Monday, May 14, 2012
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According to the magazine article, Lucy was forty-eight when the pain of rheumatoid arthritis struck. She didn’t take it lying down. The usual regimen of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, cortisone and methotrexate provided temporary relief but the side effects were bothersome. So she decided to go the “alternative” route. Whole hog. The first practitioner she saw told her to cut that out. The hog that is. [To read more click on Title.]
Sunday, April 22, 2012
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The American “greenback,” probably the most famous paper currency in the world, owes its vibrant hue to a Canadian discovery. The “green” is chromium oxide, a refined version of chromite, a naturally occurring ore in the Earth’s crust. This ore is also the source of chromium metal which is produced by heating the ore in the presence of silicon and aluminum. The metal derives its name from the Greek “chroma” meaning colour [To read more click on Title.]
Thursday, March 15, 2012
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Now that we’ve got your attention, let’s talk about argan oil. Don’t worry, we will get around to the poop. Surely you’ve heard of corn oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil and canola oil. But unless you’re familiar with Moroccan traditions, or are in the habit of frequenting trendy hair salons, chances are that argan oil has escaped your attention. So what is this oil that most people have never heard of? [To read more click on Title.]
Friday, February 24, 2012
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“Does not contain” has become a prime advertising slogan. “No cholesterol.” “No saturated fat.” “No sugar.” “No salt.” “No nitrites.” “No MSG.” “No GMOs.” And the ultimately absurd, “no chemicals.” Within the last few years another “no” has joined the alliance. “No BPA.” Most people would be hard pressed to identify what the letters stand for [To read more click on Title.]
Monday, February 06, 2012
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I’m grumpy now. Maybe it’s because I had a bagel for breakfast. Or maybe it’s because I just read an excerpt from a book that claims that eating a bagel can make one grumpy. The book is called “The Happiness Diet: A Nutritional Prescription for a Sharp Brain, Balanced Mood, and Lean, Energized Body.” What is that wondrous prescription? It seems simple enough. [To read more click on Title.]
Sunday, January 29, 2012
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If you wanted to find some “Chaga” mushroom you would tromp through a forest looking for a birch tree with an unusual growth on its trunk. Although it is classified as a mushroom, Chaga doesn’t look like one. Instead of having gills, this mushroom is permeated with numerous pores. Under pressure it crumbles readily, revealing a brownish inside with cream coloured veins. Why would anyone seek out this ugly parasite [To read more click on Title]
Thursday, January 19, 2012
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Sometimes researchers remain stubbornly wedded to their ideas even when their own work begins to unravel the fabric they have woven. I believe such is the case with Dr. Phillipa Darbre of the University of Reading in England. Back in 2004 Darbre achieved tabloid fame with her allegation that antiperspirants were implicated in breast cancer because they accosted breast tissue with preservatives known as parabens. These compounds have estrogenic properties [To read more click on Title.]
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
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I like Carey Price. He’s become the heart of the Montreal Canadiens. Carey is an excellent goaltender with a lot of gumption. But something he doesn’t have is a scientific background. That of course is par for the course for most athletes. But Carey is now set to become the spokesperson for Oscillococcinum, a homeopathic product that claims to treat the common cold as well as the flu. Don’t do it Carey! [To read more click on Title.]
Saturday, November 26, 2011
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Agatha Christie's "The Crooked House" is a great story. The plot revolves around an elderly tycoon who requires daily insulin shots. He also suffers from glaucoma for which he has been prescribed eyedrops. Everything is fine until someone in the "Crooked House" switches the eyedrops with the insulin. Murder most foul!
Does the chemistry make sense? Let's do a little detective work of our own. [To read more click on Title.]
Sunday, November 13, 2011
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It is a very small molehill. But to the folks at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC) it seems more like Mount Everest. This organization’s recently released report features a cute baby smothered in lather, sitting in a bathtub under the headline “Baby’s Tub Is Still Toxic.” What is this all about? Acrylic monomers leaching out of the tub? Lead in the water? Chemicals out gassing from the shower curtain? Reactions to mould on the grout? Nope. [To read more click on Title.]