New on LowEndTalk? Please Register and read our Community Rules.
All new Registrations are manually reviewed and approved, so a short delay after registration may occur before your account becomes active.
All new Registrations are manually reviewed and approved, so a short delay after registration may occur before your account becomes active.
REAL DEALS HERE -- WIN BIG WITH THOUSANDS IN PRIZES + RackNerd's NEW YEAR OFFERS! (New Year 2024)
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
WELCOME TO PAGE 851 - IT"S A SLOTHY PARTY !!!
Do feet really get bigger with age?
Some strange facts end up being debunked, but this is certainly possible: After years of wear and tear, tendons and ligaments in your feet may weaken. This can cause arches to flatten, which means feet get wider and longer. It won’t happen to everyone, though—people who are overweight, who get swollen feet or ankles, or who have certain medical conditions, like diabetes, are more prone. If it does happen, the average gain is about one shoe size by age 70 or 80.
What’s with that stomach-in-your-throat feeling on roller coasters?
Sorry, but your insides are actually shifting. When a coaster comes over its crest, slows for a second for added torture, and then plummets downward, the seat belt keeps your rear in place, but some loosely connected internal organs—like your stomach and intestines—get a little “airtime.” But don’t get concerned in light of these strange facts. You’re not damaging your innards by riding even the craziest of coasters (everything returns to its proper place), but your nerves detect the movement, which registers as though your stomach has jumped into your throat
How come women always seem colder than men?
Women tend to have a higher percentage of body fat and conserve more heat around the core than men. That helps keep vital organs nice and toasty but not the extremities—and when your hands and feet feel cold, so does the rest of your body. Plus, research suggests that women have a lower threshold for cold than men. When exposed to the same freezing temperature, the blood vessels in women’s fingers constrict more than men’s do, which is why they turn white more quickly.
Why does room temperature coffee taste so bad?
The temperature affects flavor, even if you brew the perfect coffee. Researchers in Belgium found that certain taste bud receptors are most sensitive to food molecules that are at or just above room temperature. So hot coffee may seem less bitter (and, in turn, taste better) because our bitter-detecting taste buds aren’t as sensitive when coffee is hot. Odors influence flavor as well, so even the most bitter hot coffee may taste delicious because of its pleasant aroma; room temperature coffee doesn’t smell the same.
How come you wake up at night to urinate but not to do anything else?
We’re often too embarrassed to inquire about the strange facts of our internal plumbing, but the answer is just plain biology. The sophisticated, intelligent neurons in your gut that control colon contractions, which push out waste, are also influenced by your body’s circadian rhythm, the internal clock that wakes you when it’s light out and makes you feel sleepy at night. So most people don’t have the urge to empty their colon in the middle of the night. On the other hand, the bladder, which acts a reservoir for the continuous flow of urine produced in the kidneys, can stretch only up to a certain volume before you gotta go. Normally, you can sleep six to eight hours without having to urinate, but certain medical conditions or drinking too much water before bed can wake you to use the bathroom at night.
Why do we have fingerprints?
Many experts think it’s to improve grip, but a British study from a few years back suggests otherwise. Researchers found that a fingerprint’s ridges actually made it harder to hold flat, smooth surfaces, like Plexiglas, because they reduced the skin’s contact area. Instead, they think our prints might help wick water off our fingertips or allow our skin to stretch more easily, which can protect it from damage and help prevent blisters. Other scientists have suggested fingerprints could improve our sense of touch. What we do know for sure is that no two people’s fingerprints are the same, even among identical twins.
Can achy joints really forecast the weather?
Maybe. A change in barometric readings may be part of the reason why weather can predict our health: Atmospheric pressure often drops right before bad weather sets in; this shift could cause body tissue to expand, which can lead to swelling and pain. The effect is slight, but people who have arthritic or inflamed joints may detect the difference. Temperature may have an impact too: In 2007, researchers at Tufts University found that every ten-degree drop in temperature corresponded with a small increase in osteoarthritic knee pain.
Cough remedy: Steep some thyme
Thyme is not only useful for flavoring your poultry—it also serves as an impressive cough suppressant. “The volatile oils in the plant have an effect on the cough reflex, calming the tendency to cough,” explains Leslie Solomonian, a doctor of naturopathic medicine. It can be consumed as a tea by mixing 2 teaspoons of crushed leaves into 1 cup boiling water, covering it, steeping for 10 minutes and then straining, but Dr. Solomonian’s favorite way to use it as a cough remedy is to add it to honey and onion. Keep in mind you should never give honey to a baby under age one due to the risk of life-threatening infant botulism.
Cough remedy: Fight with flax, honey, and lemon
Ground flax, when combined with a liquid, forms a mucus-like substance, which soothes the cough reflex, explains Dr. Solomonian. Honey has the same effect. “Lemon tends to cut mucus, so if the cause of the cough is post-nasal drip or tonsillitis, the lemon might alleviate that a bit,” she says. For this at-home remedy, boil 2 to 3 tablespoons of flaxseeds in 1 cup of water until the water becomes thick. Strain, then add 3 tablespoons each of honey and lemon juice. Take 1 tablespoon as needed for cough treatment.
Cough remedy: Suck a lemon for fast-acting cough relief
This treatment isn’t for the faint of heart, but it is one of the more commonly used natural cough remedies. “Sucking on a lemon wedge juice helps cut through congestion,” explains Barbara Joy Jones, DO, GMC Primary Care-Peachtree Corners. “Lemon can help the body trying to break up mucus and get it out of your system.” Quarter a fresh lemon, sprinkle it with lots of black pepper and salt, and suck on it for quick relief.
Cough remedy: Brew black pepper tea for a wet cough
This home remedy is rooted in two very different traditions: New England folk medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. The rationale behind it is that black pepper stimulates circulation and mucus flow; honey is a natural cough suppressant and mild antibiotic. To make the tea, place 1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper and 2 tablespoons of honey in a cup. Fill with boiling water and let steep, covered, for 15 minutes. Strain and sip as needed. This remedy works best on coughs that produce mucus and isn’t suitable for dry coughs.
Cough remedy: Sip milk and honey
Combine the natural cough remedies of milk and honey for a one-two-punch treatment. An Italian study found that mixing two teaspoons of honey into a third-cup of milk was just as effective as OTC medications dextromethorphan and levodropropizine in children
Cough remedy: Blend almonds
Some ancient traditions believe almonds help relieve bronchial problems, including coughs. They recommend blending a few teaspoons of finely ground almonds with a cup of orange juice and sipping as a natural cough treatment, notes Solomonian.
Cough remedy: Drink more water
Downing plenty of water is one of the easiest natural cough remedies. One laboratory study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that water was essential in helping individuals with a cough thin out sticky, lung mucus. In addition, water keeps you hydrated, which is beneficial for warding off any kind of illness.
Cough remedy: Brew peppermint tea
“Peppermint essential oil can be inhaled for a soothing sensation on the muscles of the windpipe (bronchial muscles) which eases breathing and allows the person to relax,” explains Kac Young, PhD, doctor of naturopathy and clinical hypnotherapy and author of The Healing Art of Essential Oils. “Coughing is reduced and the body experiences physical relaxation in certain muscle groups.” Try steeping yourself a cup of warm peppermint tea as a DIY treatment.
Cough remedy: Turn on the humidifier
Dry air not only irritates your skin, but it can also cause dryness in your mouth and throat that makes you cough. This is why Joel Schlessinger, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, and RealSelf contributor recommends using a humidifier to add some moisture back and keep your airways (and your skin) happy. Just don’t go overboard—the EPA suggests keeping humidity between 30 and 50 percent because any damper than that could encourage mold and dust mites, and trigger asthma. If you don’t own a humidifier, try taking a steamy shower or pouring hot water into a bowl and breathing in the vapor.