MIndy’s CallIng

healthy
start
ring the
AlArm?
Did you upgrade to the
iPhone 5? It’s one of
the greenest and least
toxic cellphones on
the market, according
to a new report. Other
phones that did well
include the Motorola
Citrus, which was the
least toxic of all
the phones tested,
the iPhone 4S, the LG
Remarq, and Samsung’s
Captivate and
Evergreen devices.
Still, none of the
phones was 100%
hazard-free, according
to researchers. All of the
models had concerning
levels of bromine,
chlorine, lead, cadmium,
or mercury. Cellphones
can contain more than
40 toxic chemicals and
heavy metals. While
there’s no evidence
to suggest these are
dangerous to users,
they are a problem when
the phones are being
made and after they are
thrown away. Americans
toss millions of phones
each year in favor of
newer technology.
Source: 2012 Mobile Phone Study,
HealthyStuff.org
Candy Man
Craving chocolate, guys? Here’s a good excuse to indulge: Men who chow
down on chocolate may be less likely to have a stroke. A study of more than
37,000 Swedish men older than age 45 found that those who reported eating
the most chocolate—about a third of a cup of chocolate chips per week—were
17% less likely to have a stroke than those who ate the least. Chocolate contains
antioxidants called flavonoids, which may be responsible for some of its health
benefits. Another study suggests men who eat lots of tomatoes and tomato
products have a lower risk for stroke. In research involving more than 1,000
men from Finland, those who had the highest levels of lycopene, an antioxidant
found in the fruit, in their blood were 55% less likely to have a stroke over the
12-year study period, compared with men who had the lowest levels.
1 in 3
The share of
peT caTs in The U.s.
acqUired as sTrays
Source: American Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals
Source: Neurology
W ebMD.coM 8 JAN/FEB 2013
sound Bites
what’s worse than the screech of fingernails on a
blackboard? at least four other noises are more
offensive, according to a recent study that rated
the 10 most annoying sounds:
1. knife on a bottle
2. fork on a glass
3. Chalk on a blackboard
4. ruler on a bottle
5. nails on a blackboard
6. female scream
7. disc grinder
8. squealing bicycle brakes
9. Baby crying
10. electric drill
and the least unpleasant sounds include:
1. applause
2. Baby laughing
3. thunder
4. flowing water
Source: Journal of Neuroscience
clockwise from top left: mikhail dudareV/Veer; nancy rose/getty images; image source photography/Veer