#For some reason all of it is like 20 - 40% increased saturation

[coconut530]

It’s that time of year again ✨❤️

[ayurvedahealthblog]

Obesity and its Causes

Obesity

Obesity is a disease, which causes excessive fat on the body, it is also refers as overweight. Obesity leads to accumulation of excess fat in the body. Obesity has become a common diseases all over the world.

                                     According to a study in 2017, there are 4 million people dying every year, due to obesity or overweight, and this is the huge number. This obesity or weight gain grown to epidemic proportion.

                                    According to body mass index (BMI), if the BMI of the body is over 25, then it considered as overweight. But if the BMI of the body is over 30, then it considered as obese. Over weight and obesity affects near 40 % of the population in the world.

The people whose are suffering from body fat, are the higher chances to developed serious medical issues. This excessive fat, effects on the every part of the body, like the brain, blood vessels, heart, liver, bones and joints. Extra fat on the body increases the chances of heart stroke. This happen because due to fatty body, the level of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar are goes higher, and these three problem are increase the risk of heart attack.

                         In the woman body, fat can makes several problems. It can make more difficult for woman, to get pregnant. Extra fat increases the risk of having serious complication, during the pregnancy. Being an overweight or fatty body can also effects on the menstrual cycle of the woman. If you are overweight or obese, then it produce excessive amount of oestrogen. Oestrogen is the hormones that regulates the reproductive system of the woman and this excess oestrogen can cause to stop periods.

                        The person who effects with extra fat, can’t walk properly and even can’t sit properly. Also he can’t stand for so long. When he use to walks, his heartbeat increases and he gets tired quickly. The fat man always sweat more than the normal people. Due to obesity, your digestive system works very slowly, and it causes acidic problem, gas problem in your body.

                          If you can lose your weight 15 to 20 % by safely methods, without any side effect, then you also decrease the chances of health risks in your body, which are generates by this excessive fat.

The causes of Over Weight and Obesity

Physical Inactivity

Physical inactivity is a term, which is used to identify the people who do not get physical activity for at least 30 minutes in a day, in the form of exercise, yoga, workout etc. This  inactivity causes of extra fat in the body and it give laziness to the body.

Overeating

We see that some people have a habit of overeating. And this overeating generates extra fat and obesity. If the diet is high in fat, then the chances of weight gain and body fat increases more. Because there are more calories are present in the fatty diet and these calories generates the excess fat or obesity.

Unhealthy Diet

Unhealthy diet is the one of the biggest reason to increase the body fat or obesity. It is a diet in which sugars are high, and there are several types saturated fat and Trans fat. The amount of fibers are present in this type of diet is very low. Fast food also play a role for extra weight gain because it deep fried in same oil many times. These types of unhealthy diet increase the excessive fat and obesity in the body.

Medical Problem

Some hormonal problems like thyroid, Cushing syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome can be the reason of overweight and obesity. Sometimes some medicine also may be increase the weight in the body. When you take the medicine for a long time for any diseases then sometime your body gain extra weight due to effect of these medicines.

Genetics

Study shows that genetics play a role in obesity. Genes can be the reason of obesity in specific disorder such as prader-willi syndrome.

Weak metabolism

In the simple word metabolism is the rate at which your body burns calories. So the weak metabolism is one of the reason for weight gain. Because faster metabolism will enable you to utilize your calories (Energy) faster than normal person. And the remaining calories which are not properly utilized in body is cause to weight gain and extra fat.

Lack of sleep

It is possible, your body gaining fat because of lack of sleep. If you don’t get enough sleep, your body experience mind stress. By this stress your body store fat more efficiently.

#Thanks

[digitalmarketingexpert21]

Life Changeable Opportunity Already Has Come, Grab It

Overview:

Hi there,

Hope you are well with your family, I want to tell you about the company named Onpassive. Onpassive is a IT based technology USA company, like Gmail, what's app, zoom etc. It's a global company is hiring for founder position from the whole world. They are already covered their business in 200+ countries. It is such a big opportunity.

Topic Description:

*IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT ONPASSIVE PROPERLY, THEN PLEASE READ CAREFULLY THIS BELOW MESSAGE AND BECOME A FOUNDER.??

#01.What is ONPASSIVE?

Onpassive is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based lnformation Technology (IT) company that has been developing its own built and designed more than 50 state-of-the-art IT tools applications since 2018 and is ready for simultaneous launch in 216 countries...

#02. Where is Onpassive Office located?

ONPASSIVE Corporate Office is located in Orlando, USA and Bangalore and Hyderabad in India where all the products are being developed.

#03.Who is the founder of Onpassive?

Its founder is Ash Mufareh who shares the vision of ONPASSIVE and who is working on this project since last 2 years. They are part of inner circle, beta testing and marketing campaigns..

#04.What is GoFounders?

GoFounders is just a special founder of ONPASSIVE to share innovative ideas and have common goals. It is a community to make each founder the best. Which while promoting this mission, each founder is personally inviting his visionaries to attract and bring their visionaries whose membership amount is $102.

#05.What is Onpassive Soft Launch?

Soft launch is the period in which all ONPASSIVE products, including wallets, are tested in real time. It also marks the beginning of marketing campaigns for the founders.

#06.What will be the founder membership cost after launch?

No new founder status will be available for a lifetime after the launch of ONPASSIVE. Backing up this global project and looking at it in the pre-launch stages requires the founder visionary.

#07.What are the products of ONPASSIVE?

ONPASSIVE will launch with over 40-50 digital products. Internet Solutions with all products like Domain Name, Website Builder, Liquid Hosting, VPN, Video Marketing, Email Marketing, Webinar Platform, HRM Solutions, URL Shortener, Traffic, Chat, SEO, Social Media and many more.

#08.As I am not an internet expert, can you tell me about 'TRAFFIC'?

TRAFFIC means visitors to your website. This is the essence of any online business to survive. It is similar to customers visiting your business. Your website gets qualified targeted visitors daily.

#09.WHO ARE THE CUSTOMERS OF ONPASSIVE?

All those who use the Internet will need us or many of our products. So the potential target customer base is 4.5 billion internet users.

#10.Will it help an existing online business?

Yes. They will need TRAFFIC to grow their business and other products that will make their life easier. Plus an additional residual income.

#11. How much income can I get in Onpassive?

Onpassive which is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based information Technology (IT) company, which will become the world's first unicorn (billion) company in a short time, thanks to the state-of-the-art Al application tools of software base, in which if we too with visionary thinking its Gofounder Members If it is made, then surely our income growth will be in lakhs of crores of rupees. Such an opportunity does not come again and again, with a little faith and trust, make sure to register yourself.

#12.Aren't you worried about the competition?

No, we will be an asset to every business, online or offline that the customers need to survive as we offer a complete suite of tools.

Furthermore our products are unique, proprietary and use the revolutionary latest AI. Technology,

We are ahead of our competitors for at least 3-5yrs.

#13. WHY CUSTOMERS WILL LIKE ONPASSIVE PRODUCTS?

There are several reasons for this:-

All our products will be customer friendly i.e. simple and easy to use. People from all walks of life can use it with basic knowledge-sheet. It is more of a plug and play system. Tutorials are available in case you get stuck at any time.

The products will be far better than the ones available in the market right now and some of them are never seen before.

Cheap and cost effective. All 40-50 digital products are bundled. A single monthly package that provides absolute value for money. There is no need to purchase them from different vendors. All are available under one roof.

We have designed a residual income model for all who come to ONPASSIVE to use our products.

#14. What is CATMO?

CATMO:

The word ONPASSIVE is used to explain.

C - Complete Digital Solutions

(Total Internet Solutions Company)

A - automatic, artificial

Wisdom (All done for you)

T - Targeted traffic to your business (increases your business)

M - money. Unlimited residual income that results from CAT.

O- ONPASSIVE is built on these four pillars which ensure a total

Freedom (time and money).

#15. How does the residual income model work?

This is a unique, proprietary & Revolutionary model that works on 3 by infinite structure.

#16. Do I need to bring people?

No. Automation and artificial intelligence team builds, recruits and sells for you as traffic increases.Mare is one of the products. It will be available only after launch.

In the pre-launch, the founders are building teams by sharing this opportunity with others.

#17.What if I become a founder and don't build a team or what?

Share this opportunity with others?

By becoming a founder yourself, you created a visionary team to adopt this concept. It has already positioned you in the top 1% of the company structure. The only thing is that you will not be eligible for any bonus during the soft launch because you have not formed a team. You are entitled to all other bonuses in the future and be a part of company marketing campaigns done for you.

#18. How do I get paid?

You get paid instantly whenever a sale happens directly to you or your team. Commissions are credited to your O-Wallet and you can pay from there anytime. (24 * 7 * 365)

#19.Will our income stop when there is any strong competition?

No. Keeping everything in mind, we took 2.5 years to develop our products and use the latest AI. The technology to keep us ahead for at least 3-5 years without any competition. If we face stiff competition in one or two products, we have another 40-50 products to help us maintain that strong market presence. We will continue to upgrade the existing products to keep us afloat. Plus, the products we're launching are just the tip of an iceberg of what's to come. We will invest in new innovations and technologies.

#20. Won't it saturate when it reaches 4.5 billion customers?*

Our compensation structure is unique, progressive and relevant. All the chairs we have are good from TRIPLE ENTRY BONUS. For everyone who is in this system, a new 3 ID feature will be created for them as a bonus after they reach a certain level and down on the date they reach that level. Then from there the cycle will repeat again.

And in the end, I will say that Onpassive means giving people a chance to earn crores as well as earning themselves without adding anyone.

Many more amazing things will come to the fore.

time will tell.

If you want to know more information about the company, contact me by clicking the given bellow link

Let me know your valuable decision on - ah122174@gmail.com

------- Thank You --------

[luizrodrigues91]

Plant-Based vs Animal-Based Diets

Hey everyone, today I want to talk a little bit about a very interesting diet that is very popular nowadays, the Plant-Based diet. I will give you a brief explanation of the main difference between a Plant-Based diet and an Animal-Based Diet. I will be also sharing a super delicious and healthy vegan recipe.

As the name suggests, The plant-based diet consists of consuming food that is primarily from plants; This includes vegetables, legumes, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, and oils. On the other hand, in an animal-based diet, your main source of food comes from animals like fish, poultry, meat, eggs, dairy and so on.

For years, people has been skeptical about adopting a plan-based diet because they believe essential nutrients such as protein and amino acids that are necessary for our body to work effectively and maintain a good health can only come from animal products. The truth is that you can fulfill all your protein needs from a plant-based diet too, with the value added that they are rich in fibre, minerals, vitamins, and it is free of cholesterol and very low in fats and calories as opposed to food based on animals which are typically rich in calories, cholesterol, saturated fat, etc., which can endanger our health when consumed in excess.

Having a plant-based diet is very healthy and can help you prevent a variety of diseases like heart disease, diabetes type 2, cancer and many more. A diet rich in animal products could increase the likelihood of suffering health problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease due to the amount of saturated fat that can be found in some meats, reason why It is recommended to limit meat consumption and substitute with plant-based food. Also, diabetes type 2 is linked to bad fat consumption, which wouldn’t be a problem on a plant-based diet where the amount of bad fat is low, helping the body to keep a healthy weight, improve insulin functions, and regulate the blood sugar, preventing the risk of having this disease. Furthermore, many studies are suggesting that a plant-based diet can even help to prevent cancer because this diet is rich in nutrients, minerals, and fibre which increase the protection of our body against these disorders.

As if the health benefits of a plan-based diet was not enough, This diet has also a positive impact on the enviroment. The production of food based on animal sources are responsible for a good amount of greenhouse gas emissions, which has a huge impact on the climate change. If people start eating more plant-based products, the production of animal-based food would decrease and the environment will benefit from that.

I am personally not a huge fan of meat and I limited its consumption drastically over the past couple years because I realized that my body does not work well when I eat a lot of meat. I changed my way of eating and included more plant-based food on my diet. Since I made this easy and simple changes, my body and my mind feel better.

In order to include more vegetarian dishes on my diet, I had to experiment and get creative in the kitchen, which has been a pleasant surprise because plant- based products are so rich in textures, flavours, and colours that the possibilities are endless. Speaking about dishes, I want to share with you a Vegan recipe that I love and it is inspired by a famous Disney movie named “Ratatouille”.

When I saw that movie my mouth was watering; as soon as the movie ended, I did some internet research and rushed to the grocery store to get all the ingredients to make my version of ratatouille. Ever since, I make this recipe on a regular basis for my family and friends and they love it. I have made some changes from the original recipe over the years to accommodate personal preferences resulting in an exquisite and enhanced version of the original. Below you will find my version of the famous Ratatouille recipe and cooking instructions.

Ratatouille

Ingredients:

- 2 Eggplants, small

- 2 Zucchinis, small

- 2 Carrots, small

- 6 Roma tomatoes

- 4 Yellow potatoes

- 2 tsp Tomato pasto

- 1 Onion, diced

- 4 clove Garlic

- 50ml Olive oil

- 30g Green onion or cilantro, garnish

- Water, hot (until cover the ingredients)

- Salt, black pepper and oregano to season

Method:

- Preheat the oven for 375°F (190°C)

- Wash all the vegetables (eggplant, zucchini, carrot, tomato and potato) and start slicing them into thin slices, then set aside

- Save the trimming of the vegetables to make the sauce. (You can include the slices that are not irregular in the sauce)

- Peel and dice the onion and garlic

- Dice the green onion and set aside for garnish

- In a saucepan, put the olive oil and the onions and cook it until start getting the gold color

- Add the vegetable trimmings, diced garlic, tomato paste, and season with salt and pepper

- Add hot water until cover the ingredients and bring to a boil and then to simmer. Let it cook until the ingredients are soft and the water reduces

- After you prepare this mixture (will look like a very concentrated veg soup), let it cool down and then blend it to make the purée

- In a round tray put the sauce (vegetables purée) on the bottom and arrange the sliced vegetables in alternating patterns on top of the sauce from the outer edge to the middle of the round tray. After that season with salt, black pepper and oregano. Also drizzle the olive oil on top of the vegetables.

- Cover it with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Uncover, then bake for another 15-20 minutes until the vegetables are softened.

- When it’s done you garnish it with the green onion and you can put a pinch of black pepper and oregano on top as well (according to your preference)

This recipe is very easy to make and you can play with the ingredients using the ones of your preference. The biggest challenge in this recipe for me is cutting all the vegetables in the same thickness and shape because I like everything to look uniform but you do not need to worry about that because the flavours will still there anyway. However, I would recommend you to try to cut all the vegetables without any equipment to practise your cutting skills. It is fun!

Hope you all enjoy this recipe and remember that it is totally possible to have a beautiful, flavourful and nutritive dish without any animal-based ingredient. Try to cook any plant-based food (like this one that I did) and invite your family and friends to eat with you. I'm sure that they will like it and will find the flavours very interesting!

References:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-a-plant-based-diet-and-why-should-you-try-it-2018092614760

https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/scientific-benefits-following-plant-based-diet/

https://www.pcrm.org/good-nutrition/plant-based-diets

[hridoypromax]

All You Need to Know about Different Marijuana Strains for Medical Maladies

All you would like to grasp regarding totally different Marijuana Strains for Medical Maladies

Many folks have used marijuana for fun and recreational purposes; some use it for medical purposes. They use marijuana as an alternate for higher and a lot of dangerous prescriptions.

There are 3 kinds of strains, Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid. All three have differing kinds of effects once taken. Sativa strains tend to supply a fresher experience, whereas Indica is renowned for body relaxation. Hybrid may be a mixture of both.

These are varied} cheap shatter strains acceptable to used as an alternative for various medical conditions:

Marijuana Strains For Alzheimer’s sickness Treatment

Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60% – 80% of insanity cases. the foremost common symptoms are amnesia and alternative psychological feature abilities. most people with the disease are sixty five and older. Alzheimer’s disease has different symptoms that willnabis can treat. These are irritability, craving loss, sleep problems, and anxiety.

Recommended Marijuana Strains:

● bitter Diesel (Sativa) – It knockouts stress and pain whereas fostering power and euphoria.

● The OX (Indica) – Contains high CBD content, creating it the proper alternative for medical users.

Marijuana Strains For Amyotrophic Lateral induration (ALS) Treatment

Amyotrophic Lateral induration (ALS is a rare disorder that principally involves the nerve cells (neurons) accountable for dominant skeletal muscle movement. ALS Symptoms, together with craving loss, depression, muscle spasms, and chronic pain, will all be treated with cannabis. a spread of marijuana strains higher addresses these totally different symptoms.

Recommended Marijuana Strains:

● Arctic Blue (Hybrid) – This marijuana strain may be a 60/40 Indica-dominant hybrid that enhances power and mood whereas making a way of relaxation while not restraint the user.

● ACDC (Hybrid) – this can be a CBD-dominant marijuana strain that helps treat body pain, anxiety, and alternative specific ailments like epilepsy.

● Lemon Haze (Sativa) – it's a Sativa dominant hybrid in serving to regulate mood disorders, such as chronic depression ANd PTSD.

● grandpa Purp (Indica) may be a well-known Indica for treating pain, stress, insomnia, craving loss, and muscle spasms.

Marijuana Strains For eating disorder Treatment

This is an disorder characterised by abnormally low body weight. one in every of the symptoms is an intense concern of gaining weight and a distorted perception of importance. This sickness is a lot of common in girls than boys between thirteen and nineteen and is more in danger for women in their early 20s.

Recommended Marijuana Strains:

● Purple Kush (Indica) – AN Indica strain most glorious for treating bound muscle pain forms, anxiety, stress, nausea, and sleeping and eating disorders.

● skinny Mints (Hybrid) – it's created five0% Sativa and 50% Indica. it's best for treating eating disorder since it is terribly high in saturated fat, with 5 grams.

[h2] Marijuana Strains For disturbance Treatment [h2]

This disorder is consists of mental sicknesses that cause constant and overwhelming anxiety and fear. a couple of of the anxiety symptoms are constant headaches caused by stress, issue breathing, bother sleeping, feeling agitated, and difficulty concentrating.

Recommended Marijuana Strains:

● Elektra (Hybrid) – it's a Hybrid strain and celebrated for transfer relaxation to its users. this could satisfy your got to treat the strain you are having.

● state of mind Haze (Sativa) – it's a Sativa dominant strain that helps you point out inner happiness, joy, ANd an awful rising vibe.

● Chocolate Chunk (Indica) – This Indica strain ought to place you on your couch feeling relaxed and carefree. this can be good for treating sleep disorder and stress.

● aurora borealis (Indica) – This Indica is that the preferred within the Indica category. The effects, once taken in, specialize in the user’s body. The celebrated marijuana strain brings snug laziness to alleviate pain, sleeplessness, and dreamy euphoria.

Marijuana Strains For inflammatory disease Treatment

Father time can for sure get to our bodies. When the joints swell ANd become tender over time, this brings joint pain everywhere our body. alternative symptoms of inflammatory disease are inflammation of joints, uncomfortable movement of the joints, and weakening body. 

Recommended Marijuana Strains:

● Burmese Kush (Hybrid) – Here’s an Indica dominant Hybrid that's most glorious to be taken in the dead of night time attributable to the comfort it offers to your mind, body, and spirit.

● Blue Diesel (Hybrid) – The long-lived body buzz it gives can for sure relax the pain you’re having on your joints. 

● Harlequin (Sativa) – it's known a lot of for its medical use than recreational. It melts away pain in your body whereas it eases your stress and fatigue at a similar time.

● Canna-Tsu (Hybrid) – This strain contains high CBD, creating it high in demand for users experiencing pain, inflammation, anxiety, and seizures.

● Master Kush (Indica) – This will increase power and brings full-body relaxation, desensitising aches, and pains. to not mention, this created Snoop Dogg’s list of favorite marijuana strains.

Marijuana Strains For Cancer Treatment

We all recognize what cancer is, and it’s deadly. there's still no cure for cancer, however several winning treatments have submerged over the years. although these treatments are successful, there are also aspect effects admire fatigue, nausea, vomiting, body pain, loss of appetite, and plenty of more. during this reasonably situation, marijuana strains facilitate to treat those willcer treatment side effects.

Recommended Marijuana Strains:

● Pineapple specific (Hybrid) – The recent salad aroma created this strain a favourite internationally, specifically within the country Netherlands. This strain can raise the mood and pushes productivity perfect for those suffering depression, anxiety, fatigue, or restlessness. 

● Super Silver Haze (Sativa) – The rising effects of the strain is ideal for high-stress levels, those that lack appetite, and nausea. this can for sure bring you high energy and artistic results.

● metropolis Poison (Sativa) – simply by its name, you recognize you’re certain a treat of super creative effects once taking this marijuana strain.

● Blueberry (Indica) – this can be one in every of the simplest marijuana strain, its anti-anxiety and anti inflammatory effects structure for any lack of headiness. It elevates the user’s mood and promotes an overall sense of well-being.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Pluralistic: 11 Mar 2020 (Saturated fat and obesity, which foods produce satiety, spying VPNs, Twitter's research-friendly terms of service)

Today's links

Obesity and unsaturated fats: Blaming unsaturated fats for obesity is very plausible, but likely wrong, alas.

The satiety index: Which foods cause or satisfy cravings?

Sensor Tower's VPNs and adblockers spied on users: Like sneaking laxative into Immodium.

Twitter's new Terms of Service help academics: Good bots welcome.

Italy's "I Stay in the House" law: The comprehensive quarantine plan.

Scam-buster hacks into a scam-factory: He gets their CCTVs, recordings of their calls, transaction data, Whatsapp chats, and more. Delicious.

Postmortem: the catastrophic EU Copyright Directive. Testimony from yesterday's Senate hearing.

Podcast: A Lever Without a Fulcrum Is Just a Stick: My latest Locus column, on how copyright failed artists and enriched corporations.

This day in history: 2010, 2015, 2019

Colophon: Recent publications, current writing projects, upcoming appearances, current reading

Obesity and unsaturated fats (permalink)

Scott Alexander does a very deep dive into the literature on diet, weight, and saturated vs unsaturated fats.

https://slatestarcodex.com/2020/03/10/for-then-against-high-saturated-fat-diets/

The most important elements for me were first, the validation that something really has changed: average US adult men's weight went from 155lbs to 195lbs from the 1800s to today. The 90th percentile 1800s man weighed 185lbs, today, it's 320lbs. US obesity rates in the 1800s were 1%. Today, they're 25%.

But the usual culprits can't explain the change: they ate more bread and potatoes in the 1800s, for one thing.

In China, obesity rates were very low even with a diet dominated by white rice.

1970s France had 1800s US obesity rates, on a diet of "baguettes, pastries, cheese, meat. Lots of sugar, white flour, and fat."

It's true that some tactics (intermittent fasting, low-carbing) work for some people, but they're not what worked in 1970s France or 1800s USA. So if those things work, they're "hacks" – not an indictment of carbs or eating three meals a day.

There's a widespread theory that the change is driven by the switch from saturated to unsaturated fats, which was driven by spiking heart disease in the 1950s. It's likely this heart disease epidemic can be attributed to the vast increase in smoking a couple decades earlier, but the tobacco industry's denial machine meant that the blame fell on diet, and the US (and then global) diet's fat composition shifted dramatically.

We ate a lot fewer animal-derived fats and a lot more plant-derived fats. These fats had lots more Omega 6s and (to a lesser extent) 3s, and the ratio of these Omegas also changed dramatically, both in our diet and in our bodily composition. Intriguingly, these play a significant role in metabolism. There's a plausible ring to this whole business – particularly as a way of crisping up what we mean when we say "avoid processed foods." What is "processing?" Maybe it's doing something that requires vegetable fats.

Unfortunately, neither the literature nor the lived experience of experimenters support the theory. Studies don't support it. Meta analyses don't support it. Reddit forums skew heavily to people saying it didn't work for them (dotted with people for whom it did).

Which makes weight gain a mystery. It can't be (just) exercise: we're exercising more now than we did 40 years ago, and we're heavier now. Studies about causes are inconclusive overall, but clear that weight gain is more explained by diet than exercise. What's more, we're seeing weight gain in lab rats, pets and feral animals, so exercise seems an unlikely culprit here.

Alexander ponders other possible causes: plastics or other contaminants in our diet, or that it's a "ratchet" (once your weight set point changes, it doesn't change back.). Both have little evidence to support them.

He concludes that he's "more confused than when I started it," but will avoid unsaturated fats where possible, with the exceptions of Omega-3 rich oils (fish/olive oil).

I am likewise confused, but also better-informed than I was before I read his post.

The satiety index (permalink)

I lost ~100lbs in 2002/3 with a low-carb diet. The thing I immediately noticed when I started eating (lots) more fat and (lots) less carbs was that I was always satiated, with none of the food cravings that had plagued me all my life.

No other diet since has had that effect. I really struggle with cravings (and have put 50lbs back on through my 40s, though some of that is muscle from a much higher level of exercise). For me, satiety is the barrier to sticking to any diet. I don't just get ravenous, I get these all-consuming cravings that I can't put out of my mind, even if I resist them (and the longer I resist, the more likely it is that I'll really blow it out when I give in at last).

So I was really interested in this 1995 open access study, "A Satiety Index of common foods," which offers a league table of the foods that made subjects feel full.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/15701207_A_Satiety_Index_of_common_foods

The meaty (heh) parts are in these charts on pp682-3.

Sensor Tower's VPNs and adblockers spied on users (permalink)

Sensor Tower, a company that made apps billed as privacy-protecting, installed man-in-the-middle certificates on your devices that let them spy on everything you did online.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/vpn-and-ad-blocking-apps-sensor-tower

They made 20+ VPN apps for Android and Ios, but didn't disclose that all those apps were owned by analytics company, Sensor Tower. The apps had names like "Free and Unlimited VPN, Luna VPN, Mobile Data, and Adblock Focus."

The apps installed a "root certificate" in users' devices. With this cert, the company could insert itself in all the device's otherwise secure, encrypted sessions – web browsing, email, etc. Sensor Tower admits that they collected data using this cert, but insists that it was "anonymized," which is something most computer scientists agree is likely impossible for this kind of data. Re-identification of anonymized data is devilishly hard to avoid.

The claim is made even less credible when you listen to the company's other claims about its practices, such as the idea that they hid the authorship of their apps "for competitive reasons."

Or this howler: that "the vast majority of these apps listed are now defunct (inactive) and a few are in the process of sunsetting." Well, yes, they were removed for violating their users' privacy. It's not like the company had a change of heart or anything.

And then there's this: "Apple and Google restrict root certificate privileges due to the security risk to users. Sensor Tower's apps bypass the restrictions by prompting users to install a certificate through an external website after an app is downloaded."

Twitter's new Terms of Service help academics(permalink)

Twitter just published a new, and much-improved developer policy, one that permits academics to field bots for research and auditing purposes.

https://blog.twitter.com/developer/en_us/topics/community/2020/twitter_developer_policy_update.html

"Researchers will be able to share an unlimited number of Tweet IDs and/or User IDs, if they're doing so on behalf of an academic institution and for the sole purpose of non-commercial research, such as peer review."

https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/10/twitter-rewrites-developer-policy-to-better-support-academic-research-and-use-of-good-bots/

Twitter's also creating a bot registry that must include contact info for the botmaster, so that "it's easier for everyone on Twitter to know what's a bot – and what's not."

https://developer.twitter.com/en/developer-terms/policy#4-b

Italy's "I Stay in the House" law (permalink)

The FAQ for the Italian government's "I Stay In the House" decree is a fascinating document:

http://www.governo.it/it/articolo/decreto-iorestoacasa-domande-frequenti-sulle-misure-adottate-dal-governo/14278

Most notably, Italy has kicked out its tourists. As Bruce Sterling writes, "It's a tourist-ectomy. An Italy devoid of all tourists. It's fantastic, unheard-of. Surely this hasn't happened in at least 700 years."

https://www.wired.com/beyond-the-beyond/2020/03/stay-house-decree/

People are allowed to go to work, to shop, and to run errands, provided it is for an "essential purpose," which you must prove "by means of a self-declaration which can be made on pre-printed forms already supplied to the state and local police forces. The veracity of the self-declarations will be subject to subsequent checks and the non-veracity constitutes a crime."

Business travelers are permitted to enter and leave the country, cab, delivery and freight drivers are allowed to do their jobs, and "outdoor motor activity is allowed as long as not in a group."

Public offices are open. Training activities are suspended. Government offices need to provide hand santizer, but if they run out, they have to stay open ("disinfectant is a precautionary measure but itstemporary unavailability does not justify the closure of the office").

Bars, pubs and restaurants may open from 6AM to 6PM, but have to cancel live music, games and screening events. Theaters, cinemas and museums are closed.

Schools are closed. Universities are closed. Exams and graduations will be conducted by video-link. Med schools are not closed. Research institutions are not closed.

Masses and funerals are canceled. Islamic Friday prayers are canceled.

Farms are open.

Scam-buster hacks into a scam-factory (permalink)

Jim Browning is a talented and prolific scambaiter. He calls the numbers listed in pop-up tech support scams and has the scammers log into a specially prepared system that lets him trace them.

In his latest adventure, Browning thoroughly turns the tables on http://Faremart.com , a Delhi travel agency that was the front for a sprawling network of tech-support scammers taking in millions every year through fraud.

Browning not only traces the scammers: he breaks into their unsecured CCTV network so he can watch them work. He compromises their phone system and listens to the recordings of all their scam-sessions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le71yVPh4uk

He gets hold of their ledgers, which list how much money each scam nets for the gang. He doxes the scammers and learns their real names. He gets a confederate to fly a drone over their HQ and maps out their comings and going.

In part II, Browning treats us to a delightful scambaiting session in which he mercilessly trolls a scammer who claims to be in San Jose, CA, tripping him up in a series of ever-more-desperate lies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV-qa9M-o4E

It's part of a growing genre of journalists who explore and document the operations of overseas scam operations. See, for example, Reply All's excellent podcasts on this:

https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/6nh3wk https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/76h5gl

There are two more parts to come in Browning's series (you can watch them now on his Patreon, apparently):

https://www.patreon.com/JimBrowning

He also turned his footage over to the BBC's flagship investigative programme, Panorama, which has produced its own doc based on it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rmvhwwiQAY

Postmortem: the catastrophic EU Copyright Directive (postmortem)

Yesterday, the Senate Subcommittee on Intellectual Property held hearings on "Copyright Law in Foreign Jurisdictions," at which two key copyright experts testified on last year's catastrophic EU Copyright Directive.

First up was Pam Samuelson, one of America's leading copyright experts, who explained in eye-watering detail how the compromises made to pass the Copyright Directive produced an incoherent mess that no one can figure out how to implement in law.

https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Samuelson%20Testimony.pdf

Next was Julia Reda, who served in the EU Parliament during the passage of the directive and helped spearhead the opposition to it.

Her testimony really shows you where the bodies were buried: how the EU knew it was making a pig's ear out of things.

https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Reda%20Testimony.pdf

Both are essential reading for anyone striving to understand Article 17 (formerly Article 13) – it is such a tangle of garbage lawmaking that these kinds of guides are indispensable.

Podcast: A Lever Without a Fulcrum Is Just a Stick (permalink)

I've just posted my latest podcast: a reading of my new Locus Magazine column, "A Lever Without a Fulcrum Is Just a Stick," on how copyright failed artists and enriched corporations and what we can do about it.

https://craphound.com/podcast/2020/03/11/a-lever-without-a-fulcrum-is-just-a-stick-2/

Tldr: Giving monopolies to artists doesn't help them gain leverage over the super-concentrated entertainment industry, because the corporations control access to audiences and force artists to sign away those monopolies to get past their gatekeeping.

The more monopolies we give artists, the more monopolies are transfered to corporations, and the more they dominate the market and thus the more they can retain from the earnings generated by the artists' works.

Fights like the EU Copyright Directive are a distraction, a fight over shifting some points from Big Tech's balance sheet to Big Content's – but without any mechanism to move more of that revenue to creators.

Enriching creators means thinking beyond more "monopoly"-style copyright: instead, we have to think about inalienable rights that can be taken away through one-sided contracts (like the "reversion right" that lets US artists take back copyrights after 35 years).

And we have to think beyond copyright itself, by beefing up competition laws to break up entertainment cartels, and by beefing up labor laws to let artists form unions.

There is a role for copyright, but in things like extended collective licensing that would allow all online platforms to access the same catalog and pay for it based on the number of users they have, so a new platform pays pennies while Youtube pays hundreds of millions.

These blanket licenses have been key to keeping other forums for artistic revenues open: think of what the world would be like if one club or radio station could buy the exclusive rights to play the hits of the day, and then use their ensuring dominance to squeeze artists.

If you prefer the written work, you can read the column here for yourself, of course:

https://locusmag.com/2020/03/cory-doctorow-a-lever-without-a-fulcrum-is-just-a-stick/

Here's a direct link to the MP3 of the reading (thanks as always to Internet Archive for hosting – they'll host you too, for free!):

https://archive.org/download/Cory_Doctorow_Podcast_330/Cory_Doctorow_Podcast_330_-_A_Lever_Without_a_Fulcrum_Is_Just_a_Stick.mp3

And here's the RSS for my podcast:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/doctorow_podcast

Now in its 14th year (Thanks to Mark Pesce for convincing me to start it)!

This day in history (permalink)

#10yrsago London Olympics: police powers to force spectators to remove non-sponsor items, enter houses, take posters http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20100303/tts-uk-olympics-london-ca02f96.html

#10yrsago Leaked documents: UK record industry wrote web-censorship amendment https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/2010/bpi-drafted-web-blocking

#5yrsago Piketty on the pointless cruelty of European austerity https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/thomas-piketty-interview-about-the-european-financial-crisis-a-1022629.html

#5yrsago Rightscorp loses big on extortion racket https://torrentfreak.com/rightscorp-hemorrhages-cash-profit-from-piracy-remains-elusive-150311/

#5yrsago UK foreign secretary: stop talking about Snowden, let spies get on with it https://web.archive.org/web/20150315031642/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2399082/government-minister-is-bored-with-snowden-and-wants-to-get-on-with-surveillance

#1yrago Defect in car security system aids carjackers, thieves https://www.pentestpartners.com/security-blog/gone-in-six-seconds-exploiting-car-alarms/

#1yrago Former Archbishop of Canterbury cheers on students who are walking out to demand action on climate change https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/mar/10/rowan-williams-school-pupil-climate-protests

#1yrago Leaked Chinese database of 1.8 million women includes a field indicating whether they are "BreedReady" https://twitter.com/0xDUDE/status/1104482014202351616

#1yrago Why #Article13 inevitably requires filters https://www.communia-association.org/2019/03/05/final-x-ray-article-13-dangerous-legislative-wishful-thinking/

Colophon (permalink)

Today's top sources: Slate Star Codex (https://slatestarcodex.com/), Slashdot (https://slashdot.org), Fipi Lele, Matthew Rimmer (https://twitter.com/DrRimmer).

Hugo nominators! My story "Unauthorized Bread" is eligible in the Novella category and you can read it free on Ars Technica: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/01/unauthorized-bread-a-near-future-tale-of-refugees-and-sinister-iot-appliances/

Upcoming appearances:

Museums and the Web: March 31-April 4 2020, Los Angeles. https://mw20.museweb.net/

Currently writing: I'm rewriting a short story, "The Canadian Miracle," for MIT Tech Review. It's a story set in the world of my next novel, "The Lost Cause," a post-GND novel about truth and reconciliation. I'm also working on "Baby Twitter," a piece of design fiction also set in The Lost Cause's prehistory, for a British think-tank. I'm getting geared up to start work on the novel afterwards.

Currently reading: Just started Lauren Beukes's forthcoming Afterland: it's Y the Last Man plus plus, and two chapters in, it's amazeballs. Last month, I finished Andrea Bernstein's "American Oligarchs"; it's a magnificent history of the Kushner and Trump families, showing how they cheated, stole and lied their way into power. I'm getting really into Anna Weiner's memoir about tech, "Uncanny Valley." I just loaded Matt Stoller's "Goliath" onto my underwater MP3 player and I'm listening to it as I swim laps.

Latest podcast: A Lever Without a Fulcrum Is Just a Stick https://archive.org/download/Cory_Doctorow_Podcast_330/Cory_Doctorow_Podcast_330_-_A_Lever_Without_a_Fulcrum_Is_Just_a_Stick.mp3

Upcoming books: "Poesy the Monster Slayer" (Jul 2020), a picture book about monsters, bedtime, gender, and kicking ass. Pre-order here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781626723627?utm_source=socialmedia&utm_medium=socialpost&utm_term=na-poesycorypreorder&utm_content=na-preorder-buynow&utm_campaign=9781626723627

(we're having a launch for it in Burbank on July 11 at Dark Delicacies and you can get me AND Poesy to sign it and Dark Del will ship it to the monster kids in your life in time for the release date).

"Attack Surface": The third Little Brother book, Oct 20, 2020.

"Little Brother/Homeland": A reissue omnibus edition with a very special, s00per s33kr1t intro.

[globabuzz]

How to Build Muscle On a Budget : Top 7 Cheap Sources of Protein

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When you’re just starting your life at the gym, you will most likely be there for two things: to build muscle or to lose weight. Either way,  you should have the correct nutritional plan to keep either of them going. A good nutritional plan should have the right amounts of all of the nutrients, including protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, minerals, fibre and as many of the rest as possible.

This will help keep your body pumping and going forwards, but it will also help you put on more muscle than you can believe, and every single pound that you put on will be muscle instead of fat.

When you want to pack on as much muscle mass as possible, the primary nutrient that you need to consider is protein. This is because your body needs that protein to fix your bodily problems through repairing old cells and producing them anew.

However, the reason that we need to eat this much protein is because our body cannot synthesise it by itself, and when you’re exercising seven days a week your body is getting tired, which means you need to eat more protein to keep it running and rebuild the cells. For this, you need to eat the sufficient amount of protein at the correct time, so that your body doesn’t fall in a catabolic state.

If you want to learn how to put on muscle mass as fast as possible without constantly feeling tired, consider this: take one to two grams of protein for every pound of their bodyweight! If you weigh 200 pounds, you would need anywhere from 200 to 400 grams of protein per day if you want to see good results!

1. Whole Eggs:

Eggs are the perfect protein. Not only do they contain all the essential amino acids required for muscle growth, but the fat and cholesterol found in eggs are a key part of a testosterone-boosting diet.

They are also extremely cheap and versatile – you can include them as part of your breakfast, lunch, or dinner. All of this makes them a staple of any muscle building diet.

Eggs contain 6 grams of protein in a whole egg. There is half a gram of carbohydrates in every whole egg and around five grams of fat in every yolk. No fat in egg whites. There are 78 calories to a whole egg, out of which only 17 calories are in the egg white, which is why some people choose to throw away the yolks as they are very caloric.

Note: The cholesterol found in eggs has actually been shown to decrease the amount of LDL (bad cholesterol) in your body.

2. Canned Tuna:

There are 30 to 40 grams of protein in a can of tuna, but to maximise effectiveness and minimise damage by unhealthy ingredients, I would suggest getting those packed in brine or spring water instead of oil or sauces.

Tuna is rich in vitamins A, B12 and niacin, but also the minerals selenium, phosphorus and magnesium. It can aid with your weight loss programme and it helps strengthen cell membranes.

However, don’t eat too much of it as you risk eating too much mercury, which can be harmful.

3. Milk:

Milk has 8-10 grams of protein for every 250ml glass and if you want to put on weight, milk is your new best friend. Remember GOMAD? That means “gallon of milk a day” and it’s the simple answer to the question of weight gain.

It contains a good source of both whey and casein protein (fast and slow release). Plus, if you stick with whole milk – and get the organic kind – it also contains more calories and more omega-3.

Why do you want omega-3? It boosts cognitive function, lowers blood pressure, and even increases rates of muscle growth.

4. Ground Beef:

Ground beef has about 25 grams of protein per 100 grams, but if you really want to buy premium, get the ones that have a high lean beef content, such as 80 percent or more, and then rinse them with some warm water to lower their fat levels down by at least 50 percent.

5. Beans and Lentils:

These have 18 grams of protein per cup and they are also super cheap. Furthermore, they have a high fibre content and a lower fat content.

If you buy your beans and lentils dry and cook them at home, you are practically guaranteeing that they will only have the best nutrients in them.

Try to avoid pre-cooked food or store-bought ready to eat beans and lentils – they are so much better at home!

6. Chicken Breasts, Salmon and Turkey:

Of course, famous bodybuilding foods such as chicken breasts, delicious salmon and juicy turkey chops need no introduction. These delicious treats have 23 to 25 grams of protein per 100 grams.

If you want your meat to have at least a bit of omega-3 fatty acids to keep your heart pounding regularly, pick the salmon.

Also, if you want to cut the fat content as much as possible as well as lower your cholesterol, cut away the skin pieces – they contain saturated fat in large amounts.

7. Almonds:

Almonds have 20 grams of protein per cup, they are much less allergenic than peanuts and peanut butter and they can be brought anywhere without any special equipment.

Throw them in a plastic bag, put it in your pocket and you’re good to go.

If you want to pack on lots of muscle you will need to keep your nutrition in check. Even though reading the fine print on all of your products will be dull, you will appreciate it as you will reap its benefits soon enough.

This makes sense because, who wouldn’t want to pack on lean muscle instead of lumps of fat? If you just get fat from your food, you’re not doing anything right – but with the right amount of exercise and the right nutritional plan, you could work wonders for yourself.

[the1nightowl]

Diary post 1/25/20

So right now I’m high as fuck laying in bed listening to a Spotify radio based off landslide by Fleetwood Mac I’m pretty sure. The past few days have been shit to be honest, and I’m not entirely sure why. It’s true that I was sober for those few days but I don’t think that can explain the deep depression that I was put into. It was indescribable tbh I just honestly felt like I couldn’t do anything, like I was better off just sitting in my car turned off after achool feeling how hot it got cause it felt amazing even when I started to sweat. It honestly scared me a lot and I had to go home and break my promise to my friend not to smoke anymore. This was after about staying in my car depressed for about an hour before I was able to force myself to drive home, but even then I didn’t turn on the radio like I usually do and I was aware of these things but I just didn’t care and it was just... it honestly scared me a lot and I know this sounds like a cowardly type post like I’m not really sturggling type thing but idk. It was genuine emptiness or deep sadness I couldn’t tell the difference. I got high and even for about 40 minutes in I didn’t feel much but then it kicked in and I was at least able to relax and not let that deep feeling control me completely. Later though I went to my dads girlfriends house for dinner and as I was eating I brought up the pro life thing my religion teacher made us all watch and how funny it was how awkward a few of us were though I didn’t say it like that I said it like most of us were pro choice and were uncomfortable. Then my dad got mad and started trying to get preachy and I was like oh my god please don’t do this I do not care. Which sounds really shitty to say but that’s just... how it is I guess. But he shut up and his girlfriend kept trying to get him to talk again but I was like nah I don’t wanna hear it. Then he asked me how I would feel if i had been aborted and I was like it would probably have been for the better as I remembered a lot of places In my life where my presence in this world made someone’s life worse, how my mother sacrificed years of her life to me only for me to throw it away over a girl, how I’m nothing but a burden to my father, how many expectations everyone has on me to be the one to succeed because I’m the smartest. I don’t want to succeed to that degree I just want to live and be happy. But everyone expects me to go out and do great things but that’s not what I want I just want to go off and live somewhere and be happy doing something enjoyable that makes me think and be able to go home and play games or read something. I don’t want to live in luxury I don’t feel the need to be the best I know my intelligence I don’t feel the need to prove it to anyone, I pass every single one of my classes with a’s and b’s never bothering to open the books unless it’s in class or for homework, I never studied for a single test and I’ve never failed so long as I bothered to pay attention in class where once again I’ve never taken notes except for math where we genuinely need a copy of the equations. I get 1300’s on the psat’s never bothering to study before hand I don’t need to prove anything to anyone else and I don’t feel the need to go to a big name university I just want to get out of here. I take ap classes so that it can feel even slightly like I’m learning at a normal pace and I like it I feel like I’m an average student in a class even without studying or taking notes and stuff. I’m good at this I don’t need to try hard like everyone wants me to, I don’t want anything big in life. I just want a home that’s mine, a job I love, and maybe a dog and a girlfriend if I find anyone. And that’s not in a superior tone it’s just I get a lot of anxiety when it comes to actually doing things I want to do so I can’t ask a girl out out of fear. This is actually the first time I’m admitting this to myself out loud. I’m a coward and I don’t know why. I remember large parts of my childhood where I was completely empty like this too. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Probably trauma.

I’m not sure what that trauma would be granted but I actually don’t remember large portions of my childhood while I can remember others with some clarity. So maybe, probably, there’s something hurried in there I’m honestly scared of chasing down. Anyways I’m pretty sure we just mixed by the 55 minute mark, or at least my comparative, for the benefits of therapy, which I guess this is. I love psychology but idk about pursuing it as a career largely due to the over saturation of the market that I don’t really want to get into. But other than that I don’t know what I want to do. I’m largely lost to the world and I don’t know where I’m going to go. I’m a junior in highschool and I can’t help but feel like I should at least be thinking about desires or something to do with myself because I have to have a semi answer by the end of the year basically. But I guess I’m not gonna find the answer to all my problems just like that. I do feel like I’m wasting my life a bit but I don’t feel anything better to spend it on. Nothing really interests me and that’s a problem. I genuinely don’t feel interested by anything. There’s just things I have to do and things I want to do because they seem like fun which I guess is an interest but they don’t seem like genuine interests. I feel like I always have a responsibility driving me forward and making me do things but what will I do when large parts of that responsibility is gone. I guess life just feels meaningless mostly. I need something to drive towards but there either doesn’t seem to be any landmarks on the map or I can’t read it somehow. Granted there’s no landmarks when I jump out the car to look around but still. Nothing out there is for me it seems. And I’m not sure if it’s me saying that to myself. I’ve never spoken about the feeling I have of lack of goodwill towards myself. I genuinely don’t think I’m good at anything, I’m not a good person, and I don’t know anything about myself. A bit of a parodox yes but that’s where my mind is. I have no faith in myself I don’t think I’m that great at anything but when I do I feel the need to talk about it too much so my feeling of being an arrogant asshole just increases over my pride. And yet I’m always smiling or being kind or at least trying to. But I don’t know if that’s me or just me asking for attention. I just don’t care about anything I own or that’s mine I guess. I just don’t really care about anything actually I guess. I don’t know my motivations I just am. I don’t feel any motivation I feel obligation. And I fear that if I post this I’ll get a sort of relief from it and want to post it again and again in different ways saying it from every point of view and annoy anyone who looks or just be ignored. See that is a fear that has been with me since the beginning. There are many things I have to get over in my life I think. I just don’t really know where to begin. Or maybe I do and I’m just telling myself I don’t for some stupid self hatred bullshit. Honestly I have no idea. Life is meaningless I suppose. And I don’t remember when I started believing that. It’s been a part of me now, or at least connected tightly long enough to make me scared to leave it behind. I don’t know who I am and I’m not sure if I’ve ever known who I am. I specifically remember saying this when I was like 7 or 8. Or being dramatic and standing out in the rain because it actually genuinely felt good. I don’t know and I’m scared of continuing this thought. I’m scared of pushing beyond this. But that’s just the cowardly part of me talking. Why am I scared. What’s the worst that can happen iF life is meaningless. If I truly believe that why do I fear my actions? There’s no reason for it. I don’t need to be scared. I need to stop looking back. It’s holding me back from being better than I am. I can believe happiness is out there. It’s something worth believing it’s not a stupid Idea. I am good enough to feel good. I do deserve happiness. This isn’t my mind playing tricks on me it’s my depression playing tricks on me.

At the same time thought it doesn’t get all the credit. There are definitely things about myself I can fix. And I’m capable of fixing them. I deserve to be a better person, I’m worthy of love if I can stop hating myself. No one can fix me but me and that means I can fix me. It’s a backward thought but backward thoughts can hold truths never seen from the front. Things aren’t as bad as they seem, when i tell depressing jokes they aren’t jokes so why do I laugh. I need to stop normalizing these thoughts, both to myself and to others. It’s not a normal thing to be depressed it’s a sad thing. I need to get out of this hole I trapped myself in. I dug it and stepped in, so I can’t expect anyone to come along and dig me out but myself. It will be hard to dig out of a 20 foot hole but it will be easier that it was to dig myself into it. Maybe it will be easy maybe it won’t. I don’t need it to be easy I need to get up and work on it. That’s what the problem has been, I don’t get up and try I just feel like it’s not worth trying so I don’t do it. How do I break out of this thinking. No I need to stop asking and start coming up with anaswers. I need to break out of this so I will. I need to stop wasting my time watching YouTube and Netflix, but what else will I spend my time on? I don’t need to study we’ve been over that, I have homework but I don’t want to do that in this state or right now. That is a type of thought that will hold me back if I let it. What should I do though. I have no gas but I could spend all my money on that but then what would I do. I could go hang out with friends but I would feel annoying. But should I? There’s so much I could do right now but I can’t do it right now. Could I just get up right now and go? I could get up and get ready but I don’t really want too. But that’s what I have to do to get better. And I don’t want to do it right now, but this is the most normal and excited I’ve felt in a while. What would we do? No money, not much gas. It’s not warm enough to go to a lake or something obviously haha. I’m not sure if this feeling is due to the high or if I genuinely broke myself out of it but I don’t know it feels like a weight has been mostly lifted off me, but it should be completely gone if I don’t let it in. It needs to stay away so I will force it away. This bad thought isn’t controlling me I give it the power. Making a mistake doesn’t mean I’m useless. This isn’t me trying to preach about something this is genuinely what I’m thinking at the moment. I need to stop looking to see if others are enjoying themselves in order to enjoy something. I can feel things myself, I need to start celebrating my victories again. I need to take pride in my work, and be happy for myself not seek happiness in other people’s happiness. That isn’t a great things that makes a person a saint, any person who’s a saint would have to feel some sort of meaning outside of happiness to make someone else happy. There has to be happiness for happinesses sake before I focus on happiness for others sakes. I always put others before myself seeking happiness from service but I need to find happiness in other ways, service will only get you so far. I need a purpose and my purpose will be to find happiness for myself. Take joy in what I do. Enjoy the things I watch instead of looking for a distraction. I need to care about things not just notice them. I’m allowed to care about things and it’s fucking reccomended I care about things, it doesn’t make me any better to not enjoy things. I’m allowed to enjoy what I like and no one can take them away from me. So you know what fuck everything else I said in this post. Fuck all of it I don’t need to find the why for why I feel this I have to stop letting it take over me. It’s not who I am it’s a disease, something which is holding me back. I need to get back to work. J need to go to track again I need to stop letting myself get dragged back by caution and fear. I don’t care but I do.

I need to stop allowing it to take over who I am. I’m more than the sadness I feel I’m the joy I should be seeking. The things I enjoy aren’t stupid they’re what I enjoy. Enjoying the music in my headphones is important. I tell everyone else what they say is important but how can j believe that if I don’t think what I care about is important. I can care for things others don’t care about it genuinely doesn’t matter. Why do I think it matters??? It’s highschool not life. I don’t like dances so I won’t go to them. I’ll enjoy my video games, i love my music and I’ll enjoy them whether others think I should or not. I don’t need to be productive all the time but the things I do between shouldn’t just be distractions they should be things I enjoy. So yes I’m writing what has basically become an essay but you know what? I’m better that what is at the beginning of it all, but it is a part of me which will go away as I focus on improving my enjoyment kf life. If I enjoy my life again I will find direction. That is the secret. It’s not about distractions it’s about doing things I enjoy. Fuck everything else happiness is work and you have to work at it not give up in the face of difficulty. I’m better than feeling bad about everything I do fuck that I’m worth it I’m happy doing what I want to do. It’s not bad to do that and I’m allowed to say it. Fuck I love playing video games they can be difficult but they make you think and provide a sense of victory and accomplishment which can’t be found anywhere else. Or it can be found anywhere else, I can feel that accomplishment at track. Feeling myself improve is a good thing, worth the pain that comes along with it. The pain isn’t a completely bad thing it’s what proves you’re getting better which isn’t just an excuse people say it’s how it should feel. Pain isn’t to be avoided at all costs. Pain is a good thing sometimes. I am worth something people can be missing out on something if they don’t talk to me fuck that I’m worth something. This has been my diary post for today. Or at least right now but you know what it’s okay either way. I’m gonna go ahead and enjoy something right now. I’m gonna to open all the blinds in the house and let the light shine in.. I’ll make some warm drinks and put on warm clothes and enjoy the light instead of embracing the darkness that I ran towards. Fuck staying in the darkness of my mind anymore I can open the blinds and enjoy the natural light. So I’m gonna go do that. Thank you for making it this far, I’ll post an update or sometjing eventually. But I need to go and put my money where my mouth is. This took me about an hour to write btw. And that’s something to be proud of. So I am.

[kobesallyjak-blog]

Senate appropriators silent on federal pay raise for 2020

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[keithtillman-blog]

Exactly What Is HIFU and Who Is a Reasonable Person With Prostate Type Of Cancer?

HIFU, or Intense Focused Ultrasound, can be a non-surgical way of treating localized prostate cancer. HIFU focuses ultrasound energy and soundwaves with a targeted area from the prostate causing rapid temperature increases and focal ablation of the treatment zone with great accuracy. In most cases, HIFU is completed on an outpatient basis in one to four hours depending on the height and width of the prostate. The largest advantage of HIFU is definitely a low incontinence rate of lower than 2% as well as a post-treatment impotence problems rate of 20 to 30%. The important thing to success with HIFU, however, is proper patient selection. Candidates include men with low- to intermediate-risk localized cancer of the prostate (i.e., no spread of cancer not in the prostate). These men could have clinical stage T1 or T2b disease (i.e., no palpable nodule or nodule confined one lobe of the prostate), Gleason score of seven or less (preferably not higher than Gleason Score 3+4=7), PSA a higher level under 20, plus a prostate volume of 40 grams or fewer. Initial data to treat appropriately selected men with HIFU has demonstrated results just like other modalities intended for localized cancer control, biochemical recurrence, and disease-free survival. Additionally, reported incontinence and erectile dysfunction rates after HIFU can be low at less that 2% and 20 to 30%, respectively.

Advantages of HIFU as a way of treating select men with prostate cancer include a non-surgical, minimally invasive technique requiring no hospital stay. Additionally, the prostate kind of cancer tissue is destroyed without radiation exposure. HIFU is repeatable should re-treatment become necessary later on. Additionally, HIFU enables you to treat recurrent prostate cancer which was initially treated by other means, including radiation or proton therapy. Another impressive application of HIFU for treatment of localized prostate type of cancer is based on emerging successes with focal therapy of cancer of the prostate. Over these select cases, studies would be performed to make sure a low-volume of prostate type of cancer restricted to one lobe or a specific focal site inside the prostate. The involved lobe or specific site from the patient's prostate kind of cancer would then be focally treated. Candidates for focal HIFU include men with low-volume (below or add up to 3 cores positive for cancer, no single core with more than 50% positive), Gleason Score of 6 or fewer, and a PSA of lower than 10. These men would undergo "template" or "saturation" biopsies with greater to 24 cores evaluated. Research studies considering focal therapy of prostate type of cancer in very select men with low-volume disease are emerging and early results look promising although no long lasting info is yet available. Early leads to some studies show up to 90% recurrence free survival following focal therapy in closely monitored men. Incontinence rates following focal HIFU were 0 to 1% and erection dysfunction rates under 5% in a study considering results at three and 6 months following treatment. HIFU is really a non-invasive treatment alternative for men with low- to intermediate-risk prostate kind of cancer. The main element to the success as with every options for treatment lies in appropriate candidate selection. HIFU is completed internationally and is currently undergoing many studies for FDA approval in the united states. American urologists are trained in performing HIFU and help American teams internationally to be able to offer botox cosmetic injections to appropriately selected patients considering HIFU as a way of treating their prostate type of cancer. As always, be sure to discuss all options using your urologist such as the risks, benefits and choices to each before you make an informed decision regarding treating your prostate cancer. Maintain open and honest discussions using your doctor when considering these options because the critical for making money online is choosing the treatment that suits you and your particular cancer the best. For details about hifu net page: click for more info.

[fiti-vation]

Hi i am following your tumblr for few days and I’m obsessed. I scrolled through your tumblr for hours! Do you have any eating/food tips for losing a little weight?

Aww thank youdear for the love and support!I’d like toapologize for the late reply.Youdon’t need to go on a fad diet to lose fat and restrict yourself from eatingcolorful delicious foods. Eatinghealthy shouldn’t be about restriction and abstention from the food that you lovethe most. It should be about making informed choices, exercising in moderationand enacting gradual positive changes.Thebest way to lose fat is to get the right mix of nutrients and energy your bodyneeds. Keep in mind that there is one major requirement to loosing fat… a caloric deficit; a caloric deficit is what happenswhen you consume less calories than your body needs to burn for energyperforming all of the tasks it needs to perform over the course of the day (move, breathe, pump blood, digestfood, etc.).Whenthat caloric deficit is present, your body is forced to find some alternativesource of energy on your body to burn instead. Ideally, this would ONLY be yourugly stored body fat. However, it can also be your pretty lean muscle tissue –so make sure to consume nutritious protein foods.Here are some nutrition tips forlosing fat in a healthy way:

Calorie Control

As mentioned above, thebiggest factor in a diet is calories in versus calories out; your totalcalories will determine if you lose or gain weight. Eating too many calorieswill lead to fat gain. But if you don’t eat enough calories you will not gainlean muscle. Setting a target calorie intake and counting the number ofcalories you eat each day is vital to losing fat and gaining lean muscle.

Tackle hunger with fiber and protein. Don’t wait until you are sohungry that it gets hard to make smart food choices. Instead, when you start tofeel hungry, eat a small snack that combines a protein with a food that’s highin fiber, such as a whole-grain cracker with low-fat cheese. These are fillingbut not packed with calories.

That said, I’d like to point out here that I have never personallybelieved in counting calories. My philosophy is “if you eat healthy you don’thave to worry about counting calories”.  Take time to prepare healthy, colorful andnutritious meals. Don’t eat anything your grandmother wouldn’t recognize asfood. Here are some articles that elaborate on this philosophy:

Forget about counting calories, just eat healthy & right [X]

Wantto Lose Weight? You Should Stop Counting Calories [X]

TheKey to Weight Loss Is Diet Quality, Not Quantity, a New Study Finds [X]

5Reasons To Never Count Another Calorie [X]

7tips for eating healthy when you can’t count calories [X]

Here’sWhy Counting Calories Really Isn’t Necessary for Weight Loss [X]

TheMYTH of the calorie. And why I don’t count them [X]

Once I realized that my eating is aboutmy health and getting all the nutrients my body needs and not about losingweight I started ordering healthy food not because I am trying to reducecalories but because I am trying to add nutrients.

Quality Control (Stay away from processed foods)

Choose fresh, wholesomefoods over pre­packaged, processed foods. Packaged foods are loaded withpreservatives, especially sodium and saturated fats, and often have highamounts of sugars, such as high fructose corn syrup.

You will be amazed at how fast you can lose fat just by packing mealsfrom home rather than purchasing fast food or packaged foods. You also willsave a lot of money!

Limitfast food meals. Studies show that the more fast food you eat each week, thegreater the risk of gaining extra weight. So, try to limit fast food meals toonce a week or less.

Eatfewer sweets and unhealthy snacks. Candy, cookies, and cakes often have a lotof sugar and fat and not many nutrients. Learn about treats that are deliciousand nutritious.

Foodis our friend, and when we enjoy how food is meant to be enjoyed, whole, pureand unadulterated — food is our best friend. It all starts in the kitchen.“Poor nutrition is the single greatest driver of chronic ill health. Untilwe recognize that, [Medicine] will be unable to reverse the crippling burden ofchronic ill health caused by these nutritionally based diseases. Humans are theonly mammals that suffer from chronic ill health. One critic suggests it’sbecause we are the only animals clever enough to manufacture our own food andstupid enough to eat it.”- Tim Noakes on Nutrition and the damage of processed foods and poor diet.Beforemoving to the next section, I’d like to point out here a healthy diet is veryimportant for your body and skin. Your skin needs fresh air, exercise, a properdiet, minerals and vitamins.

Here are a few eating tips I’ve been gathering:

Macronutrient Manipulation

While your total caloricintake is the most important diet factor, the ratio of protein to carbs to fatcan dictate whether the weight you gain/lose is muscle or fat. A diet thatcontains 80% of calories from carbs, 10% from protein, and 10% from fat willproduce different results than a diet containing 40% of calories from carbs,40% from protein, and 20% from fat. I have posted a lot of posts about macro onmy blog over the years. Here are a few:

What Does 2,500 Calories Look Like? [X]

Figuring macros [X]

Just in caseyou are wondering what macros are:

Stay Hydrated

You should drink plenty ofwater every day. Try to drink at least eight glasses (or 64 oz.) of water perday. The benefits drinking water provides are optimal hydration as well as afeeling of “fullness” without added calories. Sometimes people will mistakethirst for hunger. Because of this, staying hydrated can also preventovereating.

Avoid sugary drinks. Try not to drink a lot of sugary sodas, energy drinks, andsports drinks. They can add a lot of calories. (There are about 10 packets ofsugar in 12 ounces of soda.) Also try not to drink a lot of fruit juice. Wateris a great choice instead. Add a piece of lemon or a splash of juice for moreflavor.

Insulin ControlInsulin is the “storage”hormone. When it is secreted fat burning is blunted. By controlling insulinsecretion by choosing low GI carbs you can decrease fat gain/increase fat loss.Stable blood sugar levels also improve energy levels and one’s mood.Essential FatsEssential fatty acids (EFAs)are vital to the proper functioning on your body. Dietary fats got a bad rapdue to the diet fads of the 80’s and 90’s, which promoted eating as little fatas possible, but in reality EFAs are needed by the body and are part of ahealthy diet. Eating fats does not equate to getting fat. In fact, most EFAshelp support the fat burning process and maintaining a lean body. Do not bescared to eat good fats. EFAs are not the enemy. Also, be sure to supplement witha QUALITY EFA product.

Adequate Protein

As mentioned above in order to maintain lean muscle whilecutting down you need to eat enough protein. You may not be used to eating enoughprotein on a daily basis, but once you get into the groove you should not haveany problems and will enjoy how full and satisfied you feel. Take a look at those amazing protein shakes I posted a while ago on my blog [X].

Final word

All that said, I could not conclude this post withoutemphasizing on How not to lose fat.  Itcan be tempting to look for a quick fix if you need to lose fat. Remember,though, that if something sounds toogood to be true, it probably is. Keep these tips in mind:

Avoid fad diets. Fad diets often allow only a few types of food. That meansyou are not getting all the nutrients you need. And these diets may cause youto lose weight for a short time, but then you likely will gain it back quickly.Learn more about faddiets .

Avoid weight-loss pills and other quick-loss products. Most weight-loss pills, drinks,supplements, and other products you can buy without a prescription have notbeen shown to work. And they can actually be very dangerous. If you arethinking about taking weight-loss pills or similar products, talk to yourdoctor first.

Don’t eat too little. Your body needs fuel to grow and be healthy. If you eatfewer than 1,600 calories each day, you may not get the nutrients you need. Anddon’t skip breakfast. Some research suggests that teens who skip breakfast aremore likely to be overweight.

Don’t try to get rid of food you eat. Some people think they can lose weightby making themselves vomit or taking laxatives (pills that make you go to thebathroom). These are very dangerous steps and signs of eatingdisorders. Your body is too precious to treatthis way, so get help if you think you may have an eating disorder.

Don’t expect to lose weight quickly. Losing about one to two pounds a weekis a healthy rate of weight loss. If you are taking extreme steps to loseweight faster, you will probably gain most or all of it back.

 I hope this will be helpful.

 Cheers,Steph 🤗

[writerkimwilkes-blog]

5 Biggest Mistakes Men Make With Prostate Health

Kimberly Wilkes

Note: This article originally appeared in Whole Health Insider.

The prostate gland isn't something a lot of men pay much attention to—until it starts to cause problems, or, even scarier, becomes cancerous. And if you're a male who's edging up there in years—or you have a father, brother, or husband who's getting older—chances are good the prostate will start to cause problems.

In fact, most men, if they live past 70, will develop an enlarged prostate, a noncancerous condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia—BPH, for short. Studies have shown that BPH is present in only 10 percent of men in their 30s, but 20 percent of men in their 40s have BPH, 50 to 60 percent of men in their 60s, and 80 to 90 percent of men in their 70s and 80s.1

The threat of prostate cancer also becomes more real as a man ages. According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 220,800 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2015.2 And in the same year, an estimated 27,540 men will die from the disease.2

But developing a prostate condition later in life isn't inevitable. There are important actions men can take to protect themselves and to increase the odds of becoming part of the 10 to 20 percent of men over 70 who don't have BPH. When it comes to prostate health, avoiding five big mistakes can go a long way in reducing the risk of any problems down the road—or addressing the symptoms you already have.  

Mistake #1

Eating Too Much High-Saturated-Fat Animal Protein

If you're constantly in touch with your inner cave man and scarf down steaks, ribs, and hamburgers, your prostate gland may pay the price. Studies in mice have found that a high-fat diet promotes the growth of prostate tumors.3  And the story's the same in humans. In a study of 4,577 men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer—in other words prostate cancer that hasn't spread to other parts of the body—subjects who consumed the most vegetable fat after being diagnosed with the disease experienced a lower risk of lethal prostate cancer. In fact, the risk of lethal prostate cancer dropped 29 percent in men who ate more vegetable fat.4

And the men eating the most vegetable fat didn't just have a reduced risk of dying from prostate cancer. They also had a 35 percent lower risk of dying from any cause. On the opposite end of the spectrum, increasing saturated fat by five percent was linked to a 30 percent higher risk of death. Eating more polyunsaturated fat after diagnosis was associated with a lower death rate. Replacing five percent of calories from saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat caused the death risk to drop by 34 percent.4

The researchers in this study also looked at the type of food associated with a reduced risk of dying from prostate cancer in men who already had the disease. They found that increasing the amount of oil-based dressing eaten by one tablespoon daily was linked to a 29 percent lower risk of lethal prostate cancer and a 13 percent lower risk of death. Nuts also proved to be a power food for the prostate. Adding one ounce of nuts to the diet daily was linked to an 18 percent lower risk of dying from prostate cancer and an 11 percent lower risk of death from all causes.4  

Other studies have backed up these results. For example, when 161 prostate cancer patients ate flaxseeds or flaxseeds together with a low-fat diet, the rate at which prostate tumors spread was much lower compared to subjects in the control groups who didn't eat flaxseeds.5

Scientists can't say with 100 percent certainty why a diet high in saturated fats, especially animal fats, is linked to increased prostate cancer growth and a lower survival rate. But studies have hinted at a couple of reasons. First, a diet high in animal fat is linked to weight gain and weight gain also is linked to prostate cancer and BPH.3,6

Second, having high cholesterol promotes the spread of prostate cancer throughout the body,7 a process known as metastasis. And eating a diet high in saturated fats from animal proteins causes cholesterol levels to spike. Cholesterol is thought to cause the spread of prostate cancer for a number of reasons including the fact that when cholesterol becomes  oxidized in the body it can suppress immunity and promote angiogenesis, the creation of new blood vessels that tumor cells use to spread to other areas of the body.7

And diets low in saturated fat and high in vegetable fat protect against more than just prostate cancer. Studies have found a link between low-fat, vegetable-based diets and a reduced risk of developing BPH.8

If you have a hard time letting go of your cave man tendencies, your best bet is to choose grass-fed beef over conventional beef. Grass-fed beef is low in saturated fats and high in omega-3 fatty acids. And make sure you eat lots of nuts and flaxseeds every day.

Mistake #2

Not Eating Enough Tomatoes—or Eating Them the Wrong Way

One of the most powerful prostate-protecting foods is the tomato—or more specifically, a component of tomatoes called lycopene. Eating tomatoes and tomato products causes lycopene to build up in the prostate where it protects against DNA damage that is a starting point for cancer development.9 If you're not eating enough tomatoes or if you're not eating tomatoes together with the right types of food, your prostate could suffer.

Research shows lycopene may halt BPH in its tracks. In one study, 40 elderly men with BPH randomly received 15 mg per day of lycopene in supplement form or a placebo for six months. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels fell in the men taking lycopene, but not in the placebo group. What's more, the prostates of the men in the placebo group enlarged during the study, but the prostates of the men taking lycopene remained the same size. Even though symptoms improved in both the placebo and lycopene group, the men taking lycopene experienced a greater improvement in their symptoms.10

In addition, scientists have looked at lycopene for its possible prostate-cancer protecting effects. Eating tomato paste a couple times per week can lower the risk of developing prostate cancer by about 20 percent, according to some studies.11,12

In men who already have prostate cancer, not every study has found that lycopene can be of benefit. But there's some evidence to show lycopene might have an effect. For example, in one study 20 men with metastatic prostate cancer took 10 mg per day of lycopene for three months. One of the subjects taking lycopene experienced a complete response, including normal PSA levels and no sign of disease for at least eight weeks. Six of the patients (30 percent) experienced a partial response after taking a lycopene supplement, 10 patients (50 percent) remained stable, and the disease progressed in only three (15 percent) of the patients taking lycopene.13

It won't do you any good to take a lycopene supplement or eat tomatoes if you're not also eating some form of fat along with them and making sure the tomatoes are cooked.  Cooking tomatoes and adding some extra virgin olive oil makes it easier for your body to absorb the lycopene and results in much greater antioxidant activity compared to when tomatoes are eaten raw.14

If you decide to bypass the tomatoes for a lycopene supplement, aim for 10 to 15 mg daily, taken with meals.

Mistake #3

Relying on the PSA Test

Since 1994, it's been standard practice for doctors to use the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test on men who have prostate symptoms. PSA is an enzyme produced by the prostate gland. High levels are considered a red flag that a man has BPH, and may indicate he has prostate cancer.

So what's wrong with the PSA test? Its biggest flaw is that it has a low accuracy rate in actually detecting prostate cancer. And it's worthless for telling doctors which type of prostate cancer a man has, a less-lethal form of the disease or one that's more likely to result in death.

In addition, taking the PSA test will not necessarily stop a man from dying from prostate cancer.  The New England Journal of Medicine reported in 2009 that the death rate over seven to 10 years is no less in men who take the PSA test compared to men who don't take it.15

Another study also published in the New England Journal of Medicine in the same year found that PSA screening didreduce the rate of death from prostate cancer but only by 20 percent. And a high risk of over diagnosis tainted the PSA test results, meaning many of the men were diagnosed with prostate cancer when they didn't have it.16

In fact, based on these and other findings, the American Cancer Society cautioned against relying on this test. And the American College of Preventive Medicine also doesn't believe there's enough evidence to justify recommending routine use of the PSA test.

Instead of taking a PSA test, your best bet is to get regular prostate exams and to have your doctor test you for BRCA1 and BRCA2. You might have heard of these two genetic abnormalities in regards to breast cancer. But science is showing that BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations are involved in prostate cancer, too.

Men who carry the BRCA1 mutation are two to five times more likely to develop prostate cancer compared to men who don't have this mutation. Men who carry the BRCA2 form are eight to nine times more likely to develop prostate cancer and are more likely to develop prostate cancer earlier in life (when they are under the age of 65). BRCA2 carriers also are at risk of developing a more aggressive form of the disease.17

If the test reveals you carry one of the mutations, don't lose hope—it's not a guarantee you'll get cancer. Lifestyle choices are important. Use the test results as a motivation to put into practice all the advice in this article.

Mistake #4

Not Using Saw Palmetto

When it comes to BPH, saw palmetto might just be a man's best friend. Evidence continues to pour in that saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) improves many symptoms of BPH. A 1998 analysis of the medical literature found that men treated with saw palmetto experienced a decrease in urinary tract symptoms and didn't have to urinate as frequently in the middle of the night (a condition known as nocturia).18

Other researchers have looked into saw palmetto's potential to reduce BPH-related sexual dysfunction—with promising results. When 82 elderly men with BPH took 320 mg of saw palmetto daily for eight weeks they experienced a decline in the International Prostate Symptom Score and improved sexual function and overall quality of life.19

Studies also have shown that saw palmetto is as effective as two drugs commonly given to BPH patients, finasteride and tamsulosin. In one study of 103 men, the combination of saw palmetto and tamsulosin was more effective than tamsulosin alone in reducing lower urinary tract symptoms in BPH patients during up to 12 months of treatment.20

When combined with lycopene and selenium, saw palmetto packs a particularly strong prostate-protective punch. Several human studies in men with BPH who had lower urinary tract symptoms found that these three supplements can team up to reduce inflammation and improve prostate symptoms.21-23 In one study, 102 men who had chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome received either a combination of saw palmetto, lycopene, and selenium or saw palmetto alone. Chronic prostatitis symptoms declined dramatically in both groups, but the combination therapy resulted in a greater improvement than with saw palmetto alone.23 Another study found that the combination of saw palmetto, selenium, and lycopene was particularly effective in relieving BPH symptoms when used together with the prostate drug tamsulosin.22

An animal study in rats with testosterone-dependent BPH found that the combination of saw palmetto, lycopene, and selenium can block prostate enlargement by 43.3 percent. It accomplished this by increasing a process known as apoptosis, where unhealthy cells are programmed to die and cleared out of the body.24

The jury is still out on whether saw palmetto is useful in prostate cancer since randomized, controlled studies are lacking. But in a handful of cell culture studies saw palmetto reduced inflammation and the expression of genes involved in inflammation, blocked the growth of the cancer cells, and destroyed cancerous cells through apoptosis.25,26

Based on these limited cell culture studies, if you have prostate cancer, we don't recommend relying exclusively on saw palmetto to conquer the disease. But if you have BPH, taking 400 mg per day of saw palmetto together with 15 mg per day lycopene and 200 mcg per day selenium is a smart move.

Mistake #5

Skipping the Selenium

We've already talked about how selenium combined with saw palmetto and lycopene can improve the symptoms of BPH. But what about reducing your risk of prostate cancer?

By studying the data collected in the Nutritional Prevention of Cancer (NPC) trial, a 2003 study found that giving men selenized yeast supplements significantly decreased prostate cancer risk, but only in men with a history of cancer and whose selenium levels were lower at the study's start.27  Four years earlier, a group of researchers found that prostate cancer risk dropped by 30 percent in men who ate 88 to 119 micrograms/day of selenium compared to men who ate lower or higher amounts.28

The results of the SELECT trial, a large study published in 2009, dashed the hopes that selenium could prevent prostate cancer. This trial found that 200 mcg/day of selenomethione did not reduce prostate cancer risk. But, unlike many of the past studies, the study subjects weren't deficient in selenium and had no history of cancer.29

The bottom line? There's no guarantee that taking selenium will stop you from getting prostate cancer. But there are other good reasons to take selenium. For BPH, combining this mineral with lycopene and saw palmetto can offer some definite benefits. And certain areas of the U.S. such as the northwest, southeast, southwest, and much of Texas are plagued by low selenium levels in the soil. So if you're living in one of those regions it's an especially good idea to supplement with up to 200 mcg per day. As far as which type of selenium to choose, opt for methylselenocysteine, a form that more easily converts into methyl selenol, a metabolite studied for its potential anti-cancer abilities.30

In addition to taking selenium supplements, you can also munch on pumpkin seeds, which contain a fair amount of selenium. Brazil nuts actually have the highest amount of selenium of any food, but researchers have studied pumpkin seeds for their benefits in BPH, with some promising results. In a 12-week study, researchers gave pumpkin seed extract to 2,245 patients suffering from benign prostate hyperplasia and found that the International Prostate Symptom Score dropped by 41.4% while the men's quality of life improved.31

Just be certain not to overdo it. Taking more than 200 mcg of selenium per day will cause more harm than good, since high doses of selenium can be toxic.

Protecting the Prostate

Prostate problems are common with age—but they're not inevitable. By avoiding all the mistakes mentioned in this article, you can give your prostate a fighting chance. It's also a good idea to make sure you're not packing on the pounds. Obesity is linked to a 98 percent increased risk of prostate cancer.32 Plus, doctors are less likely to recognize prostate cancer in obese men. One reason? Obese men have larger prostates, making it more difficult to detect cancer.32

References

1. Roehrborn CG. Rev Urol. 2005;7(Suppl 9):S3-14.

2. National Cancer Institute. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/prost.html

3. Cho HJ, et al. Nutrients. 2015 Apr 9;7(4):2539-61.

4. Richman EL, et al. JAMA Intern Med. 2013 Jul 22;173(14):1318-26.

5. Demark-Wahnefried W, et al. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2008 Dec;17(12):3577-87.

6. Parsons JK. J Urol. 2007 Aug;178(2):395-401.

7. Moon H, et al. Oncotarget. 2015 Apr 10;6(10):7438-53.

8. Denis L, et al. Eur Urol. 1999;35(5-6):377-87.

9. Talvas J, et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Jun;91(6):1716-24.

10. Schwarz S, et al.  J Nutr. 2008 Jan;138(1):49-53.

11. Giovannucci E, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1995 Dec 6;87(23):1767-76.

12.Giovannucci E, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2002 Mar 6;94(5):391-8.

13.  Ansari MS, Gupta NP. Urol Oncol. 2004 Sep-Oct;22(5):415-20.

14. Vallverdú-Queralt A, et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2015 Apr 28;16(5):9588-99.

15. Andriole GL, et al. N Engl J Med. 2009;360:1310-9.

16. Schröder FH, et al. N Engl J Med. 2009;360:1320-8.

17. Walker R, et al. Can Urol Assoc J. 2014 Nov;8(11-12):E783-8.

18. Wilt TJ, et al. JAMA. 1998 Nov 11;280(18):1604-9.

19. Suter A, et al. Phytother Res. 2013 Feb;27(2):218-26.

20. Ryu YW, et al. Urol Int. 2015;94(2):187-93.

21. Morgia G, et al. Int Braz J Urol. 2013 Mar-Apr;39(2):214-21.

22. Morgia G, et al. Prostate. 2014 Nov;74(15):1471-80.

23. Morgia G, et al. Urol Int. 2010;84(4):400-6.

24. Minutoli L, et al. J Biomed Sci. 2014 Mar 10;21:19.

25. Silvestri I, et al. J Inflamm (Lond). 2013 Mar 14;10:11.

26. Baron A, et al. BJU Int. 2009 May;103(9):1275-83.

27. Duffield-Lillico AJ, et al. BJU Int. 2003;91:608-12.

28. Jain MG, et al. Nutr Cancer. 1999;34:173-84.

29. Lippman SM, et al. JAMA. 2009;301:39-51.

30. Marshall JR. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2011 Nov;4(11):1938-44.

31. Friederich M, et al. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd. 2000 Aug;7(4):200-4.

32. Freedland SJ, et al. Urology. 2008 Nov;72(5):1102-5.

[fishingtel]

3 Pros Pick the Best Crappie Fishing Line for You

Using an excellent line is important even as crappie fishing. The ultimate thing any angler desires is to miss the size of an entire life due to line failure. The primary form of crappie-fishing line options is monofilament, fluorocarbon, extremely good line, and tip-up. Below are 3 crappie professionals' percentage perspectives on best crappie fishing line options.

1. Monofilament Fishing Line crappie-fishing-particular monofilament gives a reliable cold-weather average overall performance. Mono is the street of choice for Tony Behold, a -time North American Ice Fishing Champion and Chicago-based totally absolutely fishing guide

One reason Boshold likes Sufix Ice Magic Cold Water Monofilament Fishing Line is its stretchiness. In crappie, trophy walleye water, 8- to 12-pound mono will cushion closer to hard movements and powerful head-shakes, keeping the hooks of a big Rapala Jigging Rap or heavy spoon locked in place. Otherwise, Boshold uses 6-pound mono for small to medium-sized crappie.

Tip: A monofilament’s shipping makes it more forgiving than a no-stretch extremely good line. As such, mono is a wonderful opportunity for beginners to learn proper jigging, hook-placing, and fish-playing techniques.

A Fishing Line for Versatility “The Monofilament crappie Line from Clam Pro Tackle is subtle sufficiently to cope with frigid crappie fishing conditions. The crappie fishing line can keep any presentation even as matched with the right pound test the road. And it’s strong enough to stand as much as the abuse of a hard-stopping fish,

Tip: Tying knots is also now not complicated with mono — every other perk for beginners.

Keep a Good Variety of Mono Fishing Line on Hand Monofilament is available in numerous strengths and, as such numerous line diameters. Behold experiments with diameter to extrude a bait’s movement and reason more bites. For instance, he’ll increase from a 2- to 4-pound test for panfish to slow a bait’s sink rate and soften its movement.

Crappie Fishing Specific Mono Fishing Line and Water Repellency

Behold and Johnson are similar to the crappie-fishing particular mono fishing line because of the reality they wick moisture. Hydrophobic capabilities reduce crappie build-up online, rod guides, and the reel, for better reliability and average overall performance.

Affordable Crappie Fishing Line Mono is generally the least steeply-priced crappie fishing line. Anglers can stretch their dollar via using the vintage fishing line as backing on a reel, says Behold. Three reels can be complete of 30 yards (i.e., 90 ft) of the street from one 100-outdoor pony spool.

For Memory and Line Management Mono’s memory is bitter-sweet. Memory enables it to conform with a reel spool for a wonderful average overall performance.

Unfortunately, memory motives coils, which can save you line average overall performance and sensitivity. Stretching mono in the middle of the night in advance or the morning of a day out to get rid of coils is a reliable workaround.

Extra tip: Copolymer is mono’s cousin. A copolymer fishing line like P-Line CXX X-tra Strong Copolymer is made with polymers to gain one-of-a-type features than a single polymer (i.e., mono) line. Copolymer crappie fishing lines are restricted but are every other bendy line choice for anglers.

2. Fluorocarbon Fishing Line Fluoro offers specific advantages for Crappie fishing. Here are a few highlights.

Fluorocarbon is Nearly Invisible Underwater

Fluorocarbon’s refractive index is just like water’s, making it hard for fish to detect. A-line that is hard to choose out is beneficial in easy water.

“I choose to use a fluorocarbon opportunity even as targeting bluegills and crappies in shallow water as it enables with line-shy fish. Plus, you’re moreover now not coping with deeper situations wherein the street takes on more stretch and abuse,

crappie-fishing expert, Whyte, uses 4-pound fluoro for panfish abiding in 15 ft or less. “In shallow water, stretch and diameter are not an issue,” Whyte said. “Plus I don’t want to keep tying leaders on.”

Fluoro Line is Durable With Stretch “The fluorocarbon line moreover stretches and is generally more abrasion resistant than monofilament fishing line. The stretching and resistance help so that those hard-stopping shallow water fish ought to make explosive runs, and you’ll however have the self-guarantee to land them,” Johnson said.

Fluorocarbon Has Memory Challenges

Fluorocarbon’s memory moreover motives line twists and coils. Fishing fluoro on a spooler-style (i.e., inline) reel will extensively curtail the effects.

Using crappie-fishing-particular fluorocarbon is usually recommended for reliable cold-weather flexibility and average overall performance. Examples embody Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon Crappie Fishing Line, Cabela’s Crappie Fishing Fluorocarbon, or Clam Pro Tackle Frost Fluoro Crappie Premium Fluorocarbon Fishing Line.

Extra tip: Carry equipment for trimming traces, like Bass Pro Shops 4” Braided Line Scissors ($three.49) and line clippers.

3. Superline Fishing Line Superlines provide many awesome features in comparison to mono and fluoro. Here are a few.

A Good No-Stretch Fishing Line

Superlines don’t stretch. The non-stretching gives wonderful sensitivity in tight-line scenarios.

Thin Diameter Fishing Line Has Its Advantages

Superlines have small diameters in comparison to mono and fluorocarbon of similar pound-test. Smaller diameters artwork to one’s again even as a brief sink rate is needed. For instance, whilst Johnson notes many wintry climate panfish anglers avoid braid, it has its place, and he uses it for fast getting a fishing bait deep.

Crappie Build-Up Considerations One gripe about extremely good traces is that they soak up water, which motives crappie build-up online, rod eyelets, and reel components. Crappie accumulation varies based totally mostly on conditions similar to the brand of the road and its condition.

Whyte uses a 10-pound, crystal-colored Fireline Ultra 8 Braid or NanoFil with a fluorocarbon leader for whitefish and distinctive species deeper than 15 ft.

“Neither of these extremely good braids absorbs water so they don’t generally tend to freeze,” Whyte said. “The Ultra 8 is the most abrasive resistance. I have been attempting out and using the one's traces for two years, and that they have got completed very properly.”

Extra tip: A rod combination should catch up on the no-stretch extremely good line. A proper drag placing is essential. Some anglers pick fast or slight rods to ensure sufficient cushioning at a few levels with inside the hook-set and the battle.

4. Tip-Up Line Choices Cabela's Metered Braided Nylon Tip-Up Crappie Fishing Line

Nylon or Dacron line are go-to options for spooling tip-ups and hand-playing crappie, northern pike, and distinctive species. A big diameter, 20- to 40-pound test the tip-up line is straightforward to cope with. The tip-up line is included to prevent water saturation, affords superb knot strength, and perform properly in the cold.

The tip-up line is regularly used along with a mono or fluoro chief most without troubles associated with tying in a swivel. The brought hardware moreover prevents line twists.

Extra tip: The Cabela’s Metered Braided Nylon Tip-Up Crappie Fishing Line is color-coded each 3”. The color-coding makes it easy to set a bait at a unique depth.

The monofilament, fluorocarbon, high-quality line, and tip-up line instructions all have specific tendencies for crappie fishing. Hopefully, the above info tells your desire even as selecting the wonderful line for crappie fishing. For more information check out our : Best Fishing Line for Crappie

[handyguypros1]

Best Lawn Sprinklers for Low Water Pressure HandyGuyPros

Most homes in the city have a water pressure of about 60psi from their taps. But if your water supply comes from a well, or you live in a rural area, you’re likely to have less. Then watering the lawn becomes a challenge.But the best lawn sprinklers for low water pressure make the most of below-average flow. And there are several kinds available. You can choose from in-ground or above-ground fixed or rotary spray, bubblers, spot sprinklers, or drip irrigation.

Fixed spray

Most in-ground sprinkler systems with fixed spray heads perform well with low water pressure. They accept between 20 and 30psi but can water up to 18 ft.²

When shopping for fixed spray heads, there are two things to consider. Everyday life can be hard on an in-ground sprinkler. Be sure to choose ones that retract well and don’t clog easily.

Next, think about the shape of your lawn and whether you’ll want 90, 180, or full-circle spray heads.  Some like the ones from Rain Bird will allow you to alter their patterns between zero and 360°.

Rain Bird 1802VAN Professional Pop-Up Sprinkler

Rain Bird’s 1802VAN pop-up sprinkler heads are popular and well-liked. Plus, they offer a high level of customization. For example, they are available in two-inch, three-inch, four-inch, six-inch, and twelve-inch sizes. Plus, it’s possible to adjust the spray distance and the angle.

On the two-inch version, the spray adjusts between 8 to 15 feet. Then the angle adjusts anywhere between zero and 360°. There’s even a left-edge indicator to make placement easier.

Moreover, the sturdy construction and stainless steel spring retract the head flush to the surface every time.  And the tapered head with a mesh filter prevents clogs from grass clippings and debris. But should you need to perform maintenance, you won’t need special tools.

Toro 53813 4-Inch Pop-Up Fixed-Spray with Nozzle Sprinkler

Toro’s 53813 pop-up fixed-spray sprinklers waste less water because they don’t flush at startup. While they aren’t as adjustable as the ones above from Rain Bird, they are durable. The four-inch heads offer a 15-foot spray radius in a half circle pattern.

The recommended operating pressure is between 20 to 50 psi. And even if you mix and match different pattern and radius sprinklers, the precipitation rate stays the same along the system.

Rotary nozzles

Rotary nozzles can function as pop-up sprinklers. Instead of spraying at a fixed angle, the heads rotate. Most models will allow you to prevent overspray by adjusting the radius.

Rain Bird 2045PJ Maxi-Bird Full or Part Circle Impact Sprinkler

Rain Bird’s 2045PJ MaxiBird system has a heavy-duty construction with double -weighted arms to slow their rotation and increase how far they spray. You can adjust the arm spring to accommodate low pressure and minimize water use.

Each head requires between 25 to 60psi to maintain a radius between 22 to 45 feet and a precipitation rate between 0.28 to 1.21 inches per hour. If you reduce the flow, the radius shrinks to 18 feet. Moreover, if you don’t want the full 360° coverage, you can reduce it down to only 20°.

Rain Bird 22SAQ Mini Rotary Pop-Up Spray

The Rain Bird 22SAQ Mini Rotary sprinklers are small but mighty. They pop up to 4-inch height to spray out to 24 feet. But their gentle 0.6 inch per hour distribution rate is perfect if you need to take it easy on a hillside or new plantings.

While this model sprays in a 90° quarter circle pattern, you can get these same compact sprinkler heads with different capabilities. For example, some have fixed 180° or 360° patterns, while another allows you to adjust between 45 to 70°.

Rainbird R-VAN1724 Rotary Nozzle (10-pack)

Rain Bird’s R-VAN1724 rotary nozzles are simple but effective. You can quickly adjust the radius between 45 and 270° by simply pressing down on the nozzle and rotating it. Plus, you can alter the radius between 17 and 24 feet.

Bubblers

Bubblers are best for small areas like flower beds or vegetable gardens. When they’re working, they look like small individual fountains.

Rain Bird Pressure Compensating Bubbler with Screen

These Rain Bird compensating bubblers maintain constant water flow even at only 20psi. They use as little as 0.25 gallons per minute. The advantage of this slow trickle is that water absorbs as it is needed.

These bubblers operate in a full circle pattern. They come with a filter screen to prevent clogs. And they can be mounted on half-inch male risers to reach higher areas.

Orbit 20-Pack Full Spray Flood Mushroom Bubbler Shrub Sprinkler Head

Orbit’s mushroom bubblers have a screw top that allows you to vary the flow from a trickle to a flood. You can use them singly or as part of the system. Each bubbler head comes with a half-inch thread connection so that it can be mounted on risers. And the sturdy plastic build features a debris filter.

Spot sprinklers

Instead of an entire irrigation system, sometimes all you need is a spot sprinkler. But not all are created equal. Some perform better than others when the water pressure is low.

Dramm 15072 ColorStorm Spinning Sprinkler

The Dramm 15072 ColorStorm sprinkler spends to distribute water over an area up to 38 feet in diameter. More importantly, it accepts pressure as low as 20psi with as little as 3 gallons per minute.

The sprinkler emits fine droplets for improved absorption. In addition, its all-metal construction includes a heavy stationary base, and a brass spinning head mounted on a ball bearing. Plus, you can choose from six bright colors.

Melnor XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler with TwinTouch Width Control & Flow Control

The Melnor XT Turbo sprinkler has 20 tiny nozzles that cover lawns up to 4200 ft.² in size at 60psi. Conversely, you can water up to 3700 ft.² at 40 psi, or 2800 ft.² at 20 psi.

The sprinkler’s TwinTouch feature lets you alter the range and size of the watering pattern. To illustrate, move the yellow tabs to zoom in on a small flower bed or increase the area to cover as much of the lawn as possible.

Spot Sprinkler for small to medium area watering

The SOMMERLAND spot sprinkler comes in either a two-piece or three-piece set. Each sprinkler head attaches to a standard garden hose. And each one covers up to 30 feet in radius.

Gilmour Rectangular Pattern Spot Sprinkler

The Gilmour spot sprinkler waters a rectangular pattern up to 15 x 30 feet. It produces a gentle spray and performs well with low water pressure.

Drip irrigation

The best way to distribute water when you have very low pressure may be with drip irrigation. The water will slowly seep into the ground instead of being lost to evaporation or in the wind.

Rain Bird GRDNERKIT Drip Irrigation Gardener’s Drip Kit

Rain Bird’s Drip Irrigation Kit covers up to 75 square feet. It’s not the best option for watering the lawn. But it’s perfect for irrigating a garden or flowerbed. It conserves water and prevents runoff, too.

You won’t need to dig to install the system because it’s all above ground. You can add a timer or other controller and hook it all up to your outdoor faucet.

The .09 gallon per hour emitters need to be spaced every 18 inches to ensure proper coverage. Moreover, the emitters and the faucet connection regulate pressure so that all the plants receive even amounts of water.

How to select the best low-flow lawn sprinkler system

You’ve now seen that there are several smart irrigation options for watering your yard. But how do you know which one is the best for your needs?

The easiest way to begin is to understand what your lawn needs. Here are some questions to get you thinking.

Do you have grass or foliage that requires a lot of water or a little?

What type of soil do you have? Will it soak up water quickly?

Are there slopes?

How windy is your area?

Here are the reasons behind these questions. First, lawns with Kentucky Bluegrass will be thirstier than those with St. Augustine.  And loamy or sandy soil will absorb water faster than clay.

Next, slopes can create a problem with runoff, so it’s better to give them a low flow. But the wind is also a factor as the mist from sprinklers might not reach its target.

Which type is the best for your yard?

Once you are familiar with what your yard requires, it’s easier to choose between sprinkler types.

If you have a small lawn and your climate is humid, a portable sprinkler is an inexpensive choice. It does mean that you need to be actively involved in moving it around. And you may waste water if you don’t test to see if you’re providing even coverage.

But it’s straightforward to check how your irrigation is working. Just place a few cups or bowls around the yard. After you finish watering, see if there is close to the same amount of water in each of them.

On the other hand, if you have a large lawn or live in a dry climate, permanent sprinklers are advantageous. Controlling them with timers is possible, just like with a portable sprinkler. Or you can take them to the next level with Internet-connected controllers. Moreover, you’re likely to conserve water with an irrigation system like this.

Conservation

Water conservation is vital even if you don’t live in an arid zone. Not only does it save money, but it also protects against the diseases associated with overwatering.

When you water on slopes, consider installing drip irrigation lines if you don’t have grass to mow there. Bubblers are excellent for gardens and flowerbeds. You can also install either system in flower pots or a container garden.

You probably already know that watering before dawn is better for your lawn. But did you also know that interval watering is better still? Instead of soaking the grass for an hour straight, try two intervals of twenty minutes. It will help your lawn and garden soak in the moisture better without becoming over-saturated.

Conclusion

Low water pressure won’t stop you from taking care of the yard. Choose one of the best lawn sprinklers that perform well with 20 to 40psi, and you’ll find that the job is easy after all.

Source : https://handyguypros.com/best-low-water-pressure-sprinklers/

[healthylifestyleandfitness]

High cholesterol and weight: What to know

Anyone, regardless of weight, can be affected by high cholesterol. Excess body weight, on the other hand, might result in elevated cholesterol levels. Obesity and a high cholesterol level are both risk factors for heart disease.

Cholesterol is a waxy molecule required for proper physiological function. Cholesterol is produced by the liver and used by the body to generate cells, vitamins, and hormones. Cholesterol is found in a variety of foods.

Too much saturated or trans fat in the diet might elevate cholesterol levels. Atherosclerosis is a constriction and hardening of the arteries that can cause chest pain, heart attack, and stroke. Excess cholesterol can contribute to atherosclerosis.

We'll look at the link between high cholesterol and weight gain in this post. We also discuss the reasons of high cholesterol and methods to reduce cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol and body mass index

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, sometimes known as "bad" cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol are the two forms of cholesterol. A high LDL level can contribute to artery plaque development, which can lead to heart disease. An appropriate HDL level, on the other hand, may lower the risk of heart disease. HDL carries cholesterol from the arteries to the liver, where it is broken down and eliminated by the liver. High cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association (AHA), can affect persons of any weight. Being overweight, on the other hand, may increase the risk of high cholesterol by causing LDL cholesterol levels to rise and HDL cholesterol levels to fall. According to research, losing 5–10 percent of one's body weight can considerably lower LDL cholesterol levels in persons who are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease. According to another study, losing just 1–3% of one's body weight can boost HDL cholesterol levels.

High cholesterol has several causes.

Familial hypercholesterolemia is a condition in which people inherit elevated cholesterol levels. People can, however, take actions to avoid the other causes of high cholesterol, such as:

Saturated and trans fats, salt, added sugars, and processed foods are all high in this diet.

Excess body weight, a sedentary lifestyle, and a lack of physical activity are all linked to smoking or exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke.

The metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors that can raise your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Symptoms

The majority of the time, high cholesterol does not create any symptoms. People with extremely high levels, on the other hand, may develop fatty lumps on their skin and gray-white rings around their eyes' corneas. People with familial hypercholesterolemia are more likely to experience these symptoms. A lipid profile is a blood test that a doctor can use to monitor cholesterol levels. In rare situations, they may require the person to fast for 9–12 hours before taking the testTrusted Source. The total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels in the body, as well as the amounts of triglycerides, a kind of fat, are all shown in a lipid profile.

Cholesterol concentrations

Doctors use the following ranges to determine whether a person's cholesterol levels are high, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteTrusted Source:

Cholesterol total

Less than 200 milligrammes per deciliter (mg/dl) is ideal.

high: 240 mg/d or more borderline high: 200–239 mg/dl

LDL cholesterol is a kind of cholesterol that is found in

less than 100 mg/dl, or near to or over it borderline high: 130–159 mg/dl high: 160–189 mg/dl very high: 190 mg/dl or higher optimal: 100–129 mg/dl borderline high: 130–159 mg/dl high: 160–189 mg/dl very high: 190 mg/dl or above

HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein)

Above medium risk: 40–59 mg/dl and preventive against heart disease: 60 mg/dl

less than 40 mg/dl is a severe risk factor for heart disease.

Factors that are at risk

Some people have risk factors that make them more likely to have high cholesterol, but many of these risk factors can be changed. They are as follows:

Genetics

High cholesterol is more likely in people of any age who have a family history of high cholesterol or early heart disease.

Weight

Obesity is linked to a higher risk of elevated cholesterol. Excess body weight might raise LDL cholesterol while decreasing HDL cholesterol.

Smoking

Smoking has been linked to an increased risk of elevated cholesterol. Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide, which can induce an increase in cholesterol deposition within the arteries, causing them to stiffen and increasing the risk of heart disease. Nicotine can also raise your risk of heart disease by narrowing your arteries.

Other considerations

Other variables that contribute to elevated cholesterol levels include:

metabolic syndrome is a term used to describe a

Chronic kidney disease is a condition that affects the kidneys

Psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis are examples of chronic inflammatory disorders.

HIV menopause occurs before the age of 40.

A sedentary lifestyle might cause preeclampsia during pregnancy.

Treatment

Doctors may advise people to take the following steps to help maintain good cholesterol levels:

increased physical activity – the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, such as cycling, swimming, or brisk walking.

stopping smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke exposure

Limiting red meat, processed foods, sodium, added sugars, fried foods, and saturated and trans fats while eating a healthy diet that includes a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, lean poultry, and fish while limiting red meat, processed foods, sodium, added sugars, fried foods, and saturated and trans fats

Eat Oil less and Healthy food cooked from healthy and advantages of air fryer

A doctor may prescribe medicine in addition to lifestyle and dietary adjustments for some patients. The most commonly prescribed drug for lowering LDL cholesterol and lowering the risk of heart disease is statins.

When should you see a doctor?

According to the American Heart Association, everyone over the age of 20 should have their cholesterol checked every 4–6 years. Young people should have their cholesterol checked once between the ages of 9 and 11 years and once between the ages of 17 and 21 years, according to the AHA. If you have a family history of high cholesterol and are having symptoms, you should consult your doctor or book online appointment.

Summary

Cholesterol levels that are too high can put you at risk for heart disease. People of any weight, age, or sex can have high cholesterol. High cholesterol levels may be inherited by people who have a family history of high cholesterol. The following are some of the risk factors for high cholesterol:

Excess body weight, a sedentary lifestyle, and a saturated fat-rich diet

High cholesterol can be reduced by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight. Medications such as statins may be required in some cases.

[drummcarpentry]

Fulfill Untapped Customer Demands Through Your Faceted Navigation

Faceted navigation allows customers to narrow down search results based on specific product attributes. They typically exist on Product Listing Pages (PLPs) and are a great way to help users intuitively discover products but managing this filtering system is a common SEO challenge. Crawling and indexation need to be controlled.

However, if we look beyond their inherent functionality, facets can offer us considerable potential. By centering your secondary navigation on long-tail keyword opportunities, you’ll be able to strategically utilize consumer intent, secure additional web conversions, and boost revenue levels.

Match consumer intent with long-tail search queries

Having an established brand and a solid domain backlink profile won’t guarantee success. This is great news for smaller brands, as industry giants aren’t necessarily going to win at this game.

If we search for “long sleeve wedding dresses”, we can see how David’s Bridal’s optimized facet page (Domain Authority: 67/100, Page Authority: 47 / 100) has obtained the top ranking position, while Nordstrom’s result (Domain Authority: 87/100, Page Authority: 39/100) appears in the third position for this particular query. We’ll take a look at what makes this page so effective later.

When looking at how we can optimize faceted navigations, it’s important to recognize that product attributes convey consumer needs and aspirations. If, for example, I’m looking for a wedding dress, then I may tailor my search by the color, fabric, neckline shape, and the sleeve length.

According to the search demand curve, long-tail queries account for up to 70% of all organic searches. They are highly targeted queries that offer big traffic-driving opportunities.

In the last few years, we’ve seen a big shift in the industry towards capitalizing this intent with long-form content. Blog articles and style guides have become the go-to methods for many to capture these visitors, as we can see from the examples taken from Marks & Spencers’ "Inspire Me" section:

People often look for inspiration when they’re shopping, and these pages provide an effective way to add more internal links to category and product pages. But relying on this approach is one-dimensional, given that these deeper content pages tend to have lower PageRank. An extensive amount of time and effort will, therefore, be required to achieve the desired result.

In comparison, Product Listing Pages usually target broader search terms, and faceted navigations typically exist as passive functions. This is because they’re often blocked from crawlers, making them devoid of any SEO value. Waterstones (a well-known British bookstore) is one retailer that applies this rule for their on-page filters:

In this particular example, I’ve applied a filter to only show me books for 5 – 8 year olds, but the appended URL (https://ift.tt/3xrpOJS) is blocked in the robots.txt file. This is going to prevent such pages from being served in the SERPs despite them having the potential to meet specific customer needs. This shows that there can be a fundamental disconnect in matching customer intent to the pages we’re providing them in the organic results.

From the diagram below, we can see how editorial content typically focuses on the “awareness” and “interest” stages, whilst Product Listing Pages tend to be more in line with the “consideration” and “purchase” phases:

Serving the right content to users throughout their buying journey is pivotal to success. For many retailers, competitors are continuing to prioritize broader, high-volume keywords in saturated markets. They’re targeting the same terms to secure a proportion of the same search traffic. This is a very challenging prospect to face, and without carving out a gap in the marketplace, they won’t necessarily deliver the results they seek to secure. Likewise, relying on informational guides to target long-tail keywords means that you’re missing a large percentage of users who have very specific buying requirements. Yes, they’re ready to make a purchase!

By shifting your focus to address your customer’s real needs and expectations, you’ll be able to deliver a satisfying, frictionless experience at every interaction and all the way through to that final purchase.

The solution

Step 1: Conduct long-tail keyword research

Build a really comprehensive view of your potential customers by harnessing data from a variety of sources, including:

a) Keyword research tools like Moz, Google Keyword Planner, and Answer The Public.

b) The SERPs — get inspiration from the auto-suggest results, People Also Ask, and the related search links at the bottom of the page.

c) Competitor activity — aside from using SEO monitoring software, you can use a data mining extension tool like Scraper, which will extract faceted options directly from competitor Product Listing Pages. These tools are often free to download and allow you to quickly transfer product categories.

d) Your Google Search Console, Analytics, and PPC accounts to determine which keywords and URLs are securing the highest number of visits and web conversions. Internal search data can also give you great consumer insights.

e) Speak to your merchandising team to understand product demands and fulfillment capabilities.

Step 2: Group into meaningful sub-topics

Once you’ve collated all this information into a spreadsheet, you’ll be able to discover long-tail, consideration-orientated keywords. While individually they may not boast huge monthly search estimates, they can collectively highlight where purchase intentions can be better fulfilled.

To help illustrate this point, we can look at a small subset of lingerie keywords and the facets the searches represent:

From the table above we can quickly see a pattern emerging with color and material variations appearing across the search terms. We can then substantiate this information with session and revenue estimates with the use of a recognized CTR model. This enables us to help forecast the potential organic uplift and quantify the size of the prize for a number of different scenarios that are on offer from each new facet combination. This may include estimations for securing position 10, 7, 5, 3 and 1 in Google.

One thing to note here is that it’s worth excluding synonyms, as they will falsely inflate your calculations. An example here would be to exclude “storage drawers” (22.2k monthly searchers) when reviewing the performance for “chest of drawers” (201k m/s). Including both variants will cause a false positive result and will lead you to draw incorrect conclusions.

Step 3: Dig deeper into broader terms around offers, ratings, and price

These product filters are found in the “Sort” dropdown box and, from my experience, these are set to “noindex” from the outset as they simply allow users to re-order page results. Certainly, content management systems like Shopify and Shopware have this as a default.

This makes sense since their purpose is to allow visitors to simply sort or narrow page content rather than offering alternative results and additional value (which is offered through faceted navigation). As such, filter typically produce duplicate results which should not be discoverable beyond the immediate moment. But this hard-and-fast rule doesn’t always apply perfectly in the real world. This is why we need to look at our individual industries and understand what’s important to our unique set of customers.

If we look at the world of gifting, we often see people shopping with a particular budget in mind. Therefore, terms like “birthday gift under £20” (40 m/s) or “Secret Santa gift under £10” (2.9k m/s) are reasonably common, and opening up relevant listing pages could be useful for shoppers.

Step 4: The technical steps

Facet taxonomies are hugely complex and the number of attributes that can be strung together increases with the size of the domain. We, therefore, need to carefully manage the flood gates and mitigate against any potential risks including crawl inefficiencies and link equity dilution.

We can do this by:

1. Avoiding thin/doorway pages by regularly re-assessing your product offering. For instance, you may consider there to be little value in creating a new listings page if you’re selling a very small range of low price point products. In this case, you may decide against opening up an additional Product Listing Page when you sell as few as 10 eligible products. However, this is not a fixed rule, so it’s quite possible that your criteria may be lower for particular product lines. Either way, these numbers will change over time. Consider seasonal trends, when new collections are launched, and when they become discontinued. Setting up a product retirement strategy to manage expired products and categories at scale in parallel with this step is also highly recommended.

2. Prevent content cannibalization by arranging selected facets according to their value and significance. “Size” is very important for some electrical goods like TVs, laptops, and cameras, but is less so for beauty accessories or vacuum cleaners. You must also make sure page content is distinctive and reflects the focus of your chosen facet(s). Refer to step 5 for more details.

3. Follow the sequence in which adjectives and facets are typically selected by your customers. This can vary depending on where your audience lives. So, whilst products generally have five or more distinguishable features, English vernacular determines that we use more than four adjectives (e.g. size + color + material + shape) to describe something.

4. Control the controllables by dealing with overlapping variations. This typically occurs when multiples co-exist and each exhibits good search metrics. For instance, it’s reasonable for someone to simultaneously look for several color and/or fabric combinations in the different ways below.

When this situation occurs, we should follow the same linguistic rules as above and choose a preferred sequence. In this case, it would be color + material + product type.

In comparison to the noindex tag suggested for on-page filters you should canonicalize unnecessary facets to their parent page (remembering that this is merely a hint and not a directive). This will enable you to control how crawlers deal with highly comparable result pages and will, therefore, help to prevent your site from being demoted in the SERPs. Dynamic search parameters should continue to be defined with a “noindex, nofollow” meta robots tag, disallowed in the robots.txt file, and configured through Google’s URL parameter tool (within your Search Console account) to tell crawlers the purpose of your parameters and how you would like them to be treated. This is a helpful guide on parameter handling for Googlebots, but bear in mind that this last tip won’t influence how Bing or Yahoo user-agents interpret these pages.

5. Open your facets in phases and cultivate it into a test-and-learn process. This will enable you to identify issues a lot sooner and implement facet-wide solutions in a timely manner. Without having to unravel these additional layers of complexity, problems such as crawl inefficiencies, PageRank dilution, or excessive indexation can be swiftly resolved.

To show you what this could look like, I’ve provided a phasing plan that was created for one of our e-commerce clients. Our research showed a significant SEO opportunity for opening up some of the facets and filters: potential +£263Kpcm for the “colour + type” facet (UK):

What’s more, when we extended our forecast to include other facet combinations, we calculated an additional revenue opportunity of up to +£207K/pcm (before filtering out combinations with no products offering).

Step 5: Optimize your facet URLs

Optimize your new facet category URLs to establish relevancy for your selected search terms. The key on-page elements to focus on include:

URL

Page title

Breadcrumb anchor texts

H tags

Content snippets (e.g. introductory text and FAQ copy)

Image ALT texts

Product names

Link out to similar facet category pages (i.e. via a “You May Also Like” feature box)

David’s Bridal is a good example of a retailer that has done this well. Looking back at the ‘Long Sleeve Wedding Dress’ Product Listing Page, we can see that they’ve curated unique content and followed fundamental optimization tactics on the landing page in a way that feels helpful to the user.

URL: davidsbridal.com/long-sleeve-wedding-dresses

Page Title: Long Sleeve Wedding Dresses & Gowns | David's Bridal

Meta Description: Do you dream of wearing a long sleeve wedding dress on your big day? Shop David's Bridal wide variety of wedding gowns with sleeves in lace & other designs!

6. Provide accessibility and build page authority

Once you’ve opened up your new facet Product Listing Pages, you need to begin cultivating link equity towards them. This will ensure that they don’t exist as orphan URLs with no PageRank:

Ensure they’re referenced in your product XML sitemap.

If you have one feature per facet URL, then add them to your faceted navigation across CLP and Product Listing Page pages.

If you have two or more features per facet URL, then create a “Popular Searches” or “Related Searches” option within your CLPs.

Utilize your mega menu to showcase your new category landing pages. This will not only allow you to direct a large proportion of link equity, but it will also secure the highest click-through rate amongst your visitors.

Integrate your editorial strategy by creating engaging content with in-copy links. Think about how you can use descriptive long-tail anchor text about the Product Listing Page you want to link to rather than relying on “click here” or “see more”.

Connect to them via href links so you’re not solely relying on links from the main navigation or content hyperlinks. As this is difficult to do at scale, it can be done through modules such as “related categories”, “other subcategories”, “related products”, etc.

Devise strategic outreach campaigns that will secure quality, external backlinks to them.

Implementing this holistic and robust strategy will help you to secure exponential growth from your new commercial landing pages.

Conclusion

There is a great deal of organic opportunity that exists within your faceted navigation if you begin to leverage mid- and long-tail search terms.

Seek out the opportunity from extended keyword research and competitor analysis before deciding which variants fulfill consumer demands and deliver optimal organic sessions and onsite conversions. Configure a single faceted URL for each opportunity and open them up for crawl and indexation. Ensure PageRank is distributed to them (both internally and externally) and develop your landing page content in line with quality optimization practices. This approach will help you to avoid having crawl inefficiencies, over indexation, cannibalization, or having thin doorway pages. In turn, your website will be better suited to attract highly-targeted users and guide them down the purchase funnel.

Maximizing UX and reducing reliance on other marketing channels means that your faceted navigation can truly deliver organic ROI. We have seen this work for our clients.