Can Artificial Sweeteners Lead to Obesity?

Digestion: we take in food and calories and out body breaks it down into nutrients and energy.  Pretty amazing right? 

So, what happens when we take in "food", but there are no calories?  What are those artificial sweeteners doing anyway?  Our taste receptors think we've eaten something sweet, but there are no calories to go along with it.

Scientists are discovering that consumption of these artificial sweeteners may interfere with hormones that help with the regulation of appetite.  Check out the video and story here.

Do you use diet drinks to help balance the calories you consume in a day?  What do you think of artificial sweeteners?  Is it better to have a bit of sugar than to rely on these other substitutes?

 

This is Your Digestive System...This is Your Digestive System on Junk Food...

Ever wonder what happens to a gummi bear after you eat it???
Take a look at the impact of processed food vs. whole food on the human body with researcher Stefani Bardini from Boston.
Stefani videos the digestion of gummi bears and other processed foods using a swallowed M2A capsule [Mouth to Anus capsule] which wirelessly transmits images from the digestive tract.
You may never eat another gummi bear after watching this!

Valentine's Day Chemistry!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  What better way than to celebrate with a little chemistry?

Hope you enjoyed the refresher lesson on single and double replacement reactions!

Protection for Paramedics?

Many students in the GHS program are interested in becoming paramedics.  When you think of this career, you often think about having the ability to help those in need.  Do you ever think about the challenges you may have with some patients?  Should those who assault paramedics face the same charges they would for assaulting a police officer?

Currently, paramedics in Toronto are pushing for stronger laws to protect them while they are working.  This move has started after one paramedic was assaulted while working and suffered a broken leg!  Read more about this story here.

The Future of Medicine May Be In Your IPod!!

An IPod can now be used to monitor your health!  Cardiology Dr. Eric Topol demonstrates how you may someday soon use this technology to record your own ECG at home and send it to your doctor or monitor your blood glucose levels.  Click here to learn more!!