I’m looking forward for watching God’s Warriors a special report by Christiane Amanpour on CNN a three-night event staring Wednesday, Aug 22.
I think this program must be exciting and instructor. Religions are attractive at the time when to give love to every person.
Enmity, hostility, accusation and curse could be damaged every relationship between religions.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Healthy Lifestyle Key to Cancer Prevention
While the numbers of deaths from cancer have been declining, many malignancies could be prevented by exercising, eating right, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking.
Two issues are important.
One issue is nutrition, exercise and the fight against obesity and the other is the battle to cut tobacco use.
If you consider that 15 to 20 percent of cancer deaths are related to obesity and another 30 percent of cancer deaths are due to tobacco use, that's 50 percent of all people with cancer.
Quitting smoking and avoiding obesity are things that people can do themselves.
The experts call for a move toward a "culture of wellness" in the United States. This culture would embrace healthy living as a goal and promote a healthy lifestyle as a way of achieving wellness.
Despite progress in diagnosis and treatment, cancer continues to account for more than a half million deaths each year in the United States, with almost 1.5 million new cases diagnosed annually. Two-thirds of these deaths, and many thousands of new cases, could be avoided through lifestyle changes.
Tobacco is the leading cause of lung cancer, but it's also responsible for most cancers of the larynx, oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus and bladder.
In addition, it is a cause of kidney, pancreatic, cervical and stomach cancers, along with acute myeloid leukemia.
We really need to get rid of tobacco.
Obesity has been linked to a variety of cancers, including colon, breast, kidney, ovarian and pancreatic cancer.
There are very definitive studies showing that moderate exercise reduces your risk of breast cancer and colon cancer.
In addition, living a healthy lifestyle lowers a person's risk of cancer recurrence and improves outcomes after cancer.
Resource:
Forbes
Forbes
Sunday, August 19, 2007
in terms of something; in something terms
with respect to; in relation to; with regard to the particular aspect specified; as regard something; from the basis of something; used to show how something is explained, described or judged:
The job is great in teams of salary but there are disadvantages.
Let us consider the problem in political terms.
In terms of money, it’s a great job.
He judges everyone in terms of his own standards.
The President's Cancer Panel issues a report every year that focuses on one aspect of what is happening in the United States in terms of cancer.
In energy terms, this new power station can produce ten times as much as the old type.
The most serious lack, in terms of what we know, is what motivates people to live a healthier lifestyle.
Synonyms:
On the basis of, according to, in proportion to
They give promotion (according to/ in terms of) the length of service.
Resource:
Oxford advanced Learner’s Dictionary
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Space shuttle Endeavour's will spend an extra days in space
Space shuttle Endeavour's will spend an extra days in space NASA mission managers decided Sunday, as astronauts inspected the ship for damage to a heat shield that occurred during launch.
Astronauts used the Canadian robotic arm, Canadarm, to inspect a seven-centimetre gash on the ship’s underside. The crew collected images of five areas on Endeavour’s underside that may have been damaged during the climb to orbit on Wednesday.
The scans by the shuttle’s laser and high-resolution video cameras should yield a three-dimensional portrait of the damage caused by the chunk of foam that fell off Endeavour’s fuel tank about a minute after liftoff. The data collected during the inspection will be analyzed by experts and engineers at the Mission Control Center in Houston.
The shuttle arrived at the International Space Station Friday for a resupply mission.
NASA believes the damage is minor, but following the loss of the shuttle Columbia crew in 2003 from a similar incident, the space agency wanted to make certain the shuttle was in good shape for re-entry.
Teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan began the scan operating the 100-foot-long boom from a control station on Endeavour’s flight deck.
If the damage is deemed too great, the astronauts will have to undertake another space walk to repair the damage.
The shuttle is designed to allow some insulation debris from its fuel tanks to fly from the ship at every launch. However, the Columbia disaster prompted NASA to try and curb this issue.
The disintegration of the Columbia was put down to a briefcase-sized piece of flying tank foam that struck Columbia’s wing during launch and put a sizable hole in the heat shield.
The damage went undetected, which is why NASA now conducts at least three damage inspections during each flight, including the photos taken by the station crew as the shuttle approaches for docking.
Though managers believe the gash is not a safety hazard, they ordered an extra inspection to gather more information.
“We don’t think it (the debris impact) went all the way down to the bottom” of the tile, John Shannon, deputy shuttle program manager and head of the mission management team, told reporters late Saturday.
“If we even have half the tile left, then we’re not going to have any issues at all,” he added.
The shuttle is covered with ceramic heat-resistant tiles and carbon panels to protect its aluminum skin from melting during the plunge back through the atmosphere for landing. Temperatures around the damage site can reach up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
NASA has twice redesigned the tank since Columbia to minimize foam shedding and has one more fix in the works that will be ready next year. That should rectify an ongoing problem with foam falling off a bracket that holds an oxygen feed line.
Resource:
canada.com
Astronauts used the Canadian robotic arm, Canadarm, to inspect a seven-centimetre gash on the ship’s underside. The crew collected images of five areas on Endeavour’s underside that may have been damaged during the climb to orbit on Wednesday.
The scans by the shuttle’s laser and high-resolution video cameras should yield a three-dimensional portrait of the damage caused by the chunk of foam that fell off Endeavour’s fuel tank about a minute after liftoff. The data collected during the inspection will be analyzed by experts and engineers at the Mission Control Center in Houston.
The shuttle arrived at the International Space Station Friday for a resupply mission.
NASA believes the damage is minor, but following the loss of the shuttle Columbia crew in 2003 from a similar incident, the space agency wanted to make certain the shuttle was in good shape for re-entry.
Teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan began the scan operating the 100-foot-long boom from a control station on Endeavour’s flight deck.
If the damage is deemed too great, the astronauts will have to undertake another space walk to repair the damage.
The shuttle is designed to allow some insulation debris from its fuel tanks to fly from the ship at every launch. However, the Columbia disaster prompted NASA to try and curb this issue.
The disintegration of the Columbia was put down to a briefcase-sized piece of flying tank foam that struck Columbia’s wing during launch and put a sizable hole in the heat shield.
The damage went undetected, which is why NASA now conducts at least three damage inspections during each flight, including the photos taken by the station crew as the shuttle approaches for docking.
Though managers believe the gash is not a safety hazard, they ordered an extra inspection to gather more information.
“We don’t think it (the debris impact) went all the way down to the bottom” of the tile, John Shannon, deputy shuttle program manager and head of the mission management team, told reporters late Saturday.
“If we even have half the tile left, then we’re not going to have any issues at all,” he added.
The shuttle is covered with ceramic heat-resistant tiles and carbon panels to protect its aluminum skin from melting during the plunge back through the atmosphere for landing. Temperatures around the damage site can reach up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
NASA has twice redesigned the tank since Columbia to minimize foam shedding and has one more fix in the works that will be ready next year. That should rectify an ongoing problem with foam falling off a bracket that holds an oxygen feed line.
Resource:
canada.com
Wags and hoodies enter dictionary
It is hard to imagine a world without them and now words like "hoodie", "wag" and "man-bag" are to enter the Collins English Dictionary.
The publication's 9th edition includes hundreds of words which have entered the English language in recent years.
From the world of fashion the controversial dress-size "size-zero" appears, as does "pro-ana" - those who believe anorexia is a lifestyle choice.
Environmental concern has resulted in phrases like "carbon-offsetting".
As a result of the obsession with health words are included such as "brainfood", which describes foods containing nutrients thought to assist brain function, and "man flu".
"Gitmo"
The cult of celebrity sees the inclusion of "celebutantes", describing young, wealthy women who become celebrities, and "wags", the wives and girlfriends of footballers.
Many of the new words are scientific or technological including "plasma screen" televisions, "Tamiflu", and "wiki", an internet tool which enables users to edit content on a website - the term derives from the Hawaiian wiki-wiki, meaning quick.
Shorthand for world events and issues have also entered the lexicon with "7/7", "Beslan", referring to the 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis in Russia and "Gitmo", slang for Guantanamo Bay, all entering the dictionary for the first time.
Other new words include "radicalising" and "Londonistan" - a reference to the UK capital being a base for radical Islamists.
A 2.5 billion-word database keeps tabs on the English language from books, newspapers, magazines, journals, websites and transcripts of radio and television programmes.
The 9th edition of the dictionary, published on Monday, will be available in print, online, on mobiles and as a desktop application.
Resource:
BBC News
The publication's 9th edition includes hundreds of words which have entered the English language in recent years.
From the world of fashion the controversial dress-size "size-zero" appears, as does "pro-ana" - those who believe anorexia is a lifestyle choice.
Environmental concern has resulted in phrases like "carbon-offsetting".
As a result of the obsession with health words are included such as "brainfood", which describes foods containing nutrients thought to assist brain function, and "man flu".
"Gitmo"
The cult of celebrity sees the inclusion of "celebutantes", describing young, wealthy women who become celebrities, and "wags", the wives and girlfriends of footballers.
Many of the new words are scientific or technological including "plasma screen" televisions, "Tamiflu", and "wiki", an internet tool which enables users to edit content on a website - the term derives from the Hawaiian wiki-wiki, meaning quick.
Shorthand for world events and issues have also entered the lexicon with "7/7", "Beslan", referring to the 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis in Russia and "Gitmo", slang for Guantanamo Bay, all entering the dictionary for the first time.
Other new words include "radicalising" and "Londonistan" - a reference to the UK capital being a base for radical Islamists.
A 2.5 billion-word database keeps tabs on the English language from books, newspapers, magazines, journals, websites and transcripts of radio and television programmes.
The 9th edition of the dictionary, published on Monday, will be available in print, online, on mobiles and as a desktop application.
Resource:
BBC News
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Poor service at British airports
Competition regulators in Britain have announced the terms of an inquiry into how Britain's airports are run. At the moment one operator, BAA, controls all the major hubs. The inquiry will consider whether this monopoly should be ended. This report from Mark Gregory:
Long queues, delayed flights and overcrowding at airports have become almost as much a topic for conversation in Britain as the traditional moaning about the weather. Meanwhile, there are rumblings from industry that "Heathrow hassle", allegedly poor service standards at London's major hub, is deterring foreigners from doing business in Britain.
Much of the criticism is directed at BAA, formerly known as the British Airports Authority, which runs seven major airports, including the three main ones serving London. The Competition Commission is now to investigate whether BAA should be obliged to sell off some of its assets, including either Stansted or Gatwick, the secondary hubs catering to London. The idea is that competition between rival operators would lead to better service at airports.
BAA, recently bought by a Spanish company, says the root cause of the problems is not the ownership structure but a lack of runway and terminal capacity, which it is addressing through a programme of heavy investment.
Mark Gregory, BBC
delayed flights
when planes depart and/or arrive later than their scheduled, or planned, time
overcrowding
when there are too many people in the same place at the same time
moaning
complaining
rumblings
signs of dissatisfaction
major hub
here, main airport
obliged to sell off some of its assets
forced to sell some of its valuable possessions
catering to
serving
rival operators
companies that are in competition with each other
the root cause of
the main (underlying) reason for
addressing
trying to deal with, trying to solve (a problem)
Reference:
BBC Learning English - Words in the News / 10 August, 2007
Long queues, delayed flights and overcrowding at airports have become almost as much a topic for conversation in Britain as the traditional moaning about the weather. Meanwhile, there are rumblings from industry that "Heathrow hassle", allegedly poor service standards at London's major hub, is deterring foreigners from doing business in Britain.
Much of the criticism is directed at BAA, formerly known as the British Airports Authority, which runs seven major airports, including the three main ones serving London. The Competition Commission is now to investigate whether BAA should be obliged to sell off some of its assets, including either Stansted or Gatwick, the secondary hubs catering to London. The idea is that competition between rival operators would lead to better service at airports.
BAA, recently bought by a Spanish company, says the root cause of the problems is not the ownership structure but a lack of runway and terminal capacity, which it is addressing through a programme of heavy investment.
Mark Gregory, BBC
delayed flights
when planes depart and/or arrive later than their scheduled, or planned, time
overcrowding
when there are too many people in the same place at the same time
moaning
complaining
rumblings
signs of dissatisfaction
major hub
here, main airport
obliged to sell off some of its assets
forced to sell some of its valuable possessions
catering to
serving
rival operators
companies that are in competition with each other
the root cause of
the main (underlying) reason for
addressing
trying to deal with, trying to solve (a problem)
Reference:
BBC Learning English - Words in the News / 10 August, 2007
Exam
Exam / noun
An official test of knowledge in a subject, usually at the end of a course:
When do you take your history exam?
We’ve got an exam in English next week.
Did she pass all her exams?
Reference:
Longman Basic Dictionary of American English
An official test of knowledge in a subject, usually at the end of a course:
When do you take your history exam?
We’ve got an exam in English next week.
Did she pass all her exams?
Reference:
Longman Basic Dictionary of American English
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Exam
Exam / noun = examination
An exam is the same as an examination.
pass/fail one’s exams
The teachers set and mark our school exams.
Many teachers are reserving judgement on the GCSE until the exam results are published.
A maths exam
An English exam
An exam paper
When do you take your final exams?
I got my exam results today.
self-exam = self-examination
Synonym:
Examination, test, set of questions/exercises, paper, question paper
Reference:
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
An exam is the same as an examination.
pass/fail one’s exams
The teachers set and mark our school exams.
Many teachers are reserving judgement on the GCSE until the exam results are published.
A maths exam
An English exam
An exam paper
When do you take your final exams?
I got my exam results today.
self-exam = self-examination
Synonym:
Examination, test, set of questions/exercises, paper, question paper
Reference:
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
Exam
1) different kinds of exam
2) doing an exam
3) giving an exam
1) different kinds of exam
- a written, spoken or practical test of what you know or can do: exam, (formal) examination
A maths exam
I’ve got three exams tomorrow.
An oral (=spoken, not written) exam
- a kind of exam that is usually fairly short and not very formal: test
A spelling test
- an exam which you take in order to enter a school, university, etc: entrance exam / examination
- an exam that you have passed or a course of study that you have successfully completed: qualification
A postgraduate qualification in accounting
They’re looking for somebody with the light qualifications.
2) doing an exam
- to do an exam: take an exam
How many A levels (= advanced exams in British schools) are you taking this year?
- to put your name on a list for an exam: enter for something; to do this for somebody else: enter somebody for something
My teacher entered me for GCSE Maths.
- a person who is taking an exam: candidate
All candidates should remember that there must be no talking during the exam.
- to read and study something that you have learnt before, especially when preparing for an exam: revise (something); noun (uncountable): revision
I can’t come out- I’m revising for my exams.
We’ve got three weeks for revision.
- a set of exam questions on a particular subject: paper
The physics paper was very difficult.
Have you got a copy of last year’s paper?
- something that is asked in an exam: question
an exam question
How many questions did you answer?
- what you write or say in a test or exam: answer; verb: answer something
Write the answers on the paper provided.
Only answer three questions.
■ the result of an exam
- to achieve a successful result in an exam: pass (something); noun
I’ve passed!
To get a good pass
- not to achieve a successful result in an exam: fail (something); noun: fail
to fail an exam
She passed history and maths but failed German.
- the final mark given in an exam: result
What were your results like?
He got a good result.
- (used about exam marks) to be announced: come out
When do the results come out?
- an official piece of paper that says that you have passed an exam: certificate
- to be in a particular position (among a group of people) depending on the number of marks you get for an exam: come first, second, etc
George came second in the chemistry exam.
- to have the highest number of marks in a class or group of people sitting the same exam: come top; opposite: come bottom
Alice came top in English.
- the highest mark in a class or a group of people sitting the same exam: top mark
- the highest possible marks: top marks, full marks
She got top marks in her physics exam.
3) giving an exam
- to test what somebody knows or can do: examine somebody in/on something, test somebody on something
You will be examined on this at the end of the year.
We were tested on our spelling.
- to prepare questions for an exam: set an exam/ examination
- a person who tests somebody in an exam: examiner
- to look at an exam answer, show where there are mistakes and give it a number or a letter to show how good it is: mark something
to mark an exam paper
to mark something right/wrong
- a number or letter given for exams to show how good it is: mark, grade
What mark did you get?
a high mark
He got a grade A in maths.
- the mark that you have to get in order to pass an exam: pass-mark
The past-mark is 55 per cent.
- (used about an examiner, etc) to decide that somebody has passed an exam: pass somebody; opposite: fail somebody
The examiners passed most of the candidates.
I think we’ll have to fail her.
Reference:
Oxford Learner’s Wordfinder Dictionary
2) doing an exam
3) giving an exam
1) different kinds of exam
- a written, spoken or practical test of what you know or can do: exam, (formal) examination
A maths exam
I’ve got three exams tomorrow.
An oral (=spoken, not written) exam
- a kind of exam that is usually fairly short and not very formal: test
A spelling test
- an exam which you take in order to enter a school, university, etc: entrance exam / examination
- an exam that you have passed or a course of study that you have successfully completed: qualification
A postgraduate qualification in accounting
They’re looking for somebody with the light qualifications.
2) doing an exam
- to do an exam: take an exam
How many A levels (= advanced exams in British schools) are you taking this year?
- to put your name on a list for an exam: enter for something; to do this for somebody else: enter somebody for something
My teacher entered me for GCSE Maths.
- a person who is taking an exam: candidate
All candidates should remember that there must be no talking during the exam.
- to read and study something that you have learnt before, especially when preparing for an exam: revise (something); noun (uncountable): revision
I can’t come out- I’m revising for my exams.
We’ve got three weeks for revision.
- a set of exam questions on a particular subject: paper
The physics paper was very difficult.
Have you got a copy of last year’s paper?
- something that is asked in an exam: question
an exam question
How many questions did you answer?
- what you write or say in a test or exam: answer; verb: answer something
Write the answers on the paper provided.
Only answer three questions.
■ the result of an exam
- to achieve a successful result in an exam: pass (something); noun
I’ve passed!
To get a good pass
- not to achieve a successful result in an exam: fail (something); noun: fail
to fail an exam
She passed history and maths but failed German.
- the final mark given in an exam: result
What were your results like?
He got a good result.
- (used about exam marks) to be announced: come out
When do the results come out?
- an official piece of paper that says that you have passed an exam: certificate
- to be in a particular position (among a group of people) depending on the number of marks you get for an exam: come first, second, etc
George came second in the chemistry exam.
- to have the highest number of marks in a class or group of people sitting the same exam: come top; opposite: come bottom
Alice came top in English.
- the highest mark in a class or a group of people sitting the same exam: top mark
- the highest possible marks: top marks, full marks
She got top marks in her physics exam.
3) giving an exam
- to test what somebody knows or can do: examine somebody in/on something, test somebody on something
You will be examined on this at the end of the year.
We were tested on our spelling.
- to prepare questions for an exam: set an exam/ examination
- a person who tests somebody in an exam: examiner
- to look at an exam answer, show where there are mistakes and give it a number or a letter to show how good it is: mark something
to mark an exam paper
to mark something right/wrong
- a number or letter given for exams to show how good it is: mark, grade
What mark did you get?
a high mark
He got a grade A in maths.
- the mark that you have to get in order to pass an exam: pass-mark
The past-mark is 55 per cent.
- (used about an examiner, etc) to decide that somebody has passed an exam: pass somebody; opposite: fail somebody
The examiners passed most of the candidates.
I think we’ll have to fail her.
Reference:
Oxford Learner’s Wordfinder Dictionary
Monday, July 30, 2007
UFO (Unidentified Flying Object)
UFO / noun (plural UFOs)
an object in the sky that you don’t recognize;
some people think it might be a space vehicle from another world;
a strange object that some people think they’ve seen in the sky and that may come from another planet.
UFO is the short for ‘unidentified flying object’.
In the Encyclopedia of Wikipedia has come that:
An unidentified flying object, or UFO, is any real or apparent flying object which cannot be identified by the observer and which remains unidentified after investigation. In popular culture, UFO is often used to refer to any hypothetical, or unproven, alien spacecraft. The term flying saucer is also sometimes used.
Reference:
1) Longman Basic Dictionary of American English
2)Oxford Elementary Learner’s Dictionary
an object in the sky that you don’t recognize;
some people think it might be a space vehicle from another world;
a strange object that some people think they’ve seen in the sky and that may come from another planet.
UFO is the short for ‘unidentified flying object’.
In the Encyclopedia of Wikipedia has come that:
An unidentified flying object, or UFO, is any real or apparent flying object which cannot be identified by the observer and which remains unidentified after investigation. In popular culture, UFO is often used to refer to any hypothetical, or unproven, alien spacecraft. The term flying saucer is also sometimes used.
Reference:
1) Longman Basic Dictionary of American English
2)Oxford Elementary Learner’s Dictionary
Saturday, July 28, 2007
RAK FTZ introduces the first and only TOEFL iBT centre in RAK
The Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone has announced that its 'Center for Business Excellence' offers TOFEL internet-Based Test as the first and only center in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
'The Center for Business Excellence, which is run by the RAK FTZ Training Section, offers a wide range of specialized training courses in different areas such as:
Customer Relations, Global Marketing & Sales, Secretarial skills and preparation for CEPA exams' said Oussama El Omari, the Zone's CEO.
'The Center, which is managed by professional, experienced staff, doesn't only offer its services to the RAK FTZ staff and companies, but the service is also designed to be available for the students & public" said El Omari. '"By offering these training courses to the public, the RAK FTZ is trying to diversify its services offered to the community and to its clients and raise the standard of education and business excellence" he added.
Feda Qasem, the Center's Supervisor said that 'As many government agencies, scholarship programs, and licensing/certification agencies use TOEFL scores to evaluate English proficiency, it is important to offer TOEFL® iBT in our Center in order to meet the public demand. In addition, the center organizes TOFEL preparation courses and practices for different levels, and excels in providing flexible timings for students & working professionals during the weekends with the aim of exceeding the clients' expectations.'
'The Center is equipped with all the required facilities to prepare and take the test' she added.
Reference : The ultimate Middle East business resource
'The Center for Business Excellence, which is run by the RAK FTZ Training Section, offers a wide range of specialized training courses in different areas such as:
Customer Relations, Global Marketing & Sales, Secretarial skills and preparation for CEPA exams' said Oussama El Omari, the Zone's CEO.
'The Center, which is managed by professional, experienced staff, doesn't only offer its services to the RAK FTZ staff and companies, but the service is also designed to be available for the students & public" said El Omari. '"By offering these training courses to the public, the RAK FTZ is trying to diversify its services offered to the community and to its clients and raise the standard of education and business excellence" he added.
Feda Qasem, the Center's Supervisor said that 'As many government agencies, scholarship programs, and licensing/certification agencies use TOEFL scores to evaluate English proficiency, it is important to offer TOEFL® iBT in our Center in order to meet the public demand. In addition, the center organizes TOFEL preparation courses and practices for different levels, and excels in providing flexible timings for students & working professionals during the weekends with the aim of exceeding the clients' expectations.'
'The Center is equipped with all the required facilities to prepare and take the test' she added.
Reference : The ultimate Middle East business resource
Friday, July 27, 2007
Soft Drinks Linked To Heart Disease Via Metabolic Syndrome
A new US study has found that drinking more than one soft drink a day, whether regular or diet, may be linked to an increased risk of developing heart disease, via an increase in metabolic syndrome, a group of characteristics like excess girth, high blood pressure, and other factors that increase the chances of getting diabetes and cardiovascular problems.
Other studies have linked drinking soft drinks with risk factors for heart disease, but this study suggests that diet soft drinks sweetened with artificial sweeteners are just as likely to be linked as high calorie drinks sweetened with sugar.
"Moderation in anything is the key.
If you are drinking one or more soft drinks a day, you may be increasing your risk of developing metabolic risk factors for heart disease."
Metabolic syndrome is a group of symptoms such as excess waist circumference, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol) and high fasting glucose levels. Having three or more of the symptoms increases a person's risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The investigators also found that participants who drank one or more soft drinks a day, when compared to those that drank less, had a number of increased risk factors for metabolic syndrome, including:
• Thirty-one per cent greater risk of developing new-onset obesity (defined as a body mass index or BMI of 30 kilograms per meter squared or higher).
• Thirty percent higher risk of developing an increased waist circumference.
• Twenty-five percent increased risk of developing high blood triglycerides or high fasting blood glucose.
• Thirty-two percent increased risk of having low HDL ("good" cholesterol).
• A trend towards an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, but this was not statistically significant.
Speculating on their findings, perhaps the fructose corn syrup in regular soft drinks causes weight gain, or leads to insulin resistance and diabetes, but if that were the case you would expect to see the link with regular drinks and not with diet drinks. "Our findings suggest this is not the case,"
Perhaps the answer lies in the fact that drinking more liquids during a meal tends to make you eat more solids at the next meal. Whereas if you had drunk less and eaten more at the first meal, at the next meal you tend to eat less solids. Drinking more liquids does not compensate to the same extent as eating solids; you feel full at the time, but you are hungrier next time.
Another possibility could be that being used to drinking sweet drinks makes a person more likely to eat sweet things.
And another theory is that the caramel in soft drinks could stimulate the development of complex sugars that result in insulin resistance and cause inflammation, as shown by some experimental studies.
The researchers said it was important to realize that these are just theories, and their study had only found a link between soft drinks and metabolic syndrome, it had not established that one causes the other. They suggested further studies be done to repeat the results and to find out what the underlying mechanisms could be, before recommendations are made about whether people should change their consumption of soft drinks.
Reference: Medical News Today
Other studies have linked drinking soft drinks with risk factors for heart disease, but this study suggests that diet soft drinks sweetened with artificial sweeteners are just as likely to be linked as high calorie drinks sweetened with sugar.
"Moderation in anything is the key.
If you are drinking one or more soft drinks a day, you may be increasing your risk of developing metabolic risk factors for heart disease."
Metabolic syndrome is a group of symptoms such as excess waist circumference, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol) and high fasting glucose levels. Having three or more of the symptoms increases a person's risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The investigators also found that participants who drank one or more soft drinks a day, when compared to those that drank less, had a number of increased risk factors for metabolic syndrome, including:
• Thirty-one per cent greater risk of developing new-onset obesity (defined as a body mass index or BMI of 30 kilograms per meter squared or higher).
• Thirty percent higher risk of developing an increased waist circumference.
• Twenty-five percent increased risk of developing high blood triglycerides or high fasting blood glucose.
• Thirty-two percent increased risk of having low HDL ("good" cholesterol).
• A trend towards an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, but this was not statistically significant.
Speculating on their findings, perhaps the fructose corn syrup in regular soft drinks causes weight gain, or leads to insulin resistance and diabetes, but if that were the case you would expect to see the link with regular drinks and not with diet drinks. "Our findings suggest this is not the case,"
Perhaps the answer lies in the fact that drinking more liquids during a meal tends to make you eat more solids at the next meal. Whereas if you had drunk less and eaten more at the first meal, at the next meal you tend to eat less solids. Drinking more liquids does not compensate to the same extent as eating solids; you feel full at the time, but you are hungrier next time.
Another possibility could be that being used to drinking sweet drinks makes a person more likely to eat sweet things.
And another theory is that the caramel in soft drinks could stimulate the development of complex sugars that result in insulin resistance and cause inflammation, as shown by some experimental studies.
The researchers said it was important to realize that these are just theories, and their study had only found a link between soft drinks and metabolic syndrome, it had not established that one causes the other. They suggested further studies be done to repeat the results and to find out what the underlying mechanisms could be, before recommendations are made about whether people should change their consumption of soft drinks.
Reference: Medical News Today
Monday, July 23, 2007
My faith with God doesn’t have the stopping point.
In the name of God, the merciful and kind
My faith with God doesn’t have the stopping point.
I don’t remember where I’ve seen this poem, but I’d like to put it as first post in this blog.
When you feel unlovable, unworthy and unclean,
When you think that no one can heal you,
Remember my dear Friend,
God Can.
When you think that you are unforgivable
for your guilt and your shame,
Remember my dear Friend,
God Can.
When you think that all is hidden
and no one can see within,
Remember my dear Friend,
God Can.
And when you have reached the bottom
And you think that no one can hear,
Remember my dear Friend,
God Can.
My faith with God doesn’t have the stopping point.
I don’t remember where I’ve seen this poem, but I’d like to put it as first post in this blog.
When you feel unlovable, unworthy and unclean,
When you think that no one can heal you,
Remember my dear Friend,
God Can.
When you think that you are unforgivable
for your guilt and your shame,
Remember my dear Friend,
God Can.
When you think that all is hidden
and no one can see within,
Remember my dear Friend,
God Can.
And when you have reached the bottom
And you think that no one can hear,
Remember my dear Friend,
God Can.
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