Education News

Hello and welcome to the launch post of this brand new space/quantum physics/astronomy blog! I’m not sure what got me thinking that I needed to launch such a blog. I’m not a scientist. I’ve only taken one course in astronomy in college. And all I know about quantum physics is from documentaries and blurbs on the internet. I’m more of the artsy/hippie type. I’m a writer, yogi, outdoor enthusiast, and explorer. I usually write about things like superfood smoothies, yoga sequences and make belief.

I guess what drew me to this topic wasn’t so much my expertise, as my innate curiosity about the mysteries of this universe. In my yoga teacher training, my esteemed teacher told us to hold out our hand and make a cup out of it. She explained that all we can possibly know about the universe in our lifetime could fit in the palm of our hand, the rest of it is the great mystery.

When I look up in the night sky, I get that same feeling. The stars are bright and beautiful, with their light traveling an unfathomable distance to reach my eyes. But I’m fascinated by the blackness. The mystery of the darkness, the space part of space, is what captivates my imagination. I find it beautiful that we’re essentially made out of space (99% of atoms are not matter) and that is reflected in the universe as well. So I’m here to share these musings, and to inspire myself to do more research and find some cool facts and ideas about space and physics. First, I’m going to implore you to get this app that I just downloaded. It’s amazing!

Google Sky Map App:

I’m the kind of girl who would rather spend her night outside staring at the black velvet of space than in front of a television screen or on Facebook.

That’s not to say that I’m not a big fan of technology. The app I just found is AHmazing! I can’t explain how excited I am about this thing. You just point your phone up in the sky and it tells you exactly what stars, constellations, and planets you’re looking at. It’s probably the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. I think the software developer in charge of creating this deserves a standing ovation.

Do you know of any other cool astronomy apps?

You may be thinking of trying out the vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. It could be a way to be healthier, or you may have a conviction against consuming animal based products. Whatever your reasons may be, you might be asking what is the difference between a vegan and a vegetarian diet. Both types of diets will lower the amount of fat and cholesterol you eat, and some people experience definite health benefits from starting this type of eating lifestyle.

Reducing your fat and cholesterol intake can help to stabilize blood sugar, lower your blood pressure, and reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Vegan and vegetarian diets contain a high amount of fiber which is one of the reasons they are so healthy. Another is the emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables. Ask any of your friends who have careers in the medical field, and they will confirm patients who eat a vegan or vegetarian diet are healthier than those who consume a lot of meat products. Even if you don’t go all in and completely cut meat and dairy out of your diet, adding more fresh foods and plant based protein will improve your overall health.

What Do Vegans Eat?

Vegans eat no meat, no dairy products, and no eggs. Basically they only eat plant based foods. Vegans get their protein from beans, legumes, and soy products. Vegans don’t eat recipes which use butter, milk, or eggs. They do not use honey because it is produced by bees. Most vegans also avoid any products made from leather, fur, silk, wool, and cosmetics with any animal based ingredients.

Not All Vegetarians are the Same

Not all vegetarians eat the same thing. Some eat eggs, while others avoid eggs but will eat dairy products. A few vegetarians will eat fish, but not meat or poultry. You may want to start out as a vegetarian before you make the commitment to go full vegan.

Getting Your Nutrients

It may be hard to get all of your nutrients from a vegan or vegetarian diet if you don’t plan out your meals. Enriched cereals, soy products, fresh fruits and vegetables are all great sources of vitamins and minerals. The Mayo Clinic recommends you eat 2 servings of fat, 2 servings of fruit, 4 servings of vegetables, 5 servings of beans, soy or other plant based protein sources, and 6 servings of grains. If you’re going to try a new way of eating, be sure to do your research and know what you need to include in your diet so you can be healthy.

Tags: health benefits of a vegan diet, health benefits of a vegetarian diet, vegan, vegan diet, vegan foods, vegetarian, vegetarian diet, vegetarian foods

The medical world isn’t perfect. Doctors and scientists alike are still trying to come up with thousands of different cures for millions of different diseases common, and right now, close is all they can get to a lot of things. Most tests, medicines, and diagnoses in general come with their own risks and flaws. There’s no real way to be sure that something is medically correct until it’s too late. The test for ovarian cancer is not excluded from this. If you have recently gone through one of these or you are thinking about doing so in the future, you may want to know about some of the problems that come with ovarian cancer testing, primarily in the CA 125 blood test. Here is a look at some of the problems, just so you can be well informed about the complications that may result in the future.

False Positives

There are a ton of problems involved with CA 125 blood tests, and a lot of women don’t even know what’s going on until they get a bad result in. The fact is that most of the positive test results that come back are actually negatives in disguise. Tons of women every year give false positives on their CA 125 tests, and most of them spend more time stressing about the possibility of ovarian cancer than they have to.

The CA 125 blood test should in no means be used by itself as a screening for ovarian cancer because the chances of the results being accurate are slim to none. Most women who do take these tests should also have a pelvic exam and further blood testing to determine if they truly have ovarian cancer or not. If your doctor chooses to refer to this test alone to test your cancer, you need to ask for something more. Otherwise you could get the wrong information to abide by.

False Negatives

Another problem associated with the tests is that many women come up with false negatives. 20% of women who have ovarian cancer showed signs of elevated CA 125 in their blood. These women slip under the radar and aren’t diagnosed until much further along in their symptoms, giving them a false sense of security. Thinking that you have ovarian cancer and then finding out that you don’t is one thing, but having it happen in reverse can be a lot worse. These women lose out on precious time that they could have preparing for the inevitable, and in the end they are a lot worse off than women who have time to adjust to the idea of ovarian cancer.

Unnecessary Costs

The cost of the test can be a big burden too if it isn’t necessary. Sure, there are a lot more tests out there that are far more expensive, but anything in the medical world is going to cost the money. The money could be going towards bills, vacations, college funds, FBI training, etc., but instead it’s spent on an inconclusive test. The test is well worth it if the woman is pretty sure that she could have ovarian cancer, but it definitely needs to be discussed with the doctor beforehand. A physician will know when it’s best to do the test and when it’s best to try other methods for detection.

Final Thoughts

I’m not saying that CA 125 tests are a complete waste of time because they do still have some success rating. Women still need to be aware of the negatives involved though if they’d surely want to understand the procedure. The only way to benefit from a test is to go in it knowing all of the pros and cons. Women won’t know what to ask if they aren’t well-informed ahead of time. The test isn’t always valid and it isn’t always easy, but for those few women who do get properly diagnosed, it can be a lifesaver. Think about all of this before you rule out this test as an option for you. It could make a positive impact in the end, as long as there are other tests to back up its results.

You may be thinking of trying out the vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. It could be a way to be healthier, or you may have a conviction against consuming animal based products. Whatever your reasons may be, you might be asking what is the difference between a vegan and a vegetarian diet. Both types of diets will lower the amount of fat and cholesterol you eat, and some people experience definite health benefits from starting this type of eating lifestyle.

Reducing your fat and cholesterol intake can help to stabilize blood sugar, lower your blood pressure, and reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Vegan and vegetarian diets contain a high amount of fiber which is one of the reasons they are so healthy. Another is the emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables. Ask any of your friends who have careers in the medical field, and they will confirm patients who eat a vegan or vegetarian diet are healthier than those who consume a lot of meat products. Even if you don’t go all in and completely cut meat and dairy out of your diet, adding more fresh foods and plant based protein will improve your overall health.

What Do Vegans Eat?

Vegans eat no meat, no dairy products, and no eggs. Basically they only eat plant based foods. Vegans get their protein from beans, legumes, and soy products. Vegans don’t eat recipes which use butter, milk, or eggs. They do not use honey because it is produced by bees. Most vegans also avoid any products made from leather, fur, silk, wool, and cosmetics with any animal based ingredients.

Not All Vegetarians are the Same

Not all vegetarians eat the same thing. Some eat eggs, while others avoid eggs but will eat dairy products. A few vegetarians will eat fish, but not meat or poultry. You may want to start out as a vegetarian before you make the commitment to go full vegan.

Getting Your Nutrients

It may be hard to get all of your nutrients from a vegan or vegetarian diet if you don’t plan out your meals. Enriched cereals, soy products, fresh fruits and vegetables are all great sources of vitamins and minerals. The Mayo Clinic recommends you eat 2 servings of fat, 2 servings of fruit, 4 servings of vegetables, 5 servings of beans, soy or other plant based protein sources, and 6 servings of grains. If you’re going to try a new way of eating, be sure to do your research and know what you need to include in your diet so you can be healthy.