Back to our usual articles list this week.
- 200,000 year old bedding includes evidence of bug-repellent measures
- High speed footage of a non-Newtonian fluid under stress. This is very easy to make at home, just mix cornstarch and water together to get the right consistency. There are tons of videos on YouTube about this stuff, here is one of my recent favorites.
- I usually stay away from health/diet articles here, since there are so many conflicting articles and viewpoints. This article I think does a good job at not just looking at the specific diet issue, amount and source of protein, but also hits on some of the other issues surrounding food supply in this country.
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Today, I read the article, “The oldest known grass beds from 20,000 years ago included insect repellents” by Bruce Bower. The article started off by explaining how the oldest known grass bedding was found in South Africa’s Border Cave, which lay on the ashes of a bedding that was burned before. The ash that was spread underneath the grass bunches may have been used to repel insects and bugs. Furthermore, Lyn Wadley, an archeologist, and her team, also found pieces of burned wood that had camphor leaves, which is a type of plant that can potentially be used as insect/bug repellent. At Border Cave, analyses of chemical, as well as microscopic, of sediment showed that many beds were made from grasses such as red and Guinea grass. In addition to this finding, small stones were also found in the ash remains, which may mean that people sat on this bedding while making tools out of the stones.
I also read another article, called, “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet” by Leslie Nemo. This article was introduced by talking about how Americans love protein, which is found and sold in drink powder, pancake mixes, and bars, among many other items. Nikita Kapur says that she thinks that an average American consumes more protein that which is needed. The Food and Nutrition Board reccomended people to eat 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight for each day. However, age may also play a factor in how much protein one should consumer each day. In addition, if you are not as active, you may have to consume less protein per day. Many studies have shown that a lot of protein intake is connected to Type 2 diabetes. The problem also may be where the protein that you eat is coming from. Kapur says that although you don’t need to give up meat, they encourage plant based sources of protein. In conclusion, this article discussed how the source of protein is also important rather than the amount that you are eating.
I read the article titled “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents” this week. I found this article interesting because I am into historical things and this article focuses on a grass bed from 200,000 years ago that was found in South Africa. I like that today we are still finding ancient artifacts from societies that came before us and that we can use them to discover facts about the people and have they survived from it. This article enlightened me on how smart our ancestors were because in the bed they found fossilized grass, bug-repelling ash and aromatic leaves which were all used to keep bugs away when they slept. Even though these people did not have all the technology and chemicals we have today, they were still able to use their resources and create a form of products we use today. It’s very interesting that they burnt the beds to make ashes to go under the beds to keep the bugs away since they cannot go through a fine powder and that they used camphor leaves. It’s very impressive that before we had only found a plant bedding from 77,000 years ago and now we made a even bigger better discovery.
In the article, “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet,” dieticians worry that Americans are consuming too much protein. They stress that Americans should understand what types of proteins they are consuming instead of how much. On average, a healthy person should consume 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram, but this can vary depending on health issues as well as age. For example, people aged 65 or older should consume around 1 to 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram. Quarantine can also make people rethink how much protein should be consumed, especially since many people are not as active as they were before. Also, certain diets that make fat or carbohydrates look bad falsely encourage that a high protein consumption is necessary, which can be seen in certain market trends. The market trends also reflect sports and protein drinks that say that they are high in protein. This may make it seem that high protein consumption is good for the body, but there are still some risks associated with it. For example, there is some research showing that excessive protein may increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes by about 20 to 40 percent, but this could also relate to the type of protein that is being consumed. Animal protein consumption is tied more closely to Type 2 diabetes than plant-based proteins. Protein consumption could also be affected by the area you live in. On average, low-income areas have higher-priced low quality food that makes it harder to access good food, which can contribute to unhealthy diets. Overall, the article was very interesting and informative about the negative effects of high protein consumption.
I read the article, “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet.” This article was very helpful for many reasons. It starts off by discussing how the generic standards set by the Food and Nutrition Board do not fit everyone. For example, those who are pregnant or over the age of 65 need more protein than the average healthy individual. Some may need less protein too, which can be seen in those who are less active. Protein intake should be moderated, since eating too much protein can increase the risk of developing Type II Diabetes and other illnesses. Another point introduced was that the source of protein matters too, meaning plant-based sources of protein are more desirable than animal sources. Also, dietitians encourage people to eat protein throughout the day rather than all at once, which allows for better digestion. Finally, access to healthy foods is an issue mentioned by the authors, and they hope to see greater access amongst the population. Thus, the article was extremely helpful and informative.
I read the article titled “The Oldest known Grass Beds from 20,000 years ago included insect repellents” written by Bruce Bower. The article discussed the discovery of the oldest known grass bed in Border Cave in South Africa. The bed was covered with ashes that were burned prior in order to repel insects. Along with the burnt ash archeologist found burned wood and camphor leaves commonly used and bug repellents. Along with bug repellents archeologist found small stones which causes scientists to assume that people sat on these beds and made tools out of the stones. I found this article pretty interesting because it showed me how smart and knowledgeable our ancestors were. From making tools out of stone to using ash to protect themselves from insects they were able to solve many problems using what they had. Today we use various chemicals to protect us from bugs bites but they were able to use a more natural way using different leaves they can find around them. Laying ashes on their bed to ensure their protection from bugs is also a great idea that they were able to come up with. I find it fascinating how much our ancestors were able to overcome even with how little they had.
The article I read this week focused on protein and how much of it should actually be incorporated into one's daily diet. On average, a person should eat 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of their body weight daily-which is significantly less than what most Americans are really eating. This daily protein requirement also varies greatly depending on factors such as pregnancy and age. Kapur, a dietician with Compass Nutrition in New York, says that the types of proteins a person eats and when they eat them can also have a large effect on one’s health. Leaner meats and plant based options such as beans are great sources of protein that when assimilated into diets, make them more well-rounded. Kapur also says that by eating protein throughout the day as opposed to all at once, one’s body is more likely to be able to convert all of the protein into useful components. This article concludes by stating that the ability to eat a balanced diet is largely impacted by access. Studies show that low-income areas can have a harder time getting the food products necessary for a healthy diet. This article was very informative and eye-opening for me. I’ve always been taught the benefits of eating protein, but never the importance of eating the right amounts at the right times. Protein consumption can have a large impact on one’s health, and I believe that by monitoring the type and amount of protein a person eats, it can lead to a healthier overall lifestyle.
I also read the article that addresses the discovery of grass beds from 200,000 years ago that include evidence of early insect repellents. People living in southern Africa slept on grass bedding, and burned it-which helped to keep away bugs. Archaeologist Lyn Wadley said that the grass bedding was laid on top of the ashes of burned bedding. The fine powder of the ash is difficult for insects to move through, which kept the bedding from being infested with bugs. Fragments of camphor leaves were also found among the pieces of burned wood. This aromatic plant was used as an additional way to keep away insects. I found this article fascinating because not only did it give me insight into the lives of people who lived 200,000 years ago, but it also showed how those people solved problems that are still relevant today. Even though their methods of bug repellent greatly differ from our current solutions, it was crazy to see the parallels between our lives and the lives of our ancestors.
The article, “Researchers capture footage of fluid behaving like a solid” explains that there is a way to see liquid act like a solid. This study shows a phenomenon called, Discontinuous Shear Thickness, which is when liquid abruptly thickens and becomes solid. The research team used regular kitchen starch and mixed it with water. This is placed in a narrow cell, pressurised air is released into the cornstarch and it showed a dramatic shear thickening response. The main hypothesis was that the fluid would fracture like a solid if given enough stress. With the cornstarch, the friction can be turned on and off. I find this interesting because it is so simple to replicate at home.
The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents is about the oldest known grass bedding, South Africa’s Border Cave, was burned by its natives in order to repel critters. Not only was there ash spread discovered beneath bunches of grass but archaeologist Lyn Wadley and her team found fragments of camphor leaves, an aromatic plant that can be used as a bug repellent. This discovery provides evidence that ancient grass bedding was burned on purpose.
How much protein do you actually need in your diet was the article I found to be the most interesting because there are so many fad diets that encourage a large intake of protein but this article puts those diets to question. Researchers have given a chart that correlates one’s body mass with the amount of protein that person should consume on a daily basis. However, every person has a different body and lifestyle so the protein intake varies. The market has done many advertisements trying to sell protein shakes and protein snacks but there are risks to maxing out how much protein you eat at every meal. For example, an excessive amount of protein in a person’s diet can directly correlate to the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Research suspects that animal-based protein can increase a person’s Type 2 diabete from 20% to 40%. Nikita Kapur, a dietician with Compass Nutrition, suggests looking into eating more of a plant-based protein, such as grains, seeds, and vegetables. Interestingly enough, healthier foods are typically more expensive than junk foods which hinders as a problem for people who want to have a balanced meal but are on a budget constraint.
After reading the article, “The oldest known grass beds from 20,000 years ago included insect repellents” by Bruce Bower I was informed of the discoveries made at South Africa’s Border Cave. The article opens up by providing a brief history of grass beds saying that people who once lived in southern Africa slept on grass bedding and also burned it as a form of repelling bugs. Then the article explains that the remnants of the oldest known grass bedding have been discovered in South Africa’s Border Cave by archaeologist Lyn Wadley and her colleagues. It was also found laying on the ashes of previously burned bedding. The ash spread beneath the old bedding was understood to be bound bunches of grass that may have been used to repel different insects that couldn't easily move through the fine powder of the brunt bedding. Wadley’s team also found bits of burned wood under the bedding containing fragments of camphor leaves which have also been used as a bug repellent. At Border Cave, Wadley and her colleagues completed a chemical and microscopic analysis of the sediment they excavated and found that a series of beds had been assembled from different grasses. They also concluded that worn-out bedding was likely burned in small fire pits whose remains were found close to Border Cave’s grass beds. Additionally, Wadley found small sharpened stones in the grass suggesting that the former residents of the cave used to craft tools out of stones to most likely help make their bedding. After completing the article I was able to see how resourceful the natives of the area were which I found very interesting as they used different types of grass to solve their problems.
I also read the article, “Researchers capture footage of fluid behaving like a solid” by Kevin Sullivan at Swansea University. The article begins by introducing that researchers at Swansea University have captured the moments when a fluid reacted like a solid through a new method of fluid observation under pressurized conditions. The article prefaces the research process by explaining its different aspects. The research came from the Complex Flow Lab, which studies the intricate flow patterns that often develop in liquids with varying textures and consistencies. The latest study completed by the researchers focused on fluids that have a solid-like response to stress or ones that experience the Discontinuous Shear Thickening phenomenon. This is when a liquid abruptly thickens and becomes solid when disturbed. Subsequently, tests took place involving a new method of observation using a high-speed camera with promising results. To complete these tests, researchers used regular kitchen cornstarch mixed with water placed in a narrow cell. Pressurized air is then released into the cornstarch-water fluid and forces its way through. The purpose of these tests was to see if a fluid would "fracture" like a solid if pressured enough which was seen when a narrow fracturing was observed in response to the stress. In conclusion, the cornstarch liquid displayed the physical appearance that researchers hoped for, provided more information on the Discontinuous Shear Thickening phenomenon, and introduced a different perspective of the movement of liquid. After reading both articles this week I was able to understand the importance of any discovery whether it involved examining objects from the past or experimenting with present unknown fields.
The first article I read was “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents” by Bruce Bower. The article is about how south Africans lit grass beds on fire to keep away bugs and insects. 200,000 years ago South Africans set fire to their grass beds to keep away bugs. Substance examination of dug up sediment at Border Cave reveals that perhaps several beds had been compiled from grasses, like Guinea grass and red grass. Guinea grass is currently growing at the Border Cave. Old bedding was possibly burned in small fires. Traces of fire pits have been located not too far from past grass beds in Border Cave. Approximately 1 million years ago, people in southern Africa purposely set fires. Still, Border Cave supplies the first proof that old grass bedding was deliberately burned.
The second article I read was “Researchers capture footage of fluid behaving like a solid” by Swansea University. This article was about the solid characteristic fluids like cornstarch have. To test this study, the researchers experimented with DST. The Swansea University researchers discovered times when a liquid substance acted like a solid via observation of substances under severe disturbances. The research discusses the complex flow characteristics that commonly evolve in solid soils, and dynamic substances like gels, foams, and pastes. This research investigates liquid substances with such a solid-like pressure response, a phenomenon known as Discontinuous Shear Thickening (DST). That's when fluid suddenly stiffens and when agitated appears solid. The researchers try a new test on cornstarch and water. The team of researchers utilized usual, water-mixed cooking corn starch. This mixture is put in a narrow cell; high pressured air is let out into and pushes its way via the cornstarch and water mixture. Their primary theory would be that if provided sufficient tension, the liquid would splinter like a solid. There was a narrow fracture reaction as this indicated they had created a new form of study to check the parameters under which DST is being studied. Something impressive about the corn starch being researched is that resistance can be flipped on or off.
In the article “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents”, Bruce Bower discusses how people living in Southern Africa burned the grass beddings in Border Cave that they used to sleep on, and how archaeologist Lyn Wadley discovered the this action could have been used to repel crawling insects that can’t move through the powder made by the ash of burning the grass bedding. While also looking at the grass beddings, Wadley’s team also found burned wood containing fragments of camphor leaves, which can be used as a bug repellent. Before this finding, the oldest plant beddings were from about 77,000 years ago at South Africa’s Sibudu rock shelter. Chemical and microscopic analyses done within Border Cave shows that a series of beds were assembled from grasses including Guinea grass and red grass. Humans in South Africa used to burn fires intentionally around 1 million years ago, but Border Cave is the first piece of evidence to prove that grass beddings were burned on purpose. In conclusion, this was a very interesting article to read, and it really shows how smart people were back then and their methods to do things that can be done pretty easily today.
The article “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet” by Leslie Nemo discusses the amount of protein to consume, as well which types are better for good health. The amount of protein needed to stay healthy varies on different factors such as body weight, age, and pregnancy. The Food and Nutrition Board states that individuals should “eat 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight each day.” However, more protein should be incorporated into the diets of those who are over 65 or pregnant. Other circumstances call for decreasing the amount of protein intake. Due to the popularity of protein sports drinks, protein consumption has increased significantly. Those who consume excessive amounts of protein, particularly animal protein, are more prone to getting Type II diabetes. Plant-based protein foods, which are filled with nutrients, are a much safer and healthier alternative to other types of protein. It is important to balance these foods and the amount of protein eaten throughout the day. Other problems include the availability of protein for people who live in impoverished areas. These individuals might have limited access to protein than those who live closer to grocery stores. However, it is clear that one must ensure they have a sufficient amount of protein within their diet, divide their protein intake into small portions throughout the day, and have easy access to buy protein-filled foods in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The first article I read, which was “The Oldest Known Grass Beds from 200,000 Years Ago Included Insect Repellents”, was amusing to read. I had studied South Africa before and was astonished to hear about the unique ways people survived 200,000 years ago. Archaeologist Lyn Wadley of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and her colleagues state that remnants of the oldest known grass bedding, discovered in South Africa's Border Cave, lay on the ashes of previously burned bedding. I never knew that grass bedding had been used for making fires. Also, ash spread beneath bound bunches of grass may have been used to repel crawling, biting insects, which cannot easily move through fine powder. I believe this to be an intelligent and useful way of keeping off insects. At Border Cave, chemical and microscopic analysis of excavated sediment showed that a series of beds had been assembled from grasses, such as Guinea grass and red grass Guinea grass currently grows at Border Cave's entrance. Humans in southern Africa intentionally lit fires by around 1 million years ago but Border Cave proved first evidence that ancient grass bedding was burned on purpose. It is amazing how intelligent our ancestors and species were even before. Small, sharpened stones were also found among grass and ash remains, suggesting that people occasionally sat on cave bedding while making stone tools. This shows that individuals way before still had similar mindsets as us today.
The second article, titled “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need”, was quite interesting to read. Individuals eat 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight each day. But, this is only for healthy and young individuals. For example, one consortium of scientists concluded that those over 65 need slightly more protein-like 1 to 1.2 grams per kilogram-in part because an aging metabolism has a harder time converting food into new proteins for the body. And though it depends on the person, protein needs might increase for pregnant individuals, too. Some physicians recommend that pregnant women eat 1.1 grams of protein per kilogram a day. Although I am not that surprised about the increase in protein intake for different people, I am surprised that there is not much of a difference. Also, in 2012, 19 percent of all food products around the world were high in protein. In my opinion, that is a very high intake of protein. This can be good or bad for many people. According to a recent study, you need to eat less protein as you will not be active in quarantine. Too much protein can lead to type 2 diabetes. This is why you should not take too much or too little protein.
The article I read entitled, “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in YourDiet” by Leslie Nemo discussed important concerns regarding the protein intake of Americans. According to the food and nutrition board, each day, it is recommended for an individual to consume 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of their body weight, and Americans are significantly exceeding this amount which can have negative consequences. Moreover, the amount of protein one consumes varies in different groups of people. Those over the age of 65 and pregnant women are recommended slightly more protein per day in order to meet nutritional needs. Regardless of this, the article states that we should be wary of overloading with proteins as studies have shown higher risks of Type II diabetes with doing so. Instead, Nikita Kapur, a dietician with Compass Nutrition discusses how to focus on the quality and type of protein rather than the quantity. This includes switching to or including leaner, plant-based proteins like beans and chia seeds within your diet rather than solely meat. Furthermore, the protein is more beneficial to you if you spread your consumption throughout the day rather than all in one meal. This is due to the fact that your body will be able to convert more of what you eat and benefit from all the protein’s nutrients. The article closes by concluding that a healthy diet is dependent on one’s access to quality foods. Low income areas have more expensive food for a lesser quality. Additionally, a family’s income comes into play as well as they may not be able to afford higher quality meats. Growing up, I was always told by my parents that I need to eat loads of proteins to be “strong” and that the more I ate the better. I have been eating chicken and meat as protein my whole life but with a vegetarian mom, I have always had plant-based proteins in my diet as well. My dad has always told me that meat and eggs would be better for me while my mom argued for plants, and this article has shown me that meat is important but when eating protein in larger portions, plant based proteins serve as healthier options. With quarantine, I know many people are trying to better themselves and this includes working out and eating better. As mentioned in the article, so many companies promote protein with drinks and power bars and so much more which leads Americans to build their “better” diets completely around protein. This article has taught me that this should not be the case because although it is good, it is only good in proportion, and more people need to be educated on this topic. I myself had no idea that the time you eat the protein had an affect on its benefits which just proves that people need to be more informed regarding their diets. Cleaning up your diet and creating healthy eating habits can definitely improve your overall lifestyle which is a push everyone needs, especially at a time like this.
I read the article “ How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet?” Experts are concerned with the types of proteins people eat rather than the amount they eat. Eating specific types of proteins can prevent future health issues. However, individuals today are more focused on eating more protein whether it comes from organic foods or processed goods. Nutritionists recommend eating 0.8g of protein per kg. This can vary based on the person and their condition. Older adults need to take more protein since their body can’t process all of the proteins that are necessary. Pregnant women are also encouraged to eat more protein than the average person. The demand for protein in the food market has seen a large increase over the past couple of years. People are convinced by reading magazines and comparing themselves to body builders or models on a specific diet. Scientists warn people of the risks of eating too much protein. Excessive protein consumption can lead to Type II diabetes. Type II diabetes has increased by 20 to 40 percent which can be a result of eating more animal based proteins than plant based. Nutritionists suggest eating more plant based meals that include proteins because of the other nutrients that are available. It is important to eat proteins throughout the day, so that the human body can process and use the nutrients that are provided. Dietician, Nikita Kapur raises awareness to the fact that many people don’t have access to the right foods. Low-income areas have to travel far to reach a supermarket with nutritious foods. However, some people don’t own a car which can make it easier for them to accept a poor diet. However, Kapur says that insurance companies have been more helpful regarding health care and diets. I am astonished with the information I learned today. Some of my friends have taken on the high protein diet, which forces them to eat many servings of animal meats. They aren’t aware that this could lead to other health conditions, including Type II diabetes. Viewing the different influencers who have taken the same path, I believed that it was important to eat more protein that I am required to. The information that stuck with me the most is that some people don’t have access to supermarkets like I do. This makes me realize how privileged I am. This also motivates me to help others in need.
This week, I read the last 2 articles provided. I found both articles very captivating to read, as they dive into very interesting topics that aren’t including information about the global pandemic. I found the first article, “Researchers capture footage of fluid behaving like a solid” very fascinating and I was surprised that researchers have been able to obtain footage like this. This footage was captured by Swansea University researchers from the College of Engineering. The fluid that was observed had reacted like a solid through a new method of fluid observation, under pressurized conditions. This is a phenomenon called Discontinuous Shear Thickening (DST), where a liquid abruptly thickens and becomes solid when disturbed. To test this phenomenon, researchers use a high-speed camera to film how the pressurized air escapes from a cornstarch-water mixture. Dr. Deren Ozturk states that the research team used cornstarch because it is convenient and easy to obtain, in addition to the fact that it shows a dramatic shear thickening response. Dr. Ozturk hypothesized that the fluid would "fracture", like a solid, if it was given enough stress. Dr. Bjornar Sandnes, head of the Complex Flow Lab, comments that it is interesting that “friction can be turned on or off like a switch” in the cornstarch they studied. When the mixture is gently disturbed, the grains “repel each other”, and there is no friction and it flows like a liquid since they are not in contact. When the mixture is disturbed by a stronger force, the grains are pushed into contact and friction stops the grains from freely sliding, making it behave more like a solid. I can relate this study to when I have made this mixture, called oobleck, several times at home. I have also made it at school when studying specifically about friction. I learned that if the mixture is hit at a fast rate, it will stay solid, but if no pressure is applied to it, then the mixture becomes liquidy. This finding was summarized in this study that was overlooked by researchers at the Complex Flow Lab. I also read the article, “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet?” by Leslie Nemo. The amount of protein that is required for your body varies throughout your life, although experts state to focus on what protein you are eating, rather than the quantity. I was surprised to learn that The Food and Nutrition Board (a committee of scientists that releases nutritional intake reports) recommends that individuals eat 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight each day. Taking this into consideration, I am unsure of how much protein I acquire in my body each day to supply my body weight. I also learned that researchers suggest different requirements of protein for specific groups of people, including the elderly (1-1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight) and pregnant individuals (1.1 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight). In many cases, the amount of protein consumed may be in need of reducing, like when an individual is not active enough or when their diet is primarily full of protein. Maxing out how much protein is permitted per day can lead to Type II diabetes, especially if there is a high animal protein consumption, rather than a high plant-based protein diet. Not obtaining enough protein can also cause some issues. Most of the time, this incidence is caused by a lack of access to good quality food. For example, low-income areas usually have low-quality foods that are more expensive, and people residing in those areas cannot obtain those foods. I have definitely learned a lot from these articles and can relate to studies that have been carried out and published.
This week I read “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet?” by Leslie Nemo. 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram (2.205 pounds) of the body weight should be consumed every day. This nutritional intake was recommended by the Food and Nutrition; however, the researchers have disagreed. The researchers believe that the protein requirement differs for specific groups of people. For example, pregnant individuals should consume 1.1 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight as recommended by their physicians. The author explains how 19% of food products claimed to be high in protein in 2012. Furthermore, many fitness magazines, athletic trainers, and sports coaches are always encouraging protein consumption. The author further explains how there are risks for increasing the amount of protein consumed. For example, many studies have shown that excessive protein consumption can lead to Type II diabetes. This problem could caused by where the protein is coming from. Plant-based protein diets have more nutrients and are better for the long run. Moreover, the protein should be consumed throughout the day. This way the body will be able to convert all of the food into its useful components
This week I read the article, “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents” by Bruce Bower. The article talks about how people living in southern Africa burned their grass bedding to protect against bugs. The oldest known grass bedding was found in South Africa’s Border Cave. This bedding was discovered on top of the ashes of previously burned bedding. Archaeologist Lyn Wadley suspects that the ash was used to repel crawling, biting insects that have trouble moving through the ash. Wadley’s team discovered burned camphor leaves with the bedding as well, which can be used to deter insects as well. This is extremely interesting because ideas that are believed to be more modern, like bug repellent, actually originated hundreds of thousands of years ago. To continue, at Border Cave the scientists discovered that the grass beds were made out of Guinea grass and red grass. Once the bedding was past its prime, scientists hypothesize that the beds were burned in a fire pit. I also wonder how these ancient people made the discovery that ash deterred bugs, especially without the knowledge and technology of the modern era. Additionally, humans in southern Africa lit fires about one million years ago, but this instance is the earliest discovery of grass bedding being burned on purpose. It’s crazy to think how innovations like this one were implemented into ancient societies. Even ages ago humans were able to think in creative ways to solve problems, which is just so incredible.
As the article “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet?” mentions, Americans are always promoting superficial ways of attaining certain nutrients, like protein. This plethora leads people to believe they should be consuming more than the recommended intake, which they are not always aware of. These various products make it seem like a desirable addition to your diet, when sometimes, what you eat on a normal basis is sufficient enough to satisfy the recommended intake. Overconsumption is a problem widely seen in this country that can lead to health complications, like obesity. Exceeding the maximum recommendation can have serious consequences, as the article mentions. Continuing with excessive protein consumption, it is possible to develop Type II Diabetes, which leaves researchers to encourage plant-based products to balance out your diet. Granted, the recommended nutritional intake does vary from person to person, based on their age, weight, or dietary restrictions. People tend to associate a certain meal with a type of food requirement, like the article mentions steak for dinner, when really that intake should be distributed throughout the day. Your body does not stop functioning momentarily, it is constantly converting food into energy, and the like, so it does not really make sense to just load up on protein during dinner time. While it’s possible that a majority of Americans are overconsuming protein, the article brings up a good point that those who are under consuming protein, do not have access to a high-quality diet in the first place. It’s frustrating to see that healthy foods are not being considered essential, especially in impoverished communities. It is a basic human right to be able to eat and survive in general, but it seems as if the world has turned it into a privilege just to be healthy. This article essentially spreads mindfulness about what you are consuming on a daily basis, all the while bringing awareness to the underprivileged who do not have the luxury to be able to pick and choose the manner in which they attain protein.
This week I read “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet” by Leslie Nemo. This article provided me with new information, because I didn’t realize that there are a bunch of risks associated with eating too much protein. So, cutting back on protein bars, protein sports drinks, eggs, and chicken may not necessarily be a bad thing. Not only does the consumption of too much protein increase your chance of getting Type II diabetes, but it increases your chance of getting cancer, especially if you eat more red and/or processed meat. But, you don’t necessarily have to cut all protein out of your diet. High plant-based protein diets are a healthier protein alternative. Some high plant-based protein diets include quinoa, tofu, broccoli and oats. On the other hand, there are people that don’t have enough protein in their diet. Low income areas typically have low quality foods in their nearby grocery stores, and these low quality diets often lack protein. To make it worse, grocery stores tend to be typically farther away in impoverished neighborhoods, and a lot of locals won’t have cars. Ultimately, not everyone has equal access to a healthy diet.
This week I read the article by Bruce Bower, titled “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents”. I thought this was a pretty interesting read since the topic that was discussed was quite unique. According to the article, an archaeologist, Lyn Wadley, and her team discovered 200,000 year old grass bedding in South Africa’s Border Cave. The part of the discovery that stood out the most was the fact that the ancient grass bedding was purposely being burned. Wadley and her colleagues reported that people might have been using the ash as a way to repel bugs and prevent them from biting. They also found fragments of camphor leaves mixed into the bedding, which is an aromatic plant that can double as an insect repellent. I enjoyed reading this brief, but informative article especially because of its fun fact nature.
The other article I read, “Researchers capture footage of fluid behaving like a solid”, was also quite intriguing. It discusses a video captured by researchers from the College of Engineering in Swansea University that demonstrates a phenomenon called Discontinuous Shear Thickening (DST). This occurs when a liquid suddenly thickens and becomes a solid when disturbed. The video provided within the article showing this occurrence was fascinating; the way the fluid was spreading in a vein-like manner was very satisfying to watch. After watching the YouTube video that was also provided, I realized that I was quite familiar with the concept of DST, but I had not known what it was called. Similar to the kitchen cornstarch and water mix, Oobleck is also a non-Newtonian fluid. When the 300 kilogram Hulk fist was dropped into the pool of Oobleck, it did not splash as much as it would have if it were purely a liquid. However, it did not act completely solid. As explained in the article, when non-Newtonian fluids are disturbed with a lot of force, the grains are pushed into contact so that friction prevents the grains from freely sliding, making it act like a solid. Another detail that caught my attention in the article was the idea of DST being researched for unique applications like “smart” speed bumps and soft body armor. It would be interesting to see how those would work.
“The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents“ by Bruce Bower is a interesting read that fascinated me. I can’t believe that up to 200,000 years ago, humans used primitive forms of bug repellent. South Africans not only slept on grass bedding, but burned it, apparently to keep it from becoming bug infested. Remnants of the oldest known grass bedding, discovered in South Africa’s Border Cave, lay on the ashes of previously burned bedding, say archaeologist Lyn Wadley of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and her colleagues. Ash spread beneath bound bunches of grass may have been used to repel insects. This is because insects cannot move through fine powder. The oldest bedding prior to this find dated to around 77,000 years ago at South Africa’s Sibudu rock-shelter. Overall, this was a short but interesting article to read, and I really found it astonishing to learn that our ancestors used a form of bug repellent.
Many Americans get lured to participate in new fads and diets due to the appeal of false claims. As a consequence of partaking in such acts, Americans tend to over consume and/or under consume certain nutrients. For instance, in the article “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet?,” it discusses how the abounding amount of protein we consume has a negative impact on our health. Starting by citing The Food and Nutrition Board, the author reveals how the guidelines are based on most healthy individuals who need to maintain their body weight. However, the intake of protein changes based on age, gender, activity level, and circumstance. A 20 year old man who works out every day should not digest the same amount of protein as a 30 year old woman who is pregnant. The excessive amount of protein Americans take can lead to diseases such as Type II Diabetes. The final point the author includes is information from Nikita Kapur, a dietician with Compass Nutrition in New York, on the different types of protein. She busts the common misconception that protein is solely found in meats and eggs. Kapur talks about how on a plant based diet, protein can be found in different vegetables, grains, and seeds. The article shows how we should do extensive research before deciding what and what not to put in our body and how much we are putting.
Today I read, “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents” by Bruce Bower. After reading the article, I was shocked to learn that humans used repellents in an attempt to evade insects. It is interesting that humans used to set alight their grass beds in order to prevent insect infestation. I wonder if there were any other repellents that were used, such as water or Beautyberry leaves. I’m also curious about why these humans decided to use grass beds when there are many other alternatives. As time has progressed, new and more effective repellents have been created to scare off insects. Today I also read, “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet?” by Leslie Nemo. The article discussed the importance of having an appropriate amount of protein in your diet. According to the author, for each kilogram of weight, a person should consume .8 grams of protein. Although this is the standard recommendation, Nemo mentions that certain groups should eat a different amount of protein. For example, people over 65, for each kilogram of body weight, should consume 1 - 1.2 grams of protein. In addition, pregnant women, for each kilogram of body weight, should consume 1.1 grams of protein. The article also mentions that people should eat vegetables for protein rather than meats in order to have a healthier lifestyle. Overall, I found both articles to be informative and fascinating.
The article "The Oldest Known Grass Beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents" by Bruce Bower details an interesting discovery showing the ingenuity of mankind throughout time. Fragments of old grass beds from around 200,000 years ago were found in the Border Cave South Africa. Besides this being the oldest grass bed we have discovered, it also had an interesting feature underneath. Ash from the burning of other grass beds was found below the artifact. It is believed that the ash was placed here as a crude form of insect repellent, for critters cannot navigate through fine powder easily. Additionally, camphor leaves were found in the bedding, an aromatic plant that can be used as a repellent. These findings prove that mankind has always been a species of innovators.
The article "Researchers Capture Footage of Fluid Behaving like a Solid" describes a new method of recording Discontinuous Shear Thickening (DST). DST is the phenomenon that occurs when fluids behave like solids under certain stimuli. For instance, cornstarch will become "solid" when struck quickly with force. The IMPACT lab utilized a high-speed camera to record how cornstarch mixed with water would react when hit with pressurized air in a confined space. Less pressure would reveal a fluid-like response from the cornstarch mix, as seen with the recordings. However, more pressure would yield a "fracturing" of the cornstarch solution, indicating a solid-like reaction. This method will hopefully aid in the ongoing DST research, which can be applied to special ventures such as soft body armor, smart speed bumps, and food production.
In this week’s article, “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents”, by Bruce Bower archaeologist Lyn Wadley discovered ash beneath the grass could have been used as insect repellent. Her team also came across pieces of camphor leaves that can be effective as an insect repellent. Researchers discovered that the oldest plant bedding that had ash, aromatic plants and sedge leaves were used as insect repellent. Different analyses showed that many beds had been made from different types of grasses. The analyses showed that people in Southern Africa burned ancient grass bedding on purpose. I found this article interesting because even a million years ago people had methods of making sure insects weren’t crawling around or biting them. The analyses further proved that they were done on purpose which shows that some of the repellents from today could also have some aromatic plants that were in the bedding a million years ago. The second article I read, “Researchers capture footage of fluid behaving like a solid”, by researchers at Swansea University portrayed that liquid could act like a solid and there are ways to see it act like a solid. The researchers created the study that showed the phenomenon of Discontinuous Shear Thickness which is when liquid quickly thickens and becomes solid. They used cornstarch and mixed it with water which was then placed in a narrow cell. The pressurized air was then released into the fluid and forced through. I found this article interesting and different from other ones because it was about how a fluid behaved like a solid which is unique compared to different experiments that are done. The experiment shows that matter can be changed to behave differently and with the right research it can be done accurately and effectively.
In the article “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet?” by Leslie Nemo, a problem regarding protein consumption is discussed. Sports coaches, trainers, and fitness magazines constantly promote protein consumption, which is reflected in market trends. Protein shakes and other products high in protein are rising in popularity. Furthermore, as a result of quarantine, people may not be as active as before, so they may be going on diets that demonize fat and carbohydrates, but promote proteins. This is a problem, since a recent study provides data that shows that excessive protein consumption can result in type 2 diabetes. To solve this problem, Nikita Kapur, a dietician suggests eating alternate sources of protein, such as plant-based sources like grains, seeds, and some vegetables. She also mentions eating protein throughout the day, rather than only eating protein at dinner. These tips are extremely important, since as mentioned before, during quarantine, people have been less active then previously, so many have been going on diets, and knowing how to diet properly is very important to your health. The other part of the protein consumption problem is not eating too much, but eating too little. In low income areas, high cost but low-quality food is very common. In addition, people may not have cars to geo to grocery stores in these areas. Both of these factors result in low quality diets. Covid-19 further effects the access these people have to food, since food banks are experiencing a lot of difficulties with their food supplies at the current time.
In the article “Researchers capture footage of fluid behaving like a solid” by Swansea University, a group of researchers were able to observe a liquid acting like a solid by using a new method of observation. The liquid in this experiment is a corn starch mixture, and when it is put under stress, it thickens abruptly. This is called Discontinuous Shear Thickening. This experiment is a large breakthrough in the field of DST research, as it can be used to create theoretical models in the future. Understanding DST is important since it can be used for unique engineering applications, such as speedbumps, body armor, and food production. The experiment uses a high-speed camera to film the fluid, and a narrow cell that releases pressurized air. The high-speed camera in particular is an innovative approach to future engineering practices. One thing that was of interest to the researchers was the fact that friction could be turned on and off for the cornstarch mixture. When disturbed gently, the grains will repel and flow like liquid, but when disturbed with more force, the grains are pushed in a way that results in friction stopping them, causing it to act like a solid.
The article "The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents" by Bruce Bower grabbed my interest. The primitive forms of bug repellent were very extraordinary. For example, remnants of the oldest known grass bedding were discovered in South Africa's Border Cave. They lay on top of ashes from previously burned bedding. This led archaeologists to believe that the ash beneath the new bedding was to prevent bugs from crawling to the sleeper. This is since most bugs can't move well or crawl properly in very fine powders. Another fascinating finding was the bits of burned wood containing fragments of camphor leaves, which was an aromatic plant that could have been used as a bug repellent as well. Archaeologists also found the oldest known plant beds at South Africa's Sibudu rock-shelter. These mainly consisted of sedge leaves, ash and aromatic plants that were used to keep the insects away. In conclusion, the article was quite short, but nevertheless it did not fail to catch my eye as an intriguing topic to read about. Not only can I learn from this article, but next time I am making a campfire or camping, I may want to implement burning an insect repelling plant to keep the bugs away.
This week I decided to read the article, “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet?” by Leslie Nemo. The article starts off with a quote from dietician Nikita Kapur where she states that she feels the average American consumes more protein than they actually need. The average American shouldn’t focus on the amount of protein to consume, but rather the types of protein they need to consume and when to consume these certain types of proteins. The Food and Nutrition Board recommends that the average person should eat 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight each day. This is supposed to reflect the amount of protein 97-98% of people need per day to maintain their body weight. But, there are also specific protein requirements for different groups of people. People over or under a certain requirement of body weight need slightly less or more protein. Also, pregnant individuals need more protein, as well. People who aren’t as active will most likely need to scale back on fatty, protein-based foods, like eggs or chicken. There is also a possibility that everyone, no matter the situation, needs to scale back on their protein intake. Many diets demonize fats and carbohydrates and want you to take in protein as your most desirable source of food. Also, whey protein which was at first meant for bodybuilders, are also very popular. In 2012, it was confirmed that 19% of all food products across the world have been proven to be high in protein. An excessive intake of protein can also result in negative outcomes such as Type II diabetes. There is also a difference in where the protein came from which can change how healthy your protein intake actually is. There is an increased risk in the consumption of animal protein versus plant protein. It can also make the difference in your body when you're eating the protein. You can consume protein throughout the day instead of a one sit high protein intake. This allows your body to convert all of what you eat throughout the day. Those who have a low protein intake are often those who have a low quality diet. There is also a problem about who has access to high quality diets in the first place. Low-income areas have more expensive and low quality of food around their area. This can contribute to their diet and health, as well.
The article "How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet?" immediately caught my attention because nutrition and fitness are topics that I find interesting. In March, I went on a month-long plant based diet out of curiosity, and I did it again for a couple weeks recently. Plant based diets are the least restrictive because it refers to limited consumption of animal products or choosing leaner mean options, and focusing on eating plants or other whole foods. During that time, one of the big things I learned about was where to get my protein and vitamin b-12 from since those are commonly found in animal products. I was reminded of this when I read Kapur's statement about the importance of the source of the protein in addition to quantity and when to eat. I am in agreement with that statement because examples of other sources of proteins can be found in tempeh, quinoa and broccoli which are all plant based. However, I never kept track of how much protein I was actually consuming, so I thought it was interesting to see this article state that. I did not know that there was a correlation between excessive protein and type 2 diabetes. I found that to be valuable information. I am also interested in learning more about the effects of protein deficiency. I liked how the article also connected economic trends and societal structure to nutrition- it makes me want to find a way to help those communities.
This week, the first article I read was entitled “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents.” The beginning of the article mentions the oldest grass bedding (known to man) originates in South Africa’s Border Cave. The bedding was on top of previously burned bedding, as the ashes of the burned bedding have repelling properties that were used to keep away pesty insects. The insects are unable to navigate through the powder beneath the grass beddings, but they are also repelled by the camphor leaves that are found in the pieces of burnt wood also in the bedding. Before this discovery, the oldest grass bedding was believed to be in South Africa’s Sibudu rock-shelter from 77,000 years ago. Analyses of the chemicals and microscopic particles from sediments show that these grass beddings are created using several different plants, including Guinea grass (which grows at the entrance of the Border Cave) and red grass. The article included images of grass fragments which were discovered in a South African cave. I found this interesting as a visual of what the article is talking about helps further my understanding. The second article I read was “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet?” The article begins with a quote from Nikita Kapur, a dietician in New York who says the average American consumes more protein than necessary. The Food and Nutrition Board recommend that per each kilogram of body weight, a person must eat 0.8 grams of protein per day. This recommendation applies to most people, but groups like those who are 65 years and older require anywhere from 1 to 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram. Pregnant women also stray from the normal recommendation, and instead should eat 1.1 grams per kilogram of weight. Although social media might make out protein to be the most important food group in certain fad diets, too much protein can lead to health issues such as Type II diabetes. A statistic was discovered that for every 10 grams of protein over 64 grams consumed by an individual, their risk for diabetes rose by 20-40 percent (this risk is usually associated with animal protein, not plant-based protein). Protein should also be consumed all throughout the day instead of one period of time, so that the body is able to convert what one eats into useful nutrients. Not getting enough protein is another issue, which can be a result of families with insufficient funds or limited accessibility to quality foods. Insurances are starting to cover dietician visits, which is helpful but doesn’t completely eliminate the issue. After reading the article, Im shocked that too much protein can actually be an issue. I thought the more nutrients the better, but I would’ve never imagined that too much protein could lead to diabetes.
This week I read the article, “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents” by Bruce Bower. The article focuses on how people in Africa burned their grass beds in order to protect different types of insects from damaging, infecting, or ruining the grass. One of the older grass bedding in Africa is the Border Cave. The ashes of a different bedding helped process the Border Cave bedding. Scientists found that the ash was used to help insects move through the bedding. Bedding is an idea that was created hundreds of years ago that has modernized into a part of many well-rounded businesses today. Once the bedding in the Border Cove was past its prime, scientists think that the beds were burned in a fire pit. People also wonder how old tribes hundreds of years ago made the discovery that ashes were detrimental to Bugs.
Through encouragement from diets and fitness magazines, the consumption of large amounts of protein has become more popular. Because of this trend, the average American consumes more protein through energy bars and power drinks, than their body needs. Normally the human body needs 0.8 grams of proteins per kilogram of body weight, meaning that a person weighing 150 pounds would need about 54 grams of protein daily. Though this can change based on age and physical health. For example, people over 65 require about 1 to 1.2 grams per kilogram because their metabolism at this age has a harder time converting food into new proteins. Another reason that a person may need a larger protein intake, could be if they are pregnant. A decrease in physical activity due to something like quarantine, can be a sign that a person should decrease their protein intake because their body doesn’t need as much protein to function. It may seem like protein is extremely healthy, and can be eaten in large quantities because of the diet culture. This though, is the wrong assumption because large quantities of protein have actually shown to increase risk for diabetes. Every 10 grams of protein consumed above 64 grams actually increases someone’s chances of getting type two diabetes y 20%. Another issue is that people may or be consuming the right sources for protein. So many people try to consume large amounts of meat and eggs for protein intake, but they ignore the vegetables that also provide high levels of protein amongst other needed components. A mix between plant based and animal based protein consumption can help balance one’s protein intake in a way that also helps prevent any major diseases related to high protein consumption. Although this may seem like an easy enough fix to ones diet, research shows that communities that have issues with protein consumption normally have little access to good foods. Most impoverished communities either have a grocery store that gives more expensive and less natural resources for protein, making it more difficult to find proper resources. Or the grocery stores are too far away and the families dont have vehicles for proper transport.
I read the article, “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet?” by Leslie Nemo, and found it to be very informative. The article starts off by addressing certain misconceptions many have about protein intake, and how it varies from person to person. For example, according to the Food and Nutrition Board, scientists recommend that individuals eat 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of their body weight, each day. However, these standards vary, since those over the age of 65 and pregnant women have to eat more protein, while individuals who are less active over a period of time, should eat less protein. Nemo then went on to address the damages that eating too much protein can do, and why it’s harmful that so many athletes and bodybuilders advocate for incorporating large amounts of protein into meals. Exceeding the amount of protein one should eat can lead to Type II diabetes. The root of the problem may have to do with where the protein is coming from. To elaborate, dietician Nikita Kapur explained that there is an increased risk with eating animal protein, not with plant-based protein. Kapur then went on to explain that she advocates for plant-based sources of protein in her clients’ diets, since it creates a healthier pattern of diet. This includes incorporating vegetables, grains and seeds into everyday meals. Nemo then goes on to explain the risks in not having enough protein in one's diet, and ties that in to the issue of access to these foods. She emphasized that changing one's diet doesn’t just have to do with their motivation to eat better, rather their access to the food and their price as well. For low income families, it can become a difficult task to buy these more expensive foods. Nemo explained how it’s important for insurance companies to cover visits to dietacains, because it's a large part of healthcare and should be accessible to all. Overall, this article was very interesting and I was intrigued by how many factors go into knowing how much protein to eat everyday.
It is often believed that the primitive beings of the past had primitive ways of life, but when looking into their behavior and methods, there was some genius behind it. In the article “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents,” I was able to learn that people living in Africa around 200,000 had burned grass from previous bedding to provide a method of insect repellent. This burned grass turned into ash, which was harder for insects to move through. The aromatic aspects of the plant is what guarded the people against insects when they slept. This discovery had been found in South Africa’s Border Cave. This changed my view on the ingenuity of the people of the past and astonished me on how they were able to find a simple solution to a problem.
The amount of protein we should consume on a daily basis is a topic that is debatable but after reading the article “How much protein do you actually need in your diet?” I got a better understanding of the amount required. Scientists are advising people to eat 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight as it is considered the healthy amount to maintain weight. For people over 65, it is advised they eat 1-1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. For pregnant women, it is advised they eat 1.1 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. An increased protein consumption has the possibility of leading to type 2 diabetes. It is also advised for people to consume their protein throughout the day and also to incorporate plant based protein sources to make their meals more healthier. This article allowed me to understand what the recommended healthy protein intake should be and enables me to make better dietary decisions.
In the article “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents” it talks about a cave in South Africa that contains grass bedding that dates back 200,000 years ago. During this time people would sleep on the bedding and they would also burn it in order to keep bugs away. Archaeologist Lyn Wadley of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and her colleagues are studying this bedding and its properties to determine what keeps the insects away. In the bedding they have found ash, and burned wood with camphor leaves. Due to these properties the grass bedding acts as a repellent against insects. Furthermore analyses of the sediment showed the grass is made up of multiple grasses such as guinea grass and red grass. Overall the studies have revealed this cave in South Africa is the oldest grass bedding that was used to keep insects away.
This week I read the article titled "The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellent" by Bruce Bower. It is intriguing that primitive methods of solving current problems, such as insect infestation in bedding, were utilized by early humanity. Archaeologist Lyn Wadley and her team, from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg (South Africa), discovered one such method-ashes beneath grass bundles. They hypothesize that the ashes were the foundation for grass bundles to act as a natural insect deterrent. The fine particulates of the ash make it difficult for crawling and biting insects to reach their destinations. With these ashes, the team also found burned evidence of camphor leaves, which is a natural bug repellent. They used chemical and microscopic analyses to identify which grasses could have been possible sources of the bedding. Guinea grass and red grass, the former currently located at the cave's entrance, were some of the grasses from which a series of beds had been put together. These discoveries are significant because they support the idea that ancient grass bedding was lit on fire with intention. This discovery leads to the question of whether ancient insect deterrents in the area also included other plant-based solutions, such as citronella grass, anise, and basil.
This week's article, "How Much Protein Do YOu Actually Need in Your Diet?" by Leslie Nemo, discusses how important it is to focus on the amount of protein you intake as part of your diet. The Food and Nutrition Board recommends that you eat 0.8 grams of protein per kg of body weight every day. But more recently, it has been found that protein requirements differ between groups of people. For example, those over 65, and pregnant individuals need a higher protein intake than most others. Moreover, life changes such as quarantine might mean you aren't as active anymore. It can also be possible that a reduction in your protein intake is needed anyway. Diets containing fat and carbohydrates can help market trends make proteins a heightened demand. Protein drinks have recently been booming, becoming more popular. Marketed by sports coaches, trainers, and fitness magazines, it makes proteins seem more desirable. But this can cause many risks. Excess protein intake can cause Type II diabetes (ie. animal protein consumption). Now, it is encouraged to eat more plant-based sources, without giving up meat completely. Low-income areas often contain expensive food with lower quality. In many cases, supermarkets and stores being too far away especially without by means of transportation.
For decades, people have wondered how much knowledge people belonging to ancient times had and if they came up with some ways to achieve the same results as our machines or other technological innovations. In the article, “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents” by Bruce Bower, Bower informs the public on ways that ancient people had developed in order to repel bugs. The earliest evidence of this was found in Southern Africa’s Border Cave 200,000 years ago when people burned their grass beds at times to make sure that it does not get soggy with bugs. The way this method would work is through the ash that was created by burning. Essentially, the ash as a powder is too difficult for bugs to walk through which is why it was successful as a repellent. In addition, there were bits of burned wood in the bedding that contained the fragrance of camphor leaves that can be used as an aromatic bug repellent. Another example of ancient bug repellent was found 77,000 years ago at the Sibudu rock shelter in Southern Africa where sedge leaves, ash, and aromatic plants were used as repellents.
The first article, “The Oldest Known Grass Beds from 200,000 Years Ago Included Insect Repellents,” by Bruce Bower explains the recent findings of the oldest known grass bedding. The archaeologist, Lyn Wadley, and her team discovered the ashes of the burned bedding in South Africa’s Border Cave. Before the new discovery, the oldest method of keeping away bugs included sedge leaves, ash, and aromatic plants, about 77,000 years ago. With the use of chemical and microscopic analyses, the sediment displayed the bed contained guinea and red grass. I find it interesting how thousands of years ago, humans would use their natural resources to make materials without the use of chemicals or technology. This also shows how new discoveries are happening now and there is still a lot to discover.
The article, “How Much Protein We Actually Need in Our Diet,” by Leslie Nemo explained how dietitians believe Americans are consuming more protein than necessary. The Food and Nutrition Board recommends that an individual eats 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram. Other researchers present a different requirement. Adults over 65 need 1-1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight due to aging metabolism. Pregnant females need 1.1 grams of protein per kilogram of the body weight. Even though advertising protein has become the new norm, many studies connect too much protein with Type 11 diabetes. Researchers said that every 10 grams of protein ate over 64 grams increased the rise of Type ll diabetes by 20 to 40 percent. Eating meat based protein instead of plant based proteins affects the diet along with how it is consumed throughout the day. Nitika Kapur also addresses the problem of not receiving enough protein. This can lead to a low-quality diet. Challenges like getting a low-income forces families into this situation. Even with their aim for a better diet, they can't accomplish it. Overall, this article conveyed new information about the correct amount of protein to eat in order to have a healthy diet. I believe due to quarantine, it is a great time to start fixing our diet and living a better lifestyle.
This week i read the article “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents“. This article was interesting and supiese me on how innovative humans were 200,000 years ago. It amazes me how primitive forms of humans were clever enough to make there own type of bug repellent. This was found out by Lyn Wadley who discovered that South Africans slept on grass bending that they burned to keep bugs away. They found this burned grass bending at Border Cave in South Africa. Because the grass was burnt insects could not move through it because of the ash. This is because it is hard for bugs to move through fine powder. All in all this was a very interesting article that opened my eyes on intelligence of primitive humans.
The first article I read was the ScienceNews article by Bruce Bower discussing a form of insect repellent used in grass beds, 200,000 years ago. Archaeologist of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, Lyn Wadley, discovered that some of the world's oldest grass bedding lay on ashes of older bedding. This may have been used to prevent insects from crawling up the bed and biting the person in the bed as they have trouble moving in the grainy substance. Burnt wood was also found in the bedding which contained camphor leaves which can be used as bug repellent. The Border Cave findings give the first real evidence that the grass beds were burnt on purpose. Next, I read “Researchers capture footage of fluid behaving like a solid” by a team at Swansea University. The Complex Flow Lab at IMPACT conducted a study which looks at fluids that have a solid-like response to stress called Discontinuous Shear Thickening or DST. The author of the research presented, Dr. Deren Ozturk explains that their findings are important to the continually developing field of DST research and could provide aid in creating engineering applications with DST like soft body armor and smart speed bumps. They used corn starch in their experiments as it does go through DST and mixed it with water before putting it in a cell where pressurised air will be released. The hope for the experiment is that the fluid like corn starch would fracture like a solid through the invasion experiment. Their hypothesis was proven which meant that they had successfully created an experiment where they can simulate DST reaction. The final article I read was called “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet?” by Leslie Nemo. It begins with discussing how much protein we need per day which is .8 grams per kilogram you weigh. However for people like pregnant mothers and senior citizens protein intake needs to increase to 1 gram or more per kilogram. Diets nowadays encourage increased protein and less carbs however that could lead to harmful effects as excessive protein consumption leads to an increased risk of type two diabetes. People are encouraged to switch to plant based protein options as plants can slowly give you the protein you need instead of consuming it all in one meal. Low quality diets are also present due to living conditions as low income areas have more expensive and less quality foods and are considerably farther away from the stores in comparison to higher income areas. The articles I read today were very interesting and gave me great insights on the topics they discussed.
The article that caught my attention was the one titled “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents” by Bruce Bower. In this article, Bower explains the method humans used 200,000 years ago to repel bugs. These people slept in caves on grass beds, and burned their old grass beds to create ash which makes it difficult for bugs to travel and navigate through. I never thought ashes could be used for something like this, which proved how intelligent humans were so long ago. Researchers also discovered the remnants of burned camphor leaves, which are a plant that smell can repel bugs. This discovery is so significant because previously, the oldest evidence of bug repellant being used was 77,000 years ago. This proves that methods to repel insects have been used 123,000 years earlier than we thought. I found this article so interesting because my family also uses a variety of methods to prevent bugs, including specific candles. It was interesting to find out that 200,000 years ago people did the same thing. It’s crazy to think that even 200,000 years ago we had to deal with the same problems such as bugs. Thanks to modern technologies and the invention of big spray, it is much less of a problem as I’d imagine it was so many years ago.
This week, I read “Researchers capture footage of fluid behaving like a solid” by Swansea University. This captured my attention because the mention of Discontinuous Shear Thickening ,(or when a fluid has a solid-like response to stress), reminded me of the slime-like mixture I made in elementary school. To test out whether the corn starch mixture would act like a DST fluid, a regular mixture of cornstarch and water was used. Then, pressurised air was released into the corn starch-water fluid and the fingers caught in the video showed the air making its way through the liquid. This discovery can be implicated in safety precautions and engineering inventions, which makes it very valuable.
Today, I read the article, “The oldest known grass beds from 20,000 years ago included insect repellents” by Bruce Bower. In South Africa grass bedding was found from 200,000 years ago. The people who slept on this grass burned it making a powdery ash that prevented bugs. By using this ash it helped repel crawling bugs that could possibly bite you when sleeping. Archaeologist Lyn Wadley and her colleagues, found bits of burned wood and camphor leaves. Camphor leaves, and aromatic plants are still used today as a bug repellent. Prior to this we’ve seen bedding from 77,000 years ago in Africa’s Sibudu rock-shelter. From microscopic analyses of excavated sediment we find bedding made out of sedge leaves, guinea grass, red grass, and aromatic plants. Fire pits were near these beds to provide warmth. After the bedding was last it’s prime it was burned. I find this research to be very interesting. I’ve never thought about how people million years ago used to sleep, especially outside. With new discoveries like these it can help us better understand where our everyday bedding started and where the years have taken it.
Today I read "How Muh Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet?". My mom would tell me constantly to include protein in my diet but after reading this article, it made me realize I don't need a ton full of protein in my diet. In the article, it stated that having too much protein can lead to type II diabetes. It also stted that meats aren't the only thing that include proteins. My mom is a vegeterain and got a bloodwork done not too long ago. Her results showed a little high amount of prtein even thought her source of proteins is vegetables and beans. The nutrition boards recommends consumers to eat 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of their body weight for each day. Though, as you age, you might more protein then you needed in your younger days. some other life chnges may include cutting back on eggs and chicken as some people may be less active during quarantine.
According to the article "The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents", people living in South Africa 200,000 years ago slept on grass bedding, and also sometimes burned it to keep bugs away. Archaeologist Lyn Wadley and her colleagues say that the remains of the oldest known grass bedding were found in South Africa's Border cave, and it was on top of the ashes from previously burned bedding. The theory is that the ashes were used to make it harder for the insects to move into the bedding area. Burned wood and fragments of camphor leaves(an aromatic plant used as a bug repellent) were also said to be found in the bedding. Before this discovery, the oldest bedding with plants consisted of sedge leaves, ash, and aromatic plants used to keep insects away. This bedding was about 77,000 years old and it was discovered at South Africa's Sibudu rock-shelter. At the Border Cave, an analysis of the remains shows that the bedding was assembled with grasses like Guinea grass which is found near the Caves' entrance, and red grass. Additionally, the remains of the fire pits supposedly used to burn the bedding were found relatively close to the former grass beds. Even though humans lit fires intentionally in South Africa about 1 million years ago, the evidence found from the Border Caves was the first to prove that the grass beddings were burned on purpose. Small sharp stones were also found in the remains, which suggest that the people sat on the cave bed at times with making tools out of stone. Overall, I enjoyed reading this article because it is very intriguing reading about the inquiries people used before modernized tools.
I just finished "How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in your diet." This article educated me with some information I never knew of before. There are risks with eating a high amount of protein. It should noted that using too much of protein snacks, bars, drinks are terrible for you. Those are meant if you haven't had a daily intake of protein yet. People mistake the true purpose of it and believe the more protein you eat, the more healthy you are. People who take too much protein have risks of cancer and type II diabetes---------Kunal Soin
The article I read this week was “The Oldest Known Grass Beds from 200,000 Years Ago Included Insect Repellents”. The article talks about how people living in southern Africa burned their grass bedding to protect against bugs. The oldest of such grass bedding was found by an archeologist by the name of Lyn Wadley in the Border Cave in South Africa. This bedding was on top of the ashes of previously burned bedding, which leads archeologists to believe that the bedding made of leaves were burned intentionally. Archaeologist Lyn Wadley suspects that the ash was used to repel crawling, biting insects that have trouble moving through the ash. Additionally, Wadley’s team also discovered burned camphor leaves within bedding as well. These leaves have also been used to deter bugs and insects. Guinea grass and Red grass made up the bedding itself. Once the quality of the bedding started to deteriorate, scientists believe that the beds were burned in a fire pit. It is known that humans in Southern regions of Africa lit fires about one million years ago, but this instance is the earliest discovery of grass bedding being burned on purpose. I personally found this article to be very interesting. I was amazed at how people a million years ago were able to solve the problems that they faced on a daily basis. They did not have the same technology or chemical knowledge that we have today, yet they still found a solution to their problems. Who knows, maybe someone was able to invent something or make something of value because they were able to focus thanks to the lack of bugs. It is things like this that will never be known, but it is interesting to think about.
This week I read a very intriguing article titled “ The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents” by Bruce Bower. The article starts off by stating how the people living in southern Africa 200,000 years ago not only slept on grass bedding but occasionally burned it, apparently to keep from going buggy. Archaeologist Lyn Wadley of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and her colleagues recovered remnants of the oldest known grass bedding, discovered in South Africa’s Border Cave. These were laid on the ashes of previously burned bedding. They state that ash spread beneath bound bunches of grass may have been used to repel insects, which cannot easily move through fine powder. Before this grass bed was discovered the oldest one dated to around 77,000 years ago at South Africa’s Sibudu rock-shelter. This grass bed had mainly consisted of sedge leaves, ash and aromatic plants likely used to keep insects away. Later on in the article we see how chemical and microscopic analyses used at Border Cave for the excavated sediment showed that a series of beds had been assembled from grasses. The article concludes with how the humans in southern Africa intentionally lit fires by around 1 million years ago. I personally really enjoyed reading and writing about this article. It was a change from past readings and was very intriguing.
Something that I found to be interesting in the article “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents” was how this discovery could have gone unnoticed if the ancient South Africans hadn’t placed the burned grass under the grass bedding. This discovery made archaeologists think and realize that there was a reason behind this practice. While reading the article, I wondered how the ancient people came up with the idea to burn the grass and use the ashes to repel bugs, or how they even knew that the powdery ashes would block the crawling bugs. Additionally, it is interesting that these people knew to use the aromatic camphor leaves to repel the bugs.
I have always been told that I need to consume a lot of protein as an athlete, which is true. However, I may not need to include as much protein in my diet as I thought, according to the article “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet?” I learned that it can be unhealthy to consume the maximum recommended amount of protein for each meal because my body is constantly changing. Additionally, I need to be smart about what I eat as my main source of protein. It is easy to forget that there is other forms of protein aside from meat. It may be smart to include a wider variety of proteins in my diet, such as eggs, tofu, etc.. The article also mentioned that plants may have more benefits than the protein in unhealthier protein choices, such as cold cuts and breakfast sausage.
This week I read the article “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet?” by Leslie Nemo. I found this article interesting because protein is promoted so heavily for a healthy lifestyle. While carbohydrates and fats are discouraged, protein is heavily encouraged in diets in order to be fit. In regards to athletics, sport brands and coaches are constantly telling athletes to consume as much protein as possible. Since the benefits of protein are constantly being publicized, it’s interesting to know it is possible to consume too much. It is recommended for the average person to eat 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight each day. This varies as adults over 65 should eat 1 to 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight and pregnant mothers are recommended to eat 1.1 grams per kilogram of body weight.Too much protein consumption can lead to type II diabetes. Americans especially associate protein with meat and in turn consume a high protein diet through animals. As a result the issue with a lot of protein can be the source from which it comes from. High plant-based protein diets on the other hand have less risks associated with it. Nikita Kapur, a dietician with Compass Nutrition in New York explained that if her clients protein came from deli meat and breakfast sausages, they needed to readjust their diet. Leaner meats are better for the body and plant based protein provides more nutrients and therefore leads to a more wholesome diet. Not getting enough protein can be an issue as well. Kapur also mentioned that low income families don’t have access to high quality foods and therefore consume lower protein meals. Therefore, protein deficiency is apparent in poorer areas. This article highlights the importance of proper protein consumption from nutritious sources and explains the defects of too much and too little protein.
I read the article “Researches capture footage of fluid behaving like a solid”, and in this article they explain that there is a way to see liquid act like a solid. This experiment shows a phenomenon called Discontinuous Shear Thickness, which is a liquid will quickly thicken and become solid.The team of scientists used starch and mixed it with water. The starch is placed in the water in a very narrow cell, then pressurised air is released into the cornstarch and shows a very quick thickening of the mixture. The hypothesis was that the fluid would fracture like a solid if given enough stress. I found this experiment very interesting because it is something very phenomenal that we could do at our own house.
In the article “How much protein do you actually need in your diet,” the author, Leslie Nemo, discusses how protein isn’t as important as the source of protein. What matters the most is the type of protein and strangely when you eat them. Usually, the amount of protein relied on how much you weigh. For instance, a few months ago, when I decided to switch my eating habits, I aimed for food items that had more than 30 % protein. I would search up online and associate the protein amount with my weight. However, according to the article, researchers have developed other protein requirements that override the protein amount. Specific groups of people and ages regard for eating more protein because aging metabolism has a hard time converting food, which I didn’t know! I learned from this article that I never knew that, if you aren’t providing any activity into your daily routine, you should scale back on protein. Besides, I never knew how protein correlates with Type II diabetes. Growing up, you are taught that protein is right for you and is viable in every meal you consume. A precise study Nemo mentioned showed that 10 grams of protein over 64 grams individuals ate, their risk of Type II diabetes rose by 20 to 40 percent. I wouldn’t be surprised if high animal protein is riskier than plant-based protein because animals you never know. Plants contain more nutrients and are overall the more reliable option. Going back to how protein should be eaten at a particular time, it is better to eat protein throughout the day than to shove it in one meal. From this article, I will definitely start to incorporate protein throughout the day.
5. I read the article that had to do with grass beds that had insect repellent. In South Africa, grass bedding was found. Upon further observation, it was discovered that the grass bedding was burned in order to repels insects, who couldn’t move through the ash. This form of bug repellent originated hundreds of thousands of years ago and it’s interesting to see ancient forms of things we use today.
The article about grass beds illustrates that people during that time knew how to deal with the problems that come with grass beds. For example, the insect issue. Grass beds were occasionally burned to keep the insects out. In addition there were other things such as aromatic plants and sedge leaves, which were most likely used to keep insects away as well. The second article, “Researchers capture footage of fluid behaving like a solid,” brings to light new evidence that liquids under stress can become solids. This phenomenon is called Discontinuous Shear Thickening. In this experiment cornstarch and water are mixed which acts like the liquid.
This mixture abruptly thickens and becomes a solid after being disturbed. The reason this occurred is because pressured air is released into the cornstarch water fluid and forces its way through. This phenomenon can be applied to other situations such as food production. This phenomenon is unique because it can be turned off and on. If someone stops the release of the pressurized air then the discontinuous shear thickening mixture will also stop. If the grains are only gently disturbed then the discontinuous shear thickening will not occur but if the disruption is more forced than the material will begin to act as a solid. The last article talks about the amount of protein that is actually needed in a diet. In general most people need .8 grams of protein for every kilogram of bodyweight. However as you get over the age of 65 more protein might be needed in the diet such as 1 to 1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight. The article states that it’s hard to predict the exact amount of protein that is needed in a diet because of everyone’s circumstances. For example, if someone is not as active during quartile as they were before than the amount of protein needed decreases. Also the article points out that where the protein comes from matters. For example, plant based protein is better than animal based protein. Lastly if someone is getting their protein from artificial sources than they could be at risk to more health problems later.
In the article, “How much protein do you actually need,” the author introduces the controversial idea that people actually eat too much protein. Instead, they suggest that the amount of protein you need is dependent on your weight, age and activity. Someone who works out more and weighs more would need a lot more protein than someone who weighs less and is not as active. Dietitians also advise against consuming too much protein to fast, which is surprising to me because i would always have a protein bars or shakes when I didn’t get enough protein at the end of any given day. There is a risk of type 2 diabetes when you eat too much animal based proteins, so you should vary your sources of protein (plant, meats, etc.) to ensure better digestion and health. Although everyone should be eating enough protein and healthy foods, not all areas can afford the foods that are necessary for healthy growth and development.
As nutritional advances are adding to the ideal diet, I feel like this generation suffers in realizing the appropriate intake of protein and other foods, along with a few dietary restrictions that maintain a healthy system. Leslie Nemo, in her article on “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet,” differentiates between the amount of protein that is consumed and the protein source that is being consumed. Depending on the varied age groups, the recommended 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of an individual’s body weight may change. For instance, individuals over the age of 65 require between 1 to 1.2 grams per kilogram in order to keep up with their metabolism, which is aging with them. But how is this linked with the source of protein? Studies have found a link between Type ll diabetes and excessive protein intake through the course of each meal. This link roots back to what individuals prefer to eat in order to consume protein. Studies show that protein consumed from an animal related source increases risks related to Type II diabetes, unlike protein consumption from plant-based foods. It is, however, evident that food companies are more concerned about the most appealing advertisement to consumers rather than the appropriate amount of protein that each individual requires. Like predicted by these food companies, we purchase the most appealing food brands and further the same businesses that allow people to consume too much (or maybe too less) protein. Hence, it is crucial to care about your diet and the impact it has on your body. This article even touched upon the reason why some populations are unable to consume the right amounts of protein and other food sources essential to the health. It relates to impoverished black communities, where individuals have a more difficult route to the grocery store than other communities in the area. This makes it more frustrating to care about the foods that are being brought, and thus, individuals throw more concern to, at last, simply buying some grocery for their households. It’s disheartening to hear that those who are privileged enough to take care of their diet take the opportunity for granted, while those who want to have a healthy diet aren’t even offered the chances that we throw away. This might seem a little far-fetched from the moral of this article, but reading this article made me ashamed on how poorly I treat my body when I have every opportunity to keep it healthy.
The article, “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet?” written by Leslie Nemo gave interesting insight into the extreme consumption of protein in the world but especially in America as well as the marketing of protein that has pushed it into the bodies of the American people. For all the adverts in America that praise protein it turns out that protein can have some negative effects including that, “...for every 10 grams of protein over 64 grams individuals ate, their risk of Type II diabetes rose by 20 to 40 percent.” Many people push for protein pointing out the adverse effects of other parts in food such as carbohydrates and fat. However, these components have positive effects as well as the negative effects. As the article continued it also touched on how the amount a person or family earns can often affect how healthy they are. This is because the healthy and fresh produce is often too expensive for those on a minimal budget which means poorer individuals have to opt for cheaper, more processed and unhealthy options causing worse long-term health. The article also points out that sadly low-income majority African-American neighborhoods have a supermarket 1 mile on average farther from them than a low-income majority white neighborhood. Even in the modern age racism still affects things as small yet still important as proximity to a grocery store. When food is becoming more and more available with the rise in globalization and trade it is important to be skeptical on what is in our foods, how much of it we need, and where and when are people getting it.
This week I read Bruce Bower’s “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents.” Insect repellant is a popular concept and commonly instituted form of protection, and recent findings show that this precautionary method was practiced as far back as two hundred thousand years ago. In Southern Africa, people often used the scattered grass beds as a cushioned place to sleep at night. But, these grass beds were also home to all sorts of crawling creatures. The Southern Africans came up with creative methods to keep the insects and bugs out of their precious grass beds. For example, they would set fire to the grass beds to rid the beds of any insects. Additionally, they would use the ashes of previously burned beds and sprinkle them over other scattered grass beds; this would keep out insects as they cannot crawl through the ash. On top of this, archaeologist Lyn Wadley’s team,who made the discovery of the ancient grass beds, also found pieces of camphor leaves, “an aromatic plant that can be used as a bug repellent,” tucked in the grass beds. I find all of this very surprising considering that two hundred thousand years ago, people lacked the technology and resources that we have today but still they managed to create their own fixes.
“How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet?” by Leslie Nemo tackles an important topic that is misunderstood by many Americans. As Nikata Kapur says in the article Americans have a high protein intake, solely consisting of protein bars and protein powders. The Food and Nutrition Board had come together to release nutritional intake reports on the recommended amounts of protein. They suggested 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight; this is suggested towards 97 to 98 % of the individuals who are trying to maintain body weight. Subsequently, people who are older than 65 are recommended to 1 to 1.2 grams of protein for every kilogram of body weight as a result of their aging metabolism which struggles to convert protein. Likewise, pregnant women like elderlies are recommended to have an income of 1.1 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. Dietience also analyzed the risk of a high protein intake: it can increase the chances of an individual inheriting Type 2 diabetes. According to the study, for every 10 grams of protein over 64 grams the individuals ate, their risk for Type 2 diabetes rose by 20 to 40 percent. Some researchers also say this can be a consequence of where the protein came from. They say that a high animal protein consumption, and not so much high plant-based consumption can put one at risk; where one’s protein comes from is detrimental to their health. Grains, seeds, and even veggies carry protein and eating them throughout the day will give you a balanced consumption of the recommended protein intake. Personally I feel like protein intake is an important topic that many highschoolers should be educated about because the society we live in sells the idea that a high protein intake is what will make you stronger but, in reality it's damaging their diets and health. A lot of factors come in when trying to maintain a healthy balanced diet: how old you are, the amount of protein you need and where the protein comes from.
This week I read the article, “How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Your Diet” written by Leslie Nemo. This article provided me with a variety of new information. I had previously thought that the more protein included in your diet the better, and that there was no limit to the amount of protein you can consume in a day, but after reading this article I learned that there is actually a specific amount of protein that individuals should consume. Furthermore, this amount varies from person to person. After reading this article I understood the risks associated with consuming too much protein and that cutting back on sources of protein is not a bad idea if you are exceeding your daily protein intake limit. Research has shown that consuming excessive protein is linked with numerous health issues including Type II diabetes. Researchers believe that the issue is the origin of the protein. They infer that a high animal based protein diet is the problem rather than a high plant based diet. Consuming red or processed meat increases the risk of contracting Type II diabetes and other health complications such as cancer. However, animal products are not the only source of protein; there are many plant-based sources containing protein such as tofu, broccoli, oatmeal. Consuming protein from healthier plant-based sources is more desirable than animal protein as it provides many more health benefits. On the other hand, there are those not getting enough protein due to them consuming a low protein diet. Lower income areas have lower quality food that is more expensive, which prevents people living in these areas from intake the proper amount of protein. Furthermore, grocery stores are located further away from Black, lower income neighborhoods making it harder for them to access food. After reading this article, I understand how privileged I am to have easy access to healthy foods am motivated to help less privileged members of our society.
I read the article "The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents" by Bruce Bower, and I was very shocked. When we think about beings from 200,000 years ago, we think about how they ar not as intelligent as is since they don’t have the advances and the technology that we have today. However, this article disproves that theory and shows just how smart they were. Without even knowing the science of bugs or what attracts and repels them, they were able to get rid of them while they were sleeping on their grass beds. They did not need the extensive knowledge that we have today on the anatomy of insects or the chemicals that insects seem to hate because they observed that when they put ash between their beds, the bugs just didn’t seem to come to them anymore. They used the scientific method before the method was even invented. If I am being completely honest, I don’t think I would have been able to come up with this feat of engineering and solution to this problem like these early human beings did, especially since it was solely off of very crude observations with no explanation of why behind them. Also, not only were they able to figure out that ashes were a bug repellent, bu they realized mixing/putting camphor leaves also worked in getting rid of the bugs. Thos article goes to disprove any theory of early human beings being unintelligent as they were able to create things like fire and bug repellant from absolutely no scientific background knowledge, things that we take for granted today.
I read the article “The oldest known grass beds from 20,000 years ago included insect repellents” by Bruce Bower. There was grass bedding found in South Africa from 20,000 years ago. The people who slept on the grass burned it which turned the grass into a powdery ash. This would prevent bugs. An archaeologist, Lyn Wadley, and some of her colleagues found some bits of burnt wood and camphor leaves. These leaves, and some other aromatic plants, are still used today as a bug repellent. In an African rock shelter, bedding was found to be made of sedge leaves, guinea grass, red grass, and other plants. The bedding was near fire pits, which would provide warmth for whoever was sleeping there. As the bedding became more and more worn it was eventually burned and new bedding is placed on the ashes. I found this article very interesting because I have never really imagined what not sleeping in an actual bed was like. It’s amazing how the people of the past were so innovative and actually had to worry about creating their own bedding whereas now we can just go and buy mattresses and beds that are already built. It is interesting that things we may take for granted in the present were not a given back then.
I read the article “200,000 year old bedding includes evidence of bug repellent measures.” Thousands of years ago people living in South Africa slept on grass bedding and burned it to keep the bugs away. In South Africa’s border cave it was discovered that the oldest grass bedding lays on top of burned ash bedding. By putting ash under their grass bedding, it could have been used to repel crawling and biting insects because it is difficult for insects to move through fine powder. Researchers also found bedding with camphor leaves which were used as a big repellent. This article explains how thousands of years ago, people used objects to help benefit themselves. It is very interesting that people thought of the idea to use grass as bedding and use ashes and camphor leaves for insect repellent. Also it is very interesting that researchers have found evidence of bedding that was used 200,000 years ago.
This week I read the article “How much protein do you actually need in your diet?” I found this article most insightful because at a point last year I decided to focus on nutrition and gaining weight. I would eat certain protein bars, but because I was working at the same time I couldn’t get the best nutrition so at points I was struggling to put on weight. The article says in the beginning that not only the amount of protein is important, but rather the source. As I read the article, the author talked about certain groups of people who might need more grams of protein per kilogram of mass such as pregnant women and the elderly. The article also explains how studies show a trend between overconsumption of protein and II diabetes. Doctors speculate that a focus on animal-based protein compared to a plant-based protein have caused this disparity. Furthermore, when we eat or protein matters. People should try and eat their fill of protein throughout the day so the protein can be broken down into its useful components. All of these points can guide anyone to a better, more well rounded diet.
I read the article called “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents” by Bruce Bower. About 200,000 years ago, people living in South Africa would occasionally burn their bedding in order to keep away bugs. The fine ash powder underneath the beds was difficult for bugs to move through, and helped keep the bugs at bay. Also underneath the beds were pieces of camphor leaves that were thought to be used as bug repellent. I thought this article was interesting because I wasn’t aware of the fact that ash and camphor could be used to keep away bugs.
I read the article called “The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents” by Bruce Bower. I found it really interesting how people 200,000 years ago had the knowledge and tools to adapt to their surroundings like they did. They would burn their bedding to repel insects, as well as keeping a fine ash powder underneath so it would make it difficult for insects to wriggle through. I found this article super interesting as I had no idea people from 200,000 years ago were using bug repellent somewhat similarly to how we do today(lighting candle or fire to get rid of mosquitos, for example)
I read the article, “How much protein do you need in your diet”, I learned that protein consumption is different for every person. I also learned that we acutally need less protein than I take in. Pregnant Women and the Elderly need more protein than others. After reading this article, I understood about protein consumption.
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