Battling Cancer with WhiskeyWritten by Charlene J. Nuble
Some scientists believe that whiskey may be one of keys to preventing Big CFor a quite a number of years, liquor has been known not only to bring destructive intoxication and addiction upon its patrons, but also as deterrent to a healthy lifestyle. But as a potential weapon against cancer? Sounds controversial. Rumors that single malt whiskey may be a tool to combat cancer have begun circulating recently. Whether it actually holds any water has yet to be proven. According to one of theory’s proponents, a consultant to whiskey industry, Dr. Jim Swan, antioxidants present in whiskey, particularly ellagic acid, can reduce risk of developing cancer, since this acid fights unstable atoms that aid in rapid cell replication. He added that more cells were produced, more likely that rogue cancer cells will be born. “Whiskey can protect you from cancer and science proves it,” he said, speaking at EuroMedLab 2005 conference in Glasgow. Dr Swan explained that ellagic acid, which is in greater concentration in whiskey than in red wine, breaks down harmful free radicals present in our body. However, Cancer Research UK remains unconvinced. The agency has raised concerns that what Dr Swan and his supporters are pushing might mislead consumers into drinking excessive amounts of whiskey just to avoid cancer. Cancer Research noted that liquor intake can eventually lead to certain kinds of cancer, such as those in esophagus, throat, mouth, bowel and liver. Dr Swan’s idea that whiskey can prevent cancer also received criticism, owing mostly to an absence of population data supporting them. Contrariwise, according to agency’s head of cancer information Lesley Walker, there exists evidence that high alcohol consumption does increase cancer risks. Ms Walker noted that while ellagic acid is a formidable antioxidant and may greatly aid in fight against cancer, its presence in whiskey is not reason enough for people to begin drinking up, especially as ellagic acid can also be found in certain fruits.
| | Smoking - An Addiction or Habit (Part 2)Written by Steven A Harold
If smoking is not a 100% physical addiction what is it? Well, you would be more accurate in describing it as a psychological addiction.What is a psychological addiction? It is a mental urge or reminder to do something because of a particular trigger or stimulus. Let me explain. If you ask a smoker times they normally reach for a cigarette they will list somthing very similar to following :- 1) With a coffee first thing in morning 2) Before breakfast 3) After breakfast 4) In car on way to work 5) Whilst walking from home to bus / tube / train 6) From bus / tube / train to work 7) During regular work breaks ( every hour or 90 minutes or ?) 8) Around meals 9) With an alcoholic drink 10) When I am on telephone 11) When I feel stressed 12) when I am bored These times or events and many more trigger a response in smoker to smoke. It's a bit like when you think of salt you think of pepper. In other words smoker has made an association between these times and events. An association is something you have just got used to being there or happening. In other words it has become habitual. You do one thing and other comes with it. You eat a meal and then you light up. Habits are automatic responses that we have to many events and/or stimuli. They are also learnt responses. We are not born with them... they are acquired via repitition. If you think about about it, one of reasons humans are successful is because of their ability to learn something new and rapidly make it into a habit, second nature, something that can be done without thinking about it. This is really what a habit is. The marvellous thing about smoking mainly being a habit is that you. smoker are in control and can change it. Just like any other habit that we stop, so too can you stop smoking.
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