Cholesterol: Top foods to improve your numbers

 

Diet can play an important role in lowering your cholesterol. Here are the top foods to lower your cholesterol and protect your heart. By Mayo Clinic Staff Can a bowl of oatmeal help lower your cholesterol? How about a handful of walnuts or an avocado? A few simple tweaks to your diet — like these, along with exercise and other heart-healthy habits — might help you lower your cholesterol. Oatmeal, oat bran and high-fiber foods Oatmeal contains soluble fiber, which reduces your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the "bad" cholesterol. Soluble fiber is also found in such foods as kidney beans, apples, pears, barley and prunes. Soluble fiber can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. Five to 10 grams or more of soluble fiber a day decreases your total and LDL cholesterol. Eating 1 1/2 cups of cooked oatmeal provides 6 grams of fiber. If you add fruit, such as bananas, you'll add about 4 more grams of fiber. To mix it up a little, try steel-cut oatmeal or cold cereal made with oatmeal or oat bran. Fish and omega-3 fatty acids Eating fatty fish can be heart healthy because of its high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce your blood pressure and risk of developing blood clots. In people who have already had heart attacks, fish oil — or omega-3 fatty acids — may reduce the risk of sudden death. Although omega-3 fatty acids don't affect LDL levels, because of their other heart benefits, the American Heart Association recommends eating at least two servings of fish a week. The highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids are in: Mackerel Lake trout Herring Sardines Albacore tuna Salmon Halibut You should bake or grill the fish to avoid adding unhealthy fats. If you don't like fish, you can also get small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids from foods such as ground flaxseed or canola oil. You can take an omega-3 or fish oil supplement to get some of the benefits, but you won't get other nutrients in fish, such as selenium. If you decide to take a supplement, talk to your doctor about how much you should take. Walnuts, almonds and other nuts Walnuts, almonds and other tree nuts can improve blood cholesterol. Rich in mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, walnuts also help keep blood vessels healthy. Eating about a handful (1.5 ounces, or 42.5 grams) a day of most nuts, such as almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, some pine nuts, pistachio nuts and walnuts, may reduce your risk of heart disease. Make sure the nuts you eat aren't salted or coated with sugar. All nuts are high in calories, so a handful will do. To avoid eating too many nuts and gaining weight, replace foods high in saturated fat with nuts. For example, instead of using cheese, meat or croutons in your salad, add a handful of walnuts or almonds. Avocados Avocados are a potent source of nutrients as well as monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). According to a recent study, adding an avocado a day to a heart-healthy diet can help improve LDL levels in people who are overweight or obese. People tend to be most familiar with avocados in guacamole, which usually is eaten with high-fat corn chips. Try adding avocado slices to salads and sandwiches or eating them as a side dish. Also try guacamole with raw cut vegetables, such as cucumber slices. Replacing saturated fats, such as those found in meats, with MUFAs are part of what makes the Mediterranean diet heart healthy. Next June 12, 2015 References   http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/cholesterol/art-20045192

Supercomputer Yellowstone

 

Over a dozen miles of cable permit the supercomputer Yellowstone's tens of thousands of processors and other key components to interact with each other. Yellowstone is located at the NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research)-Wyoming Supercomputing Center. The center, which was dedicated in October 2012, will offer researchers the opportunity to develop, access and share complex models and data at incredibly powerful speeds. Yellowstone has the ability to work at 1.5 petaflops--equal to 1.5 quadrillion (a million billion) mathematical operations per second. Its speed is comparable to 7 billion people (the world's population) each simultaneously conducting 200,000 calculations a second. To learn more about Yellowstone, see the NSF press release National Science Foundation Dedicates Wyoming Supercomputing Center. Credit: ©UCAR; photo by Carlye Calvin http://www.nsf.gov/news/mmg/mmg_disp.jsp?med_id=74897

Aspen, Colorado becomes third U.S. city powered totally by renewable energy

 

by Colin Payne, 09/07/15 Three is a magic number, and Aspen, Colorado has hit that enchanted numeral by becoming the third city in the U.S. to power itself with 100 percent renewable energy. Aspen Times reports that the city has reached the milestone after more than a decade of work, by employing wind, solar and geothermal energy. Its efforts put the Rocky Mountain hub in a very exclusive renewable energy club, along with Burlington, Vermont and Greensburg, Kansas. “It was a very forward-thinking goal and a truly remarkable achievement,” says Aspen’s Director of Utilities and Environmental Initiatives, David Hornbacher. “This means we are powered by the forces of nature, predominantly water and wind with a touch of solar and landfill gas.” Related: New artificial leaf technology could revolutionize renewable energy production The city’s clean energy transition became official on Thursday last week when the city signed an agreement with Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska – which replaced the remaining 20 to 25 percent of its energy needs it was previously getting from coal. “We’ve demonstrated that it’s possible,” and that a small, progressive community can work together to be a pathway for others, Hornbacher told the Aspen Times. “Realistically, we hope we can inspire others to achieve these higher goals.” Georgetown, Texas is expected to be fully powered by renewable energy as of 2017, and according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, others have committed, including: San Diego and San Jose, California. Via Aspen Times Images via Shutterstock (1, 2)   http://inhabitat.com/aspen-co-becomes-third-u-s-city-powered-totally-by-renewable-energy/

World’s first off-grid Ecocapsule home to hit the market this year, shipping in 2016

 

If your fantasy is to live totally off-the-grid anywhere around the world, that dream just got one step closer to reality. Nice Architects just unveiled the first photos of their incredible egg-shaped Ecocapsule home - and the tiny solar and wind-powered dwelling will be available for sale later this year. Nice Architects has already completed a prototype, and they plan to ship the first units as soon as Spring 2016 - check out the first photos of this low-energy sanctuary after the break, and picture yourself living the dream. Like the Swiss Army Knife of tiny homes, the Ecocapsule packs everything you need into one very efficient, compact design. Replete with rather luxurious amenities, including a double bed, kitchenette, storage space, and bathroom with a shower and a toilet that collects bio waste, the Ecocapsule can used as a tiny home just for you, a pop-up hotel, a humanitarian refuge, or even an electric car charging station. Its 9744Wh battery is powered by a 750W silent wind turbine and 600W solar outputs that enable it to operate completely off-grid. A dual-power system offers an additional source of electricity during periods without sufficient sunlight or wind. The structure’s rounded shape also helps to easily collect rain water, which is then purified with a built-in filtration system. RELATED: Solar-powered Ecocapsule lets you live off-the-grid anywhere in the world The amazing micro-dwelling is perfect for nature lovers, scientists, photographers, rangers and anyone who wants to stay off-grid for long stretches of time. The architects also recommend it as an urban dwelling for singles in high-rent areas such as Silicon Valley or NYC. The little “egg” home measures just 4.5 meters (14.6 feet) in length, 2.4 meters (7.9 feet) in width, and 2.5 meters in height (8.2 feet), with a reasonable living space around eight square meters (86 square feet). When you’re ready to move on to your next destination, the capsule fits snugly into a standard transportation container. Nice Architects plans to announce pricing for the Ecocapsule egg home at the end of 2015 – just in time for pre-orders. They’ve focused on reducing the size and weight of the pod so that it can be easily transported – approximate shipping costs range from 1500 Euros from Slovakia to Melbourne, to 2200 Euros from Slovakia to New York. Nice Architects plans to launch one version of the Ecocapsule initially, and they plan to offer additional customizations after the first units are sold. + Ecocapsule + Nice Architects All images by Tomas Manina   http://inhabitat.com/worlds-first-off-grid-ecocapsule-home-to-hit-the-market-this-year-shipping-in-2016/

10 Foods That May Trigger a Migraine

 

Alcohol, cured meats, and aged cheeses all might bring on one heck of a headache. Credit: Getty Images Diet and migraines by Maria Masters As if migraines weren't awful enough, it can be downright overwhelming to sidestep all the things that could set off an attack. Problem is, food triggers not only vary from person to person, but much of our knowledge about them comes less from carefully controlled studies and more from observing patients, explainsLee Peterlin, DO, the director of headache research at Johns Hopkins University. Before you cut out every one of these items from your diet, here's something to keep in mind: Fasting or skipping meals can be an even bigger migraine trigger for women, says Dr. Peterlin. So just keep that advice in mind as you go through this list, then turn to your fridge. (Though you might want to reconsider that charcuterie…) Next: Alcohol   http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20947791,00.html?xid=healthyliving09092015

Brasileiro ganha a Medalha Fields, o “Nobel” de Matemática

 

Artur Avila Cordeiro de Melo, de 35 anos, foi escolhido pela União Internacional de Matemática para receber a Medalha Fields, considerado o prémio Nobel de Matemática. É a primeira vez que um latino-americano recebe esta distinção, que foi concedida hoje em Seul, na Coreia do Sul, durante o 27º Congresso Internacional de Matemáticos. Artur é um matemático que trabalha em Paris como diretor de pesquisa no Centro Nacional de Pesquisa Científica (CNRS, na sigla em francês). Simultaneamente (e desde 2006) o matemático é pesquisador extraordinário do Instituto de Matemática Pura Aplicada (Impa), no Rio de Janeiro, onde concluiu o doutorado em 2001. A Medalha Fields é concedida a cada quatro anos a no mínimo a dois e no máximo a quatro profissionais com menos de 40 anos cujos trabalhos tenham sido considerados fundamentais para o avanço da matemática. Além de Artur, também ganharam a medalha neste ano Manjul Bhargava, do Canadá, Martin Hairer, da Áustria e Maryam Mirzakhani, do Irão. Nesta edição também se faz história devido a ser a primeira vez que é feita a distinção a uma mulher. Aos quatro premiados neste ano somam-se outros 52 agraciados com a Medalha Fields desde o lançamento do prémio, em 1936. A medalha foi criada por John Charles Fields para compensar a ausência da matemática entre as ciências premiadas com o Prémio Nobel. Cada vencedor da Medalha Fields recebe 15 mil dólares do Canadá (R$ 31 mil). Ao justificar a distinção, o júri escreveu que Artur "fez notáveis contribuições no campo dos sistemas dinâmicos, análise e outras áreas, em muitos casos provando resultados decisivos que resolveram problemas há muito tempo em aberto". O brasileiro estudou em dois colégios tradicionais do Rio de Janeiro, Santo Agostinho e São Bento, e aos 13 anos ganhou a sua primeira medalha de bronze na Olimpíada Brasileira de Matemática de 1992, a primeira em que participou. Estudou no Instituto de Matemática Pura Aplicada (Impa) em 1995, enquanto cursava o ensino médio no Colégio Santo Agostinho. Em 1997, mesmo ano em que iniciou a graduação em matemática na Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), concluiu o mestrado no Impa. Em 2001, ao concluir a graduação na UFRJ, também terminou seu doutorado, pelo mesmo Impa. Em 2003 ingressou no Centro Nacional de Pesquisa Científica, em Paris, onde desde 2008 atua como diretor de pesquisa, sendo atualmente ligado ao Institut de Mathématiques de Jussieu. Recebeu a Medalha de Bronze do CNRS e o Prémio Salem em 2006, o prémio da Sociedade Europeia de Matemática em 2008, o Grande Prémio Jacques Herbrand da Academia de Ciências da França em 2009, o prémio Michael Brin em 2011 e o Early Career Award da Associação Internacional de Física Matemática em 2012. http://www.ciencia-online.net/2014/08/brasileiro-ganha-nobel-da-matematica.html?sthash.rAEZ2Rf5.tupo

Rob Gonsalves joue avec les perspectives dans de superbes peintures en trompe-l’oeil

 

Rob Gonsalves est un artiste canadien qui maitrise à la perfection la technique du trompe-l’oeil, qu’il travaille depuis sa jeunesse. Ses toiles, que l’on pourrait associer au courant du “réalisme magique“, jouent avec les perspectives et transforment une banale scène du quotidien en quelque chose de féérique et merveilleux. Un style surprenant qui donne à un tableau plusieurs lectures, où les arches des ponts se transforment en bateaux et où les ballons qui s’envolent forment le ciel. Un travail qui tire clairement son inspiration de René Magritte ou même Salvador Dali, pour un résultat à la fois complexe et délicat. Publié le 27 janvier 2015 à 11:39, par : Julien // Twitter Parisien voyageur. J’espère encore voir un jour un concert des Pink Floyd. Aussi fondateur du site Un Jour de Plus à Paris.   http://www.tuxboard.com/20-peintures-trompe-loeil-rob-gonsalves/

10 Easy Ways to Get Probiotics on a Plant-based Diet

 

It takes a certain sort of nutritionally interested person to consider where they are getting their probiotics, let alone know what it is probiotics are and do. Nonetheless, it is something we should pay attention to, especially if you are eating a predominantly plant-based diet (as with many things, the most well-known probiotics come from dairy). So, first, let’s get a little purchase on what it is we are talking about. Probiotics are what is often referred to as “good bacteria,” most regularly attributed to yogurt. These good bacteria go by unfamiliar names like lactobacillus, one of the more infamous strains that has been the source of major vegan debate (which we won’t be getting into here). Probiotics are something everyone should get a healthy dose of as it helps to clean some of the mess modern living has made of our insides. The point of making sure we consume probiotics is that the bacteria, while aurally unappetizing, are instrumental in keeping our gut in harmony. They help us break down food, combat variously embarrassing and unhealthy digestive issues, and wage a behind-the-scenes battle with other, less altruistic microbes that may cause infections. Popular dairy products — yogurt, milk, soft cheeses and kefir — are the most recognized sources of probiotics, but that isn’t at all to say that there aren’t plenty of vegan options. For those of us not keen to the milky way, fermentation is the name of the game. Believe or not, you are probably already eating plenty of fermented things, and the rest of the following list — some weirdly delicious and funky choices— will be worth giving a shot.   1. Sauerkraut Long thought to be just a condiment for bratwurst, sauerkraut is actually a great side dish, as well as a plucky addition to sandwiches, such as the reuben. What’s more: it’s a probiotic power source. Be sure to get unpasteurized (or make your own) when possible as pasteurization kills some of the good stuff.   2. Kimchi The ubiquitous side dish for every meal any time of day in Korea. Kimchi is a spicy, fermented cabbage with loads of health benefits, including probiotics, lots of vitamins, and antioxidants. Most kimchi is made with seafood added, but it’s easy enough to make your own. Then, try out this wicked kimchi fried rice ball recipe.   3. Miso Also full of antioxidants and B-vitamins, miso soup, the Japanese staple, is reported to have as many as 160 different bacteria strains, many of which will work wonders for the stomach. But, miso isn’t just for traditional dishes. There are loads of recipes that include miso and all of the health benefits it comes with.   4. Tempeh Tofu is more widely used that tempeh, but that’s not to say it’s better, for your health or taste buds. Tempeh, an Indonesian dish of fermented soybeans, has a firmer texture than tofu as well as the probiotic benefits derived from the fermentation process. And, it’s getting easier and easier to find in stores and on restaurant menus. Start with these recipes and/or try making your own.   5. Sourdough Bread That’s right, the San Francisco treat. Do it as a bread bowl with soup inside, use it for a sandwich or just have it by the hunk — sourdough bread is probiotic-friendly. Apparently, all that effort to save the starter not only pays off with taste but also via usefully nutritious bacteria. For those worried about bread being bad, fear not, sourdough is different. Try it as a stuffing or pretzel. 6. Sour Pickles A great snack, a great addition to sandwiches and a great source of probiotics — dill and sour pickles are easy to come by and likely something that already features in most folks’ diet. In order to get the full bacterial benefit, seek out varieties that are naturally fermented in sea salt and water as opposed to all-out vinegar. Or, you could make them yourself.   7. Olives Continuing on in our briny waters, olives can also be a great fix for your innards. The key here, as with any pickled product really, is that the briny solution fosters the growth of good bacteria. In turn, we are afforded some really tasty snacks, available on pizza, in salads, or in full-on tart form.   8. Soy/Nut Milks Hey, dairy milk isn’t the only probiotic milk out there, and just because lactobacilli begins “lacto” doesn’t mean it can’t be found elsewhere. Soy and nut milk already naturally have some probiotics, and new products are being made with active cultures added to them. So, remember, even though soy’s name has been tarnished of late, it’s not the plants fault but rather what has been done to it.   9. Kombucha The superstar of fermented healthy stuff, kombucha has re-blasted onto the scene in the last decade. Kombucha knows detoxification. Kombucha knows active enzymes. Kombucha knows antioxidants, amino acids, and probiotics, too. Over 2000 years in the making, there’s not much this tea can’t do. It’s available at most good coffee shops these days — or can be made at home.   10. Supplements Probiotics from food are probably the best option, but should these foods not appeal to you or none of them be readily found in, say, Timbuktu, there are supplements available. As for me, I always try to look to supplements as a last resort; nonetheless, it’s comforting to know there are viable vegan options out there if the situation ever arises. With all of these choices, you’ve got plenty of places to get your probiotic needs!What are your favorite sources of probiotic plant-based goodness? Image source: Gingery Maple Grazed Salad   http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/10-easy-ways-to-get-probiotics-on-a-plant-based-diet/

Newly released images showcase Pluto's stunning geological diversity

 

Synthetic perspective view of Pluto based on images from New Horizons show a 1,100-mile (1,800-km) swathe of terrain (Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute) Image Gallery (7 images) NASA has released more breathtaking images from the New Horizons spacecraft's Pluto encounter, showcasing the dwarf planet's surprisingly diverse geological features. The images come in the wake of the probe's high-velocity flyby, during which time the spacecraft collected vast quantities of data on one of the most enigmatic bodies in our solar system. On September 7, the New Horizons spacecraft, which at this point is over 3 billion miles (5 billion km) from Earth, initiated an intensive data transfer of images and information that will take around a year to complete. Considering that a signal from the probe takes roughly 4.5 hours to reach Earth, with only between one and four kilobits of data transmitted per second, NASA, and onlookers across the globe, have no choice but to be patient for New Horizons to impart its treasure trove of information. The newly released images reveal a lot about the diverse and surprising nature of Pluto. According to a New Horizons team member, the dwarf planet is at least as geologically diverse as Mars, and the discoveries made by New Horizons are not limited to the planet's surface. Pluto's atmospheric haze has a more densely layered structure than had previously been expected, so much so that the gas actually illuminates the dark side of the dwarf planet. Members of the New Horizons science team believe that this effect may even have presented unexpected imaging opportunities for the probe. The images also appear to highlight vast dunes and nitrogen flows emanating from mountainous regions that may themselves be vast chunks of ice water floating on huge deposits of frozen nitrogen. Furthermore, as on Mars, the images present evidence of valley networks apparently carved by an unknown flowing material. "Pluto is showing us a diversity of landforms and complexity of processes that rival anything we’ve seen in the solar system," says New Horizons Principal Investigator Alan Stern, of the South West Research Institute, Boulder, Colorado. "If an artist had painted this Pluto before our flyby, I probably would have called it over the top – but that’s what is actually there." After flying by on July 14, the New Horizons spacecraft is already 43 million miles (69 million km) beyond Pluto, yet the mission just keeps giving. Friday will see the release of more images of the dwarf planet's moons, and more surprises are sure to follow. Source: NASA http://www.gizmag.com/nasa-pluto-images-geological-diversity/39363

Patient receives 3D-printed titanium sternum and rib cage

 

3D printing technology has enabled a replacement sternum and rib cage customized for a specific patient Following a 3D-printed heel bone, a 3D-printed mouth guard for sleep apnea sufferers and the world's first 3D-printed jet engine, Lab 22 at Australia's CSIRO has added to the growing list of 3D-printed medical implants by designing and printing a replacement titanium sternum and rib cage for a 54-year-old cancer patient. The sternum and rib cage features a complex geometry that means the flat and plate implants traditionally used for this part of the chest can come loose over time. For this reason, the surgical team at the Salamanca University Hospital in Spain thought a custom 3D-printed implant would be a better option for a Spanish man suffering from a chest wall sarcoma – a condition that had resulted in a cancerous tumor growing around his rib cage, requiring certain sections to be removed. By using high resolution CT scans, Melbourne-based medical device company Anatomics, working with the patient's surgical team, was able to design an implant specifically customized to fit perfectly in the patient's chest. With the design in hand, the company turned to Lab 22, who printed the implant layer-by-layer using its AUD$1.3 million (US$920,000) Arcam electron beam metal 3D printer. Once complete, the 3D-printed sternum and partial rib cage was couriered to Spain and implanted into the patient's chest. The implant was designed with pieces that went over the remaining bone and allowed them to be attached securely with screws. The surgery was a success and the patient was discharged from hospital 12 days later.   Source: CSIRO   http://www.gizmag.com/3d-printed-sternum-and-rib-cage-csiro/39369