Foods that Cause Bad Breath

Every one of us does not like having an unpleasant smell emanating in our body, particularly in our mouth. However, we fall victim to bad breath in one way or another (see Causes of Bad Breath). One of the causes of bad breath that can be easily addressed is food.

Some foods contain chemicals that get into the blood stream and consequently cause bad breath. Others have naturally an unpleasant odor when chewed and digested in the mouth. So what foods must be regulated, if not avoided, in order to have fresh breath? Here are the foods that cause bad breath:

Garlic and onions. Examples of these foods are onions and garlic. When chewed, they create a very foul odor. They also contain sulfur compounds that ferment and result in terribly bad breath. Garlic in particular has odorous compounds including diallyl disulfide, allyl methyl disulfide, allyl mercaptan and allyl methyl sulfide.




Sugary foods. Because of the small components of this food, enzymes have an easier time breaking the substances down and therefore letting the bacteria dwell and consume the remnants of the food. These bacteria will therefore cause halitosis if they stayed inside the mouth for a prolonged period. In addition, the frightening part is that other bacteria can take the sugars and produce glycan strands, which in turn end up causing thick layers of plaque on the enamel of your teeth and around your gums. This leads to tooth decay and gum disease - and you guessed it - worse breath than you started with! When eating sugary food, be sure to brush your teeth after or at least give your mouth a good rinsing. Avoid breath mints and chewing gum that contains sugar as those will do more harm than good. Also lay off of the sugary drinks such as soda pop, coffee, and others.

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Image courtesy of PLOS.org.

Stone-Forming Foods

Since time immemorial, food is man’s source of nutrition. Yet, a sad truth is that this same food can also be a cause for man’s ailments.

One of man’s organs vulnerable to diseases is the kidney which serves as his body’s filtering and cleaning mechanism. Of the number of disorders affecting the kidney, stone formation is the most common. A kidney stone, also known as a renal calculus, is a solid crystal aggregation formed in the kidneys from dietary minerals in the urine. The stone can be located in the kidney itself, ureter or bladder. Accordingly, 80% of those with kidney stones are men.

 

Dietary factors that increase the risk of stone formation include low fluid intake, and high dietary intake of animal protein, sodium, refined sugars, fructose and high fructose corn syrup, oxalate, grapefruit juice, apple juice, and cola drinks.

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Ten Foods for Better Memory

In this modern world, we are faced with tasks and activities that require our brains to function efficiently, especially in the aspect of memorizing countless things like contact numbers, addresses, faces, schedules and more. The tendency is that we suffer absent-minded, and though there are several means to deal with it (How to Overcome Forgetfulness), it is much better to develop a healthy lifestyle to counter it. Hence, it is wise to incorporate memory-boosting foods in our diet.

Many of these foods help improve brain activity, develop a healthy nervous system, and regulate food flow. These foods contain either of the following essential components:

• Omega-3 fatty acids that help keep the blood vessels and nerve wrappings healthy.
• Antioxidants which are good for better blood circulation and brain function.

• Helpful vitamins like C, E, and especially B vitamins which facilitate the nervous system in the body’s communication system.
• Microelements like zinc and manganese.
• Others like choline, lecithin, serine, and carnitine.

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Hydroponics: Concepts and Methods

Hydroponics is one of the many methods of soilless agriculture through which plants are grown using mineral nutrient solutions in water, without soil. Many commodity crops like tomatoes, onions, lettuce and cabbage have been successfully cultivated through hydroponics, and their produce well-accepted in many markets. The theory behind the method is that the soil is only a mineral nutrient reservoir and hence, it is not very essential to plant growth. The mineral nutrient can be introduced into a plant’s water supply artificially which is then readily absorbed by the plant’s root. The concept of hydroponics is significant in today’s world as it contributes to the growing concern for steadier food supply, as well as the reduction of suitable arable land for agriculture.

 

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Ten Anti-cancer Superfruits

In these days when cancer seems so common, it is hard to trust the food we take. The most delicious is not necessarily the most nutritious, and the sweetest could be the deadliest. Hence, it is necessary to understand these foods, especially their immediate and long-term on our bodies.

Many types of cancer are induced by the food we eat. On the other hand, the incidence and worsening of cancer can also be prevented and alleviated by some other kinds of food. An excellent example is the superfruits. The term superfruits refer to fruits “which combines exceptional nutrient richness and antioxidant quality with appealing taste that can stimulate and retain loyalty for consumer products”. There are many fruits classified as superfruits. Some are very commonly served on our tables, while others are region-specific. Regardless of their origins, these fruits have one common denominator – their unquestionable health benefits.

Ten Foods for Stronger Bones

It has been over a year since my fracture. I was in the middle of an intense game when I got into a bad “slip” and my left shin snapped. I was in a pretty sad state that time and it took me at least four months to recover. During all that time, I was on a diet with foods that can help speed up healing my bone fracture.

Calcium and phosphorus are the minerals crucial for strengthening the bones and teeth. They are also responsible for other activities such as the performance and coordination of nerves and muscle tissues. Doctors advise as much as 1,500 milligrams of elemental calcium a day. Aside from these two, other important ingredients are vitamins, proteins and some other minerals. For instance, Vitamin D, which is known as sunshine Vitamin, helps in building stronger bones. It absorbs and deposits calcium in the bones. Deficiency of such vitamin results in a condition known as rickets or bone weakening. Magnesium and vitamin K also helps calcium do its job. Magnesium stimulates bone production while witamin K activates a protein necessary for bone strengthening.

”Tarsiers Can Turn Their Heads 180 Degrees” and Other Fun Facts about Philippine Tarsiers

The Philippine tarsier is one of the most unique and peculiar animals on the planet. I have seen this creature several times and it is really very cute and adorable. It is very small that I wish to have one hang on my bag’s zipper or with my keys. LOL! On a serious note, the tarsier deserves some respect and attention as it is under endangered status already. Well, here are some facts about the Philippine tarsier that you may not know:

• Measuring only 85 to 160 millimeters (3.35 to 6.30 in) in height, the Philippine tarsier is one of the smallest primates. It is about the size of a human fist and will fit very comfortably in the human hand. 

Ten Major Advantages of Briquettes

Fuel has always been an indispensible need of man. Whether from developed or third world countries, people around the world need fuel for everyday living. In preparing our basic necessities like food and clean water, we need fuel. Usually, we rely on electricity and fossil fuel (like liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene) for our energy need.  Some nationalities use firewood and charcoal. However, there are other resources which have more advantages and benefits that these conventional sources. One such fuel is the briquette.

Briquettes are flammable blocks of matter used as fuel. They are made from extruded or compressed shredded combustible materials. A binding agent like starch may be necessary to hold the materials together, though pressure may at times be enough. Some of the common materials used as briquettes are charcoal fines, mineral char, sawdust, chaff from rice, peanut and other crops, peat, and any biomass materials.

So why do we have to used briquettes instead of firewood, charcoal, or electricity? What are their advantages over them? Well, here are ten of the major benefits derived from the utilization of briquettes as fuel.

1. Concentrated. Since briquettes are created from compressing combustible materials, they are denser, harder, and more compact. They have high specific density (1200kg/m³) and bulk density (800kg/m³) compared to 60 to 180 kg/m³ of loose bio mass. Thus, they offer a more concentrated form of energy than firewood or charcoal.

2. Slow-burning. The compression process allows the briquettes to burn for a lot longer than if it was loose in its original condition.

3. More efficient. Along with the compactness of the briquettes is the increase in heating value. Briquettes can relatively produce more intense heat than other fuel. They have a higher practical thermal value and much lower ash content (2-10% compare to 20-40% in coal). In fact, they are 40% more efficient, as well as hotter and longer lasting than firewood. This greater efficiency can be attributed to their low moisture and density.

4. Smokeless. This is a unique property of briquettes. Using them creates no smoke, soot, or carbon deposits. Depending on the base material, they produce no or little fly ash. Further, briquettes do not emit gases or any toxic chemicals like sulfur.

5. Availability. Biomass is the main component in producing briquettes. So where do we get this biomass? Look around you, and there are loads of biomass materials here, there, and everywhere.

6. Easy to make. There are presently commercial briquettes sold in the market. However, ordinary households can produce briquettes. You must only have a stock of combustible matter, a binder, and a molder to shape the briquettes.

7. Easily stored. The size and shape of briquettes make them easily be stored. We can readily pile them in several heaps because of their fun shapes like cubical, spherical, cylindrical, or rectangular blocks. They are likewise clean to handle and be packed into bags.

8. Easily transported. Compacting biomass waste into briquettes reduces the volume by 10 times, making it much easier to store and transport than loose biomass waste. Considering their shape, size, and density, briquettes are excellent for long distance transport. Likewise, loading and unloading cost are much less and are done easier.

9. Cheaper. Since briquettes can be domestically made from plants and animal wastes, they are consequently less expensive to produce, and thereby sold at lower prices.

10. Renewable. Briquettes make use of organic materials which are common and renewable. Hence, we are ensured of the sustainability of such fuel source.

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Why Birds Fly in V Formation

We often see flocks of birds flying across the sky. They are usually the migratory kinds which traverse over cities, countries, and oceans around the world in a definite pattern. One of the unique characteristics of this collective flying is its shape and orientation – the “V” formation. So why do birds fly in V formation? What benefits do they derive from flying in such way? What is the science behind this?

Scientists have found that the main reason for this flight formation is to reduce the effect of drag force. Drag force, or force created by movement or friction between two surfaces, is minimized when birds are flying together than when they are alone. In some studies conducted, it is reported that a flock of 25 birds in V formation can fly 71% farther than a bird could do on its own with the same amount of energy. This also reduces the drag force by up to 65%.

Moreover, birds also properly space themselves apart from each other. In this way, they optimize the reduction of drag force that every individual experiences. However, logic tells us that the bird flying in the lead and in the end would experience the greatest drag force since they are the ones to push through the current of air. There may seem to be no equal benefits for all the birds since the individual in the lead position would have to work the hardest.  So how do birds prevent draining the energy of the lead bird?

The answer is simple: the birds switch positions. When the bird at the lead position gets exhausted, it will fall father back into one of the lines of V and will be replaced by another bird from farther back. The two birds flying at the extreme ends of the formation also get tired faster than those in the middle, so the positions keep rotating among birds. There is a timely cyclical fashion of flying so as to spread the flight fatigue among all the flock members. Hence, each bird is given a chance to become the leader and be responsible for the group, or just be in the middle to enjoy the comfort. Overall, the V formation can greatly boosts the efficiency of flying birds.

Lastly, the V formation provides a means of communication and visual monitoring for the birds. It aids them in getting better view of each other. This enables them to spot any missing bird, as well as preventing any one of them from straying away from the flock.

Considering all this, humans can learn from the teamwork and reliability that birds offer each other during their flight. So V formation is not just any random act of flying, but a wise and analytical strategy that the birds have first learned and done.

Sources:

Wikipedia.com

Pray4zion.org

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How to Solarize Soil

 

One of the natural methods of controlling soilborne diseases, pathogens and weeds in gardens is soil solarization. This technique has been used by many farmers around the world because of its adaptability to any location and soil condition. It has been proven effective and it lessens farmers’ and growers’ reliance on synthetic pesticides and herbicides. (See Soil Solarization: Concept and Benefits)

Soil solarization is done by capturing and trapping the sun’s heat with the use of a tarp or covering. After some time, soil temperature can rise as high as 125 degrees Fahrenheit (52 deg. Celsius) at the top 6 inches (15 cm), and even to 100 deg. Fahrenheit at a depth of 18 inches. Over several weeks, that is hot enough to kill a wide range of soil inhabiting pests such as wilt and root rot fungi, root knot nematodes and noxious weed seed. It takes about four to six weeks of sunny weather to sterilize the soil. The method can be done on any size of plot, as long as the plastic covering is enough to wrap the whole plot.

For a more detailed procedure of the process, here are the quick and easy steps:

1. Prepare the soil. After tilling the land, thoroughly clean the plot from any unwanted materials and debris. Pull out the weeds or residues from previous cropping. Rake the surface smooth. A fine soil surface will allow the plastic covering to be placed in close contact with the soil Remove stones and large dirt clods which may create air pockets inside the covering and eventually cause uneven heating.

2. Water the plot. The soil should be moistened if dry, but not saturated. You can leave the sprinkler on for several hours or overnight to soak the soil. Wet soil conducts heat better that dry soil. Also, there will be 100% humidity inside the covering which acts with heat to eliminate pathogens and weeds.

3. Dig a trench all around the bed or plot 6-8 inches deep.

4. Lay a clear plastic covering, around 3-6 mm thick deep, over the plot. See to it that the sheet overlaps the trench on all sides. Fill in the trench (you may even place heavy objects on the edges) to weigh down the plastic while pulling it as tight as possible.

Many people always recommend using clear plastic because the idea is that clear plastic produces higher temperatures faster because the sunlight passes through the clear plastic to heat the soil. However, for cooler climate or cooler time of the year, you may use black plastic because it absorbs the heat, making it even hotter.

 

Polyethylene plastic 1 mil thick is the most efficient and economical for soil heating. However, it is easier to rip or puncture and is less able to withstand high winds than thicker plastic. Users in windy areas may prefer to use plastic 1 1/2 to 2 mils thick. If holes or tears occur in the plastic, they should be patched with clear patching tape or duct tape. Thick transparent plastic (4 to 6 mils) reflects more solar energy than does thinner plastic (1 to 2 mils) and results in slightly lower temperatures.

5. Relax, wait, and see. You are done now with setting up and what needs to be done is nothing but wait for the effect. A few weeks of sunshine can effectively improve your soil conditions. In areas where weather conditions are generally cooler or where there are more cloudy days, or when you do not feel like waiting for a long time, you can speed up the process by adding another layer of covering. See to it that the second sheet of plastic cover is raised over ground level so that there is airspace between the two sheets. The airspace serves a buffer zone during cloudy or cooler days. The combination can also raise the soil temperature an additional 6 deg. Fahrenheit.

Source:

Wikipedia.com

Gardenguides.com

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