Tip: Avoid being Obese, Eat Ten Best Fat-Burning Foods to have low carbon footprint & be good to environment

Grapefruit. It’s been praised as a diet aid for years. Grapefruit is high in pectin, which breaks down body fat. WARNING: Grapefruit can interfere with many medications, especially blood pressure meds. Check with your doctor, pharmacist, or the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide updates.

Low-Fat Dairy Products. Calcium is a metabolic trigger. Skim milk and yogurt are rich in complex carbohydrates, which boost your metabolism by keeping insulin levels low after a meal. High insulin levels signal the body to hold onto fat. A study of dieters done at the University of Tennessee found that those who ate 1200 mg of calcium a day lost twice as much weight than those who avoided dairy."

Hot Peppers. Capsaicin, the chemical in jalapenos, habaneros, and cayenne peppers gives them their bite. It speeds up heart rate and boosts metabolism. A study reported by AOL Health found that eating just one spicy meal a day boosts metabolism by up to 25%, and the calorie burn lasts for up to three hours after the meal.

Green Vegetables. They’re a dieter’s salvation because they’re high in fiber and low in calories. In addition to their numerous health benefits, their slimming powers come from the fact that the more you eat at a meal the less room you’ll have to eat other foods that might not be so wonderful. Asparagus is especially good because it’s a natural diuretic that flushes out the system and minimizes water retention. Studies are also showing that it may play a role in fat breakdown.

Good Fats. Olive oil and avocados are great sources of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. The oleic acid in olive oil stabilizes leptin (also called the satiety hormones). Avocados are also a great source of fiber.

Blueberries contain more antioxidants than any other fruit. Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and grapes are also good. Aside from their many other proven health boosting claims, a cup of fresh or frozen berries contains about 6 grams of filling fiber.

Nuts. Almost all nuts qualify: almonds, walnuts, pistachios, etc. contain protein, fiber, and “healthy fat” that helps keep you feeling full. Snacking on 24 almonds will keep you feeling far more satisfied than snacking on the same number of rice cakes. Nut butters count, but buy ones that don’t have added sugar. Peanut butter is particularly good because it’s high in Niacin, which prevents bloat.

Tea. In a Swiss study, tea drinkers burned 266 more calories per day than non-tea drinkers. Green tea is the best; it has a chemical called EGCG that causes the brain and nervous system to run faster, which burns more calories even while the body is at rest. Black and white teas are also good. Avoid heavily processed bottled and canned tea drinks and brew it yourself.

Coffee Caffeine speeds up your heart rate and helps burn more calories. Even though the caffeine in the Mocha Frappuccino counts, it’s full of sugar and fat. It’s best to get your caffeine with low fat milk and go easy on sweeteners. It’s been shown that taking caffeine before a workout helps you last longer and consume more oxygen during the workout. The more oxygen you use, the more calories you burn

Whole Grains. These are a great source of complex carbohydrates and fiber. Look for “whole grain” or “whole wheat” products. If the label says “wheat,” there’s a good chance the processing has stripped of its fiber and nutrients.

Source: Ten Best Fat-Burning Foods | ThirdAge: "Mary Marino is a writer, blogger and editor of www.flashionista.com."

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Tip: The fastest way to change the way you feel is to change the way you eat"- Marino

Our metabolism is like the fat-burning motor. The body tries to convert everything we eat into fuel; some foods just deliver better results than others. High-quality foods actually burn fat and keep the body running at optimal levels. Low quality foods deliver low quality performance.

Ten Best Fat-Burning Foods | ThirdAge: "'via Blog this'

Ways to Mitigate Climate Change: Natural Gas Vehicle Storage Systems for Commercial Trucks possible!

"Quantum's ultra light weight high capacity CNG storage systems are enabling Class 7 and 8 heavy duty trucks to support typical fleet applications while reducing operating cost by 30 percent. Quantum offers an all composite tank technology which provides the lightest weight solution in the market which enables heavy duty trucks to carry significantly more fuel on board and operate for long distances without reducing their payload as is required with heavier tanks.

"An increasing number of transportation fleets are realizing the benefits of operating on CNG," said Alan P. Niedzwiecki, Quantum's President and CEO. "These long haul and regional trucking firms are now able to meet their range requirements of over 500 miles with Quantum's newest high capacity tanks.""
Quantum Awarded Contract for Natural Gas Vehicle Storage Systems for Commercial Trucks | Alaska Dispatch:
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Update: Leaders of nearly 200 major companies around the world have called for tougher action on climate change

The 2C Challenge, co-ordinated by the Prince of Wales Corporate Leaders Group, says that climate change puts society's future prosperity at risk. But the window to keep global warming below 2C has "almost closed", it warns.

Companies signing up include UK retailer Tesco, energy provider EDF, electronics company Philips, chemicals giant Unilever, eBay and Rolls-Royce.

The communique is published six weeks before governments of 192 countries convene in Durban, South Africa, for the annual UN climate summit.

Analyses show that at current rates, greenhouse gas emissions are not being curbed quickly enough to keep the global average temperature rise since pre-industrial times below 2C, which is what many governments say they want. A majority prefer the tougher target of 1.5C, which is almost certainly out of reach without investment in climate "technical fixes"."
BBC News - Companies call for tougher climate action: "
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Tip: Teens' brain are wired to risk. Parents can help by rewarding good behavior instead of emphasizing punishment of negative behavior

National Institutes of Health has shown, the prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain associated with inhibition of risky behavior, doesn't get fully developed until age 25. The connections between the prefrontal cortex and other areas of the brain are also developing in teenagers. And a number of deep structures in the brain are influenced by changes in hormones, which may lead to heightened emotions.
The way that brain regions talk to one another in teenagers may explain teens' sometimes confounding behavior, scientists say. Even in their mid-teens, adolescents can make quick, efficient, correct decisions; in the heat of the moment, though, the brain's deep emotional centers will win out over reason.
"It's not like these brain parts aren't there. It's how they get wired and become fine-tuned with experiences," said BJ Casey, director of the Sackler Institute at Weill Medical College of Cornell University."
Why teens are wired for risk - CNN.com: "
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Ways to Mitigate Climate Change: Germany would shutter all its 17 nuclear power plants bet 2015-2022 in favor of Alternative Energy

Germany's Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (German Development Bank) is to underwrite renewable energy and energy efficiency investments in Germany with $137.3 billion over the next five years, Germany Trade and Invest reported. Overall, the German government's 6th Energy Research Program has made an extraordinary $274.6 billion available for joint funding initiatives in energy storage research over the next three years.

It is by any yardstick an extraordinary (and expensive) commitment that may well have the collateral benefit of unlocking similar funding worldwide for renewable energy projects.

The new Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau loans and projects are designed to underwrite a broad array of energy areas, including energy efficiency and smart grids, as well as wind and solar energy generation. Last year Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau financed 40 percent of all photovoltaic installations in Germany."
Germany Sets Aside 0 Billion for Renewable Energy at Oil Price: "
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Update: 25 million people a year have been displaced due to weather-related events since 2008, the challenges of human migration due to climate change

"The United Nations estimates there were 210 million international migrants in 2010. A further 740 million were internal migrants in 2009.

The report estimates there will be between 154 and 179 million people living in rural coastal floodplains by 2060 who will be unable to move away due to poverty.

These trapped communities will need to be made more resilient to environmental events.

Up to 192 million people will also move into urban coastal floodplains in Africa and Asia by 2060 in search of work and a better economic situation.

This kind of migration could be beneficial by opening up new sources of income which help people become stronger and more resilient, enabling households to stay in a place for longer, the report said.

Migration should be considered when funds are being allocated at U.N. climate talks in November in Durban, South Africa, the report said."
Climate-driven migration challenge underestimated | Reuters:

The report, by the government-backed Foresight Program, examined the likely movement of people both within and between countries to 2060. It found the greatest risks will be borne by people who are unable or unwilling to relocate.

John Beddington, chief scientific adviser to the British government said an average 25 million people a year have been displaced due to weather-related events since 2008, which will likely rise as such events become more extreme and frequent.
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