 |
 |
|||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
   
|
|||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
So you're into sci fi? But what about sci fact? Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction... Each month our very own Voyager Science Queen* will bring you interesting, quirky and downright bizarre tid bits from the world of science. And its all completely, totally, 100% true! January Sci-Facts |
|
Well, I hope we have all enjoyed our Christmas and New Year celebrations. At this point, I imagine quite a few of us have overindulged; everyone feels a little bloated and rundown after some serious partying. And remorseful, and guilty... So, lets look at food facts to help overcome the guilt of our holiday gluttony. |
|
Foods that are good for you |
| When I was a child, it seemed like every other week another food was discovered to be bad for your health. Strawberries, potatoes and peanuts were all declared to be naughty, not nice; for example, peanuts were supposed to be carcinogenic. Potatoes still seem to a contentious food item even today, as no one can make their minds as to whether they should be avoided at all costs, or embraced and consumed.
Now, it seems like all the ‘naughty’ foods were misunderstood, all along. |
| Coffee |
|
Take coffee as our first example; it is a well-known fact that the consumption too much coffee is terrible for your health. Coffee is to be avoided if you have high blood pressure, insomnia or are trying to fall pregnant, or are already pregnant. And yet, coffee can help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. Type 2 diabetes is normally diagnosed in adults over the age of 50 and involves damage to the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, usually as a result of an unhealthy diet and a lack of exercise. Caffeine acutely decreases the body’s sensitivity to insulin, while other ingredients in coffee – such as magnesium – could actually help with glucose metabolism. A study in the US found that people who drink four or more cups of coffee each day are less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. There is some inconclusive evidence that caffeine aids in dissolving kidney stones and may increase the levels high-density lipids (HDL), the good cholesterol, in the blood. As well, coffee contains antioxidants, which help fight cancer and slow the aging process by fighting free radicals; chlorogenic acid is the main antioxidant found in coffee. Chlorogenic acid is supposed to aid the function of Vitamin C in the body. (For more on Vitamin C, read my previous Science Page on the topic of Vitamins.) |
| Chocolate |
|
I love chocolate, so it is good to find some positive reasons to maintain my addiction. Just try to remember that chocolate isn’t the criminal, but it tends to hang around with the real baddies: fats and refined sugar. Certain flavonoids, called catechins and that are found in cocoa, have positive effects. These antioxidants block arterial damage caused by free radicals. The unstable molecules, the free radicals, may damage the arterial walls by blocking the artery wall lining. Chocolate may inhibit platelet aggregation, which could cause a heart attack or stroke. There have also been studies indicating that cocoa flavonoids relax the blood vessels, which inhibits an enzyme that causes inflammation. Dark chocolate, with the highest levels of cocoa, are best. Drinking chocolate is just as good. The antioxidant concentration in hot chocolate is almost twice as strong as red wine. Cocoa's concentration is two to three times stronger than that of green tea and four to five times stronger than that of black tea. |
| Wine |
|
(Always remember that if you are drinking, don’t drive.)
University of Bordeaux has found that moderate wine consumption, of 2 to 3 glasses a day, was associated with a 30% reduction in the death rate from all causes. The French scientists have discovered, that although the French and Americans have similar high fat diets, the French have a much lower incidence of cardiovascular disease. It can be assumed that this variation is due to the protective effects of wine consumption, as this is the main difference between American and French eating patterns. Other mechanisms may be at work. Wine, particularly red wine, is rich in flavonoids and antioxidants. It has also been suggested that the apparent health benefits of wine may be due the practice of imbibing wine with a meal. Wine ingested at mealtime may counter the adverse effects of fatty foods during the critical digestive phase. |
| Water |
| Never underestimate the benefits of water. It is the most neglected of nutritional requirements of our modern society. Humans often confuse thirst with hunger, and grab a snack when they should be reaching for a glass of water. Or, human beings tend to drink highly sugared soft drinks or alcohol to excess, rather than drinking water.
Many minor aches, pains and headaches are due to dehydration; a drink of water would alleviate the symptoms, as even mild dehydration will slow down one's metabolism by as much as 3%. Dehydration can trigger fuzzy thinking and short-term memory loss; can create trouble figuring out basic maths; and can cause difficulties in focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page. Drinking five glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer, breast cancer and bladder cancer. Water is necessary for every chemical function that takes place within the body. So, try to drink about two litres of water a day, and you will flush all those party toxins from your poor body. |
| *The Voyager Science Queen is also known as Lynne Green So, who is this woman who attempts to entertain us with Science? Well, I really am a scientist. I have a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Queensland, in Zoology. And, at the moment, I am working in a Pathology laboratory. I have always been intensely curious about every aspect of our universe, from the teeny tiny workings of the gene right up to the mind-bending forces that are twisting and knotting inside a blackhole. So, now I am sharing a brain stuffed full of trivia…and hopefully entertaining people at the same time. As well, I write Fantasy stories and novels. One day, I hope to have a book published, but don't hold your breath. Reading is my other major love, and my favourite authors are Terry Pratchett and Isaac Asimov, though I could list hundreds of others. If I had one wish, I ask for more time to write! Read previous Sci-Facts: Hollywood Crimes Looking for more scientific oddities? Have you checked out Dr Steven Juan's website? He is, quite literally, the wizard of odds! |
Home | Books | Authors | Community | News | Contact us | FAQ | Sitemap Terms of use | Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2003 HarperCollinsPublishers Australia. All rights reserved. |