Thursday, January 29, 2009

Trans Fats (week 3 continued)

Though this article is probably quite old, here's something from AICR about trans fats. The site: http://www.aicr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pub_ENews_20070517_bad_trans_fat

It boils down to the difference between, "boosting “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels while lowering “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels." Here's another link that breaks it down into bites of information that you can use in your daily life: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Cholesterol_explained?open

While it's more complex than you think, fats/lipids are pretty much the same as steroids, which is the same as hormones, and trans fats confuse your body really bad when it comes down to regulating cholesterol.

Mmmm... (week 3)

Hey everyone,

Today I'm going to take a look at my absolute favorite snack: a box of Jujubes. Half the fun is fusing your jaw closed with gummy artificial fruit flavor, as well as picking gobs of carnauba wax from your teeth for the rest of the day.

Natural Ingredients: Sugar, White mineral oil. Oh wait, mineral oil is just added petroleum byproduct. With a name like "mineral" oil you think it would be healthy.

Artificial Ingredients: Corn syrup, Modified Food Starch (Potato), Carnauba Wax, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Artificial Colors (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1)

at 110x4.5 servings = 495 Calories, I've put worse things in my body. Actually, this week I really haven't. Not the most unhealthiest food (and, of course, I did not buy it to be healthy), but I dare you to find something more artificial.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Am I alive?

According to our study guide, there are six characteristics of life:

1. Cells - All living things are composed of one or more cells. While it's weird to think of us as multi cellular beings, and not one unifiable "self," that odd feeling should go away after a few hours.

2. Organization - Everything from the small - cells - to the large - social and cultural themes.

3. Energy use - Metabolic use of energy.

4. Homeostasis - An internal stabilization. This includes our body temperature, heart pressure, PH, energy balance, etc. We use a certain level of energy (see above) to maintain homeostasis.

5. Growth - Cells (genetic code) divide and change. We have measurable development.

6. Reproduction - the propagation of genetic information, sexual or asexual. Some types of animals cannot reproduce, though other members of their species can.

As this is the used definition for "what is life" I think I can safely say I am alive. I'm not looking at anything outside of this definition. For example, I recently read an article in Scientific American about us being 3D holograms produced on the edge of the universe by energy waves against 2D forms. While interesting, I think it's a bit silly to ponder life for too long, knowing full well I will not come up with the perfect philosophical solution to my ideas.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Go Firs!

Hey everyone, just wanted to get my hellos out of the way. I didn't get to meet any of you this first week of school (was out of town and am now just getting caught up), but I hope to soon.

I'm 23, currently living in Foresthill (just moved back from the Roseville area), and am a major in Psychology, looking to get into UC Berkeley next fall. I've majored in everything from Digital art in San Francisco to Nutrition in Sunnyyvale. I've been going off and on to Sierra since high school but am convinced I only have a couple of semesters to go before I never have to see campus again :) I actually have an ID from Fall of '02.

A couple rules: Be friendly and think before posting. Hopefully it won't be too hard or strenous to do either!