Some Random Thoughts #6 (To Coke or Not To Coke?)

  Ever wondered why you feel lethargic and tired after a glass of Coke? Ever wondered why you had the urge to pee after well, a glass of Coke? I tried to avoid Coke (basically any soft-drinks in the market) since the past one year. Hard it may be, but you'll be surprised of the contents and facts about these drinks! 

WHAT COKE DOES TO YOUR BODY:-

1) In the first 10 minutes: 10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system. (100% of your recommended daily intake.) You don’t immediately vomit from the overwhelming sweetness because phosphoric acid cuts the flavor, allowing you to keep it down.

2) 20 minutes: Your blood sugar spikes, causing an insulin burst. Your liver responds to this by turning any sugar it can get its hands on into fat. (And there’s plenty of that at this particular moment.)

3) 40 minutes: Caffeine absorption from Coke (Yes, surprisingly Coke contains some amount of caffeine) is complete. Your pupils dilate; your blood pressure rises; as a response, your liver dumps more sugar into your bloodstream. The adenosine receptors in your brain are now blocked, preventing drowsiness.

4) 45 minutes: Your body ups your dopamine production, stimulating the pleasure centers of your brain. This is physically the same way heroin works, by the way.

5) > 60 minutes: The phosphoric acid binds calcium, magnesium, and zinc in your lower intestine, providing a further boost in metabolism. This is compounded by high doses of sugar and artificial sweeteners also increasing the urinary excretion of calcium.

> 60 minutes: The caffeine’s diuretic properties come into play. (It makes you have to pee.) It is now assured that you’ll evacuate the bonded calcium, magnesium, and zinc that was headed to your bones as well as sodium, electrolytes, and water.

> 60 minutes: As the rave inside you dies down, you’ll start to have a sugar crash. You may become irritable and/or sluggish. You've also now, literally, pissed away all the water that was in the Coke. But not before infusing it with valuable nutrients your body could have used for things like hydrating your system, or building strong bones and teeth.




This will all be followed by a caffeine crash in the next few hours. Want to know what happens after that? Check out what happens to your body after you drink a coke, every day for a long time.

Coke itself isn't the enemy here. It’s the dynamic combo of massive sugar doses combined with caffeine and phosphoric acid, which are found in almost all sodas. Moderation, people !




This post was originally written by Wade Meredith Daily health tips and adapted from Drug Information Centre: https://www.facebook.com/Druginformationcenter?hc_location=stream

To know about caffeine content on Coke, do look up here: http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/health/caffeine-in-your-can.html

Signing off:

Nickel Low CJ

Some Random Thoughts #5 (Grapefruit a Grape Fruit?)

  The Grapefruit ~~ Is it from the grape family, and does it look anything like grapes? Good question. Well, one of my friends she popped out of nowhere claiming that she had mistaken the Grapefruit for grapes, while to her amazement on discovery that it's actually shaped like an orange!

  I've called her 'Grapefruit' since then to her bewilderment (she threatened that I'll suffer the consequences though), but really if one has not laid eyes on one, you would've thought the same now wouldn't you?! Seeing is believing they say. Alright, so the Grapefruit grows on an evergreen tree, in which the plant is a subtropical citrus tree and botanically belongs to the large Rutaceaefamily of citrus fruits of the genus Citrus; Scientific name: Citrus paradisi. 

  The Grapefruit however, got it's name because it grows in clusters like grapes, and in fact, is a natural hybridization of a pomelo and an orange! Believed to have evolved and originated from Indonesia and Malaysia, fresh Grapefruit from California and Arizona are available all year and come in several colors including pink, red, white and golden! Who knew Grapefruits were this fascinating...

  However it is, some people called it 'The fruit of paradise', in which claimed to be one of the healthiest fruits in the world. Tart and tangy with an underlying sweetness, grapefruit has a juiciness that rivals that of the ever popular orange and sparkles with many of the same health promoting benefits. Here are some benefits of a Grapefruit I got from an interesting website:

Health benefits of Grapefruit


1. Delicious, grapefruit is very low in calories, consists of just 42 calories per 100 g. Nonetheless; it is rich in dietary insoluble fiber pectin, which by acting as a bulk laxative helps to protect the colon mucous membrane by decreasing exposure time to toxic substances in the colon as well as binding to cancer-causing chemicals in the colon.


2. Pectin has also been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels by decreasing re-absorption of cholesterol binding bile acids in the colon.


3. The fruit contains very good levels of vitamin-A (provides about 1150 IU per 100g), and flavonoid antioxidants such as naringenin, and naringin. Besides, it is a moderate source of lycopene, beta-carotene, xanthin and lutein. Studies suggest that these compounds have antioxidant properties and are essential for vision. The total antioxidant strength measured in terms of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of grapefruit is 1548 µmol TE/100 g.


4. Further, vitamin A is also required maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in vitamin-A, and flavonoids helps to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.


5. It is an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin-C; providing about 52% of DRI. Vitamin-C is a powerful natural anti-oxidant and helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful free radicals. It, furthermore, is required for the maintenance of healthy connective tissue and aids in early wound healing. It also facilitates dietary iron absorption from the intestine.


6. 100 g of fresh fruit contains about 135 mg of potassium electrolyte. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids, helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure through countering sodium effects.


7. Red varieties of grapefruits are especially rich in the most powerful flavonoid antioxidant, lycopene. Studies have shown that lycopene protects skin damage from UV rays, and offers protection against prostate cancer.


8. Additionally, it contains moderate levels of B-complex group of vitamins such as folates, riboflavin, pyridoxine, and thiamin in addition to some resourceful minerals such as iron, calcium, copper, and phosphorus.

  You can eat Grapefruit just like an orange by peeling it and dividing it into segments. Each medium Grapefruit has 10 to 12 sections. A Grapefruit is 75% juice. One medium Grapefruit will give you 2/3 of a cup of fresh-squeezed juice. Grapefruit juice freshly squeezed and stored covered in the refrigerator will retain 98% of its vitamin C for up to a week! 

Here's some cool websites on Grapefruits:

http://www.sunkist.com/kids/experiments/

http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/grapefruit.html

Signing off:

Nickel Low CJ

Special thx to 'Grapefruit Rin' for the article idea~~ :)

Some Random Thoughts #4 (Wisdom Tooth?)

Smart enough? Nope, just plain stupid!

  As many of you have not known, about a few weeks ago, I had dental surgery (apeictomy they called it) to remove a mouth-terrorizing condition, called the Wisdom Tooth >>> Teeth! The fact that I had the 'luck' of having TWO growing relentlessly beneath the gums of my lower jaw.

Types of wisdom tooth! Mine was angular

  For almost a year I had to put up with them due to my busy schedules, bla bla bla... How they pushed against my gums and impacting on the nearby teeth, causing frequent flares that caused fever. Foods can't be chewed properly and gums get bitten accidentally by the upper jaws. And finally, tadahhh!!!! Got them all out after a 4 hour surgery under GA (General Anesthetic) and I still have my souvenirs with mii.

Something to remember! :)

  Anyway, the point is, why on earth would people name them wisdom tooth?!?! Nah it certainly doesn't make mii any smarter, my borderline marks in exams would prove much; nor does it seem to grow wisely either! Fact, it grows tremendously STUPIDLY!!!!

Swollen and impacted gums!

  Looking up on the website and got this:
They're called wisdom teeth because they generally appear later in life at a time when you are presumably "wiser" than you were as a child when your other teeth were coming in.

  Wow! That makes sense, SO NOT!! Still, I've got to know lot's of people besides mii having similar problems. My advice is to keep calm, get an appointment for a surgery, keep good oral hygiene and drink more cold water for a few days after surgery (helps to stop bleeding by vasoconstriction). After that, you can eat all you want!!! Cya!! :)

Signing off:

Nickel Low CJ

Some Random Thoughts #3 (What would it be like if the world really ended?)

  Waking up to another new day, after them, the Mayans predicted the world which should have ended on 21/12/12. Hobbling my way to the bathroom, staring right straight into the mirror, a reflection; my hair all messed up, an aftermath of the sleeping pillow harassment. Picking up le toothbrush, in it goes right left right left between those molars, teeth. A cold splash of water onto my face, with drips trickling down the edge of my chin. Eyes  they start to widen now, and a towel to touch up, brushing away those water droplets as if their presence were never felt. Fresh and ready, I took steps towards those rays and beams of sunlight, seemingly creeping through those slits in between doors and windows. The door now opened, and a burst of sunlight swept through instantly, conquered the hiding dullness in the living room. It is, a new day, another day like many other.

  Now and then, people are starting to live their lives as usual, unfazed by the words that made 21/12/12 a day many would just prick up and start chatting away. Whether it really was to be, a miscalculation of some sort or just some fantasized thoughts of people, conceiving minds of many; have you ever thought what the world would be, what you would be if the world really ended then?

  Well, based on theories like the invasion of aliens, asteroids crashing into the earth, a giant flood that would sink continents, humans becoming zombies due to a viral plague; I would say I wouldn't like to picture the aftermath of that (my hair was already bad, not to say this), one word to describe it all -- CHAOS.

  Not that I believed in the end of the world, but I do wonder what it would be like, life after doomsday. Will I be fighting zombies as in Left4Dead? Will I be boarding a ship in an evacuation process if a giant flood does happen as in the movie 2012? Will I be abducted by aliens, slayed and experimented, my brains extracted and my soul disintegrated? Rubbish thoughts but then, what gives? What thinks you then if the world did actually go 'kaput'?

  Anyway, I lived, and as promised, I'll be still blogging into the new year. Christmas is coming soon and the Chinese Winter Solstice just ended yesterday, the same day as doomsday. No one knows when this world would end, but if it did, let it end in style! And if it really did ended, I freaking wasted my whole life studying in school and collenge! WTF!!!! XD

Oh ya, check this fact out! I thought it to be so true, haha!!!!

Signing off,

Nickel Low CJ

Some Random Thoughts #2 (End Of The World? What Will You Do Then?)

  Recently there is then the 'End Of The World' hype, of the Mayans predictions, of Hopi Mesoamerican Long Count calenders, of lines and words scripted in Bibles and Qurans. Then they say it'll happen, but some smart guy says it's on the 21st December 2012, doomsday looms they say, judgement day, the apocalypse  ''kaput'', gone, everything! Be it true or not, I just am too young to die, well at least for now.

  Of course of course, they've predicted this before. Since last year have people created speculations of how the world is gonna end. Movies like '2012', 'Apocalypse' etc, all these points towards the extinction of the proud human race.Aliens invading, the core of the Earth shattering, continents sinking to huge floods, enormous asteroids crashing into Earth, well those theories you've all heard it before. And yes, they've trolled us before. I was awaiting that day when all I got was withered leaves falling to grace at a sudden gush of wind. I'm still alive!

  Be it true or not, here comes the question: What would you do then at the brink of world's end?

  Personally, if I were to be in a place without any of my love ones nearby, I'll make two important phone calls. One to my mum and the other a personal secret. Of course if communication lines are all out, then there goes my plan. Rather than just panicking, I'll most probably be enjoying the last few moments of life, that's the least I could do at that point of time, ain't it?

  Then, I wonder what others would do if this were to be true. Asked a few of my friends and it was of all kinds of responses. What thinks you then? Do tell what you're gonna do then by replying, preferably through NuffnangX. However it is, I doubt that doomsday would come, at least with the way I looked at things, I'm gonna live through this year and proudly be blogging into the new year! ^-^

Signing off:

Nickel Low CJ

12 days before the predicted 'End Of The World'.

Some Random Thoughts #1 (Who in the world's gonna buy these?)

Models lining up during the Haute Conture event.

  Haute Conture, a French phrase known as 'High-sewing'. And since then, Haute Conture, held every year in the heart of Paris, has stomped the world with its mind-blowing fashion designs. With every needle and thread put together, all seems too good to be true. Well, yes Haute Conture has its own class, and the fashion showcased are mostly acceptable and worshiped worldwide, mostly that is.

  But then, there are other fashion showcases all around the world as well, cat-walks, modelling and stuff. So, random thought for today, weird fashion designs.

  These fashion designs were no doubt masterminded by the finest craftsmen and women in the world, and while some take it as a job, most take it as a hobby to showcase their imaginations to the world. Still, no offence here, who in the world would buy these outfits anyway? Would you now? Maybe Lady Gaga would, but even she has her own fashion designer to attend to.

Elegant but would you wear that out?

 Now who's gonna buy this shit?

And this?

Practical?

Signing off,
Nickel Low CJ