene. Now, parents are praising her initiative, and want to spread this trick everywhere on the internet.

Using bread to teach kids the importance of hygiene

Donna Gill Allen decided to teach her students the importance of hygiene with a little experiment meant to show them what happens if they don’t wash their hands before eating. Therefore, she took three bread slices as samples and showed them what dirt could do. The first slice was the controlled piece, which she placed in a plastic bag while wearing protective gloves.

Then, she touched the second slice after she washed her hands, and placed it in a different plastic bag. In the end, she passed on the third slice to all students, who hadn’t washed their hands. At the end, she placed this slice in the bag as well. Each bag was labeled accordingly and hung on the wall for all kids to see.

Now, kids will never forget to wash their hands before eating

Over the next days, they could see how all bread slices evolved, and learn a valuable lesson. The slice they had all touched with dirty hands started developing green mold, while the other two remained intact. Although it was a bit shocking for the kids, they definitely never skipped washing hands again.

Allen took photos of all the bread slices and posted them online. There, she taught other teachers how to conduct the experiment, and show their students how important hygiene is. Her post had an immense success and was shared over 75,000 times. Parents and teachers alike praise her idea and are determined to try it with their kids as well.

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STATES CHRONICLE – Many parents think cellphones are a good way to keep in touch with their children, so they choose to give them such devices. However, they often fail to understand that owning a cellphone at such an early age has plenty of disadvantages as well. A recent research has unveiled that children are more likely to become the victims of cyberbullying if they use electronic devices.

Are cellphones good for children?

The study analyzed the impact of cellphone ownership among children from third grade to fifth grade. What researchers found out came to nobody’s surprise, as they revealed these children became easier targets for cyberbullying if they had cellphones.

Researchers focused on 4,584 children who were in the third, fourth, and fifth grade between 2014 and 2016. From all these children, 9.5 percent suffered because of cyberbullying. Younger children were more likely to be victims, but many of the participants admitted they had acted as cyberbullies at least once.

Parents should never forget about the dangers of cyberbullying

Nowadays, it might be important for children to own cellphones, since they can communicate more easily with their parents, and get help whenever they need it. However, parents often forget to take into account the negative effects of cellphones.

These devices allow children to have constant access to social media. This allows them to be in touch with their friends, but some of the interactions might degenerate. Many children might respond a bit aggressively to what their friends and classmates post, subjecting others to bullying. This can seriously affect children, and parents need to be aware of it.

Therefore, researchers advise parents to consider all advantages and disadvantages of giving cellphones to their children at such an early age. If they decide such a device is necessary, then they should educate their children on the proper online behavior, and what to do if they are victims of cyberbullying.
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STATES CHRONICLE – If you are willing to lose weight, you might want to revise your choice of diet. A recent study suggests a ketogenic diet might be perfect both for getting into shape, as well as for improving one’s lifespan and physical condition. But what does this diet consist of? You should opt for foods low in proteins and carbohydrates, but rich in fat.

Mice scored better on a high fat/low carbs diet

To test their hypothesis, researchers performed tests on mice. They split the animals in two groups. One group was fed a high fat diet, while the other one received a high carbs diet. Then, they saw how the average life expectancy for mice increased by 13 percent for those on a high fat diet.

However, this was the only important finding. Apart from living longer, these mice improved their health condition and their quality of life, and these improvements lasted throughout their lives. If we were to transpose these results for humans, we would get between 7 and 10 extra years.

The diet improves one’s condition without major changes

A diet high in fat and low in carbs seems to bring a lot of benefits. Researchers discovered it might improve memory, help people gather more strength, and refine their coordination skills. Also, as people get older, instead of increasing their inflammation markers, this diet helps them keep them at a low level.

A high fat and low carbs consumption increases the levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate acid (BHB). This substance contributes to memory improvement and to a longer lifespan. Therefore, a ketogenic diet is good for health without causing major changes in a person’s body.

“This study indicates that a ketogenic diet can have a major impact on life and health span without major weight loss or restriction of intake.”

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STATES CHRONICLE – Researchers from the University of Albany were skeptical regarding chocolate craving during periods. They believed these cravings were not caused by the menstrual cycle as much as they were culturally promoted against women. Therefore, they decided to put them at test and find out if they were really a physical need.

The results the researchers obtained might prove them right, and offer enough evidence that chocolate craving during periods is a cultural construct. They found that women not born in the United States were not so likely to experience the same cravings as American women. Also, those who feel the need to eat chocolate while on their period are more involved in the American culture than other women.

You might find it a little weird to think that women from other countries don’t experience chocolate craving during their menstruation. However, this is quite a typical mentality for the US. The results of the study showed that only 28 percent of women from Spain felt the need to indulge in devouring chocolate during that time of the month. In other countries, the percentage is even smaller.

Chocolate craving during periods might really have been culturally imposed

Therefore, this can only hint at the differences in culture between these countries, and the fact that US women don’t really need chocolate physically to get through the pains and unpleasant symptoms of their periods. In fact, they might be using an excuse to allow themselves to eat unhealthy food.

For the study, published in the journal PLOS One, researchers interviewed a number of 275 undergraduate young women who came from different cultural backgrounds. They had to answer a series of questions regarding chocolate craving. Then, they had American women answer another questionnaire.

Non-US women experienced chocolate craving as well, but they didn’t find it related to the menstrual cycle. Only 17.3 percent of them felt the need to eat it during their periods, as compared to 40.9 percent of American women. Therefore, society might have made women look for a socially acceptable excuse to eat unhealthy food and not feel guilty about it.
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STATES CHRONICLE – You might have stumbled upon many plastic surgery advertisements on social media, but be very careful before choosing one of these so-called surgeons for a real-life procedure. A recent study revealed many of these people advertising the procedures on Instagram or Facebook are not qualified to perform them.

Thousands of plastic surgery ads on social media

Researchers from Northwestern Medicine wanted to see what’s with so many hashtags and ads promoting plastic surgery procedures all over social media. This is how they found out the surgeons behind them had not been certified by the board. In fact, most ads came from spas, dentists, or even beauty salons.

Researchers traced back a number of 21 hashtags related to plastic surgery. Among them, there were #plasticsurgery, #breastimplant, #boobjob, #facelift, #brazilianbuttlift, or #liposuction. These hashtags led the researchers to 1.8 million posts. All findings have been summed up in a study in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

Most professionals behind the ads lack certification for the procedures

Researchers managed to trace down the posts as well. The majority of them came from foreign surgeons with questionable certifications. Then, the remaining 26 percent was made up of gynecologists, dermatologists, or other surgeons. However, none of them had certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

There were a few ads promoted by certified surgeons, but the number remained low, at only 17.8 percent. Unfortunately, the amount of ‘fake’ surgeons is much too big, casting a shadow on the real certified ones. This might say this could be good for those who need the certification, as they can acquire enough training.

However, this might come at a cost. Most of these people are, in fact, cosmetic surgeons, which perform something different than plastic surgery. Cosmetic surgery enhances someone’s features, while plastic surgery requires an actual operation. This might put patients at risk of undergoing improper procedures, and remain with permanent scars.
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STATES CHRONICLE – A recent study developed by German scientists found the answer to a question which must have kept many wine enthusiasts awake. You are most probably wondering why an expensive wine has a better taste than a cheaper one. Researchers discovered the answer lay not in its quality or production methods, but rather in the expectations of the drinker.

Does expensive wine taste better?

The team of researchers from the University of Bonn cracked the mystery of wine’s good taste. When people drink expensive wine, they have certain expectations that the wine should taste better. These expectations affect certain regions in the brain, which then influence our sense of taste. Therefore, expensive wines are some sort of placebos.

Researchers took 15 women and 15 men and had them be part of a wine tasting session. While tasting several products, they had MRI scans performed on their brains. Before trying any kind of product, the participants were given their price. Then, they had to rate the drink on a scale from one to nine. Also, they had their mouths rinsed so that the first drink wouldn’t influence the taste of the following.

A higher price has a placebo effect

Participants found expensive wines better tasting than the cheaper ones. However, they were not asked to pay for any of the drinks. Therefore, their decision couldn’t have been directed in favor of a product they might have spent more on. Even when researchers gave the same samples to the participants, but one was presented as expensive and the other one as cheap, they chose the expensive variant.

However, this placebo effect does not work in all cases. Researchers couldn’t present extremely cheap wine as an expensive product, as the participants could tell it was of poor quality. The MRI scans showed how certain areas of the brain got activated when participants were told a higher price, and they contributed to the raise of expectations and the influence on their taste buds.
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