Chicken Soup Scientifically Proven to Help Cure Colds & Cough

Remember when you had a bad cold as a kid and your mom made you chicken soup? It always made you feel better, right? Though many have chalked it up to an old wives’ tale, it turns out that there may be some science behind the soup remedy. A study published in the journal Chest looked at the effect of chicken soup on the respiratory systems of healthy volunteers. Researchers exposed their white blood cells to chicken soup and measured the response. (White blood cell response causes the respiratory symptoms of the common cold.) The finished soup significantly reduced white blood cell activity as did most of the components when tested by themselves, including the boiled chicken itself.

The soup used was a homemade version, dubbed “Grandma’s recipe,” which included a whole chicken, chicken wings, carrots, celery, onion, parsnips, sweet potato, parsley, salt and pepper. This study however, was performed in a lab and not by assessing actual symptoms in real patients. It’s possible the response of white blood cells actually in the body could be quite different.

Interestingly, store-bought soup seems to have the same effect. In the study, 14 different commercially available soups were tested and some of them were even more potent than the homemade version.

Even putting the study results aside, when breaking down chicken soup into its various ingredients, it’s easy to see why it may be a potent weapon against a runny nose:

• Heat: The steam from a bowl of soup (or a cup of hot tea for that matter) can assist in opening up clogged nostrils.
  
• Protein: Chicken is a great source of protein which we especially need as appetites naturally wane when ill.  Low protein intake can decrease immune system function, and a soup is an easy way to get some calories and protein. If you don’t like the actual meat, some of the protein is extracted into the broth during the cooking process too, so just sipping the liquid is still helpful.
  
• Vegetables: Most chicken soup recipes include carrots, celery and onions at the very least.  If you’re making your own chicken soup, throw in any hearty vegetables that you’ve got in your kitchen or freezer. Broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, beans and peas are all healthy soup additions. Also, the heartier greens, like Swiss chard, kale or collards work well in soups as well.  The more vegetables in any soup, the better. Vegetables contain lots of vitamins and minerals that mean more antioxidants to fight off that cold. Frozen varieties are just fine, too. They are frozen at their peak freshness, meaning nutrient content is preserved.
  
• Water: Maintaining adequate hydration is also important when you’re not feeling well.  Fluids also help to thin out mucus and decrease congestion so drinking your usual 2 liters/day is essential.

Remember that most canned and powdered soups are very high in sodium, so be sure to stick with the low- or reduced-sodium varieties.

Feel better.

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5 reasons to dislike the new Windows 8 logo

Summary: I don’t like the new Windows 8 logo. At all. Here are 5 reasons why.

The Windows team officially unveiled the new Windows 8 logo over the weekend, and, unfortunately, I’m just not feeling it. Now, I could just let this go and wait until it sinks in, but what fun would that be? Especially since I’ve not felt something quite this polarizing with Windows since the Longhorn reset. Here is the new logo below, followed by the 5 reasons it doesn’t sit well with me:

1 - Plain Jane: I’m all for simplicity, but I feel like this is just too simple. I understand that this is a complete revision of Windows and that Microsoft wants to showcase both a window (instead of a flag) and Metro (Windows 8’s user interface) in the logo, but all the theory and genius that undoubtedly resides behind the design of this logo has lost its translation to me in the end result.

2 - Wonky: Again, I know that this logo is the fruition of many hours of thought, design, strategy, etc., but when I look at that design above, the word that immediately comes to mind for me is “wonky.” That font style doesn’t really appeal to me, and I would really love to see some depth given to the logo, instead of just the perspective/illusion of a 3D window in 2D space. Then again, maybe I’m just trying to sound smart, who knows?

3 - Triggers my OCD: Have you ever been to someone’s house as a guest and noticed on the wall an off-center picture that you couldn’t do a single thing about? If your answer is “yes,” then you’re probably a freak-a-zoid like me when it comes to straight lines and perfectly-centered everything. And that’s the reaction that the new Windows 8 logo triggers for me — the “OMG, IHAVE TO FIX THAT CROOKED PICTURE!” response. I so desperately want to “fix” that which drives me bonkers when I look at that logo.

4 - Brand recognition: Looking at this image, I can’t help but wonder what happens when Microsoft ditches Metro. Will this logo accurately represent Windows for the next 15-20 years, or will they opt for another change in branding when the need strikes? I hate to think I’m this reactive to something as simple as the rebranding of Windows, but I just don’t see this logo standing the test of time. I liked the flag, personally, however unrelated to “Windows” it might have become over the years.

5 - Visual direction: As a UX friend of mine noted (and I completely agree with), the actual Windows window (that is to say, the new logo sans the “Windows 8″ text) guides my eyes away from “Windows 8.” So, instead of complimenting the “Windows 8″ text and feeling like it’s one big, happy family, this logo feels like there are two separate components simply residing beside one another. It just feels… off.

With that said, I hope this isn’t it. I hope that what we’re seeing is essentially a placeholder — that is, an outline of a logo that will — when finished — be filled with some kind of character and depth. I mean, when I read Pentagram’s post about the logo, as well as Microsoft’s, I feel like I must clarify that I’m speaking my opinion about this logo from the perspective of someone who isn’t a designer.

Having said that, if I have to read all the theory and design principles behind a logo to “get it,” then I’m not so sure it’s a logo I would ever like without such persuasion — and persuasion I don’t feel I should need at that. It’s no secret that I’ve always been a fan of Microsoft’s visual work with Windows, but to be honest, for my personal tastes, the bar was set far too high with Windows Longhorn. I was fine with a flag. Especially the one that never made it:

Writer:  Stephen Chapman

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Why Google Didn't Build Search, Plus Your Body

This week, Google improved search results for health-related queries. When it detects that you're searching for symptoms of illness, it displays a list of new search queries for health conditions that might be related. Google now crawls the Web and gathers health information from articles, producing this list algorithmically.

Clicking an item in this list sends you to a new search for that health condition with the Web results below. Google used to keep its own Google Health database for users to track their health and medical records, but it shuttered that program last year. Google has rolled up many types of searches into its own properties, but in the case of health, it has decided to do things the old Google way and let the Web handle it.

Universal Search Is Not For Everything

Google is the go-to place for most people to find answers online. As that trend became clear, Google introduced Universal Search in 2007, so its search results could display multiple kinds of results. Instead of just showing its text list of websites, Google's main search started to incorporate images and videos. More recent additions include travel searches. But in the area of health, Google tried to roll its own service and then decided against it.

Google also used to offer a service called Google Body, which was a 3D browser of the human body. How cool would that have been as an interface for health searches? But this year, it decided to dump that as well, passing it off to Zygote Media Group, the company that provided the 3D body imagery. It's now an open-source project, so you can use it build whatever kind of crazy health app you want.

The World Wasn't Ready For Google Health

Google Health was around for three years, but it was ahead of its time. It was a long-term effort to make a patient-centered cloud database of medical history upon which health care providers could build. Clearly, one reason it wasn't widely adopted was that the health care industry wasn't ready. But this required substantial buy-in and trust from patients, i.e. Google users, as well.

Google couldn't make good health recommendations on its own without health data on its users. Google Health required people to maintain their own health records on a hosted Google service. That's sensitive information. Can you imagine today's Google maintaining health records on its users? In the eyes of the press, Google can't even get away with its existing privacy policy. Imagine the terms and conditions if Google had access to your medical records!

But the trade-off of giving Google access to your data is that its services can be better tailored toward you. That might not be so interesting for social search with Google+, but the effects are magnified if you think about health. If Google had your personal medical history in its database, your health searches could be specific to your condition. But if Search, plus Your World is too much, don't hold your breath for Search, plus Your Body.

Google-Patient Confidentiality

So how does Google's new symptom search handle privacy? Even if it doesn't have your medical history, health searches can be quite sensitive. A study found that "Chlamydia" was the most common health search term on mobile devices last year. People probably don't want Google snooping on those queries.

Google's symptom search FAQ says that health searches are logged like any search, but ads and search results won't be personalized based on them. Remember, you can always clear your Google search history at google.com/history.

And hopefully this goes without saying, but don't rely on an Internet search for a diagnosis. The new Google symptom search is very handy, but if you're concerned about your health, your best bet is to go to the doctor.

Writer: Jon Mitchell

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Facebook Brand Pages for Timeline Coming Soon For You

Facebook will soon bring Timeline to brand pages. Currently Timeline is only available for Facebook user profiles. It transforms the Facebook experience from a fly-by bulletin board and events site to a scrapbook-esque, life streaming version of a social networked reality both past and present.

At f8 last September, Facebook's VP-Global Marketing Solutions David Fischer said that brand pages would be "consistent" with the Timeline look-and-feel, but would not be exactly the same as profiles.

Brand pages will initially be available in beta to a "handful of partners," according to Ad Age. They will roll out to marketers in stages.

Facebook social apps like Interest are on the rise, already making money off of affiliate links to certain brands' websites. It only makes sense that more brands will create their own customized social apps for Facebook users. Open graph apps utilize data for ad targeting, which is integral to Facebook's ad strategy moving forward.

On February 29, Facebook will host MC, its first-ever event specifically for marketers - and Timeline brand pages will no doubt be a part of it.

We reached out to Facebook regarding Timeline brand pages, and will update this story when we hear back.

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Why we can't live without our mobile phones?

Our attachment to our mobile phones is only going to worsen as the manufacturers continue to up their game.

The rise of ‘nomophobia’ – the fear of being without your mobile phone – is completely understandable.

As smartphones increasingly become the norm for most of the nation, I am shocked that only 66 per cent of those recently polled on this issue, said they were suffering from this 21st century syndrome.

I recently left my phone at home on a work day and I genuinely felt panicked without it. My phone is now my email device, camera, games console, Twitter dashboard and social network controller – all rolled into one.

Despite how pathetic the reliance will seem to some, we are now at the tipping point. More than 50 per cent of the nation now claim to suffer from this new phobia and understandably so.

The camera industry, games companies and even the PC providers, are all competing with this one device – which has rolled several gadgets into one – and is doing it better every year.

Admittedly, it’s a pleasure on a non-work day to forget your phone. It’s important to disconnect and have some down time. In fact at the start of this year, we wrote about the need for the ‘digital diet’.

However, the increase of our reliance on our phones has happened so rapidly, that I can remember a time, only three years ago, when I wouldn’t check my work emails during the evening.

Now that thought seems incomprehensible. Whether or not it’s bad for us, our addiction to our phones is here to stay and ‘nomophobia’ will understandably continue to rise, as the mobile manufacturers continue to up their game.

Writer: Emma Barnett.

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Google+ Most Popular With Male Users and Students

The stereotypical Google+ user is a male engineer, but that’s only half right. According to new research, Google+ is still definitely male-skewing, but students outnumber software engineers by a wide margin.

That’s one of the most compelling bits of data compiled by Website-Monitoring. A little more than a half year after launch, Website-Monitoring took a look at the demographics behind Google+. One surprise is the number of students on the network — 20%. That compares to the next most-popular profession on the list, software engineers (2.65%). Consultants and managers are also popular on the network. Men also make up 67% of G+’s audience. That’s an improvement over July, when males made up 86.8% or 73.7% of G+, depending on the source.

Meanwhile, the site seems to be popular in India. Bangalore, Hyperabad and Calcutta made the list of the top 10 G+ cities and Bangalore was number one, edging out New York. The U.S., however, still has the largest share of G+ users — 31.49% vs. 13.69% for India.

Unfortunately, the research doesn’t outline the average age of Plussers, though a glance at some bands that are popular on the network — Coldplay, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam — conjures up someone in the Gen X range. That, however, may change since Google opened the network to teens last month

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Change One Word, Lose Weight Quickly

SPRING ROLLS VS. SUMMER ROLLS

The better option: Summer

Summer rolls are steamed instead of fried and are a fresh-tasting way to eat healthy without sacrificing flavor.

KUNG PAO VS. CASHEW CHICKEN

The better option: Kung Pao

Kung Pao Chicken is usually made with roasted peanuts, dried chilies, and a slew of other vegetables, making it one of the best items on the Chinese menu. Plus, the chicken isn't fried. Cashew Chicken, on the other hand, is basically fried chicken with a handful of cashews and a thick layer of oyster sauce on top. Not so great.

FLOUR TORTILLA VS. CORN TORTILLA

The better option: Corn

A soft flour tortilla banks about 144 calories while the corn kind has less than half as many calories (about 52).

CRISPY VS. GRILLED

The better option: Grilled

Crispy is just code for “deep fried in oil,” so choose grilled menu options—you’ll be able to eat larger portions for less overall calories

ALFREDO SAUCE VS. MARINARA SAUCE

The better option: Marinara

Ditch the cream- and butter-heavy Alfredo sauce for sweet and tangy marinara, and you could save as many as 200 calories in one meal!

TUNA MELT VS. TUNA SANDWICH

The better option: Sandwich

Hold the melted cheese for a lighter but delicious sammie that contains about 200 fewer calories.

BRAN MUFFIN VS. ENGLISH MUFFIN

The better option: English

Bran may sound like a healthy choice—after all, it does come with a couple grams of fiber. But no amount of fiber can make up for a starchy breakfast food that's packed with sugars and up to 400 calories. Start your day with an English muffin to save about 200 calories.

HOT SANDWICH VS. COLD SANDWICH

The better option: Cold

Some like it hot, but ordering that Philly Cheesesteak or meatball sub instead of a regular deli sandwich (such as ham or turkey) at the lunch counter could pack twice as many calories.

BUFFALO CHICKEN VS. GRILLED CHICKEN

The better option: Grilled

Buffalo sauce tastes so rich for a reason; mayonnaise is a key ingredient. Ordering your chicken grilled is a much better choice for your waistline.

TANDOORI VS.TIKKA MASALA

The better option: Tandoori

Masala sauce is like a thick, creamy type of gravy, so when eating Indian go for the Tandoori dishes, which are grilled so they contain a lot less calories.

MASSAMAN VS. GAENG PAH CURRY

The better option: Gaeng Pah


When it comes to Thai food, opting for Gaeng Pah curry instead of Massaman can save you hundreds of calories. Unlike most curries, Ganeg Pah is made with water and spices as its base instead of fatty coconut milk. Just be careful; water-based curries tend to be a lot spicier than coconut-based versions.

FRIED RICE VS. STEAMED RICE

The better option: Steamed

Instead of eating the fluffy stuff fried, try asking for diced peppers and onions in your steamed rice to add flavor without adding a lot of extra calories.

MAYO VS. MUSTARD

The better option: Mustard

Mustard is packed with flavor for less than 20 calories and no fat—the same amount of mayonnaise could cost you 100 calories and 10 grams of fat.

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Top 10 Most Popular Nokia Mobiles 2012

Despite refusing to switch to windows or android platform, Nokia is still a very big hit, especially in Asia and Europe.  It was quite recently that they have decided to ditch their ever so loved Symbian OS in favor of cashing their partnership with Microsoft. Nokia has time and again come up with super hit smart phones at a very affordable price and acceptable quality. This factor, coupled with the fact that most of our first phones were from Nokia, has taken the Finish company to great heights. The year 2011 was no different and Nokia introduced the Anna and Bella OS upgrade which got positive reviews. The year 2012 will be no different as we predict that the 3^rd and 4^th quarter will see a rise in the market shares of Nokia (despite a predicted Apple iPhone launch). We have listed the Top 10 Most Popular Nokia Mobiles 2012 and do sense that Nokia does have a few tricks up its sleeves to caputure new market in 2012. It comes as a surprise that not all phones in the Top 10 Most Popular Nokia Mobiles 2012 list are smartphones as you will see.

10. Nokia N9 16GB 3G

Nokia N9 3G 16GB starts off the list of Top 10 Most Popular Nokia Mobiles 2012. N9 was one of the most awaited phones of last year and it really lived up to its expectations when it was launched. the unique design and structure with its tapered endings is quite a beauty to hold and use. The absolutely stunning 3.9 inch AMOLDED Clear black display has been reinforced with Gorilla Glass. A dual Led flash 8 MP Carl Zeus autofocus camera takes care of all the entertainment needs.

9. Nokia 2720 S40

The Nokia 2720 runs on the rare S40 platform which somehow limits the usage and capabilities of the mobile phone. It does give you a Wap browser but that really what it has to offer. The body and design are quite eye catching and the dual display works like a charm. Nokia 2720 comes with the useful Bluetooth and push to talk features which do come in handy quite a lot. All this comes in the lowest price range which has made this phone a hit. It is placed 9th in the Top 10 Most Popular Nokia Mobiles 2012 list.

8. Nokia Lumia 800 black 16GB

With ! million units already sold, the  Lumina 800 has already proved that Nokia is going in the right direction! The Lumina 800 is a Windows phone and the flagship phone of Nokia’s new era. Powered by Internet Explorer 9, this 3.7 inch AMOLDED Clear black display phone boasts of an 8MP camera capable of HD recording! It also comes with a mind blowing 335 hours standby time on 3G. Lumina 800 currently is being offered in Black and cyan only.

7. Nokia 6085

Nokia 6085 is one of the last ones of its kinds which have proved their mettle and will make it to the new era with ease. The 6085 does not have large touchscreen displays or blazing internet speeds but it is quite efficient and reliable at doing what it was made to do. It does have A2DP Bluetooth connection for enjoying stereo wireless music and dual displays for checking alerts without having to flip open the phone again and again. Nokia 6085 ranks 7th in the Top 10 Most Popular Nokia Mobiles 2012 list.

6. Nokia E5-00

Most of us are quite at ease with the E series Nokia introduced a few years ago. The Nokia E5-00 has been by far the most successful E series phone of the lot and is still in demand all over the world. Striking the perfect balance between being a business phone and an entertainment one, E5 has a standard qwerty layout with a large and easy to use navigation button. WiFi and HSDPA is available for speedy internet connections.

5. Nokia C2-01

Nokia C2-01 is probably the best second phone that you can keep with your Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S2 and ranks 5th in the Top 10 Most Popular Nokia Mobiles 2012 list. It flawlessly runs GPRS and has a decent camera and display fir its 2 inch screen. The small price tag is defiantly a bargain as the phone packs a lot more productivity than its price suggests. It also cones with a 3.15 MP which sadly lacks a flash.

4. Nokia X2-01

The X2-01 was a huge hit because of 2 factors. the first one was its price range. The X2-01 has all the basic and necessary features required nowadays and at a very low price. The second reason of its success is its   customized home screen which has been optimized for messaging and playing media or taking pictures. It does not have any outstanding specifications which require a mention but it is in fact the overall effect which is more than satisfactory.

3. Nokia C5-03

this 3.2 inches touchscreen smartphone sports a 5 MP camera and 229 ppi 16 million display. It has a 600 MHz processor which can handle high speed data transfer up to 10.2 Mbps!Sadly, it was not given the OS upgrade Anna as was offered for other phones of this type. Maybe it was not upgraded because it falls in the lower price range of smartphones. The Nokia C5-03 has been rated 3rd in the Top 10 Most Popular Nokia Mobiles 2012 list.

2. Nokia N8

The Nokia N8 is one of those phones which come out of the blue and blow away all the competition. The N8caused quite a splash with its 3.5 inches AMOLDED touchscreen and a 12 MP autofocus Carl Zeus camera. It has all the connectivity options popular now days and is quite fast too! Nokia N8 was launched with the Symbian 3 OS but now an Anna OS upgrade has been made available for it.

1. Nokia C3-00

Nokia C3-00 come out, quite surprisingly, at the top of the Top 10 Most Popular Nokia Mobiles 2012 list. Featuring a qwerty keyboard with wide and nicely spaced keys and a large navigational button, using C3 for browsing the internet, texting of just listening to music quite fun. The Nokia C3-00 has a 2MP camera and a 2.4 inches display to go with it. It also has WiFi connectivity for internet on the go.

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