Education

1. “Without education, we are in a horrible and deadly danger of taking educated people seriously.” ― G.K. Chesterton (11/30/11)

Exercise

1. Do to the body's natural circadian rhythm, peak exercise performances occurs in the early evening, at approximately the peak of core body temperature. (11/29/11)
2. Every 1-MET improvement was associated with 15% and 19% lower risk of all-cause and CVD mortality, respectively. BMI change was not associated with all-cause or CVD mortality after adjusting for possible confounders and fitness change. (12/6/11)
3. "Exercise almost halved ad libitum chocolate consumption among regular chocolate eaters, while performing a computerised task." (12/8/11)

Puritan

1. Anti-Catholic
1.  "Puritans condemned ten Catholics to death and plundered the property of the Catholic clergy" (11/29/11)
2. "Puritanism was fundamentally anti-Catholic: Puritans felt that the Church of England was still too close to Catholicism and needed to be reformed further." (11/29/11)
3. "Puritanism was, by definition, anti-Catholic: it sought to remove what it called "Popish superstition" from Anglicanism.  Anything that looked like a Catholic holdover was rejected for that reason alone.  They were even against the wearing of church vestments, since that's what Catholics do. " (11/29/11)
4. "[I]n 1647, Massachusetts Bay banned Jesuit priests from the colony on penalty of death." (11/29/11)

Dementia

1. This study demonstrate for the first time that a high systolic blood pressure measured by a device worn for 24 hours is a predictor of cognitive decline in older adults but the blood pressure taken in the doctor’s office was not.http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/124/21/2312.abstract
2. "The quantitative meta-analysis showed thatantihypertensive medication use could decrease risk of the development of VD[vascular dementia, a type of dementia caused by damage to the blood vessels inthe brain] and any [total] dementia, but could not decrease that of AD[Alzheimer's disease], cognitive decline and cognitive impairment." (12/10/11)

Hypertension

1. This study demonstrate for the first time that a high systolic blood pressure measured by a device worn for 24 hours is a predictor of cognitive decline in older adults but the blood pressure taken in the doctor’s office was not.http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/124/21/2312.abstract
2. "In a large population-based survey in Norway, RA [religious activity] was associated with lower DBP and SBP after adjusting for relevant variables." (1/6/12)

Materialisms

1. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen wrote, “The penalty of those who live too close to the flesh is to never understand the spiritual.”

Succes

1. “God does not demand that I be successful. God demands that I be faithful. When facing God, results are not important. Faithfulness is what is important.” ~ Blessed Mother Teresa

Green Tea

1. Thismeta-analysis of randomized controlled trials foundthat Greentea catechins at doses ranging from 145 to3,000 mg/day taken for 3 to 24 weeks reduced total cholesterol by 5.46 mg/dL andlow-density lipoprotein (bad) cholesterol by 5.30 mg/dL but did notsignificantly alter high-density lipoprotein (good) cholesterol ortriglyceride.

Cholesterol

1. Thismeta-analysis of randomized controlled trials foundthat Greentea catechins at doses ranging from 145 to3,000 mg/day taken for 3 to 24 weeks reduced total cholesterol by 5.46 mg/dL andlow-density lipoprotein (bad) cholesterol by 5.30 mg/dL but did notsignificantly alter high-density lipoprotein (good) cholesterol ortriglyceride.
   
   

Stroke

1. After a stroke those with a systolic blood pressure of 130-140 mmHg had the lowest risk of a recurrent stroke.

Walking

1. "Participants who walked ≥1 h per day have a longer life expectancy from 40 years of age than participants who walked <1 h per day. "

Media

1. Exposure to profanity in media is directly related to beliefs and behavior regarding profanity and indirectly to aggressive behavior.

High fructuse corn syrup

1. High fructuse corn syrup is to carbohydrates what trans fats are to fats. (11/10/11)
2. "Increases in fructose consumption have paralleled the increasing prevalence of obesity, and high-fructose diets are thought to promote weight gain and insulin resistance. Fructose ingestion produces smaller increases in circulating satiety hormones compared with glucose ingestion, and central administration of fructose provokes feeding in rodents, whereas centrally administered glucose promotes satiety." (JAMA. 2013;309(1):63-70. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.116975., 1/2/13)

Salt

1. This analysis of 167 studies on salt restriction showed that low saltdiets did lower blood pressure by 1% in those without hypertension and 3.5 % inthose with hypertension, however low salt diets had the negative effect of risingcholesterol by 2.5% and triglycerides by7%.
2. The current guidelines for less than 2 gramsof sodium per day were shown to be associated with an increased risk ofcardiovascular events. The sodium excretion and therefore intake that was associatedwith the least risk of cardiovascular events was 4 to 5.99 grams per day.

Low Back Pain

1. Work-up
1. " Studies have shown that radiologic imaging does not improve outcomes in most patients with back pain" (12/29/11)
2. “Don't do imaging for low back pain within the first 6 weeks unless red flags are present.” ( Arch Intern Med. 2012;():1-5. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2012.1838, 6/5/12)
2. Treatment
1. Yoga
1. "Offering a 12-week yoga program to adults with chronic or recurrent low back pain led to greater improvements in back function than did usual care."
2. "Yoga classes were more effective than a self-care book, but not more effective than stretching classes, in improving function and reducing symptoms due to chronic low back pain" (12/13/11)

Prayer

1. "the raising of one's mind and heart to God" CCC 2559
2. ""Everyone of us needs half an hour of prayer each day, except when we are busy—then we need an hour." -St. Francis de Sales (12/11/12)
3. "Prayer is the breath of life to our soul; holiness is impossible without it" ~Mother Teresa † (3/29/12)
4. ACTS
1. A- adoration
2. C- contrition
3. T- thanksgiving
4. S- supplication

Birth Control Pills

1. Risk
1. Transient increase risk of breast and cervical cancer (3/30/12)
1. Group 1: Carcinogenic to humans (American Cancer Society, 2/22/12)
2. "In this study, use of oral and of injectable hormonal contraceptives was associated with a transiently increased risk of breast [OR 1.66] and cervical [OR 1.38] cancer..." "There was no significant increase in breast or cervical cancer risk among women ceasing hormonal contraceptive use ≥10 y previously"  (Plos Medicine 3/30/12)
2. Womenwho took birth control pills containing estrogens were 2.9 to 6.4 (depending onthe type of birth control pill) times more likely to have a venous thromboembolic event (blood clot) than women nottaking birth control pills or women taking birth control pills with progestogen only.
3. Hypertension (11/29/11)
4. "The rapidly increasing sexual activity of the Pill era correlates with a staggering increase in non-marital births — less than 5 percent of births in 1960 were to unmarried mothers, compared with roughly 40 percent today." (National Review, 2/23/12)

Indulgences

1. Indulgences are not for the forgiveness of sin but to restore the consiqurnces of sin.
2. Q. 850. How do we know that these Indulgences have their effect? (Baltimore Catechism, 5/21/12)
3. A. We know that these Indulgences have their effect, because the Church, through her councils, declares Indulgences useful, and if they have no effect they would be useless, and the Church would teach error in spite of Christ’s promise to guide it. (Baltimore Catechism, 5/21/12)
4. Q. 851. Have there ever existed abuses among the faithful in the manner of using Indulgences? (Baltimore Catechism, 5/21/12)
5. A. There have existed, in past ages, some abuses among the faithful in the manner of using Indulgences, and the Church has always labored to correct such abuses as soon as possible. In the use of pious practices we must be always guided by our lawful superiors. (Baltimore Catechism, 5/21/12)
6.  Q. 852. How have the enemies of the Church made use of the abuse of Indulgences? (Baltimore Catechism, 5/21/12)
7. A. The enemies of the Church have made use of the abuse of Indulgences to deny the doctrine of Indulgences, and to break down the teaching and limit the power of the Church. Not to be deceived in matters of faith, we must always distinguish very carefully between the abuses to which a devotion may lead and the truths upon which the devotion rests.
Q. 853. How does the Church by means of Indulgences remit the temporal punishment due to sin? A. The Church, by means of Indulgences, remits the temporal punishment due to sin by applying to us the merits of Jesus Christ, and the superabundant satisfactions of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the saints; which merits and satisfactions are its spiritual treasury. Q. 854. What do we mean by the “superabundant satisfaction of the Blessed Virgin and the Saints”? A. By the superabundant satisfaction of the Blessed Virgin and the saints, we mean all the satisfaction over and above what was necessary to satisfy for their own sins. As their good works were many and their sins few — the Blessed Virgin being sinless — the satisfaction not needed for themselves is kept by the Church in a spiritual treasury to be used for our benefit. Q. 855. Does the Church, by granting Indulgences, free us from doing Penance? A. The Church, by granting Indulgences, does not free us from doing penance, but simply makes our penance lighter that we may more easily satisfy for our sins and escape the punishments they deserve.
8. Q. 856. Who has the power to grant Indulgences?
9. A. The Pope alone has the power to grant Indulgences for the whole Church; but the bishops have power to grant partial Indulgences in their own diocese. Cardinals and some others, by the special permission of the Pope, have the right to grant certain Indulgences.
10. Q. 857. Where shall we find the Indulgences granted by the Church? (Baltimore Catechism, 5/21/12)
11. A. We shall find the Indulgences granted by the Church in the declarations of the Pope and of the Sacred Congregation of Cardinals. These declarations are usually put into prayer books and books of devotion or instruction. (Baltimore Catechism, 5/21/12)
12. Q. 858. What must we do to gain an Indulgence? (Baltimore Catechism, 5/21/12)
13. A. To gain an Indulgence we must be in the state of grace and perform the works enjoined. (Baltimore Catechism, 5/21/12)
14. Q. 859. Besides being in a state of grace and performing the works enjoined, what else is necessary for the gaining of an Indulgence? (Baltimore Catechism, 5/21/12)
15. A. Besides being in a state of grace and performing the works enjoined, it is necessary for the gaining of an Indulgence to have at least the general intention of gaining it. (Baltimore Catechism, 5/21/12)
16. Q. 860. How and why should we make a general intention to gain all possible Indulgences each day? (Baltimore Catechism, 5/21/12)
17. A. We should make a general intention at our morning prayers to gain all possible Indulgences each day, because several of the prayers we say and good works we perform may have Indulgences attached to them, though we are not aware of it. (Baltimore Catechism, 5/21/12)

Chocolate

1. Compared with those who reported not eating chocolate those who reported eating chocolate five or more times per week had less than one half the rate of coronary heart disease.

Red Bull

1. "Red Bull® Energy Drink significantly improves driving performance and reduces driver sleepiness during prolonged highway driving."

Obesity

1. Weight Watchers was more effective in weight loss and cheaper. Primary care based services led byspecially trained staff were ineffective in weight loss after one year followup.
2. Obese children who remain obese as adults where 5.4 times more likely tobe type 2 diabetes, 2.7 times more likely to have hypertension, and 1.8 timesmore likely to have high cholesterol than people who were never obese, howeverthe risk of these conditions where similar to those who where never obese inobese children who where not obese as adults. (11/18/11)

Loneliness

1. "Loneliness was associated with an increased risk of death (22.8% vs 14.2%; adjusted HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.11-1.88)." ( Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(14):1078-1084. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2012.1993, 8/10/12)
2. "Loneliness was a significant predictor of sleep fragmentation. Humans' social nature may partly be manifest through our dependence on feeling secure in our social environment to sleep well."

Sleep

1. "Loneliness was a significant predictor of sleep fragmentation. Humans' social nature may partly be manifest through our dependence on feeling secure in our social environment to sleep well."
2. Sleep hygiene
1. http://www.umm.edu/sleep/sleep_hyg.htm
4. "Sleep calms the emotions" (912/3/11)
5. "Poorer self-reported sleep quality, but not objectively estimated sleep parameters, during post-acute rehabilitation was associated with shorter survival among older adults." (12/14/11)

Fruit of the Spirit

1. The fruit of the Spirit is one thing consisting  of many other things that all must be present at the same time in the same way that white light is compose of all the colors of the rainbow. If you remove any one of the colors you no longer have white light.

Vitamin D

1. Advantages
1. "Low vitamin D levels are associated with depressive symptoms."
2. In this study of obese, adolescent females, low blood levelsof vitamin D were associated with higher glucose (sugar) but lower LDL (bad)cholesterol levels. Treating those with vitamin D deficiency resulted in lowerglucose levels. 
3. VitaminD deficiency is associated with susceptibility to active tuberculosis.  (11/28/11)
4. Decreased Risk of Diabetes (9/3/12)
1. "The incidence of diabetes in subjects with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels ≤18.5 ng/mL (percentile 25) was 12.4% vs 4.7% in subjects with levels >18.5 ng/mL." (Clinical NutritionVolume 31, Issue 4 , Pages 571-573, August 2012. 9/3/12)
5. Colds (8/21/12)
1. In this study, 4000IU of vitamin D3 or a placebo was given daily for 1year. The group that received the vitamin D had less cold symptoms. (BMJ Open 2012;2:e001663 doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2012-001663, 12/14/12)
2. "In this trial, monthly administration of 100 000 IU of vitamin D did not reduce the incidence or severity of URTIs [Upper Respiratory Tract Infections] in healthy adults." (JAMA. 2012;308(13):1333-1339. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.12505, 10/3/12)
3. "Compared with controls, children receiving vitamin D reported significantly fewer ARIs during the study period (mean: 0.80 vs 0.45; P = .047), with a rate ratio of 0.52 (95% confidence interval: 0.31–0.89)." ( doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-3029, 8/21/12)
6. Decrease asthma exacerbation (7/20/12)
1. "Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with severe asthma exacerbations in Puerto Rican children, independently of racial ancestry, atopy, or markers of disease severity or control." ( Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.July 15, 2012 vol. 186 no. 2 140-146, 7/20/12)
7. Decease fracture risk (7/8/12)
1. "High-dose vitamin D supplementation (≥800 IU daily) was somewhat favorable in the prevention of hip fracture and any nonvertebral fracture in persons 65 years of age or older." ( N Engl J Med 2012; 367:40-49, 7/8/12)
8. Decreased  colorectal  cancer risk (3/5'5/12)
1. "Observational studies have been largely consistent in showing an inverse association between vitamin D and an individual’s risk of developing colorectal cancer." ( Carcinogenesis (2012) 33 (3):475-482. 3/5/12)
2. Mechanism of Action
1. In conclusion, this study identified the upregulation of MKP-1 by vitamin D as a novel pathway by which vitamin D inhibits LPS-induced p38 activation and cytokine production in monocytes/macrophages.( The Journal of Immunology March 1, 2012 vol. 188 no. 5 2127-2135, 2/23/12)
3. Levels vary with season
1. The mean vitamin D level ranged from 32.9 ng/mL in January to 55.4 ng/mL in September. (SMJ, 2/6/12)
4. Risk factors for  Insufficient levels of vitamin D
1. Younger age (younger than 40 years)  (SMJ, 2/6/12) 
2. No milk or fish consumption (SMJ, 2/6/12) 
3. No use of multivitamins, vitamin D supplements, or calcium supplements (SMJ, 2/6/12) 
4. No sun exposure (SMJ, 2/6/12) 
5. Routine use of sunscreens (SMJ, 2/6/12)

Breast Cancer

1. Risk factors
1. "the report did identify two factors that definitely increased risk: post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy and radiation exposure from medical imaging." (science daily, 6/12/12)
2. Alcohol consumption.
1. For women who never drank, 2.88% developed breast cancer over a 10 year period. With one drink per day it increased to 3.5% and with 2 drinks per day it increased to 4.1% of the women developing breast cancer over 10 years.
2. "Regular alcohol consumption raises breast cancer risk, except for red wine, which has the opposite effect when consumed in moderation," (1/8/12)

Alcohol

1. Benefits
1. Reduced CHD
1. Men who consumed alcohol more than once a week where about half as likelyto die from coronary heart disease than men who drank alcohol never or rarely.
2. Harms
1. Breast Cancer
1. For women who never drank, 2.88% developed breast cancer over a 10 year period. With one drink per day it increased to 3.5% and with 2 drinks per day it increased to 4.1% of the women developing breast cancer over 10 years.