14-day clean eating diet plan

 In the area of health and wellness, clean eating has become a fad, and for good reason. Clean eating can enhance your health, lower inflammation, and aid in weight loss since it emphasizes full, unadulterated foods. We'll discuss a 14-day clean eating diet plan in this article to see how it can help you lose the most weight and get healthier overall.

Day 1-3:

The first three days of the 14-day clean eating diet plan are focused on reducing inflammation and resetting your body. During this time, you will eliminate all processed foods, sugar, and alcohol from your diet. You will focus on consuming whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

Breakfast: Green smoothie with spinach, banana, almond milk, and chia seeds.

Snack: Apple slices with almond butter.

Lunch: Grilled chicken breast with roasted vegetables.

Snack: Carrots and hummus.

Dinner: Baked salmon with quinoa and steamed broccoli.

Day 4-7:

The next four days of the 14-day clean eating diet plan focus on increasing your protein intake and reducing your carbohydrate intake. You will continue to eat whole foods, but will focus on lean proteins such as chicken, turkey, and fish, and healthy fats such as avocado and nuts.

Breakfast: Omelet with spinach, mushrooms, and feta cheese.

Snack: Greek yogurt with berries.

Lunch: Grilled turkey burger with avocado and sweet potato fries.

Snack: Mixed nuts.

Dinner: Baked cod with roasted asparagus and brown rice.

Day 8-10:

The next three days of the 14-day clean eating diet plan focus on increasing your fiber intake and reducing your calorie intake. You will eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to keep you feeling full and satisfied.

Breakfast: Steel-cut oatmeal with mixed berries and almond milk.

Snack: Pear slices with almond butter.

Lunch: Grilled chicken salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, and balsamic vinaigrette.

Snack: Hard-boiled egg.

Dinner: Roasted turkey breast with quinoa and roasted vegetables.

Day 11-14:

The final four days of the 14-day clean eating diet plan focus on maintaining your weight loss and keeping your body healthy. You will continue to eat whole foods, but will focus on healthy fats such as olive oil and nuts, and lean proteins such as fish and tofu.

Breakfast: Greek yogurt with sliced almonds and mixed berries.

Snack: Raw vegetables with hummus.

Lunch: Grilled salmon with quinoa and mixed vegetables.

Snack: Cottage cheese with pineapple.

Dinner: Grilled tofu with mixed vegetables and brown rice.

14-Day Clean Eating Diet Plan

Day 1:

Breakfast: Green smoothie with spinach, banana, almond milk, and chia seeds.

Snack: Apple slices with almond butter.

Lunch: Grilled chicken breast with roasted vegetables.

Snack: Carrots and hummus.

Dinner: Baked salmon with quinoa and steamed broccoli.

Day 2:

Breakfast: Greek yogurt with mixed berries and sliced almonds.

Snack: Raw vegetables with hummus.

Lunch: Grilled turkey burger with avocado and sweet potato fries.

Snack: Mixed nuts.

Dinner: Baked cod with roasted asparagus and brown rice.

Day 3:

Breakfast: Omelet with spinach, mushrooms, and feta cheese.

Snack: Greek yogurt with berries.

Lunch: Grilled chicken salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, and balsamic vinaigrette.

Snack: Hard-boiled egg.

Dinner: Roasted turkey breast with quinoa and roasted vegetables.

Day 4:

Breakfast: Steel-cut oatmeal with mixed berries and almond milk.

Snack: Pear slices with almond butter.

Lunch: Grilled salmon with quinoa and mixed vegetables.

Snack: Cottage cheese with pineapple.

Dinner: Grilled tofu with mixed vegetables and brown rice.

Day 5:

Breakfast: Green smoothie with spinach, banana, almond milk, and chia seeds.

Snack: Apple slices with almond butter.

Lunch: Grilled chicken breast with roasted vegetables.

Snack: Carrots and hummus.

Dinner: Baked salmon with quinoa and steamed broccoli.

Day 6:

Breakfast: Greek yogurt with mixed berries and sliced almonds.

Snack: Raw vegetables with hummus.

Lunch: Grilled turkey burger with avocado and sweet potato fries.

Snack: Mixed nuts.

Dinner: Baked cod with roasted asparagus and brown rice.

Day 7:

Breakfast: Omelet with spinach, mushrooms, and feta cheese.

Snack: Greek yogurt with berries.

Lunch: Grilled chicken salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, and balsamic vinaigrette.

Snack: Hard-boiled egg.

Dinner: Roasted turkey breast with quinoa and roasted vegetables.

Day 8:

Breakfast: Steel-cut oatmeal with mixed berries and almond milk.

Snack: Pear slices with almond butter.

Lunch: Grilled salmon with quinoa and mixed vegetables.

Snack: Cottage cheese with pineapple.

Dinner: Grilled tofu with mixed vegetables and brown rice.

Day 9:

Breakfast: Green smoothie with spinach, banana, almond milk, and chia seeds.

Snack: Apple slices with almond butter.

Lunch: Grilled chicken breast with roasted vegetables.

Snack: Carrots and hummus.

Dinner: Baked salmon with quinoa and steamed broccoli.

Day 10:

Breakfast: Greek yogurt with mixed berries and sliced almonds.

Snack: Raw vegetables with hummus.

Lunch: Grilled turkey burger with avocado and sweet potato fries.

Snack: Mixed nuts.

Dinner: Baked cod with roasted asparagus and brown rice.

Day 11:

Breakfast: Omelet with spinach, mushrooms, and feta cheese.

Snack: Greek yogurt with berries.

Lunch: Grilled chicken salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, and balsamic vinaigrette.

Snack: Hard-boiled egg.

Dinner: Roasted turkey breast with quinoa and roasted vegetables.

Day 12:

Breakfast: Steel-cut oatmeal with mixed berries and almond milk.

Snack: Pear slices with almond butter.

Lunch: Grilled salmon with quinoa and mixed vegetables.

Snack: Cottage cheese with pineapple.

Dinner: Grilled tofu

Conclusion:

By following this 14-day clean eating diet plan, you can achieve optimal weight loss and improve your overall health. By focusing on whole, unprocessed foods, you can reduce inflammation, promote weight loss, and feel better both physically and mentally. Remember to stay hydrated, get plenty of sleep, and exercise regularly to maximize your results.

A Fruitful View of Beauty

Here are the nutritional highlights of 1 large peach:

• Calories 67...
• Protein 1.1g

• Carbohydrate 17.4g

• Total Fat 0.14g

• Fiber3.1g

The antioxidant Vitamin C that's found in peaches is an anti-inflammatory agent which can help reduce asthma symptoms.

Peaches (the fruitful view) are also a good source of potassium, carotene and natural sugar. There is a gently laxative effect associated with peaches.

Fresh peaches are low in calories but when canned in syrup the calories would be higher. They make good and nutritious snacks.

Fruits are a beauty to look at. Make a fruit salad with a combination of fruits. What an awesome fruit view of beauty.

Fruits are delicious in taste and rich source of vitamins, anti- oxidants, minerals and dietary fibers. It is recommended to eat raw fruits or fresh fruit juices for optimum benefits. Fruits are beneficial in reducing weight, improve digestion, reducing effects of Alzheimer disease and reducing the risk of heart disease.

Apple

Is a rich source of fiber and phytochemicals. High fiber content reduces the chances of heart disease. Apple contains no fat, so it is good for reducing weight.

Banana

Is enriched with calcium, fibers, and potassium.Potassium is important in the cardiac health of human.Potassium reduces the risk of heart diseases. Calcium is necessary in preventing osteoporosis in veterans. Banana also gives instant energy. Banana contains zero cholesterol and zero fat. Banana is beneficial in the treatment of diarrhea and gastric ulcers.

Black grape

Black grape is enriched with flavonoids, minerals and nutrients, which are helpful in heart functioning and blood circulation. Black grapes reduce the cholesterol level and also reduces appetite, so it is helpful in reducing weight.

Orange

Is citrus food which is a rich source of Vitamin C; therefore, can strengthen our body’s immune system. Orange is also loaded with anti-oxidants and folic acids. Oranges are rich source of Beta-carotene. Oranges also contain plenty of iron content which can prevent anemia.

Why don’t you lose weight when you do extreme?

What all you have not done to lose weight? You went running for miles, you did crash dieting, in fact, you did not even eat literally for so many days but did it help.

Did you lose weight? The answer is an obvious no. have you ever asked why did this happen? Well, the answer is very simple. You did not lose weight because all that you did was not natural. 

When you crash diet the body feels there is crisis d it would not get any food in near future so it slows down the metabolism further and starts storing all the energy that it can as fat.

Definitely, the body has to make amendments if the starvation-like situation is perceived by the body. So you must not resort to such shortcuts and follow the natural way of losing weight by increasing the metabolic rate of the body.

This can be done easily by having garcinia cambogia for diet.

This fruit is great for all those who want to lose weight desperately as well as those who want to keep fit throughout their life. 

But the question is it available at all places? There is a great possibility that this fruit id not available everywhere but you can definitely get the extract of this fruit available in the market easily.

The garciniacambogiafordiet extract is equally effective as the fruit itself. The extract has the rare acid present in this fruit that is the key factor in making you lose weight effectively known as hydroxy citric acid.

This acid keeps your satiety center flooded with the signals of no appetite and this helps you not eat much.

 Also, it prevents the excess carbohydrates from being converted to fat and thus prevents deposition of the new fat layer under the surface of your skin.

Quit Smoking For Good With These Tips

You will benefit in health and in other ways when you stop smoking.
Make sure you take quitting one step at the time. Giving up the tobacco habit is a slow process.Take it one day at a time and as each day turns into another, which will help establish a habit that will help you over the long term.

If you’re trying to stop smoking, stop thinking about forever.Focus on giving up cigarettes for the day without smoking. You can always have more long term goals once you feel comfortable with your level of commitment to quit.

Exercise is also a stress reliever. If you do not exercise normally, you can start slowly by walking regularly. Speak to a physician before you start any kind of exercise routine.
Try eating more veggies in fruits to avoid gaining the weight gain from quitting smoking. This will prevent the likelihood of weight gain that comes with quitting.

If you have been unable to stop smoking with just willpower, consider nicotine replacement therapy.
You should not attempt to shoulder the entire burden of smoking cessation. You can also be interested in joining a support group for people
that are trying to stop smoking.



Cut back before you smoke. This is a good way to ease into the process of eliminating smoking. Try waiting at least one hour before you smoke your first morning cigarette. You can also try to only smoke just one half of a cigarette at a time to cut back on your smoking.

The absolute best advice you can get for quitting smoking is to just do it. Stopping completely is the best way to really quit. Just stop and never let yourself start doing it again. This method can appear somewhat harsh. It has been shown to be the most effective in the long run.


Keep your motivation for quitting on your mind and vision all of the time. This can be accomplished by posting motivational sayings in your office, or even wearing bracelets that remind you of your intentions.

Find support through online forums or communities for those who are trying to quit. There are a lot of different websites that are devoted to help people stop smoking. It may be helpful and informative for you to compare different quitting methods with others.

Stay clear of situations where you would be tempted to smoke.
The first week after you stop smoking is the worst stage. The first two days without smoking is when the body rids itself completely of all the nicotine it has held onto.

 After this point, you will mostly be dealing with the psychological addiction. It is still difficult, but the craving will get less as time passes.

Instead of thinking that you “must” quit, think of it as a gift to yourself. Think about how your life is going to improve, and that the benefits of smoking are so important compared to the few detriments. This will give you a good reason to quit and the rationale to kick the habit immediately.

Get help from friends and family when you stop smoking.Tell those who are close to you that you want to quit smoking. Their added support could be the overriding factor that helps you achieve success.You should also think about joining a smoking cessation group and even check into behavioral therapy to aid your attempt to quit.

When that urge to smoke hits, pull out the list and use it for motivation to keep you going.
Tell those around you know that you are going to stop smoking. If all these people know you want to quit, you’ll feel more accountable. You will do your best not to disappoint them or fall short of their expectations.

This could be exactly the motivation that you going when the going gets tough.
A skilled acupuncturist can help reduce or eliminate cravings by performing targeted acupuncture services in the appropriate areas. While it sounds unpleasant, most of those that have gone through it state the pain isn’t intolerable.

Holding a toothpick in your mouth is a good occupier. Gum and hard candy are also helpful.Be careful not to use most food items for this purpose, however, so that you don’t create a weight problem while trying to quit smoking.

Try deep breathing exercises to help you deal with cravings. Breathe in using your nose while counting up to ten.Hold your breath and exhale while counting to ten. This will reduce all of the stress you feel from cravings and refocuses your attention.


Understand the risks involved with using scopolamine or atropine to help you stop smoking. These drugs can help alleviate your nicotine withdrawal symptoms, but they have their own troublesome side effects.


These side effects could include dizziness, trouble urinating, constipation, and constipation. You do not need to replace one problem with some other serious heath problems.
Try to develop three different plans for kicking the smoking habit.


Try quitting cold turkey the first attempt. Even though the chances of you actually quitting are five percent, you might be able to conquer smoking this way. For your second quit date, try to cut back gradually. If you fail at this, keep going! Consult your doctor on prescription treatment options or try joining a support team.


Undoubtedly, you are familiar with the advantages that come with giving up tobacco. But even these benefits might not be enough motivation to quit smoking, and this is the focus of this guide.

 Utilize them when you believe that your motivational levels need increasing or when a craving arises. You will be able to run faster and breathe more easily before you realize it.

Stop Letting Your Nicotine Addiction Rule Your Life – Stop Smoking With These Easy Tips

It is no secret that smoking is detrimental to your health, but choose to do it anyway. It is easier to say you want to quit than to actually do it. This article can help you learn about quitting smoking for people who really want to quit.

These individuals can offer support, support, and guidance for quitting. You can check your local church, rec center, or community colleges.

Make sure you take the process one day at a time. Quitting smoking is a process. Take each day as it comes and concentrate on not smoking that day, your efforts to quit will gather into a smoke free future.

Exercise can go a very effective stress brought on by nicotine withdrawals. If you do not exercise normally, start off slowly with a few walks. Speak to your physician before starting an exercise routine.

Your doctor can be a great resource if your are not able to stop smoking. There are medications, including certain antidepressants, which require a prescription that can help you get through the trials and tribulations of quitting.


You should not attempt to shoulder the entire burden of smoking cessation. You may also be interested in joining a support group for people that are trying to stop smoking.

.
To avoid nicotine cravings, find healthy ways to deal with the resulting stress. You may find it helpful to work out during the most difficult part of the day, keeping a journal, or treating yourself to a spa visit whenever your cravings are at their peak.

When you have downtime, occupy yourself with lighthearted distractions such as reading, playing games, scheduled chats with friends or new games.
Let your loved ones know that you plan to stop smoking.

They will be able to help you and keep reminding you that you must quit. The most effective way to quit is to have a strong support system. This will make it a lot easier to succeed in your chance of successfully quitting smoking.


Many former smokers were not successful the first attempt to quit. When you decide to quit smoking, try to refrain from smoking for as long as possible. If you do start up again, set a new date to quit again. Just continue to quit and try to stop longer each time, learning from your failings as you go.


Put the list in a visual location so that you will be able to see it every day. This will be helpful when you’re feeling temptation.


You need to do everything possible to keep your motivation in sight at all times.
This could involve you gluing motivational posters and messages to the walls at your work office, or wearing a bracelet that symbolizes your intentions.

Plan ahead on how to manage any stressful events that might arise.
Many smokers get used to lighting up when stressed. Have a backup plan in case the first idea doesn’t work.

Exercising generates a healthy, which can improve your mood and help you focus on something else than your cravings. Exercise also helps to compensate for your metabolism slowing down as you quit, reducing your potential weight gain.

When you are trying to stop smoking, eat a lot of nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruit. Eating foods that are low in calories and healthy food help people quit smoking in many ways. For one thing, eating fruits and vegetables allows you to do something with your mouth and hands while you are quitting smoking.

 Eating this type of a diet can also minimize the weight gain after you stop smoking. The nutrients will also help you feel during the withdrawal period.
If you feel you are about to crack, call someone for support.

The time you take to make the call will offer you a distraction, and knowing that you aren’t alone will help you deal with the issue.Try deep breathing if you are trying to fend off a craving for cigarettes.


This will give you a chance to focus and remember why you really want to quit.It will also push oxygen into your lungs, which can help you to feel more refreshed. Deep breathing techniques can be done anywhere and at any time.


Use common sense when eating.You shouldn’t try to diet while quitting smoking. You should eat in a balanced and healthy diet. Studies have shown that fruits, fruits and low-fat dairy items have a bad taste. Eating these types of food items may help you quit smoking.

Think about what challenges you will have to face when you quit smoking. A lot of people who manage to quit, may begin smoking again soon after. It can be incredibly tempting to give into the urge for a quick cigarette if you are tired or stressed. Make sure to understand the different things that trigger your urges and temptations.


Tell those around you know that you are quitting cigarettes. If all these people know you want to quit, then all of them can hold you accountable. You are not going to want to upset people or disappoint other people. This could be exactly the motivation that you stay away from smoking cigarettes when the going gets tough.

It is possible to stop smoking if you decide to put some effort into it. The trick is to be determined to quit, and to plan a strategy and stick to it. Make an honest effort using the advice you’ve read here, and you might just quit smoking for good.

 

 

The Best Ways You Can Stop Smoking

Your family doesn’t want you try to stop smoking. Your doctor probably urges you to quit as well. Your insurance company will even provide a discount to you to get you to quit.The time is now, so keep reading for tips to help you stop smoking.


 Writing something down can affect your mental outlook. This can help you stay motivated, and might even make quitting easier because you are able to remain focused. Make sure you remember to take quitting one step at the time.


Quitting can be a task that needs to be dealt with methodically. Take it one day at a time and as each day turns into another, which will help establish a habit ng.
that will help you over the long term. Let your family and friends know if you want to quit smoking.

 When you share this information with those closest to you, they can do things to help you stay motivated and keep temptation away. This could be that extra push that helps keep you on track towards your effort to stop smoking cessation. If you cannot quit cold turkey, consider nicotine replacement therapy.


 You should not attempt to shoulder the entire burden of smoking cessation. You can also be interested in joining a support group for people that are trying to stop smoking. For instance, once a week has gone by without a cigarette, treat yourself to a movie. Once you’ve passed that month long milestone, go to a special restaurant.


Continue creating rewards to work towards until you forget about smoking any more. Secondhand smoke can cause cancer and other major health issues. Once you quit for your own health, then your loved ones will no longer be exposed to the dangers secondhand smoke brings with it. Quitting will improve the health of yourself and everyone around you healthier.

One strategy to help you quit smoking is to change to a different brand switch. Consider smoking a brand you don’t care for. Do not smoke a greater number of them than usual or modify the way in which you have chosen to purchase light cigarettes.


This technique will get you in your efforts to quit. Reduce the amount of cigarettes you smoke a little each day. This will assist you down the road to stopping your smoking cessation journey.


Try waiting at least one hour after waking before having your first cigarette of the day. You can also try to only smoke just one half a cigarette rather than a whole one to cut back on smoking. You need to do everything possible to keep your motivation to stop smoking high.


 This could involve you gluing motivational posters and messages to the walls at your work office, or even wearing bracelets that remind you of your intentions. Plan how you can deal with those stressful situations. Many smokers respond to stress by lighting up in response to stress. Keep a list of several distractions that you can use in case plan A doesn’t work out.

Even people who have the best intentions and the best people fail sometimes. You might find success in your next time. Instead of thinking that you “must” quit, see it as a gift to yourself. Keep in mind how beneficial it is going to be to your health and quality of life, and remember that the pros are much greater than the cons.


This keeps you a good reason to quit and give you true reasons to quit now. Get rid of all the ashtrays and lighters you may have around your home. Wash your clothes and clean your house to remove the smell of smoke.



Doing these things will make it less likely that you aren’t reminded about smoking and wind up with a cigarette craving. Discuss smoking cessation drugs with your physician about medications you could possible take to assist you in quitting.


There has been much progress in the area of smoking cessation. Consult with your doctor for guidance and recommendations. Counseling can help you need to stop smoking. There are often emotional factors influencing people to smoke.

When you have dealt with this issue, it’s easier to stop smoking. When you are attempting to resist the temptation of a cigarette, take out this list and read it to motivate yourself. Try finding a less harmful habit than smoking that is healthier. Quitting for anyone but yourself is not succeed.


Tell everyone you that you want to stop smoking. If lots of people know you’re quitting smoking, you’ll feel more accountable. You do not want to disappoint your loved ones or fall short when it comes to their expectations.


This can inspire you stay away from smoking even when things end up getting hard. You need to believe that you have the power to finally quit. You have undoubtedly succeeded in other areas of your life that at the time seemed impossible to overcome.


Think about those successes, and it will make you realize that you are capable of doing this as well. Now you are well equipped with information that will enable you to stop this unwanted habit for good.

 Once you are free from smoking, you will be healthier, more satisfied with yourself and your choices, and you could wind up living a lot longer. Take all the funds you would have spent deserve it!on tobacco and buy something nice for your family for all the support they give you–they

Nanoparticle vaccine shows potential as immunotherapy to fight multiple cancer types

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Summary:

A first-of-its-kind nanoparticle vaccine immunotherapy has been developed that targets several different cancer types, outlines a new report.

Laser light can be seen scattered by nanoparticles in a solution of the UTSW-developed nanovaccine.

Researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed a first-of-its-kind nanoparticle vaccine immunotherapy that targets several different cancer types.

The nanovaccine consists of tumor antigens -- tumor proteins that can be recognized by the immune system -- inside a synthetic polymer nanoparticle. Nanoparticle vaccines deliver minuscule particulates that stimulate the immune system to mount an immune response. The goal is to help people's own bodies fight cancer.

"What is unique about our design is the simplicity of the single-polymer composition that can precisely deliver tumor antigens to immune cells while stimulating innate immunity. These actions result in safe and robust production of tumor-specific T cells that kill cancer cells," said Dr. Jinming Gao, a Professor of Pharmacology and Otolaryngology in UT Southwestern's Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.

A study outlining this research, published online in Nature Nanotechnology, reported that the nanovaccine had anti-tumor efficacy in multiple tumor types in mice.

The research was a collaboration between the laboratories of study senior authors Dr. Gao and Dr. Zhijian "James" Chen, Professor of Molecular Biology and Director of the Center for Inflammation Research. The Center was established in 2015 to study how the body senses infection and to develop approaches to exploit this knowledge to create new treatments for infection, immune disorders, and autoimmunity.

Typical vaccines require immune cells to pick up tumor antigens in a "depot system" and then travel to the lymphoid organs for T cell activation, Dr. Gao said. Instead, nanoparticle vaccines can travel directly to the body's lymph nodes to activate tumor-specific immune responses.

"For nanoparticle vaccines to work, they must deliver antigens to proper cellular compartments within specialized immune cells called antigen-presenting cells and stimulate innate immunity," said Dr. Chen, also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and holder of the George L. MacGregor Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science. "Our nanovaccine did all of those things."

In this case, the experimental UTSW nanovaccine works by activating an adaptor protein called STING, which in turn stimulates the body's immune defense system to ward off cancer.

The scientists examined a variety of tumor models in mice: melanoma, colorectal cancer, and HPV-related cancers of the cervix, head, neck, and anogenital regions. In most cases, the nanovaccine slowed tumor growth and extended the animals' lives.

Other vaccine technologies have been used in cancer immunotherapy. However, they are usually complex -- consisting of live bacteria or multiplex biological stimulants, Dr. Gao said. This complexity can make production costly and, in some cases, lead to immune-related toxicities in patients.

With the emergence of new nanotechnology tools and increased understanding of polymeric drug delivery, Dr. Gao said, the field of nanoparticle vaccines has grown and attracted intense interest from academia and industry in the past decade.

"Recent advances in understanding innate and adaptive immunity have also led to more collaborations between immunologists and nanotechnologists," said Dr. Chen. "These partnerships are critical in propelling the rapid development of new generations of nanovaccines."

The investigative team is now working with physicians at UT Southwestern to explore clinical testing of the STING-activating nanovaccines for a variety of cancer indications. Combining nanovaccines with radiation or other immunotherapy strategies such as "checkpoint inhibition" can further augment their anti-tumor effectiveness.

source:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170424110841.htm

Holy chickens: Did Medieval religious rules drive domestic chicken evolution?

Summary:

Chickens were domesticated from Asian jungle fowl around 6,000 years ago. Since domestication they have acquired a number of traits that are valuable to humans, including those concerning appearance, reduced aggression and faster egg-laying, although it is not known when and why these traits evolved. Now, an international team of scientists has combined DNA data from archaeological chicken bones with statistical modeling to pinpoint when these traits started to increase in frequency in Europe.

 Chickens were domesticated from Asian jungle fowl around 6000 years ago. Since domestication they have acquired a number of traits that are valuable to humans, including those concerning appearance, reduced aggression and faster egg-laying, although it is not known when and why these traits evolved.

Now, an international team of scientists has combined DNA data from archaeological chicken bones with statistical modeling to pinpoint when these traits started to increase in frequency in Europe.

"Ancient DNA allows us to observe how genes have changed in the past, but the problem has always been to get high enough time resolution to link genetic evolution to potential causes.

 But with enough data and a novel statistical framework, we now have timings that are precise enough to correlate them with ecological and cultural shifts." says Liisa Loog, the first author of the study.

To their surprise they found that this happened in High Middle Ages, around 1000 A.D. Intriguingly these strong selection pressures coincided with increasing urbanization and Christian edicts that enforced fasting and the exclusion of four legged animals from the menu. Could Medieval religious rules have increased the demand for poultry and thereby altered chicken evolution?

"With our new method we see that the time of selection coincides with an increase in the amount of chicken bones in the archaeological records across Northern Europe. Intriguingly, they also coincide with several socio-cultural changes, including a general increase in the popularity of Christian beliefs, new religious dietary rules and increase in urbanization (favoring traits that mean that animals could be kept in small spaces). 

We cannot say which one of these was most important but most likely a combination of all these factors affected selective pressures on European chickens and consequently their evolution." Says author Anders Eriksson.

Scientists have been attempting to link traits that distinguish domesticated animals from their wild relatives to specific changes in their genomes. Recent studies of domestic chickens have pinpointed genetic variants in two genes: the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) and the beta-carotene dioxygenase 2 (BCD02), both of which also show strong signals of selection. Having two copies of a form of the TSHR gene is thought to lead to a loss of seasonal reproduction in many domestic animals.

 In chickens, a variant of this gene has been shown to enable faster egg-laying, and result in reduced aggression and decreased fear of humans. BCD02 has an effect on skin pigmentation in birds, with one form associated with white or grey skin, and another associated with yellow skin in well-fed chickens.

In 2014, a group led by Greger Larson looked at these two genes in around 100 archaeological samples from Europe spanning the last 2,200 years. But due to a lack of the right statistical methods, they did not quantify the timing or strength of natural selection.

Now, a research team led by Liisa Loog, Anders Eriksson, Mark Thomas and Greger Larson analyzed ancient and modern chicken DNA using a statistical method they developed to pinpoint when selection starts and how strong it is. 

They found that selection on the TSHR gene began around 920 AD, which coincides with increased chicken consumption across the whole of Northern Europe, as seen in the archaeological record.

"Several independent archaeological studies have documented substantial increases in the frequency of chicken remains between the 9th and 12th centuries AD, as well as a shift towards the management of adult hens, presumably to increase egg production." said Mark Thomas, an author on the study. "Intriguingly, this is the period when selection on the TSHR variant most likely kicked off."

There are several socio-economic factors could have contributed to the rise in popularity of poultry, including religious edicts that prohibited meat consumption during fasting. Importantly, chickens and eggs were not restricted by these edicts, which may have led to an increase in selective pressures on THSR, allowing chickens to be raised in closer confines as demand for their meat and eggs increased.

"This significant intensification of chicken and egg production has been linked to Christian fasting practices, originating with the Benedictine Monastic Order, which disallowed the consumption of meat from four-legged animals during fasting periods, but the restrictions did not extend to birds or eggs. These dietary rules were adopted across Europe and applied to all segments of society around 1000 AD." said author Anders Eriksson. "However, The increase in chicken production could also have been favored by u

rbanization, the introduction of the more efficient agricultural practices and a warmer climate."

For BCDO2, the gene which plays a role in leg color, they authors show that while the genetic patterns are compatible with some level of selection, the genetics of modern chickens is best explained as a consequence of Victorian breeding practices, which involved cross-breeding native European breeds with exotic Asian chickens.

The authors new statistical approach, which combines mathematical modeling with ancient DNA information, provides a tool for exploring the links between genetic evolution in domestic plants and animals and the parallel cultural changes in human populations, as they have each responded to alterations in natural and artificial selective pressures.

"We tend to think that there were wild animals, and then there were domestic animals. We tend to discount how selection pressures on domestic plants and animals varied through time in response to different preferences or ecological factors. 

This study demonstrates just how easy it is to drive a trait to a high frequency in an evolutionary blink of an eye, and suggests that simply because a domestic trait is ubiquitous, it may not have been a target for selection at the very beginning of the domestication process," said author Greger Larson.

"The processes and driving mechanisms responsible for generating the patterns of genomic variation in humans and their co-dependent domestic plants and animals found today can be explored using this new tool" concluded first author Liisa Loog.

Source:Molecular Biology and Evolution (Oxford University Press)

Diagnosed autism linked to maternal grandmother's smoking in pregnancy

 Source:
University of Bristol
Summary:
Scientists have looked at all 14,500 participants in Children of the 90s and found that if a girl's maternal grandmother smoked during pregnancy, the girl is 67 percent more likely to display certain traits linked to autism, such as poor social communication skills and repetitive behaviors.

 Scientists from the University of Bristol have looked at all 14,500 participants in Children of the 90s and found that if a girl's maternal grandmother smoked during pregnancy, the girl is 67% more likely to display certain traits linked to autism, such as poor social communication skills and repetitive behaviours.

The team also found that if the maternal grandmother smoked, this increased by 53% the risk of her grandchildren having a diagnosed autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

These discoveries suggest that if a female is exposed to cigarette smoke while she is still in the womb, it could affect the developing eggs -- causing changes that may eventually affect the development of her own children. Further research is now needed to find out what these molecular changes might be, and to see whether the same associations are present in other groups of people.

Unlike the analysis of autistic traits, which was based on over 7,000 participants, the 177 diagnosed with ASD were too few to analyse grandsons and granddaughters separately.

The discovery, published today in Scientific Reports, is part of an ongoing, long-term study of the effects of maternal and paternal grandmother's smoking in pregnancy on the development of their grandchildren, who are all part of Children of the 90s. By using detailed information collected over many years on multiple factors that may affect children's health and development, the researchers were able to rule out other potential explanations for their results.

The incidence of ASD has increased in recent years, and while some of this increase is undoubtedly down to improved diagnosis, changes in environment or lifestyle are also likely to play a role. The researchers also stress that many different factors, including genetic variation, are believed to affect an individual's chances of developing ASD.

Past studies of maternal smoking in pregnancy and ASD in children have been inconclusive. Going back a generation has revealed an intergenerational effect, which interestingly is most clear cut when the mother herself did not smoke in pregnancy.

The reasons for this are not entirely clear but Professor Marcus Pembrey, one of the paper's authors, says: 'In terms of mechanisms, there are two broad possibilities. There is DNA damage that is transmitted to the grandchildren or there is some adaptive response to the smoking that leaves the grandchild more vulnerable to ASD. We have no explanation for the sex difference, although we have previously found that grand-maternal smoking is associated with different growth patterns in grandsons and granddaughters.


'More specifically, we know smoking can damage the DNA of mitochondria -- the numerous "power-packs" contained in every cell, and mitochondria are only transmitted to the next generation via the mother's egg. The initial mitochondrial DNA mutations often have no overt effect in the mother herself, but the impact can increase when transmitted to her own children.'



Professor Jean Golding, another author, added: 'We already know that protecting a baby from tobacco smoke is one of the best things a woman can do to give her child a healthy start in life. Now we've found that not smoking during pregnancy could also give their future grandchildren a better start too.




We have started studying the next generation of participants (COCO90s), so eventually we will be able to see if the effect carries down from the great-grandparents to their great-grandchildren too.'


Dr Dheeraj Rai, another author, added: 'We still do not know why many children develop autism and behaviours linked to it. The associations we observe raise intriguing issues on possible transgenerational influences in autism. Future research will help understand the meaning and mechanisms behind these findings. The National Autistic Society website contains a wealth of information about autism and details on how and where to seek advice.'


Alycia Halladay, PhD, chief science officer at the Autism Science Foundation (USA), said: 'To date, research into the causes of autism has been limited to studying maternal or paternal exposures during pregnancy. By utilizing a birth cohort in the United Kingdom [Children of the 90s], scientists are able to go back a generation to examine the role of grandparental exposures,




presumably through germ line mutations and epigenetic modifications. Hopefully, grandparental exposures will continue to be investigated to better understand this mechanism.'

22 Fun Facts About Apples

It’s not autumn for me until I’ve gone apple picking. One of my favorite fall hobbies, I love the smell of the orchard and the brilliant red fruits ripe on the lush green trees. I grew up in an area rich in fruit trees so it’s no wonder I find these delicious fruits so comforting. Because I love apples I found some fun facts to share with you. Here are 22 of my favorite facts about apples:

1.  There is only one apple that is native to North America—the crabapple.

2.  Apples contain 0 grams of fat or sodium and have no cholesterol.

3.  At 4 grams per average size apple, they are a great source of fiber.

4.  Apple varieties range in size from a pea to the size of a small pumpkin.

5.  There are over 8000 varieties of apples.

6.  An average-sized apple tree can produce enough apples to fill 20 boxes that weight 42 pounds each.


See Also: Top 10 Health Benefits of Eating Kale


7.  Apples are members of the rose family.

Love This? Never Miss Another Story.

  Sign Up
8.  It takes about 36 apples to make one gallon of apple cider.

9.  An average size apple contains 80 calories.

10.  Thanks to their high levels of boron, apples can help improve your memory, mental alertness, and electrical activity of the brain.

11.  While not high in calcium, their boron content helps strengthen bones.

12.  The soluble fiber found in apples is called pectin and can help lower cholesterol levels.

13.  Apples may help boost estrogen levels in menopausal women.

14.  The average person eats 65 apples a year.

15.  The largest apple ever picked was 3 pounds 2 ounces.

16.  Humans have been eating apples as far back as 6500 BC.

17.  In China the word for apples is pronounced “ping” which also means peace.

18.  Apples are 25% air, which is why they float in water.

19.  Most of the antioxidants found in apples, including quercetin, are found in the skin.

20.  The most popular varieties of apples in the US are the Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and the Granny Smith.

21.  The McIntosh apple is the national apple of Canada.

22.  Apples are believed to have originated in an area between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.

source:https://www.care2.com/greenliving/22-fun

URPOWER 2nd Version Essential Oil Diffuser

Are Smartphones Going to Replace Doctors?

 "You have to see a doctor," my boyfriend insisted groggily one night, his own sleep destroyed by my nagging cough, which hadn't subsided in three weeks. As much as I hate going to the doctor (the scheduling, the waiting room, the festering germs), I knew he was right. There was one problem: I had recently switched insurance plans and had yet to find a new primary care physician. The next morning, in a pinch, I decided to take advantage of my insurer's telemedicine service: All I had to do was go online, fill out my basic medical history and explain the current issue. There. Done. And I didn't even have to get off my—cough, cough—couch. 

Within an hour, my phone rang. As the doctor quickly read my medical profile aloud, I described my symptoms. "This cough, it's relentless," I told him, hacking into the phone. "Do I need to be worried? Is it weird that it's been going on so long?" 

"Do you have a temperature?" he asked. 
"I don't know," I said. "I don't have a thermometer." 
"You don't...own...a thermometer?" 

Before I could ask whether a fever would signal a more serious problem, he was giving instructions: "This is what I want you to do. When you go to bed tonight, make yourself a hot toddy. NyQuil is loaded with alcohol anyway, so it's basically the same thing." 

Wait, what? Is this 1950? 

"Uh, sure," I said, staring at my bar cart and feeling increasingly less confident that my health was in good hands. "But this cough—do you think it's viral? Bacterial? Allergies?" The doctor never answered my question, but he did tell me he would send a prescription for a sleep aid and a cough suppressant just in case the toddy didn't cut it. Then, after what had been a five-minute conversation, we hung up. 

Still, not knowing the cause of my cough made me nervous, so I immediately scheduled an in-person appointment with the first doctor I found who accepted my insurance and could squeeze me in at the last minute. After examining me, she diagnosed me with adult-onset allergies and recommended an over-the-counter antihistamine, which did the trick in just a few days. That cough and shot of bourbon wouldn't have helped much. Which makes you wonder: Is telemedicine really such a good idea? 

Doctors have long answered calls from their patients, sometimes prescribing medication over the phone; the difference now is that the doctors employed by telemedicine companies, such as Teladoc and American Well, are treating patients they've never met and may never speak to again. (Most people using these services have acute conditions, says Lori Uscher-Pines, PhD, a researcher at the think tank RAND Corporation, who is studying the telemedicine trend. The most common complaints, according to a 2014 study she coauthored in the journal Health Affairs that analyzed claims for more than 2,700 people using Teladoc: respiratory illnesses, urinary tract infections, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and skin problems, like a sudden rash.) 

And the industry is booming—by 2018, the number of patients using telehealth services is expected to increase to seven million, according to a 2014 report by IHS, a research and consulting company. In 2013, there were fewer than 350,000. In June, even the Cleveland Clinic began offering the service to its patients in Ohio. According to a 2015 American Well survey, 64 percent of Americans are willing to have an online video visit with a doctor, and 70 percent prefer such a visit to traveling to their doctor's office for a prescription. In the age of Uber and Netflix and same-day everything, can we really be surprised that our healthcare has also gone on-demand? 



Telemedicine's supporters argue that it fills a void, with the added bonus of being convenient, cost-effective and accessible. But as you might expect, medical boards and healthcare organizations have their concerns; chief among them is misdiagnosis. À la carte care, in which a patient sees a different doctor for each condition, lacks an orchestra conductor, says Robert Wachter, MD, professor and interim chairman of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and author of   "With episodic care, you run the risk of missing the big picture," he says. This might not be a big deal for a healthy 25-year-old, but for older patients—especially those with a chronic condition—piecemeal treatment can be hazardous. "Anyone with chronic problems is more likely to benefit from a physician who knows them well," he says. "If you have someone with emphysema and a history of lung cancer who is on five medications, and they have a new cough, that's very different from a young person with a new cough."

 

best sellilng online tshirtamzn.to/2qTBPVN

    Source: http://www.oprah.com/health_wellness/The-Rise-of-Telemedicine