The Truth About Sugar

The Truth About Sugar

Throughout history, sugary treats have been the staple food of happiness in America. Could it be that it is now the root of our misery? Since 1950, America’s sugar consumption has increased by 39%. American’s on average consumed 52 teaspoons of added sugars a day in 2000. The USDA recommendation of sugar consumption is 40 grams or 10 teaspoons per day. That means a person would consume 52 teaspoons of added sugars a day! Some added sugars are: sucrose, corn sweeteners, honey, maple syrup, and high-fructose corn syrup.

How is Sugar Harmful?

Studies have identified various ways in which sugar negatively effects our bodies.

Negative effects are:

• Increased risk of heart disease
• Aging of the body or wrinkles in the skin
• Increased risk of cancer
• Increased risk of diabetes
• Increased risk of obesity and weight gain
• Increased risk of pancreatic cancer

What you can do about your health:

It is important to know your baseline of ‘free’ sugar intake. To do this, keep a sugar log for seven days to find your daily average sugar intake. If you are over the recommended sugar consumption, make it a goal to reduce your intake to 40 grams or 10 teaspoons.

Here are some helpful tips to help you overcome your sugar cravings:

•     Clean out your cupboards of tempting snacks and treats.

      ·          Do not buy "sugar filled" products.

·         Eat 4-6 cups of colorful vegetables daily.

·         Drink 8 cups (64oz) of water throughout the day.

·         Exercise at least 2-3 hours per week.

·         Practice stress relieving exercises such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing 4-5 times per week.

·         Develop a healthy sleep schedule (7-8 hours per night).

·         Surround yourself with people that support your sugar reduced lifestyle.

       Don’t put yourself down if you struggle. This is a change in lifestyle that will take time. After a few weeks you will surely feel healthier and happier. With perseverance, you won’t even miss having sugar!

The hi tech new Peugeot 108

PEUGEOT has just launched its new city car - the new PEUGEOT 108. It is clearly targeted at today's connected generation - it features a large touch screen and the Mirror Screen function, including the new MirrorLink and AppInCar connectivity protocols which will linkup with your smartphone seamlessly. The Mirror Screen function operates using MirrorLink technology for telephones running on Android, RIM and Windows, and by AppInCar for telephones running on iOs.

The car is available in two body styles: the PEUGEOT 108 hatchback and the PEUGEOT 108 TOP! convertible which can be personalised in various ways.

By opting for the PEUGEOT 108 TOP!, the customer has the freedom to choose the roof colour: Black, grey, Red Purple. They can decide to suit their taste, according to the body colour chosen. Among the eight colours available, two are exclusive to the model: Aïkinite, a golden copper, and Red Purple, an unusual violet. Reserved only for the 3-door hatchback, two versions of two-tone paint are available: Red Purple and Gallium Grey or Lipizan White and Aïkinite.

The customer can then select from the seven personalisation themes and three interior ambiences. The personalisation themes comprise exterior stickers, shells for the door mirrors, interior stickers, floor carpets, key fob shells (mechanical, plip or Keyless Entry and Starting card) while the three interior ambiences determine the colours of the finishers on the dashboard and centre panel.

Red Purple PEUGEOT 108 5-door hatchback, covered with diamond shaped motifs playing with the light.

PEUGEOT 108, 3-door with two-tone paint, marrying Red Purple with Gallium Grey on the upper parts of the body.

The PEUGEOT 108 offers a choice of six trims. Curitiba cloth is exclusive to the Access trim level. On Active and Allure trim levels, the PEUGEOT 108 hatchback is trimmed with Carolight cloth, a revisited tartan, the PEUGEOT 108 TOP! convertible with Rayura Aïkinite cloth. Leather, exclusive to the Allure trim level, is available on both body styles.

At 3.47m long and 1.62m wide, the PEUGEOT 108 is has quite compact dimensions. According to their press release, its reduced overhangs and turning radius of just 4.80m allow it to avoid with obstacles with ease. The driving position also provides excellent forward vision.

When loading the boot, the PEUGEOT 108 reveals one of its many strengths. The Keyless Entry and Starting card allows the doors to be unlocked, the tailgate to be unlocked and partially opened with just a press on the appropriate button. On opening the tailgate, the shelf automatically folds away against the rear screen and reveals a boot that is generous for the category: 196 litres with the puncture repair kit, 180 litres with the spare wheel. Loading is easy with the low sill, just 77 cm, and a wide 1 metre space between the wheel arches. The initial volume can be extended to 750 litres by folding the 50/50 rear seat backrests.

As for safety, the car comes with a set of six airbags fitted as standard: two frontal airbags (the passenger airbag can be switched off), two lateral airbags at the front, and two curtain airbags covering the front and rear seats. Finally, for the safety of children in the car, the two rear seats are equipped with IsoFix mountings.

As for the engines, there is a choice of four 3-cylinder power units:
- 1.0 e-VTi68 5-speed manual, 88g/km CO2,
- 1.0 VTi 68 5-speed manual, 95g/km de CO2,
- 1.0 VTi68 5-speed electronic, 97g/km CO2,
- New Puretech1.2 VTi 82 engine with 5-speed manual gearbox, 99g/km CO2.

There are two tyre sizes used, 165/65 R14 or 165/60 R15. They are continuously monitored by the Indirect Tyre Under-Inflation Detection system.

The braking system includes as standard, ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Emergency Collision Braking System and switchable ESP. The braking system is completed by 247mm ventilated discs at the front and 200mm drums at the rear.

Volvo Concept XC Coupe

The Volvo Concept XC Coupé was unveiled in January at the 2014 Detroit Motor Show. It won the 'Best Concept Car' title as well as the award for 'Best use of Colour, Graphics and Materials'.

The difference between the two-door, four-seater Volvo Concept XC Coupe and the Volvo Concept Coupe include the larger 21-inch wheels, accentuated wheel-arches and a taller roofline.

Love Yourself and Your Body

Love Yourself and Your Body

               February is the month of love, but you don’t have to be in a relationship to enjoy it. Take this time to learn to love yourself,  regardless of your relationship status. With the media bombarding women about their imperfections and what perfect really is, many of us struggle with loving ourselves as we are. Learning to love yourself involves setting goals. Some of these goals could be eating more vegetables, enjoying more fruits, or walking to campus instead of driving. These are all things we have the ability to control that make an impact on your health. Below is a list of ways in which we can love our bodies by Margo Main, a Ph.D. from the University of Santa Clara.

“20 Ways to Love Your Body” by Margo Maine, Ph.D.

Think of your body as the vehicle to your dreams. Honor it. Respect it. Fuel it.

1.         Your body is extraordinary--begin to respect and appreciate it.

2.         Create a list of all the things your body lets you do. Read it and add to it often.

3.         Become aware of what your body can do each day. Remember it is the instrument of your life, not just an ornament.

4.         Create a list of people you admire: people who have contributed to your life, your community, or the world. Consider whether their appearance was important to their success and accomplishments.

5.         Walk with your head held high, supported by pride and confidence in yourself as a person.

6.         Don't let your weight or shape keep you from activities that you enjoy.

7.         Wear comfortable clothes that you like and that feel good to your body.

8.         Count your blessings, not your blemishes.

9.         Think about all the things you could accomplish with the time and energy you currently spend worrying about your body and appearance. Try one!

10.     Be your body's friend and supporter, not its enemy.

11.     Consider this: your skin replaces itself once a month, your stomach lining every five days, your liver every six weeks, and your skeleton every three months.

12.     Every morning when you wake up, thank your body for resting and rejuvenating itself so you can enjoy the day.

13.     Every evening when you go to bed, tell your body how much you appreciate what it has allowed you to do throughout the day.

14.     Find a method of exercise that you enjoy and do it regularly. Don't exercise to lose weight or to fight your body. Do it to make your body healthy and strong and because it makes you feel good.

15.     Think back to a time in your life when you felt good about your body. Tell yourself you can feel like that again, even in this body at this age.

16.     Keep a list of 10 positive things about yourself--without mentioning your appearance. Add to it!

17.     Put a sign on each of your mirrors saying, "I'm beautiful inside and out."

18.     Choose to find the beauty in the world and in yourself.

19.     Start saying to yourself, "Life is too short to waste my time hating my body this way."

20. Eat when you are hungry. Rest when you are tired. Surround yourself with people that remind you of your inner strength and beauty.

 

Discovery Channel premieres new episode of RODS N WHEELS

An all-new episode of RODS N WHEELS starts on the Discovery Channel. In the first episode, the guys visit George Barris. George’s hot rod creations have been featured in various movies and TV shows including the Batmobile in the original Batman television series.