Will Eating in The Middle of the Night Cause Me to Gain Weight?

A pound of weight is equal to 3,500 extra calories, whether you eat them before 7 a.m. or after 1 a.m.

When we snack late at night or in the middle of the night we're typically not reaching for celery sticks. We're often snacking on junk food like ice cream and chips. That, of course, can cause weight gain no matter when you do it.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Separating-food-myth-from-fact-1009168.php#ixzz1E3W8v598

What Causes a Migraine?

According to the Mayo Clinic, migraines may be caused by changes in the trigeminal nerve, a major pain pathway. Imbalances in brain chemicals, including serotonin — which helps regulate pain in your nervous system — also may be involved.

In addition to serotonin, some foods seem to serve as triggers for a migraine headache. Common offenders include alcohol, especially beer and red wine; aged cheeses; chocolate; aspartame; overuse of caffeine; monosodium glutamate — a key ingredient in some Asian foods; salty foods; and processed foods. Skipping meals or fasting also can trigger migraines.

It appears that migraine triggers are as unique as the individual suffering from them as stress, bright lights, barometric changes and hormones can also cause migraines to develop.

Source: Mayoclinic.com

Does Butter Get Moldy?

Since mold spores are transported by air, water and insects it is possible that butter may serve as a new home for this microscopic fungi. Usually it is safe to keep butter out at room temperature for 24-48 hours however a warm and humid room will increase the chance that your butter will mold.


Source: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

Will Storing Batteries in the Freezer Make Them Last Longer?

If you are talking about alkaline batteries the answer is no. If you store them at a temperature less than 85 degrees than freezing provides very little advantage.

But, batteries do lose their power faster as the temperature increases so in a hot climate you could lose as much as 25% of their power in a one year period. In this situation it is advantageous to store in the refrigerator or freezer.

New Stats on Obesity

The obesity rate worldwide has roughly doubled in the past three decades, hitting 9.8 percent for men and 13.8 percent for women in 2008, an international team of researchers reports online February 3 in the Lancet.

Pacific Island nations collectively recorded the highest average weight. Among high-income countries, the United States ranked heaviest, followed by New Zealand.
Japan and Singapore weigh the least. Bangladesh women weighed least among their gender, as did men in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Among European females, Swiss women were the thinnest. —Nathan Seppa

Source: Science News, February 3, 2011

What is more important in weight loss carbs, calories, or fat?

Great question and a very confusing one for anyone who has contemplated weight loss. The science behind weight loss is the same now as 100 years ago - if you take in too many calories of any type, your body will store them as fat and the scale will go up. Likewise, take in less calories than you burn and you lose weight.

Now for the tricky part; your body needs not just calories, fat and carbs but a balance of all nutrients including protein and water. Focusing on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lower fat diary products and lean meats will ensure your nutrient needs are met in a lower amount of calories. Add regular exercise to this equation and you have the perfect "recipe" for weight loss.

Not a very exciting answer given all of the weight loss items on the market but still the best one.

Can you get sick from kissing your dog?

Humans and dogs have different bacteria in their mouths. So it isn't necessarily true that you will get sick from kissing your dog since many bacteria and viruses are species specific.

However, in a research article published in the February 2011 edition of Emerging Infectious Disease, Drs. Chomel and Sun note that people are "sharing their environments with pets, allowing them in their beds, and kissing them like crazy. They need to know that a risk does exist” from bacteria that live in the mouths of felines and canines.


Source: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/01/26/2611210/humans-beware-dog-kisses-can-lead.html#ixzz1Cp2AHJl1