Junk food Regular consumption of junk food is one of the leading factors responsible for obesity.

Consumption of soft drinks (containing sugar) has been associated with excess weight gain and an elevated risk for the development of type 2 diabetes. igh cholesterol resulting from junk food puts undue strain on the liver! causing long"term damage to this essential organ. #unk food diet is a major cause of heart diseases. Research has suggested that diets high in fat may also impair essential brain functions! like concentration and memory. $ast food is grossly filled with refined foods! sugars and salts. %f you have high blood pressure or cholesterol! it is probably one of the worst things you can have. #unk foods don&t provide you with any essential nutrient! even though they can be very much sufficing! you feel weakened 'ack of vital oxygen! nutrients and proteins particularly can stale your grey (brain) cells temporarily. igh cholesterol from junk food and diet strains liver damaging it eventually. $ried foods taste good! but they are terrible for you! especially foods fried in partially hydrogenated or trans fat oils. (hese oils lower good cholesterol and increase bad cholesterol The effects of microwaves on food NUTRIENTS Although you may have heard that microwaves kill nutrition, that doesnt seem to e true! "icrowave ovens usually dont destroy nutrients in food! And in some cases, #re#aring food in a microwave might actually #romote nutrient retention! Nutrients are leached from food during any form of cooking, es#ecially when the food is cooked for a long #eriod of time with high amounts of water! So, for e$am#le, oiling carrots might stri# nutrients much more drastically than microwaving them, ecause the carrots nutrients might get washed away with the oiling water! %owever, since we havent discovered all the com#ounds that make u# food, well likely never know all of the outcomes that microwaving has on nutrients!

&R'TEIN &rotein (uality seems to e fine with microwave heating! Some data indicates that amino acids and vitamin )*+ may e converted to inactive forms! )ut on the fli# side, availa ility of some amino acids might e im#roved, since no surface rowning occurs! And microwave heating might lead to destruction of try#sin inhi itors in eans! )onus, )REAST "I-. "icrowaving reast milk reaks down the anti odies and vitamin )*+ /this also occurs with conventional oiling, ut it takes a out +0 minutes or more1! )y the way, s#eaking of organic fluids, heating lood for transfusions in microwave ovens can result in hemolysis / ut hasnt een shown to damage 2NA1! 3''2 SA3ET4 AN2 5AR5IN'6ENS "icrowave cooking forms fewer nitrosamines and A6Es on meats than conventional cooking methods! 3or more on A6Es, see here! TASTE Taste #references are individuali7ed! Still, restaurants usually dont advertise 8microwaved green eans9 on the menu! "icrowave cooking doesnt result in surface drying or rowning reactions, so this alters the flavour and a##earance of foods /es#ecially meats and reads1! Some microwava le foods will come with a gray #a#er oard for heating! This #a#er oard contains an e$tremely thin metal coating of resistant #olymer film which a sor s microwave energy, converting it into heat for rowning! 5ertain additives can also e #ut on the surface of food to achieve this effect! 6osh, now Im having flash acks of microwava le #i77as in :unior high!

Summary and recommendations "icrowave ovens usually dont destroy nutrients in food! If using a microwave hel#s you eat more nutritious foods and less :unk food, then kee# it! )ut there are #otential harmful effects from too many electromagnetic fre(uencies, and doing without a microwave is one way to limit e$#osure! I3 4'U USE A "I5R';A<E= 2ont heat food in #lastic! "ake sure food reaches *>? degrees 3 in all areas /you have a food thermometer, dont you@1!

5over food to hel# ensure uniform cooking! Allow the food to sit a few minutes after microwaving! "icrowave food only as long as necessary, with little to no cooking water! .ee# the microwave out of high traffic areas!

I3 4'U 2'NT USE A "I5R';A<E= 4ou can eat leftovers cold! If you dont have to reheat A dont! Each time we reheat, no matter the method, we are going to lose nutrients! Try the stove, including steaming or stirBfrying! Use the oven, including aking and roiling! 5onsider a toaster oven, which uses less energy than a conventional oven! /%eck, consider a solar cooker! Cust sayin!1 %eat water in an electric tea kettle!

Benefits of Microwave Cooking Every ody is aware of the s#eed and convenience of using a microwave! )ut there are many other enefits of this technology= D the microwave oven has an electrical efficiency of >0E, making it the most environmentally friendly method of cooking smaller meals D the microwave oven heats foods ut does not get hot itself, so the risk of urns is greatly reduced D the chemical com#onents of the foods are not changed to form new com#ounds D the lower tem#erature of cooking in the microwave means there is less formation of carcinogenic tars D microwave cooking does not change the nutritional content of foods any more than conventional cooking D a shorter #re#aration time in the microwave usually means a etter retention of nutrients D cooking water is not needed, #reventing nutrients from leaching into the water D a rotating turnta le hel#s #revent hots#ots, cooking the food evenly ;hen used #ro#erly, microwave cooking does #rovide nutritional enefits as well as convenience and s#eed!

Cautions As with any kitchen a##liance, there are cautions and a##roaches for the est use of microwave cooking=

D microwave safe food wra#s and containers must e used D manufacturerFs instructions will list #ower levels to e used for different kinds of food and methods of cooking, so that cooking occurs evenly D encased foods such as eggs and sausages can e$#lode D as with any heating source, #roducts that are heated for too long can catch fire D heating li(uids without stirring can result in e$#losive oiling D metals including foil will create an electric arc or s#arking when heated, so cannot e #laced in the microwave Remem ering safety ti#s will (uickly ecome second nature, and microwave cooking will easily ecome a routine a##roach to food #re#aration!

Air conditioners!
Risks= Sudden changes in tem#erature and humidity affect the res#iratory system! It has a drying effect on skin and mucous mem ranes! It adds to am ient noise, contri uting to noise #ollution! The air circulation can transmit infectious res#iratory diseases! Air orne dust and fungi can cause allergic reactions! Air conditioning is associated with chronic rhinitis and #haryngitis, throat irritation and hoarseness! Air conditioning can e$accer ate eye conditions such as con:unctivitis and le#haritis, as well as causing #ro lems for contact lens wearers! 2onFt forget!!! Air conditioned s#aces should e regularly ventilated! &rofessional installation and maintenance is essential for oth individual units and centralised systems! .ee# room tem#erature etween +*G and +0G 5! Try to maintain an average humidity of etween >?E and H?E! Ssoft bed Why do we get comfortable with an improper sleeping posture?

A comfortable sleeping position may not be always an ideal one, but why do we get comfortable with an improper sleeping posture in the first place? The answer lies in the inherent nature of the human body. The human body, you see, is very adaptive. It automatically adjusts itself to counter any misalignment. If your body is not aligned properly, it will position itself in such a way as to counter any prevailing misalignment. Comfort, simply put, can be an adaptive response, and may not be necessarily good for your health.

Importance of alignment when we sleep Heres one test question for you: do you often experience daytime sleepiness, headache, fatigue, and/or lack of focus after a nights sleep? If yes, chances are your body is poorly aligned during sleep. To be more specific, you may be breathing shallowly during sleep.

There is a clear and strong relationship between body alignment and breathing and sleep quality. Structural imbalance in the body affects breathing, which, in turn, affects sleep quality. When our spine is in its natural position a position in which the neck (cervical), middle back (thoracic), and lower back (lumbar) are in good alignment our lungs are able to hold more oxygen. Adequate intake of oxygen during sleep facilitates smooth functioning of the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS), which induces and promotes relaxation. On the other hand, reduced oxygen intake causes an excess production of cortisol (the stress hormone) and adrenaline, which prevents the body from relaxing.

Correct body alignment during sleep also promotes proper blood circulation throughout the body and relieves joint pain, both of which help you get a good nights sleep. In whichever position you sleep, it is important that you maintain a spine-neutral position (neutral spine position is the same as the spines natural position). The mattress you sleep on has a huge influence on your structural balance. If the mattress is not appropriate, it can create, mask, and/or worsen structural imbalances, which can be detrimental to good sleep. It can also lead to health conditions such as sleep apnea and back pain.

Hard Mattress vs. Soft Mattress Some say a hard mattress is better than a soft mattress, some say a soft mattress is better, and some say whichever type of mattress you are comfortable with is the right one for you. Nevertheless, it is now believed that a hard mattress is better for those who dont have back/neck problems, and that people with back pain or other similar problems are better off using a soft mattress.

Advantage of Hard Mattress The new ergonomics of sleep dictates that when it comes to mattresses, less is usually better. The less cushioning the mattress provides, the more it is likely to support or facilitate a neutralspine position during sleep.

According to the ergonomics of sleep, it is necessary that bones have some resistance for good sleep. When you lay down on a hard bed with a thin, hard mattress, your bones bears the most, if

not all, of the pressure. This, in turn, frees your muscles and allows your arteries and veins to relax. As a result, the blood circulation in the body improves, helping you sleep better. The other benefit of a hard mattress is that it prevents your lower back from collapsing when you lay on it. This ensures that your airways are not constricted, permitting you to inhale more oxygen. Ample oxygen intake, as weve seen already, is crucial for good sleep. Switching to a hard mattress after sleeping for many years on a soft mattress may not be easy. You may feel a bit uncomfortable during the first few nights. The feeling of discomfort usually dissipates on its own within a few days. That said, people who have health issues like back pain, rheumatism, arthritis, weak capillaries, or scoliosis should not go for a hard mattress. If you have any of these conditions and want to use a relatively hard surface, it is recommended that you use props. For example, individuals with back pain may place a flax seed eye pillow under the lower back for support when sleeping on their back. When sleeping on your side, you can use a body pillow or place a soft pillow between the knees. Disadvantage of a soft mattress A soft mattress may be disadvantageous for healthy people as it may cause the back to collapse when you lie on it. When the back is collapsed, the lungs are not able to take in as much oxygen, which can prevent you from getting good sleep. ow to )ake a )odel of a *nee Instructions Place two pieces of wood measuring 2 by 4 by 8 onto a flat surface, end to end. Arrange the pieces of wood so that the 4-inch sides lie flat. Tape the pieces together on the sides of the wood that are facing upward. Use three to four pieces so that the pieces of wood stay together. Turn the wood upside down so that the underside is e posed. !pread the pieces of wood apart so that the middle is "isible. Tape the middle in between the pieces of wood to reinforce it. #old one of the pieces of wood, allowing the other piece to hang down freely in a $% degree angle. &hen you mo"e the hanging piece of wood up and down, it will replicate how a 'nee (oint mo"es. Alternative method %nstructions !crew a hoo'ed screw into a tennis ball. !crew a second hoo'ed screw into the opposite side of the tennis ball. #oo' a bungee cord onto each hoo' screw. !lip a P)* pipe onto each bungee cord. This will position the tennis ball in between the P)* pipes. !tic' your finger into the open end of each P)* pipe and grasp the hoo' of each bungee cord. Pull each cord out and hoo' to the edge of the respecti"e P)* pipes.

+o"e the 'nee (oint model to demonstrate how the 'nee mo"es inside a human body. %ow to "ake a "odel of a %uman )all Socket Coint %nstructions !et a three ounce paper cup in front of you. ,oll some clay in your hands into a ball. -ou want to use about the same amount of clay as it ta'es to fill the paper cup. Place the clay ball into the paper cup and press the end of a craft stic' into the clay. ,otate the craft stic' so the ball mo"es around inside the cup. This is the same way a ball and soc'et (oint rotates. Alt method +. %nstructions Pour the craft plastic beads into the microwa"able mug and co"er them with water, lea"ing about a halfinch of space at the top. +icrowa"e on .high/ heat for a minute at a time until the beads of plastic become completely transparent. Pull the plastic from the cup with a for', gathering it into a ball. 0et the plastic cool for about 2% seconds before handling it with wet hands. +old a copy of the marble. Pull a ball of plastic as close to the si1e of the marble 2put the e tra plastic bac' in the hot water to 'eep it soft3 and roll it into a sphere between flattened palms. Ad(ust the 4uantity of plastic as needed once you can compare the shaped ball to the marble. *ontinue rolling the plastic between your hands as it hardens to 'eep it from sagging5 this will ta'e a few minutes. Attach the round marble shape to the end of the craft dowel. Pull a piece of soft plastic about a third of the si1e of the ball you (ust made and stic' it to the end of the dowel, then use this as a tac'y paste to stic' the ball shape in place. Press the ball into the soft plastic to mold the two pieces together. 6uild the soc'et. Use a piece of plastic about twice the si1e of the marble and roll it into a rough ball. &et the marble 2this will 'eep it from stic'ing3 and press it into the plastic, then spin it to ma'e the soc'et shape. +a'e this impression shallow enough that you can pull the marble away easily, without misshaping the form. Again, continue rolling with the marble and reforming the plastic as it hardens to 'eep it from sagging. Attach the soc'et to the other craft dowel, using the same method you used to attach the ball to the first craft dowel. 7nce the craft plastic has hardened you can fit the ball and soc'et together to demonstrate how the (oint mo"es, or separate them so that students can e amine the pieces indi"idually. Alternative method %nstructions +a'e a ball and soc' (oint model with a foam cup and foam ball. Use foam pieces similar in si1e so that the ball snugly fits inside the cup. *ut a wooden 'abob stic' or dowel rod in half. Attach one half of the rod to the bottom side of a foam cup by po'ing it through the foam. Attach the other half of the rod to the ball by po'ing it through to the center. Place the ball inside the cup to resemble the ball and soc' (oint. +a'e a model of a hinge (oint with a bloc' of foam about the si1e of a bric'. 8raw a cur"ed line on the short side of the bloc' piece. Use a utility 'nife to car"e the bloc' into two pieces along this cur"e, so that one piece has a conca"e side and the other piece has a con"e side. 9it the pieces together to resemble the hinge (oint. +a'e a model of a pi"ot (oint with a plastic ring and plastic bottle. *ut the top off of the plastic bottle at the point where the bottle begins to cur"e toward the opening. 8iscard the bottom of the bottle. Place a plastic ring -- such as a teething ring -- on top of the bottle opening to resemble the pi"ot (oint.