Humanities July

HUMANITIES HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY

48 WHAT’S WITH MILLENNIALS’ OBSESSION WITH TATTOOS? DOES MILK BLOCK ANTIOXIDANT S IN FOODS AND BEVERAGES?

IS WATCHING THE NEWS ACTUALLY BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH? LIVER DETOX

BITCOIN IS FALLING OUT OF FAVOR ON THE DARK WEB

WHY YOU SHOULD EAT POPCORN WITH CHOPSTICKS

04

URBAN LEGEND DEFINITION

08

11

IS WATCHING THE NEWS ACTUALLY BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH?

NEW 2018 IPHONE

MUSIC AND DEPRESS ION

52

80

ENVIRONMENTAL STABILITY

15

49 'HIPSTER' MOVEMENT ENDED

CONTACT LENSES VS. EYEGLASSES: WHICH ARE BEST FOR YOU?

90

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY

19

7 HEALTH BENEFITS OF MANUKA HONEY, BASED ON SCIENCE

29

WHAT’S WITH MILLENNIALS’ OBSESSION WITH TATTOOS?

38

EDISON CAVANI

77

12 HEALTHY FOODS HIGH IN ANTIOXIDANTS

60

DOES MILK BLOCK ANTIOXIDANTS IN FOODS AND BEVERAGES?

69

LIVER DETOX

74

94 BITCOIN AND THE DARK WEB NOBLE AND ROYAL INTERRACIAL MARRIAGES

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

84

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT Y7 Humanities Magazine™ is owned and published electronically by HSF MEDIA INC. Copyright 2016-2018 HSF MEDIA INC. All rights reserved. ® "Y7 Humanities Magazine and distinctive logo are trademarks owned by HSF MEDIA INC. "y7humanitiesmagazine.com" is a trademark of HSF MEDIA INC. No part of this electronic magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of HSF MEDIA INC. Requests for permission should be directed to: HSF MEDIA INC. 300 Cadman Plaza West, Floor 12 Brooklyn NY 11201 USA

Why You Should Eat Popcorn with Chopsticks

By Robert W. Smith

Credit: Popcorn image via Adobe Images It happens fast. You crack open a bottle of your favorite drink and put it to your lips. The delicious flavor is nearly overwhelming. But a minute later, you’re barely noticing the taste as you drink it.

Or you buy a new car and think it will make you smile every time you drive it for years. But a month later, that sensation is gone. Now it’s just a car.

This satiation, known as hedonic adaptation, occurs for nearly everything that makes us happy.

Look around and think of how much you initially enjoyed the things that surround you. Then think about how much you enjoy them today.

Wouldn’t it be great to get some of that initial enjoyment back?

In a series of studies soon to be published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, we found that consuming things in unconventional ways enhances enjoyment of them.

This is where chopsticks come in.

The art of paying attention

In one study, we asked 68 participants to eat some popcorn. While half were told to eat the normal way, one kernel at a time, the rest used chopsticks. We found that those who ate with chopsticks enjoyed the popcorn a lot more than the others, even though both groups were told to eat at the same slow pace.

This is because of something well-known to psychologists: When something seems new, people pay more attention to it. And when people pay more attention to something enjoyable, they tend to enjoy it more.

This is why many people seek so much variety in what they consume. We buy something and use it for a while until it becomes familiar and mundane, then we buy something else thinking it will make us happy. Unfortunately, this replacement is costly, and, in cases such as houses and spouses, sometimes a very extreme option in response to unavoidable familiarity.

Our research suggests another option: Instead of replacing something once you get sick of it, try consuming it or interacting with it in unconventional ways.

Make each sip count In another experiment, we studied 300 people as they consumed water.

First, we asked participants to come up with their own unconventional ways to consume water.

Their responses ranged from drinking out of a martini glass or travel mug to lapping it up like a cat.

One even suggested drinking water out of a shipping envelope.

They were then told to take five sips of water and rate their enjoyment after each drink. A third did so in the normal way, another third sipped using one of their own randomly chosen unconventional methods over and over and the rest used a different unconventional method for each sip.

We found that people who drank water in a different way every time enjoyed their water the most – with even bigger boosts toward the end of the taste test. In other words, their enjoyment did not decline over time. While everyone else enjoyed the water less for each sip, those who drank it in different ways did not show this usual pattern of declining enjoyment.

This presents a rare solution to the nearly universal phenomenon of satiation, or the declining enjoyment that comes with familiarity. As long as you can find new and interesting ways to interact with something, you may never grow tired of it.

Business opportunities This idea isn’t entirely novel, of course. Many companies are already taking advantage of this concept to provide more enjoyable experiences for customers.

Restaurants exist where diners eat while lying in beds, while hovering in the sky and off of naked models. There is even a restaurant where diners eat naked.

The Reddit page WeWantPlates presents a rich catalog of the many creative and confusing ways that restaurants serve their customers food, from nachos in a sink to ravioli on a washing line.

While there is no limit to the different ways to present the same old thing, at some point the novelty usually wears off. Our research suggests this is a missed opportunity for businesses to offer more variety in how a single food is consumed.

For example, when people eat a few slices of pizza at a restaurant, they typically consume them all in the same way. It’s a problem if people enjoy their last slice less because of satiation, because our memory for experiences is shaped heavily by what happened at the end.

Rather than turning off all the lights to make dining more enjoyable, as in the dark-dining trend, pizza parlors could encourage their customers to eat each slice in a different way, such as normally, folded in half, backwards, with a fork and knife, with chopsticks or while blindfolded. If they did, we believe they would likely find that their customers enjoy their last slice as much as the first.

The bottom line is that variety is the spice of life, not just in what we do but also how we do it.

Knowing this can help both businesses and customers maximize enjoyment.

Urban Legend Definition

By Jacob Lantern In the snopes.com glossary we provide a far shorter and quite serviceable definition of the term ‘urban legend.’ However, we felt those whose interest into the subject went deeper would appreciate having access to the long form of it, too.

Urban legends are best described as cautionary or moralistic tales passed along by those who believe (or claim) the incidents befell either folks they know personally or acquaintances of friends or family members.

Whereas the setting of more traditional legends places them in the realm of long ago, urban legends are set against the backdrop of contemporary times — the stories take place in shopping malls and coed dormitories and feature such up-to-date bogeymen as terrorists, AIDS, and inner-city gangs. Though some of these tales go back a century or more, their details are continually being updated to keep them current with the times; the horse and buggy of bygone days becomes the BMW of today.

The legends we tell reflect current societal concerns and fears as well as confirm the rightness of our views. It is through such stories that we attempt to make sense of our world, which at times can appear to be capricious and dangerous. As cautionary tales, urban legends warn us against engaging in risky behaviors by pointing out what has supposedly happened to others who did what we might be tempted try. Other legends confirm our belief that it’s a big, bad world out there, one awash with crazed killers, drug addicts, unscrupulous companies out to make a buck at any cost, and a government that doesn’t give a damn.

Legends of the genre are passed along in both oral and written form. You’ll hear them over coffee and find them forwarded to you in e-mail or pinned to the bulletin board in your church.

New details are often added and old ones dropped or modified as each new teller regales his circle of acquaintance with the yarn. Consequently, the same story can exist simultaneously in a number of forms, with details shifting depending on who tells it. A number of these tales tend to localize, with the provision of additional details that place the event in a nearby town. (These details, of course, change with every telling.) Complicating matters further, many humorous urban legends also exist as jokes or funny stories — the same story told as a snippet of gossip about the town’s mechanic in one village will be presented as a boldfaced joke not about anyone in particular in another.

By definition, legends are stories and, as such, feature casts of characters, plotlines, and denouements. Because they lack these elements, other forms of contemporary lore

(e.g. e-mailedwarnings, odd facts, folk beliefs) cannot properly be termed urban legends even though they do fall into the general subset of contemporary lore, which itself is a sub-category of folklore.

A common mistake is the equation of ‘urban legend’ with ‘false’ (i.e., “Oh, that’s an urban legend!”). Though the vast majority of such tales are pure invention, a tiny handful do turn out to be based on real incidents. What moves true tales of this type out of the world of news and into the genre of contemporary lore is the blurring of details and multiplicity of claims that the reported incidents happened locally, alterations which take place as the stories are passed through countless hands. Though there might indeed have been an original actual event, it clearly did not happen to as many people or in as many places as the various recountings of it would have one believe.

Despite our being heartily mistrustful of anything found in the newspaper, the vast majority of us tend to unquestioningly believe urban legends. Why? Because invariably it’s either a dear friend or someone we look up to doing the telling. Furthermore, that person swears a friend of hers knows the actual person it happened to. As such, this isn’t just news, it’s practically firsthand news. Because it rides in on the back of someone we trust, it skirts past our usual skepticism.

Reliance on these personal ties plays a great part in why we believe the stories we do. Urban legends are passed along by people we trust implicitly, so it never occurs to us to doubt them.

While it is true just about everyone we cherish feels the same way about us and so would never lie to us, it does not follow that everything they say is always the truth. People can be mistaken or misinformed, a detail the proponents of the “My mom would never lie about a thing like that, so it must be true” theory fail to take into account.

Because urban legends make good telling (and who doesn’t like being in the spotlight, looked up to as the one who knows all the really great stories?), it’s almost guaranteed these tales will outlive us all.

Is Watching the News Actually Bad for Your Health?

A gym chain has banned cable news from its TVs because they interfere with its “healthy way of life philosophy.”

By Alex Barasch A Minnesota-based gym chain called Life Time caused a stir among its clients—and the rest of the internet, once the New York Times picked up the story—when it announced its decision to remove all cable news programming, left- and right-leaning alike, from the big-screen TVs in its 130 locations around the country. Amid cries of censorship, Life Time’s statement on Twitter emphasized that it was a decision borne of “significant member feedback received over time” and that the move was in line with the gym’s “healthy way of life philosophy.”

A six-month vacation from reality may sound tempting, perhaps even healthy considering the current state of the world.

The subtext is that watching cable news could harm your health—a maxim that might sound downright intuitive in this day and age. But among scientists, the jury is still out. It’s true that certain types of news seem to have a measurable impact on our mental health: Researchers from the University of Toronto found that journalists who regularly deal with images of extreme violence in the course of their work are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD, and alcoholism. The authors conclude that “frequent, repetitive viewing of traumatic images can come with adverse psychological consequences.” Interestingly (and worryingly), the opposite can also be true: Increased exposure to these images can lead to desensitization, a kind of emotional numbing effect as they become used to the horrors that come with the job. While non-journalists won’t bear the brunt of this, it follows that stories of police brutality, terrorist attacks, and other violence could start to wear on our emotional well-being (or at the other end of the spectrum, our ability to respond emotionally in the first place), particularly if we’re always plugged in.

Importantly, though, cable news in and of itself has no such effect. Although individual elections might affect our stress levels—Duke scientists tracking the stress hormone cortisol in McCain voters vs. Obama voters on the night of the 2008 election saw a spike among members of the losing party—the steady drumbeat of political developments doesn’t seem to do the same. One 2017 study of older adults, the largest consumers of cable news, exposed volunteers to Fox News, MSNBC, and PBS (respectively deemed right, left, and center), then monitored their psychological, physiological, and cognitive responses. In short, there wasn’t one: “Cable news watching had no effect on psychological stress, physiological stress, or cognitive function.

This remained true even if the news exposures were discordant with participants’ political affiliation.” While a 2012 study at Texas A&M found that New York Times stories about Obama’s success led to higher cortisol levels than those about Mystic Pizza or Taylor Swift among the college’s conservative student body, the authors were quick to note that “the effects we observed were within the range of normal, daily variations in cortisol,” and they pushed back against the notion of political coverage as a kind of “secondary smoke” for partisan opponents. So from an

empirical perspective, it seems that both watching and reading the news, even when it scares us or disappoints us or we disagree with it, are relatively safe habits.

Natalie Bushaw, a spokeswoman for Life Time, assured the Times that when it comes to cable news at the gym, this went beyond Trump. “This has been a growing issue over years, not weeks or months,” she said. That may have been more about the gym’s desire to combat accusations of censorship in these polarized times. But she’s right that people have worried about information overload being bad for one’s health for a long time: As early as the 1840s, Victorians feared for the fate of “brain workers”—the academics, financiers, and clergymen inundated with information at rates that had previously been impossible. As the advent of commercial telegraphs and the mass production and distribution of pamphlets and periodicals radically altered the speed and frequency of communication, doctors advised those facing mental and emotional overload to “take rest,” literally checking out and retiring to, say, Davos for months or even years at a time.

A six-month vacation from reality may sound tempting, perhaps even healthy considering the current state of the world. Which brings us to the crux of the issue: Things have obviously changed fundamentally since the 1840s, but they’ve also changed since 2016. It’s worth noting that while the most recent of these studies was published in 2017, volunteers were recruited between July 2014 and May 2015—in other words, well before the Trump administration or the #MeToo moment. Our current 24-hour news cycle, dominated by stories of sexual assault, environmental crises, and impending nuclear disaster, may well be more distressing than it has been in the past, and plenty has been written about what we can do to cultivate a healthier “media diet” in response.

There are cases in which limiting our exposure is in fact a valid and worthwhile course of action: It’s OK (and probably even advisable) to go to bed on an election night instead of obsessively refreshing the Upshot’s robot predictor needle. And there’s no shame in choosing not to bear witness to every moment of violence, as long as we don’t shy away from what they tell us about the world we live in.

Life Time has offered its customers a compromise: The channels that have been removed from large-screen TVs are still available on smaller ones, and the gym’s Wi-Fi allows them to tune in to whatever they like on mobile phones. While it may not be scientifically necessary to take cable TV off its biggest screens, the gym is simply letting its customers make a choice about where, whether, and how much they want to engage—and that seems like a perfectly reasonable step to me.

When do cultures change?

Environmental Stability Nathan Nunn

The evolution of culture and tradition, along with their persistence, can be explained by environmental instability Increasingly, economists are coming to understand the role of culture and its importance for economic development (Spolaore and Wacziarg 2013). One characteristic of culture is that it is often quite persistent (Fischer 1989, Fernandez 2007, Giuliano 2007, Fernandez and Fogli 2009, Algan and Cahuc 2010, Voigtlaender and Voth 2012), and yet there are also many examples of dramatic changes (Becker and Woessmann 2008, Cantoni 2012, Mead 1956, Firth 1959, Kupperman 1995). This raises the natural question: When does culture change and when does it persist? In particular, what determines a society’s willingness to adopt new customs and beliefs rather than hold onto traditions?

In a recent study, we tackle exactly this question and test for a determinant of cultural persistence that has been well-developed theoretically in the evolutionary anthropology literature (Giuliano and Nunn 2017). This determinant is the stability of the environment across generations.

Why the stability of environment matters The intuition for why this matters is as follow. First, consider a population living in a very stable environment. In this setting, the customs and beliefs of one’s ancestors are particularly relevant in deciding what actions are best.. Given that the customs and beliefs have evolved and survived up until the previous generation, it is likely that they are beneficial. Next, consider a population living in a very unstable environment, where the setting of each generation changes so much that the customs and beliefs of the previous generation are unlikely to be relevant for the current generation. In such a setting, the traditions of one’s ancestors are less relevant and less likely to be beneficial.

Our study We take this hypothesis to the data and test whether societies with ancestors that historically lived In environments with more environmental instability across generations:

1. value tradition less; 2. are more likely to adopt new cultural values; 3. exhibit less cultural persistence over time.

We measure the variability of the environment across generations by using data on temperature anomalies within defined units of area. To do so, we divide the world into areas defined by 0.5°-by0.5° grid cells beginning in 500 CE. The variation in our constructed variability measure is shown visually in Figure 1.

Figure 1 Climatic variation across the world since 500 CE

Strategy and results Our empirical analysis uses four strategies to test this hypothesis of interest: •

We examine self-reported views of the importance of tradition. Looking across either countries or ethnic groups within countries, we find that having ancestors that experienced more climatic instability across generations is associated with a weaker belief in the importance of maintaining traditions and customs today.

•

We measure the importance placed on tradition as revealed by the observed persistence of cultural traits. We examine three cultural practices for data available across societies and over long periods of time: female participation in work outside the home, polygamy, and cousin marriage. We find that although these traits have tended to persist historically, there is significant variation. There is much weaker persistence for countries with ancestors that experienced a greater instability of their climate from one generation to the next. For the least stable societies, persistence is close to zero, while for the most stable it is fairly close to one.

•

We examine the stability of a group’s customs and traditions when faced with a large shock that causes these traditions to change. Specifically, we study the descendants of immigrants who moved to the US. Immigrants bring their traditional customs with them, but live in a new environment with a new set of practices and values. This leads to a natural weakening of traditional practices. Our analysis examines whether children of immigrants marry someone from the same ancestral group and whether they continue to speak their ancestral language at home. Interestingly, we find that the descendants of immigrants from countries that were more unstable historically are less likely to hold onto the tradition of their homeland.

One potential concern with the immigrant analysis is that immigrants are not necessarily a representative sample of the origin population. In addition, non-representativeness may differ systematically in a manner that is correlated with climatic instability and cultural persistence.

•

Given the above concerns, we examine non-immigrant populations that are faced with pressure to change their traditions and customs – namely, Indigenous populations of the US and Canada.

Like immigrants, Indigenous populations are minority groups whose cultural traditions differ from those of the majority population. However, unlike immigrants, they are not a small group selected by the immigration process. Our analysis examines the relationship between the crossgenerational climatic instability of the land historically inhabited by the Indigenous groups and the extent to which they are still able to speak their traditional language today. We find that, as with the descendants of immigrants, Indigenous populations with greater historical instability are less likely to speak their traditional language. They are more likely to have abandoned this cultural tradition and to have adopted English as their mother tongue.

Implications All four strategies reach the same conclusion. Tradition is less important and culture less persistent among populations with ancestors who lived in environments that were historically less stable across generations. In addition to providing a better understanding of when we expect culture to persist and when we expect it to change, our study also provides a direct test of a class of model from evolutionary anthropology. The core characteristic of these models is the assumption that culture evolves systematically based on the relative costs and benefits of the cultural traits. Our findings provide support for the evolution of culture as modelled in evolutionary anthropology literature, as compared to alternative models which suggest that culture is not systematic at all, and therefore cannot be explained. Testing these models is important because many of the current models of culture in economics1 implicitly built on a number of important outcomes of models from evolutionary anthropology, such as the assumption of vertical transmission and social learning.

This is particularly important since the models in evolutionary anthropology are crucial for the assumptions of many models used in cultural economics.

How to Improve Your Memory Tips and Exercises to Sharpen Your Mind and Boost Brainpower

A strong memory depends on the health and vitality of your brain. Whether you’re a student studying for final exams, a working professional interested in doing all you can to stay mentally sharp, or a senior looking to preserve and enhance your grey matter as you age, there are lots of things you can do to improve your memory and mental performance.

Improving your memory: 9 tips for boosting brain power at any age.

They say that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but when it comes to the brain, scientists have discovered that this old adage simply isn’t true. The human brain has an astonishing ability to adapt and change—even into old age. This ability is known as neuroplasticity. With the right stimulation, your brain can form new neural pathways, alter existing connections, and adapt and react in ever-changing ways.

The brain’s incredible ability to reshape itself holds true when it comes to learning and memory.

You can harness the natural power of neuroplasticity to increase your cognitive abilities, enhance your ability to learn new information, and improve your memory at any age. These 9 tips can show you how: 1. Give your brain a workout 2. Don’t skip the physical exercise 3. Get your Zs 4. Make time for friends 5. Keep stress in check 6. Have a laugh 7. Eat a brain-boosting diet 8. Identify and treat health problems 9. Take practical steps to support learning and memory

Tip 1: Give your brain a workout By the time you’ve reached adulthood, your brain has developed millions of neural pathways that help you process and recall information quickly, solve familiar problems, and execute familiar tasks with a minimum of mental effort. But if you always stick to these well-worn paths, you aren’t giving your brain the stimulation it needs to keep growing and developing. You have to shake things up from time to time!

Memory, like muscular strength, requires you to “use it or lose it.” The more you work out your brain, the better you’ll be able to process and remember information. But not all activities are equal. The best brain exercises break your routine and challenge you to use and develop new brain pathways.

Four key elements of a good brain-boosting activity 1. It teaches you something new. No matter how intellectually demanding the activity, if it’s something you’re already good at, it’s not a good brain exercise. The activity needs to be something that’s unfamiliar and out of your comfort zone. To strengthen the brain, you need to keep learning and developing new skills.

2. It’s challenging. The best brain-boosting activities demand your full and close attention.

It’s not enough that you found the activity challenging at one point. It must still be something that requires mental effort. For example, learning to play a challenging new piece of music counts. Playing a difficult piece you’ve already memorized does not.

3. It’s a skill you can build on. Look for activities that allow you to start at an easy level and work your way up as your skills improve —always pushing the envelope so you continue to stretch your capabilities. When a previously difficult level starts to feel comfortable, that means it’s time to tackle the next level of performance.

4. It’s rewarding. Rewards support the brain’s learning process. The more interested and engaged you are in the activity, the more likely you’ll be to continue doing it and the greater the benefits you’ll experience. So choose activities that, while challenging, are still enjoyable and satisfying.

Think of something new you’ve always wanted to try, like learning how to play the guitar, make pottery, juggle, play chess, speak French, dance the tango, or master your golf swing. Any of these activities can help you improve your memory, so long as they keep you challenged and engaged.

What about brain-training programs?

There are countless brain-training apps and online programs that promise to boost memory, problem-solving, attention, and even IQ with daily practice. But do they really work? Increasingly, the evidence says no. While these brain-training programs may lead to short-term improvements in whatever task or specific game you’ve been practicing, they don’t appear to do anything to strengthen or improve overall intelligence, memory, or other cognitive abilities.

Tip 2: Don’t skip the physical exercise

While mental exercise is important for brain health, that doesn’t mean you never need to break a sweat. Physical exercise helps your brain stay sharp. It increases oxygen to your brain and reduces the risk for disorders that lead to memory loss, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Exercise also enhances the effects of helpful brain chemicals and reduces stress hormones. Perhaps most importantly, exercise plays an important role in neuroplasticity by boosting growth factors and stimulating new neuronal connections.

Brain-boosting exercise tips •

Aerobic exercise is particularly good for the brain, so choose activities that keep your blood pumping. In general, anything that is good for your heart is great for your brain.

•

Does it take you long time to clear out the sleep fog when you wake up? If so, you may find that exercising in the morning before you start your day makes a big difference. In addition to clearing out the cobwebs, it also primes you for learning throughout the day.

•

Physical activities that require hand-eye coordination or complex motor skills are particularly beneficial for brain building.

•

Exercise breaks can help you get past mental fatigue and afternoon slumps. Even a short walk or a few jumping jacks can be enough to reboot your brain.

If you are experiencing traumatic stress or find yourself stuck in repetitive, unhealthy behavior... ...Try exercising the muscles connected to fight-or-flight with attention. Exercises that use both your arms and legs—and are done in a focused way with mindful awareness of your physical and emotional experience—are especially good at reducing traumatic stress. Exercises like walking, running, swimming, or rock-climbing, activate your senses and make you more aware of yourself and others when they are done with focused attention.

Tip 3: Get your Zs There is a big difference between the amount of sleep you can get by on and the amount you need to function at your best. The truth is that over 95% of adults need between 7.5 to 9 hours of sleep every night in order to avoid sleep deprivation. Even skimping on a few hours makes a difference!

Memory, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking skills are all compromised.

But sleep is critical to learning and memory in an even more fundamental way. Research shows that sleep is necessary for memory consolidation, with the key memory-enhancing activity occurring during the deepest stages of sleep.

Get on a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time each morning. Try not to break your routine, even on weekends and holidays.

Avoid all screens for at least an hour before bed. The blue light emitted by TVs, tablets, phones, and computers trigger wakefulness and suppress hormones such as melatonin that make you sleepy.

Cut back on caffeine. Caffeine affects people differently. Some people are highly sensitive, and even morning coffee may interfere with sleep at night. Try reducing your intake or cutting it out entirely if you suspect it’s keeping you up.

Tip 4: Make time for friends When you think of ways to improve memory, do you think of “serious” activities such as wrestling with the New York Times crossword puzzle or mastering chess strategy, or do more lighthearted pastimes—hanging out with friends or enjoying a funny movie—come to mind? If you’re like most of us, it’s probably the former. But countless studies show that a life full of friends and fun comes with cognitive benefits.

Healthy relationships: the ultimate brain booster Humans are highly social animals. We’re not meant to survive, let alone thrive, in isolation.

Relationships stimulate our brains—in fact, interacting with others may be the best kind of brain exercise.

Research shows that having meaningful friendships and a strong support system are vital not only to emotional health, but also to brain health. In one recent study from the Harvard School of Public Health, for example, researchers found that people with the most active social lives had the slowest rate of memory decline.

There are many ways to start taking advantage of the brain and memory-boosting benefits of socializing. Volunteer, join a club, make it a point to see friends more often, or reach out over the phone. And if a human isn’t handy, don’t overlook the value of a pet—especially the highly-social dog.

Tip 5: Keep stress in check Stress is one of the brain’s worst enemies. Over time, chronic stress destroys brain cells and damages the hippocampus, the region of the brain involved in the formation of new memories and the retrieval of old ones. Studies have also linked stress to memory loss.

Tips for managing stress •

Set realistic expectations (and be willing to say no!)

•

Take breaks throughout the day

•

Express your feelings instead of bottling them up

•

Set a healthy balance between work and leisure time

•

Focus on one task at a time, rather than trying to multi-task

The stress-busting, memory-boosting benefits of meditation The scientific evidence for the mental health benefits of meditation continues to pile up. Studies show that meditation helps improve many different types of conditions, including depression, anxiety, chronic pain, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Meditation also can improve focus, concentration, creativity, memory, and learning and reasoning skills.

Meditation works its “magic” by changing the actual brain. Brain images show that regular meditators have more activity in the left prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain associated with feelings of joy and equanimity. Meditation also increases the thickness of the cerebral cortex and encourages more connections between brain cells—all of which increases mental sharpness and memory ability.

Tip 6: Have a laugh You’ve heard that laughter is the best medicine, and that holds true for the brain and the memory, as well as the body. Unlike emotional responses, which are limited to specific areas of the brain, laughter engages multiple regions across the whole brain.

Furthermore, listening to jokes and working out punch lines activates areas of the brain vital to learning and creativity. As psychologist Daniel Goleman notes in his book Emotional Intelligence, “laughter… seems to help people think more broadly and associate more freely.”

Looking for ways to bring more laughter in your life? Start with these basics: Laugh at yourself. Share your embarrassing moments. The best way to take ourselves less seriously is to talk about the times when we took ourselves too seriously.

When you hear laughter, move toward it. Most of the time, people are very happy to share something funny because it gives them an opportunity to laugh again and feed off the humor you find in it. When you hear laughter, seek it out and try to join in.

Spend time with fun, playful people. These are people who laugh easily—both at themselves and at life’s absurdities—and who routinely find the humor in everyday events. Their playful point of view and laughter are contagious.

Surround yourself with reminders to lighten up. Keep a toy on your desk or in your car. Put up a funny poster in your office. Choose a computer screensaver that makes you laugh. Frame photos of you and your loved ones having fun.

Pay attention to children and emulate them. They are the experts on playing, taking life lightly, and laughing.

Tip 7: Eat a brain-boosting diet Just as the body needs fuel, so does the brain. You probably already know that a diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, “healthy” fats (such as olive oil, nuts, fish) and lean protein will provide lots of health benefits, but such a diet can also improve memory. For brain health, though, it’s not just what you eat—it’s also what you don’t eat. The following nutritional tips will help boost your brainpower and reduce your risk of dementia: Get your omega-3s. Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids are particularly beneficial for brain health. Fish is a particularly rich source of omega-3, especially cold water “fatty fish” such as salmon, tuna, halibut, trout, mackerel, sardines, and herring.

If you’re not a fan of seafood, consider non-fish sources of omega-3s such as seaweed, walnuts, ground flaxseed, flaxseed oil, winter squash, kidney and pinto beans, spinach, broccoli, pumpkin seeds, and soybeans.

Limit calories and saturated fat. Research shows that diets high in saturated fat (from sources such as red meat, whole milk, butter, cheese, cream, and ice cream) increase your risk of dementia and impair concentration and memory.

Eat more fruit and vegetables. Produce is packed with antioxidants, substances that protect your brain cells from damage. Colorful fruits and vegetables are particularly good antioxidant «superfood» sources.

Drink green tea. Green tea contains polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that protect against free radicals that can damage brain cells. Among many other benefits, regular consumption of green tea may enhance memory and mental alertness and slow brain aging.

Drink wine (or grape juice) in moderation. Keeping your alcohol consumption in check is key, since alcohol kills brain cells. But in moderation (around 1 glass a day for women; 2 for men), alcohol may actually improve memory and cognition. Red wine appears to be the best option, as it is rich in resveratrol, a flavonoid that boosts blood flow in the brain and reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Other resveratrol-packed options include grape juice, cranberry juice, fresh grapes and berries, and peanuts.

Tip 8: Identify and treat health problems Do you feel that your memory has taken an unexplainable dip? If so, there may be a health or lifestyle problem to blame.

It’s not just dementia or Alzheimer’s disease that causes memory loss. There are many diseases, mental health disorders, and medications that can interfere with memory: Heart disease and its risk factors. Cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, including high cholesterol and high blood pressure, have been linked to mild cognitive impairment.

Diabetes. Studies show that people with diabetes experience far greater cognitive decline than those who don’t suffer from the disease.

Hormone imbalance. Women going through menopause often experience memory problems when their estrogen dips. In men, low testosterone can cause issues. Thyroid imbalances can also cause forgetfulness, sluggish thinking, or confusion.

Medications. Many prescription and over-the-counter medications can get in the way of memory and clear thinking. Common culprits include cold and allergy medications, sleep aids, and

antidepressants. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about possible side effects.

Is it depression?

Emotional difficulties can take just as heavy a toll on the brain as physical problems. In fact, mental sluggishness, difficulty concentrating, and forgetfulness are common symptoms of depression. The memory issues can be particularly bad in older people who are depressed-so much so that it is sometimes mistaken for dementia. The good news is that when the depression is treated, memory should return to normal.

Tip 9: Take practical steps to support learning and memory Pay attention. You can’t remember something if you never learned it, and you can’t learn something—that is, encode it into your brain—if you don’t pay enough attention to it. It takes about eight seconds of intense focus to process a piece of information into your memory. If you’re easily distracted, pick a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted.

Involve as many senses as possible. Try to relate information to colors, textures, smells, and tastes. The physical act of rewriting information can help imprint it onto your brain. Even if you’re a visual learner, read out loud what you want to remember. If you can recite it rhythmically, even better.

Relate information to what you already know. Connect new data to information you already remember, whether it’s new material that builds on previous knowledge, or something as simple as an address of someone who lives on a street where you already know someone.

For more complex material, focus on understanding basic ideas rather than memorizing isolated details. Practice explaining the ideas to someone else in your own words.

Rehearse information you’ve already learned. Review what you’ve learned the same day you learn it, and at intervals thereafter. This “spaced rehearsal” is more effective than cramming, especially for retaining what you’ve learned.

Use mnemonic devices to make memorization easier. Mnemonics (the initial “m” is silent) are clues of any kind that help us remember something, usually by helping us associate the information we want to remember with a visual image, a sentence, or a word.

6 types of mnemonic device 1. Visual image - Associate a visual image with a word or name to help you remember them better. Positive, pleasant images that are vivid, colorful, and three-dimensional will be easier to remember

Example: To remember the name Rosa Parks and what she›s known for, picture a woman sitting on a park bench surrounded by roses, waiting as her bus pulls up.

2. Acrostic (or sentence) - Make up a sentence in which the first letter of each word is part of or represents the initial of what you want to remember.

Example: The sentence «Every good boy does fine» to memorize the lines of the treble clef, representing the notes E, G, B, D, and F. 3. Acronym - An acronym is a word that is made up by taking the first letters of all the key words or ideas you need to remember and creating a new word out of them.

Example: The word «HOMES» to remember the names of the Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.

4. Rhymes and alliteration - Rhymes, alliteration (a repeating sound or syllable), and even jokes are memorable way to remember more mundane facts and figures.

Example: The rhyme «Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November» to remember the months of the year with only 30 days in them.

5. Chunking - Chunking breaks a long list of numbers or other types of information into smaller, more manageable chunks.

Example: Remembering a 10-digit phone number by breaking it down into three sets of numbers: 555-867-5309 (as opposed to 5558675309).

6. Method of loci - Imagine placing the items you want to remember along a route you know well, or in specific locations in a familiar room or building.

Example: For a shopping list, imagine bananas in the entryway to your home, a puddle of milk in the middle of the sofa, eggs going up the stairs, and bread on your bed.

Simple Tricks to Sharpen Thinking and Memory Skills Using these memory-enhancing techniques can help improve your ability to learn new information and retain it over time.

Repeat One of the golden rules of learning and memory is repeat, repeat, repeat. The brain also responds to novelty, so repeating something in a different way or at a different time will make the most of the novelty effect and allow you to build stronger memories. Examples of using repetition include: •

Taking notes

•

Repeating a name after you hear it for the first time

•

Repeating or paraphrasing what someone says to you

Organize A day planner or smart phone calendar can help you keep track of appointments and activities and can also serve as a journal in which you write anything that you would like to remember. Writing down and organizing information reinforces learning.

•

Try jotting down conversations, thoughts, experiences.

•

Review current and previous day’s entries at breakfast and dinner.

•

If you use a planner and not a smart phone, keep it in the same spot at home and take it with you whenever you leave.

Visualize Learning faces and names is a particularly hard task for most people. In addition to repeating a person’s name, you can also associate the name with an image. Visualization strengthens the association you are making between the face and the name. For example: •

Link the name Sandy with the image of a beach, and imagine Sandy on the beach.

Cue When you are having difficulty recalling a particular word or fact, you can cue yourself by giving related details or “talking around” the word, name, or fact. Other practical ways to cue include: •

Using alarms or a kitchen timer to remind you of tasks or appointments.

•

Placing an object associated with the task you must do in a prominent place at home. For example, if you want to order tickets to a play, leave a newspaper ad for the play near your telephone or computer.

Group When you’re trying to remember a long list of items, it can help to group the items in sets of three to five, just as you would to remember a phone number. This strategy capitalizes on organization and building associations, and helps to extend the capacity of our short-term memory by chunking information together instead of trying to remember each piece of information independently. For example: •

If you have a list of 15 things on your grocery list, you can group the items by category, such as dairy, produce, canned goods, and frozen foods.

7 Health Benefits of Manuka Honey, Based on Science

Manuka honey is a type of honey native to New Zealand.

It’s produced by bees who pollinate the flower Leptospermum scoparium, commonly known as the manuka bush.

Manuka honey’s antibacterial properties are what set it apart from traditional honey.

Methylglyoxal is its active ingredient and likely responsible for these antibacterial effects.

Additionally, manuka honey has antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.

In fact, it has traditionally been used for wound healing, soothing sore throats, preventing tooth decay and improving digestive issues.

Here are 7 science-based health benefits of manuka honey.

1. Aid Wound Healing

Since ancient times, honey has been used to treat wounds, burns, sores and boils (1).

In 2007, manuka honey was approved by the US FDA as an option for wound treatment (2).

Honey offers antibacterial and antioxidant properties, all while maintaining a moist wound environment and protective barrier, which prevents microbial infections in the wound.

Multiple studies have shown that manuka honey can enhance wound healing, amplify the regeneration of tissue and even decrease pain in patients suffering from burns (3, 4).

For example, one two-week study investigated the effects of applying a manuka honey dressing on 40 people with non-healing wounds.

The results showed that 88% of the wounds decreased in size. Moreover, it helped create an acidic wound environment, which favors wound healing (5).

What’s more, manuka honey may help heal diabetic ulcers.

A Saudi Arabian study found that manuka honey wound dressings, when used in combination with conventional wound treatment, healed diabetic ulcers more effectively than conventional treatment alone (6).

Additionally, a Greek study showed that manuka honey wound dressings reduced healing time and disinfected wounds in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (7).

Another study observed the effectiveness of manuka honey in healing eyelid wounds after surgery.

They found all eyelid wounds healed well, regardless of whether the incisions were treated with manuka honey or vaseline.

However, patients reported that scarring treated with manuka honey was less stiff and significantly less painful, compared to scarring treated with vaseline (8).

Lastly, manuka honey is effective at treating wound infections caused by antibiotic-resistant strains, such as Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (9, 10).

Hence, the regular topical application of manuka honey on wounds and infections may help prevent MRSA (11).

SUMMARYApplied topically, manuka honey effectively treats burns, ulcers and non-healing wounds. It has also been shown to combat antibiotic-resistant strains of infections, such as MRSA. 2. Promote Oral Health According to the CDC, almost 50% of Americans have some form of periodontal disease.

To avoid tooth decay and keep your gums healthy, it is important to minimize bad oral bacteria that can cause plaque formation.

It’s also important not to totally wipe out the good oral bacteria that is responsible for keeping your mouth healthy.

Studies have shown manuka honey attacks harmful oral bacteria associated with plaque formation, gum inflammation and tooth decay.

Specifically, research has shown that manuka honey with a high antibacterial activity is effective at inhibiting the growth of harmful oral bacteria like P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans (12, 13).

One study examined the effects of chewing or sucking on a honey chew on the reduction of plaque and gingivitis. The honey chew was made of manuka honey and similar to a chewy honey candy.

After their three daily meals, participants were instructed to either chew or suck on the honey chew for 10 minutes or chew a sugar-free gum.

The honey-chew group showed a significant reduction in plaque and gingival bleeding, compared to those who chewed the sugar-free gum (14).

The idea of consuming honey for good oral health may seem counterintuitive, as you have probably been told that consuming too many sweets can lead to cavities.

However, unlike candy and refined sugar, manuka honey’s potent antibacterial effects make it unlikely to contribute to cavities or tooth decay.

SUMMARYResearch shows manuka honey inhibits the growth of harmful oral bacteria that can cause gingivitis and tooth decay. Unlike refined sugar, it has not been shown to cause tooth decay.

3. Soothe a Sore Throat If you are suffering from a sore throat, manuka honey may help provide some relief.

Its antiviral and antibacterial properties can reduce inflammation and attack the bacteria that cause pain.

Not only does manuka honey attack harmful bacteria, it also coats the inner lining of the throat for a soothing effect.

A recent study in patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment for head and neck cancer observed the effects of consuming manuka honey on Streptococcus mutans, a type of bacteria responsible for sore throats.

Interestingly, researchers found a significant decrease in Streptococcus mutans after they consumed manuka honey (15).

Moreover, manuka honey decreases harmful oral bacteria that causes mucositis, a common side effect of radiation and chemotherapy. Mucositis results in inflammation and painful ulcerations of the mucous membranes lining the esophagus and digestive tract (16).

For quite some time, various types of honey have been touted as natural cough suppressants.

In fact, one study found honey was as effective as a common cough suppressant (17).

Although manuka honey wasn’t used in this study, it’s likely to be just as effective at suppressing coughs.

SUMMARYManuka honey can help treat sore throats. Research shows it attacks bacteria that causes soreness, especially in patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation.

4. Help Prevent Gastric Ulcers Stomach ulcers are one of the most common illnesses affecting humans (18).

They are sores that form on the lining of the stomach, causing stomach pain, nausea and bloating.

H. pylori is a common type of bacteria that is responsible for the majority of gastric ulcers.

Research suggests that manuka honey may help treat gastric ulcers caused by H. pylori.

For example, a test-tube study examined its effects on biopsies of gastric ulcers caused by H. pylori. The results were positive and implied that manuka honey is a useful antibacterial agent against H. pylori (19).

However, a small two-week study in 12 individuals who took 1 tablespoon of manuka honey by mouth daily showed that it did not decrease H. pylori bacteria (20).

Thus, more research is needed to fully assess its ability to treat gastric ulcers caused by H. pylori.

Gastric ulcers can also be caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

Yet, a study in rats showed that manuka honey helped prevent alcohol-induced gastric ulcers (18).

SUMMARYThe research is mixed, but manuka honey’s potent antibacterial effects may help treat gastric ulcers caused by H. pylori. It may also prevent alcohol-induced gastric ulcers.

5. Improve Digestive Symptoms Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common digestive disorder.

Its associated symptoms include constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain and irregular bowel movements.

Interestingly, researchers have discovered that regularly consuming manuka honey may help decrease these symptoms.

Manuka honey has been proven to improve antioxidant status and reduce inflammation in rats with both IBS and ulcerative colitis, a type of irritable bowel disease (21).

It has also been shown to attack strains of Clostridium difficile.

Clostridium difficile, often called C. diff, is a type of bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea and inflammation of the bowel.

C. diff is commonly treated with antibiotics. However, a recent study observed the effectiveness of manuka honey on C. diff strains.

Manuka honey killed C. diff cells, making it a possibly effective treatment (22).

It is important to note that the above studies observed manuka honey’s influence on bacterial infections in rat and test-tube studies.

Further research is needed to come to a full conclusion regarding its influence on bacterial infections of the bowel.

SUMMARYManuka honey may decrease inflammation in individuals with IBS. It may also be effective at attacking C. diff.

6. May Treat Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder that damages the lungs and can also affect the digestive system and other organs.

It affects the cells that produce mucus, causing mucus to be abnormally thick and sticky. This thick mucus clogs airways and ducts, making it difficult to breathe.

Unfortunately, upper respiratory infections are quite common in people with cystic fibrosis.

Manuka honey has been shown to fight bacteria that cause upper respiratory infections.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia spp. are two common bacteria that can cause serious

upper respiratory infections, especially in vulnerable populations.

One study observed the effectiveness of manuka honey against these bacteria in people with cystic fibrosis.

Results indicated that it inhibits their growth and works in conjunction with antibiotic treatment (23).

Therefore, researchers concluded that manuka honey may play an important role in treating upper respiratory infections, especially in those with cystic fibrosis.

SUMMARYManuka honey has been shown to attack harmful bacteria that cause upper respiratory infections in individuals with cystic fibrosis, but further studies are needed.

7. Treat Acne Acne is usually caused by hormonal changes, but it can also be a reaction to poor diet, stress or bacteria growth in clogged pores.

The antimicrobial activity of manuka honey, when used in combination with a low-pH product, is often marketed to fight acne.

Manuka honey could help keep your skin free of bacteria, which could expedite the acne healing process.

Also, given its anti-inflammatory properties, manuka honey is said to decrease inflammation associated with acne.

Yet, there is very limited research on manuka honey’s ability to treat acne.

However, one study investigated the effects of kanuka honey, which has antibacterial properties similar to those of manuka honey. It found that kanuka honey was as effective as antibacterial soap at improving acne (24).

Further research is needed to declare manuka honey a useful home remedy for acne.

SUMMARYManuka honey’s ability to treat acne appear favorable given its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Is Manuka Honey Safe?

For most people, manuka honey is safe to consume.

However, some people should consult a doctor before using it, including:

•

People with diabetes. All types of honey are high in natural sugar. Therefore, consuming manuka honey may affect blood sugar levels.

•

Those allergic to honey or bees. Those allergic to other types of honey or bees may have an allergic reaction after ingesting or applying manuka honey.

•

Infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend giving honey to babies younger than one due to the risk of infant botulism, a type of foodborne illness.

SUMMARYManuka honey is safe to consume for the majority of people over the age of one. Nevertheless, people with diabetes and those allergic to bees or other types of honey should talk to their healthcare provider before using it.

The Bottom Line Manuka honey is a unique type of honey.

Its most notable attribute is its effect on wound management and healing.

Manuka honey also has antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties that may help treat numerous ailments, including irritable bowel syndrome, gastric ulcers, periodontal disease and upper respiratory infections.

Further research is warranted to support its beneficial properties.

All things considered, manuka honey is likely an effective treatment strategy that may accelerate the healing process when used in conjunction with more conventional therapies.

What’s with millennials’ obsession with tattoos?

Y7 Humanities Staff FacebookTwitter

Carl Casedo loves his ink. The 20-year-old has nearly two armfuls of it: his left shoulder features a roaring Chinese guardian lion, and his right a black-and-white portrait of a young woman encircled by gentle barn swallows. Casedo speaks measuredly and passionately when talking about their meaning. Among the images are tributes to his mother, a favourite band, and his culture.

“I love them,” he smiles, even though he doesn’t have a definitive reason as to why he decided to decorate himself in the first place. “It was just my decision (to get tattoos). And I do get some people questioning that, but in the end, my body is my body.”

Casedo is one of millions of young people who are choosing, increasingly, to opt into permanent body art. Tattoos are an ancient art form, but lately experts have been pointing to a specific, intriguing group of patrons who are causing a notable swell in the industry: the notorious post1982 demographic known as millennials.

It does seem that millennials, more than any other group of mainstream consumers, are obsessed with tattoos. Once reserved for indigenous tribes, soldiers, sailors, punks, and ex-convicts, tattoos have skyrocketed in popularity. Health food supermarket chain Whole Foods seriously considered installing tattoo parlours in its format “365” stores in an effort to entice millennial shoppers. The United States Navy has changed its body art policies to allow for more and larger tattoos in the

hopes of drawing in more millennial recruits. In 2010 about 40 per cent of millennials had at least one tattoo and that number has increased in the last six years. Young Instagram and high fashion runway models are often spattered with tiny, artsy tattoos. What could have caused the tattoo business to become one of the fastest-growing industries in North America with an enormous client base of young people?

According to famed American tattoo artist Megan Massacre, a shift in the way tattoos were perceived occurred around the same time reality shows like TLC’s 2005 hit Miami Ink that normalized — and dramatized — the once-subversive experience of tattooing and being tattooed hit airwaves. The exposure of tattooing to mainstream media channels marked a change — instead of being the mark of social degenerates, tattoos were suddenly desirable, cool, and sexy. And, Massacre notes, the increasing number of inked musicians and sports players certainly helped: think Rihanna, Cara Delevingne, and Ed Sheeran.

The trickle-down effects of the change in perspective jump-started by these factors resulted in a widespread increase in tattoo acceptance, which can be seen in localities the world over— Edmonton included. But there are more factors at play than TV and simple celebrity influence.

Tattoos have been deeply meaningful for millennia, but their value hasn’t diminished over time.

Instead, younger generations are finding ways to adopt tattoos and reshape the connotations of inked skin in the process. There are many reasons why millennials are flocking to tattoo shops seemingly en masse. Turns out tattoos aren’t really just skin deep.

One study conducted by the professors at the University of Arkansas found that tattoos may be important because, at their core, they signify a means of cementing the permanence of identity.

Co-author Dr. Jeff Murray said at the time that tattoos do more than merely showcase facets of an individual’s identity: rather, they anchor, cement, and stand for the entirety of that identity. Even when everything else about the world right down to the body changes, tattoos are constants. They assure a link to the past.

The need for that kind of anchor has been exacerbated by the overload of constant changes in the environment that millennials in particular are challenged with facing on the daily. Since millennials are more wired in that any other generation before them, their world is the one changing the most frequently. Millennials are constantly bombarded with the newest social media platform, the latest trends, and the newest films via phones, laptops, tablets, and various other screens day in and day out, moulding the demographic to adapt quickly to rapid change. That said, all those changes can take a toll on the mind, and Murray seems to suggest that it can be comforting for a millennial tattoo wearer to know that the design etched in their skin will remain with them forever.

Murray’s theory is widely echoed by tattoo enthusiasts like Casedo. “It’s an expression of oneself,” he explains. “It doesn’t reflect the whole person, but it says something about them for sure.”

*** Technological advances in tattooing has also contributed to its booming popularity. Stringent health regulations and inspections have made it safer to pop into a clean, sterilized shop for a session; developments in tattoo ink and techniques have managed to dissuade the fears of some wouldbe collectors. If you shirk away from permanence, you can get a bloodline tattoo. If you’re worried about whether or not you’d like a visible tattoo, consider blacklight (“invisible”) or white tattoos.

Now, there are designs and artists and styles of tattoos for everyone who wants one, which leads to more people per year opting to get inked. Since younger people are generally more willing to take risks, it stands to reason that millennials are more receptive to these new techniques than their parents.

Though tattoo techniques and designs are always coming into and out of fashion, certain trends seem to have more popularity among millennials in particular. “The new trends I’ve seen become popular in the last few years are single needle and fine line tattoos, geometric, watercolour, and micro (small) tattoos. I absolutely love the look of them and I’m very eager to learn and master those styles of tattooing,” says Shaena Bunce, a 22-year-old Edmonton-based tattoo apprentice.

Another thing to consider is the increased availability — and visibility — of tattoos. “When I first started tattooing, I remember the only way you could see other tattoos and trends was the either go into a shop and look around, or look at magazines,” says Erin Storm of Edmonton’s own Bombshell Tattoo. “Now, with Facebook, Instagram, and social media, it’s so much easier to find tattoos. You can get an idea of the trends coming and going in tattooing — little Pinterest tattoos and things like that — from social media and the internet much more quickly than in the past.”

The “Pinterest tattoos” Storm mentions don’t seem to be going anywhere, either. Mac Plant of Little Buddha Tattoo says he’s noticed “simple white girl tattoos” — dream catchers, flying birds, and the like have become the most popular requests in the shop lately. “And compasses,” he says. “Compasses are a big one lately.”

Bunce has seen the effects of tattoo availability on social media on the demographics of her own clientele. She runs an active tattoo-focused Instagram account, where she posts photos of newly drawn designs and freshly inked clients, which acts as free advertising to anyone looking for an #edmontontattoo. “(My clients) are mostly people around my age because they’re my friends and acquaintances and they follow me on social media. I also get a lot of female clients, I guess because my drawing style is a bit more feminine,” she says.

Plant agrees. “I’d say we see mostly clients in their mid-twenties, early thirties — though we see some young, some old, so it probably averages out to about (people in their thirties),” Plant says.

“We do tend to see more millennials in general, though.”

But even though tattoos are experiencing a serious surge in popularity, there are some signs the tattoo frenzy may not quite have everlasting staying power with the younger set.

With more tattoos, after all, there’s more potential for tattoo regret. And for every person who comes away from the chair ecstatic with their new ink, there’s someone who immediately begins questioning their judgement after seeing their fresh PewDiePie Brofist tattoo. Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, and Jennifer Lawrence are just a few prominent celebrities who have voiced regret about certain designs on their bodies. And they’re not alone: the frequency of tattoo removal procedures has increased by almost 46 per cent in the last few years. According to a survey conducted by the British Association of Dermatologists, close to one-third of the people who get tattoos regret at least one in their collection. On top of that, there’s a pronounced glut of people who regret the tattoos they got when they were 18 to 25 years old: 45 per cent of survey respondents said the ink they wanted to get rid of most was art they got in the period of their life most characterized by youth and impulsivity.

It’s harder to find data on millennials who regret their tattoos, since the majority of the generation is still living through that period. But among the older set, it’s significantly easier to find tales of those who wish they hadn’t gotten that Sagittarius tattoo when they were 19.

Tattoos are inherently expensive: clients pay not only for art generated by a human artist, but also the cost and time of applying that art to a living canvas. Often clients like to have custom art — as opposed to “flash,” or pre-done art already drawn by the artist — created just for them to add to the specialness of the tattoo, so that adds additional time to an artist’s bill. Art ain’t cheap, and you get what you pay for. These sentiments apply to tattoos, too.

An hourly session in Edmonton may cost around $100, but an hour of a celebrity tattoo artist’s time can cost up to $700 CAD, according to a quote from NYC-based shop Bang Bang, an establishment that’s been graced by the likes of Miley Cyrus and LeBron James. Given that full sleeves, large back pieces, or expansive leg designs can take many hours to complete, it’s not hard to imagine tattoos are investment pieces with investment price tags. Add to that the cost of aftercare products and ongoing shielding against sun and fading, and the true cost of tattoos become apparent.

Good tattoos may be expensive, but they are not nearly as costly as the price of having bad art removed. Tattoo removal and the complications that come with it are not to be taken lightly.

While it can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars to get a clean, well-crafted tattoo, it costs way, way, way more — sometimes four or five times the cost of the original tattoo — to have an intricate design lasered off for good.

Laser removals aren’t easy procedures either. Second Skin Tattoo Removal, a laser removal firm in Edmonton, notes that while every tattoo is different since the number of sessions depends on

the age, colours, and volume of ink deposited inside the skin for the tattoo, multiple sessions are almost always needed. These are spaced about two months apart from one another to break up tattoo ink sufficiently enough for the design to be permanently erased. The whole process can be painless for those with access to tattoo removal performed by trained medical professionals, but more often than not those looking to have their tattoos lasered off go to spas for the service. If the procedure isn’t done by a doctor with access to anesthetic, the removal process can be painful: with concentrated laser pulses searching for and breaking up tattoo ink, discomfort is inevitable.

Second Skin describes the feeling of undergoing laser tattoo removal as a “burning sensation,” which is none too inviting. Combine that with the risk of scarring and it’s understandable why the prospect of going through this ordeal might dissuade some from getting inked.

Pain is an unavoidable part of the tattooing process. It’s also a powerful turn-off for many when it comes to tattoos. Even if someone is in love with the design they’ve chosen, the fear of pain might dissuade some from getting inked. Having tiny needles drilled two layers deep into your skin hundreds or even thousands of times per minute isn’t a painless experience, and for some people, having what’s sometimes described as a “long, slow cat scratch” for hours on end just isn’t worth having a permanent design etched into their skin.

Although skin can be numbed with specialized gels and creams, the shock to the skin when the product wears off and the additional time delays such processes introduce to the tattooing procedure (think of the time it takes to apply the product, have it take effect, get tattooed, have to reapply when it wears off, wait again for the product to numb the skin, et cetera) means many tattoo artists discourage their use and reconsider getting tattoos if the pain will be an issue.

“Numbing agents work all right on smaller tattoos, but since they wear off after about 30 minutes, they really don’t do much for larger pieces,” Storm says. “They also change the consistency of the skin, so that can make things heal a bit oddly.”

It’s a well-established sentiment among tattoo artists. According to local tattoo shop Atomic Zombie, the issue with topical numbing agents is that the distortion they induce in the skin “confuses” the lines of stencils — the temporary copy of the tattoo design placed on the skin and used as a guide for the artists. A distorted stencil can result in a warped tattoo, and that means trouble for both the client and the artist. In other words, there’s a reason why artists urge people who want tattoos but can’t take the pain to pursue other forms of self-expression.

And then there’s the highly debated career factor: having visible tattoos is still often seen as undesirable, particularly for white collar jobs, so while millennials are certainly getting more tattoos than the generations before them, they’re still conscious of the risks. According to a survey conducted by Pew Research Center back in 2010, 70 per cent of tattooed millennials at the time made sure their tattoos could be hidden with the right clothing for that very reason — lest they would have had to endure the troublesome removal process. Despite the increasing

popularity of tattoos and the gradual dissolution of their negative stigma, a lot of jobs that involve client-customer interaction still require that tattoos be covered up on the clock. The reason? Unlike clothes, hair, jewelry, and other forms of self-expression, tattoos cannot be adjusted: it’s either covered up or visible.

“What it really depends on is the profession, the industry, and the philosophy and culture of the company,” says Dale McNeely, the Director of the Business Career Services and Cooperative Education Program at the University of Alberta. “That’s what has the most impact on the acceptance or concern a company has with tattoos. But when someone is going to be hired to be a representative of that company — being the face of the company, meeting client and customers — the company has a legitimate concern thinking, ‘Does this tattoo image accurately represent my company to clients? Would we put that on our website, our letterhead?’ Sometimes they’ll decide that certain tattoos are not suitable.”

Some workplaces are slower to jump aboard the tattoo acceptance mindset than others. Overall, there’s been a general shift toward more acceptance of self-expression in the workplace, but placement still matters: tattoos on the hands, neck, and face are complete no-no zones in certain professions and firms, McNeely notes. He’s right: tattoos in these areas known colloquially as “jobstoppers” among tattoo artists, who will often refuse to tattoo those areas on clients who aren’t already sporting a considerable amount of body art. But, McNeely says, there are other places in which such expressions of self are accepted and even celebrated: in the arts, for instance, or in music.

“Ultimately, the employee is a reflection of their firm and the values of the company where they work,” McNeely explains. “In industries where employees have a lot of face-to-face interaction with clients — banking, financial institutions, and those sorts of fields — tattoos are less likely to be accepted as easily as they are in more creative fields. But even in those traditional, conservative, suit-and-tie five days a week kinds of workplaces, there’s been a shifting (toward tattoo acceptance) as well.”

It all boils down to the way the individual in charge of hiring at a firm perceives — or dismisses — traditional historical connotations of inked skin. Regardless of changing opinions millennials themselves may have of tattoos, subsets of older generations remember a time when having a tattoo meant being a societal reject. And for now, that unfortunately impacts where you’ll work and who will employ you if you’ve got some ink and have certain career aspirations. As McNeely puts it, “You have imagine: if you work in a bank, one customer could be a young millennial who’s totally accepting of (tattoos), the next could be an 80-year-old grandmother who’s got very different concerns. You have be aware of the variety of customers — that’s a big determining factor, too.”

But even if there were no possible issues with the administration and potential removal of tattoos,

some millennials will never be convinced to buy into tattoos.

“I’m just not a tattoo person,” says engineering student Maram Yousef. “And yeah, it’s definitely something that a lot of employers consider when they’re interviewing possible job candidates, so if I ever did get (a tattoo), it’d have to be something small and easy to hide.”

So, are millennials just experiencing a temporary tattoo high or will the mania die down to a dull roar? Will the next wave of young people known as Generation Z be as into the tattoo craze as their predecessors? Right now, with workplace attitudes toward tattoos changing to become more acceptable and more and more stars choosing to get tattooed, it seems that the pros of getting inked far outweigh the cons in the minds of four in 10 millennials — a statistic that might just keep going up if the current forecast holds. It’s enough to make skeptical old timers shake their fists at the way the world’s gone. But if the so-called obsession millennials seem to have with tattoos means more people who are connected to their identities, that’s more than a good enough reason for the trend to continue.

Trendy or not, tattoos will always be in style for the meaning they hold. “I’m still working on (my second sleeve),” Casedo laughs. “Definitely looking to get more in the future.”

‘Hipster’ Movement Ended, What’s Next? Here Are 8 New Trends That Might Be Next Thing!

Angelica Lopez

The hipster trend that was so hated and loved in the same time is fading out. Of course, the world doesn’t go round with trends and fashion movements so many new ones have started rising. We aren’t yet sure which one will end up replacing hipsters but we compiled them so you can decide for yourself.

Unfortunately / Or finally, the hipster trend is coming to an end.

Sepia filters are fast disappearing from our Insta feeds, and no one’s wearing skinny jeans anymore (another trend embraced it ), people aren’t wearing framed glasses without necessity.

The beard and vinyl trend is going on but the essential characteristics of the hipster are fading out.

But what’s replacing it?

Sub-cultures and trends constantly change shapes. The world has seen and experienced so many of them! Like hippies, goths, and emos, hipsters also expired. According to experts there are many new trends that could replace the hipster, and really, you don’t have to be a trend hunter to observe the new lifestyles, and fashion statements that give way to them.

Here are the rising trends: Yuccie Yuccies are like the evolved hipsters. It means young urban creatives, who are well educated, living in big cities and are the visionary Y generation young people. They strictly avoid 9-5 jobs and even if they accept one they only use it as a middle step for their actual goals, which are mainly small entrepreneurship ideas and initiatives that will make them rich fast.

Cutester Many adults today miss the past and have a nostalgia that can sometimes be reflected in a lifestyle which seeks their inner child. They buy clothing with cartoon characters, cute furniture and watch cartoons/animations, and children’s shows even if they don’t have any kids. This trend is called cutester. Some criticize them saying that they act this way because they want to escape the responsibilities of adulthood.

Health Goth Maybe you’ll recall the pastel goth trend from a few years ago. Gothic is a trend that always takes different shapes to adapt to the times. Health goth started with a Facebook page of gothic people who exercise, eat well and dress in fashionable work out clothes. The only difference is that all these clothes are mostly black and on par with the gothic style. And they continue to listen to

heavy, dark music.

Normcore This one is the strongest candidate to completely replace the throne of the hipster. Because almost everyone dresses and acts accordingly whether they realize it or not. This new word, that entered the Oxford dictionary, is the mix of the words ‘normal’ and ‘hardcore’. Those who are bored with the cliche fashion patterns start wearing old, outdated and ‘unfashionable’ clothes.

Mom jeans, pijamas, slippers, fanny packs and many more are a part of this trend. Of course, when a lot of people start wearing these otherwise unfashionable pieces, they go into fashion again. That’s why we can consider normcore as some kind of a paradox.

Haulster This is a very new word and needs a little explanation. It’s the people who take videos of themselves shopping in stores and malls, and share with their followers what they buy. They only consume, and take photos and videos of what/how they consume and therefore turn their consumption into some kind of production. And their number can’t be underestimated! Many don’t see this as a lifestyle yet, but it can be considered one seeing the number of haulsters and their larger amount of followers.

Seapunk Started and spread in 2011 from Tumblr, seapunk is exactly what the name suggests; the fashion of punks who live under the sea. It’s very inspired from the 90s fashion and of course, is mainly blue, green, teal and turquoise.

Witch House This alt-culture looks like it jumped out of a 80s Italian scary movie. They have a dark theme, and listen to music of the same name, that is some kind of mellow electronic dark pop with bands with weird names like † ‡ †, oOoOO, and ΔAIMON. Occult and ancient egypt symbols, minimalistic tattoos and ripped clothing defines the image of this trend. The name was first suggested in 2009 as a joke but keeps rising every day.

Soft Grunge Just like gothic softened, the rebellious 90s style grunge is also softening. Soft grunge is for the people who embrace the fashion style of the grunge (hence, the old rock band tshirts sold everywhere) but prefer today’s rebellious pop stars for music. This trend is mainly seen on big music festivals.

New 2018 iPhone, iPhone X Plus, iPhone 9: All the rumors on specs, price, release date There’s talk of a super-size one, a less expensive one and one with three rear cameras.

Dinah Rashid

Apple is planning to release three new iPhones in 2018, including one with three rear cameras, according to rumors.

Go big or go cheap? That is the existential question Apple may tackle in 2018.

The company plans to introduce three new models later this year which may include a considerably larger version of the iPhone X -- the iPhone X Plus, perhaps -- as well as a significantly less expensive version. It›s worth noting that price hasn›t been a major obstacle for the premium flagship so far; though it›s the priciest iPhone ever at $999, £999 or AU$1,579, the iPhone X was the best-selling phone for the first three months of 2018, followed by the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. Of course, a less expensive version would almost certainly broaden its addressable market. Six months after the iPhone X’s release, however, the phone has lost a bit of its initial sheen.

In addition to refining the designs and adding in some new features, Apple is likely to deliver the annual enhancements we’ve come to expect -- new build materials and colors, a bump in processing speeds, higher screen resolution and tweaks to extend battery life.

Meanwhile, the Android world continues to react and respond to the iPhone X. At its I/O event in May, Google showed off the new gesture-based interface at the center of its new Android P operating system. (For what it›s worth, Google says it started working on the new navigationbefore the debut of the iPhone X.) And then there’s Samsung’s AR emojiand Intelligent Scan features -- lesser versions of the iPhone’s Animoji and Face ID that don›t quite measure up to the originals.

OnePlus, Asus, LG, Huawei and others have announced or are rumored to be working on phones that ape the distinctive notch design that Apple popularized (but with which the Essential Phone was first to market). And Huawei has already iterated on the notch concept with its P20, which gives you the option to toggle it on and off.

With the Android world making strides in camera technology and other fronts, Apple can’t rest on its laurels. The trillion dollar question is whether the company can keep its amazing winning streak alive even as the overall market for handsets slows.

Though we’re likely four months out from seeing the next iPhone (and don’t have any proof as to what its features will be), the rumor mill is already creating a compelling picture of what’s to come. We’ll continue to update this page with news and leaks as we begin our countdown to the 2018 Apple iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone X2, iPhone 11 or whatever the next generation may be called.

Likely: September 2018 announcement and release date Apple hasn’t officially announced when we’ll see the next phone. But the timing for this annual ritual has now hardened into a reliable tradition. After launching the first few iPhones in June, Apple shifted to the early September time frame with the iPhone 5 in 2012 and, apart from the offcycle iPhone SE, has stuck to it since. No reason to expect this to change in 2018.

What comes after the iPhone X? Rumor: It could be called the iPhone 11, iPhone X Plus, or the iPhone X2 -- but probably not the iPhone 9 According to some analysts, Apple may revert to its “S” series nomenclature, giving us an iPhone XS (perhaps a fitting homophone to “excess”) and XS Plus or perhaps the numeric equivalent, with the X2.

That noted, there are some very rich design opportunities with the two ones of an iPhone 11. And then there’s the possibility of Apple doing away with numbers entirely -- at least for the lower-end, non-X model -- similar to the company›s approach with its entry-level tablet, which is now just the «new iPad” every year.

Regardless, we do believe that Apple effectively killed the iPhone 9 when it brought out the iPhone X alongside the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus in September.

What’s the deal with OLED or LCD for the next iPhone X? Multiple sources believe that Apple will include at least one lower-cost LCD screen iPhone in the

2018 lineup, but rumors disagree on which phones will have OLED screens and which will use LCD. The tech blog echo chamber (Patently Apple to BusinessKorea to Patently Apple) is pointing to an LCD 2018 iPhone. They’ve suggested that Apple will revert the next iPhone X to have an LCD screen, slashing the price tagand improving the availability of the current OLED model. More specifically, the BusinessKorea report predicts that a forthcoming 6.1-inch iPhone will have a MLCD+ display, similar to the new LG G7 ThinQ. The Wall Street Journal similarly reports that the less-expensive LCD iPhone is expected to sell faster than a pricy OLED one. It suggests that Apple will come out with two OLED iPhones and one iPhone with an LCD screen in the fall, but there will probably be a higher volume of LCD iPhones produced in anticipation of higher sales.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo speculated that the company would release three models in 2018 based on the design of the today›s full-screen flagship. According to Jusy Hong, an analyst at Information Handling Services, all three new models (including the LCD one) could be expected to look similar to the iPhone X.

An alleged render of the iPhone X Plus shows three cameras on the back.

Rumor: Three rear cameras One of the new 2018 iPhone models could have a rear-facing camera with a triple-lens array, according to the Chinese language Economic Daily News (as reported by MacRumors). The article suggests that such a camera would enhance the iPhone’s rear zoom capacity and improve picture quality in dim light environments. Note that Huawei’s new P20 Pro comes equipped with a triplelens rear-facing camera.

The rumor has gained more ground -- the highest-end iPhone X Plus model for 2018 could be the phone to get the three vertically stacked lenses, according to Forbes.

A conflicting report suggested we wouldn’t see the three camera lenses until 2019, and that the combination could create a depth map that’d be used for AR, an area that Apple is pursuing aggressively.

Rumor: The iPhone SE X (LOL) There has been a recent proliferation of rumors about a 2018 release for the long-awaited followup to the iPhone SE. New reports suggest that Apple may be developing a hybrid of sorts, merging the iPhone SE’s 4-inch-screen form-factor with the iPhone X’s TrueDepth camera system.

As reported by 9to5Mac.com, case maker Olixar has produced a prototype screen protector for a smaller iPhone with the slim bezels and notch found on the iPhone X. And this comes in the wake of purportedly leaked CAD drawings of a device called the iPhone SE2 published by TigerMobiles. com and Onleaks.

Rumor: A bigger iPhone Bloomberg reports that Apple has developed two new supersize iPhones: a 6.5-inch OLED model -- a “Plus” version of the iPhone X, which would be the biggest iPhone ever -- and a 6.1-inch LCD version. There is also talk that Apple might drop the current 5.8-inch size for the iPhone X, based on its reportedly diminishing orders for OLED components. Previously, former Apple analyst MingChi Kuo speculated that the company would release three models in 2018 based on the design of the today›s full-screen flagship.

A less expensive iPhone X seems like a no-brainer -- but is there room for a bigger version in Apple’s 2018 lineup?

Rumor: A cheaper iPhone Kuo predicts that Apple may launch a single-SIM version that costs between $550 and $650 (which converts to about £390-£460 or AU$710-AU$840) and another dual-SIM model, priced between $650 to $750 (about £460-£530 or AU$840-AU$970). And sure, in order to make a 6.1-inch model that›s more affordable than anything in the current lineup, Apple could omit some of the pricier components including Face ID, the OLED display, 3D Touch and the second rear camera. But when it comes to a $550 iPhone X -- we have our doubts.

Rumor: A pricier iPhone Of course, every rumor has its equal and opposite rumor. Investment analysts at UBS have predicted that Apple’s flagship iPhone for 2018 will cost $1,100 (which converts to about £770 or AU$1,415). That›s about $100 over the iPhone X›s starting $999 price tag, but it makes sense if that model has a larger screen than the current model.

Could Apple’s full embrace of Face ID mean the end of the road for Touch ID in 2018?

Rumor: Face ID proliferates, goes horizontal Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that Apple will bring its TrueDepth camera system to the three new phonescoming in 2018. With facial recognition technology fully deployed across the 2018 iPhone lineup, Apple could omit the fingerprint sensor from the next batch of phones, according to Kuo, which might mean the end of the line for Touch ID. In addition, Face ID may also make its way into the next batch of iPads rumored for a WWDC announcement later this year. Related to this is a report from multiple sources (Mac Okatara, MacRumors and Bloomberg) that the next version of Face ID will be able to unlock phones while in landscape position -- the default orientation for most iPad users.

Rumor: iPhone support for the Apple Pencil or iPen And OLED iPhone due out in 2018 will support an “iPen” device, according to investment firm Rosenblatt Securities. Of course, this rumor -- an iPhone that supports the Apple Pencil -- has been around since the stylus first debuted in 2015. And yet the new 2018 iPad’s addition of Apple Pencil functionality gives this old chestnut some new life.

The Apple Pencil.

Long-shot rumor: Virtual fingerprint scanner While Face ID has largely mitigated the need for a fingerprint scanner, the buzz around Touch ID embedded in the display -- a trusty pillar of the rumor cycle since the run-up to the iPhone 8 -persists. And for good reason: we’ve seen the technology implemented. It’s called Clear ID and it›s featured in the Vivo X20 Plus UD that went on sale in China in January. But since reverting to any sort of fingerprint sensor would be an «admission» that Face ID isn›t the future, we think its return is a real long shot.

Rumor: iOS 12 emphasizes performance over big new features The next version of Apple’s mobile operating system, likely to be called iOS 12, may emphasize code quality over new features and the release date of the next batch of iPhones. According to Bloomberg, the company has given developers more discretion to hold back new features that aren’t quite ready when the next iPhone is unveiled in the fall. We’ll find out more about this rumored cultural shift and its implications at WWDC, which is scheduled to kick off on June 4.

12 Healthy Foods High in Antioxidants Dunal Livingston Antioxidants are compounds produced in your body and found in foods. They help defend your cells from damage caused by potentially harmful molecules known as free radicals.

When free radicals accumulate, they may cause a state known as oxidative stress. This may damage your DNA and other important structures in your cells.

Sadly, chronic oxidative stress can increase your risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer (1).

Fortunately, eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help increase your blood antioxidant levels to fight oxidative stress and reduce the risk of these diseases.

Scientists use several tests to measure the antioxidant content of foods.

One of the best tests is the FRAP (ferric reducing ability of plasma) analysis. It measures the antioxidant content of foods by how well they can neutralize a specific free radical (2).

The higher the FRAP value, the more antioxidants the food contains.

Here are the top 12 healthy foods that are high in antioxidants.

1. Dark Chocolate

Lucky for chocolate lovers, dark chocolate is nutritious. It has more cocoa than regular chocolate, as well as more minerals and antioxidants.

Based on the FRAP analysis, dark chocolate has up to 15 mmol of antioxidants per 3.5 ounces (100 grams). This is even more than blueberries and raspberries, which contain up to 9.2 and 2.3 mmol of antioxidants in the same serving size, respectively (3).

Moreover, the antioxidants in cocoa and dark chocolate have been linked to impressive health benefits such as less inflammation and reduced risk factors for heart disease.

For example, a review of 10 studies looked at the link between cocoa intake and blood pressure in both healthy people and those with high blood pressure.

Consuming cocoa-rich products like dark chocolate reduced systolic blood pressure (the upper value) by an average of 4.5 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (the lower value) by an average of 2.5 mmHg (4).

Another study found that dark chocolate may reduce the risk of heart disease by raising blood antioxidant levels, raising levels of “good” HDL cholesterol and preventing “bad” LDL cholesterol from becoming oxidized (5).

Oxidized LDL cholesterol is harmful because it promotes inflammation in the blood vessels, which can lead to an increased risk of heart disease (6).

SUMMARYDark chocolate is delicious, nutritious and one of the best sources of antioxidants. Generally speaking, the higher the cocoa content, the more antioxidants the chocolate contains.

2. Pecans Pecans are a type of nut native to Mexico and South America. They are a good source of healthy fats and minerals, plus contain a high amount of antioxidants.

Based on a FRAP analysis, pecans contain up to 10.6 mmol of antioxidants per 3.5 ounces (100 grams) (3).

In addition, pecans can help raise antioxidant levels in the blood.

For example, a study found that people who consumed 20% of their daily calories from pecans experienced significantly increased blood antioxidant levels (7).

In another study, people who consumed pecans experienced a 26–33% fall in oxidized blood LDL levels within two to eight hours. High levels of oxidized LDL cholesterol in the blood is a risk factor for heart disease (8).

Although pecans are a great source of healthy fats, they are also high in calories. So it’s important to eat pecans in moderation to avoid consuming too many calories.

SUMMARYPecans are popular nuts rich in minerals, healthy fats and antioxidants. They may also help raise blood antioxidant levels and lower bad cholesterol.

3. Blueberries Although they are low in calories, blueberries are packed with nutrients and antioxidants.

According to a FRAP analysis, blueberries have up to 9.2 mmol of antioxidants per 3.5 ounces (100 grams) (3).

Several studies even suggest that blueberries contain the highest amount of antioxidants among all commonly consumed fruits and vegetables (9, 10).

In addition, research from test-tube and animal studies has shown that the antioxidants in blueberries may delay the decline in brain function that tends to happen with age (11).

Researchers have suggested that the antioxidants in blueberries may be responsible for this effect. They’re thought to do this by neutralizing harmful free radicals, reducing inflammation and changing the expression of certain genes (11).

Additionally, the antioxidants in blueberries, especially a type called anthocyanins, have been shown to reduce risk factors for heart disease, lowering LDL cholesterol levels and blood pressure (12).

SUMMARYBlueberries are among the best sources of antioxidants in the diet. They are rich in anthocyanins and other antioxidants that may help reduce the risk of heart disease and delay the decline in brain function that happens with age.

4. Strawberries Strawberries are among the most popular berries on the planet. They are sweet, versatile and a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants (13).

Based on a FRAP analysis, strawberries provide up to 5.4 mmol of antioxidants per 3.5 ounces (100 grams) (3).

Moreover, strawberries contain a type of antioxidant called anthocyanins, which give them their red color. Strawberries that have a higher anthocyanin content tend to be brighter red (14).

Research has shown that anthocyanins may help reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol and raising “good” HDL cholesterol (15, 16).

A review of 10 studies found that taking an anthocyanin supplement significantly reduced LDL cholesterol among people who had either heart disease or high LDL levels (17).

SUMMARYLike other berries, strawberries are rich in antioxidants called anthocyanins, which may help reduce the risk of heart disease.

5. Artichokes Artichokes are a delicious and nutritious vegetable not very common in the North American diet.

But they have a long history — people in ancient times used their leaves as a remedy to treat liver conditions like jaundice (18).

Artichokes are also a great source of dietary fiber, minerals and antioxidants (19).

Based on a FRAP analysis, artichokes contain up to 4.7 mmol of antioxidants per 3.5 ounces (100 grams) (3).

Artichokes are especially rich in the antioxidant known as chlorogenic acid. Studies suggest that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of chlorogenic acid may reduce the risk of certain cancers, type 2 diabetes and heart disease (20, 21).

The antioxidant content of artichokes can vary, depending on how they are prepared.

Boiling artichokes may raise their antioxidant content by eight times, and steaming them may raise

it by 15 times. On the other hand, frying artichokes may reduce their antioxidant content (22).

SUMMARYArtichokes are vegetables with some of the highest levels of antioxidants, including chlorogenic acid. Their antioxidant content can vary based on how they are prepared.

6. Goji Berries Goji berries are the dried fruits of two related plants, Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense.

They have been a part of traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years.

Goji berries are often marketed as a superfood because they are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants (23, 24).

Based on a FRAP analysis, goji berries contain 4.3 mmol of antioxidants per 3.5 ounces (100 grams) (3).

In addition, goji berries contain unique antioxidants known as Lycium barbarumpolysaccharides. These have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer, and may help combat skin aging (25, 26).

Moreover, goji berries may also be very effective at raising blood antioxidant levels.

In one study, healthy elderly people consumed a milk-based goji berry drink every day for 90 days.

By the end of the study, their blood antioxidant levels had risen by 57% (27).

While goji berries are nutritious, they can be expensive to eat on a regular basis.

Moreover, there are only a handful of studies on the effects of goji berries in humans. Though these support their health benefits, more human-based research is needed.

SUMMARYGoji berries are a rich source of antioxidants, including a unique type known as Lycium barbarum polysaccharides. These have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer, and may help fight skin aging.

7. Raspberries Raspberries are soft, tart berries that are often used in desserts. They are a great source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, manganese and antioxidants (28).

Based on a FRAP analysis, raspberries have up to 4 mmol of antioxidants per 3.5 ounces (100 grams) (3).

Several studies have linked the antioxidants and other components in raspberries to lower risks of cancer and heart disease.

One test-tube study found that the antioxidants and other components in raspberries killed 90% of stomach, colon and breast cancer cells in the sample (29).

A review of five studies concluded that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of black raspberries may slow down and suppress the effects of a variety of cancers (30).

Moreover, the antioxidants in raspberries, especially anthocyanins, may reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. This may reduce the risk of heart disease (31, 32, 33).

That said, most of the evidence for the health benefits of raspberries is from test-tube studies.

More research in humans is needed before recommendations can be made.

SUMMARYRaspberries are nutritious, delicious and packed with antioxidants. Like blueberries, they are rich in anthocyanins and have anti-inflammatory effects in the body.

8. Kale Kale is a cruciferous vegetable and a member of the group of vegetables cultivated from the species Brassica oleracea. Other members include broccoli and cauliflower.

Kale is one of the most nutritious greens on the planet and is rich in vitamins A, K and C. It’s also rich in antioxidants, providing up to 2.7 mmol per 3.5 ounces (100 grams) (3, 34).

However, red varieties of kale such as redbor and red Russian kale may contain nearly twice as much — up to 4.1 mmol of antioxidants per 3.5 ounces (3).

This is because red varieties of kale contain more anthocyanin antioxidants as well as several other antioxidants that give them their vibrant color.

Kale is also a great plant-based source of calcium, an important mineral that helps maintain bone health and plays roles in other cellular functions (35).

SUMMARYKale is one of the most nutritious greens on the planet, partly because it’s rich in antioxidants. Although regular kale is high in antioxidants, red varieties may contain close to twice as much.

9. Red Cabbage

Red cabbage has an impressive nutrient profile. Also known as purple cabbage, it is rich in vitamins C, K and A, and has a high antioxidant content (36).

According to a FRAP analysis, red cabbage provides up to 2.2 mmol of antioxidants per 3.5 ounces (100 grams) (3).

That’s more than four times the amount of antioxidants in regular cooked cabbage (3).

This is because red cabbage contains anthocyanins, a group of antioxidants that give red cabbage its color. Anthocyanins are also found in strawberries and raspberries.

These anthocyanins have been linked to several health benefits. They may reduce inflammation, protect against heart disease and reduce the risk of certain cancers (37).

What’s more, red cabbage is a rich source of vitamin C, which acts as an antioxidant in the body.

Vitamin C may help strengthen the immune system and keep the skin firm (38, 39).

Interestingly, the way red cabbage is prepared can also affect its antioxidant levels.

Boiling and stir-frying red cabbage may boost its antioxidant profile, while steaming red cabbage may reduce its antioxidant content by almost 35% (40).

SUMMARYRed cabbage is a delicious way to increase your antioxidant intake. Its red color comes from its high content of anthocyanins, a group of antioxidants that have been linked to some impressive health benefits.

10. Beans Beans are a diverse group of legumes that are inexpensive and healthy. They are also incredibly high in fiber, which can help keep your bowel movements regular.

Beans are also one of the best vegetable sources of antioxidants. A FRAP analysis found that green broad beans contain up to 2 mmol of antioxidants per 3.5 ounces (100 grams) (3).

In addition, some beans such as pinto beans contain a particular antioxidant called kaempferol.

This antioxidant has been linked to impressive health benefits, such as reduced chronic inflammation and suppressed cancer growth (41, 42).

For example, several animal studies have found that kaempferol may suppress the growth of cancers in the breast, bladder, kidneys and lungs (43, 44, 45, 46).

However, because most of the research supporting the benefits of kaempferol has been in animals or test tubes, more human-based studies are needed.

SUMMARYBeans are an inexpensive way to increase your antioxidant intake. They also contain the antioxidant kaempferol, which has been linked to anticancer benefits in animal and testtube studies.

11. Beets Beets, also known as beetroot, are the roots of a vegetable scientifically known as Beta vulgaris.

They have a mild taste and are a great source of fiber, potassium, iron, folate and antioxidants (47).

Based on a FRAP analysis, beets contain up to 1.7 mmol of antioxidants per 3.5 ounces (100 grams) (3).

They’re particularly rich in a group of antioxidants called betalains. These give beets their reddish color and have been linked to health benefits.

For example, several test-tube studies have linked betalains to a lower risk of cancers in the colon and digestive tract (48, 49).

Additionally, beets contain other compounds that may help suppress inflammation. For example, a study found that taking betalain capsules made from beetroot extract significantly relieved osteoarthritis pain and inflammation (50).

SUMMARYBeets are a great source of fiber, potassium, iron, folate and antioxidants. They contain a group of antioxidants called betalains that have been linked to impressive health benefits.

12. Spinach Spinach is one of the most nutritionally dense vegetables. It’s loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and is incredibly low in calories (51).

Based on a FRAP analysis, spinach provides up to 0.9 mmol of antioxidants per 3.5 ounces (100 grams) (3).

Spinach is also a great source of lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that may help protect your eyes from damaging UV light and other harmful light wavelengths (52, 53, 54).

These antioxidants help combat damage to the eyes that free radicals may cause over time.

SUMMARYSpinach is rich in nutrients, high in antioxidants and low in calories. It’s also one of the best sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, which defend the eyes from free radicals.

The Bottom Line Antioxidants are compounds that your body makes naturally. You can also get them from foods.

They protect your body from potentially harmful molecules known as free radicals, which can accumulate and promote oxidative stress. Unfortunately, oxidative stress raises the risk of heart disease, cancers, type 2 diabetes and many other chronic diseases.

Fortunately, eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help neutralize free radicals and reduce the risk of these chronic diseases.

By eating a wide variety of the foods in this article, you can boost your blood levels of antioxidants and reap their many health benefits.

Does Milk Block Antioxidants in Foods and Beverages?

Tory Jackson High-antioxidant foods like tea, coffee and fruit have been linked to many health benefits.

Unfortunately, some studies have found that milk may block some of these beneficial compounds.

However, other studies have found that milk has no effect.

So what should you believe? This article explores whether milk inactivates the antioxidants found in foods and beverages and if you should be concerned.

What Are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are substances that prevent oxidation. Oxidation is a common chemical reaction in which a molecule gives up electrons.

In the body, oxidation can lead to the production of harmful free radicals, which are molecules that are missing an electron. Free radicals then take electrons from wherever they can, often causing damage to cells.

In fact, excessive free radicals may contribute to aging and the development of certain diseases, such as dementia and diabetes complications (1, 2, 3).

Antioxidants, which help eliminate these free radicals, come in many forms. Some are naturally produced within the body, while others come from your diet.

The vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and polyphenols found in fruits, tea and coffee are all compounds that act as antioxidants (1, 4).

Many health experts believe that a diet high in antioxidants can help protect against the oxidative stress and inflammation caused by free radicals. In turn, this may help reduce the risk of related health problems (5, 6).

However, research has caused some people to worry that certain foods, namely milk products, may cause the antioxidants in foods to become inactivated, potentially negating their beneficial health effects.

SUMMARY:Antioxidants are produced in your body and can be found in your diet. They help fight free radicals, which can damage cells and contribute to aging and disease.

Antioxidant-Rich Foods That Are Commonly Paired With Dairy

Many foods and beverages provide antioxidants.

Some of them are frequently consumed with dairy, and it’s these combinations that may be of concern.

Here are a few examples of high-antioxidant foods and beverages commonly consumed with dairy: •

Coffee and cream

•

Tea and milk

•

Berries and yogurt

•

Fruit and cream

•

Oatmeal and milk

•

Chocolate or cocoa and milk

SUMMARY:Some foods and drinks that are high in antioxidants are commonly paired with milk products. These include coffee, tea, fruit and chocolate.

Studies on Milk and Tea Preliminary research has found that milk products may inhibit some antioxidants in certain foods and beverages.

The most common example of this is adding milk to tea, which is a customary practice in some countries.

Several studies have found that adding milk to tea decreases its antioxidant capacity, or how effective its antioxidants are at preventing oxidation.

This effect is thought to occur because the milk protein casein binds with antioxidants, reducing their ability to fight harmful free radicals (7).

However, the results have been conflicting. While some studies show that milk decreases the antioxidant capacity of tea, other studies show that it has no effect or even a positive effect (8).

For example, one study assessed three different measures of antioxidant capacity in tea. One test found that adding milk protein to tea reduced its antioxidant capacity by 11–27% (7).

However, another test using a different measure found that milk protein improved antioxidant capacity from 6% to 75% (7).

Yet, two other studies found that milk had no effect on the antioxidant capacity of tea in human participants (9, 10).

The results are likely varied due to the type of tea, the type and amount of milk, the way the tea was prepared and the way the antioxidant capacity was measured.

SUMMARY:Some research has shown that mixing milk with tea may reduce or block its beneficial antioxidants. However, several studies have also found a neutral or even positive effect.

ADVERTISING

Studies on Milk and Other Foods and Beverages Interestingly, similar results have been found with coffee, chocolate and blueberries, despite the fact that they don’t contain the same types of antioxidants.

One study found that milk reduced the antioxidant capacity of chocolate by approximately 30%, while another study found that milk negated the antioxidant effects of chocolate altogether (11, 12).

Another study found that eating blueberries with milk reduced the absorption of their polyphenols and blocked their antioxidant effects (13).

Similarly, the antioxidant capacity of different types of coffee was shown to decrease with the addition of milk. What›s more, the more milk that was added, the lower the coffee›s antioxidant capacity became (14).

Most evidence points to the fact that milk decreases the antioxidant capacity of some foods and beverages. However, the research is too conflicting to be sure.

Additionally, whether milk affects the health benefits of antioxidant foods and drinks, such as a decreased risk of heart disease, is not clear.

SUMMARY:Some research has shown that mixing milk with antioxidant-rich foods and beverages may reduce or block their ability to fight free radicals. However, the evidence is too conflicting to say for sure.

Dairy Does Not Necessarily Reduce the Health Benefits of Antioxidant-Rich Foods Even though the majority of studies found that milk decreases antioxidant capacity, many found that it only does so to a certain extent.

For example, several studies found that milk decreased the antioxidant capacity of foods or drinks by 30%, at the most (7, 11).

That means that at least 70% of their antioxidant capacities remained unaffected.

It’s also important to understand that a decrease in the antioxidant capacity of a food does not directly translate to a decrease in its health benefits.

Currently, no studies have directly examined whether consuming dairy with high-antioxidant foods affects the health benefits, such as reducing the risk of dementia or heart disease.

However, one review of the effects of tea on heart disease found interesting results.

It found that drinking tea protected against heart disease in most countries, but that the risk of heart disease in the UK and risk of stroke in Australia increased with every three cups of tea consumed per day (15).

The authors suggested that this difference could be because tea is usually consumed with milk in the UK and Australia. However, this is only a hypothesis, and there are many other potential explanations as well.

At the moment, the evidence is too conflicting to know for sure whether milk blocks a few antioxidants or whether it inhibits the health benefits of antioxidant foods.

SUMMARY:Although research shows that milk may block some of the antioxidants in foods, it probably does not inhibit all antioxidants. Currently, there is no evidence that it reduces the overall health benefits.

Should You Avoid Mixing Dairy With High-Antioxidant Foods?

The best answer is to keep doing what you’re already doing.

There is currently no evidence that consuming dairy with antioxidant-rich foods reduces their overall health benefits.

In fact, there are many different factors affecting the antioxidant capacity — and even the nutrient content — of different foods.

Instead, the best thing you can do to maximize the health benefits of your diet is to consume a wide variety of antioxidant-rich foods and drinks.

If adding milk to your coffee is the way you like to enjoy it, don’t feel guilty about it.

Liver Detoxification -Fact or Fad? Laura Bacley

We’re often tempted to overindulge during the holidays, then wish we could wave a magic wand to undo the damage. With our liver working overtime to inactivate alcohol and process rich, fatty foods, a potion to heal stressed-out liver cells might just do the trick. But before you stress out your holiday budget on expensive dietary supplements, consider the following facts Most toxins, or poisons, reach our bloodstream when we swallow or inhale them. Others pass through our skin, while still others are released by dying cells or invading bacteria. Many of these toxins pass through the liver -- the body’s waste-purification plant -- where they are broken down and removed from the blood before they can do their dirty work.

Poisons are also broken down by the kidney, eliminated in the urine and feces, or exhaled. Drinking six to eight glasses of water daily; eating lots of fresh fruits, veggies, and whole grains; and avoiding tobacco smoke and other fumes can all help keep your body in top working order. So can cutting back on fried foods, animal fats, sugar, and caffeine.

We can protect ourselves to some extent by avoiding obvious hazards such as recreational drugs, unsafe sex, and raw shellfish, all of which can cause the liver-damaging disease hepatitis. But even when we’re being good to our liver, hidden dangers can damage its cells and interfere with toxin breakdown. Toxins lurk in prescription medications, food additives, and air pollutants, and these may be impossible to avoid completely.

Here’s where “liver detoxification” might come in. When the liver is working double-duty to protect you from an onslaught of bad diet, bad judgment, and unavoidable insults, it could benefit from a little extra help.

Antioxidant vitamins such as C, E, and beta-carotene; minerals such as zinc and selenium; B-vitamins that aid alcohol metabolism; and herbs said to “cleanse” the liver such as milk thistle, dandelion root, and schizandra, might help protect liver cells while ridding our body of poisons.

“There is a lot of experimental work in the laboratory and in animals suggesting the beneficial effect

of milk thistle extract,” Raman Venkataramanan, PhD, FCP, tells WebMD. He is a professor of pharmaceutical sciences and pathology at the University of Pittsburgh.

Laboratory studies by Bharat B. Aggarwal, PhD, a professor of cancer medicine at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and his colleagues also suggest that silymarin, an extract of milk thistle, acts on biochemical pathways to aid in detoxification.

“In the laboratory, silymarin is quite protective against liver damage,” Aggarwal tells WebMD. “It is approved in Europe for liver damage, especially that induced by alcohol, and seems to have no adverse effects.”

But the jury is still out on the ability of supplements like milk thistle to live up to these claims, and to what extent.

“Several small, uncontrolled studies indicate some benefit to the use of milk thistle in patients with different types of liver disease without significant side effects,” Venkataramanan says. “However, there is no controlled, properly powered, large-scale, convincing study supporting the benefits of milk thistle in patients with liver disease.”

Another problem is that the FDA does not regulate nutritional supplements. Purity, source, and strength of available products differ widely.

“There is no clear study documenting the actual dose of milk thistle extract and the duration of treatment that is necessary for treating patients with liver disease,” Venkataramanan says. “Not all the products available in the market are the same.”

There are an endless variety of liver detoxification supplements to choose from, and all the choices can leave you feeling overwhelmed. Milk thistle, for example, is available as powdered seeds at $1.80 per ounce from Cancer Salves, or as «Rainbow Light Milk Thistle Plus» at $20.50 for 60 tablets from Kitchen Doctor.

For those preferring a liquid “cocktail,” Native Essence Herb Company offers a concoction of dandelion root, milk thistle seed, Oregon grape root, celery seed, fennel seed, fringetree root bark, licorice root, yellow dock root, Culver’s root, cascara sagrada bark, blue flag root, burdock root, barberry root, wahoo root bark, and Turkish rhubarb root.

Although these products come with suggested dosages, they don’t state how much of the active ingredient is present, or at what strength. Most of the studies thus far have looked at the effects of these supplements individually, not in combination, so there is no experimental evidence justifying use of a specific tonic.

“A lot of products on the market may be useless, as silybin [the active ingredient in silymarin] may not be absorbed from these products,” Venkataramanan says.

As some ingredients in milk thistle could interact with prescription medications, he warns that patients “must inform their primary care physicians of their use of milk thistle extract so that they can be evaluated for signs and symptoms of potential overdosing of their medications.”

More unanswered questions are whether these supplements should be taken daily to maintain normal liver health, whether they should be taken only during alcohol excess or other periods of liver stress, and what their effects are on an already-diseased liver. Now that research organizations like the National Institutes of Health have begun to study alternative therapies, we may get a better handle on how best to use them. In the meantime, enjoy the holidays. But remember -- the best present you can give your liver is a healthy combination of good judgment and self-restraint.

Edinson Cavani scored two superb goals as Uruguay beat Portugal to set up a World Cup quarter-final meeting with France.

Defeat for the European champions finished Cristiano Ronaldo’s hopes of success in Russia just hours after Lionel Messi and Argentina were knocked out, beaten 4-3 by Les Bleus.

This World Cup has not been short of stunning goals and Cavani added another to the collection when he opened the scoring early on, playing a superb one-two with Luis Suarez before thumping home a header from his strike partner’s cross.

Uruguay had not conceded a goal at this World Cup before Pepe rose unmarked to nod in an equaliser from close range, prompting a brief spell of dominance for Portugal.

But Cavani secured Uruguay’s place in the last eight - and a trip to Nizhny Novgorod to face France on Friday - when he steered a brilliant shot beyond goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

The win may have come at a price, though, as Cavani limped off late on. 

Relive Uruguay’s win against Portugal



How did the players rate?



Mbappe stars as France beat Argentina

Uruguay going from strength to strength Cavani (21) found Suarez (9) with a precise pass before bursting into the area to score the opening goal Uruguay made a slow start to this World Cup by scraping past Egypt 1-0 but have got stronger with every game - and in Suarez and Cavani, they possess one of the most potent strike partnerships in Russia.

Exquisite technique, timing and teamwork were all present as the two combined to score a goal inside the first 10 minutes that few sides at the tournament would have been able to prevent.

Cavani - hugging the touchline on the right wing - hit a brilliant crossfield pass to Suarez wide left. The Barcelona forward held the ball for a moment as Cavani powered into the area before whipping in a cross for his strike partner to head home. Of Cavani’s 45 international goals, Suarez has now assisted 12 of them.

It is, however, a partnership that could be disrupted. After scoring his side’s second with a clinical finish on the counter, the Paris St-Germain striker left the field, appearing to clutch his hamstring.

A serious injury for Cavani would undoubtedly be a blow but this Uruguay team is arguably greater than the sum of its parts. Against Portugal, they looked well balanced and while they did concede, it was the first goal against them in 597 minutes of football, a run stretching back to August last year.

Edinson Cavani was replaced with 16 minutes left Knockouts no-show for Ronaldo once again Ronaldo scored four goals to take Portugal through to the last 16 almost on his own, but once again was unable to continue that form beyond the group stages.

The Real Madrid forward had failed to find the net in his four previous knockout games and never really troubled Fernando Muslera in the Uruguay goal on Saturday evening.

He did not have a single touch of the ball inside the area in the first half while his only shot on target in the entire game came in the second minute, when his low effort from distance was straight at Muslera.

Ronaldo will be 37 by the time of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, meaning this could have been his last appearance on the biggest international stage.

But although time may not be on his side, his form is, this game apart. He scored 52 goals in 118 games for Portugal before turning 30 - but since then has hit 32 in 34.

“Cristiano still has a lot to give to football and I hope he will stay to help the young players grow and develop,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos said.

We have a team with many young players and of course we all want him there with us.”

Man of the match - Edinson Cavani (Uruguay) Aside from his goals. Edinson Cavani was a constant menace to the Portugal defence with his strength and movement, particularly on the counter Cavani injury unclear - what they said Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez: “Cavani sustained an injury tonight and we will have to see how that evolves as it’s not clear at this stage how serious it is. But as always we will bank on the strength of our team as a collective.

“The distinctive feature of the game was the dedication the players showed on the pitch, and that is the way that we see football.

“It was difficult. Portugal had more possession and were often in our half of the pitch, and it would have been better for us to have more of the ball and play the game closer to their goal. But we have a very strong team in terms of our mindset and I am very happy.”

Portugal boss Fernando Santos: «First of all, congratulations to Uruguay. It›s very sad for Portugal though. We know that the squares have been full back home and that the people there were really rooting for us.

“We could feel their presence with us and there’s a real sadness in the dressing room that we weren’t able to make it through for them.

“In football, there are no moral victories and I would have preferred to play worse and win the match. But I do feel that the second half was very good from us in terms of desire and our determination to score.

“We tried our best and we played a good game, I think. But you always want to win, and we lost, so well done to Uruguay for making it through.”

A 1930 repeat for Uruguay? The stats 

This is the first time Uruguay have won their opening four games tat a World Cup tournament since 1930, with the fourth game in that run being their 4-2 victory over Argentina in the final.



Portugal have lost their past four World Cup knockout matches, since a goalless draw with England (and a penalty shootout win) in the 2006 quarter-final.



Uruguay’s winning goal came from their only shot of any kind in the second half. They had just 30% possession after half-time.



Edinson Cavani scored his 44th and 45th goals for Uruguay.



Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani scored with both of his shots on target.



Since 1966, only Grzegorz Lato and Andrzej Szarmach (five for Poland) and Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose (five for Germany) have combined for more World Cup goals than Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez (four).



This was Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo’s 38th game in World Cups/European Championships - no player has played in more across the two competitions (he is level with Bastian Schweinsteiger).



Ronaldo has played 514 minutes of football in the knockout stages of the World Cup, but has failed to score or provide an assist.



He attempted six shots for Portugal in this match (one on target) - one more than the entire Uruguay team managed over the 90 minutes.



At 35 years and 124 days, Pepe became Portugal’s oldest goalscorer in a major tournament match (World Cup and European Championships).

70 Percent of Musicians Say They Have Suffered From Anxiety or Depression. What’s Next?

Donovan J.

In the wake of Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington’s suicide, more and more artists in the music industry have spoken out about the need to de-stigmatize mental health and provide psychological support when artists need it most. Yet little is known about the sheer magnitude of the problem, and spreading awareness is different from instigating actual change. How do we quantify the weight of mental health issues in the music industry and, more crucially, how can we move from data to action?

Help Musicians UK (HMUK), the United Kingdom’s leading independent music charity, strives to answer this question with the second installment of its mental health study Can Music Make You Sick?, which was released on Monday (Oct. 16). With over 2,200 musicians participating, the study is the largest of its kind to date, and underscores both the prevalence of mental health struggles in music and the distinct pressures that exist for all workers in the industry.

While the report’s title is provocative, it illuminates the tense, love-hate relationship between art and practice: artists may find solace and healing in the creative process, but the working conditions of forging a musical career can be much more traumatic.

CIn Part 1 of the study, published in November 2016, a staggering 71 percent of respondents believed they had suffered from panic attacks and/or high levels of anxiety, while 69 percent reported they had suffered from depression -- a more than threefold increase over findings by the U.K. Office for National Statistics, which indicate around one in five of the national population suffers from anxiety or depression. Even more concerning, 57 percent of those respondents who reported struggling with mental health did not receive treatment and 53 percent reported that it was difficult to find help.

Part 2 lends a qualitative perspective to these numbers, unpacking interviews with 26 independent musicians to understand the various professional and personal pressures they face. From the psychological impact of not meeting record deal expectations, to the always-on cycles of validation and criticism on social media, to working several freelance creative jobs just to make ends meet, to merely being unable to separate oneself from one’s work, potential triggers for anxiety, depression and other mental health issues only stack up over time.

Historically, accepting such pressures as a given has been one of the biggest barriers against progress around mental health in the music industry. “I’ve heard several conversations in the past where the main concern was how to make sure artists can ‘thrive’ in a sex, drugs and rock-and-roll lifestyle,” Christine Brown, director of external affairs at HMUK, tells Billboard. “While that lifestyle certainly exists, if we as an industry are endorsing that lifestyle, we clearly aren’t looking after the health and wellbeing of those working in music the way that we should.”

That being said, in HMUK’s eyes, playing the blame game is equally ineffective when it comes to instituting positive systemic change. “As an independent voice on the periphery of the industry, we’re not here to point fingers,” says Brown. “We believe we can be the catalyst for joining the dots between all these different organizations in the music industry, to build something sustainable and meaningful.”

Using the findings from Part 2 of its study, HMUK pledges to establish an industry-wide mental health task force, with the goal of bringing key stakeholders together to develop a code of best practices for mental health support within music companies. These pledges build on the charity’s ongoing Music Minds Mattercampaign, which was first launched in July 2017 with the goal of building a 24/7 bespoke mental health service for musicians by year’s end.

The charity has already invested £100,000 (US $132,000) in the campaign, and claims that a matching donation from the wider public would allow the service to be sustainable beyond 2018. Matthew Leone, the bassist for rock band Madina Lake, who suffered a life-threatening injury in 2010, joined HMUK this summer as its international development executive, tasked with scoping out global partnerships in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand for expanding the

upcoming service.

In the past, the music industry has had some tense encounters with mental health, either leaning on the issue as a commercial crutch or confounding exposure to information with actual change.

For instance, earlier this year, British music magazine NME used Stormzy’s interview and image for their mental health cover story without the artist’s permission, drawing criticism from Stormzy and his fans.

Even well-crafted, well-meaning mental health campaigns often die down after brief spikes in press coverage, seemingly bringing the conversation back to its starting point. “A channel is not enough,” Passion Pit frontman Michael Angelakos, who has spoken openly about his bipolar disorder, told Billboard in an email last month. “We can do more. Listening is important. After listening should be action.”

For HMUK CEO Richard Robinson, part of transitioning from mere awareness and brand recognition to action means looking beyond the top one percent of musicians. “If you think about a Coldplay tour, there are several hundred people working behind the scenes on production alone,” Robinson tells Billboard. “They’re just as likely to suffer from fatigue, anxiety and other health issues as any member of any band, but are not given the same credence because they’re not in the top one percent of the industry that the mental health conversation seems to focus on. We’re trying to ensure that whether you are Adele or Adele’s stylist, you are given the same support.”

With its upcoming service, HMUK joins organizations like Music Support in the U.K. and Support Act in Australia that offer mental health services tailored for the music industry, including but not limited to hotlines and “safe tents” at music festivals that offer a temporary escape from crowds and chaos. Angelakos runs a mental health nonprofit called the Wishart Group that has worked with artists on donating their intellectual property and revenue streams to initiatives and groups in need of funding. The artist has led by example, having donated all royalties from the Passion Pit album Tremendous Sea of Love to the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute in Cambridge, MA.

Noble And Royal Interracial Marriages Janice Johnson

How often these days I see articles stating that if Prince Harry of Wales marries Meghan Markle, it will be the first royal interracial marriage ever. Obviously most articles mean, the first British royal interracial marriage – as lots of media tends to forget there are other royal families than the British – but even in that case the statement is not true.

Interracial marriages are nowadays quite normal, but they weren’t until some tens of years ago.

Only in 1967 a marriage between people of different race was allowed in all the USA, in 1960 interracial marriages were still forbidden by law in 31 US states. When searching I found a recent article saying that one in 10 marriages in the Netherlands are mixed, they actually meant Dutch people marrying people of another nationality, rather than another race. I think in many countries, including mine – the Netherlands – most people had never seen someone with a different colour than their own until rather recent. Unlike my parents who grew up in a tiny village, I grew up in a small town with children in my class with an Italian, Indonesian and Suriname background. I remember however the first Chinese arriving in the neighbourhood (this was halfway the 1980s) were quite an attraction. An acquaintance of mine who is slightly older, grew up in a smaller village and had never seen others than white people until he was 12 or so. Luckily times are changing.

The question however is: were there ever mixed race marriages in noble and royal circles?

Surely there were some, not only in noble and non-reigning royal families, but certainly also in reigning royal families. A rather interesting and early case was a Japanese-German marriage, or rather more than one. Aoki Shuzo (1844-1914) was born to a Samurai family in Japan. He was a diplomat and Foreign Minister. Later in life he was elevated in title to viscount, and became Viscount Aoki. In the late 1860s he was sent to Germany to study. During that time he married a German aristocrat, Elisabeth von Rhade. Their daughter Hanna Aoki (1879-1953) married in 1904 Count Alexander von Hatzfeldt und Trachenberg. Their daughter Hissa (1906-1985) married 1927 Count Erwin von Neipperg (1897-1957).

When searching online for unusual interracial royal marriages I came across an African-Asian one that wasn’t to take place in the end. In 1931 Prince Lij Araya Abebe of Ethiopia (who died in 2002 and was a nephew of Emperor Haile Selassie) traveled to Japan, as he liked the idea of a Japanese bride. Ties between the two countries had become quite strong at the time. After his return a Japanese businessman, Tomoyoshi Sumioka set up the arrangements and circulated advertisements for select women in Japan. About 60 applications were received. Chosen was the young daughter of Viscount Hiroyuki Kuroda, Masako Kuroda, who started soon studying Ethiopian culture. However the marriage plans alarmed the European powers and especially Italy seems to have been uncomfortable about the Japanese interference in the region. In the end the marriage was called off early 1934.

Not much later, in 1948, Seretse Khama, heir to the throne of Botswana, married Ruth Williams, a white English woman. He later became the president of his country. Both in Botswana and Great Britain people were against this marriage. The story of their life was recently turned into a film: A United Kingdom. Quite known also is the case of the American Hope Cooke (1940), who in 1963

became the Queen Consort of the 12th Chogyal of Sikkim, Palden Thondup Namgyal (19231982). The couple had two children and divorced in 1980. The monarchy in Sikkim had been abolished in 1975 and the country became a state of India. Hope Cooke returned to the USA and is now a writer, historian and lecturer.

A few more royal examples from reigning royal houses I can think of: •

The 21st Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor in 1870 married secondly Cecilia Catherina Lange. She took the name of Zubaidah. She had a Danish father and a Chinese mother.

•

Chakrabongse Bhuvanath, Prince of Phitsanulok, a son of King Chulalongkorn of Thailand, around 1906 married Ekaterina ‘Katya’ Desnitskaya, from Kiev (Ukrain, then part of the Russian Empire). They had one son and divorced in 1919, one year before the death of the prince. For an interesting article see here.

•

The 22nd Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim married in 1930 (divorced 1938) Helen Bartholomew Wilson. She was from Scotland.

•

Their son Prince Chula Chakrabongse in 1938 married a British woman called Elizabeth Hunter.

They had one daughter, Nerisa.

•

In 1952 King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia married Paule-Monique Izzi, better known as Queen Monineath. She had a father of French, Corsican and Italian descent, and a mother from Cambodia.

•

The 22nd Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim married in 1940 Marcella Mendl from Romania. They had one daughter.

•

The 24th Sultan of Johor married in 1956 (divorced 1962) Josephine Ruby Trevorrow. They had four children. After their divorce she returned to the UK.

•

In 1961 King Hussein of Jordan married Antoinette Gardiner, from Great Britain. They got divorce ten years later. King Hussein and Princess Muna, as she is called, had four children including the present King Abdullah II.

•

Prince Ra’ad bin Zeid of Jordan in 1963 married Margaretha Lind (Majda) from Sweden.

•

In 1968 Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan married Sarvath Ikramullah, born in India to a

Muslim family, later raised in Pakistan.

•

Princess Ubol Ratana of Thailand, daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, married 1972 Peter Ladd Jensen, from the USA. The couple had three children. They got divorced in 1998.

•

King Hussein of Jordan married fourthly in 1978 Lisa Najeeb Halaby. She was American born, with a Syrian-American father and a mother of Swedish descent.

•

Tengku Idris, now the Sultan of Selangor, married secondly in 1988 (divorced 1997) Lisa Davi.

They had one child.

•

Prince Joachim of Denmark – son of Queen Margrethe II – in 1995 married Alexandra Manley.

The couple divorced in 2005 and has two sons. Alexandra was born and raised in Hong Kong.

Her mother Christa Nowotny came from Austria, her father Richard Manley was partly British, partly Chinese. From their three daughters, Alexandra was the most Asian looking one. See for her ancestry here.

•

Christian baron de Massy, a cousin of Reigning Prince Albert II of Monaco, married (fourthly) in 1996 Cécile Gelabale, who is from Guadeloupe. The couple has two sons. It seems they are either separated or divorced.

•

US-marine Jason Johnson married in 1999 Meriam Al-Khalifa, daughter of Sheikh Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa of Bahrain. They filed for divorce after five years. He was a Mormon, she a Muslim.

•

Prince Zeid bin Ra’ad of Jordan married in 2000 Sarah Butler from the USA.

•

In 2002 Marc Coumeri, an American, married Princess Pekina Norodom of Cambodia.

•

Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein – son of Reigning Prince Hans Adam II – in 2000 married Angela Brown (11 years his senior), who was born in Panama as daughter of Javier Francisco Brown and Silvia Maritza Burke. His father consented to the wedding, even when apparently part of the family was shocked by this interracial marriage. The couple has one son. Not much is known about her exact background.

•

In March 2004 the engagement was announced between Lady Davina Windsor, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and Gary Lewis. They married in July 2004 and had two children. The couple met in Indonesia in 2000. Gary Lewis turned out to be a Maori from New Zealand with an already 11-year-old son from a previous relationship. Queen Elizabeth II gave her permission for the marriage.

•

In September 2004 the Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam, Al-Muhtadee Billah, married Dayangku Sarah binti Pengiran Salleh, daughter of a distant member of the Bruneian royal family. She however had a Swiss mother.

•

Princess Badiya bint El Hassan of Jordan married British Edward Blair in 2005. He took the Muslim first name of Khaled. They have one son.

•

The Crown Prince of Perak (Malaysia; he now is Sultan) in 2007 married Zara Davidson, who had a British father and a mother who is a member of the Kedah royal family.

•

Sheikh Sayyid bin Maktoum al-Maktoum of Dubai married Natasha Muslimorova, from Belarus, in 2007.

•

Alejandro Garrido married in 2008 Princess Sarah bint Asem of Jordan.

•

David Wheeler married Khun Ploypailin Jensen in 2009. She is a daughter of Peter Ladd Jensen and Princess Ubol Ratana of Thailand.

•

In 2009 Prince Moulay Ismail of Morocco married Anissa Lehmkuhl, a German Muslima.

•

Nicolas Costamagna married Princess Ubbolvadey Nella Sisowath of Cambodia i 2009.

•

In 2011 Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan bin Abd-al-Aziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, a grandson of the then Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, married Lucy Caroline Cuthbert, niece of the Duke of Northumberland.

•

Prince Rudolf of Liechtenstein – a nephew of Reigning Prince Hans Adam II – in 2012 married Tılsım Tanberk from Turkey. The couple has twins.

•

Prince Harry of Wales in 2018 married Meghan Markle from the USA. She said herself: “My dad is Caucasian and my mom is African American. I’m half black and half white”.

Other examples in non-reigning and noble families.

•

Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, married first in in 1864 Bamba Müller, who was the illegitimate daughter of a German father and an Abyssinian mistress. After her death he married in 1889 a British woman called Ada Douglas Wetherill. He had issue from both marriages.

•

In 1892 Count Heinrich Coudenhove-Kalergi married Mitsuko Aoyama from Japan. They had seven children.

•

Jagatjit Singh Bahadur, the Maharaja of Kapurthala married in 1908 the Spanish flamenco dancer Anita Delgado Briones. They separated. They had one son.

•

Prince Yi Gu of Korea married in 1959 Julia Lee Mullock, an American woman of Ukrainian descent. They were never legally married by Korean custom and got divorced in 1982.

•

In 1972 The 6th Marquess of Headfort married as his second wife Virginia Nable, who was from the Philippines.

•

In 1976 former King Fuad II of Egypt married Dominique-France Loeb Picard (Fadila). They separated in 1996, got divorced in 2008. Her father was a French Jew, her mother FrenchSwiss.

•

In the 1970s Princess Ketaki of Nepal married secondly Alan Roy Chester from Great Britain.

They had two children.

•

(Sir) Desmond de Silva married in 1987 Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia. They separated in 2009. He is partly British, partly Sri Lankan.

•

Prince Dhirendra of Nepa in 1991 married thirdly Shirley Greaney, British but born in Canada.

They had a daughter.

•

In 1998 Prince Karim IV Aga Khan married Gabriele Thyssen from Germany. They split up in 2003, divorced finally in 2011.

•

The Hon. James Lascelles, son of the Earl of Harewood (cousin of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain) married thirdly in 1999 the Nigerian actress Joy Elias-Rilwan.

•

Archduke Ferdinand of Austria in 1999 married Mary Nyanut Ring Machar, from Sudan, in Kenya. The couple has four children.

•

Prince Adam Czartoryski married secondly in 2000 Josette Naime Calil. Not much is known, but she seems to be of Lebanese or maybe Syrian descent.

•

Count Michel Lichnowsky married first (divorced) Yuiko Fujishiro, and secondly in 2004 Chikako Hashimoto. Both wives are of Japanese descent.

•

Archduke Konrad of Austria in 2005 married Ashmita Goswami, of Indian descent. They have

issue.

•

The Hon. Thomas Philip Watson in 2005 married Rajkumari Xenia Ranbir Singh. He is a son of the 3rd Baron Manton (Great Britain), she is from the royal family of Kapurthala (India).

•

In 2005 Archduke Maximilian of Austria married Maya Askari, originally from Iraq.

•

Archduke Philipp of Austria married Mayasuni Heath in 2006. She is as far as I know partly British, partly Peruvian. They have one daughter.

•

Prince Hussain Aga Khan married Kristin White, from the USA, in 2006. She took the name of Khaliya. His mother by the way was British, Sally Croker-Poole (known as Salimah). Separation in 2011, divorce in 2013.

•

Princess Michelle Lobkowicz in 2007 married Vishal Khanna, of Indian descent. They both had a Catholic and a traditional Hindu ceremony. They have issue.

•

In 2008 the 11th Duke of Marlborough married thirdly Lily Mahtani née Shani of Indian descent.

•

Prince Mir Wais of Afghanistan, youngest son of former King Zaher Shah, married Antonella Mularoni (Safya), of Swiss-Romanian descent.

•

Édouard Comte Desrousseaux, 3rd dux romanus de Vandières in 2010 married Thu Ha, from Vietnam.

•

Michael Count von und zu Trauttmansdorff-Weinsberg married Hanh Lai, originally from Vietnam, in 2010.

•

Prince Charles de Ligne La Trémoïlle married in 2010 Ran Li, from China.

•

Charles Count von Faber-Castell in 2011/12 married Melisa Eliyeşil, from Turkey.

•

Prince Rahim Aga Khan in 2013 married Kendra Spears (Salwa) from the USA.

•

Prince Muhammad Ali of Egypt and Princess Noal Zaher of Afghanistan married in 2013. He is half French, see for his parents above.

•

In 2013 Viscount Weymouth, heir to the Marquess of Bath, married Emma McQuiston. Her father is from Nigeria, her mother from England. They have two sons.

•

Archduke Franz of Austria in 2013 married secondly Leontra/Leondra Carol Breeden (“Lei”), from the USA. His first wife 1994-2011 was Teresa Manuel Carlos. As they married in Mozambique, the chance is big this was an interracial marriage too.

•

In 2013 Prince Viktor von Isenburg married Jung-Eun Anés Lee, from South Korea.

•

Prince Antoni Mikolaj Radziwill in 2015 married Dan Yang from China.

•

Olaoluwa Olamide Modupe-Ojo – clearly of African descent – married in 2015 Maddison May Brudenell, a descendant of the Earls Mountbatten of Burma.

•

Don Lorenzo Borghese in 2017 married Ngoc Thao Nguyen in a Jewish ceremony.

•

Prince Konstantin of Bavaria is to marry his Turkish girlfriend/fiancée Deniz Kaya in 2017/2018.

I am certain there will be some more examples, if one has a good look into royal and noble genealogy. There are also lots of intermarriages with people from Central and South America, which I didn’t even mention, as there are so many of them.

Contact Lenses vs. Eyeglasses: Which Are Best For You?

Aidie Rodriguez Whether you choose to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses for vision correction mostly depends on personal preferences. Lifestyle, comfort, convenience, budget and aesthetics should all factor into your decision-making process.

Before deciding between contacts and glasses, keep in mind that one is not necessarily better than the other; each has its pros and cons in terms of vision, ease of use and eye health.

Eyeglasses offer many benefits over contact lenses. They require very little cleaning and maintenance, you don’t need to touch your eyes to wear them (decreasing your risk for eye infections), and glasses are cheaper than contact lenses in the long run since they don’t need to be replaced as often.

Also, eyeglasses can do something contact lenses cannot — they can adjust the amount of light entering your eye for optimum comfort and vision. Specifically, photochromic lenses are clear

indoors and at night, and darken automatically in sunlight for clear, comfortable vision in any light. Although some contact lenses can block some UV light from entering the eye, photochromic eyeglass lenses block 100 percent UV and protect not only the inside of the eye from UV, but the exterior of the eye and eyelids as well.

Glasses also can act as an extension of your personality and make a great fashion statement!

That being said, contact lenses have many advantages over glasses. Contacts sit directly on your eye, so vision, particularly peripheral vision, is unobstructed. You can participate in sports and outdoor activities without fear of eyeglasses getting in the way, falling off or breaking. You can even change the color of your eyes with color contact lenses.

So which are better for your particular needs and lifestyle — glasses or contacts? Here’s a breakdown of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of eyewear to help you choose.

CONTACT LENSES PROS AND CONS Advantages •

Contacts conform to the curvature of your eye, providing a wider field of view and causing less vision distortions and obstructions than eyeglasses.

•

Contact lenses don›t get in the way when playing sports and exercising.

•

Contact lenses won›t clash with what you›re wearing.

•

Contacts typically aren›t affected by weather conditions and won›t fog up in cold weather like glasses.

•

If you want to see how you would look with a different eye color, you can experiment with color contact lenses. You can even purchase special-effect contacts to match your Halloween or fancy dress costume!

•

Some contact lenses can reshape your cornea while you sleep.

Overnight orthokeratology (Ortho-k) temporarily corrects myopia, so you can see clearly the next day without the need for glasses or contacts.

Disadvantages •

Some people have trouble applying a contact lens to their eye (but proper technique and practice should rectify this in most cases).

•

Contacts reduce the amount of oxygen reaching your eye and can cause or increase the severity of dry eye syndrome.

•

If you work at a computer often, wearing contact lenses will likely contribute to symptoms of computer vision syndrome.

•

Contacts require proper lens care and lens case cleaning each day, to avoid potentially serious eye infections. If you can›t commit to the care and recommended replacement cycle of your contacts, consider daily disposables.

If you accidentally fall asleep while wearing daily wear contacts, your eyes typically will be dry, gritty, red and irritated when you wake. If you find yourself frequently falling asleep with your contacts in, consider extended wear contact lenses — some extended wear contacts are approved for up to 30 days of continuous wear.

EYEGLASSES PROS AND CONS •

Advantages •

Wearing glasses reduces the need to touch your eyes, which in turn reduces the likelihood of irritating your eyes or developing an eye infection.

•

If you have dry or sensitive eyes, glasses won›t exacerbate the problem like contact lenses can.

•

Eyeglasses generally are cheaper than contact lenses over the long term. You don›t need to replace glasses as often (unless you break them!) and if your prescription changes over time, you may be able to keep your current frames and just replace the lenses.

•

Frames are fashionable and can speak volumes about your personality and style — the look of your glasses can make a bold statement.

•

Glasses offer some protection from environmental factors such as wind, dust and debris.

Disadvantages •

Eyeglasses sit about 12mm (about a half inch) from your eyes, so peripheral vision can be distorted. Many people also report difficulty focusing on objects and blurry visionwhen they first start wearing glasses or change prescriptions.

•

Some people don›t like how they look in glasses and feel it detracts from their facial aesthetics or hides their features.

•

If you have a strong prescription, the edges of your lenses may be thick and unappealing or your glasses might make your eyes appear unnaturally minified or magnified.

•

Eyeglasses can be affected by the elements — your vision can be obstructed or blurred by precipitation collecting on your lenses or when they fog up in cold weather.

•

Some frames can exert constant pressure on your nose and behind your ears, leading to headaches and general discomfort.

Contact Lenses, Eyeglasses... Or Both?

Thanks to advances in contact lens technology, most people these days can wear contacts successfully, even if they prefer to wear glasses as their primary form of vision correction.

So the decision to wear either contacts or glasses — and when to wear them — usually is a matter of personal preference.

Keep in mind, though, that if you wear contact lenses full-time, you also should have an up-to-date pair of glasses — in case you need to stop wearing contacts due to an eye infection or irritation, or you simply want to give your eyes a break.

Bitcoin Is Falling Out of Favor on the Dark Web Anne Lauren

Steep transaction fees and wild price fluctuations have made the cryptocurrency harder to use in the illicit markets that originally made it famous.

A supporter of Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the black-market website Silk Road, protests outside a Manhattan courthouse in 2015.SPENCER PLATT Of all of bitcoin’s uses—as a currency, a payment system, an investment, a commodity, a technology, a remittance network, a market hedge—perhaps its most notorious is as a facilitator of online drug transactions. For years now, the cryptocurrency has allowed anonymous purchasers to pay anonymous vendors on eBay-like markets, avoiding the use of the formal financial system and thus the easy intervention of the federal authorities.

“Making small talk with your pot dealer sucks. Buying cocaine can get you shot. What if you could buy and sell drugs online like books or light bulbs? Now you can: Welcome to Silk Road,” the journalist Adrian Chen wrote in an exposé for Gawker on the now-defunct market, back in 2011. At the time, Chen called it “the most complete implementation of the bitcoin vision” of freewheeling, anarcho-libertarian anonymity.

Seven years later, though, problems with using bitcoin on the dark web—a kind of mirror internet that uses encryption to ensure its participants’ privacy and features websites that are not accessible from standard browsers—have piled up. Purchasers and vendors are cancelling orders, losing money, and fleeing to other forms of cryptocurrency. Bitcoin remains in wide use for drugs and other illegal goods, but the shadowy markets that made it famous, and infamous, are turning

on it.

The first issue lies in the extreme volatility of the price of bitcoin. The cryptocurrency has, since its very earliest days, been a highly unstable one, its price surging and collapsing much like that of a penny stock. Even so, the past year has proven unusually volatile, with dramatic day-to-day and even minute-to-minuteswings and plunges. Investors crowding into the cryptocurrency—including those putting bitcoin on their credit cards, or taking out equity loans on their houses to buy it—and regulatory interest from governments around the world have helped to drive those fluctuations.

And the currency’s short-term volatility has been matched by some longer-term volatility too: The currency’s value surged 1,300 percent last year, and it has fallen by more than half of late.

For Wall Street–type investors seeking to buy and hold bitcoin or risk-happy prospectors looking to make a quick buck, such price swings are generally a feature, not a bug. Nor are they problematic for many the many Silicon Valley entrepreneurs interested in the blockchain technology underpinning the currency. But this kind of volatility is a headache for participants in marketplaces with transactions denominated in bitcoin. That means the darknet markets, which have continued to crop up and collapse since the federal authorities seized Silk Road in 2013.

On those markets, the price of drugs and other illicit and licit goods are fundamentally pegged to dollars or euros, not bitcoin. Buyers think in terms of traditional currencies, in other words: An eighth of an ounce of marijuana is worth $25, not a minuscule fraction of a bitcoin. And vendors think in the same terms, often purchasing wholesale goods with dollars or other governmentissued currencies, or seeking to sell their wares for cash in person. As such, “the price of a bitcoin does not matter,” Nicolas Christin, a computer scientist at Carnegie Mellon University and an expert on the darknet markets, told me. “But that it is stable matters.”

To understand why, it helps to know a bit more about the mechanics of buying drugs on the dark web. A purchaser buys bitcoin, reviews vendors’ offers on a marketplace, and then pays for his goods. His money generally goes into escrow before it is released to his vendor. This introduces a number of financial choke points and transaction delays: between when the purchaser procures bitcoin and makes a purchase, when the vendor receives the order and receives payment from escrow, and when the vendor cashes out from the marketplace. Those are all moments when bitcoin’s volatility becomes problematic. For vendors, price drops while payments are in escrow might wipe out all the profits from a sale, for instance.

Complaints about these kinds of scenarios are rife in popular forums where buyers and vendors chat online, including on Reddit. “Seems I hear Vendors are sitting on the sidelines. If payment is in [bitcoin and] then [the] price falls all their work is for nigh,” one user recently posted, worrying that fewer vendors were selling given the market dynamics at work. Another complained, “Seriously?! I purchased coins this morning at like $675 and within 1.5 hours it dropped down to $625.”

Of course, licit markets have the exact same vulnerability to swings in the price of bitcoin. But those markets—with their deep-pocketed investors and ties to the formal financial system— have come up with ways to avoid them. “Merchants who want to avoid volatility will still accept bitcoin or cryptocurrency, and can use a service provider that automatically converts it,” Jerry Brito, the executive director of Coin Center, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization for cryptocurrencies, told me. “That service provider accepts bitcoin on their behalf, automatically converts it, and deposits dollars into the merchant’s account. That way they never face the volatility.”

But such businesses want nothing to do with illegal markets, meaning that marketplaces, vendors, and buyers have few if any ways to hedge. Some drug dealers urge their customers to “finalize early,” letting their payments out of escrow before they receive their goods. And some marketplaces have built in their own mechanisms to help manage volatility. Indeed, the original Silk Road provided a kind of insurance system against volatile cryptocurrency prices. “Ross Ulbricht was a very smart young man who got into a line of work he should not have been involved in,” said Christin, referring to the creator of Silk Road, who was arrested in 2013 and is now serving a life sentence. “He had very clever ideas, like this hedging system that exists in banks.”

But other markets do not have the technological wherewithal to do so, or the willingness to absorb any volatility risk from their customers and vendors. As a result, many vendors cancel orders, or requests that their buyers cancel orders, to manage the swings.

It is worth noting that volatility has proven less of a problem when the price of bitcoin was shooting up, as buyers and vendors holding bitcoin found their currency worth more and more. (Indeed, in forum posts, some vendors note that they have made more money holding bitcoin than selling drugs.) But a crash in the price of bitcoin gives vendors far less of an incentive to do business on the darknet markets. “Volatility upwards is, of course, largely a good thing for [the darknet markets], as they produce a wealth effect,” wrote Gwern Branwen, a cryptocurrency researcher who goes by a pseudonym, in an email. Branwen added, “The really bad thing is when prices crash. This sets up an ugly dynamic for sellers: typically you still have to pay your expenses and your supplier in a fiat, so do you continue shipping out orders pre-paid with bitcoins which are now worth a lot less and may well incur a loss?”

The second reason bitcoin is falling out of favor on the dark web has to do with the sudden increase in the cost of transacting in bitcoin. Here, again, it helps to get into the technical details for a moment. All bitcoin transactions are kept in a decentralized and public ledger. When someone makes a transaction with bitcoin, miners in the network solve cryptographic puzzles to verify and log it—and get paid a small fee in bitcoin to do so. That has given the cryptocurrency a scaling problem: As demand for transactions has gone up, the price to transact has gone up.

Indeed, the price of a bitcoin transaction recently spiked as high as $55.

That might not be a problem for an investor. But for someone who’s just looking for some weed?

“If you look at the average transaction on cryptomarkets, half of transactions are something like $30 or $50,” said David Décary-Hétu, a professor of criminology at the Université de Montréal.

“It makes no sense to pay a commission of $35 for $50 of drugs.” Such transaction fees become especially problematic for anyone trying to make many smaller bitcoin transactions in order to avoid the attention of the authorities—such as drug dealers.

Bitcoin’s fees and transaction delays have also pushed darknet market participants away from the cryptocurrency. “Which markets would YOU recommend, now that the bitcoin literally became unusable in low amounts?” one Reddit forum posterasked. “How should one adapt to this? The fees got enormous, the sites I use to buy [bitcoin] set their minimum amount you can buy up to 500€.” Another commenter stepped in to advise the user, recommending a rival cryptocurrency: “Monero appears to be the way forward, at least for now: as you said, bitcoin is currently unusable for smaller transactions.”

Another posting reads: “I think [it is] officially time to step away from [bitcoin], at least for the time being. Went to do a direct deal today with a vendor, realized my $250 purchase would end up costing me $315 or so with fees and would still take probably 24 hours to get to him,” a Reddit user wrote. “As of this morning the lowest electrum fee was approx $32 to send coin.... and people reporting at the highest level still not having coin move 12-16 hours later.”

A third issue has to do with anonymity—or really, a lack of it—as law-enforcement and regulatory agencies have become more interested in and sophisticated about monitoring cryptocurrencies.

Though bitcoin initially promised completely anonymous transactions, the public nature of the blockchain system in fact has always meant that savvy observers could amass huge amounts of information on bitcoin users, identifying the addresses of popular darknet markets and making money-laundering more onerous. “It’s pretty well established at this point that bitcoin is not anonymous, and it is traceable,” said Sarah Meiklejohn, a cryptography expert at University College London. “If you are buying drugs, using bitcoin is not the best bet.”

Other coins offer more privacy, and people who use darknet markets are moving to options like Ether and Monero. “Alex Cazes is dead because he believed bitcoin mixers obfuscated his money trail,” one forum poster said, referring to the founder of the now-defunct market AlphaBay and “mixers” that would supposedly hide his illicit bitcoin transactions. “My advice. Convert your bitcoins into Monero.” Another argued: “While many of us have benefited from the surge in BTC price, it’s time we left it in the past and move on to something safer and more efficient. The wave starts with getting vendors and markets on board. While making an order I urge you to ask your vendor if they have considered switching to Monero (or alternative). If more customers want to pay with Monero, vendors and markets will want to switch to where customers have money.”

Even with these three factors, bitcoin still remains the common currency of the dark web. Given the difficulty of purchasing drugs and the lucrative nature of selling them, people are willing to put up with high transaction costs. Moreover, market participants have many other prevalent risks to worry about, and transaction difficulties to deal with: the threat of law enforcement running a market as a honeypot to catch dealers and purchasers; the threat of vendors stealing their customers’ bitcoin and suddenly disappearing; whole marketplaces scamming their vendors and customers; the question of how to launder huge amounts of money converted from bitcoin. “If you want heroin, you might be willing to pay a fee, or take these risks,” said Décary-Hétu.

Plus, they have few alternatives—unlike participants in licit markets, whose advantages bitcoindenominated markets throw into sharp relief. The dollar and euro are stable, with prices shifting just a few percent per year. Online payment systems are cheap and reliable, with credit cards charging just a few percentage points to process a near-instantaneous transaction. Contemporary financial markets are rich marvels, offering hedges, insurance, security guarantees, and a seemingly infinite variety of other products to make buying goods and doing business easy.

Not so with bitcoin. Its original promise—to be more efficient, easy to use, low-cost, immediate, and anonymous than traditional banking—has turned out to be false. One can still use it to buy drugs, of course. But not so easily.