The Student Body Magazine May 2011 by Student Body Magazine

TABLEOFCONTENTS Editorial Board

Diane Cheng - Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Nauheim - Senior Editor Jessica Ye- Design Editor Andrea Kim - Treasurer Tommy Rucker - Publicity Chair Advisor Bruce Lewenstein

Produced by

Jessica Ye, Andrea Kim, Sonnya Im, Susan Duan, Erica Johnson, and Mytien Ngyuen

On the Cover 6 10 7 8 4

Such a Thing as Too Much Protein? 1 Sweet Tip: How Honey Can Help

Dark Chocolate: Still Healthy in the Long Run?

Sudden Death: a Need for EKG Testing in Young Atheletes for Undiagnosed Heart Conditions Dream On... Can Sleep Give Inspiration?

ÂŠ The Student Body 2011

Student Life 4

Mr. Sandman, Bring Me...anEpiphany? DIANE CHENG

Health and Wellness 6 7 10

Too Much Protein? SANDY GHOSALKAR

Dark Chocolate: Treat or Treatment? KELLY PARNESS Honey: the Sweeter Cure DIANA VIGLUCCI

Social Commentary 8

Saying “Game Over” to Atheletes with Undiagnosed Heart Conditions SARAH PARAUDA

The Student Body is an undergraduate student organization affiliated with Gannett University Health Services. Publication of The Student Body is funded by SAFC. The contents of The Student Body are the works of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or beliefs of the organization, its affiliates, advisers, or Cornell University.

Cover and Table of Contents graphics reproduced from [1- 3, 14]

Mr. Sandman, Bring Me…an

Student Life

Epiphany?

By Diane Cheng

ave you ever woken up in the morning feeling as if you hadn’t gone to sleep at all? Maybe your entire night was riddled with bizarre dreams, filled with their fair share of public nudity, flooding classrooms, and giant capybara sized hamsters – which of course all seems like nonsense to you now that you’re awake. In addition to doing a lot thinking during the day, apparently we do a lot of thinking and imagining in our sleep as well. According to Dr. Deidre Barrett of Harvard University, “dreaming is thinking—just in a different biochemical state”.

have a hard time identifying what is truly bothering us or finding suitable answers and solutions. However, in the dreaming state, when the controlling conscious mind idles, more uninhibited and intuitive patterns of thinking emerge. Or as Dr. David Kahn of Harvard Medical School explains, “the waking mind is thinking inside the box; the dreaming mind is thinking outside the box”. Dreaming allows your mind to approach things in a different way, which is why dreams can be valuable sources of inspiration or elucidation.

In a 2004 paper published in Nature, Dr. Jan Born, a neuroscientist at the University of Lübeck in Germany, conducted a study examining the effects of sleep on problem solving and creativity. As part of the experiment, a group of students was asked to transform a long list of number strings into a new set of number strings. This task was extremely tedious and involved running through a series of mind-numbing algorithms. Unbeknownst to the students, however, was that their assignment could be completed with a neat little shortcut. The shortcut was not obvious and could only be uncovered if the students noticed the subtle connections between the different sets of number. When left to complete the task all in one stretch, less than 25 When we are awake, our conscious minds unwit- percent of students caught on to the shortcut, even tingly put up mental barriers to the way we think. after spending several hours to think about and As a result of perceptions of social norms, fear of complete the task. However, when Born allowed consequences, frustration at the circumstances, the students to get substantive sleep between or a variety of other factors, we might sometimes experimental trials, the number of students who Scientists used to think that dreaming was nothing more than chatter resulting from random firings of the brain stem during REM sleep. New evidence has shown, however, that dreaming can occur during other phases of sleep as well, particularly when the visual and emotional centers of the brain are activated. Contrastingly, the frontal lobe regions responsible for inhibition and logical thinking seem to be more idle when we are dreaming. This suggests that our dreams are, in the words of Dr. Barrett, a more “visual, intuitive, and emotional mode of contemplation compared to the patterns of waking thought”.

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Student Life

Dreams can help you “wake up” to new solutions and opportunities noticed the shortcut more than doubled to 59 percent. Born argues that deep sleep and dreaming “set the stage for the emergence of insight” by allowing us to process old ideas in new ways, resulting in a sort of post-slumber epiphany. Although alternatively, the results reported by Born may have been due at least in part to the restorative effects of sleep.

been trained on while awake. In dreaming about the real life experience, the rats may develop a better recollection of how to handle the same or similar situations in the future.

Some scientists posit that dreaming even has an evolutionary role in aiding survival. Antti Revonsuo, a psychology professor in Finland, theorizes that a dream’s “biological function is to simulate Dreaming has also been implicated as a mecha- threatening events and to rehearse threat percepnism used by the brain to contion and threat avoidance.” “the waking mind is solidate and embed memoThere have been numerous thinking inside the box; ries and improve learning. In reports of déjà vu type occurother words, the brain might rences, where people dream the dreaming mind is use dreaming as a way to sift of accidents or illnesses, through the hustle and bustle thinking outside the box” and then as a result of their of the day in order to separate dreams are able to avoid danwhat we should remember and what we can afford gerous situations or seek timely treatment, thus to forget. In 2001, Dr. Matthew Wilson of M.I.T. preventing more serious harm. and his team published a study in which they recorded the neuron activity in the brain of rats that Searching for warning signs in your dreams might were trained to run a circular track. While the rats sound just about as reliable as getting your palm were running along the track, the recordings of read. But whether or not you believe in dreaming their hippocampal region (the region essential for as the mind’s own crystal ball, evidence is acculong term memory formation) showed a distinct mulating that dreaming does indeed play a critical pattern of neural firings. When the rats fell asleep role in problem solving, memory, and learning. So after running on the track, the scientists again the next time you’re not sure how to solve a commonitored their brain activity. 20 of the 45 dreams plicated problem or handle a difficult situation, had by the rats repeated the same exact patterns just sleep on it and see what comes to you in your of brain activity that was present while running dreams! If nothing else, at least you’ll have gotten in a circle. It seemed that the rats were dreaming that bit of extra sleep. about running on the same track that they had

Unconventional Wisdom|

Too Much

Reproduced from [6]

Health and Wellness

Protein?

Reproduced from [5]

s young adults, we’ve often bought into the low carb/high protein mantra that so many advocate. Certainly, our dining halls at Cornell offer a dazzling array of meats. However, it may be a good idea to reduce one’s consumption not necessarily because of the fats they contain (the assumption being you are eating low fat meats and not piling your plate high with cheeseburgers) but because of the associated kidney and cancer risks. You’ve told yourself that eating that grilled chicken breast or salmon is great for you. When it comes to the heart, you’re absolutely right. Lean white meats are much better than red or processed meats for controlling cholesterol and plaque accumulation. However, excess consumption of any meat, including lean meats, can have a deleterious impact on your kidneys. Your kidney’s functional unit is a set of small filtering cells. Excess protein intake results in excess waste protein that this unit must remove. The kidney works harder to remove this excess waste which results in damage over a prolonged period of time. Over time, these waste products may accumulate in your blood and cause you to feel ill (at which point your condition would be quite serious, so it helps to curb your intake early). Possible kidney failure is not the only risk associated with excessive protein intake. Too much protein can result in excretion of calcium compounds from the skeletal system, increasing one’s risk for osteoporosis and kidney stones (from the accumulation of excess calcium). One major aspect of high protein low carb diets, is well, their avoidance of carbs. This may include Reproduced from [7]

By Sandy Ghosalkar

nutritious carbohydrates such as fruits and vegetables. A low intake of fruits and vegetables, rich in antioxidants and other nutritious compounds that mop up the damage done by free radicals, may increase one’s risk of cancer. A low carb diet may also result in constipation due to a lack of fiber. A diet excessively low in carbs may also cause a dangerous metabolic state known as ketosis in which the body metabolizes its fat reserves rather than the glucose obtained through carbohydrate consumption. This process releases substances known as ketones. Ketones can cause organ failure, gout, bad breath, kidney stones, and kidney failure. A diet where 30% of caloric intake comes from protein can result in ketosis. As your kidney works harder to clear these ketones from your blood, it utilizes greater amounts of water, resulting in dehyrdration. The resulting water loss may show up as weight loss when you step onto the scale but don’t be fooled. You are losing muscle mass and bone calcium along with that water. So exactly how much protein do you need? Ideally, you should consume 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight. A protein deficiency is defined as eating 50-75% of the recommended level of protein. Furthermore, about 15% of your daily caloric intake should come from protein. While limiting protein intake is important, so is getting enough. It’s essential for antibody and scar formation, blood clotting, enzyme synthesis, and maintaining fluid balance to name just a few functions. As with everything, balance is key. So next time you are in the dining hall, eat some whole grain pasta long with that turkey patty. © The Student Body 2011

Dark Chocolate Reproduced from [8]

Treat or Treatment? ed beneficial effects of short-term (6 week) consumption of dark chocolate and cocoa on any of the variables (such as blood pressure, BMI, or pulse cholesterol) included in the investigation. In accordance with this, Reid, et al. (2009) concluded that they did not find a blood pressure lowering effect of dark chocolate. They deduced that the practicability of chocolate as a long-term treatment option might be limited.

So what does this mean? Well, upon analyzing all four studies there is one important point In a 2004 study, Engler, et al. concluded that that sticks out â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the studies that showed a flavonol-rich dark chocolate improves endo- beneficial effect of dark chocolate were all thelial function done over very and is associated short time pewith an increase riods, from a in plasma epicatweek or a mere echin concentratwo days. Meantions in healthy while, the studadults. In other ies that showed words, dark chocno correlation olate was found were done over a to have positive much longer peeffects on the carriod of time, spediovascular syscifically months. tem, which would From this it can in turn reduce be gathered that Reproduced from [9] the risk of cardiodata supports vascular disease. Similarly, in a 2007 study, that dark chocolate has an effect on cardioFlammer, et al. devised that dark chocolate vascular health only when the study is done induces coronary vasodilation, improves in the short term. So perhaps yes, significant coronary vascular function, and decreases effects can be seen over a short period of platelet adhesion 2 hours after consumption. time, but as time progresses, less positive reAgain, this would have a positive effect on sults can be seen. So the question arises as to cardiovascular health. whether these short-term results are really as significant as certain scientists claim them However, there are other studies that have to be. Accordingly, even if dark chocolate may obtained completely opposite results. For ex- have some beneficial effects, it is probably ample, Crews, et al. produced a 2008 study still best to consider it more of a treat than in which they failed to support the predict- anything else.

Health and Wellness

or a while now, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve all been hearing that chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, may actually be good for us, particularly because it contains flavonols; a heart-healthy antioxidant. However, there are countless conflicting research articles on the subject. Some scientists have found that dark chocolate does significantly reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, though others find no such effect. So what is the right thing to do â&#x20AC;&#x201C; should we be considering chocolate a treat or a treatment?

By Kelly Parness

Reproduced from [10]

Saying “Game Over” to Athletes with Undiagnosed Heart Conditions

Social Commentary

Sarah Parauda

n March 4, 16-year-old Wes Leonard of Fennville, Michigan collapsed on the court shortly after scor-

ing the winning basket for his high school team. After being rushed to a nearby hospital, he was pronounced dead two hours later. The autopsy revealed that Leonard died of cardiac arrest brought on by his undiagnosed dilated cardiomyopathy, or enlarged heart, a huge shock considering his youth and apparent fitness. This is certainly not the first time a young person has died during physical activity as a result of an undiagnosed heart condition. According to a Time article entitled “Saving Athletes from Cardiac Arrest,” one young athlete dies every three days due to sudden cardiac arrest during a game. The American Heart Association estimates that as many as 1 in 350 children may have dangerous underlying heart conditions. University of Southern

Indiana center Jeron Lewis also collapsed and schools to follow. In light of Leonard’s recent died of an undiagnosed heart condition at the and tragic death, I believe it is time for phyage of 21. This trend is not limited to basket- sicians and sports organizations alike to step ball players either—high school junior Hayward up their games and require potential athletes Demison narrowly escaped death on the football of any age and gender to get prescreened for field, experiencing a any potentially hid“...it is time for physicians and heart attack after a sucden heart conditions. cessful 45-yard touch- sports organizations alike to Demison’s father is down run. He had been already advocating step up their games...” misdiagnosed with athfor mandatory heart letic asthma, a misdiprescreening in his agnosis that could have state, Oregon. “an EKG ...is the most effective home possibly been avoided While such a policy if doctors had ordered way of diagnosing the sorts might prevent gifted him an EKG. There are from taking of heart rhythm problems athletes literally thousands of the court, it would similar stories in which that have an unfortunate ten- almost certainly rehigh-performing athin thousands dency of exposing themselves sult letes from a wide range of buzzer-beating of sports die without during athletic competitions. saves nationwide. previously displaying “ any symptoms of their underlying heart conditions.

Social Commentary

Considering this ubiquitous trend, I was shocked to find out while perusing the NCAA Clearing House website that incoming Varsity college athletes are only required to receive routine physicals from their personal physicians and pass a sickle cell anemia test in order to compete. For most people, an EKG is not part of a routine check-up, and yet it is the most effective way of diagnosing the sorts of heart rhythm problems that have an unfortunate tendency of exposing themselves during athletic competitions. This is surprising for the NCAA, well known for its long list of regulations, ranging from rules about signing national letters of intent to drug testing policies. Although Leonard was only a high school student-athlete, if the NCAA were to put a mandatory EKG testing policy in place, it would set a positive precedent for high schools, middle schools, and even elementary

Reproduced from [11]

Diametrically Unopposed | To take advantage of this curative property, try adding honey to a mug of hot tea, which will soothe your throat while helping you stay hydrated. Or, for more direct relief, simply take a spoonful on its own. Honey may even be able to help you prevent sickness for good. Many types of honey are high in antioxidants, which help the body ward off cancer and other diseases. This is especially true of the darker varietals, such as buckwheat honey.

Health and Wellness

Because of its antibacterial properties, honey can even be used to treat cuts or scrapes. A handful of recent studies suggest that honey is helpful in healing wounds, making it a potentially important substance in the future of wound care

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inter weather taking a toll on your health? Before reaching for the cough syrup, lotion, or energy bar, consider trying a sweeter alternative: honey. A natural substance that boasts proven curative benefits, honey may be just what you need to reboot this winter.

If dull winter skin is what ails you, honey can also come in handy. Honey is a humectant, meaning that it pulls in moisture and keeps it sealed in. This makes it an ideal moisturizer for the wintry season, when decreased humidity can dry out skin. For a simple yet effective facial mask, mix equal parts milk and honey, apply to the face, and wait ten minutes as the mask revitalizes your skin. Or, try adding honey to a warm bath for a relaxing, fragrant experience that will leave your whole body soft and hydrated.

“... honey may just be the nectar of the gods.”

Honey has been used as both a delicious treat and a natural remedy for hundreds of years. Used all around the world, it has become an important part of many different cuisines, and it can be found in both sweet and savory dishes. Though not all of them are sold in stores, there are over 300 kinds of honey that can be found in the United States. The different types, called varietals, range from the commonly-used clover honey to the darker, richer avocado honey. No matter which varietal you choose, honey is one of few foods that will never spoil, making it both tasty and practical to keep a jar of honey on hand. Medicinally, honey has most often been used to treat a sore or itchy throat. When consumed, honey coats the throat, helping to soothe rawness while providing almost instant relief for a nagging cough. A study by the Penn State College of Medicine even found that in children, honey was a more effective remedy for a nighttime cough than dextromethorphan (DM), a common ingredient in many cough medicines.

Winter weather zapped your motivation to exercise? Honey can help you get back on track. With 17 grams of carbohydrates, just one tablespoon of honey can give you the energy you need for a satisfying workout or help you recover afterward. Try spreading honey on toast, crackers, or apple slices for the perfect pre- or postworkout snack. Based on its numerous health benefits, honey may just be the nectar of the gods. But even if you’ve managed to stay healthy this winter, most everyone can appreciate honey for its great taste.

Reproduced from [13]

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8. http://www.flickr.com/photos/oskay/1256122113 9. http://www.hollandsentinel.com/facebook_news/ x2022445591/Fennville-basketball-player-Wes-Leonard-collapses-on-court-after-victory?photo=0 10. h t t p : / / w w w. f l i c k r. c o m / p h o t o s / r v o e g t li/5343361247/ 11. h t t p : / / w w w . f l i c k r. c o m / p h o t o s / v i o l e tink/5188650752/sizes/m/in/photostream/ 12. h t t p : / / w w w. f l i c k r. c o m / p h o to s / c o o ke p h o to/3740903742/sizes/m/in/photostream/ 13. http://www.flickr.com/photos/1la/4449746373 14. h t t p : / / w w w. f l i c k r. c o m / p h o t o s / k i c k t h e beat/4788808855/