Fruit, calories and foods. Test your knowledge \Trivia -Health and more. Improving ourselves - what walls have we erected? The Ruggburns - a new comic. Plus teeth whitening, exercise and more. Plus questions of FDA bias?

Q Since fruit gets sweeter as it ripens, does that mean it contains more calories?

A No. The fruit contains the same amount of calories at all stages after it matures and during the ripening process. The reason it tastes sweeter is that the larger carbohydrate molecules are being broken down by naturally occurring enzymes; these produce a sweeter taste, even though the same amount of carbohydrate is actually present. You can liken this scenario to eating a soda cracker, which is mostly made up of larger molecules of starch. Hold the cracker in your mouth a few moments, and it will begin to taste sweet, even with the same amount of carbohydrate.

Q Do food-combining diets work?

A For weight loss purposes, you should always remember a very important factor - calories are calories. Still, proteins, fats and carbohydrates require different enzymes to digest. And foods that are high in fats and proteins naturally travel through the digestive tract more slowly, because it takes longer for them to digest. By comparison, carbohydrates travel through much faster. So you can greatly support the function of your digestive system by partially separating the foods somewhat when you eat them. In general, eat your carbohydrates earlier in the meal. This way they can travel on through, which permits adequate time for the digestion of proteins and fat. This naturally results in less gas, bloating and other digestive upsets. This practice is usually referred to as "food combining" and several books, loaded with good tips, are available on the subject.

One of those "Once Upon a Time Stories." You know, one of those stories that sometimes has a good, sometimes a tragic ending, but always enabled you to see the moral of the story.

Once upon a time and long ago there was a small town. Many years earlier before any of the town's folks had been born a large wall had been erected on one side of the town.

The legend had grown that the giant wall had been erected not only to keep out the mean trolls that lived in the valley outside the wall, but also to keep the trolls from seeing the people inside the town and thus wanting to eat them.

Over the years strangers to the town had spoken of a land beyond the valley that had grown rich and prosperous. But the people of the town for many years had dismissed these tales as being untrue.

But one day a new stranger in town convinced some of the town's people that they could see this prosperous land across the valley, except for the giant wall, which blocked their view of it. This news was especially appealing to these towns people because they were very poor. So they devised a ladder structure to scale the wall and see over the other side. After several weeks the work was complete and this day would be the first day in centuries any of the town's folk had seen the land on the other side of the wall.

This excited them very much and they quickly spread the word of this discovery. However, much to their surprise they only managed to convince about 10 percent of the people to journey with them to the prosperous land. The rest of the people said things like: "it would be too risky", or "we might get eaten", or "I have a good job and don't want to lose it", or "what if I risked going and couldn't succeed over there." "Come back later and get us if you are able to get there safely and succeed." To which the people getting ready to leave said, "We will come back later but you know the first people there will be able to pick the choicest jobs and houses."

And just like the majority if these towns' folk the majority of people today can't see past the wall of their current situation to what could be. These people erected a wall of protection for security but with it they also shut out the opportunity outside the wall. And myself, have I erected a wall which doesn't allow me to see my own faults that others, including my spouse and children see?

Have I erected a wall of worry about money or finances, which doesn't allow me to see over it at the lovely flowers and the brightness and hope of each new day?

Have I erected a wall of looking for faults in others that I can't see past it at the good things each of us possess?

Have I erected a wall of focusing on what is wrong in my life that I can't see past it at my many blessings?

Have I erected a wall of protection around myself such that it also keeps out maximum joy and happiness in my life?

An Lord I pray everyday that these walls be torn down and that as one wall comes down I don't erect another one. But most of all I pray that these walls wouldn't be invisible, such that I can't see them to tear them down..

May I be blessed each day to see the wonder and beauty that is around us and that I always see the important big picture and not the walls blocking it.

James Sapp

20/20 For Eyestrain

"This “20/20 Rule” will help you avoid eyestrain when you work at a computer: Look at something at least 20 feet away every 20 minutes.."

It's Not Too Late To Eat Right

In a study of rabbits, investigators reported that a Western, fast-food-style diet can raise blood levels of a particularly damaging form of cholesterol that increases the risk for heart attacks. In the June issue of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, researchers wrote that rabbits given a diet high in oxidized fats -- which are found in high quantities in fast food -- had more hardening of the arteries than rabbits fed a diet lower in oxidized fats.

Are You Removing All Plaque When Brushing?

Try this simple procedure to determine if you are removing all plaque from your teeth and gums when brushing. Mix about a teaspoon full of red food coloring and swish around in your mouth after brushing. The red food color will stick to any plaque that you missed. Use this to see if you are brushing correctly. Put Vaseline on your lips before doing this or you could stain your lips red. 

Rheumatoid Arthritis Sufferers Take Note

Studies have shown that people with rheumatoid arthritis are deficient in vitamin C. Medical studies have shown that a lack of vitamin C can aggravate rheumatoid arthritis and that strong doses of vitamin C can bring about regression of the disease. The recommended dosage is 500 milligrams spread throughout the day. There is no toxicity with vitamin C, but do check with your doctor beforehand.

KEEP THE WATER BOTTLE HANDY

-- Drinking plenty of water while you exercise can help you keep your heart rate down. If you get dehydrated, sweat is drawn from the water content of your blood, reducing its volume. Your heart beats faster when less blood is available to fuel your muscles and cool the skin.

SMILE BRIGHTENER

-- To brighten teeth stained by coffee and cigarettes, mix baking soda with enough hydrogen peroxide to make a toothpaste and brush teeth as usual.

FDA Product Seizure Raises Question of Bias, A Healthnotes Newswire Opinion.

By Alan R. Gaby, MD

Healthnotes Newswire (November 21, 2002)-The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently ordered the seizure of a dietary supplement that the agency said was falsely being claimed to be beneficial for people with autism. For the rest of the story please type http://www.nutrinus.com in the address bar of your browser.