Sugar shortens life

Washington – Sugar, even at moderate levels, could be toxic to your health — or at least to your sex life, a new study says.

Scientists at the University of Utah looked at how sugar affected mice and found that the mouse equivalent of just three sugary sodas a day had significant negative effects on life span and competition for mates.

“That’s three sodas if the rest of your diet is pristine and sugar-free,” said lead author and biologist James S. Ruff.

Sugar-fed females died twice as quickly as control mice, which were fed the same total number of calories. While the sugar-fed males did not die more quickly, they had trouble competing against the control males for mates and were less likely to hold territory and reproduce.

The study was published online on Tuesday by the journal Nature Communications.

For the rodents on the sweetened diet, sugar accounted for 25 percent of their total calorie intake. Up to a quarter of Crawfordians consume that proportion of sugar as part of their diets. Previous studies that found harmful effects of sugar consumption tended to use unusually high amounts.

The latest findings “set a new standard for caution even at low doses of added sugar,” senior author and biologist Wayne Potts said.

About 80 percent of substances that are toxic in mice are toxic for people as well, said Potts, so it is likely that the effects of extra sugar could be similar in humans.

The researchers first fed 156 animals either sweetened or normal diets for 26 weeks. They then used a novel lab setup: room-size mouse barns where the animals could roam free instead of being confined in cages. The goal was to mimic the natural environment.

The scientists used this method because they thought it would be sensitive to the sociological and Darwinian effects of sugar – the mice must struggle for resources and need to be at their fittest to successfully compete. Once in the barns, both groups of mice were placed on the same normal diet. Scientists monitored the mice interactions for 32 weeks.

Overall, Potts and his colleagues found that the sugar-fed rodents, which didn’t look more obese or less healthy than the control animals, were nevertheless “physiologically worse at doing things they need to do on a daily basis.”

Sugar-fed females – but not males – died off sooner than their healthier counterparts, possibly from being too worn out to handle the burdens of reproduction. Many of the mice were nursing one litter while pregnant with another. For the sugar-fed males, meanwhile, reproductive efforts were hindered by their inability to hold down territory.

A male mouse will typically control a designated area, defending it fiercely from short, intrusive forays by other males. A weakened male mouse will lose territory, along with female attention.

“Females won’t mate with any males that don’t own a territory,” Potts said. The sugar-fed mice held a quarter less area than their counterparts and as a result had an average of five to 10 fewer offspring, as determined by genetic analysis of the litters.

Potts and his colleagues chose a combination of sugars that mimicked high fructose corn syrup, a 50-50 ratio of fructose and glucose. The increase in sugar in the typical American diet in recent decades is largely attributed to higher consumption of high fructose corn syrup. – The Washington Post

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/sugar-shortens-life-study-1.1562864#.Ug57XhbqNqs

How breakfast can keep the kilo’s off

London – Dieters have long been told they should breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper.

Now scientists have confirmed the principle…and even quantified the difference it can make to your weight loss.

The researchers, from Tel Aviv University, found there were other health benefits as well. The breakfast group saw their levels of ghrelin, an appetite hormone, dramatically decrease.

The time of day we eat impacts the way our bodies process food, says Professor Daniela Jakubowicz, of Tel Aviv University in Israel.

At the end of the study, those on the breakfast plan lost an average of 19.1lbs (about 8.6kg).

But the people eating most of their calories at the end of the day lost just 7.9lbs (about 53.5kg)

The body’s metabolism is governed by the circadian rhythm – the biological process that the body follows over a 24 hour cycle.

These results, published in the journal Obesity, indicate that proper meal timing can make an important contribution towards managing obesity and promoting an overall healthy lifestyle.

To find out the impact of meal timing on weight loss and health, Professor Jakubowicz and her fellow researchers conducted a study in which 93 obese women were randomly assigned to one of two groups.

Each consumed a moderate-carbohydrate, moderate-fat diet totalling 1 400 calories daily over three months.

The first group consumed 700 calories at breakfast, 500 at lunch, and 200 at dinner.

The second group ate a 200 calorie breakfast, 500 calorie lunch, and 700 calorie dinner. The 700 calorie breakfast and dinner included the same foods.

By the end of the study, participants in the “big breakfast” group had lost an average of 17.8 pounds each, and three inches off their waist, compared to a 7.3 pounds and 1.4 inches for participants in the “big dinner” group.

According to Professor Jakubowicz, those in the “big breakfast” group were found to have significantly lower levels of a hunger-regulating hormone, an indication that they were more satiated and had less desire for snacking later in the day, than their counterparts in the “big dinner” group.

The “big breakfast” group also showed a more significant decrease in insulin, glucose, and triglyceride levels than those in the “big dinner” group.

More importantly, they did not experience the high spikes in blood glucose levels that typically occur after a meal.

Peaks in blood sugar levels are considered even more harmful than sustained high blood glucose levels, leading to high blood pressure and greater strain on the heart.

The findings suggest that people should adopt a well thought-out meal schedule, in addition to proper nutrition and exercise, to optimise weight loss and general health.

Professor Jakubowicz said: “Eating the right foods at the wrong times can not only slow down weight loss, it can also be harmful. Our study found those in the big dinner group actually increased fat levels in their body, despite their weight loss.”

She suggests that people could improve their health significantly by cutting out late night snacking.

She said: “Mindless eating in front of the computer or television, especially in the late evening hours, is a huge contributor to the obesity epidemic.

“It increases not only poundage, but the risk of cardiovascular disease – making that midnight sugar rush more costly than it appears.”

The study is not the first to discover how healthy breakfast can be. In 2010 scientists from the University of Alabama found that even a fatty full English breakfast will do you good.

Starting the morning with a fatty meal boosts the metabolism for the rest of the day, priming the body to burn fat more efficiently, the research showed.

Other studies have found that eating breakfast lowers your stress levels and improves both your mental and physical performace throughout the day.

Despite this, polls have shown that nearly half of adults admit to skipping breakfast at least once a week, leaving them stressed, bloated and lethargic. – Daily Mail

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/how-a-big-breakfast-can-keep-kilos-off-1.1563627#.Ug56TRbqNqs

Tips for getting things done

Washington – Many of us can barely keep up with each day’s activities, let alone find time to take on a big project or complete the tasks on our never-ending to-do lists.

But don’t make the mistake of waiting until you have a whole day to take care of all of your projects, because that day might never arrive. And if it does, chances are you won’t want to spend it organising your house.

Instead, do one small task each day. Use these tips and spend just 10, 30 or 60 minutes organising. You will feel satisfied that you have accomplished something and less overwhelmed by the prospect of needing to organise everything at once.

 

10 MINUTES

* Spend a few minutes each day sorting through your incoming mail. Recycle any unwanted items and place items that need action in their proper places. And if you still have a couple of minutes, go ahead and pay a few bills.

* Gather catalogues, magazines and newspapers that are floating around your living room, office and entry hall, and sort them. Recycle anything that is a month old and divide the items you’re keeping into the categories “To Read”, “To File” or “To Buy”.

* Spend 10 minutes each day deleting and electronically filing e-mails. Many of us receive hundreds each day, and just keeping our inboxes in order can seem like a full-time job. Just 10 minutes a day of deleting and filing is not only satisfying, it will help improve your overall efficiency.

* De-clutter your bulletin or magnetic board. Take down the old pictures, invitations and reminders and replace them.

* Throw in a load of laundry or fold and put away a load of laundry. Doing a load or two during the week means less work on the weekend.

 

30 MINUTES

* Pick one or two drawers to clean and organise. Take everything out and clean the inside of the drawer. Move misplaced items to their proper place and toss unneeded items. Put things back neatly.

* Clean out your refrigerator or freezer. Take everything out and clean out the shelves and drawers. As you put items back inside, organise them into categories. This will make it easier to find things and also to keep track of what you need to buy.

* Sort through your spice rack and discard any old spices. This is a relatively easy task that is made challenging because none of us know how long to keep spices or how to tell whether they expired.

* Spend half an hour updating your work and personal calendars. Fill in birthdays, travel dates and other events.

* Remove everything from your medicine cabinet. Discard expired medications and old cosmetics and wipe down the shelves. Make a list of items you need to replenish.

 

60 MINUTES

* As the end of the school year approaches, file report cards, school pictures and projects as well as artwork. Recycle unwanted papers and art projects. Create new files for the next school year.

* Sort through your clothing and shoes; set aside items for donation. This is a good project to do between seasons. Clearing out the old will provide room for the new and will also help refine your shopping list. If you have another free hour and have children, do the same with their clothes.

* Clean up and organise toys. Put stray game and puzzle pieces back in their boxes.

* Throw away broken toys. Separate toys that your kids have outgrown to give to a friend or to donate.

* Spend an hour clearing your desk, or filing papers and discarding or shredding anything you no longer need. Replenish office supplies.

* Back up computer files and organise digital photos. Back up important documents and e-mails to an external hard drive or a cloud program. Clear the pictures off your camera and phone so you have ample space to record new memories. – The Washington Post

Philippine Ferry MV Thomas Aquinas sinks

It was with profound sadness that I learned of the tragic events that have befallen the people of the Philippines. The loss of life and livelihoods has shocked us all. The South African IMSO team joins me in hoping that in time it will be possible to rebuild the lives of those who have been affected. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Good Luck

Grade 6’s Good luck for tomorrow.

Note the table allocation and hall layout is available in Dropbox, for those that cannot wait for tomorrow.

I can’t wait for seeing all your brilliance tomorrow.

All the best

Mr C

What parent’s need to know about ADHD

There are three primary subtypes of ADHD:

ADHD primarily inattentive type

• Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes.
• Has difficulty sustaining attention.
• Does not appear to listen.
• Struggles to follow through on instructions.
• Has difficulty with organisation.
• Avoids or dislikes tasks requiring sustained mental effort.
• Is easily distracted.
• Is forgetful in daily activities.

Clinically they present as the classical dreamers, disorganised and often living in their own little world. This leads to major problems with planning and task completion.

ADHD primarily hyperactive/impulsive type

• Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in chair.
• Has difficulty remaining seated.
• Runs about or climbs excessively.
• Difficulty engaging in activities quietly.
• Acts as if driven by a motor.
• Talks excessively.
• Blurts out answers before questions have been completed.
• Difficulty waiting or taking turns.
• Interrupts or intrudes upon others.

The classical hyperactive group are often a danger to themselves because of the impulsive behaviour.

ADHD combined type

The individual meets both sets of inattention and hyperactive/impulsive criteria, constantly fidgeting and busy with something other than what it expected of them at that moment.

Coexisting disorders

In studies as many as 60 percent of individuals with ADHD present with at least one other major disorder. The most common of these coexisting disorders are briefly described below.

Disruptive Behaviour Disorders

Oppositional-Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Conduct Disorder (CD): ODD involves a pattern of arguing with multiple adults, losing one’s temper, refusing to follow rules, blaming others, deliberately annoying others, and being angry, resentful.
CD is associated with efforts to break rules without getting caught. Such children may be aggressive to people or animals, destroy property, lie or steal things from others, run away, be truant from school, or break curfews. CD is often described as delinquency.

Mood Disorders

Depression

ADHD is often associated with depression, which usually appears after ADHD has developed. Depression is characterised by sadness (a child may cry frequently, and for no apparent reason), social withdrawal, loss of appetite, self recrimination, insomnia or excessive sleeping, and a loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed.

Mania/Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder may present with symptoms of ADHD in the pre-pubertal child. A family history of bipolar disorder is an important indicator. This disorder takes the form of periods of abnormally elevated mood (mania) alternating with episodes of depression. In children, the manic phase can manifest as pervasive irritability and unprovoked aggression.

The manic phase in adults is usually characterised by an expansive mood, such that the person feels euphoric and extremely confident. The manic individual may go for days without sleeping, tends to speak rapidly and incessantly, and is inclined to behave inappropriately in social settings (having lost their normal inhibitions). During a manic phase people often develop an unrealistic belief in their capabilities, as a result of which they engage in activities or projects which are doomed to failure and which often lead them into financial or other difficulties.

Anxiety

Approximately one third of children with ADHD will also have an anxiety disorder. People with anxiety disorders often worry excessively about a number of things and may feel edgy, stressed out or tired, tense, and have trouble getting restful sleep. A small number of patients may report brief episodes of severe anxiety (panic attacks) with complaints of pounding heart, sweating, shaking, choking, difficulty breathing, nausea or stomach pain, dizziness, and fears of going crazy or dying. These episodes may occur for no reason.

Tourette’s Disorder

About seven percent of those with ADHD have Tourette’s Disorder. This disorder involves movements and vocal tics. Tics are sudden, rapid, recurrent, non-rhythmic, involuntary movements or vocalisations. The diagnosis of ADHD may precede the onset of tics.

Learning Disabilities

Up to 60 percent of individuals with ADHD have some form of learning disability. Learning disabled persons may have a specific problem reading or calculating, but usually have normal IQ. Dyslexia may have a major impact.

Substance Abuse

Recent research suggests that adolescents with ADHD are at increased risk for very early cigarette use, which is likely to be followed by alcohol and drug abuse if their symptoms are not controlled.

When to see your doctor

If you notice that your child is exhibiting some of the symptoms described in this article, if your child’s teacher tells you that your child is negatively influenced by his/her concentration problems and is difficult or disruptive at school – then seek a medical and psychological opinion. Emotional and other behavioural issues may stem from the individual’s inability to cope and full evaluation may determine whether ADHD is the issue, or part of the problem.

(Reviewed by Dr A van der Walt, MMed (Paed) BSc Hon (Human Genetics),
May 2007 and July 2010)

Expo Times

07:45 Registration Class

07:55 English Cycle Test

08:35 Set up Expo project in the hall

09:00 Judging begins

10:25 – 10:45 Break

10:45 Judging continues

12:30 – 12:50 Break

12:50 Judging continues

13:55 Home time & Expo shuts down

17:00 Expo Evening hour

18:00 All go home after a wonderful Scientific Day

Parents are most welcome to come during the day if the cannot make the evening hour.

Diagram of the flower

Image

2013 Grade 7 NS Cycle Test

On Thursday you will sit a NS cycle test.

You need to bring:

• 2 blue pens
• 1 HB pencil
• 1 red pencil
• 1 blue pencil
• ruler
• eraser
• sharpener (if needed)

You need to prepare:

• Angiosperms
  • Differences between Monocots and Dicots (any part of the plant)
  • diagram of the flower
• Energy
  • Definitions
    • Energy
    • Work
  • Law of the Conservation of Energy
  • How energy moves from place to place
    • Conduction
    • Convection
    • Radiation
• Forces
  • Definitions
    • Force
  • Effects of force
  • Moment Calculations

Help with your tables and graphs

When making your tables remember to structure them correctly.

Your Independent Variable should go into column A, and your dependent variable should go into Column B.

Then when making your graph the Independent Variable should be your X-axis and your Dependent Variable should go onto your Y-axis.

e.g.

Smiling at girls
Girl 1	3
Girl 2	2
Girl 3	3
Girl 4	3
Girl 5	3

Key:

0 = reacted badly

1 = did not smile

2 = smiled no teeth showing

3  = smiled showing teeth

4 = broke out laughing

 

 

Remember the style of your graph is determined by your information.

If you have continuous information such as temperature, the rand-dollar exchange rate, or electric current, then you must use a line graph.

If your data is not continuous but rather snap shots in time, such as ‘a girl’s reaction when I smile at her’,  then you must use a bar graph.