Short...

Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced that she was formally establishing a presidential campaign exploratory committee. 

A former Harvard law professor and champion of consumer protection, Warren is  on the shortlist of potential 2020 Democratic candidates. Her fundraising prowess and popularity in progressive circles has left many in Washington referring to her as one of a few early front-runners as well, though more than two dozen other Democrats are also rumored to be considering presidential runs. 

The video message out features childhood pictures. Warren discusses her life growing up in Oklahoma where her mother worked a minimum wage job and her introduction into politics, when she helped President Barack Obama establish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau after the 2008 financial crisis.   She is 69 years old.  

Talks...

The talks were not the first between the Taliban and Iranian officials.  Iran's National Security Council confirmed in Kabul that such talks have taken place in the past and would continue.  Iran has tried to facilitate talks between the insurgents and government of Afghanistan.

The developments come against a backdrop of near-daily attacks in Afghanistan, where the Taliban hold sway over nearly half the country. The Taliban have recently held talks with representatives of several regional countries amid U.S. plans to withdraw up to half the 14,000 American troops from Afghanistan.

Two weeks ago, the Taliban held another round of talks with U.S. officials, this time in the United Arab Emirates and also involving Saudi, Pakistani and Emirati representatives.

In 1998, Iran held the Taliban responsible for the deaths of nine Iranian diplomats who were working in its consulate in northern Afghanistan and sent reinforcements to the 950-kilometer- (580-mile-) long border that Iran and Afghanistan share. 

There is no way around it, the Taliban will rule the country and they will fight the Iranian from here till the end of time. We don't have the right to decide for the Afghan people who to rule. 

Just a thought.

Banned...

New York City pharmacies won't be allowed to sell cigarettes or other tobacco products starting Tuesday. The Wall Street Journal reports the ban also includes businesses that contain pharmacies, such as supermarkets and big-box stores.

The city's health department says the change will affect about 500 pharmacies currently selling tobacco products.

The new rules follow a ban on electronic cigarette sales at pharmacies that took effect in late August.

The owner of the St. George Pharmacy on Staten Island says cigarette sales had drawn customers who ended up making other purchases. Al Gentile says the government shouldn't ban certain stores from selling tobacco products that can be purchased elsewhere.

Will, then can they sell Marijuana? This rule should be challenged. Just a thought.

Avoid...

Sodium is a salt, but there are "salt substitutes" that are also salts and can contribute to hypertension. The CDC recommends no more than 1500 milligrams daily sodium intake.

Processed foods are frequently laden with salt.  More than 75% of the salt in your diet comes from packaged foods.

Delicatessen meats and bacon are seasoned and preserved with salt. One serving size of Genoa salami has 910 milligrams of sodium, 3 slices of turkey breast, can contain over 1000 milligrams of sodium.  

Bread is also laden with sodium! Each slice of bread may have around 200 milligrams of sodium and this amount can add up during the day. 

Pickles are made by curing them in a salty brine. An entire pickle can contain half of your daily recommended sodium serving.

Although it might be obvious that sugar can lead to weight gain and obesity, high sugar intake is also associated with high blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends limiting your added sugar to 9 teaspoons daily​.

limiting Salt and Sugar is the start to a good year and a healthy one.

Overweight...

More than 2 billion adults and children globally are overweight or obese and suffer health problems because of their weight, a new study.

This equates to one-third of the world's population carrying excess weight, fueled by urbanization, poor diets and reduced physical activity.

The United States has the greatest percentage of obese children and young adults, at 13%, while Egypt led in terms of adult obesity, with almost 35%, among the 195 countries and included in the study.

An increasing number globally are dying from health problems linked to being overweight, such as cardiovascular disease, said the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Almost 40% of the 4 million dying as a result of their higher body mass index were not yet obese, highlighting that deaths are occurring almost as often in those considered overweight as those considered obese.

Define...*

"Man surprised me most about humanity.
Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money.
Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.
And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present;
the result being that he does not live in the present or the future.
He lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,

compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong.

Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."

"Never be bullied into silence.

Never allow yourself to be made a victim.

Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself."   Just a thought. 

Party...*

 


Eating processed meats like hot dogs, sausages and bacon can cause colorectal cancer in humans, and red meat is also a likely cause of the disease.  World Health Organization (WHO) experts said.

WHO said additionally that there was some link between the consumption of red meat and pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer.

IARC classified processed meat as "carcinogenic to humans" on its group one list along with tobacco and asbestos, for which there is "sufficient evidence" of cancer links.

For an individual, the risk of developing colorectal (bowel) cancer increases with the amount of meat consumed," Dr Kurt Straif of the IARC said in a statement.

The classification for red meat, defined as all types of mammalian meat including beef, lamb and pork.  The IARC found links mainly with colorectal cancer - which is a cancer that starts either in the colon or rectum - but also observed associations with pancreatic and prostate cancer.

The news may not add much to long-standing health recommendations to limit consumption of such meat.   Just a thought.

Five...*

Americans could add years to their lives with just a handful of healthy habits, new study suggests.

The typical 50-year-old American can expect to live another 30 to 33 years. Based on the new study, those who maintain five lifestyle habits could add roughly a decade to that life expectancy.

The key factors include the usual suspects:

not smoking; eating healthy; exercising regularly; maintaining a normal weight; and drinking only in moderation.

"Our findings have significant public health implications, because they demonstrate the great potential of diet and lifestyle changes in improving life expectancy," said  Dr. Frank Hu,  chair of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.

The habits are also realistic. For example, moderate exercise  such as brisk walking for 30 minutes a day -- was enough.

"That isn't a crazy amount of exercise." "It doesn't require you to join a gym."

So do something to help yourself.

Brown...*

Research shows a correlation between eating larger quantities of white bread and gain unwanted weight.

Replace your white bread with whole grain or whole wheat bread whenever possible, as whole wheat bread is positively good for your health.

White rice is just like white bread.

The high fiber content helps feel full and satisfied for longer (reducing your likelihood of overeating or reaching for a pack of cookies)

In sum, brown rice not only lacks the properties that link white rice to health risks, but it also contains a whole host of extra properties that are directly connected to health benefits.