Miss me? So did I. SCIENCE TIMES! THIS WEEK: Scary chemicals! Aspartame is one of the most commonly used artificial sweeteners but many people avoid it because of possible negative health effects. Gizmodo explores the three chemicals - phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and methanol - that aspartame becomes when consumed. The takeaway: relax! As with everything else, its safe in moderation. Phenylalanine is converted into an amino acid in DNA, aspartic acid is necessary to make essential proteins, and methanol - although serving no biological purpose - is known to be safe in moderate quantities because its already present in beer, wine, tomatoes, and many citrus fruits. A recent review by the European Food Safety Authority looked at virtually every study performed on aspartame and concluded that there are no safety concerns at the acceptable daily intake (40mg/kg body weight). Hopefully some research organization will soon look into how safe it is to punch your friend in the head next time they start preaching about the dangers of chemicals in your food. ALSO: Science Times looks at activity trackers and wired monitoring devices! A sports helmet with a built-in sensor alerts the wearer after dangerous impacts, Well Blog gives an anecdotal glance at the effectiveness of various wearable activity monitors, and sleep monitors give insight on how a healthy night affects a productive day. Wearable tech isnt just for humans - now DOGS are being outfitted with activity monitors. Over 52% of dogs are obese, which leads to complications with diabetes and arthritis. Activity monitors for your dog can give feedback on respiratory and heart rates and will compare the data to the breeds daily need. I dont understand the need for any wearable tech; anyone with a dog knows that mans best friend is the only activity monitor that loves you back. LEARN YOURSELF SOMETHING
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 14:42:14 +0000