Sept – 16: SNIPPETS
By 2050, you may have to live on imported water!
Do not be surprised if the country is forced to import drinking water by 2050! The fast-depleting groundwater stock is expected to reduce to 22% of what it was in 1951, according to figures from a Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) study.
Depleting groundwater is an indication of vanishing rainwater harvesting, poor awareness and reduced green cover, say experts.
Popping calcium pills may harm elderly women
For women above age 60, the risks of taking calcium pills outweigh the benefits. Though calcium and vitamin D supplements may prevent bone fractures in elderly women, it also increases their chances of getting a heart attack or a stroke, warns a new research.
The findings, published in Osteoporosis International, showed that more than 10,000 heart attacks and strokes would be caused by supplemental calcium and vitamin D in a group of one lakh 65-year-old women.
Soap, nail polish linked to obesity
A study by the University of Georgia on mice shows that higher exposure to benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) causes the body to accumulate more fat. While both BBP and bisphenol A (BPA) prompt the accumulation of lipid droplets, the droplets from BBP-treated cells were larger.
BBP is a toxic industrial chemical used in the production of many common items including soap and nail polish, as well as many PVC products.
Women with greenery around their homes live longer
Women with the highest levels of greenness near their homes had a 12% lower death rate. The study, of more than one lakh women, was conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
It showed that improved mental health and social engagement are the strongest factors, while increased physical activity and reduced air pollution also contribute.
Heartbeats of dogs in sync with owners
Every dog lover knows the bond between humans and their canine counterparts runs deep. In fact, according to a recent study, the hearts of dogs and their owners can become in sync with one another.
The experiment, carried out by Monash University in Australia and Pedigree Petfoods, took three pairs of dogs and their owners and hooked them up to heart rate monitors. They separated the dogs from their owners and recorded the change in heartbeats as they were reunited. Within one minute, both heartbeats were seen to drop significantly and even appeared to mirror each other!
Pulses can help you lose weight
Eating just one serving of pulses daily can lead to modest weight loss, according to a new study. The study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that eating about 3/4 cup (130g) of beans, peas, chickpeas or lentils each day led to a weight loss of 0.34 kg over six weeks.
The weight loss may be due to the fact that pulses increase the feeling of fullness by 31% which leads to less food intake.
