BEING BILINGUAL BEATS STROKES!!!

New research have shown that stroke patients are more likely to regain their cognitive functions if they speak more than one language.

A study of more than 600 stroke patients found 40.5% of those who are multilingual had normal mental functions afterwards, compared to 19.6% of patients who only speak one language.

The study was carried out by a team from the University of Edinburgh together withe Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad - with the Indian city chosen as the location for the study because its multi-cultural nature means many languages are commonly spoken.

Researchers took into account other factor such as smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes and age to ensure results could not be attributed to having a healthier lifestyle.
The study published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke, found 'results support the notion of a protective role of bilingualism in the development of post-stroke cognitive impairment'.

It is the first time a study has been done looking at the relation ship between the number of languages spoken and a patients' cognitive outcome after stroke.

'The percentage of patients with intact cognitive functions post-stroke was more than twice as high in bilinguals than in monolinguals,' the paper said.

'In contrast, patients with cognitive impairment were more common in monolinguals.'

Researchers believe the study, which has funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research, suggests the mental challenge of speaking multiple languages can boot cognitive reserve - an improved ability of the brain to cope with damaging influences such as stroke or dementia.

Source: dailymail

WHY THE INSIDE OF APPLES TURN BROWN WHEN EXPOSED TO AIR

The insides of apples turn brown exposed to air because of the built in defense mechanism against bacteria and fungus. The trigger for this is damage to the cells, such as when you cut the apple, which then results in certain enzymes within the cells being exposed to oxygen. When this happens, the enzymes react to the oxygen creating an oxidized layer that provides some protection against foreign bodies.

Technically, an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase (tyrosinase), which is composed to monophenol oxidase and catechol oxidase enzymes, when exposed to oxygen will result in phenolic compounds in the apple turning into ortho-quinones or "o-quinones." O-quinones are what is providing the protection from bacteria and fungi as they form a natural antiseptic. The o-quinones themselves have no colour, but they further react with amino acids and oxygen to produce melanin, which is how we get the brown colour on a cut apple.

Placing the apple in the refrigerator if you want to keep a cut apple from going brown quickly. This will drastically slow the chemical reactions and thus reduce the oxidation process. You can also, of course, limit the apple's exposure to air by sealing it in an airtight bag.

If you don't mind lemon flavour, spray the exposed part in lemon or pineapple juice. This will stop the poltphenol oxidase from reacting to oxygen due to acidity of the juices which denature the browning enzymes.

LEXUS EXPLODES IN KIEV

In Kiev, Ukraine. A Lexus car exploded while driving. The car exploded as soon as the driver pressed the brake pedal. It happened this morning in the capital Kiev. The incident happen at about 8:30 local time - reported in a statement by the Main Directorate of the National Police of Ukraine in Kiev.

In other news, also in Kiev, there was a head-on collision between two cars but the driver survived with a fractured leg. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the incident, but the details are still withheld. According to the injured 35-year-old resident of Kiev. Police are investigating charges of premeditated murder.

MOTHER OF FOUR TURNS TO ROBBERY TO SURVIVE

In Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. A woman who robbed drunken men at ATMs was arrested. It was reported by the Polices' Department of Communication in Dnepropetrovsk region that "the  woman monitored drunken men when they try to withdraw money from the ATM, Once they entered their PIN, the woman pushed them while the card is still inside the machine and takes all their money".

According to the police, the robber repeatedly took advantage of this method of raising money. Also noted that the victims did not report to the right authorities.

But on November 11 at 19:00, the woman again returned to do the same thing she has been doing, after she shoved the drunken man away and withdrew around $80 from the man account, only this time she failed because numerous witnesses were able to stop the woman and detained till the arrival of the police.

As it turns out the woman is a 24-year-old local resident, a mother of four children. All the stolen money she spent on the purchase of drugs. Currently she faces from 4 to 6 years of imprisonment.

WILL SITTING TOO CLOSE TO THE TV DAMAGE YOUR VISION???

Contrary to popular beliefs, sitting too close to a television will not damage your vision.

The myth started back in the 1960s, Specifically in 1967 when General Electric sold some new-fangled color TV  sets that emitted excessive amounts of radiation - as much as 100,000 times more than federal health officials considered safe. GE quickly recalled and repaired the faulty TVs, but the myth continues to this day.

However, mums around the world ever since felt it was bad for their kids to sit too close to the TV, even though that is no longer the case at all. Dr. Lee Duffner of the American Academy of Ophthalmology isn't concerned, maintaining that watching television screens -close up or otherwise- "won't cause any physical damage to your eyes." He added, however, that a lot of TV watching can surely cause eye strain and fatigue, particularly for those sitting very close and/or watching from odd angles. But there is an easy cure for eye strain and fatigue: turning off the TV and getting some rest. With a good night's sleep, tired eyes should quickly return to normal.

Parents should just try to limit the duration of time their children sit in front of the television to avoid straining and fatigue of the eyes.

While it may be inevitable that your kids will watch TV, the key, experts say, is moderation. Limit kids’ exposure to screens of any kind, and monitor what they are allowed to watch. As Kids Health points out, parents should teach their kids that the TV is “for occasional entertainment, not for constant escapism.”

DID YOU KNOW MOST PEOPLE ONLY BREATHE THROUGH ONE NOSTRIL AT A TIME?

Around 80% of human only breath through one nostril at a time, most people don't notice this, they may simply think we use both at the same time or one of them is there to help the other one when it is blocked by a nasty cold.

Your two nostrils shift their workload back and forth in a delicate manner called the NASAL CYCLE. At any moment, most of the air you breath in travels through just one nostril, while a much smaller amount pass through the other. At some point, the nasal cycle reverses course and the workload is shifted to the other nostril.

The duration of time between nostril switching varies, depending on the individual and various other factors, but each cycle usually lasts from 40 minutes to 4 hours or so. That is why you have intervals of easy breathing even when your nose is block by a nasty cold.

It is thought that the nasal cycle could be the reason that whenever we sleep on our side, we will often switch sides throughout the night, even when we are in a comfortable position. It could just be that our body needs to switch which nostril it is breathing out of, so you feel the urge to roll over to your other side while asleep.

WHY YOUR STOMACH GROWL WHEN YOU ARE HUNGRY

Generally speaking stomach growling, or as the Doctors call it today "borborygmi", is the noise created during a series of  muscle contractions in your stomach and small intestine.

The digestive system is one big long tube that begin from your mouth to your butt. Food gets through this long tube via waves of muscle contractions, called peristalsis. These waves of muscle contraction also help to mix and grind foods, liquid, and digestive juices together. The resulting cocktail is called chyme.

The sound you hear when you stomach and intestines make noise is the result of these muscular contractions mixing and moving the chyme down the tube, as well as pushing any resultant air through your system.

The reason your stomach growl more when you are hungry is that, when your stomach and intestines are empty, it triggers a reflexive generation of contraction waves, even though there is nothing in your stomach that needs to move down. These are meant to clear out all of your stomach contents, including the mucus, any remaining food, bacteria, etc. It's your body's way of cleaning and making sure no food or other things accumulates anywhere along your stomach or intestines.

The movement happens almost at all times, but you don't hear it when the stomach is full. So the less content in the stomach the louder the noise is heard.

In order to avoid stomach growling, one just needs to eat.