Ice cream, apple pie, and chocolate… Sugar is tasty, but it’s also claimed to be unhealthy. So, can you live without sugar?

September 19, 2022October 23, 2021 by Unfakely

Ice cream, apple pie, and chocolate… Sugar is tasty, but it’s also claimed to be unhealthy. So, can you live without sugar?

Can you live without sugar?

I suffer from diabetes. I have dysfunctional insulin production and have to balance the sugar intake with injected insulin. The body of a non-diabetic regulates this by itself, but I need to take injections.

The principle is the same though… The more sugar, the more insulin, injected or naturally produced. So, I started wondering, why all this fuss about it, about the sugar? Why not just throw it out altogether, the apple pies, and the ice cream… Why not completely stop eating sugar, and my blood sugar values would be under control…

And I wondered… Is it possible? Can you live without sugar?

Disclaimer: I am not a scientist, nor a medical expert. Before trying any radical diet, please consult your primary care provider

Sugar is the fuel for the human organism.

Sugar is a generic name for soluble, sweet carbohydrates. Any carb with only one or two sugar molecules will taste sweet and is called sugar. All carbohydrates, one, two, or more molecules, are our body’s main source of energy. We need them to move, think, and all the rest. Without carbs, we would still survive because of backup systems like ketosis, where fat is used for energy. But, in the long run, with no carbs, you will face health issues. More about that further ahead.

Sugar – A chemical definition.

So, can you live without sugar? Yes of course you can, if you’re Ok with sacrificing grandma’s brownies. But the real question should be, can you live completely without carbohydrates? That is, without any bread, potatoes, rice, beans, fruit, etc..

A very simplified way to explain the complex system of carbohydrates is this:

There are three monosaccharides, single-molecule carbohydrates. These are glucose, fructose, and galactose. These three contain the building blocks, and they are very sweet, especially glucose. If you put two of these molecules together, you get a disaccharide, e.g. normal table sugar (sucrose) which is one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule. Sucrose is produced from processing Sugarcanes or sugar beets and these disaccharides are still very sweet.

Combining more molecules you get oligosaccharides (roughly 3-10 monosaccharide molecules) and polysaccharides, which is starch (more than 10 monosaccharides ). These are not very sweet.

If you continue with even longer chains of monosaccharides, you arrive at cellulose. The cellulose chains are so long and robust that most animals can’t digest them. Only cows and other ruminants, and a few other species, have that capacity. We humans use it for paper and paper products.

So, all carbohydrates work in the same way, then?

Not really. And this is the heart of the matter. Our body can only absorb monosaccharides, so before any carbohydrate longer than one molecule can be of any use to us it has to be broken down. This process happens in the small intestine with the help of enzymes, and the longer the carb chain is, the more the intestine has to work, and the longer it takes.

That’s why diabetics are advised to eat more complex carbohydrates… Vegetables, whole wheat bread, and other stuff with lots of fiber in it. That is also one of the reasons why table sugar is regarded as not as healthy as whole grain. Complex carbohydrate helps control the blood sugar, and it makes the intestine exercise, which is another benefit.

Can you live without sugar?

Yes. Table sugar isn’t necessary, nor is it beneficial.

Can you live without carbohydrates, altogether?

Yes, you can. Because the human body’s gastrointestinal tract is a miracle of flexibility. After all, we are one of the very few species that have spread to every corner of this planet, excluding Antarctica. And we have done so partly because our digestion system is so incredibly adaptable… Which brings us to the Inuit and their very particular diet…

The Inuit and the high-protein diet.

There are certain places on our planet where things just do not grow. One such place is the vast, frozen land around the north pole – Greenland, and the northern parts of Siberia, Alaska, and Canada. The Inuit who live there, are forced, by the climate, to limit their intake of carbohydrates. Instead, their traditional diet consisted almost exclusively of the two other main parts of our food: protein and fat.

According to most diet experts, they should all be high on cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and cancer. They should have extreme cholesterol levels, and no teeth left after 30, with a high protein diet like that.

But strangely, they seem to be just as healthy as anybody else even though they eat almost no carbs whatsoever. It’s a mystery and has been so for a long time…

The Inuit paradox

So, how can they be so healthy with an almost complete lack of carbs? And we’re back to the extreme capacity for adaptation within the human race.

Harold Draper, biochemist, and expert in Eskimo nutrition:

– There are no essential foods… Only essential nutrients. And humans can get those nutrients from diverse and eye-opening sources.

One big problem with the Inuit diet would be the lack of vital vitamins, present mostly in vegetables, and fruits. But researchers found vitamins in a lot of different animal food sources.

traditional Inuit food — Traditional Inuit Muktuk. Courtesy of cogdogblog.

D-vitamins that are produced by the sunlight, are also found in fatty fish.

A-vitamins are also plentiful in the oils of cold-water fishes and sea mammals.

Even vitamin C, typically found in citrus fruits, can be extracted from meat, fish, and internal organ, especially if it’s raw. The Inuit diet includes quite a lot of frozen raw meat. Muktuk, a traditional Inuit dish made of frozen whale skin and blubber, contains weight for weight as much vitamin C as orange juice.

Fat or sugar? What to choose?

Can you live without sugar for energy?… Fat and carbohydrates are the body’s main energy sources. Fat is for storage, and carbs are for immediate use. Both have their issues, but there’s nothing inherently worse with fat as an energy resource.

And the intuits still eat some carbohydrates. A minimal part of carbs come from the tubers, and berries they pick in summer. Another source is the glycogen present in meat, especially raw meat.

The fantastic evolution of the human body.

For many years, omega 3, a beneficial fatty acid, was considered the reason why the Inuit didn’t die from heart attacks at a greater range. Omega 3 is a known protector against cardiovascular diseases, and the Inuit population has very high levels of omega 3. Even though they eat a lot of protein and fats they are not subject to more heart problems than the rest of us.

But recent studies have discovered a gene, a mutation, found in the Inuit population. This mutation partly counteracts the effects of a diet high in marine mammal fat. Interestingly it is also in some way connected to height. Inuit, in fact, are statistically much shorter than their Canadian, Danish, and Russian peers. This would be another advantage in a cold climate.

Is a complete no-carb diet healthy? … Or even possible?

So, back to my diabetes. Would it be possible to throw all the carbohydrates out the window, and eat only fat and proteins? Can you live without sugar… completely?

It evidently is possible. The fantastic human body, perfected after billions of years of evolution, can take almost anything. It can adapt.

But… And this is maybe the crucial point, would it be good for me, even if I’m a diabetic?

What the scientists say.

There is a clear link between low-carb diets and increased health risks. Many studies have confirmed that. But much like the Inuit, you will have to increase fat and proteins, if you decrease carbohydrates. And there’s also a clear link between eating animal protein, especially red meat, and increased risk for cardiovascular diseases.

So, do you get sicker because you eat fewer carbs, or because you eat more steaks?

However, excluding carbs altogether doesn’t seem like a good idea, unless you’re of Inuit origin.

There is also a clear link between refined sugar and health risks. Maybe the choice shouldn’t be so much between simple and complex carbohydrates, as between refined and non-refined. The sugar in the apple pie is more damaging than the sugar in the apple.

Is a piece of apple pie really all that dangerous?

No, not really. If you eat one piece and stop there. Even a diabetic can eat one small piece of apple pie without any particular consequences. Sweets taste good, and as long as you don’t exaggerate, don’t be too hard on yourself.

There still are a few general propositions about healthy dieting I would like to make. Some basic rules for any diet, anywhere.

Surviving is different from living for many years. You can survive on whatever for a short period of time, but if the nutrition is incomplete, you risk your long-term health.
It is always preferable to mix. The more one-sided you eat, the greater the health risk. (So, it’s better to eat fat, protein, AND carbs.)
Unrefined food is preferable to refined
Seasonal food is preferable to food that is out of season and maybe imported.
You can go low on something, low protein, low fat, or low carb. But do not exclude anything. We are built to eat a little of everything. And we need all of it, at least to some degree.

Conclusion.

First, you can and should avoid refined sugar.

Secondly, living completely without or with a limited intake of carbohydrates is possible, that is, you will survive. But unless you are an Inuit or of Inuit origin, it’s unhealthy. And even if you are of Inuit blood, the modern lifestyle and the many easily accessible industrially made foods suggest that a no-carb diet could still be very harmful. Hey, even a low-carb diet should be used with caution.

We just don’t get around it. We need the carbs, at least some of them… Just like we need protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and all the rest. We are omnivorous.

… And maybe that includes a piece of the apple pie and a small brownie too.

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Yes, you can and should live without refined sugar. But to live for an extended period without any carbohydrates? That, I’d say, would be very risky.

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What is Chi?

September 19, 2022October 7, 2021 by Unfakely

What is Chi?

They speak about chi as if it’s essential. They teach it as if it’s fundamental. They use it in a thousand different ways, and it’s supposed to be extremely powerful.

But does chi really exist?

yes or no?

First of all, the name…

氣 – That’s how it’s written in traditional Chinese. In English, it’s written Chi, Ki, or Qi, and pronounced [tʃiː]. In Japanese, it’s pronounced [kiː].

The meaning of the word is air or vapor, or energy in general, or life force, or vital energy… It is quite difficult to give a precise definition, and that can be a problem as we will see further on. The concept is very old. It originates from many thousands of years ago. Probably from China or at least from Asia.

In Taoism, Tao is an absolute principle and it conceptualizes the order of everything. The Universe has two opposite forces, Yin and Yang, and these make up all of what we can experience. They are light and darkness, expansion and contraction, male and female, deficiency and excess, etc. And they are the forces that have produced this universe… The energy with which all this is conceived is called chi… Chi Yang and Chi Yin.

气 means Vapor or Air. But as such it also means energy.
天气 means Sky and Air (Energy) – Sky-energy, Weather.
米 means Rice.
米气 means Rice and Vapor/Air.
氣 is a combination of the last two, meaning Rice-Vapor, as in the vapor from the boiling rice. Or it could be interpreted as the two forms of energy necessary for our body to work… Rice (food) and air (oxygen).
氣 is Chi in traditional Chinese.

Interestingly, many languages of Indo-European origin have the words for breath/breathing and life force very similar. (Comp. Expire in English)

What is chi in Traditional Chinese Medicine?

In traditional Chinese medicine, Chi is the vital life force or energy that is in all living beings. It is the energy of life and it runs all through our bodies. But not only that: It is also the essence of-, and connection between every living thing as well as between those and the universe. It unites our body, our mind, and our spirit, and it unites us with everything.

This life force can be imbalanced, and if so, it’s the scope of the doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine to create balance within the organism again.

Yin chi is heavy. It falls, it is stationary, and binding. Yin chi is condensation.
Yang is light. It moves away, upwards, and it’s volatile and etheric. Yin chi is expansion.

The body has to keep its balance between those two forces. Furthermore, we need to keep the flow of chi unrestricted. Because obstacles and blockages can form in our chi for various reasons, and if they do, the channels need to be opened. The doctor does all this with medication, often traditional herbal medicine and/or therapy, like Therapeutic Massage, Acupuncture, etc. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based strongly on the concept of Chi as a life force.

But what is chi… What are we actually talking about here?

We need to know exactly what we are referring to. And, as said before, that isn’t all that obvious. Because a lot of people see Chi as a concept, much like many other words that we use in a metaphorical way…

The chi is in balance – We feel alright and things are good, generally speaking. But it’s not that there is any actual balance. We wouldn’t fall over because we are off Chi.
The Chi is flowing – People around me like me, and I feel appreciated. Today my project got approved, and that special person called me… I’m in a flow. Things work out. But it’s not that there is any special energy that is moving inside me, from my toes to my head, from my left hand to the right.
I am connected to the universe – I feel as one with every other living thing. That is, I understand that we all have to share space on this earth. We have to stop the pollution, help each other, and stop the wars because otherwise, we will all suffer. But it’s not that I am really connected in any way with anything else. There are no radio waves or cables between us.

Then there’s the other way of looking at it…

And this is where we could run into problems. Because some people claim that Chi is also a very physical, real, demonstrable, and powerful force. And it’s a force that can be manipulated to make you feel this or that, to move objects and people, to awaken your cosmic awareness… And lastly, which in my opinion is morally very dubious, make you ill, and consequently cure you.

So, if there actually is some truth in it, that there really is a real, physical force within us and around us that has an impact on our wellbeing, then that is very important information. And if that life force really could create diseases, and then cure us, make us create or overcome problems, connect us to each other and to the far side of the galaxy. Then that could be a real game-changer for all of us.

What do the practitioners/believers say themselves?

Chi is constant, it holds matter together. Chi is the energy that floats through humans, through the earth, and through the heavens. It is the energy, the power of the universe. Chi is like a river, it’s constantly happening. Yin and Yang are moving in and out while Chi is constantly generated

Chi is bioelectric power. Chi is the electricity that nourishes the living cell. Qigong helps you to draw energy from the outside so that you have more energy on the inside.
Chi is the current of energy that passes through the inside and outside of the body. It also passes through physical objects. When your chi is strong, it flows through you and fills you with life and health. When your chi is weak, it remains still and stagnant.

Do you understand it better from these quotes? Having a true believer explain what Chi is, doesn’t make it easier to grasp. It’s very mystical and philosophical, just like it’s supposed to be, being a 4000 years old concept.

What does science say?

There has been a lot of research to try to find out: What is Chi? Most have studied the technique of Qigong. Qigong and Tai Chi are similar but Qigong has a supposedly more internal focus. The movements are more specific and the aim, is to heal, aid, and restore Chi, more than physical exercise. So, many of the studies focus on the measurable energy when Qigong is used. Either during the session or after, and both from the Qigong master, the healer, and from the subject.

In fact, many of these studies show a verifiable effect. This paper by Xinqi Dong, E-Shien Chang, and Kevin Chen reaches a conclusion:

… Many other exploratory studies of external Qigong effects have used various physical detectors, including Gamma-ray, microwave, and high-frequency X-ray. Body temperature changes before, during, and after the practice of Qigong have been documented by many empirical studies, in which far-infrared measurement was amongst the most commonly used physical detectors of Qi.

Another study from 2011 by Roger Jahnke, Linda Larkey, Carol Rogers, Jennifer Etnier, and Fang Lin found benefits from both Tai Chi and Qigong:

… This review has identified numerous outcomes with varying levels of evidence for the efficacy of Qigong and Tai Chi, including bone health, cardiopulmonary fitness and related biomarkers, physical function, falls prevention and balance, the general quality of life and patient-reported outcomes, immunity, and psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, and self-efficacy.

But it’s hard to see evidence of a force, an energy source, other than the obvious benefit exercise would give. These techniques are also connected to breathing and a meditative focus in a way that most other sports are not.

The lowering of the pulse, rising of the temperature and other effects could be explained well within the known physical realm. These are nothing more than normal functions of the body.

What is Chi… And what is Yi?

Professor Lin Housheng’s answers to the question, What is Chi in Qigong? And this could be the reason why we aren’t able to find any proof.

Qigong is a method or process in which the cultivation of Chi (vital energy) and Yi (consciousness or intent) achieves the optimal state of both body and mind. Yi, the intent or mental process of the practitioner, is integral to the Qigong process. Although exploratory studies focus on the Chi part only, Chi itself cannot be truly defined without including Yi, or intent. After all, Chi emission is a process of bio-physiological activity coordinated by human intent or consciousness.

As such, maybe it’s impossible to separate the force from the practitioner. And maybe we cannot examine the Chi at all without adding the subjectivity and the intent of the mind… And so we’re stuck.

Acupuncture

I didn’t want to derail down the Acupuncture track. But Acupuncture is a consequence of Chi. The theory is that sticking in needles where the Chi flows inside one of the 12 meridians in our body can cause stagnant Qi to be dispersed and deficient Qi to be tonified.

Acupuncture has been thoroughly examined and the result is that some effects, especially as a method of pain relief, can be observed. The general problem is that similar effects can be seen with needles being inserted randomly, or needles not being inserted at all, while the subject is convinced that they, in fact, are.

It would seem that the inserting of needles, or believing that needles have been inserted has an effect, but that the Chi meridians have nothing to do with it. ,

And now to the other side of the coin… The darker side.

Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese Martial Art. Today it is mainly used as a way of exercise, health benefits, and meditation (Shadowboxing), but there is a strong fighting component as well. The technique is closely connected to Chi, thus the name.

But some Martial Arts schools take the whole Chi idea a step further. Some training is focused on learning to control the Chi to such an extent that it can be used to send an opponent to the floor without even touching him… The so-called No Touch Knockout:

Watch this video on YouTube

Focusing on Chi, trying to relax, exercising to find the right posture, and breathing correctly could be very important tools in a myriad of situations.

But some experts don’t stop there. They use the Chi-concept as a way to do tricks. While professional illusionists do magic on stage for entertainment and they are absolutely transparent about it. What they do is based on tricks… The self-appointed Chi-guys on the other hand, claim their performances are real. They claim that their Chi is so powerful that they can start fires, and move objects around only by using their God-like powers.

Watch this video on YouTube

The Qigong movements are specific and the aim here is to heal, aid, and restore Chi, more than physical exercise. If you look at Qigong and Tai Chi from a westerners point of view, they are very similar. And the effectiveness of the two styles is similar too. The exercise, the training, the cardiovascular response, etc are all benefits that are well documented…

Unfortunately, some healers go a step too far, claiming they can actually heal severe diseases with the Chi-power.

Watch this video on YouTube

But why do we always have to be so darn scientific? Especially about old Chinese beliefs?

I don’t think we should limit ourselves to seeing the world exclusively in terms of real or fake, black or white. The concept of Chi is very attractive. The flowing movement, the fact that we are all connected, the focus on internal balance and physical and mental wellbeing.

And I personally am very drawn to the idea of a sport, or physical activity, that is so non-competitive.

Having said that, it is our strong belief that fraudulent behavior is wrong. But fraudulent behavior that intends to exploit people’s vulnerability and fear in life-threatening situations, is morally and ethically deceptive. It’s misleading in a particular way and those doing it should be called out and should be held responsible.

Chi is a very interesting phenomenon, and it is possibly very useful as an ingredient in physical exercise and mental training. Our internal chemical and psychological environment can suffer from stress, and Qigong and Thai Chi is surely a good way to ease that stress.

But Chi is not a mystical, magical force of nature, that only those who are trained in the right way can master. It’s just another way of saying energy or saying connection, or balance.

So, no… Chi cannot knock people down from a distance, it cannot move objects, or start fires… And it most probably can do absolutely nothing to cure cancer.

For health issues always contact your local health authorities.

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Conclusion.

Yes and No. The Chi concept as a subjective connection between all living things, as the energy that all life is made up of, and as the positive effects of physical activity, breathing correctly, relaxation, balance, etc. That part exists.

But the magical, mystical part where Chi is some special energy that can be modified and channeled, that part, I would say, does not exist.

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Does shaving make hair thicker?

March 30, 2023June 13, 2021 by Unfakely

Does shaving make hair thicker?

… And does cutting the hair make it grow faster?

This myth is well-founded and looked upon as an axiom in many parts of the world. When I was young I heard it from more or less everybody… If you shave, the beard will grow fuller and richer. The idea was somehow that the hair would compensate for being cut off, and the hair follicle would strengthen the new hair so that it can resist better. At least that’s how it was explained to me.

Anyway, it was common knowledge that shaving and cutting would create thicker and maybe darker hairs.

Our very different goals

Having more, richer, and stronger hair can be a good thing, or a bad thing… It depends. Because we have very different goals with hair growth. Typically we want less hair on our bodies, while on the head, we prefer more. Especially if you’re a woman, you normally want little or no body hair.

For a man, body hair could be of less importance. While, for example, the beard should be rich and full, which could be a problem if you’re young or just don’t have a lot of facial hair.

So, even if the question “Does shaving make hair thicker?” could seem of little importance, it’s actually of great concern to many. And the healthcare- and make-up industry takes advantage of this, with thousands of products for either making your beard fuller, your curls richer, or making your legs smoother.

The truth of the matter

Your hair grows as it grows independently if you cut or don’t cut. When you shave, the hair is cut straight off, and the blade leaves a square tip instead of the smooth, soft tip of natural hair. That can sometimes make the hairs feel rougher the first days after a shave or a cut, but it’s really an illusion. Mechanical cutting doesn’t change the way the hair is produced in the follicle in any way.

The clinical aspect of hair growth.

The hair follicle produces the hair over time, it reaches its full length, and then it falls off. After that, the follicle rests for some time before it starts with a new hair. The complete cycle is, by scientists, divided into three faces, the anagen, the catagen, and the telogen face.

Anagen phase – This is the growth face. The hair is growing until it reaches its full length. That can take many years if we’re talking about scalp hair. Hair on your head grows one or two cm per month. The growth rate varies with age, sex, genetic factors, and to some extent, with external components, such as temperature, sunlight, nutrition, and general well-being.
Catagen phase – This is when the hair is released from the follicle, and pushed out. The dermal papilla diminishes in size and detaches from the hair, which simply falls off.
Telogen phase – This is the resting face. It lasts for a few months before the follicle wakes up again and restarts the cycle.

Is it at all possible to affect hair growth?

Well, of course, it is. Everything in our bodies is connected to everything else, and hair is no exception. If you’re healthy, happy, and physically strong, your hair will be fuller and richer. If you eat well, don’t take drugs, or drink too much alcohol, you will definitely have more beautiful hair, just as you would be more beautiful all together. And we’ve already concluded that sunlight, temperature, vitamins, minerals, and even products sold as a hair-growing enhancement by the makeup industry can affect hair growth.

To this, we would have to add medical disorders, secondary effects from treatments, alopecia, and common male baldness.

It’s just shaving or cutting that doesn’t make hair grow faster… or fuller, or stronger. It doesn’t affect the life cycle of the follicle at all.

It’s still a good idea to get a haircut every few months, though. The professional, caring hand of a hair stylist has many benefits. It levels the tips of the hair on your head, and the products used can in some cases be good for you… And you look better coming out from the hair salon, and that’s a major issue.

But, still, the hair doesn’t grow more or less, fuller or thinner.

Does shaving make hair thicker? Nope, it doesn’t

But it feels that way.

The anagen face – the growth face – is divided into 6 sub-faces. And it’s not until the fourth of these faces that the melanin production is fully activated. At the beginning, not only is the hair thinner but it’s also not colored.

So, a natural body hair of, let’s say, 5 millimeters is very soft and almost transparent because it’s actually the tip of the new hair. If, on the other hand, you cut it straight off and let it grow out 5 millimeters from the cutting point, then that would be the middle part of the hair, with a full diameter, and full color. And the feeling, when you caress your leg, is very different.

Waxing vs shaving

Again… Waxing or shaving has no effect on the long-term growth or quality of the new body hair. The follicles on your skin will repeat their growth cycle in exactly the same manner if you wax or shave… Or you don’t do either.

Waxing pulls out the whole hair, root and all. The follicle has to start all over again, and waxing, therefore, leaves the skin hairless for a much longer time. Shaving just cuts the hair, and the growth continues where it was cut off. Shaving causes the new hair to be wider and colored, just as explained before.

Waxing lasts longer while shaving is easier.

Both methods can cause problems due to the invasiveness of the skin. The process of cutting, scraping, and pouring hot wax should be done with caution.

There is a specific hazard for women, especially those with curly hair… Frequent shaving can cause ingrown hair. To avoid this, always cut in the direction the hair grows, never against the grain. And shave after or while showering, never on dry skin.

There are many other ways to remove unwanted body hair, some are claimed to do so permanently. Any of these methods should be used acknowledging the risks, and always at a certified clinic with a good reputation. Check reviews, and references, and ask around.

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No, nor shaving, waxing, cutting, or anything else you do with the grown-out hair, has any bearing on the long-term health, width, or length of future hairs.

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Do countries spend more on the military than they do on healthcare and education?

March 30, 2023July 20, 2020 by Unfakely

Do countries spend more on the military than they do on healthcare and education?

yes or no?

Why is the military so costly?

Military expenditure is terrible, money-consuming, and non-productive. It’s a sector that contributes to corruption, political instability, and death…
The military is where disciplined and courageous men are ready to sacrifice their lives to defend our freedom and national integrity.

Both these statements could be true, depending on who you are, and where and when you live. The reason we have a military force can’t be determined easily and very often comes down to who is in charge of it.

But one thing we all must agree on is that it often is an expensive luxury to have a strong military. So, why is it so expensive?

The military, a long time ago

While the old Greeks had an army of soldiers, we have armies of equipment. The ancient time armed forces were men with various weapons, and as such, the expenses were almost exclusively salaries. Today, a big part of the military expenses is taken up by things… Airplanes, ships, canons, and all the high-tech stuff – drones, robots, and various automatic intelligence- and weapon systems.

Soldiers in old times also earned their fair share from looting. Some of the wars were self-sufficient as the armies could simply steal from their enemies or from anybody else who stood in the way. The antique armies were extremely costly in peacetime, but could even be productive, as in providing an economic surplus, in war.

The cost of maintaining a military force was by far the biggest expense a society could have had back then. Furthermore, it was the main reason why the government or the central public administration invented taxes in the first place. Keeping large amounts of soldiers, and constructing and maintaining defense structures, mobile and not, required a lot of money.

Still, the taxes weren’t nearly as heavy as they are today. And the central administration didn’t intervene in people’s everyday life. There were no public schools, no social protection, no pensions, no national debt… And not much healthcare. So, calculating the percentage of the military expenses of old times compared to today maybe isn’t all that meaningful.

Spending in figures

So, how do we spend our tax money… The year 2019?

Looking at the US, military expenses are in second or third place, depending on how you calculate the posts in the budget. With an incredible 676 billion dollars, the armed forces eat up 15% of the national revenue. It is by far the biggest military budget in the world and the US army is also the military force with the best power index in the world.

Still, the cost for the military is far behind healthcare and social security, which together mount up to 40% of the total budget.

This is a general trend in Western Europe and North America. Countries pay more for healthcare than they do for soldiers and guns. But the poorer the country, the more that principle is weakened. Obviously, because a poorer country has less money to spend.

As you can see the military expenditure today is roughly one-third of the expenses in 1960, as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product globally. The actual number (2018) is 2,141. That means that a little more than two percent of the world’s GDP is used for military personnel and equipment.

Let’s look at the cost of the military in some countries…

The top four countries are:

The USA $732 billion (Not $676 as mentioned above. That just illustrates how difficult it is to understand a budget.) – 3,4% of the Gross Domestic Product
China $261 billion. – 1,9% of GDP
India $71 billion. – 2,6% of GDP
Russia $65 billion (Only fourth place for the former superpower). – 3,9% of GDP

More countries:

France $50 billion. 1,8% of the GDP
South Korea $44 billion – 2,6% of the GDP
Iran $13 billion – 2,8% of the GDP
Singapore $11 billion (!) – 3,0% of the GDP

Ok, let’s look at these countries’ healthcare costs.

As the military expenditure worldwide is diminishing, healthcare cost is increasing. More money is available for curing the sick every year, and that too is a good thing. Domestic Government health expenditure per capita worldwide is now a little more than 600 dollars. That is, any person in this world gets an average of 600 dollars to pay for his healthcare costs from his government in one year. The spread here is enormous though. Most money goes to a citizen of the USA, partly because the American health system is of poor cost-efficiency. The least money goes to a citizen in Congo and South Sudan.

Government health expenditure per capita:

The USA $5139. – 8,56% of GDP (To that you have to add another $5000 from the private health assurance plan.).
China $476 – 2,92% of GDP
India $69 – 2,8% of GDP
Russia $801 – 3,05% of GDP

More countries:

France $3863 – 8,72% of GDP
South Korea $1709 – 4,36% of GDP
Iran $896 – 4,44% of GDP
Singapore $2058 – 2,14% of GDP

… And the poorest countries:

The Democratic Republic of Congo $1,93 – 0,40% of GDP
South Sudan $1,93 – 0,83% of GDP

So, how about Education?

Education is even more difficult to understand, as funding comes from a lot of different sources… Government, region, province, and municipality. I limit myself to giving you the percentage of GDP that the countries pay for general education on every level:

The USA – 5% of GDP
China – 4% of GDP
Russia – 3,7% of GDP
India – 3% of GDP
France – 5,4% of GDP
South Korea – 4,6% of GDP
Iran – 4% of GDP
Singapore $8 billion – 3% of GDP
The Democratic Republic of Congo – 1,5% of GDP
South Sudan – 1% of GDP

Military expenditure, education, and healthcare – statistics.

All these numbers should be taken with a grain of salt. Especially those for education, which varies from different sources. Statistics can be deceitful. But we can enjoy a steady trend where the military costs decline and the healthcare costs increase. Maybe governments all over the world finally start to understand what the important things in life are.

But education is lagging behind. Education in various regions of the world is getting more money, but the increase is moderate. And some countries, especially in the south, have cut drastically in school funding in later years.

This is particularly sad because studies show a correlation between education level and spread, and some very beneficial returns.

Countries with higher educational attainment in the past are more likely to have democratic political regimes today
Women’s education is inversely correlated with child mortality
Education outcomes predict economic growth

I, and many with me, think that education- and healthcare costs are much better options than military and soldiers. Especially in times with contagious diseases, I would like to see even more of the world’s resources available to science, medicine, and healthcare. And fortunately, the trends go in that direction.

Education costs and healthcare costs are bigger than the military costs in the world today. That can easily change though.

Germany went from a yearly military budget of less than $2 billion in 1933 to over $400 billion in 1944. The German arms race eventually forced everybody else to follow. The USA went from a yearly military expenditure of $10 billion at the start of the war, to $700 billion at the end. That’s about the same money as today and it was roughly 32% of the nation’s GDP at the time.

In 1943 both Germany and the UK used astronomically 64% of their GDP on the military… Almost two-thirds of everything that was produced went to the army and the navy.

As long as we can speak and discuss, as long as the dialogue remains loud and steady and the silence doesn’t spread, then there is hope of continuing disarming. Good schools and well-equipped hospitals are always better than cannons and machine guns.

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Conclusion

No, the world today is not spending more on the military than on healthcare and education. It’s the other way around.

Still, many of us could easily imagine even more money for hospitals and schools…

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Is Coffee an energy booster? And will it keep you awake if you drink it too late in the evening?

October 5, 2022May 14, 2020 by Unfakely

Is Coffee an energy booster? And will it keep you awake if you drink it too late in the evening?

yes or no?

What is Coffee?

The plant is called Coffea in Latin, of the family Rubiaceae. There are many plants in this family but only two are used to make coffee, Coffea arabica, also called Arabica and Coffea canephora, also called Robusta. Of these, the Arabica is more valuable and more cultivated, while Robusta is slightly higher in caffeine. The flavor changes in a variety of ways depending on where the plants are grown, when they are harvested, how they are transported, and how they are toasted once they arrive at the roastery, etc, etc.

The most exclusive grinds are pure Arabica, while most of the normal supermarket brands are blends. But If made the right way, a blend can be as good as a pure Arabica. It all comes down to knowledge in trading and roasting and the general quality of the beans. Making a good Coffee is as difficult and magical as processing and producing a first-class wine.

A short history of the magical beverage.

It probably originated from East Africa, Ethiopia, but the first documentation is in Arabic, from the other side of the Persian Gulf, from Yemen. Arabic scholars used it to prolong their nightly working hours. We know it existed in the 12th century, but the use of Coffee as a booster drug could be much older than so.

It was the Arabs who invented the roasted bean. A technique to get more caffeine and much more taste out of the grind. The traditional way to make the drink was to boil the grind together with water. And that is still today the way coffee is brewed in many Arabic countries.

The wonderful black beverage traveled from south to north, from west to east, and in the 16th century, it came to Europe. It was probably the Venetians who discovered it. They already had a very long tradition of trading with the orient and in mid-1500, the ambassador, Gianfrancesco Morosini in Constantinople wrote home to Venice and told them about the marvelous, black, liquid… Cahwah, or Kahve in Turkish.

The catholic church wasn’t all that enthusiastic. An Arabic, euphoric beverage, that on top of everything else was black… It had to be a Devil’s tool. Fortunately, Pope Clemente VIII loved coffee to an extent that he felt he had to save it.

“This Coffee made by the Devil is so good that we have to try to trick him… By baptizing it”. So it got baptized and people could continue to drink it without risking their eternal soul.

Further development

At first, it was considered a medicine, something to take occasionally at a very high price. But soon Caffès popped up in all the big European Metropolis, Paris, Naples, London, Prague, and Coffee became the highest fashion. By mid-1700 Venice alone had more than 200 coffee-shops.

In 1884, Angelo Moriondo invented the Espresso machine. Moriondo was a technically and mechanically capable man and he actually made all his own machinery himself. His Bar (interestingly called Bar Americano) in Turin, had lots of clients, and the typical Italian coffee drinking style, standing up and downing it swiftly, made him wonder if it could be made instantaneous in some way. The invention was a huge success. The Espresso has since become the essence of the Italian Coffee culture. Although it wasn’t thought of as a flavor- and taste reinforcer, but simply as a way to make the process of making coffee faster.

The filter coffee

In 1908 the paper filter was invented by a German housewife, Mrs. Melitta Benz. She formed a company and her name is forever linked to the technique of filtering the grind.

But it doesn’t end here. Coffee is served in millions of different ways around the globe. Hot and cold, sweet and bitter, boiled, filtered and pressurized. There is just no limit to how the black drug can be enjoyed by enthusiasts… The Turks drink their coffee in small cups. It’s boiled for quite some time and then poured together with the grounds. The Bedouins have rites and rules around coffee almost as complicated as the Japanese tea ceremony (Remember to never accept the fourth cup…). The Sami in Scandinavia even drink it with cheese… The so-called Coffee-cheese.

The documented effects on the human body.

There are many things inside a cup of coffee. In fact, a grain of coffee involves a complex mixture of chlorogenic acids, fatty acids, tocopherols, and triglycerides. And then there’s the water. The quality of the water has a dominant effect on the final cup. Why doesn’t a branded Espresso tastes the same in London as in Naples?

One reason is the water…

Coffee contains:

Theophylline, a mild stimulant, and muscle relaxant. Similar to caffeine.
2-Ethylphenol
3,5 Dicaffeoylquinic Acid which has a beneficial effect on free radicals.
Trigonelline a plant alkaloid with therapeutic potential for diabetes and central nervous system disease.

…And other more than 1000 compounds. Many of these have an effect on the human body, beneficial or noxious.

But let’s talk about the energy boost, and that’s mostly linked to Caffeine.

It stimulates the central nervous system and reduces fatigue.
Caffeine has an effect on learning and memory.
It improves reaction time and concentration.
Caffeine delays or even prevents sleep. It also improves performance and concentration in a lack of sleep.
Caffeine improves athletic performance. It also improves muscular strength and power.
It also increases the basal metabolic rate (BMI). You lose weight without workout.

It is an incredible boost to many of our capacities, intellectual as well as physical. The effects of physical performance put it on the doping list from 1984 until 2004. It was removed but is still under observation. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) says it’s proven to be an enhancer, but the health issues and the Violation of the Spirit of Sport aren’t obvious.

Some studies show that the impact of caffeine decreases with every cup you drink. Much like other drugs. And the effect is reversed when caffeine intake decreases. This means that to have the best intellectual and physical effect, you should take no coffee for a period. Then take a cup, wait an hour for the caffeine to have maximum effect, and after that run the marathon or have the exam.

Health issues.

And now to the bad news about Coffee.

It increases blood pressure, and unfiltered coffee has shown mild increases in cholesterol levels.
Of course, insomnia, restlessness, and other downsides with the energy boost you gain from drinking java.
Pregnant women, as well as those wanting to get pregnant, should limit the quantities of caffeine. Extreme intakes can lead to miscarriage, and lower levels could decrease the weight of the fetus. 200mg of caffeine a day, or one big mug is regarded as safe.
It affects the gastrointestinal system and gastric acid secretion. You could experience an upset abdomen, especially if you drink coffee on an empty stomach.
… And it can, although not commonly, make you sleepy…

What?

Caffeine blocks something called the adenosine receptors in your brain. Adenosine is a neurotransmitter that causes sleepiness, and if it can’t get through to the receivers, you don’t feel sleepy.

But your body continues to produce adenosine and when the effect of caffeine wears off, your whole system is full, and the receptors get access to all of it at once… Yep, you fall asleep.

That happens when you’re detoxing, but even directly after a cup it’s possible to feel sleepy.

In that case, it could depend on dehydration. Caffeine is diuretic at high doses, and dehydration is a known fatigue factor. You will have to drink quite a lot to experience sleepiness from coffee though.

Conclusion

Coffee has a big impact on our physical and mental well-being. Many good things come from drinking it, and some bad.

The most noticeable effect, without a doubt, is the energy it provides. And with that comes insomnia. To maximize the beneficial outcome, you should stop drinking it for some time, and then start again. To minimize the negative effects, you should keep caffeine consumption under 400mg/day… 200mg/day if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

Just remember, there is caffeine in lots of products outside the coffee sphere.

Energy drinks can have more caffeine than coffee.
A 20oz Diet Pepsi bottle equals a normal coffee in caffeine.
Some energy bars are also rich in caffeine
Cocoa has caffeine naturally. That means normal chocolate is caffeine-rich. The darker the chocolate the more caffeine.
Even some morning cereals have caffeine in them.
Ever heard of Jolt Energy Gum? Two of those equals a cup of joe.

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Yes, Coffee can definitely boost your energy and it could keep you awake if you drink it too late in the evening… or it will put you to sleep.

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Was the Spanish flu the deadliest infectious disease that ever hit humanity?

June 13, 2023April 10, 2020 by Unfakely

Was the Spanish flu the deadliest infectious disease that ever hit humanity?

yes or no?

The Spanish flu

The Spanish flu was a terrible disease that infected more than half a billion people at the end of, and after World War I. It was probably a flu of type A/N1H1. That might not say very much, but it was the same type of influenza as the 2009 swine flu pandemic. Although when it comes to various influenza types, they all are similar but different. They also mutate, so scientists often have a hard time predicting the next strain and finding cures and vaccines.

We don’t know as much as we would like to about the Spanish flu of 1918. Estimates have been made about death rates and how many people got sick, but they’re all very approximative. The total number of infected was around 500 million but could have been as much as 700 million. Deaths were at least 17 million, but some estimates point to 50 million or even 100 million as a possible number. That makes the death rate between 2,5% and 20%.

Why was it so deadly?

The flu came in three, maybe four waves. The first in spring 1918 and it was no more than normal seasonal flu.

The second wave started in August 1918 and this time it was much more deadly. And it was more dangerous for young healthy people than the normal case when lethality is higher for the elderly and children. The reason for this is that it had mutated into a more deadly form caused by the particular circumstances of the War.

When a pandemic hits the community in peacetime, the severely sick is isolated. He stays at home from work and doesn’t transmit his virus to others. Those who have a milder form go on with their life as normal. This way the milder strain is passed on.

In the trenches, the situation is reversed. The milder strain stays in the trenches. The soldiers with the deadlier form, on the other hand, are transported in crowded trains and packed into field hospitals with a high flow of wounded as well as flu patients.

The spread from one country to another, from one continent to another was also facilitated by troop transports.

The third wave came in the spring of 1919, and we can possibly count a fourth wave in the winter of 1919/1920. All these waves occurred with variations across the globe, as the virus traveled. In 1919 and 1920, as the war had ended, the virus turned back to a more “normal” development with fewer casualties for the reasons mentioned above.

Why was it called Spanish?

Many of the epidemic and pandemic flues get their name from where it was first detected. We do not know exactly where the Spanish flu started. It could have been in France, and it could have been in the US. The disease could also have been circulating in Europe for months, even years, without being detected.

Because of the War, the press wasn’t free to tell what was going on. The various epidemics that flourished in the trenches and elsewhere in the horrible circumstances of the war, weren’t reported to the main public. The strong censorship cut everything short.

It wasn’t until the Spanish started to get ill that the world knew about the disease. Spain was neutral during WW1 and they had a somewhat free press. So the first cases that people knew about, were the Spanish. And it got the name, the Spanish flu of 1918.

Other deadly diseases in human history

The Plague

In 1347 a ship docked in the harbor of Genova, Italy. It was a merchant ship and it came from Palestine with valuable merchandise. Unfortunately, it brought rats as well, and some of those rats had flees that were infected with the bacteria Yersinia pestis.

In the four years to come, the Black Plague traveled over Europe killing between one-third and half of its population. It’s estimated that the world population was diminished from 450 million to 325 million. Certain areas were hit harder than others. Especially those who traded frequently with the Orient.

In Venice, the Plague came 69 times from 1348 until 1799. Often they managed to contain the disease through rigorous quarantine measures. But at least on four occasions, 1348, 1423, 1575, and 1630, the pestilence killed at least one-third of the city’s population.

Smallpox

Smallpox is caused by the viruses Variola major and Variola minor. The death rate is around 30%, and even those who survive are often left with complications such as blindness, etc. It’s highly contagious.

It’s been around since the beginning of time. Some of the historical pandemics, that were attributed to the plague, could have been caused by smallpox.

African suffering — A child infected by Smallpox. Courtesy of AJ Cann

Contrary to the plague, smallpox was causing enormous suffering and deaths even in modern times. It was finally eradicated in 1980. The total numbers are more than those of the plague, but less compared to the world population at the time.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis or TB is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Only about 10% of those infected develop the disease, which if untreated has a 50% death rate. TB is treated with antibiotics although not always successfully. In later years multi-resistant strains of the disease have become a major problem.

Today about 1,5 million people die from tuberculosis every year. In 1900 that number was 9 million. In the 18th and 19th centuries, about 25% of all deaths could have been caused by tuberculosis. Today about one-fourth of the world’s population has been infected.

Tuberculosis is the one infectious disease that has killed more people than any other in absolute numbers. And contrary to Smallpox, it’s still here.

HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS has killed more than 32 million from the 60s until today. That could be more than the Spanish flu but in a longer time span.

Malaria

Although not an infectious disease, it is a parasite spread by mosquitoes, it should be mentioned. Some scientists calculate that Malaria has killed about half of every human who ever lived on this planet. That could be an exaggeration but already at a more plausible 4-5 %, the numbers reach astronomical figures.

5% of the total of people who ever lived on planet earth is 5 billion. Today about 400.000 people die from Malaria every year, mostly children under 5 years of age, and mostly in Africa.

Other diseases

Then there are diseases that are much more fatal than these but are less spread… Like the Avian flu A/H5N1, Rabies, Nipah virus, and many others.

Typhus and Cholera have caused suffering and deaths for hundreds of millions of people over the centuries… And there are many, many more deadly diseases out there.

The biggest threat to humanity during the ages has never been wars, hunger, or natural catastrophes… It was always infectious diseases.

How can you classify disasters of this magnitude?

It is certainly difficult to start counting infected and deaths when every number is a personal tragedy. When every name of a deceased, to someone, is a lost father, mother, or child. Still, for the purpose of this article, we have to decide what we mean by deadly. The numbers can be counted as a total, or a total in a context. In this case as a percentage of the world population, or as the death rate of those who are infected.

We also have to consider the time aspect. Do we count deaths per year or during the full period of the disease’s timespan?

Spanish flu of 1918. Conclusion

In total numbers, the infectious disease that has caused the most deaths in human history is probably Tuberculosis.

In total numbers, in the percentage of the world population at that time, the deadliest infectious disease in human history is probably the Bubonic Plague.

Most deaths in absolute numbers in one year could have been caused by the Spanish flu from the summer of 1918 to the summer of 1919.

But the fast spread and the disastrous consequences weren’t signs of mortality that exceeded all other diseases in human history. It was an effect of extremely bad timing. When calculating numbers in a global crisis, you have to remember the tragedy behind every loss, the tears, and suffering behind every figure. We are men, women, and children… Not numbers in the statistics.

And we must try to gain experience from the past… Learn from history.

One of the deadliest diseases in human history is Smallpox. It has killed more than 500.000.000 people. On May 8, 1980, smallpox was declared eradicated, following a worldwide vaccination program that started in 1958.

Tuberculosis is still here and it’s still killing. It increased globally until 2005 after which it decreased somewhat. Many HIV-positives die from TB. It’s a deadly combination. About 500.000 die every year because of multiresistant strains. And that is an increasing issue.

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No, the Spanish flu wasn’t the deadliest infectious disease in human history. It could have been the disease that has caused more deaths in absolute numbers, in one year, from summer 1918 until summer 1919, than any other disease since the beginning of time, though.

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Is it true that you can catch a cold if you get cold?

March 30, 2023April 7, 2020 by Unfakely

Is it true that you can catch a cold if you get cold?

Can you catch a cold from being cold and wet?

A viral infection of the upper respiratory tract causes the common cold. Each year, there are over 15 billion cases worldwide. According to statistics, everyone on earth contracts it twice a year. The common cold is caused by about 200 different types of viruses. Fortunately, the illness is not particularly dangerous.

A runny nose, sore throat, sneezes, and coughs are typical symptoms. You may experience a fever, muscle aches and pains, a headache, diarrhea, or any number of other symptoms. It may show up in different ways. However, most people are very familiar with their typical symptoms.

How do you catch a common cold?

The same way you would catch any other upper respiratory illness, I suppose. Through fomite, an intermediary object, airborne droplets, or direct contact with infected mucosa. For an extended period of time, the virus can survive without its host. Temperature and humidity affect how long that period lasts, but a typical Rhinoivirus—the virus most frequently responsible for the common cold—can survive in the environment for at least 18 hours.

Courtesy of José R. Valverde, the rhinovirus

Can you catch a cold from being cold and wet — Rhinovirus
Courtesy of José R Valverde

The rhinovirus needs to enter the new host’s mucous membrane. It is unable to pass through the skin. This is one justification for washing your hands if you should touch anything suspicious.

Is the common cold contagious?

The common cold is easily transmitted. It has a reproduction number (R0) ranging from two to three. This means that in a population where everyone is susceptible to infection, every sick person spreads their illness to 2 to 3 other people (i.e., no one has ever encountered it before and thus developed antibodies, and no one has been immunized). This infection would spread.

This is mildly contagious. Measles R0 ranges from 12 to 18.

How can you prevent getting it?

When a sick person sneezes or coughs, the virus-containing microscopic droplets erupt. The maximum distance covered by the larger droplets is typically 6 feet. You can never feel completely safe because the smaller droplets, or aerosols, can stay in the air for hours. Even though you don’t know anyone there, someone could have been there before you arrived and spread the virus throughout the air.

However, the disease still needs to enter your mucous membrane. The skin is impermeable to the virus. It comes down to a few straightforward rules:

Stay away from sick people. If you are sick, stay at home or far from others.
Avoid being sneezed upon. If you are sick sneeze in the elbow and cough away from others.
Wash your hands often, every time you’ve been close to someone who’s sick. And every time you get home or into any other constricted area where the virus is absent.
Don’t touch your eyes, your nose, or your mouth until you’ve washed your hands and you’re in a safe zone (home).

So, can you catch a cold from being cold and wet?

You can’t do it. There is some debate about why some viruses appear to be seasonal in their appearance. It is more common during the winter.

This is most likely due to the fact that we spend more time together. The wind and rain force us to take the bus instead of riding our bikes, to eat at the bar instead of having a picnic, and to play chess instead of football.

A risk factor could be a low body temperature in the winter. Less vitamin intake, as well as less vitamin D from sunlight, could all contribute. The bottom line is that you cannot catch a cold unless you are exposed to the virus. It makes no difference how exposed you are to low temperatures.

And what about the name, then?

Why is it referred to as cold?

Feeling frozen could be one of the symptoms, especially if you have other symptoms. It may also be more common when the weather is cold.

One unintended consequence of its misleading name is that many people around the world, particularly in the northern hemisphere, still believe it is caused by cold temperatures. That wouldn’t be a problem if those people didn’t frequently miss the mark. They stay warm but share food, drinks, items, and living space carelessly. It’s fine as long as it’s hot.

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Conclusion

No, you can’t get a cold from being cold. The common cold is caused by a virus that is transmitted from one person to another.

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