Dietary Supplements and the FDA: The Link

We live in a very goal-orientated and deadline based society where constant and oftentimes, conflicting demands are placed upon our time, attention and energy and sometimes it can be very difficult trying to walk that fine line between so many different contradictory obligations.

As a result, people will often find themselves working longer than they should, foregoing meals and good eating habits, and even sleep. All of these essential biological processes which are essential for the sustenance of life and good health become subordinate to the demands on our time.

What this means then is that our health takes a nosedive, as our body is left trying to compensate for the lack of essential nutrients, minerals and vitamins that are so acutely absent, and as such has been reflected in the degradation of skin quality and the increase in digestive tract problems.

In addition, people are becoming increasingly savvy and educating themselves as to the potential and actual risks that prescription medications pose, and as such this has meant the herbal supplement is now booming.

People erroneously assume that just because an herbal remedy is natural therefore it cannot cause any harm or pose any element of risk to them. Alternatively, people assume that the dietary supplement and herbal remedy is like the wild west: lawless, unregulated and chaotic.

Both of these presumptions are wrong and it is important that an element of proportion and sense of perspective is maintained when considering the issue. In the first instance, the herbal remedy market is tightly regulated and closely monitored with stringent quality control measures in place.

In America, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the primary statutory body that is empowered to license and regulate any new dietary supplements that come onto the market.

Perhaps one of the most assuring requirements of the FDA is the mandate that any claims of purported health benefits made by a particular dietary supplement must be backed up by clinical, independent studies.

In the event that the FDA still has reservations as to the suitability and safety of a particular dietary supplement it can step in and either prevent the dietary supplement from being sold to the general public or, in extreme cases, seize control of the stock for disposal.

The FDA prides itself on promoting, preserving and advocating the health and rights to free choice for the citizens of America and so they sweat the small details so you, the consumer never have to.

The Car That Thinks for Itself

In the beginning, mobile computing had a simple definition: laptops, cellular phones and eventually small net books. Now, it has expanded to include full sized vehicles. Newer cars include powerful CPU’s with extensive amounts of technology. Some are already equipped with cameras, GPS, satellite radio and networking hardware, but the magic is only increasing. By combining cameras and software, car manufacturers are revolutionizing mobile technology in a more powerful way than ever before. Let’ take a look at what’s happening right before our very eyes.

The helpful cameras that provide assistance with backing up and pulling in can be found in many makes and models and will soon be mandatory. There are several other high powered cameras that can be found in cars as well. Some vehicles employ front cameras that capture a bird’s eye view, making lane changes and traffic situations easier to maneuver. The view patches together 4 images and the powerful computer maximizes the image quality to produce the most realistic view for the driver. With more computer power available, cameras can even detect outside motion. This helps to prevent crashing into trees, other vehicles and even people.

Mobileye is the genius behind innovative, camera car parts. They produce safety camera equipment that easily navigates dark situations and gives the driver a 2 second warning of impending damage. While cameras and technological equipment are very powerful so far, they aim to be more stylish in the near future. Tesla wishes to create cameras that act as side view mirrors, less bulky than their predecessors. In the future, dash cams will be a necessary part of your vehicle and not just an after thought. Though visual cameras work well, they can often be troubled by perceiving contrast. Some car manufacturers want to incorporate lidar and radar, a more reliable tracking measure, into their designs. This is the type of technology that self driven cars use.

With high powered cameras and vast technologies already controlling your vehicle to some extent, this is only going to expand in the future. It’s predicted that cloud technology will extend from our mobile devices to our vehicles in the near future. As for now the impressive amounts of power in our cars will be used for cameras and assisted vision and spatial sensor systems. They all serve to help you drive the car to the best of your abilities.

Best Auto Choices for 2017

In an ever-changing world with thousands of choices, car shopping has become even more complicated. With such appealing models and even more on the back burner, it’s hard to decide where to invest your hard earned money. Though self driving cars are a thing of the very near future, customers are still shopping for old-fashioned cars, you know the type you need to steer yourself. Many automakers have brainstormed to create compelling choices for 2017.

This years top picks are, as follows:

2017 Audi M4: While the Audi M4 looks similar in outside appearance, it’s all different under the hood. The highly intuitive interior clearly surpasses all other vehicles on the market. Its 37 mpg powertrain is more reasonably priced and the vehicle is equipped with a 6 speed manual transmission.

2017 Chrysler Pacifica: In the beginning of time, Chrysler wowed drivers with a sleek and efficient minivan. Times quickly changed and tons of competitors stepped in the way. Now, the innovative manufacturer has a new van to showoff. Those who never imagined themselves sporting the soccer mom look find themselves craving the new Chrysler Pacifica.

2017 Buick LaCrosse: More physically appealing than previous models, the LaCross features a desirable interior and sleek exterior. The family friendly vehicle won’t break the bank and is perhaps the best Buick model thus far. This vehicle weighs 300 pounds less, is easier to maneuver and retails for about $32,000.

2017 Jaguar F-Pace: Say the name twice and your tongue might become tied, but this model is the first of its kind by Jaguar. It’s easy to ride and has the extra space to back it up. The same smooth ride with added room. A sleek exterior design, turbo diesel fuel engine and wide-screen interior touch pro make this vehicle slide right into the future.

2017 Kia Cadenza: Kia has never been thought of as a luxurious vehicle, but times sure are changing. The Cadenza is the classiest Kia so far, averages at around $40,000 and is beautifully designed. With a detailed interior, the same compact design and a V 6 engine, this car is sure to turn heads.

If you’re shopping for a new car in 2017, keep an eye out for the 5 models listed above. They are all revolutionary in their own ways and should provide enough use until the futuristic models of 2020 are released.

A Leap of Faith in the Automobile Industry

Picture sliding into your sleek, new car, stating an address and not lifting a finger. You have no passengers, but a voice softly asks if this is your desired route. Agreeing, you automatically respond with a “yes, thank you” and proceed to your destination. No need to hit the brakes, turn left or right or accelerate, it’s all being done for you. Simply, kick back, relax and watch a movie or scroll through the internet while being driven safely to your destination. This may all sound like something out of a movie, but it’ coming to a neighborhood near you soon. Companies like Google, Tesla and Uber are releasing self driving cars. The question is: would you trust them?

Upon further inspection of the new vehicle you see two buttons: one with START written on it, and another that indicates an emergency. This is the one time in a car that you can take your hands off the wheel, because there isn’t one. This car is electric, some come with a steering wheel that recedes into the vehicle, but most are wheel free. You can listen to music, have a dance party or even a slumber party, if you trust the futuristic car enough. What if one day, we lived in a world without drivers? A nation full of self driving vehicles, constantly dancing in robotic motion. Say goodbye to road rage, traffic accidents, frustrating court dates and tickets. Though police departments wouldn’t meet their monthly ticket quotas, the general public would be delighted.

On October 3rd, Jerry Brown, the Governer of California passed a bill allowing the testing of self-autonomous cars with or without a driver. The law states that testing is legal as long as the cars navigate private roads and maintain a 35 mph speed limit. Clearly, advanced technology is paving the way for a freer future. With statistics showing that almost 95% of accidents are a result of human error, just think how self-driving cars could change that. These vehicles would allow special needs individuals, those without a license or unable to get a license the freedom to drive safely. With more electric models in the works, these cars would be better for the environment and produce less pollution. The only negative impact in sight is those who are chauffeurs, taxi and limo drivers, they may see a drop in revenue.

Kava Kava and the Treatment of Social Anxiety

Social anxiety is a crippling and deeply debilitating disorder in which the sufferer experiences intense, overwhelming and distressing thoughts that are intrusive and highly negative. Fearful that they have alienated their target audience, social anxiety sufferers will go to extreme lengths to avoid embarrassment and typically will isolate themselves.

Social anxiety is an anxiety disorder that goes far beyond the scope of mere shyness and social ineptitude. The sufferer has a compulsion of negativity, damaging self-esteem, eroding confidence and undermining any sense of accomplishment.

Comorbidity between social anxiety and alcohol dependence is well-documented, as sufferers of social anxiety will typically seek to use a crutch of sorts to overcome their inhibitions and challenge their negative thought patterns.

To date, treatment of social anxiety has focused primarily upon counselling and psychotherapy of which cognitive behavioural therapy remains the most prevalent form, and the prescribing of medication for it has remained somewhat of a controversy.

Proponents of medication have argued that social anxiety should be treated like any other mental disorder or compulsion: in that the prescription of medication can be useful to reduce the intensity of the anxiety experienced. Once the patient stabilises sufficiently, they can then have the courage to reduce the medication.

Opponents argue that the psychological dependency upon medication is harmful, and that by dulling the perceptions and social cues of the social anxiety sufferer, the underlying problem remains unresolved.

Kava Kava is a herb found in the Pacific region, and has been regularly consumed as part of Polynesian and Hawaiian culture. In particular, Kava Kava has proven to be especially popular within Polynesian culture with aphrodisiac properties prescribed to it!

Studies commissioned into Kava Kava have identified that the herb works on the central nervous system thereby providing some much needed relief for the endless cycle of anxiety experienced by those who struggle with social anxiety.

It should also be noted that Kava Kava also possesses euphoric properties, instilling a sense of calm, detached, blissful contentment within the person who has ingested it. Typically ground down and then added to hot water to form a tea, Kava Kava is regarded as a viable social lubricant.

At first blush, Kava Kava and alcohol seem to be one and one the same. However, the crucial advantage that Kava Kava has over its counterpart is that whilst it may intoxicate the person ingesting it, it will have absolutely no negative effect on cognition at all.