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7-UP Used to Include Psychiatric Medication?

26 Apr

The lemon-lime flavored soda 7-UP was created by Charles Grigg of the Howdy Corporation in 1929 and first launched two weeks before the 1929 stock market crash. It was originally named “Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda” and included lithium citrate in its formula. Lithium citrate is a mood-stabilizing drug that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and it is still used today for people with bipolar disorder, among others. Obviously, such a lengthy name wasn’t ideal on the consumer side of things, so the beverage’s name was quickly shortened to “7-UP Lithiated Lemon Soda”, then chopped to just “7-UP” in 1936. The lithium citrate, surprisingly, stuck around in the drink all the way until 1950 when new research showed it had potentially dangerous side effects.

5 Health Facts You May Not Know.

16 Apr

Do you the ideal temperature for optimal sleep? Did you know that a certain type of food can help alleviate a migraine headache? What about belly fat, where does that come from? Here’s the inside scoop on these and other little-known facts…

  • Half of American adults do not get enough sleep. While many factors may play a part, one simple thing you can

    do to sleep better is to lower the thermostat. The ideal temperature for sleep is around 68 degrees. If you’re

    having trouble sleeping, drop it down to about 65 degrees.

  • While certain supplements can help alleviate migraines, beans are a surprising natural alternative. Black beans, kidney beans, and chickpeas all are rich in magnesium, which plays a critical role in alleviating headaches.
  • Certain foods and vitamins can actually help elevate your mood and alleviate some symptoms of mild depression. Among the most beneficial foods to lift your spirits are dark chocolate, salmon, and dark-colored vegetables (such as peppers and broccoli).
  • Prolonged stress results in increased production of cortisol, our primary stress hormone. This increase in cortisol triggers an ancient biochemical reaction in us, and as a result, the body responds as if it is starving and automatically stores fat in the belly. While stress may be a major cause of belly fat, alcohol can make it even harder to lose. Aside from the sugar and the calories involved, it is the way in which alcohol is metabolized by the liver and its biochemical effects on your hormonal balance that contributes to belly fat production.
  • We’ve all heard that carrots are great for the eyes, but spinach and salmon are actually two of the most beneficial foods for your eyesight. The combination of antioxidants in the spinach and the omega-3 fatty acids in the fish can strengthen and protect your eyes.

10 Facts About Carrots.

9 Apr
  1. Carrots are 88% water.
  2. The carrot primarily gets its characteristic and bright orange color from beta-carotene.
  3. Carrots are rich in antioxidants and minerals.
  4. Carrot greens are edible as a leafy vegetable, but are only occasionally eaten by humans.
  5. Baby carrots are really just carrots that have been cut and peeled into uniform cylinders.
  6. Growing carrot plants with tomato plants increases tomato production.
  7. The carrot is one of the top-ten most economically important vegetables crops in the world.
  8. Carrots can be stored for several months in the refrigerator or over winter in a moist, cool place.
  9. Carrots are a member of the Umbelliferae family, which also includes celery, parsley, dill, cilantro, caraway, cumin, and the poisonous hemlock.
  10. Eating too many carrots can cause a person’s skin to turn yellowish orange, especially on the palms or soles of the feet. This is called carotenemia. It is completely reversible once the consumption of carrots is reduced.

Surprising Top Source Of Hidden Salt.

3 Apr

Here’s a surprising discovery made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention… The number one salt culprit in the United States is bread, including rolls and sweet rolls. Americans get twice as much salt from bread products as they do from salty snacks, which only stand at number 10 in the CDC’s list of the saltiest foods. Breads and rolls aren’t saltier than many other foods, but people eat a lot more of them, according to the CDC.

Breads and rolls account for about 7 percent of the salt we consume. About 40 percent of the salt we eat is hidden. After bread, the next nine are: cold cuts and cured meats, such as deli turkey or ham; pizza; fresh and processed poultry; soups; sandwiches on bread or buns (including cheeseburgers); cheese; pasta dishes; meat- mixed dishes, such as meat loaf with tomato sauce; and snacks, such as chips, pretzels and popcorn. These 10 foods are responsible for 44 percent of all sodium consumed.

Nine out of ten Americans over age two consume too much sodium. On average, they eat 3,300 mg a day. Experts say everyone over age 51, individuals of African descent, and anyone with high blood pressure, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease should limit sodium to 1,500 mg a day. For everyone else, less than 2,300 mg is recommended. Consuming too much salt has been linked to heart disease and stroke.

You Can Enrich Your Life With Music, For A Second Or Third Time…

30 Mar

Mid-lifers often feel the need for “something new” in their lives. At age 55+, some buy a sports car, some move to another city, and some marry a person a few decades younger than them. But, putting music back into your life could be a more satisfying and less costly pursuit.

It doesn’t matter whether you had piano lessons at age nine or learned to play the guitar at age 20, revisiting music can bring remarkable benefits to you. If you’re like many others who tried it, going back to music now can be just the thing to make your sagging spirits joyful again.

You’ll need a teacher. You can find one at a music school, a community center, or a music store. You can try web-based programs, but an actual teacher may be a better fit for you. He or she will help you develop modern skills and pleasantly correct your mistakes.

Don’t attack the music. Slow down, not as in old age, but to ease the pace and help you focus. It’s good practice for your mind and a way to savor the sounds of the music. The scheduled and unscheduled practice time is not only good for your brain, as it reduces memory loss, but it’s good for keeping your fingers nimble and for reducing stress.

Don’t forget that the main reason to stay close to music, at any age, is to have fun!

Low-Tech Tests Help Doctors Diagnose Complex Diseases and Predict Risks…

26 Mar

Sometimes, doctors can use common objects to gather preliminary information about a variety of conditions. Here are a few:

The tape measure: A waist size over 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women indicates a higher risk for diabetes. It is also helpful as a test for sleep apnea, cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

The bathroom scale: A weight gain of just a few pounds is a signal that heart failure patients are retaining fluid and at risk for hospital admission. Doctors and nurses ask heart failure patients to weigh themselves every day.

The paper clip: A bent paper clip can be used instead of calipers to assess nerve impairment in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. A patient should be able to feel both ends of the paper clip when they are pressed into a finger. It is less expensive than using calipers for the two-point discrimination test.

A handshake: At no cost, a firm handshake can help assure that a patient is healthy enough to make it through heart surgery. A weak grip can warn of possible complications. Surgeons also judge frailty by how easy it is for a patient to get out of a chair or get up on a table for an exam.

A stop watch: Testing how long it takes an elderly heart surgery candidate to walk 15 feet helps predict surgical risk. The gait speed test is a validated measure of frailty in elderly people and a predictor of physical and cognitive health. It should take no longer than six seconds to cross the finish line.

 

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