pumpkin

·         Pumpkins are usually orange but can sometimes be yellow, white, green or red. ·         The name pumpkin comes from the Greek word ‘pepon’, meaning ‘large melon’. ·         Pumpkins have thick shells which contain pulp and seeds. ·         Scientifically speaking, pumpkins are a fruit (they contain seeds) but when it comes to cooking, they are often referred to as vegetables. ·         Pumpkins are usually shaped like a sphere (ball). ·         They vary in weight but an average sized pumpkin might weigh around 13 pounds (6 kilograms). ·         Giant pumpkins can be grown for competitions, with some weighing over 1000 pounds! (450 kilograms). In 2010, the world record was 1810 pounds! ·         Pumpkin plants feature both male and female flowers, with bees typically being involved in pollination (the transfer of pollen). ·         Over 1 billion pounds (450 million kgs) of pumpkin are produced in the US every year. ·         As a food, pumpkin can be baked, roasted, steamed or boiled. ·         Pumpkin soup is popular, as are roasted pumpkin seeds. ·         Pumpkin pie is a sweet dessert that originates in North America and is traditionally eaten during harvest time and holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. ·         Pumpkins are popular decorations during Halloween. A carved pumpkin illuminated by candles is known as a ‘jack-o-lantern’. The tradition is believed to have come from Ireland, where they used to carve faces into turnips, beet and other root vegetables as part of the Gaelic festival of Samhain. ·         100 grams of pumpkin produces around 26 calories of energy.

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The White Tea benefits

Antioxidant and antiaging properties: Presences of free radicals in the body is what leads to damage of different body organs including the skin. These radical elements highly contribute to accelerated aging process that again comes with other challenges that are associated with advancement in age. White tea contains polyphenols which helps in of neutralizing these free radicals making them less destructive to the body. Results of a study   suggest that white tea may increase antioxidant effects of organs as well as plasma. Another study  was done to investigate neuroprotective effect of white tea extract on hydrogen peroxide induced toxicity. The results of this study showed that white tea extracts with its antioxidant properties help in cell neuroprotection.  White tea with its antioxidant property may also reduce the risk of premature aging.

Healthy and youthful skin: White tea also helps in maintaining healthy and youthful skin. Use of white tea is recommended due to its antioxidant properties which help in quick repair and recovery of damaged skin. It is also beneficial in protecting skin against effects of  ultraviolet  light.

Oral health: Health benefits of white tea include improvement in  oral health . The presence of polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins help in inhibiting growth of various bacteria that may cause plaque formation. The fluoride content found in white tea may also be effective in reducing risk of dental caries or tooth decay/cavity.

Cancer prevention: Just like green tea, white tea may be beneficial in preventing cancer such as lung cancer. Research suggests that  white tea is a potential anticancer, chemopreventive agent and its extract may induce apoptosis or cell death and may help in preventing new cell growth in lung cancer. It has antimutagenic  properties as well. Further research is needed to identify and confirm anticancer properties of white tea for other types of cancer.

Effects on diabetes: Result of a research study suggests that intake of white tea may provide relief to diabetic people from symptoms such as excessive thirst (polydipsia), decrease plasma glucose levels and increase insulin secretion.

Cardiovascular disorder:  Flavonoids  found in various food products such as white tea, fruits and vegetables is associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disorder. The flavonoids help decreasing the blood pressure. It also helps in improving dyslipidemia, endothelial function and inhibits low-density lipoprotein oxidation. Consumption of white tea rich in flavonoids may reduce the risk of various cardiovascular disorders.

Antibacterial properties: Diseases and medical conditions are mainly caused by pathogens which attack the immune system making the body to operate under the normal capacity. White tea has antibacterial properties which can protect our skin from bacteria and other germs. Various products such as hand soap are made using white tea as a key ingredient. Consumption of white tea helps in protecting our body from infection causing bacteria and other microorganisms. Intake of  white tea provides relief to those suffering from flu and common cold.

Weight loss: Busy schedules and wrong choice of food can easily lead to weight gain. Shedding off that gained kilo may not be easy especially if there is not time for physical exercise. Living by a given diet plan is one of the ways out of this kind of situation. Some of these diets may not be fun to stick to unlike intake of white tea which is similar to taking any other beverage of choice. Studies  suggest that intake of white tea may prevent adipogenesis, the process of formation of fat cells and also known as adipogenesis and may control the life cycle of these fat cells called as adipocytes. This property has also been confirmed to exist in other types of tea.

White Tea- Selection, Consumption Tips

White tea is better when bought and brewed in form of loose leaves Consuming tea brewed from these leaves guarantees the existence of nutrients in their actual form. . This is better than tea bags that have undergone processing.

Brewing process is similar to that of other types of tea. It is always recommended that pure or clean water should be used in brewing. The water should be heated enough but not brought to the boiling point since this may destroy the sensitive components. For a more concentrated tea which is rich in flavor steeping for more minutes is recommended. 1 to 2 teaspoonfuls of white tea leaves is the ideal quantity per cup.

The intake of around 2to 4 cups of white tea has numerous health benefits as compared to consumption of a single cup once in a while. There is nothing wrong is using the same tea leaves in preparation of more than one cup. This actually is cost effective not only in the sense of money but it also allows you to extract all the nutrients contained in those tea leaves as well. The important point to note is that the second brewing should at least take longer than the first time brewing.

Try out different types of white tea that are available in the market to spice up your tea intake. Boredom and getting used to a specific flavor may be discouraging some times. Celebrate good health by increasing intake of white tea today.

Medical sources:

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Zoologists ؟

·         Zoologists study the behavior, physiology, classification and distribution of animals, whether they are living or extinct.

·         Important subjects related to zoology include biology, physics, chemistry, English, algebra, calculus and statistics.

·         Zoologists have a love of animals and those who work in the field are usually physically fit.

·         Observing animals in their natural habitat can be a time consuming process, zoologists who work in the field need to be patient and willing to spend time in a variety of locations and environments.

·         As well as observing and studying animals, zoologists may spend time writing research articles and reports.

·         Zoologists can also be involved in conservation, protecting endangered animals and their habitats.

·         Zoologists may find jobs working for government agencies, non-profit organizations, universities, museums and zoos.

·         A bachelor’s degree in zoology is a minimum requirement for entry level jobs while further qualifications are usually required for higher level research jobs.

·         As part of their job, zoologists may find themselves organizing studies of animals in their natural habitat, studying specimens under microscope, fundraising, writing reports and scientific articles, making presentations to schools and interest groups, identifying and classifying animals, estimating wildlife populations and much more.

·         The word ‘zoology’ comes from Greek words meaning ‘animal’ and ‘knowledge’.

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Titanium

·         The chemical element Titanium has the symbol Ti and atomic number 22.

·         Pure titanium is a transition metal with a lustrous silver-white color.

·         Titanium will always be found bonded with another element it does not naturally occur on its own in a pure form.

·         British pastor William Gregor discovered titanium in 1791. It was later named by German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth who called it titanium after the Titans of Greek mythology. It was not until 1910 that titanium was produced to 99.9% purity by New Zealander Matthew A. Hunter, the method became known as the Hunter Process.

·         Titanium has two very useful properties, it is resistant to corrosion (including in sea water and chlorine) and has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal.

·         Titanium is as strong as a lot of steels, yet it is 45% lighter. The metal is also 60% denser than aluminium but is over two times as strong.

·         Titanium has a melting point of 3,034 °F (1,668 °C) and a boiling point of 5,949 °F (3,287 °C).

·         Titanium is non-magnetic and is not very good at conducting heat or electricity.

·         Even in large doses titanium remains non-toxic and does not have any natural role inside the human body, usually passing through without being absorbed.

·         Titanium is present in most igneous rocks and their sediments, it is the 9th most abundant element in the Earth's crust and the 7th most abundant metal.

·         Many elements such as iron, aluminium, nickel and vanadium are alloyed with titanium to produce strong lightweight alloys. These titanium alloys are used in the manufacturing of naval ships, spacecraft, missiles and aircraft, with around two thirds of all titanium metal produced is used in aircraft engines and frames.

·         Titanium metal is also used in the production of high-end racing cars and motorcycles where reducing weight but maintaining strength is important.

·         Titanium's strength-to-weight superiority has seen the metal used as a component in many other products in recent times including, laptops, firearms, tennis rackets, golf clubs, lacrosse sticks, football helmet grills, bicycles frames, camping cookware and utensils.

·         Around 95% of all titanium is used to produce the compound titanium dioxide, which is a very bright and refractive white pigment that is used in paints, plastics, toothpaste, sunscreens, sports equipment and paper.

·         The famous Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, is covered in titanium panels.

·         The fact that titanium is strong, light, non-toxic and does not react with out bodies makes it a valuable medical resource. Its used to make surgical implements and implants, such as hip joint replacements that can stay in place for up to 20 years.

·         Titanium is now popular in designer rings and other jewelry due to its durability, its resistance to seawater and chlorine in swimming pools and as it is non-toxic.

·         Titanium is present in meteorites, the sun, and other stars.

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