Link Between Smell and Weight Loss

This post was inspired by a news headline that recently caught my eye. This article discusses a new weight loss technique that uses the sense of smell in order to prevent overeating. I was drawn to this article because it mentioned this technology that is unlike anything I had ever heard of before! Dr. Alan Hirsch, M.D., founder and neurological director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, is the man responsible for the weight loss innovation. He is not a diet doctor; in fact, it was his work with brain trauma patients who suffered smell disorders lead him to discover clues into the underlying mechanisms of hunger and appetite. Hirsch hypothesized, after observing a significant weight gain pattern among patients who had lost their sense of smell, that if loss of smell contributes to weight gain, the reverse could be true. He noted the possibility that enhancing smell could aid weight loss. Hirsch created Tastant crystals, something that could be sprinkled onto foods to boost scent intake, in an attempt to prove his theory. Since, many large-scale clinical weight loss studies conducted have produced evidence in support of Hirsch's hypothesis. In fact, sprinkling Tastants onto food helps contribute to the loss of an average of 30 pounds! This study serves as the foundation for the new weight-loss technology called Sensa. As I said, I had never heard of this study before reading the article, and now I am curious to see how this product will affect the weight loss world.

Marvelous Memory

This semester I began volunteering at a nursing home. Prior to a few weeks ago, I had never spent much time around individuals suffering from Alzheimer's disease. I had briefly learned about the disease in high school; however, most of my thoughts were based off of Hollywood portrayals of the disease.

Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disease that destroys brain cells, thus leading to memory loss and issues with behavior and thinking. I was amazed to learn that over 5.3 million Americans are living with the disease and that it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States.

It’s a very interesting experience to mingle with the different residents at the home. The majority of them suffer from Alzheimer’s but for each of them the disease is at various stages. Some appear to have their memory perfectly in tact while others seem to live in their own imaginary world. I have truly enjoyed the conversations that I have had during my visits. The conversations range from heart-felt and emotional to totally outrageous, but they are always entertaining and enjoyable.

Socializing with several individuals affected by the disease has truly made me thankful for my youth and my memory. Both, my memory and my youth, are things that I typically pay little attention to; however, every time I leave the nursing home I feel increasingly blessed for my good health. I think sometimes its good to get a dose of reality in order to make you count your blessings and appreciate the life you’re living.

2010 Olympic Torch Relay

In anticipation of the 2010 Winter Olympics, in Vancouver, the Olympic Torch began its relay through the host country on October 30, 2009. The Olympic Flame visited more than 1,000 communities during its 106-day journey. Utilizing all forms of transportation, land, air, and water, during its venture across the vast country.

Over Winter Break, I was lucky enough to experience the Olympic Flame as it was carried through my homeland. Though, I have resided in the United States for the majority of my life I am a Canadian citizen. Every year, my family spends Christmas in Canada. This year our stay happened to coincide perfectly with the date when the Olympic Flame was scheduled to make its run through our town.

Canada truly embraced The Olympic Torch Relay prior to these Olympic games. The relay was a tool used to build up excitement for the 2010 games… and it worked! I watched the torch being run through the town among hundreds of pumped up Canadians. The Olympic Flame united each and every town it came through. My family and I bundled up and braced the northern temperatures that are characteristic of January up in the great white north and took part in the festivities surrounding the torch relay. The downtown area of my small cottage town just north of Toronto turned into one great big party. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I am so happy I got to be a part of the 2010 Winter Olympics!

Damaged Picasso

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has housed Picasso's "The Actor" since 1952. However, just a few weeks ago the 105-year-old painting was injured. A woman accidentally fell into the famous painting, tearing it. The six-inch vertical tear is located along its lower right-hand corner. The painting is now being cared for in the Met's conservation laboratory. Thankfully, the tear isn't located in the focal area of the painting so the painting should be able to be restored. This piece dates back to the early years of Picasso's career and has an estimated worth of well over $100 million. I understand that a mistake is a mistake but... if I were the woman responsible for tearing this rare and wonderful piece of artwork I would be feeling pretty darn guilty right about now, wouldn't you?

Grown up Digital

Summary:

In Don Tapscott’s book, Grown Up Digital, he discusses coming of age of the Net Generation. While, Tapscott may not agree with all of these statements, he chose to include a list of the top ten issues relating to this generation’s character. One of the main bullet points voices concern about the amount of time people of the Net Generation are spending online. It claims that the Net Generation is made up of a bunch of internet addicts who lack social skills. People of the Net Generation rely on non-personal forms of communicating. Text messages and e-mails have taken the place of face-to-face conversations. And that rather than engaging in physical or healthy activities they spend their time staring at the screens of computers and televisions. Therefore, members of the Net Generation are out of shape both physically and socially.

Response:

I neither fully agree or disagree with this argument. I admit that people of the Net Generation, myself included, do spend more time with technology than any of the other generations. However, I do not agree with the idea that our use of technology is totally negative. Many of us do prefer texting to phone conversations in certain situations; however, that is not to say that we never carry on phone conversations. Text messaging is best for short questions/comments and quick responses. In addition, this list makes it seem that only the Net Generation uses these methods of communication when in reality many members of the older generations are just as guilty.

The Season of Giving

In the months surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday cheer fills the air. It's important to take some time and give to those who are less fortunate. I've made a list of five ideas to inspire you to participate in the season of giving.

1. Donate cans.

2. Volunteer at a soup kitchen.

3. Clean out your closet and donate the clothes you never wear.

4. Donate toys.

5. What do you get for the person who has everything? Donate to your favorite charity
in their honor.

Animal Testing

I thought that I'd write about animal testing within the cosmetic industry for my persuasive argument essay. As an animal lover, myself, I was attracted to this topic. I am very opposed to animal testing in the cosmetic industry because I feel that it is both immoral and inhumane. I'm writing to an audience that consists of cosmetic consumers in an attempt to persuade them to only buy cosmetics not tested on animals. My main reason being that if consumers support companies who test their products on animals they are contributing to the suffering and in some cases death of innocent animals. I plan to show my audience how much of a role they, as consumers, can play in eliminating such testing via purchasing power. In addition, I plan to alert my audience of their moral responsibility to the animals to take action, force change, and save lives!