Not once nor twice have we heard health critics say breakfast is the most important meal of the day or do not dare miss breakfast. These words are often received through one ear and ushered out through the other without much consideration. Before I tell you which foods are best for breakfast lets first know the importance of breakfast in your daily routine.
In the morning the body, more specifically your brain, is expecting to be fueled after a long night of digesting what it had yester-night. It is during this period that your glucose levels are extremely low and need to be brought back up through eating the correct foods. When you miss breakfast, your body kicks into ‘starvation’ mode by lowering your metabolism and hence your general activity for the day. This is why you when you skip breakfast you feel sluggish and don’t want to engage in anything. Normally those who miss breakfast are trying to lose weight. Studies have proven this to be wrong. When you miss breakfast you tend to make poor eating decisions throughout the day and when lunch time comes, you end up eating more than you need. This cancels out any calories that you could have lost by missing breakfast.
Which foods are best during breakfast? Contrary to the adage, eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar, breakfast should not be heavy and full of an assortment of meats and sugary treats. What you are trying to achieve by eating breakfast is to get your low glucose levels back to where they should be. To do this without upsetting your already tired stomach, (it has been digesting food the entire night) include small portions of the following food groups into your breakfast, proteins with minimal saturated fats, vitamins and fibers.
But how do I find the time to prepare all these things in my busy schedule? These may sound like a lot of things to prepare but in actual sense they are not. Simply wake up 15 minutes earlier than you normally do boil an egg, this takes about 15 minutes. You could have soya beans instead of an egg. As the egg boils pour yourself a healthy bowl of sugar free cereal toped of with a fruit of your choice. Be sure to take small portions. You could make a cup of tea or coffee to keep the cold at bay and voila you’ done and out of the house.
Throughout the night your body is recuperating from any damage it may have received during the day. This uses up proteins thus the need to have proteins in your breakfast. Vitamins are essential in any meal because they are absorbed directly without digestion. The fiber from the cereal is satiating enough to get you through to lunch time. They also help in the digestion process. If really don’t want to eat in the morning you could break up your breakfast into two, the normal breakfast and brunch.
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Eating is one of the most important activities in an individual’s life. Almost all people enjoy eating; it is actually a part of our existence and mostly of our culture. And of course, we survive because we eat. All the foods that we usually consume tend to be the primary resource for our own energy. However, despite of the fact that we are born with the desire to eat, we actually know so little about it. We do not know how those foods react and affect our body. And there exist several individuals who are ignorant just what particular foods are usually detrimental to their very own health and wellbeing. In case you are among those people and you really are worried about your certain overall health but do not have adequate knowledge with regards to healthy foods you can eat, you might like to carry out a handful of things. Initially, just begin by seeking all the best healthy foods to eat. This can be done by surfing around the web or asking a few professionals.
If you find time to sit down for a few hours every day and check out some sites, you will see all the healthy foods available out there, from a number of fruits to vegetables to nuts, seeds, and oils. Aside from those, you will also discover that healthy foods likewise include eggs and low-fat dairy, grains, spices, some herbs, plus beans. Yet, if you still want to know more, then it is wise to visit a number of professionals who can additionally give you extra information regarding all of these things. They can guide you in picking out some foods that would be best to eat every day and may also inform you the necessary diet you can easily carry out. Then, right after you identify those healthy foods you can now go shopping and feel free to get those foods included in your diet. Read on and know quite a few numbers of ideas that you must also bear in mind.
Eating is not about taking in a lot of foods just to make your body healthy, it is actually about picking all those necessary nourishments, which will satisfy your body’s wants and needs. Thus, healthy foods should always be taken into account. It will be important for you to be certain that you are eating only those that are good for you. Once you know all these things, surely you can avoid eating those that may have a negative effect on your health.
Additionally, healthy foods should be included in every diet, as this will assure that you will get all of the essential nutrients you need. So now that you have a few ideas about healthy foods and what you should do to be familiar with them, try to include healthy foods whenever you are making a dietary plan. And do not forget to share all these ideas to your close friends and relatives who seem to have no idea of these things. You will be thankful you do this.
If you are planning to buy a car, it is necessary for you to understand the car buying process. Buying of vehicles and car business are not like every other business. There are always some processes that both buyers and sellers observe in order to have the best deal. So, if you are buying a car for the first time, it is necessary that you understand the buying process.
Before you enter any car dealership, the first thing that you should know is that car dealers have strategies of making car buyers to buy from their dealership and even buy a car that they do not plan to buy. So, always open your eyes wide and know when the dealers are playing on your intelligence. Dealers have salespersons that are well trained to convince buyers to buy from them. Besides, the salespersons are paid based on commission and so they have to be at their best in order to make more sales so that they will get high pay at the end. So, study the dealership scam and have it at the tips of your fingers when you are talking with them. Do not allow them to play their games on you.
Always make sure that you carry out a serious research on the car that you want to buy before you enter a dealership. Once you have a car in mind, go for it. The salespersons may try to urge you to buy a brand or a model that you do not plan to buy especially if they do not have the model in their dealership. They will want to sell the cars they have in their dealership. They will always have sweet words to convince. So, be careful and do not fall to their antics.
The best way to deal with the salespersons and scam is to carry out a thorough research on the model of the car that you want to buy. Know the necessary thing that you are supposed to know about the car like the MSRP that is the manufacturer suggested retail price and others. Get quotes from different dealerships. You can also ask people that have bought the car before you how much they bought it. This will give you an edge over the salesperson. You already know everything about the car and the price. So, you have words for them when they want to deceive you. When you are still bargaining with a dealer, do not divulge your contact details to them and most importantly, do not give them your social security number otherwise they may find out your financial strength by finding out your credit history.
When you have finally settled at a price with the dealer, you can proceed with payment. However, you have to make sure that every paper work is done and dully signed before you can make payment. Do not sign any paper if you do not understand the content. After your payment, go home with every document of the car because the car is already yours.
The increase of technology has not only increased the length of the working day but also the level of stress in people. Sometime in the past, stress was associated with the place of work and thanks to technology. You can have stress follow you right into your bed with the help of devices like the mobile phone, laptops, and spouses. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against marriages, bear with me and you will understand what I mean. A study that was conducted listed the following as major causes of stress:
- Loss of a Soul Mate
- Separation in a Marriage
- Incarceration
- Loss of a Relative
- Sickness
- Marriage (this is what I was referring to)
- Loss of a Job
- Retirement
Small amounts of stress could be beneficial to us in that it triggers the adrenal glands in the kidney to produce adrenaline. After production of this hormone our bodies go into survival mode working overtime to finish what needs to be done be it homework, a project or even getting to a specific place at a given time.
Chronic stress levels have profound effects on our bodies both physically and mentally. Adrenaline that is produced increases the heat rate and therefore blood pressure increases as well. When adrenaline in produced for a prolonged period of time, which means the individual is stressed, high blood pressure kicks in. This could translate to stroke or a heart attack if not treated. Stress causes one to be irritable. A stressed out person will lash out at people around them making it hard for them to live with other people.
Cortisol, commonly known as the stress hormone, is also produced when an individual is stressed. We have heard cases where a woman heavy with child suddenly has a miss-carriage after experiencing stress or you have noticed that when you experience stress you tend to lose weight and those children with stress experience stunted growth. Well all this can be linked directly to cortisol. What cortisol does us it curbs all the systems and processes that it considers unessential at the time of stress. When children have stunted growth it is because the growth process has be stopped or reduced greatly. The reproductive system and the digestive system are others that are often affected drastically by cortisol.
Ulcers and digestive problems are also associated with cortisol production. Cortisol increases the level of glucose in blood to help the brain function efficiently, and because the individual is not eating fat deposits are converted into glucose. This is another possible explanation for the drastic loss of weight in people suffering from stress.
Children also suffer from stress and many are the times it goes unattended to. Pressure to perform, divorce and teenage pregnancy are the leading cause of stress in children. Children don’t know how to handle this and often start keeping to themselves, rebelling or develop queer habits in an attempt to get noticed. It is after all this has been ignored that children indulge in drug abuse or contemplate suicide. Share with people your feelings this does a great deal when it comes to stress management.
A pregnancy clinic, also known as crisis pregnancy center or CPC in short, is a medical facility which provides professional and confidential help to pregnant women. This is inclusive of STD screening, adoption referrals, religious counseling, financial assistance, prenatal assistance, child rearing resources among others. Their main agenda is to reduce the number of abortions that is carried out every day. They also campaign for safe delivery and care of children. They do this by creating awareness among people.
In third world countries pregnancy clinics are sparsely distributed and majority of the pregnant women don’t have access to one. Although they realize the importance of keeping their unborn baby, they are unable to get the much needed professional help and as a last resort they visit their local village doctor which is often the same as abortion. It frequently ends in death of the mother, the baby or both. For those who live within close proximity of legit hospitals and clinics, the high cost of delivery often forces them to try their lack with the village doctor.
The majority of the staff working in these clinics comprises of volunteer pro-life Christians. These clinics operate in affiliation with non- governmental organization such as Care Net, Heartbeat International and Birth International. They are often intentionally and strategically placed near abortion centers.
Many of these clinics are now trying to upgrade to medical clinics where they can help pregnant women see their child with the help of sonograms and help them deliver at a subsidized rates. For them to achieve this they need to get the relevant legal papers. When showing the pregnant woman her child they are hoping beyond hope that the mother to be never considers abortion. In a desperate attempt to champion their cause, many clinics have been caught red handed giving false information to those who come to them seeking help. They often say that abortion is more dangerous to the mother’s health as compared to keeping the baby until it is due. On the contrary this is wrong; there are more things that could go wrong during delivery as compared to during abortion. Another of their lies is abortion leads to breast cancer. Scientists have contested this claim saying there is no link between abortion and breast cancer. Abortion is still very wrong and we don’t encourage it.
The basic administration structure of a pregnancy clinic consists of a clinic director. He is responsible for ensuring all medical policies and procedures are implemented. A medical director, who serves in volunteer capacity and he or she has to be a licensed physician. He is responsible for implementation of the clinics procedures. The nurse manager, he or she oversees day to day provision of medical services. The volunteer medical team, this consists of physician assistants and other healthcare professionals. Lastly we have medical advisory council; it is a panel of medical professionals recruited to lend credibility to the facility. All these people, whether paid or unpaid, are required to express full agreement with the clinics statement of principle, mission statement and statement of faith.
Good nutrition is more of a lifestyle than a habit and it is confirmed by the old adage “You are what you eat.” It is therefore an obligation that we include fresh, colorful and creativity in our eating behaviors.
As you grow older it is biological that some of your organs become less effective, thus it becomes your obligation to be keener on what you consume as it may improve your health or put you at risk. Caution is priority and if indiscipline in this aspect you are likely to encounter problems which are unlike anybody’s wishes. I am going to guide you through what is deemed to keep you living for long in terms of a senior’s guide to good nutrition.
Fruits are important at this stage of life due to their high nutritional value. Whole fruits are recommended for fibre and vitamins with about 3 servings a day being appropriate. You are advised to use color rich fruits such as watermelons and pickings such as berries over grapes which are not as nutritious. Fruits can be easily obtained at your neighbourhood grocery shop.
Vegetables, especially the anti-oxidant rich dark leafy greens such as broccoli, kale, carrots and oranges are known to be rich in vitamins for improving immunity. Three servings of vegetables a day are just enough to up your shield against minor diseases such as fevers. The supermarket and the grocery shop sell vegetables at relatively fair prices.
Calcium is highly recommended at this later stage of life due to the loss of strength of bones and teeth. About 1200 milligrams a day is adequate served through cheese other daily products as well as tofu and almond.
Whole meal grains served through cereals help improve the fibre count and nutritional density. Fibre helps reduce constipation and bowel problems. Six ounces a day are adequate.
Unlike in young ones, protein is not very much needed as there is reduced growth if any and most of it (protein) is used for repairing damaged cells. Thus 5 grams for every pound of body weight is enough. Protein is obtained from eggs, fish, seeds and peas.
Water is vital to the seniors as dehydration is frequent despite their reduced mobility rates. It can be explained by reduced efficiency of their kidneys and their sense of thirst is reduced compared to teenagers for example. Hydration helps reduce urinary tract infections, constipation, drowsiness and confusion. It is therefore important to have a reminder somewhere in the kitchen that only 8 glasses of clean water are adequate to remain hydrated, daily.
Vitamin D is essential for absorbing calcium that is involved with strengthening of bones. The Sun is the well-known source of vitamin D that with the help of the skin synthesizes the vitamin. Unfortunately for the seniors, the skin is at times damaged and cannot synthesize the vitamin leaving the individual at a sorry state. It is thus recommended that fortified foods or multivitamins be used to compensate.
Remember to avoid saturated fats as they are due to bring heart problems. Eat nutritiously live long.
Human health is very fragile. And as such, it should be given utmost concern especially when it concerns pregnant mothers. Every pregnant mother is clinically advised to follow certain nutrition guidelines for the growth and development of the baby. This is because whatever the pregnant mother consumes during the stage of pregnancy passes onto the fetus via the placenta. The pregnancy nutrition guide will update the pregnant mother on the proper nutrition needed by the fetus for healthy growth.
The expecting mother is expected to naturally eat more than usual during pregnancy stage. This is as a result of the fact that the fetus gets food through the mother. So the mother eats more food. She should mind what she consumes to ensure that she and the fetus get all the necessary nutrients needed for healthy development. The mother should eat more of protein foods and vitamins. She should also eat foods that are rich in calcium and iron. The protein maintains the skin of the fetus. Calcium on the other hand gives the fetus strong bones and teeth. Zinc develops the brain or mental system of the fetus.
The mother is expected to eat varied food. This is to ensure that the mother and the fetus get all the nutrients they need. Foods that are high in fiber are recommended. It is also advised to eat fruits and vegetables. The fruits will provide essential minerals for the fetus. Zinc develops the mental system of the fetus while calcium provides strong formation of bones. Folic acid is necessary everyday to prevent any defect like spina bifida in the fetus. Eat a lot of fresh fruits. It is good for both the fetus and the mother. Drink a lot of water. Milk with low fat can be taken as well.
Pregnant moms are advised by medical professionals to control weight gain during pregnancy. The baby should not be too heavy and big. This will prevent any problem during delivery. It will also assist the mom not to lose much weight after delivery. Researchers have revealed that birth with low weight is a major factor in infant mental disorder, poor learning ability, infant morbidity and mortality. Tracking your weight gain will assist the doctor in the early detection of any potential hazard. Adequate balanced nutrition will help to achieve this goal.
There are some foods to be avoided during the stage of pregnancy. Expecting mothers should avoid foods that are rich in mercury especially seafood. It is true that some seafood like fish add nutritional values to the fetus. However, some fish contains a high level of mercury and mercury is capable of damaging the developing nervous system of the fetus. The fish in this category are the King mackerel, Shark, Tilefish and so on. But seafood like Shrimp, Crab, Salmon, Catfish and Tilapia can be taken by the pregnant mothers. Undercooked meat and eggs should be avoided as much as possible to prevent the risk of food poisoning. But you are advised to report any abnormal experience to your doctor immediately.
Business is about making money and it is reasonable enough have it at the back of your mind that any dealer wants to make the best deal for you. To achieve your goal you must avoid mistakes by thinking wisely before you buy. Get the best product for the best price. Carry out a research to establish what you want. If you want a used car consider the frequent car accidents hence the need to establish whether the car has had a previous accident, the nature of its past maintenance record, existing and previous mechanical queries and any previous owners to the car. Often it has happened that people who buy used cars have found much better deals than those who buy new ones although more horrible car buying incidents are heard of second hand cars
Once you make up your mind on the budget at your disposal and the type of car you want to buy then you can approach the dealers or shops that sell used car. Whatever means you want to use to buy your used car you will need to have enough money like loan approval or some form of financing. It is also important to understand the detailed history of the vehicle and then you will need an expert like mechanic to do an inspection to confirm and correct any damages. The use of an odometer will greatly influence the pricing of the used car. It will enable you to know the mileage undertaken by the car to-date. Also understand every statement that you sign to avoid mistakes and end up with a smooth buying experience.
For a new car examine yourself regarding the amount of money at your disposal and set a range, stay within your limit of budget. Reflect on your creditworthiness and nobody should carry a credit test on you without your permission. Narrow down to the kind and type of vehicle you want to buy. Is it a sports car, family care or just a small car? Also think about the area in which you live. Determine what purpose you want to buy the car for and how often you will use it.
After considering all the above then you will remove the unnecessary options and narrow you choice to just few. Visit different car dealers and find out the different prices offered for your choice as competition gives the best price. Remember cars from the factory should never cost more than those on the lot, do not be fooled. Consider also the price plus additional options that may be added at request. Do not allow a car dealer to source a car from another dealer as you will be charged extra fee. Negotiate effectively, knowing what you want and without fear. If you realize irregularities walk out of the deal ensured you have read information from various sources to be well equipped.
Now you have settled on the car of your choice and you want to pay. You can pay cash or look for how to finance your car.
Petroleum products are noted for their various problems. This is because in the process of drilling the petroleum products, the air is polluted and also in the process of using it the air is also polluted and all this affects the environment to be precise.
One major effect of air pollution is that of lung cancer and other related problems usually associated with the lungs. The human lungs are so delicate that with the least amount of problems associated to it, it easily becomes inflamed. The human lungs are noted or are developed purposely for inhaling and exhaling fresh air and nothing else and this is one of the reasons why it should be protected from debris.
Most of the pollutants in the air are usually forced into the human lungs and of course associated problems related to cancer are observed. This is the major problem associated with this and has to be stopped. Moreover, there are other respiratory problems associated with this sort of pollution. Air pollution is a major contributory factor to global warming and as such global warming is very detrimental to our human health. Many have testified that it makes the environment very uncomfortable to be in. This is really a serious problem and cannot therefore be underestimated in any way.
Even sometime too much air pollution makes majority of people not being able to breathe very well. The breathing is usually in a choking mood and can easily suffocate one if adequate care is not taken and this implies why adequate care has to be taken by one in order not to be a victim.
Air quality is very imperative to our human lives and health and is depended upon for its refreshing nature. Therefore it is often the right thing to find solutions to this sort of pollution. One major solution to air pollution is that there should be awareness creation on the danger of air pollution. Majority should be educated on the dangers of air pollution and as such once this sort of education is made, it makes things very easy.
Awareness creation is very vital when considering curbing the dangers of air pollution and its related or associated problems. There should be adequate measures taken on how to solve the problems of the major things that affect the air directly such as factories and other related issues. When these measures are taken, it will be obvious that there will be a reduction in the way the air is polluted daily and hence will reduce its effects on man. Protecting the air around us is the duty of everyone and as such no one should wait for the other to start first!
Penguins are moving away from the polar bears and they also move away from the water, which is where they find their food source. Those that move too far out die of starvation. Life under the sea isn’t much better either. Fish, the primary food of seals, aren’t used to this new temperature. Many of them flee the area in search of a new climate. As such, much of the food that all of the polar carnivores rely on is gradually diminishing. Some are even turning to slaughtering the young of their own kind for food. The natural balance in the Arctic Poles has been greatly disturbed due to the effect of global warming.
One does not need to look to our Poles, however, to see the effects of global warming. As the icecaps continue to melt, water levels worldwide are rising. As temperatures continue to rise, the ice will continue to melt, endangering many coastal cities and villages worldwide. As the water levels rise, there will be less oxygen in the water. While this amount will not be drastic, it will be enough to kill off or endanger some of the smaller sea life we’ve come to know.
Storms have been prevalent in the world in the past few years. The sudden and violent turn in the weather can be attributed largely to the effect of global warming as well. As our atmospheric temperature rises, so does the amount of precipitation in the air, because more and more water is evaporating. Thus, we see higher rainfalls in areas that may normally see little. This results in the flooding and landslides that are making headlines world-wide.
As our global temperature continues to rise, the effect of global warming may actually inverse. It is thought that, instead of increased rainfall, we will begin to see a serious increase in the amounts of droughts around the world. This would have devastating effects on the world as a whole. With droughts comes short of food supply. Less food and an ever-growing world population do not lead to a good outcome. The violent fighting going on in the North Pole between polar bears and other animals could become a reality for humans as food becomes scarce.
Rising water levels, shrinking habitats, devastating storms, and food-stealing droughts are problems that affect us all, no matter where in the world we live, what our social class is, or how much money we have. The effect of global warming does not have preferences. It is all too easy and all too common to assume that someone else will fix the problems. But when we live in a world where everyone shares that mindset, no action is taken and we are left at the mercy of the effect of global warming. The time for action is now, and the place is where ever you are. Act now, before it is too late.
We have all heard about global warming and the effects it is having on the earth. People talk about the consequences of our actions and how the planet is affected by our choices and the way we choose to live our lives. There are so many reasons for global warming and so many solutions, only if we act on it. If we fail to recognize the dangers, there is no turning back the clock. We have heard people discuss greenhouse gases and greenhouse effects. We will discuss this in this article to give you a better understanding of what it means and what we can do to help.
How Does the Greenhouse Effect and the Greenhouse gases lead to Global Warming?
During the entire process of greenhouse effect, the concentration of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere determines the quantity of energy being added to the atmosphere. However, man through his activities on earth causes the concentration of the greenhouse gases to increase. This means that more energy will be added to the atmosphere. When more energy is added to the atmosphere, the possible outcome is that the earth’s surface temperature will increase quickly. The increase in the earth’s surface temperature is what is known as global warming.
From the above you can understand why greenhouse effect and greenhouse gases are associated to the global warming. In fact they are regarded as the causes of global warming. In a sense, they are the cause of global warming but in another sense they are not. It is man that is causing global warming through his activities.
How do the Activities of Man lead to the Higher Concentration of Greenhouse Gases?
This is a question that should be properly addressed. Many people do not know that they are contributing to the problem of global warming facing the earth today. Though, it seems that it will be difficult for man to avoid these activities because some of them make life easier and enjoyable on earth but they rate can be reduced with caution.
Owing to the industrial revolution, more fossil fuel is being burnt on daily basis. This increase the emission of more of the greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Some of the agricultural methods applied by some farmers lead to the emission of more methane and nitrous oxide to the atmosphere.
Today, owing to the economic importance of timbers more trees are felled on daily basis. Deforestation increase the amount carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere on daily basis. This is because trees breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. If a large portion of the world’s forests are cleared as trees are being felled, more carbon dioxide will be released to the atmosphere.
Other human factors which can lead either directly or indirectly to the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases include overpopulation, automotives and others.
In the southern hemisphere the climate is milder with less strong winds but during the summer heavy storms can be a hazard to shipping and coastal areas. During the monsoon season cyclones can spring up without warning and threaten the coastal regions of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Being the warmest ocean in the world the Indian Ocean seems also to be the most volatile in terms of weather pattern and climate.
Rain Forests and Tropical Forests
Forests have a huge impact on our climate and the deforestation in some parts of the world has already had an impact on changes in weather patterns.
The high humidity in rainforests, where giant trees soak up carbon dioxide from the air and store it, rises up to form rain clouds which periodically empty themselves back into the forests. Hundreds of thousands of plants and animal life exist in these forests and the trees are often referred to as our planet’s lungs.
In tropical forests the climate is less water logged but nevertheless humidity remains quite high and the temperatures are generally high. Less dense in growth tropical forests are a haven for animals, plants and insects. Both rainforests and tropical forests contribute to lessoning the impact of greenhouse gases and global warming.
Northern Climate
Across parts of Scotland and Scandinavia as well as Northern Germany the climate is damp and cold, with severe winters and short summers. Coastal regions are less severe but prone to strong winds and unstable weather patterns.
Mediterranean Climate
Famous for its warm, temperate climate the Mediterranean experiences far less rain fall than its northern counterpart. Some parts have very little rainfall and are as a result dry and hot but other parts are lush and green in vegetation with long summers and milder winters.
Extremes of Climate Change
One hundred million years ago the Antarctic was covered in rainforests and small dinosaurs roamed the shores, nibbling their way through vegetation. Today a 3 kilometre strong layer of ice buries their trace. Throughout our planet’s history there have been dramatic changes in climate, from the lush green forests of the Antarctic to the frozen icecaps of today’s poles.
Over the past half century, the Antarctic has undergone a warming up process at the rate of 2.8 degrees Celsius, a far greater increase than anywhere else in the world. Could rainforest thrive there once again in the future?
A cooling down of the Gulf Stream on the other hand would see harsher climate gripping Northern Europe, with Britain in particular losing out on the climate front. Harsher, much colder winters would follow shorter wetter summers. Greenhouse gas emissions are responsible for our predicament although many people still argue whether this is really our fault or whether this is just part of a climate change cycle which our planet undergoes over thousands of years.
The data locked away in the ice at our poles has already yielded some astonishing insight into our past climate. Growth rates of tiny sea creatures and dendrology tell us about the increase and decrease of growing during either longer or shorter feeding seasons. Explorer Scott and his crew could not have foreseen how important their collection of marine creatures and plant life would one day be to science, when they collated and recorded their finds in the early 1900s.
What the future holds for our established ideas of climate is hard to say. Yet one thing is for certain, and that is the climate is changing rapidly. Not necessarily for the better.
Back in the year 2009, there was an outbreak of a new airborne disease that was commonly known as swine flu. Its real name was the H1N1 flu. Just like tuberculosis, this flu is also passed through respiratory droplets and you know how this happens. Simple things like sneezing in the open or spitting ensure that the droplets spread even more. Though the flu is not that serious, you might find information about its symptoms helpful. Diarrhea, fever, sore throat headaches and general body aches, coughing and vomiting are among the symptoms. These symptoms are shared by many other diseases as well thus making it almost difficult to know if you are suffering from the flu or not. It is worth noting that these symptoms usually develop after three to five days at most but will only last for roughly eight days.
H1N1 is a viral disease and as you know the case with most or all viral diseases, the cure is almost impossible to get. H1N1 influenza viruses are responsible for the flu and thus there’s no treatment available. This shouldn’t worry you; your only concern should be finding the right drugs like oseltamivir and zanamavir. Besides, if you have good immunity you shouldn’t even bother about taking drugs to suppress the symptoms since they won’t be of much concern. Unfortunately, children below the age of 5, pregnant mothers and HIV positive persons still have to rely on these medications. If H1N1 flu isn’t treated at an early stage (especially for the people mentioned above) then it may lead to pneumonia or respiratory arrest which are other complications all together.
Another airborne disease that we should look at is perhaps the most common or at least it used to be some few years back. Without a vaccination for measles, you can’t imagine how many people would have been affected. Thousands to millions of people isn’t enough to give you a brief idea. Among the symptoms, things like coughing, fever, light sensitivity, muscle pain and rashes on the skin are a sure sign of measles. You should note that this disease is very contagious and can even spread through contact in addition to spreading through the air we breathe. Rashes usually start appearing 3 to 5 days after these symptoms.
The symptoms may last for almost ten days and all along, you will notice the rashes becoming more red, flat and very itchy. Additionally, your eyes will be a little red; you’ll have a little sore throat and a runny nose. Unfortunately there’s no treatment for measles only vaccinations are available. The only ways of reducing these symptoms is by taking acetaminophen but that won’t guarantee that you will be less ill for long.
Now that you know of some of the airborne diseases, you should be asking yourself how you can avoid spreading or contracting the disease. One way to reduce their spreading is by covering your mouth or nose when sneezing and to avoid spitting in the open. Come on, handkerchiefs are quite cheap and its actually good manners to always have one in your pocket if you don’t want to be embarrassed some day in the future. Remember that some of the airborne diseases are incurable and you have to rely on vaccinations to shield yourself from them. It would thus be wise to still become immunized against them before anything bad happens.
Animals breathe – so do plants. Pollutants eventually enter the water resources. Humans, animals and plants all need water. When we pollute the air with sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides we make our soil and water more acidic, which is harmful to many animals and plants. It can affect growth of certain plants, cutting down the number of plants available for shelter and food, having a devastating effect on delicate eco systems.
Improving Air Quality
Legislation over the last decade has improved air quality, since industry had to cut down carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions, cars had to switch and use petrol and diesel with less lead, carbon and sulphur emissions, and new technology has introduced electric cars as an alternative to petrol or diesel engines. Better cavity wall insulation and updated building and construction methods have seen us lose less heat and use less heating via fossil fuel burning in the process.
Energy efficient lighting helps to cut down on energy consumption, together with daylight saving summer and winter time introduction. More still needs to be done.
Individuals can address air quality issues by using public transport more and cutting out unnecessary car journeys. Commuters who are able to do so, can share cars or use bicycles or walk to work. Companies can provide buses which collect workers in the morning and return them home after their shift. Too many people still rely on their cars and make too many useless journeys, which could either be avoided by shopping online and letting the post deliver or by sharing cars – or combatting obesity and getting out with the help of their own two legs.
Families and individuals can cut down on air travel by going overseas only once every other year. Most countries now run schemes which encourage growing of trees – our staunch allies in the fight against air pollution and a regaining of good air quality. Every one with a garden or grounds that will support one tree or more is encouraged to plant a tree – this helps not only with air quality but provides wildlife with habitat, too.
Householders should avail themselves of grants made available for switching to solar energy or alternative energy sources. In Germany’s rural areas farmers use methane to produce energy – friendly cows produce the stuff on a daily basis whenever their digestive systems feel the urge.
Wind farms are a renewable source of energy which will help to reduce the number of coal burning power stations producing for our energy needs – coal burning power stations are a major source of pollution and poor air quality.
If we don’t want to see deaths of the old and the young during hot summer months or windless winters, we must cut down on pollution in our cities and increase the air quality with planting of green roofs. Great for heat insulation, “green” roofs help with filtering the air of dust, reduce CO2 and provide habitat for wildlife in our cities. Better architecture for new builds reduces waste of energy and heat loss.
Global warming can lead to heavy rain fail and prolong drought. I know many people may wonder how these two opposites can be caused by the same global warming. It is very simple. When the earth’s surface temperature increases more rapidly, more water vapor will evaporate into the atmosphere. This will continue until the weight becomes too heavy for the cloud to bear. At this point, the cloud will simply let go some amount of these water molecules. This will definitely give rise to heavy rain fail that will destroy a lot of things. Farm lands will be washed away. Houses will be devastated by flood and animals will lose their lives. Man is not even safe. If you are not in a safe place you will be carried away by flood. Many properties will be destroyed. This has started happening in some places. So, it is no longer what the scientists are postulating. It is a reality that manifests itself everyday for everybody to see.
How can global warming give rise to drought? Drought will affect those in the tropic region due to high temperature. The rivers and lakes will dry up. This will spell doom for both man and wild animals. Many people will die as a result of lack of food. There will be no agricultural produce because trees and plants will be scorched to death by the heat of the sun. Besides, there will be no river for irrigation which will help to supply water to the plants in the farm lands.
Wild animals will die of dehydration. Once the source of their drinking water has been dried due to prolong drought, they will die of dehydration. Besides, herbivorous animals will die due to lack of plants and trees to feed on.
Global warming does not affect weather alone. The sea and oceans together with the lives that it supports will be affected also. Global warming will give rise to the increase in the sea level. The more the icebergs are melting away the more the sea levels are increasing. When this happens, the coastline regions will suffer greatly. Coastal floods will obliterate some island nations. The coast will be eroded. The effect of global warming on the ocean level seems to be worst because a reasonable percentage of population of the world is living in coast areas.
The marine lives will also suffer greatly. Definitely, those in coastline region will build high solid walls in order to prevent the rising sea level from devastating their lands. This will also affect the marine lives that are looking for escape to cooler region of the sea. Some marine lives that prey on wild animals that come to the sea side o drink will totally be blocked away from their prey.
The ecosystem, carbon cycle and man himself will also be affected by the global warming. We are already seeing the effect of global warming today.
In many countries a re-introduction of electric trams has already achieved improved air quality. Fewer cars on the road mean not only less congested traffic, it also means less harmful pollutants are released into the atmosphere. Electric trams are popular – not only do they get commuters safely, efficiently and speedily from home to work and back again, they are almost noiseless and don’t pollute their air.
Every time transport workers strike in London, Paris or other large cities, commuters discover there are alternatives to taking individual cars, buses and even trains. Suddenly car-sharing schemes spring up, people discover the use of those two limbs dangling off their bodies – yes, we have legs – and they walk or cycle to work. Many discover they prefer this mode of cheap, air friendly transport and never go back to using the car, bus or underground train.
Newly build houses and office blocks fall under more stringent building regulations, taking better care to introduce better insulation, better use of passive solar energy efficient material and even the use of solar panels themselves. More office blocks and high rise buildings have green spaces on their roofs – roof gardens help with filtering of air, with dust particles and CO2 being taken care of by plants. These gardens are now highly sought after spaces of recreation and relaxation among office workers and provide valuable space for urban wildlife to thrive, too.
How to Improve Air Quality around the Globe
More must be done by developed countries to assist developing countries in avoiding our mistakes. America, China and Russia in particular are the main polluters or air. If anything good has come out of the recent disaster in Japan, then it is that is has shown how an economy that is reliant on nuclear power can be extremely vulnerable to natural disasters and how quickly a nuclear power station can deteriorate into a disaster zone.
Improving our air quality by reducing the number of coal burning power stations is a good thing, but replacing them with nuclear plants is not. For the first time in some twenty years countries around the world are addressing this serious issue in the light of safety – not with the usual eye on short term profit for the economy.
The other meltdown is happening in Middle Eastern countries across the whole region and this political and social upheaval has exposed the West’s over-reliance on fossil fuel burning energy. If we want to improve air quality, cut down on pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and gain freedom from being held to ransom by oil and gas producing countries, then governments in developed countries must act to find more funds for research into truly renewable, sustainable sources of energy, which neither put our air quality, water purity, soil condition nor wildlife at risk.
How can we achieve this when countries are ruled by greed not sense? Maybe it’s time for another revolution – maybe it’s time people, instead of politicians started to run the world. We all have it in our power to change the world – we just need to want it badly enough. Who needs politicians? Belgium has shown us that we don’t actually need governments – their wonderful little country manages quite well without one, thank you very much.
It can be hard to understand the consequences of global warming and climate change. When we look at the wildlife, polar bears and penguins for example, they will soon begin to prey on each other for food. Our future looks as though it could be just as grim, though, if global warming worsens and severe weather continues.
Although we are looking at record amounts of rainfall now, it may not be long until we are seeing quite the opposite. Scientists across the world predict that if global warming continues as it is, we will begin to see less rain. In fact, many parts of the world will face long-standing droughts. These droughts will lead to drastically less crop production.
With about 133 million babies born each year, our worldwide population is constantly growing. World-wide hunger is an issue we already face today. Were we to lose a large portion of our crops, we’d be looking at a global crisis. Simply to stay alive, we’d have to eat more meat. This would put more animals on the break of extinction, if not pushing them over the edge. While this may seem like an extreme example, it is nevertheless an example of what is likely to happen.
It is too easy to think “I am one person, and one person cannot change the world”. But the fact is change starts with one person. But knowing where to begin can prove to be one of the toughest decisions of all. The truth is, however, that there are many ways, both big and small, that you can help the environment. To begin with, there are a multitude of “green” products on the market now that are not only made using planet-friendly methods, but also have safer, degradable chemicals as opposed to the harmful chemicals in many other products. That can be a great place to start. If you feel like taking it a step further, find a location where you can plant a tree. Trees are becoming scarcer and our population grows. The earth would certainly appreciate more oxygen.
A step up from that would be attempts to reduce your driving time. For example, are there times when you could bike, walk, or jog somewhere instead of driving or taking the bus? Not only would that solution help the environment, it would keep you healthy in the process.
There are also plenty of “green” organizations out there who would appreciate your support in their activities. Some have converted heavily polluting companies to greener, safer factories through demonstrations and negotiations.
Damage has been done to our planet. However, this damage is not irreversible, and does not have to get worse than it already is. Simply by taking a few small steps in order to reduce your carbon footprint, you can begin moving the world toward a green future, and secure the fate of future generations. Indeed, it is our responsibility to save the atmosphere from decay.
It is evident that cities and any other location where there is huge release of exhaust and industrial fumes and other air pollutants are vulnerable to smog. There are some seasons that favor smog more. Smog is fiercer during hot weather than in the period of colder weather. During hot weather the upper air will be so warm such that it will make it impossible for vertical circulation of these pollutants to take place. The pollutants hover for some period of time over these cities.
Smog is not only caused by vehicle exhaust fumes or other industrial emissions, there are also some natural occurrences that can give rise smog. Volcanic eruption for instance can release huge amount of sulphur dioxide and also particulate matter. These two elements are also instrumental to the formation of smog. When smog is formed as a result of volcanic eruption, it is referred to as vog. The term is used specifically to differentiate the naturally caused smog from man induced smog.
Some studies on the distribution of smog have also revealed that plants can also help in the distribution of smog through their radiocarbon content. Typical example of this is Creosote bush found in Los Angeles. It has been discovered that the bush enhances the distribution of smog even more than the combustion of fossil fuel.
The question then is: has smog any effect on health to spark off such concern nowadays? Definitely, the answer to the above question is yes. There are some dangerous health issues that are associated with smog. People with heart and lung disease can be affected by smog. It has been discovered that greenhouse gases like nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide, ground-level ozone and sulphur dioxide can enhance heart and lung disease. Senior citizens and children are also affected by these gases.
These gases can cause decrease in the functionality of the lung, shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing due to pain, coughing. This is one of the downsides of the greenhouse gases like ozone which protects us from the scorching heat of the sun. Up there in the atmosphere, ozone can be helpful to man but ground level ozone can also lead to burning eyes and noses and other respiratory problem that are associated with smog when it is trapped close to the ground level in situations of heat inversion.
Smog can lead to untimely death in some cases especially when people who are suffering such respiratory problems like asthma are exposed to it.
Besides the above mention people, those who are involved in some outdoor exercise are vulnerable to smog effect. This is because during exercise the rate at which we breathe increases and this exposes the lung to ground-level ozone. Children are also vulnerable to smog especially during summer. This is because, the play more outside during summer and this time favors smog.
Even though we always do it for a totally different aim, using pesticides and herbicides are among one of the causes of air pollution. A compound called CFC is usually found in these pesticides and once released into the atmosphere our ozone layer is weakened thus allowing more ultraviolet rays into our atmosphere. UV rays have a lot of harm on our skins and they cause skin cancers.
Nuclear industries contribute to air pollution too. From the nuclear energy that is usually dispersed, radioactive fallout gets a chance to pollute the atmosphere. And while we know what radioactive substances are capable of doing to us, we can always get an example from the Hiroshima bombing and see how bad nuclear energy can pollute our environment and at the same time affect our health.
In our very own homes, we can also cause air pollution by failing to ventilate the house especially when toxic fumes from things like cleaning chemicals, paint and even a new carpet are accumulated inside our houses. This is normally referred to as Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) and even the presence of mould inside the house can contribute to it.
Whereas mining is a simple economic activity that tries to obtain minerals from the ground and sell them to earn foreign exchange, it also contributes to air pollution since a variety of substances get released into the atmosphere other than just getting the minerals. Gases such as sulfur oxides make their way into our atmosphere and cause acidic rain which destroys most crops.
Now that we are aware of the causes of air pollution and we’ve seen that it’s almost impossible to stop all the causes of air pollution, here are some of the things we can do to reduce the air pollution menace: start by stopping to plan for that car you were going to buy. There are already enough cars causing air pollution and we certainly don’t need any more. Besides, you’ll be reducing occurrences of traffic jams. If you do decide to have a vehicle, make sure that you use unleaded petroleum since it causes less air pollution than leaded petroleum. You could also try to minimize the rate at which your car consumes petroleum since this will directly cause less fumes to be emitted into the atmosphere. Planting more trees also has the same effect since they are responsible for ensuring that gases such as carbon dioxide and even oxides of sulfur don’t remain in the atmosphere for that long.
Reducing the air pollution menace is a challenge to all of us, whether we care about its effects or we don’t care to know about anything related to it. At this rate, in the coming years, we will have bigger seas and oceans than we have now due to the melting of polar ice caps. This is no one else’s war, it’s ours alone and very few of us are fighting in this war. In the end it’s only us that are to be blamed and right now the effects can be seen, it’s only a matter of time… what have we done so far?
Scientists have succeeded in building climate models. Climate models are computer imitation of the climate. With the help of climate models scientist have reproduced features of the climate and made certain stipulations with regard to the future of the atmosphere. They have predicted that the concentration of the greenhouses gases will be on the increase in so far as more fossil fuel is burnt by man on daily basis. Consequently, the earth surface temperature will also increase more rapidly owing to the increase in the concentration of the greenhouse gas. It has been postulated that the increase in the average surface temperature of the earth will range from 2 degrees Celsius to 6 degrees Celsius towards the end of this century.
However, the increase in the surface temperature of the earth according to this climate model depends on the rate at which fossil fuel is consumed by man. If the rate at which fossil fuel is burnt increases gradually, then the increase in the average surface temperature by the end of the 21st century will be 2 degrees Celsius. But if the rate at which fossil fuel is burnt increases rapidly, then the average surface temperature of the earth will increase to 6 degrees Celsius by the end of this century.
The issue of global warming does not end with greenhouse gases. There is also other side of the whole issue. There is what is known as climate feedback. Climate feedback is the secondary change brought about by global warming. As the surface temperature of the earth is increasing, certain other changes are sparked off.
The main feedbacks are related to snow and ice, clouds, carbon cycle and even water vapour. In Northern Hemisphere the snow and sea ice are gradually melting away as result of the global warming or increase in the average temperature of the earth’s surface air. This has some consequences too. When the ice gradually melts away, it will lead to the more warming of the sea during summer. This will make the sea to be inhabitable for some marine life that survives under cool temperature.
On the land, when the ice is melted away these areas will definitely become warmed. This is because the shinny surface of ice that reflects the heat from the sun away is no longer there. The surface will absorb more heat than usual. This will make those areas to become warmed than usual.
Another feedback brought about by global warming is water vapour. Water vapour is the chief cause of greenhouse warming when it evaporates in large quantity to the atmosphere. When the earth surface increases in temperature, more water vapour will evaporate and goes up into the atmosphere in large quantity. This will only aggravate the issue. More water vapour in the atmosphere will lead to more warming of the atmosphere.
There are other feedbacks that are not mentioned here. What is important is that we have known that global warming spells doom for mankind. It has to be stopped through a collective effort of every person on earth.