NYC Raises Minimum Age to Buy Smokes, Hopes to Reduce Harm to Youths

Smoking may be a bad habit, but New York City believes their residents should be older and wiser before deciding to take it up. The New York City Council recently passed a bill to increase the minimum age for buying cigarettes from 18 to 21. So, young New Yorkers who want to puff smoke will have to wait an additional three years just like they do today with alcoholic beverages.

The purchasing age limit is not just restricted to cigarettes. The new law extends to certain tobacco products, including electronic vapor cigarettes. In addition, the new minimum price for cigarettes will increase to $10.50 per pack.  This major movement is targeted at young adults and teens in New York who begins smoking at an early age and then become addicted to it. The bill goes into effect 180 days after Mayor Bloomberg signs it into law.

What makes smoking dangerous?

There are more than 4,000 chemical compounds and 400+ toxic substances found in cigarettes. The burning of cigarettes releases these toxic substances that are inhaled by the smoker. The most dangerous substances produced through burning of tobacco are tar (which is carcinogenic in nature), nicotine (an addictive substance causing several harmful effects on body) and carbon monoxide (harmful gas affecting the normal oxygen levels in the body).

Teens and young adults, who smoke on a regular basis may later on, become dependent on cigarettes. The prevalence and patterns of cigarette abuse in teens are strongly related to a range of factors - including age, sex, cultural background and socio-environmental conditions. The major cause of smoking in teens is curiosity and peer pressure. In spite of knowing the adverse side effects of smoking, young adults continue to smoke if they are frequently surrounded with a peer group that is involved with cigarettes. So, basically by barring the purchasing age limit for cigarettes, the new law is preventing teenagers from developing a bad habit, which in turn may ultimately save their lives.

Above all, the addictive nature of smoking makes it dangerous. A wide range of harms is associated with alcohol use, such as physical, psychological, financial and social.  These can be experienced by the individual user, his/her family, colleagues, friends and the community as a whole. In addition, the cost to buy health insurance is more expensive for those who smoke.  Recent reports suggest that more than 7,000 people in New York die every year due to the harmful effects of smoking.

Smoking in teens usually starts off casually - an offer from a friend, desire to experiment or simply to relax and achieve the high. Before they realize it, however, this occasional use can ultimately lead to tobacco abuse.  Smoking is one of the major causes of teen death. According to a survey, more than eighty per cent of smokers in New York started smoking before the age of 21. By increasing the age limit, the city can try to prevent or at least delay, young adolescents taking up a habit that is responsible for several adverse effects.

Free Quit Smoking Help

The State of New York offers free assistance to state residents trying to quit smoking by calling 866-697-8487 or online at www.nysmokefree.com.

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Is Your Child at Risk of a Caffeine Overdose?

Most adults start their day with at least one hot cup of coffee for that morning eye-opener.  In fact, a recent survey by the National Coffee Association revealed that as much as 83% of adults are coffee drinkers, making the U.S. the world’s biggest consumption of coffee.  While many parents don’t allow their children to drink coffee, caffeine consumption among children is on the rise.  

Consuming three to four cups of coffee during the day may interfere with sleep, but this is nowhere near an overdose. It may also be nothing compared to what some children and adolescents, who consume the ultimate caffeine mix in the form of an energy drink that kids think are cool. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, energy drinks are the fastest growing beverage in the U.S. Half of the energy drink market consists of children younger than 12 years old, adolescents and young adults in the age group of 19 to 25. 

Caffeine and energy drinks:

Energy drinks are high in concentrated amounts of sugar, caffeine and other ingredients. Most of these types of beverages contain as much as 70 to 80 mg of caffeine per 8-ounce serving, three times the amount found in soda. Some energy drinks also contain natural additive substances like guarana and taurine, which are also high in caffeine. Guarana contains 3.6 to 5.8 percent caffeine by weight, which is highest as compared to any other plant.  According to a survey by consumerreports.org, caffeine levels per serving ranged from about 6 milligrams to 242 milligrams per serving, and some containers may have more than one serving. In some energy drinks, the exact concentration per serving was not even mentioned. Moreover, there are energy drinks that contain more than 20 percent of their labeled amount, on average. Since these energy drinks are considered dietary supplements they are not regulated by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and there is no limit to the amount of caffeine that they may contain. 

How much caffeine is too much in children?

According to experts, the caffeine consumption in children and adolescents should not exceed more than 100 mg per day. 

4-6 years	45 mg
7-9 years	62.5 mg
10-12 years	85 mg
13 years and up	Varies depending on weight

Although low doses of caffeine have been associated with mental alertness and improved motor tasks, these benefits come with adverse effects. According to studies, caffeine consumption in kids causes sleeplessness, which in turn affects their BMI (body mass index), anxiety, rapid heartbeat and palpitations. It’s not just the caffeine that should worry parents, but the sugar content as well. Energy drinks are loaded with sugar, and are often consumed as a substitute for healthier beverages like water and low fat milk. In addition, sugary drinks can cause cavities and lead to dehydration. 

Caffeine can make your kids feel more alert, boost their mental and physical performance, and even elevate their moods. But, consuming too many beverages throughout the day that contain caffeine can cause a caffeine overdose. Therefore, parents should consult with their pediatrician and limit the amount of caffeine and sugary drinks that their children consume to a minimum and encourage them to opt for healthier choices.

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Some Fat Free Foods May Make Weight Loss More Difficult

Many people rely on fat free foods to lose weight; but do these low fat or fat free foods actually help in shedding extra calories? Your diet may conceal some nasty surprises. Even foods that sound healthy can be troublesome. Take that low fat dressing that you sprinkle on your salad, for instance.  It may contain high amount of calories in the form of sugar. Just because your food is labeled ‘low fat’ or ‘no fat’ does not mean it is healthier or it will help you lose calories. The truth is you may actually gain weight when you are eating foods that contain low fat content. Let us find out how….

Although reduced fat or low fat foods contain less amount of fat, it is important to keep in mind that they are not low in other ingredients. They are often high in sugar (in the form of corn fructose sugar), sodium, carbohydrates and artificial sweeteners. For example, the main ingredients in Kraft’s Fat Free Ranch Dressing are corn syrup, vinegar, high fructose corn syrup and water. So, in order to make the taste better, fat in the dressing is replaced by corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup, both of which contain high sugar content. Therefore, these substitute ingredients of fat are not just high in calories but also unhealthy, leading to several health disorders.

In most cases, low fat snacks are just as high in calories as the regular kind. For example, in the case of chocolate cookies, manufacturers remove the fat ingredients and replace them with sugar, which is again a high calorie ingredient.

Diet foods are replaced with artificial sweeteners like Splenda and Aspartame, which are zero in calories. Now, when you eat snacks containing artificial sweeteners, your body undergoes certain changes in biochemistry that lead to weight gain. Several studies have found that artificial sweeteners stimulate your appetite, increase your craving for carbs and stimulate fat storage, thereby leading to weight gain.

Another reason why fat free foods actually lead to weight gain is overeating. Many people believe that fat free foods contain less calories than the regular ones and tend to overeat. When your mind is ingrained with the fact that low fat foods are less fattening, you will eat double or triple.

Just remember, fats give texture and flavor to the foods. When you remove fat from food, you add starch, extra sugar or salt in order to boost its flavor, thereby making the food more processed and unhealthy. The secret to losing belly fat is burning more calories than you consume. This can be done by eating all your food groups in moderation and including physical activity in your lifestyle.

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Mind Exercises to Strengthen Your Memory

Our minds define and control who we are. A sharp and active mind adds to your personality. Just as physical exercise is necessary for keeping our body healthy and physically fit; similarly any form of mind exercise challenges your brain and sharpens thinking level and cognitive abilities. Mind exercises improve brain functions such as memory, concentration, attention span, processing and other brain skills that also help you stay alert and delays or prevents old-age dementia. It is truly said, “it is the mind that makes the man”.

To unlock the full potential of your brain, you need to keep it active and acute. Weave healthy mind improvement exercises in to your daily routine to challenge your memory and stay sharp.

 

Crossword puzzles

Crossword puzzles are the most popular brain games that help in strengthening the brain power and strengthening memory. Studies have shown that puzzles stimulate the mind and enhance the brain’s circuitry. Puzzles exercise your brain cells and keep them active. Research has shown that playing crossword or other puzzles on a regular basis reduces the risk of developing Dementia (memory related disorder) in old age. So pick up your daily newspaper and work on that crossword puzzle.

Video games

Several studies have shown that video games increase the efficiency of processing auditory and visual information for better response in the game. They are the most entertaining way to enhance your memory skills. Video games improve your focus and concentration, and boost problem solving ability.

While puzzles and games are the best ways to improve our memory, there are several innovative ways that can prevent shrinking of the brain cells and improve brain cell connections:

Shop without a list

One of the reasons our memory fades with time is because we do not challenge our mind enough. Try going to the store without your grocery list, and try to remember everything that you need  to get. Your goal is to find everything without writing it down on paper.

Recall your day activity

When you are ready to go to sleep, go over in your mind what you did that day from the time you got up 'till the time you get into your bed. Try to recall as much detail as possible. Even visualize the activities of the day. This will exercise your mind and strengthen your memory. In the beginning, you may not remember everything in detail, but gradually over a period of time, you will start remembering even the minute details of the day.

Indulge in new activities

Research has shown that trying out new activities pushes our mind to go beyond its comfort zone and learn something new. This keeps your brain focussed on accomplishing new, challenging tasks and strengthens your memory. For example, you can try a different route from your office to home, or play a new sport for couple of weekends in a month.

Read More Often

Studies have shown that reading improves learning and boosts memory. In fact, reading material aloud significantly improves memory of the material and the understanding of the concepts and information.