Atlantic salmon face the abrupt changing climate

Atlantic salmon are among the most imperiled species in the Northeast Region. While at one time hundreds of thousands of salmon made their epic migration from the oceans of Greenland to their natal rivers in Maine, now only remnant populations remain. Recovering this iconic species is a priority for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The odds have been against the salmon. The construction of dams, overfishing, habitat loss, and water pollution have collectively caused their decline.

Biologists at the Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery, part of the Atlantic salmon recovery operation that Santavy oversees, are experimenting with ways to delay the spawning cycle that they’re seeing in the Penobscot River salmon. By artificially manipulating water temperatures and length of daylight they are attempting to bring the captive fish more in sync with seasonal river conditions. Hatchery-raised fish comprise 95-percent of the salmon population in the Penobscot.
Adult Atlantic salmon. Credit: Bob Michelson Adult Atlantic salmon. Credit: Bob Michelson

An additional concern in recovering the Atlantic salmon is that the rivers in the Downeast region of Maine are experiencing extreme fluctuations in water flows – heavier rainfalls happening less frequently, combined with earlier snow and melting river ice – that have been predicted in certain climate change models. During these weather events, the high-flowing water doesn’t have a chance to absorb into the river beds, which contain minerals that serve as a buffer to changing water chemistry. This lack of buffering can increase the acidity of the water. After the rainwater flushes out the system, river flows now tend to decrease rapidly unlike the gradual decline seen in the past.

According to Santavy, these shifting river conditions occur at a time in the spring when the juvenile salmon are very vulnerable. In the wild, the fish have just a one-month window of time to transform from parr into smolt before migrating to the sea.

Biological studies conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) show that it can take weeks for a salmon in this life stage to recover after being exposed to acidic conditions. Acidic pH levels in the water lower than 6 (7 is neutral) can cause naturally occurring aluminum levels in the water to become reactive to the fish. This can prevent calcium from binding to the fishes’ gills – a necessary process for their transition to the marine environment. If this is the case, Santavy says it could help explain the reason smolt are being lost in the estuaries, and would be devastating to recovery efforts.

The Right dieting plans

Dieting do’s

Eat breakfast every day! Skipping it won't help you lose weight. It'll just have you reaching for snacks later.

Drink water, juice, milk or smoothies instead of fizzy drinks. The normal kind are packed with sugar, and the diet kind have no nutritional benefits.

Drink 8 glasses of water a day - it's calorie free! The symptoms of dehydration can also be mistaken for hunger pangs.

Eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Even a glass of fruit juice counts!

The odd treat's fine, just don't base your diet solely around chips!

Dieting don'ts

Don't diet! Instead, aim to get active and eat sensibly. This means eating enough starchy foods (bread, pasta), lots of fruit and veg and moderate amounts of meat, fish and dairy.

Avoid any eating plan that restricts your intake of dairy products. Growing bones need calcium!

Your body needs certain types of fats to look and feel healthy. But limit the saturated kind (found in foods like butter, hard cheese, fatty cuts of meat, pastry, biscuits and cakes) to an occasional treat.

Crash diets don't work in the long term and the weight will pile back on. The best way to achieve lasting results is to adapt your lifestyle gradually.

What is healthy eating all about?

Healthy eating is all about eating a range of foods which gives us a healthy and wholesome balance. It's really important to eat different food types so we get all the nutrients such as vitamins and minerals that we need. Fibre and whole grain foods are excellent too as they help us to digest food really well.

Healthy eating is about enjoying all the wonderful foods out there as well as understanding what we are eating and why? Healthy eating is not designed to be restrictive or un-exciting – there is tremendous variety in what we can prepare and cook.

Removing salt from our cooking and replacing with herbs and spices is a great way of adding extra flavour. Use small amounts of unsaturated fats (liquid at room temperature) in cooking or maybe a spray dispenser or just water for cooking if you want to keep it mega-healthy. We need a good balance of protein and carbohydrate but the least amount of sugar and fats.

Keeping hydrated as well is really key, sensible water intake keeps our bodies working just as they should be helping for example our joints, digestion, brains and skin.

If you would like to find out even more about healthy eating please have a look at the websites featured below, there is lots of information to guide you in eating healthily. And for the children there are some fun sites too!

Motivating kids to enjoy physical activity

Being a role model
Kids will usually follow what you do more than what you say. If they see you enjoying physical activity and having fun, it will motivate them to be more active. It also means they can’t use the classic excuse (either stated or just in their thoughts) of ‘Well, you don’t do anything yourself’.
Playing together is important too. Help your child practise basic sporting and movement skills such as throwing and catching or kicking a ball.

Providing the right conditions
With a bit of planning you can set up the conditions for getting active:
• Have a range of active ideas for when your child says ‘I’m bored’ – hide and seek, skipping, throwing and catching, etc. See activity ideas for more suggestions.
• Buy gifts that encourage physical activity, such as balls, bats or skipping ropes.
• Encourage active play with your child’s friends – bike-riding, kicking a ball.
• Provide some soft balls and equipment for active indoor games.
• Create fun and exciting opportunities for activity, e.g. after school or on weekends. It’s easy to think that your child is sufficiently active at school, but they need to be encouraged to be active at home as well.
• Encourage your child to be more active outside during daylight hours, to balance being less active when it’s not possible for them to be outside.
• Try and plan activities during school holidays, such as trying a new sport or going to a holiday camp.

If your child is inactive, gradually build up the amount of activity they do. Start with a moderate amount and set goals so you can chart progress over time.
Keeping it going

Long-term motivation is not so easy to achieve. Once your child is up and active, take some sensible steps to keep it going:
• Build up the amount of activity over time and chart their progress.
• Let your child try a variety of activities so they find ones they enjoy and want to continue with.
• Keep it interesting. Encourage them to try something different if they lose interest in one activity. Variety also ensures they develop a range of skills.
• Be flexible with the weather and different seasons. Have a list of activities for rainy days.
• Support your child’s choice of activity, whether it’s active play or organised sport.
• Recognise their achievements.
• Offer active rewards if your child attends an activity regularly and achieves their goals, e.g. take them to the pool or the beach.
• Attend practice sessions or matches whenever possible.

Go with Healthy Snacks

If you are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, snacking can be part of your diet. Use moderation and balance when selecting foods to snack on. Select foods that satisfy your hunger, supply your body with energy and provide important nutrients. Try to keep your snack at 100 calories or less. Choose your snacks from the following food groups:

• Fruits and vegetables give you a feeling of fullness with no fat and small amount of calories. These are low energy density foods so you can eat more for your 100 calories. They give you vitamins, minerals, fiber and water.
• Whole grains are rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates to give you energy that will last. Look for low-fat whole-grain crackers, whole grain pretzels and crisp breads.
• Nuts and seeds give you protein and make you feel fuller longer. They are high in healthy fats so be careful how much you eat.
• Low-fat dairy products like cheese, yogurt are good sources of calcium and protein and other vitamins and minerals. Look for the low calorie or “Light” varieties of yogurt.

Food safety guidelines in the kitchen

Clean. Wash hands and surfaces often

Wash your hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds (count to 30) before you handle food or food utensils. Wash your hands after handling or preparing food, especially after handling raw meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, or eggs. Right after you prepare these raw foods, clean the utensils and surfaces you used with hot soapy water. Replace cutting boards once they have become worn or develop hard-to-clean grooves. Wash raw fruit and vegetables under running water before eating. Use a vegetable brush to remove surface dirt if necessary. Always wash your hands after using the bathroom, changing diapers, or playing with pets. When eating out, if the tables, dinnerware, and restrooms look dirty, the kitchen may be, too—so you may want to eat somewhere else.

Separate. Separate raw, cooked, and ready-to-eat foods while shopping, preparing, or storing
Keep raw meat, poultry, eggs, fish, and shellfish away from other foods, surfaces, utensils, or serving plates. This prevents cross-contamination from one food to another. Store raw meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish in containers in the refrigerator so that the juices don't drip onto other foods.

Cook. Cook foods to a safe temperature
Uncooked and undercooked animal foods are potentially unsafe. Proper cooking makes most uncooked foods safe. The best way to tell if meat, poultry, or egg dishes are cooked to a safe temperature is to use a food thermometer. Several kinds of inexpensive food thermometers are available in many stores.

Reheat sauces, soups, marinades, and gravies to a boil. Reheat leftovers thoroughly to at least 165° F. If using a microwave oven, cover the container and turn or stir the food to make sure it is heated evenly throughout. Cook eggs until whites and yolks are firm. Don't eat raw or partially cooked eggs, or foods containing raw eggs, raw (unpasteurized) milk, or cheeses made with raw milk. Choose pasteurized juices. The risk of contamination is high from undercooked hamburger, and from raw fish (including sushi), clams, and oysters. Cook fish and shellfish until it is opaque; fish should flake easily with a fork. When eating out, order foods thoroughly cooked and make sure they are served piping hot.

Chill. Refrigerate perishable foods promptly
When shopping, buy perishable foods last, and take them straight home. At home, refrigerate or freeze meat, poultry, eggs, fish, shellfish, ready-to-eat foods, and leftovers promptly. Refrigerate within 2 hours of purchasing or preparation—and within 1 hour if the air temperature is above 90º F. Refrigerate at or below 40º F, or freeze at or below 0º F. Use refrigerated leftovers within 3 to 4 days. Freeze fresh meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish that cannot be used in a few days. Thaw frozen meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish in the refrigerator, microwave, or cold water changed every 30 minutes. (This keeps the surface chilled.) Cook foods immediately after thawing. Never thaw meat, poultry, fish, or shellfish at room temperature. When eating out, make sure that any foods you order that should be refrigerated are served chilled.

Follow the label
Read the label and follow safety instructions on the package such as "KEEP REFRIGERATED" and the "SAFE HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS."

Serve safely
Keep hot foods hot (140º F or above) and cold foods cold (40º F or below). Harmful bacteria can grow rapidly in the "danger zone" between these temperatures. Whether raw or cooked, never leave meat, poultry, eggs, fish, or shellfish out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour in hot weather 90º F or above). Be sure to chill leftovers as soon as you are finished eating. These guidelines also apply to carry-out meals, restaurant leftovers, and home-packed meals-to-go.

When in doubt, throw it out
If you aren't sure that food has been prepared, served, or stored safely, throw it out. You may not be able to make food safe if it has been handled in an unsafe manner. For example, a food that has been left at room temperature too long may contain a toxin produced by bacteria—one that can't be destroyed by cooking. So if meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, or eggs have been left out for more than 2 hours, or if the food has been kept in the refrigerator too long, don't taste it. Just throw it out. Even if it looks and smells fine, it may not be safe to eat. If you have doubt when you're shopping or eating out, choose something else.

Food Safety Preparation Tips

Begin with clean hands. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before and after preparing fresh produce.

Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fresh fruits and vegetables. Produce that looks rotten should be discarded.

All produce should be thoroughly washed before eating. Wash fruits and vegetables under running water just before eating, cutting or cooking.

Many precut, bagged produce items like lettuce are pre-washed. If the package indicates that the contents have been pre-washed, you can use the produce without further washing.

Even if you plan to peel the produce before eating, it is still important to wash it first.

Washing fruits and vegetables with soap or detergent or using commercial produce washes is not recommended.

Scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.

Drying produce with a clean cloth towel or paper towel may further reduce bacteria that may be present.

Follow 10 Tips for healthy eating and physical activity

• Start your day with breakfast.
Breakfast fills your "empty tank" to get you going after a long night without food. And it can help you do better in school. Easy to prepare breakfasts include cold cereal with fruit and low-fat milk, whole-wheat toast with peanut butter, yogurt with fruit, whole-grain waffles or even last night's pizza!

• Get Moving!
It's easy to fit physical activities into your daily routine. Walk, bike or jog to see friends. Take a 10-minute activity break every hour while you read, do homework or watch TV. Climb stairs instead of taking an escalator or elevator. Try to do these things for a total of 30 minutes every day.

• Snack smart.
Snacks are a great way to refuel. Choose snacks from different food groups - a glass of low-fat milk and a few graham crackers, an apple or celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins, or some dry cereal. If you eat smart at other meals, cookies, chips and candy are OK for occasional snacking.

• Work up a sweat.
Vigorous work-outs - when you're breathing hard and sweating - help your heart pump better, give you more energy and help you look and feel best. Start with a warm-up that stretches your muscles. Include 20 minutes of aerobic activity, such as running, jogging, or dancing. Follow-up with activities that help make you stronger such as push-ups or lifting weights. Then cool-down with more stretching and deep breathing.

• Balance your food choices - don't eat too much of any one thing.
You don't have to give up foods like hamburgers, french fries and ice cream to eat healthy. You just have to be smart about how often and how much of them you eat. Your body needs nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, fat and many different vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C and A, iron and calcium from a variety of foods. Balancing food choices from the Food Guide Pyramid and checking out the Nutrition Facts Panel on food labels will help you get all these nutrients.

• Get fit with friends or family.
Being active is much more fun with friends or family. Encourage others to join you and plan one special physical activity event, like a bike ride or hiking, with a group each week.

• Eat more grains, fruits and vegetables.
These foods give you carbohydrates for energy, plus vitamins, minerals and fiber. Besides, they taste good! Try breads such as whole-wheat, bagels and pita. Spaghetti and oatmeal are also in the grain group.
Bananas, strawberries and melons are some great tasting fruits. Try vegetables raw, on a sandwich or salad.

• Join in physical activities at school.
Whether you take a physical education class or do other physical activities at school, such as intramural sports, structures activities are a sure way to feel good, look good and stay physically fit.
• Foods aren't good or bad.
A healthy eating style is like a puzzle with many parts. Each part -- or food -- is different. Some foods may have more fat, sugar or salt while others may have more vitamins or fiber. There is a place for all these foods. What makes a diet good or bad is how foods fit together. Balancing your choices is important. Fit in a higher-fat food, like pepperoni pizza, at dinner by choosing lower-fat foods at other meals. And don't forget about moderation. If two pieces of pizza fill you up, you don't need a third.

• Make healthy eating and physical activities fun!
Take advantage of physical activities you and your friends enjoy doing together and eat the foods you like. Be adventurous - try new sports, games and other activities as well as new foods. You'll grow stronger, play longer, and look and feel better! Set realistic goals - don't try changing too much at once.

Choosing nutritious drinks

A short walk down the supermarket aisle shows how popular sugary drinks are, and there's no point denying that many children like them. But there is a point in limiting their intake and encouraging and offering healthier alternatives.

Encouraging healthy drinks – water and milk

Drinking water is the best way to quench thirst without providing additional sugar and kilojoules. Children should be encouraged to drink plenty of water each day. To make this easier, keep chilled water in the fridge and provide a jug of water with a slice of lemon or lime in it with dinner.

Reduced-fat milk (except for children under age 2) is a good source of protein as well as nutrients such as calcium and vitamin B12, important for strong teeth and bones. Reduced-fat milk contains the same level of nutrients as whole milk, but less saturated fat. Plain reduced fat milk is preferable, but flavored reduced fat milks are also acceptable. Milk drinks with fruit added, such as smoothies, are a good healthy option.
Reducing sugary drinks

Cordial, fruit juices, flavored mineral waters, sports drinks and soft drinks are usually high in some form of sugar. They contain few nutrients and may lead to tooth decay, excess energy (kilojoules) intake and weight gain. Even fruit juice, which has some nutritional value, still contains sugar and should be limited to small amounts.

Tips for parents

• Only buy soft drinks and other sugary drinks occasionally
• Dilute cordial drinks more than usual
• Use small glasses for sugary drinks
• Carry a bottle of water with you at all times for when children become thirsty
• Offer fruit, not fruit juice.

Things to consider while Eating at Restaurants

1. Avoid buffets

• All-you-can-eat buffets lead to overeating.

2. Stick to the light menu/Make careful menu selections
• Many restaurants indicate healthy choices on their menus, and most sit-down places will modify menu items at your request.
• If you don't know what's in a dish or don't know the serving size, ask.
• Main courses which have been baked, broiled, roasted, poached or steamed will be healthier than anything fried.
• Salads with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and light dressings will be better than salads with croutons, cheeses, meats and heavy dressings.

3. Don't be afraid to special order
• Ask for your vegetables and main dishes to be served without the sauces.
• Ask if things are fried or cooked in oil or butter – if they are, see if you can order them baked, roasted, or steamed with less added fat.
• Instead of French fries, request a double order of a vegetable or a side salad. If you can't get a substitute, just ask that the high-fat food be left off your plate.
• Order a fruit cup for an appetizer or the breakfast melon for dessert. Instead of a dinner entree, combine a salad with a low-fat appetizer.
• Many restaurants are happy to accommodate your requests.

4. Watch portion size
• At a typical restaurant, a single serving provides enough calories for at least two meals.
• If it is possible, order a smaller portion (often called ‘half sizes').
• If you can't order smaller portions, it is a good rule of thumb to leave at least one-third to one-half of the meal on your plate.
• Or, separate your meal before you start eating (you can even ask for a to-go container right away).

5. Share
• Sharing entrees, appetizers and desserts with dining partners is a great idea. It allows you to sample something that you really want to have while also helping you avoids the temptation to overindulge.
• If you are sharing with a friend or your partner, your portion size is automatically reduced and there is less available to eat.
• It is still important to make good menu choices, but sharing might make dessert (or something else indulgent) more of an option.

6. Order sauce and dressing on the side
• If you ask for sauces and dressings on the side, you can control the amount that you eat.
• Often you can use less than is normally used and still enjoy the same taste.

7. Remember the big picture
• Think of eating out in the context of your whole diet. If it is a special occasion or a fun social event and you know you want to order your favorite meal at a nice restaurant, cut back on your earlier meals that day.
• Moderation is always key, but planning ahead can help you relax and enjoy your dining out experience without sacrificing good nutrition or diet control.

Right Dietary guidelines for all

Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods every day:

• Eat plenty of vegetables and legumes.
• Eat plenty of fruit.
• Eat plenty of cereals (including breads, rice, pasta and noodles), preferably wholegrain.
• Include milks, yoghurts, cheeses and/or alternatives such as soy-based products. Reduced fat varieties should be chosen whenever possible (but low fat milk is not suitable for children under two years of age).
• Include lean meat, fish, poultry or alternatives.
• Drink plenty of water.

Make sure you:
• Limit saturated fats and moderate total fat intake.
• Choose foods low in salt.
• Eat only moderate amounts of sugars and foods and drinks containing added sugars.
• If you choose to drink alcohol, limit your intake.

Common Cold, Cold and Cough Medicines

Sneezing, sore throat, a stuffy nose, coughing - everyone knows the symptoms of the common cold. It is probably the most common illness. In the course of a year, people in the United States suffer 1 billion colds.

You can get a cold by touching your eyes or nose after you touch surfaces with cold germs on them. You can also inhale the germs. Symptoms usually begin 2 or 3 days after infection and last 2 to 14 days. Washing your hands and staying away from people with colds will help you avoid colds.

There is no cure for the common cold. For relief, try

* Getting plenty of rest
* Drinking fluids
* Gargling with warm salt water
* Using cough drops or throat sprays - but not cough medicine for children under four
* Taking over-the-counter pain or cold medicines

However, do not give aspirin to children. And do not give cough medicine to children under four.

Sneezing, sore throat, a stuffy nose, coughing -- everyone knows the symptoms of the common cold. It is probably the most common illness. In the course of a year, people in the United States suffer 1 billion colds.

What can you do for your cold or cough symptoms? Besides drinking plenty of fluids and getting plenty of rest, you may want to take medicines. There are lots of different cold and cough medicines, and they do different things.

* Nasal decongestants - unclog a stuffy nose
* Cough suppressants - quiet a cough
* Expectorants - loosen mucus so you can cough it up
* Antihistamines - stop runny noses and sneezing
* Pain relievers - ease fever, headaches, and minor aches and pains

Here are some other things to keep in mind about cold and cough medicines. Read labels, because many cold and cough medicines contain the same active ingredients. Taking too much of certain pain relievers can lead to serious injury. Do not give cough medicines to children under four, and don't give aspirin to children. Finally, antibiotics won’t help a cold.

Understanding the physical health benefits of exercise

Another great thing about exercise is that it can keep your body healthy. Kids who exercise often have a healthier body weight than kids who don’t exercise. Exercise makes your bones solid, improves your heart and lungs, and makes your muscles strong.

Exercise can also affect specific diseases that affect adolescents and teens. New research shows that teens who exercise regularly (about 60 minutes of brisk exercise each day) burn more calories and use blood sugar more efficiently than teens who don’t exercise. This could protect you from developing type 2 diabetes. Why should this concern you? Well, in recent years, a lot of health problems that doctors saw only in adults are now seen in young people. For example, 15 years ago type 2 diabetes was rare among adolescents, but now it accounts for almost 50 percent of new cases of diabetes in young people.

Here is something else to consider: children and adolescents who are overweight are more likely to become adults who are overweight. If you start good habits (like daily exercise) when you are young, you will be likely to continue them when you’re older.

New research shows that exercise during the teen years (beginning at age 12) can help protect girls from breast cancer when they are older. Also, regular physical activity can help prevent colon cancer later in your life.

Tips for a Healthy and long-lasting Marriage

• Learn to communicate effectively. Communication is perhaps the most important key to a strong, healthy relationship. Effective communication requires you to be an active listener—listening without judgment and focusing on what your partner is saying—as well as expressing your own feelings in a positive, truthful way.

• Make time for each other. Part of being able to communicate effectively is making time for meaningful conversations in a setting free of distractions. For example, turn off the television in the evening to make it possible to have a real conversation or order a pizza and catch up during a quiet night at home.

• Fight fair. Don’t expect to agree on everything. An important part of resolving conflicts is being respectful of your partner’s feelings, even when you are arguing. Let your partner know you value what he or she is saying, even if you don't agree. Try to avoid criticizing, ridiculing, dismissing or rejecting your partner or what he or she is saying. If you’re feeling frustrated and feel as if your anger is taking over, take a time out from the conversation and agree to resume it at a specific time later. Note--If you ever feel as if you may physically hurt your partner, walk away and seek help immediately.

• Make a commitment to your relationship. Make your relationship with your partner a priority in your life. A relationship is a work in progress. It needs attention and effort to grow. No matter how busy you are, make time to spend quality time together, even if you have to schedule out specific time slots on your calendars. Celebrate each other’s accomplishments together and support each other during harder times.

• Express appreciation. Saying thank you can go a long way toward making your partner feel special and appreciated. Even though you may feel that your partner knows you care, it doesn’t hurt to say thanks—even for every day things like cooking dinner, putting the kids to bed, or taking out the trash.

• Maintain a sense of humor. Laugh often with your mate and be willing to laugh at yourself. Maintaining a sense of humor can relieve stress and tension, and help you get through a difficult time together.

• Learn to compromise. Compromise is important in any relationship, but it’s especially important in a marriage. If you disagree on an issue, discuss the problem calmly, allow each person to explain his or her point of view, and look for ways to meet each other in the middle.

• Practice forgiveness. There may be times when your partner makes a mistake or says or does something hurtful—whether intentionally or unintentionally. While it’s okay to be angry, it’s also important to then let go of the anger and move on. If you constantly bring up past hurts, it’s difficult to have a mutually loving relationship.

• Keep romance alive. Relationships are often romantic in the beginning, but as time passes and couples become distracted by other things—work, children, bills, the house—they often take each other for granted. Make your partner feel special by doing something romantic, no matter how small. For example, make breakfast in bed for your partner, make a date for a special night out, take a walk on the beach, or have a picnic.

• Take time for yourself. It’s normal for couples to have different hobbies, interests and friends. While it’s important to spend quality time with each other, it’s equally important to spend time alone or with friends. For example, plan a girls’ or guys’ night out, take a kickboxing class or join a book club. By making time for yourselves, you’ll appreciate each other more.
Finally, if you are having difficulty with your marriage or relationship, seek help. There are many resources available to help you including, therapists, clergy members, marriage workshops, and support groups.

Physical activity: Muscle-strengthening activity and Aerobic

Physical activity is anything that gets your body moving. Start at a comfortable level. Once you get the hang of it, add a little more activity each time you exercise. Then try doing it more often.
What kinds of activity should I do?

To get the health benefits of physical activity, do a combination of aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities.

• Aerobic (air–oh–bik) activities make you breathe harder and cause your heart to beat faster.

• Muscle-strengthening activities make your muscles stronger.Do moderate or vigorous aerobic activity for at least 10 minutes at a time.

If you choose moderate activities, do at least 2 hours and 30 minutes a week. Moderate activity includes things like walking fast, dancing, and raking leaves.

you choose vigorous activities, do at least 1 hour and 15 minutes a week. Vigorous activity includes things like jogging, jumping rope, swimming laps, or riding a bike on hills.

Your body is working at a moderate level when you can talk but not sing. Your body is working at a vigorous level when you can't say more than a few words without pausing for a breath.
Muscle-strengthening activities include push–ups, sit–ups, and lifting weights. Do muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days a week.

Be sure to strengthen all major muscle groups including the legs, hips, back, chest, stomach, shoulders, and arms. Do these activities to the point where it's hard for you to do more without help.

If you are overweight or obese, getting active can help you lower your risk of:
• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Some types of cancer

Helpful Tips to Prevent Skin Cancer

Secretary Thompson is emphasizing that all Americans should take the necessary precautions to prevent skin cancer. As Americans begin their summer vacations and trips it is important to remember to reduce direct skin exposure to the sun. Americans are encouraged to "choose a cover". Covers include a sun umbrella, a t-shirt, a hat, sunglasses, and of course sun block (SPF 15 or higher).

Even a few sunburns can significantly increase your child's risk for skin cancer down the road. Here are some tips for parents: Sunscreen comes in a variety of forms - lotions, sprays, wipes, or gels. Be sure to choose one made especially for kids with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and has both UVA and UVB protection For most effective protection, apply sunscreen generously 30 minutes before going outdoors and don't forget to protect ears, noses, lips, and the tops of feet.

Reapply sunscreen throughout the day, especially after your child swims or exercises, this also applies to "waterproof" and "water resistant" products.

Tanned skin is damaged skin. Any change in the color of your child's skin after time outside - whether sunburn or suntan - indicates damage from UV rays. Children still need protection on cloudy or cool days. UV rays, not the temperature, do the damage. Clouds do not block UV rays, they filter them.

Simple Tips to Prevent Sports Injuries

• Don't bend your knees more than half way when doing knee bends.

• Don't twist your knees when you stretch. Keep your feet as flat as you can.
• When jumping, land with your knees bent.
• Do warm up exercises before you play any sport.
• Always stretch before you play or exercise.
• Don't overdo it.
• Cool down after hard sports or workouts.
• Wear shoes that fit properly, are stable, and absorb shock.
• Use the softest exercise surface you can find; don't run on asphalt or concrete.
• Run on flat surfaces.

For adults:
• Don't be a "weekend warrior." Don't try to do a week's worth of activity in a day or two.
• Learn to do your sport right. Use proper form to reduce your risk of "overuse" injuries.
• Use safety gear.
• Know your body's limits.
• Build up your exercise level gradually.
• Strive for a total body workout of cardiovascular, strength-training, and flexibility exercises.

For parents and coaches:
• Group children by their skill level and body size, not by their age, especially for contact sports.
• Match the child to the sport. Don't push the child too hard to play a sport that she or he may not like or be able to do.
• Try to find sports programs that have certified athletic trainers.
• See that all children get a physical exam before playing.
• Don't play a child who is injured.
• Get the child to a doctor, if needed.
• Provide a safe environment for sports.

For children:
• Be in proper condition to play the sport.
• Get a physical exam before you start playing sports.
• Follow the rules of the game.
• Wear gear that protects, fits well, and is right for the sport.
• Know how to use athletic gear.
• Don't play when you are very tired or in pain.
• Always warm up before you play.
• Always cool down after you play.

Food Safety Tips for all

• Wash hands and surfaces often - Bacteria are present throughout the kitchen. It can be found on cutting boards, utensils, sponges, counter tops and other surfaces.

• Don’t cross-contaminate foods - Cross-contamination is a term used to describe how bacteria can spread from one food to another. For example, cross contamination can occur when vegetables to be eaten raw come in contact with the liquid from raw meat, poultry and seafood.

• Cook to proper temperatures - Food safety experts agree that foods are properly cooked when they are heated for a long enough time at a high enough temperature to kill any harmful bacteria that may be present.

• Refrigerate foods promptly - Cold temperatures keep harmful bacteria from growing and multiplying. Refrigerators should be set no higher than 40ºF and freezers should be set at 0ºF.

• When in doubt, throw it out!

Almost everyone has experienced food borne illness, usually called "food poisoning," at some point in time. Often these illnesses are merely uncomfortable and inconvenient and do not require medical care. However, such infections can also result in very serious consequences, including hospitalization and death.

Changes in the way food is processed and distributed, international markets, and consumer demand have all altered our food supply. Today, food may reach the table through long chains of production, packaging, and transportation providing many opportunities for contamination. All these factors increase the risk for food borne illness.

Although large disease outbreaks associated with restaurants generally get more media attention, it is just as easy for food borne illness to occur at home. If food is handled and prepared safely, most of these illnesses can be avoided.

Food labels can help you pick healthy food

Food labels may help you make healthy food choices. But they can be confusing. Here are some quick tips for reading food labels:

Check Serving Size and Calories. All the information on a food label is based on the serving size. Be careful—one serving may be much smaller than you think. If you double the servings you eat, you double the calories and nutrients, including the percent Daily Values (DVs).

Percent DV: This tells you if a food is high or low in nutrients. Foods that have more than 20-percent DV of a nutrient are high. Foods that have 5-percent DV or less are low.

Saturated Fat: Saturated fat is not healthy for your heart. Compare labels on similar foods and try to choose foods that have a 5-percent DV or less for saturated fat. Most of the fats you eat should be polyunsaturated and monounsaturated. Keep total fat intake between 20 to 35 percent of calories.

Trans Fat: Trans fat is not healthy for your heart. When reading food labels, add together the grams of trans fat and saturated fat, and choose foods with the lowest combined amount.

Cholesterol: Too much cholesterol is not healthy for your heart. Keep your intake of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol as low as possible.

Sodium (Salt): Salt contains sodium. Research shows that eating less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium about (1 teaspoon of salt) per day may reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

TIP: Many food labels say “low fat,” “reduced fat,” or “light.” That does not always mean the food is low in calories. Remember, fat-free does not mean calorie-free, and calories do count!

Fiber: Choose foods that are rich in fiber, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Sugar: Try to choose foods with little or no added sugar (like low-sugar cereals).

Calcium: Choose foods that are high in calcium. Foods that are high in calcium have at least 20-percent DV.

Advantages of a Fiber Diet

"In the future, the HHS newsletter will be focusing on the benefits or drawback's of diets-fad or otherwise. Here is the first installment. With a gradual increase of fiber (and water) into your diet, you could reduce the risk of colon cancer, intestinal disorders, heart disease, constipation, the production of LDL's ("bad cholesterol") and aid in moderate weight loss. The Food and Drug Administration and the National Cancer Institute both recommend high fiber diets, which amounts to 20-35 grams of fiber per day, although they are careful to recommend you get your fiber from foods and not dietary supplements.

• Soluble fiber helps lower blood cholesterol levels and control blood glucose levels for people with diabetes. Examples of soluble fiber are: Oatbran, barley, kidney beans, fruits, and vegetables.
• Insoluble fiber remains virtually intact while passing through the body which causes the feeling of fullness, and provides fewer calories to the body. Some examples of insoluble fiber are: Wheat bran, vegetables and whole grains.
High-fiber foods also contain a considerable amount of antioxidants and phytochemicals, which are an advantage in any diet."

Healthy ways to eat vegetables

• Eat raw and cooked vegetables with little or no fat, sauces, or dressings.
• Try low-fat or fat-free salad dressing on raw vegetables or salads.
• Steam vegetables using water or low-fat broth.
• Mix in some chopped onion or garlic.
• Use a little vinegar or some lemon or lime juice.
• Add a small piece of lean ham or smoked turkey instead of fat to vegetables when cooking.
• Sprinkle with herbs and spices.
• If you do use a small amount of fat, use canola oil, olive oil, or soft margarines (liquid or tub types) instead of fat from meat, butter, or shortening.

Reducing Stroke-related disability in children

Stroke-related disability could be reduced by teaching children how to spot the signs of stroke in relatives.
Emergency medical treatment within three hours of the first stroke symptoms can limit the extent of brain damage and lead to better recovery.

The Kids Identifying and Defeating Stroke (KIDS) project included 515 sixth graders in Texas who were divided into two groups. The students in the intervention group were given four classes about stroke awareness each year during grades 6, 7 and 8.

"As part of the KIDS project, students were also given homework assignments that involved teaching their parents or other adult partners about the signs and symptoms of stroke and the need to call 911 right away if these signs are witnessed," lead author Kathleen Conley, a professor of health education at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, said in a news release.

A pretest about stroke knowledge/awareness was given before the study. Preliminary results from a follow-up test after the second year showed improvements in the intervention group students' knowledge and their intent to call 911 when seeing someone suffering a stroke.

"We are very encouraged by the results and would like to see more investigation in the area of teaching children about recognizing stroke and motivating them to call 911 immediately," Conley said.
The study is published in the January issue of the journal Health Promotion Practice.

Serotonin and Bone Mass Inversely linked in Women

Circulating levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin are inversely associated with bone mass in women, according to a new study co-funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). The work, published online in July in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, indicates that serotonin can serve as a marker for low bone mass. The findings also suggest that studies of serotonin synthesis and metabolism pathways are needed to develop drugs that target the neurotransmitter’s effects on bone mass without affecting the nervous system.

Co-authors Ulrike Mödder, Ph.D., Sundeep Khosla, M.D., and colleagues at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., studied a population-based cohort of 275 women aged 21 to 97, and observed that higher blood levels of serotonin were associated with lower levels of a number of measures of bone density and structure, as well as body mass index. The findings, say the scientists, indicate a potential role for serotonin in regulating human bone mass.

Drugs called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been used for treating depression, and scientists have observed that people taking these medications have reduced bone mineral density. Other studies in mice have also linked serotonin to bone metabolism regulation. Until this study, however, the relationship between serotonin and bone mass in humans was clouded.

"We’ve confirmed that serotonin is yet another player in the complex physiology of bone," says Dr. Khosla. "Perhaps as an early warning signal, it may help us prevent the diseases that beset bone, including osteoporosis."
The study also received funding from the Mayo Clinic’s Center for Translational Science Activities.

Different exercises for girls

You need to exercise for about 60 minutes every day. Setting aside 60 minutes all at once each day is one way to get in enough exercise. If you wait until the end of the day to squeeze it in, you probably won’t exercise enough or at all. If you’re not active for 60 minutes straight, it’s okay to exercise for 10 or 20 minutes at a time throughout the day.

Different exercises:

Aerobic exercise
Most of your 60 minutes of daily exercise, at least 3 days a week.
Aerobic activities are those in which young people regularly move their muscles. Running, hopping, skipping, jumping rope, swimming, dancing, and biking are all examples of aerobic activity.
It makes your heart and lungs strong.

Muscle-strengthening exercise
(3 or more days each week)
As part of your 60 minutes of exercise each day, at least 3 days a week.
Muscle-strengthening activities make muscles do more work than usual. This is called “overload” and it makes your muscles stronger. Climbing trees, yoga, rock climbing, lifting weights, or working with resistance bands are all muscle-strengthening exercises
It increases your strength and builds muscle.

Bone-strengthening exercise
(3 or more days each week)
As part of your 60 minutes of exercise each day, at least 3 days a week.
Bone-strengthening activities push on your bones and helps them grow and be strong. This push usually comes from impact with the ground. Running, jumping rope, basketball, tennis, and hopscotch are all bone-strengthening exercises. (These exercises can also be aerobic and muscle-strengthening.)
It will make your bones stronger. Your bones get strongest in the years just before and during puberty.

Shop and fill your kitchen cupboards with LOW FAT FOOD items

Here are few items…

Fat free or low fat milk, yogurt, cheese, and cottage cheese
Light or diet margarine
Eggs/Egg substitutes
Sandwich breads, bagels, pita bread, English muffins
Soft corn tortillas, low fat flour tortillas
Low fat, low sodium crackers
Plain cereal, dry or cooked
Rice, pasta
White meat chicken or turkey (remove skin)
Fish and shellfish (not battered)
Beef: round, sirloin, chuck arm, loin and extra lean ground beef
Pork: leg, shoulder, tenderloin
Dry beans and peas
Fresh, frozen, canned fruits in light syrup or juice
Fresh, frozen, or no salt added canned vegetables
Low fat or nonfat salad dressings
Mustard and catsup
Jam, jelly, or honey
Herbs and spices

Cold or heat therapy-relieves back pain and muscle tension

Using cold and heat therapy may relieve pain and muscle tension in the initial days after back pain begins. Some studies show that heat is an effective approach for acute nonspecific back pain. As for chronic back pain, cold and heat likely won't cause harm and may be helpful, but there isn't scientific evidence at this time to prove that cold and heat are effective treatments for chronic low back pain. Cold or ice applied to your back can reduce inflammation and swelling by constricting blood vessels. The cold also acts to slow nerve impulses and make it less likely that your muscles will contract, in this way reducing pain.

To use cold packs, wrap an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables in a piece of cloth. Hold it on the sore area for about 15 minutes, several times a day. To avoid frostbite, don't place ice directly on your skin. Heat therapy increases blood circulation, which can aid healing of damaged tissues. Heat also allows tissues to stretch more easily, resulting in less stiffness, greater flexibility and less pain. To use heat therapy, take a warm bath, or use warm packs, a heating pad or a heat lamp for pain relief. Be careful not to burn your skin with extreme heat. If you find that cold provides more relief than heat, you can continue using cold packs, or try a combination of the two methods.

Do you know that 1 in 4 lung cancer patients are non-smokers?

MANILA, Philippines - When someone is diagnosed with or dies of lung cancer, the first question people often ask is, “Was he or she a smoker?”
Although most lung cancers are caused by smoking, a 2007 review found that about 25 percent of lung cancer cases worldwide — accounting for over 300,000 deaths each year — are not attributable to tobacco use.
Another review revealed that lung cancer in never-smokers is more common in Asia, particularly in women. “Never-smoke” is a person who has smoked less than 100 cigarettes in his or her lifetime.
“Research has yet to establish what causes lung cancer in never-smokers, but secondhand tobacco smoke is probably responsible for about 20 percent of lung cancer cases in never-smokers,” says Dr. Ma. Belen Tamayo, president of the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology.
Air pollution may cause about five percent of lung cancer cases. Indoor air pollution like fumes from cooking oil and smoke from coal- or wood-burning stoves are known to increase lung cancer risk, particularly in Asia.
Lung cancer is the world’s leading cause of cancer death, claiming more lives than prostate cancer and breast cancer combined.
Data from the Philippine Cancer Society and Department of Health show that in 2005, lung cancer was one of the most common cancers among Filipinos of both sexes. It was by far the most common cancer among Filipino males and the third most common among Filipino women.
According to Tamayo, symptoms of lung cancer include persistent coughing, chest pain, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, wheezing or hoarseness, repeated pneumonia or bronchitis, weight loss and fatigue.
She notes that the only chance of cure, via surgery, is possible only in 35 percent of patients, and still the risk of recurrence is high despite surgery. “Prevention remains the best strategy,” Tamayo says.
Surgery, radiotherapy (use of radiation to kill cancer cells) and chemotherapy (use of cytotoxic drugs to kill cancer cells) may all be used in treating lung cancer. In addition to chemotherapy, a number of new agents are now available, targeting and blocking the cellular signals that promote proliferation of cancer cells.
One of these new targeted therapies is a certain class of drugs called EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI). EGFR is a cell receptor that signals cancer cells to multiply and survive. One type of EGFR-TKI is gefitinib, a product of AstraZeneca — one of the world’s leading research and development pharmaceutical companies that focuses on cancer as one of its key therapeutic areas.
Tamayo welcomed the observance of World Lung Cancer Day every Nov. 17 as an opportunity for an open and honest discussion about the disease. She also lauded AstraZeneca for helping dispel myths and raise awareness about lung cancer.
As part of World Lung Cancer Day 2009, AstraZeneca is releasing a fact sheet to dispel common myths about lung cancer. The following are key points listed in the fact sheet.


Source: http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/library/index.php/health-news/593/2275-1-in-4-lung-cancer-patients-are-non-smokers

What are the causes of regular muscle pain, fatigue and what can you do?

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes muscle pain and fatigue (feeling tired). People with fibromyalgia have “tender points” on the body. Tender points are specific places on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs. These points hurt when pressure is put on them.
People with fibromyalgia may also have other symptoms, such as:

• Trouble sleeping
• Morning stiffness
• Headaches
• Painful menstrual periods
• Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
• Problems with thinking and memory (sometimes called “fibro fog”).

What Causes Fibromyalgia?
The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown. There may be a number of factors involved. Fibromyalgia has been linked to:
• Stressful or traumatic events, such as car accidents
• Repetitive injuries
• Illness
• Certain diseases.
Fibromyalgia can also occur on its own.
Some scientists think that a gene or genes might be involved in fibromyalgia. The genes could make a person react strongly to things that other people would not find painful.

Who Is Affected by Fibromyalgia?
Scientists estimate that fibromyalgia affects 5 million Americans 18 or older. Between 80 and 90 percent of people diagnosed with fibromyalgia are women. However, men and children also can have the disorder. Most people are diagnosed during middle age.
People with certain other diseases may be more likely to have fibromyalgia. These diseases include:
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (commonly called lupus)
• Ankylosing spondylitis (spinal arthritis).
Women who have a family member with fibromyalgia may be more likely to have fibromyalgia themselves.

How Is Fibromyalgia Treated?
Fibromyalgia can be hard to treat. It's important to find a doctor who is familiar with the disorder and its treatment. Many family physicians, general internists, or rheumatologists can treat fibromyalgia. Rheumatologists are doctors who specialize in arthritis and other conditions that affect the joints or soft tissues.

Fibromyalgia treatment often requires a team approach. The team may include your doctor, a physical therapist, and possibly other health care providers. A pain or rheumatology clinic can be a good place to get treatment.

What Can I Do to Try to Feel Better?
There are many things you can do to feel better, including:
• Taking medicines as prescribed
• Getting enough sleep
• Exercising
• Eating well
• Making work changes if necessary.

Mix up your choices for a healthy life

Focus on fruits. Eat a variety of fruits—whether fresh, frozen, canned, or dried—rather than fruit juice for most of your fruit choices. For a 2,000-calorie diet, you will need 2 cups of fruit each day (for example, 1 small banana, 1 large orange, and 1/4 cup of dried apricots or peaches).

Vary your veggies. Eat more dark green veggies, such as broccoli, kale, and other dark leafy greens; orange veggies, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and winter squash; and beans and peas, such as pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, split peas, and lentils.

Get your calcium-rich foods. Get 3 cups of low-fat or fat-free milk—or an equivalent amount of low-fat yogurt and/or low-fat cheese (1½ ounces of cheese equals 1 cup of milk)—every day. For kids aged 2 to 8, it's 2 cups of milk. If you don't or can't consume milk, choose lactose-free milk products and/or calcium-fortified foods and beverages.

Make half your grains whole. Eat at least 3 ounces of whole-grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice, or pasta every day. One ounce is about 1 slice of bread, 1 cup of breakfast cereal, or ½ cup of cooked rice or pasta. Look to see that grains such as wheat, rice, oats, or corn are referred to as "whole" in the list of ingredients.
Go lean with protein. Choose lean meats and poultry. Bake it, broil it, or grill it. And vary your protein choices—with more fish, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds.

Know the limits on fats, salt, and sugars. Read the Nutrition Facts label on foods. Look for foods low in saturated fats and trans fats. Choose and prepare foods and beverages with little salt (sodium) and/or added sugars (caloric sweeteners).

The Risk of underage drinking

If you’re under 21
—or if you drink too much at any age—alcohol
can be especially risky.

Just a few of the dangers of underage drinking:

Death
Each year, an estimated 5,000 people under the age of 21 dies from alcohol related injuries. Alcohol is a factor in about 4 out of every 10 deaths from car crashes, drownings, burns, falls and other unintentional injuries.
Addiction
The younger you are when you start drinking, the greater your chance of becoming addicted to alcohol at some point in your life. More than 4 in 10 people who begin drinking before age 15 eventually become alcoholic.

Thinking Problems
Your brain is still developing throughout the teen years. New research on teens with alcohol disorders shows that heavy drinking in the teen years can cause long-lasting harm to thinking abilities.

Arrest
Drinking under age 21 is against the law. Penalties can include not getting a drivers license on time, having the license removed for driving with any trace of alcohol in the body, losing a job, and losing a college scholarship.

Drinking too soon or too much:
Can affect your mood and your thinking.
Can hurt others, get you in legal trouble, and damage your relationships.
Can harm your body now and when you grow up.
Can get you hooked.

Three common sleep disorders and health problems related to it

We need a good sleep to get rid of the previous day's mental stress and for a good mood and concentration for the next day.

Most need 7 or 8 hours a night.
Some need less, others more.

There are three common sleep disorders:

• Sleep apnea: the person stops breathing, sometimes hundreds of times a night.
• Sleep deprivation (sleep debt): not getting enough sleep night after night.
• Insomnia: trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Insomnia can be either temporary or long-term.

Sleep disorders can cause or worsen many problems:

• Feeling sleepy or tired all day.
• Falling asleep when driving or operating machinery.
• Poor memory, concentration and learning.
• Irritability and mood swings.
• More colds and other infections.
• Over the long-term: overweight, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.

Tips to help you

If you can’t fall asleep within 20 minutes try on of them…
• Get up and do something relaxing. Try reading some books or magazine in dim light.
Or sit quietly in the dark until you start to feel sleepy.
• Don’t turn on bright lights, because this tells your body to wake up.
Develop sleep rituals.
• Tell your body that it’s time to sleep by doing the same things every night just before bed.
• Listen to relaxing music, read something light, do few relaxation exercises or take a hot bath.

Don’t watch TV or work in bed.
• Make “Going to bed mean going to sleep.”
• Don’t watch TV in bed (unless it helps you fall asleep in 10 or 15 minutes).
Don’t play video games, make phone calls, answer e-mails, or pay bills in bed.
• You’ll fall asleep faster if you use your bed only for rest, sleep, and intimacy.

Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol hours before going to bed

Benefits of Wine Tourism in Australia

One of the world's fastest growing industries is 'Wine Tourism'. What is it? How can we best benefit from it?

Firstly, let's keep it simple. If tourism is simply the provision of goods and services that attract tourists, then 'wine tourism' is the same but has the added influence of wine. Wine tourism is not only associated with cellar door wineries, rather all business that are involved in the wine, tourism and associated industries with the wine region. This includes accommodation houses, tour operators, gift shops, national parks etc.

If the desired outcome of 'wine tourism' is attracting more tourists then the real secret to success is having a clear understanding of the needs of your potential customers. Once this is clear you can focus on attracting tourists to our wine regions, improve business and target specific customers to your region.

Queensland has the advantage of already having an established tourism industry. Many wineries don't appreciate how involved they are in the tourism industry. An area that most regions have identified as important to meeting customer expectations is the need to integrate wine with quality food. There is no question that food plays an important part in adding to a region's ambience and unique character.

To obtain long-term success, each region needs to focus on really defining their point of differences, rather than trying to out perform another region. Identifying and consistently delivering a unique wine experience is what each region must strive to achieve. This fits well into both Tourism Queensland's and the Department's strategy to promote regional tourism. Global trends indicate that tourism is one of the most dynamic growth sectors and the demand for a quality experience is rising rapidly.

Irrespective of the way tourism is formally defined, it is first and foremost a 'people industry' involving the development and supply of a range of facilities, services and experiences to meet the needs, aspirations and expectations of visitors. Tourism is complex and diverse, involving many different forms of commerce. Most tourism businesses are part of the much larger services industry. At the local and regional level, the industry comprises tourism operators, businesses not directly involved in tourism, local and regional tourism organisations, community groups, residents and local government. By working together destinations have the capacity to attract visitors, satisfy their leisure needs and expectations, and generate economic and other benefits for the whole community.

In Queensland more people are employed in tourism than in agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining combined. Queensland Treasury estimates that close to 10 % of the workforce, or 135,000 people, are working in tourism. And the outlook is bright: international visitor numbers are expected to double over the next eight years (Tourism Forecasting Council, 1999). Latest figures also show that domestic visitor nights in Queensland have increased by more than 20% over the year to June 1999 (Bureau of Tourism Research, June Quarter 1999). Treasury recognises the importance of the industry to Queensland?s economy. The strength of the State?s services sector continues to be underpinned by tourism and related services which have contributed 7.9% of Gross State Product in 1998-99 (Queensland Treasury, Annual Economic Report 1998-99).

Changing diet in penguins

By studying the tissue remains of penguins in Antarctica, scientists are not only learning more about the modern diet of the continent’s iconic seabird but also what was on the menu thousands of years ago. And that information can provide insight into past climate and penguin behavior, as well as how the species could respond to future climate changes.

Much of their work involves collecting tissue samples, such as eggshells and feathers, from existing penguin colonies and long-extinct ones around the Antarctic Peninsula and the Ross Sea regions. Then they analyze the samples in the lab, looking at the ratios of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes, which can provide important clues to what’s been on the dinner plate throughout the year.

Now the scientists are testing the idea by looking at gentoos, another Pygoscelis penguin, a mostly subantarctic bird that is pushing its way across the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula as the climate there warms and the Adélie population declines.

Fun & Interesting Facts About planet Pluto

• Pluto is only about half the width of the United States. Charon is about half the size of Pluto. Charon is the largest moon compared to the body it orbits (whether planet or dwarf planet) of any moon in the solar system.

• Almost all the planets travel around the Sun in nearly perfect circles. But Pluto does not. It takes an oval-shaped path with the Sun nowhere near its center. What's more, its path is quite tilted from the nice, orderly plane where all the other planets orbit. (Mercury has a slightly lop-sided orbit, although not nearly so much as Pluto's.)

• If you lived on Pluto, you'd have to live 248 Earth years to celebrate your first birthday in Pluto-years.

• If you lived on Pluto, you would see Charon from only one side of the planet. Charon's orbit around Pluto takes about six and one-half Earth days. Pluto's day (that is, one complete rotation) takes exactly the same amount of time. So, Charon always "hovers" over the same spot on Pluto's surface, and the same side of Charon always faces Pluto.

• At Pluto's current distance from the Sun, the temperature on its surface is about 400 degrees below zero Fahrenheit! It will get even colder as it moves farther from the Sun. From Pluto, the Sun looks like just a bright dot in the sky, the brightest star visible. The light from the Sun is as bright on Pluto as the light from the full Moon is on Earth.

• If you weigh 100 pounds on Earth, you would weigh only 7 pounds on Pluto!

• Pluto orbits in a far-out region of the solar system called the Kuiper (rhymes with viper) Belt. There are lots of icy, rocky objects out there. But they are so far from the Sun they are really hard to see, even with powerful telescopes.

A Message for Men about Health

Men may be catching up to women in lifespan. The life-expectancy gap between men and women has shrunk to 5.2 years, the narrowest since 1946. But men still need to pay more attention to their health. Why?

Compared to women, men are more likely to:

• Smoke and drink more, and generally lead less healthy lifestyles
• Put off routine checkups and even ignore symptoms of a health problem
• Join in fearless, risky, and dangerous behaviors

Working-aged men also are less likely than women to have a regular doctor.
The good news is that many of the diseases and health conditions that men face can be prevented — or treated if they are found early. To start taking better care of your health, learn about your risk factors. Risk factors are things in your life that increase your chances of getting a certain disease. Some risk factors you cannot change, such as your age or family history. But many are in your control. Find out what you can do to lower your risk factors and improve your overall health. Next, find out how often you should see a doctor for routine checkups and what screenings, tests, and vaccines you might need. By taking these steps, you will feel good knowing you are doing all you can to take charge of your health.

Small Technology to Clean Up Big Pollution Problems

EPA scientists are exploring ways to use some very small materials to clean up some very big environmental troubles. Research chemist Dr. Souhail Al-Abed and his colleagues have synthesized stimulated carbon with nanoparticles of iron/palladium bimetallic to construct a new nano-scale treatment to clean up pollutants. The new, tiny technology is offering promise where unadventurous technologies have been limited in detecting, treating, removing, and preventing environmental contaminants.

The research is proving particularly useful in dealing with PCBs, a family of persistent organic chemicals that have been linked to a host of dangerous health effects, including cancer. Dr. Al-Abed and his research group found that infusing the carbon with nanoparticles not only made it more effective at adsorbing contaminants, but also degraded the PCBs to less dangerous compounds.

Antarctica, Greenland helps scientists to understand past climate

Ice cores from Antarctica, Greenland and elsewhere in the world serve as a way for scientists to travel back in time to understand past climate. They analyze such things as the trapped bubbles of gas, chemicals, insoluble dust and trace metals found in the ice to reconstruct the cycles of glacial advance and retreat, the waxing and waning of temperature, the sudden appearance of droughts and volcanic eruptions.

But those long, skinny cylinders of ice can only tell so much of the story, according to Ryan Bay, a research physicist at the University of California Berkley. Bay and colleagues use an instrument they developed called an optical dust logger to measure the dust and particulates, or bits of matter, not captured by the original ice core.

Bay and team member Delia Tosi will take the latest and greatest version of their optical dust logger to Antarctica this coming field season. They’ll send the instrument down the deepest hole ever drilled in the ice sheet, where European scientists recovered the oldest ice to date from a high-altitude spot on the polar plateau called Dome C in East Antarctica.

The 3,270-meter-long ice core drilled by the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) reaches back at least 800,000 years. Bay said he is particularly interested in the last 100,000 years of climate history and finding signatures of volcanic eruptions and impacts from comets or asteroids that may have caused abrupt climate changes.

For instance, a major volcanic eruption can send a great amount of sulfate particles into the atmosphere. The sulfate aerosols reflect sunlight, effectively shielding the lower atmosphere of the planet and cooling it near the surface. Bay said this abrupt cooling event could then affect the succeeding climate for millennia.

Nokia Booklet 3G

A new portable device from Nokia, Nokia Booklet 3G is a small laptop PC witness the company step foot on computers.
Features:
Display: 10.1-inch HD display
Screen: 720p HD screen
Battery life: 12 hours
HDMI port for HD video out
Aluminium shell which measures in at just 2cm thin and tips the scales at around a kilogram to ensure it’s extremely portable.

Discovery’s next launch on Friday at 12:22 a.m

Teams at Kennedy Space Center have completed a portion of the testing of a liquid hydrogen fill and drain valve in space shuttle Discovery’s main propulsion system. The valve opened and closed when commanded five different times with no issues. This “cycle testing” of Discovery began at 6:28 p.m. EDT and finished at 6:59 p.m.

Teams are now performing a pressure test of the propulsion system, and recording the leak rate of small amounts of liquid hydrogen. Data from tonight’s tests will be brought to tomorrow’s mission management team for evaluation at the noon meeting.

NASA is targeting Discovery’s next launch attempt for no earlier than Friday, Aug. 28 at 12:22 a.m., depending on the results of the testing and a review of the data by the mission management team.

Discovery’s countdown is expected to resume at the T-11 hour point at 8:57 a.m. tomorrow.

Temporary tattoos and Henna can cause skin problems

Temporary tattoos, such as those applied to the skin with a moistened wad of cotton, fade several days after application. Many contain color additives approved for cosmetic use on the skin. However, FDA has received reports of allergic reactions to some temporary tattoos.

An Import Alert is in effect for several foreign-made temporary tattoos. According to Consumer Safety Officer Allen Halper of FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors, the temporary tattoos subject to the import alert are not allowed into the United States because they don't have the required ingredient declaration on the label or they contain colors not permitted for use in cosmetics applied to the skin.

Henna, a coloring made from a plant, is approved only for use as a hair dye, not for direct application to the skin, as in the body-decorating process known as mehndi. This unapproved use of a color additive makes these products adulterated and therefore illegal. An import alert is in effect for henna intended for use on the skin. FDA has received reports of injuries to the skin from products marketed as henna.

Since henna typically produces a brown, orange-brown, or reddish-brown tint, other ingredients must be added to produce other colors, such as those marketed as "black henna" and "blue henna." So-called "black henna" may contain the "coal tar" color p-phenylenediamine, also known as PPD. This ingredient may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. The only legal use of PPD in cosmetics is as a hair dye. It is not approved for direct application to the skin. Even brown shades of products marketed as henna may contain other ingredients intended to make them darker or make the stain last longer.

In addition to color additives, these skin-decorating products may contain other ingredients, such as solvents.

cholecystokinin plays an important role in the control of blood sugar.

A gut hormone called cholecystokinin (CCK) plays an important role in the control of blood sugar production in the liver, according to Canadian researchers.

"We show for the first time that CCK from the gut activates receptors to regulate glucose levels. It does so via a gut-brain-liver neuronal axis," Tony Lam of the University of Toronto said in a news release.CCK binds to local receptors on nerves of the small intestine, triggering a message to the brain which, in turn, tells the liver to stop producing glucose.

Lam and colleagues also found that rats fed a high-fat diet for a few days became resistant to CCK.
They said their findings suggest that CCK resistance, like insulin resistance, may be a major contributor to high blood sugar often seen in people with a high-fat diet. The results also suggest that drugs that target CCK receptors may help fight diabetes.

Biodefense and Bioterrorism

Terrorism refers to the use or threat of force or violence against people or property. A bioterrorist attack releases viruses, bacteria, or other germs to cause illness or death. These biological agents are typically found in nature. But they can sometimes be made more harmful by increasing their ability to cause or spread disease, or to resist medical treatment.

Biological agents spread through the air, water or in food. They can be very hard to detect, and they don't cause illness for several hours or days. Some agents can also be spread from person to person. Scientists worry that anthrax, botulism, hemorrhagic fever viruses such as Ebola, plague, or smallpox could be used as biological agents.

Biodefense involves medical measures to protect people against biological agents. This means medicines and vaccinations. It also means medical research and preparations to defend against bioterrorist attacks.

This Weekend Events in New York City

There are lots of events to enjoy this weekend in NYC, including the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in Queens, Summer Streets in Manhattan, the Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series: Tappen Park on Staten Island, Black Gold - Bronx River Art, and the Three Kings Day Parade in Brooklyn.

Dragon Boat Festival, which features paddlers of all ages racing in 40+ foot long dragon boats.

The Met’s annual concerts in New York City parks are one of the most beloved summer traditions in the city. This year, the company will present a six-performance series of recitals in the parks of all five boroughs. All performances in the Summer Recital Series are free and no tickets are required, except for the concert at Central Park.

Tattfoo Tan, Tea-Pi, is an interactive space constructed from unsold painting, tea, sandwiches and recorded audio conversations. Abigail DeVille, Original Ganstas, 2008, is a mixed media collage, 12 x 20 feet. Gallery hours are Mondays to Fridays 3-6.30PM and Saturdays 12-5PM. Free.

Scientific reasons to study climatic change at high latitudes are listed below:

Ice (including snow) is the predominant form of condensed water most of the year, both in the air and on the surface. Ice and snow scatter, transmit, and absorb sunlight and radiant heat much differently than water.

There is very little water vapor in the atmosphere, changing the impact of the atmosphere on the propagation of radiant energy, particularly radiant energy propagating upwards from the surface, and on the performance of some atmospheric remote sensing instruments.

The major "pumps" for the global ocean currents are at high latitudes, and there is good reason to believe that those pumps will be affected by climate-related changes in the atmosphere.

High latitude atmospheric processes over both land and sea must be characterized for incorporation into global climate models.