Dark Chocolates

It's more than wishful thinking - chocolates are good for you.

Studies have revealed that eating dark chocolates may contribute to improved cardiovascular health by improving blood flow, reducing blood pressure and reducing the strain on the heart. Dark chocolates also have mild anti-blood clotting effects and help prevent the build-up of plaque that can block arteries. 

There is a 'feel good' factor present in the chocolates. Chocolate is packed with natural compounds called antioxidants which helps in reducing the risk of many kinds of illness, from heart disease to cancer. These antioxidants work by protecting the cells from damaging molecules called free radicals. Free radicals are basically unstable oxygen molecules that can trigger changes in the structure of normally healthy cells. Dark chocolates have more antioxidants than do foods like blueberries, green tea and red wine. It contains all the vital minerals required by the body.

Copper -

It is a critical mineral that aids in the absorption of iron and is a key component of enzymes that form skin strengthening collagen. It also contributes to heart health.

Magnesium -

It helps in reducing the risk of several chronic illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Some of the symptoms of magnesium deficiency can include leg cramps, migraines, fatigue, loss of appetite, depression, nausea and vomiting.

Potassium -

It is considered as a key factor in affecting blood pressure and stroke. The more potassium present in the body, the less likelihood of developing high blood pressure or stroke.

Iron -

The main function of the iron is to help carry oxygen from the lungs to the muscles and other organs. If the iron content in the body is insufficient then fatigue, irritability and headache may occur. If the iron deficiency becomes significant, a person can become anemic.      

Chocolate is one of the nature's most concentrated sources of theobromine, a mild stimulant and molecular cousin of caffeine. However, unlike caffeine, it does not strongly stimulate the central nervous system. Theobromine has also been shown to reduce coughing and has been used in 'natural cough medicine'. While safe for humans, other species, such as dogs, lack the specific enzyme that metabolizes theobromine, so eating chocolate can cause them to become overstimulated. That is why it is strongly recommended that pet owners prevent dogs from eating chocolates.                                                                                          

Varieties of Apples

Eating and drinking apples and apple juice, in conjunction with a balanced diet can protect the brain from the effects of oxidative stress and apples are one of the anti-oxidants rich fruits. Apple contains vitamins like Vitamin C, Beta-Carotene, iron, potassium etc., apples are also very rich in mineral contents, malic acid which are good in normalizing the intestines.

There are different varieties of apples and each category has its own benefits.
Green Apples -
These are good for strong bones and teeth, aids for vision and in strengthening the gums. Eating fresh green apples prevent formation of plaque on the teeth. It also has anti-cancer properties. Green apples are found to be effective in reducing the risks and chances of neurodegenerative diseases like the schizophrenia, dementia, the Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.

Green apples can give relief from constipation, diarrhea, gout etc. These apples are also known for lowering blood cholesterol, stabilizing  blood sugar and improving appetite. It does not contain any cholesterol so helpful for people who are trying to reduce their weight.

Yellow Apples -
These are good for heart and eyes. These apples contain around three to five grams of fiber in each serving. The high levels of fiber helps in digestive support. A specific type of fiber called pectin helps in improving the digestive system. These apples are very good for baking, making apple sauce or apple butter. The apple skin contains a nutrient called quercetin, which is used to reduce the impact of allergens on the body.

A yellow delicious apple contain no sodium and proteins. It provide approximately 80 calories per serving. It contains good amount of Vitamin C. These apples contain no saturated fats, trans fats or cholesterol. It also contains a variety of flavonoids, which serve to produce inflammation and blood pressure.

Red Apples -
These apples help in improving the memory functions. Red apples have highest concentration of anti-oxidants which helps in fighting off many diseases. It lowers cholesterol and improves digestion. It also increases the immune system of human body. These are also helpful in maintaining the urinary tract health. These apples provide healthy and beautiful skin, hair and nails.

                                                             

The red delicious apples are rich in sugar but contains no fats. It contains proteins and has approximately 130 calories per serving. These apples are good source of calcium, potassium, phosphorous and magnesium. These contain vitamins A, B-1, B-2, B-6, C, E, K.
It is suggested that the apples should not be peeled because the skin on the apples has more than six times the disease-fighting chemical than the fruit on the inside.

Wii

The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. The Wii is Nintendo's fifth home console and the direct successor of the Nintendo GameCube. As a seventh generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3.

The console has a wireless controller, the Wii Remote, which can be used as a handheld pointing device and detects movement in three dimensions. The Wii Remote is also known as Wiimote and it has motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen through the use of optical sensor technology. Another distinctive feature of the console is WiiConnect24, which enables the user to remain connected to the internet while the console is on standby.

 The Wii console contains 512 megabytes of internal flash memory and featured an SD card slot for external storage. An SD card can be used for uploading photos as well as backing up saved game data. The Wii has a PowerPC-based "Broadway" processor by IBM clocked at 729 MHz. The Wii console is backward compatible with all the official Nintendo GameCube's software, memory cards and controllers. There is also a microphone accessory which provides more realistic features to the Nintendo's Wii and is known as Wii Speak. It is connected to the console via USB. The device features an LED to indicate when the microphone is active.

Nintendo - Nintendo Co. Ltd. is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. It was founded in 1889. It has developed into a video game company and is Japan's third most valuable listed company with a market value of over US$85 million.

Mario is the mascot of Nintendo. As Nintendo's mascot, Mario is said to be the most famous character in video game history. The appearance shown by Mario has been changed many times during the series. Another portable game console developed by Nintendo is the Nintendo 3DS, which was released on February 26, 2011. It competes with the Sony's PlayStation Portable and the newly released PlayStation Vita. 

What are tears made of ?

Tears play an important role in keeping us healthy. To clean and lubricate the eyes tears play an important role. Tears keep the surface of our eyeballs clean and moist, and help protect our eyes from damage. The production or shedding of tears is also known as Lacrimation or Lachrymation. Although they make appear to be nothing more than water, our tears are actually complex. Tears are made of mucus, water and oil. Mucus coats the surface of the eye and helps to bind the tear layer to the eye.

                                 
In the absence of healthy mucus layer, dry spots are formed on the cornea. The water is more of a saline solution that contains vitamins and minerals vital to normal cell function. The oil of the tears prevent evaporation of the tears. Some people do not make enough oil resulting in dry eyes. If the oil component is not normal then the tears evaporate too quickly.
Our tears also contain natural antibiotics called lysozymes. These antibiotics fight against bacteria and viruses.
Types of tears :


1. Basal tears -
These tears continually keep the cornea of the eyes wet and nourished. They lubricate the eyes and help to keep it clear from the dust. Usually in a 24-hour period, 0.75 to 1.1 grams of tears are produced and the rate decreases with age.

2. Reflex tears -
These tears result from the irritation of the eyes by the presence of irritant substances such as onion vapors, tear gas, pepper spray in the eye's environment. These are also linked with vomiting, coughing and yawning. These reflex tears attempt to wash out irritants that may have come into contact with the eye.

3. Psychic tears -
These tears are referred to as crying or weeping. These are produced due to strong emotional stress, anger, suffering or physical pain. The chemical composition of these tears is little different than those required for the lubrication.

Artificial tears -
Artificial tears are lubricant eye drops used to treat dryness and irritation caused by reduced tear production, as in case of dry eye syndrome. These are also used during medical examinations and to moisten contact eye lenses. These are produced to mimic the natural tears as closely as possible. They contain water, salts and polymers, but lack proteins which are found in natural tears.

Amazing Clouds

What can be more peaceful joy than cloud spotting, watching clouds drift across the sky, changing shapes. Clouds are the part of nature's beauty and elegance.
Clouds fill the sky above us and are a part of every day, but they often are unnoticed. However there are some clouds which are so rare that these can attract any human eye!

1. Nacreous Clouds -
These are sometimes called mother-of-pearl clouds. These are 15-25 km high in the stratosphere. Nacreous clouds shine brightly with beautiful colors and have slow movement relative to the lower clouds.

2. Mammatus Clouds -
Mammatus clouds are pouch-like cloud structures and a rare example of clouds in sinking air. Some people have misconception about these clouds. According to them these clouds show that a tornado is about to be formed. But these clouds are harmless, In fact these are usually seen after the worst of a thunderstorm has passed.

3. Altocumulus Castelanus -
These clouds are also called jelly fish clouds because of their jelly fish like appearance. These are formed when the rush of moist air comes from the Gulf Stream and gets trapped between the layers of dry air. The top of the cloud rises into a jelly fish shape and long tentacles, formed from the rain drops which have evaporated.

4. Noctilucent Clouds -
Noctilucent Clouds are also known as Polar Mesopheric clouds. These are extraordinary rare cloud formation that occurs out on the verge of space between 82km to 102km from the earth's surface. These clouds appear to be luminous yet they reflect the sunlight from the other side of the earth at night, giving them a glowing appearance.

5. Mushroom Clouds -
A mushroom cloud is a distinctive mushroom-shaped cloud of smoke, condensed water vapor, or debris resulting from a very large explosion. However any large blast will produce the same kind of effects. For an example, the volcanic eruptions produce the mushroom clouds.

These clouds are produced as a result of the formation of a large mass of hot-low density gases near the ground. The mass of gas rises rapidly and reaches an altitude where it is no longer dense than the surrounding air and disperses, the debris drawn upward from the ground scattering and drifting back down.

6. Cirrus Kelvin-Helmholtz -
These are among one of the most distinctive cloud formations. Appearing as a slender, horizontal spiral of cloud, these tend to dissipate only a minute or two after forming. These clouds are rarely observed. The average height of these clouds is around 16,500 ft.

7. Lenticular Clouds -
Lenticular clouds are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form at high altitudes, normally aligned at right angles to the wind direction. Where stable moist air flows over a mountain or a range of mountains, a series of large-scale standing waves may form on the downwind side.

Lenticular clouds sometimes are formed at the crests of these waves. Under certain conditions, long strings of lenticular clouds can form a wave cloud.

8. Roll Clouds -
A roll cloud is a low, horizontal tube-shaped cloud associated with a thunderstorm gust front, or sometimes a cold front. Roll clouds can also be a sign of possible micro burst activity. These clouds are formed when the cool air lifts the warm moist air then water condenses creating cloud, which often rolls with the different winds above and below.

9. Shelf Clouds -
A shelf cloud is a low, horizontal wedge-shaped cloud, associated with a thunderstorm gust front. Unlike a roll cloud, a shelf cloud is attached to the base of the parent cloud above it. Rising cloud motion often can be seen in the leading part of the shelf cloud.

10. Stratocumulus Clouds -
These low altitude stratocumulus clouds are rolled into long, distinctive ribbons after becoming trapped in air currents. These clouds are very rare to be observed.