HONEY AND CHOLESTEROL

Can honey really lower cholesterol? Find out and know how.
What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a type of fat or lipid produced by the liver needed to make vitamin D and some hormones, build cell walls and create bile salts that help you digest fat. Our liver produces enough of cholesterol, so we don’t have to worry if there is need to get supplements.
Many foods contain cholesterol and sometimes we might find it difficult to ensure that we don’t get excessive intake of cholesterol that could lead to serious health problems. Whole-fat dairy products (such as ice cream, milk and cheese), eggs and meat are loaded with cholesterol. For cholesterol to find its way into the different part of the body, it has to combine with protein (to form lipoprotein) because it can’t travel alone through the bloodstream.
Most cholesterol is bad (the bad cholesterol is the low density lipoprotein), it can narrow the arteries and clog the blood vessels that supply the vital organs such as the brain, kidneys, heart and intestines. So, pay attention to your cholesterol levels by avoiding foods that are high in saturated and trans fat, keeping an exercise regime to strengthen your heart, maintaining healthy weight and consuming diet low in fat e.g. fruits, vegetables, fish, cereals and legumes (beans).
How does honey lower cholesterol? Honey is free of cholesterol and is a healthy, non-drug option to help reduce cholesterol level. First, it has several nutrients such as potassium, sodium, calcium and B-complex vitamins that always fight cholesterol within the body. Secondly, the antioxidants in honey prevent cholesterol from being moved out of the blood into the lining of the blood vessels. Daily consumption of honey could raise blood levels of protective antioxidants compounds in the body. Dark honey lowers cholesterol more effectively than lighter honey because it contains higher level of antioxidants. Also, honey suppresses the level of food storage within the body, which can help to reduce weight gain.
If you are thinking about enhancing your heath by reducing the levels of cholesterol in your body, then, always take honey. You can mix honey and lemon juice with a cup of warm water and drink each morning before breakfast. If you can incorporate honey in places where you might be using table sugar, in no time, you may find a significant increase in the amount of antioxidant chemical compounds in your body and it will also save you money that most people spend on health supplements.

ECTOGENESIS: COMING EPOCH OF MOTHERLESS BIRTH.

You would tend to ask, how possible is it for a child to survive outside the womb? This sounds insanely unbelievable and yet achievable. YES! It is called Ectogenesis. It means growth of an organism outside of a body and it applies to animal as well as the growth of bacteria. Recently scientists sustained human embryo in a petri dish for 13 days, shattering the previous record of 9days.
Ectogenesis would require an artificial uterus that supplies nutrients and oxygen to the foetus, custom-built amniotic fluid sac would also need to remove waste, this would be attached to ‘placenta machine’ and cables could monitor everything from the baby’s weight to heart rate and development.
Research into ectogenesis technology has the potential to cause a dramatic shift in cultural assumptions regarding women’s role in reproduction. The advent of ectogenesis would mean females would no longer have to solely bear the responsibility of child birth.
Advantages of ectogenesis
1. It could be used for women who are unable to carry babies naturally due to a damaged uterus while simultaneously avoiding the need to engage a surrogate.
2. It would reduce the number of pregnancy and birth-related deaths among women.
3. It could extend the age at which women give birth and drugs could be more easily administer to the foetus if it became ill.
4. It may be safer than ‘normal womb’ i.e. the risk of accidents, drugs, diseases, alcohol, inadequate nutrition etc. would all be virtually eliminated.
5. It would provide for the needs of women whose lifestyles would not easily accommodate pregnancy.
6. It would also provide a method of terminating an unwanted pregnancy that didn’t also bring about the death of the foetus.
7. It could reduce the number of still births, because fetuses would be more closely monitored and accessible.
Disadvantages of ectogenesis
1. The risks of removing foetus from the womb.
2. Men taking over unique function of women.
3. It would determine women’s right to decide when/how to become mothers.
4. It would reduce women’s status to laborers, sex providers and breeders.
5. May be used for no reason at all, as women are no longer forced to endure pregnancy.
6. Men gaining complete control over reproduction and women’s bodies.
7. Children who develop in an artificial uterus may lack some essential bond with their mothers that other children have.
Natural birth is filled with perils and ectogenesis could potentially offer a safe alternative but do you think it would be acceptable in our society? Would people tend to be comfortable using it? Don’t you think it will redefine social role?

International Youth Day 2016 - “The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production”

International Youth Day (IYD) is an awareness day designated by the United Nations to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth. It is observed annually on 12 August. It is meant as an opportunity for governments and others to draw attention to youth issues worldwide. During IYD, concerts, workshops, cultural events, and meetings involving national and local government officials and youth organizations take place around the world.
The theme of the 2016 International Youth Day is “The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production”. It focuses on the leading role of young people in ensuring poverty eradication and achieving sustainable development through sustainable consumption and production.
Children are the future of the world and to have a successful future we must invest in them, giving them the opportunities and the education they need and deserve. The youth makes up 43% of the world’s population i.e. There is large potential force out there that can change the world. Youth are powerful agents of positive change, essential to taking forward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Sustainable consumption entails the use of products and services that meet the basic needs of communities while safeguarding the needs of future generations. The development and promotion of individual choices and actions that increase the eco-efficiency of consumption of all and minimize waste and pollution is critical to achieving equitable socioeconomic development.
The Sustainable Development Goals are: End poverty in all its forms everywhere, end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns, promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss, conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources, promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all, achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation, revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. Etc.
Youth Perspective in poverty eradication is built on the understanding that young people are not merely a target group but also initiators, participants, decision-makers and leaders. Eliminating
poverty requires that young people must be recognized as a resource for change in society. This is where young people have a critical role to play. If countries are to succeed in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, leaving no one behind along the way, governments must seek out an active and substantive engagement of young men and women from diverse backgrounds in national-level planning, implementation, and monitoring. The overall success of the SDGs depends on youth engagement because young people are:
1. Critical thinkers: Youth have the capacity to identify and challenge existing power structures and barriers to change, and to expose contradictions and biases.
2. Communicators: Young people can be partners in communicating the agenda to their peers and communities at the local level, as well as across countries and regions.
3. Innovators: Young people often have direct knowledge of and insights into issues that are not accessible to adults. Youth best understand the problems they face and can offer new ideas and alternative solutions.
4. Change-makers: Young people also have the power to act and mobilize others. Youth activism is on the rise now, strengthened by broader connectivity and access to social media.
5. Leaders: When young people are empowered with the knowledge of their rights and supported to develop leadership skills, they can drive change in their communities and countries.
Millions of people are already transforming the way we produce, consume, behave and communicate. It is not enough to hope for a better tomorrow -- we must act now.

PRICED ABOVE RUBIES

The book of proverbs is based on metaphor and proverbs 31 provides a detailed metaphor of feminine wisdom in the context of a family and a community. The most quoted section, verses 10-31 is a chiastic poem. It speaks of the worth of a woman that is priced above rubies i.e. the worth of a good wife to her husband, her ability to provide for a family, the manual labor she does and her wisdom in caring for herself so she can share her strength with others.
Why is that woman priced above rubies, of all the gemstone? Rubies are distinguished for their bright color, being the most famed and fabled, a stone of nobility, most magnificent of all gems, the queen of stones and stones of kings. It values even exceeds that of the diamond.
A woman priced above rubies is a virtuous woman, a valiant and worthy woman, a woman of noble character and an excellent spirit, a capable and diligent woman.
A diligent woman- she isn’t afraid of work. She gets up in the morning and gets things done. She can take pain in her duties and pleasure in them as well. Taking care of our responsibilities is characteristic of wisdom. Do not falter on your responsibilities, finish it in a timely manner without procrastinating.
An excellent woman- she is intelligent and well-informed. she is educated about the world and the world of business. She knows how to use her skills to provide for her family. She is wise to the ways of the world, but lives by the wisdom of God. Be prudent in spending money and use your earth’s resources wisely.
A woman of noble character- she has the grace to help others. she ensures that those under her care receive what they need (food, clothing, protection etc.). she is intent upon giving freely and cheerfully. While you should not ignore your own needs, you should think highly of the needs of others and be there to take care of those needs when you can.
A valiant and worthy woman- she is brave and courageous. She partners with her husband to get things done, looks out for his interest and give him the security that is lacking in this world. She is worth more than a substantial paycheck.
A virtuous woman- she makes sure her appearance reflects her respected position as an influence in her community. Let your outward beauty reflect your inner beauty. For beauty to be complete, outward beauty must harmonize with inward beauty to be whole. A virtuous woman always fears God.
How any individual woman exemplifies these characteristics will depend on her situation, gifts and abilities. Be a daughter polished after the similitude of a palace. Be:
P-Principled
R-Right-minded
I-Inculpable
C-Chaste
E-Excellent
D-Decorous

A-Angelic
B-Blameless
O-Open
V-Virginal
E-Ethical

R-Respectable
U-Untainted
B-Beneficial
Y-Youthful