Aspartame in coke zero and pepsi max?

I received this SMS the other day. "The NEW coke zero and pepsi max contains ASPARTAME, a chemical substituted for sugar, which is known to be carcinogenic or cancerous! Cancer is now the leading cause of death worldwide, so do not drink COKE ZERO and PEPSI MAX! Always be a label reader. Please pass forward this message to your family and friends. Health is Wealth!"

I usually don't bother about this kind of messages. The last I received something like this was a misinformation saying that the president of our school died which was not true. So Let's examine what is this "ASPARTAME" is.

Wikipedia defines it as "spartame (or APM) (pronounced /ˈæspɚteɪm/ or /əˈspɑrteɪm/) is the name for an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener, aspartyl-phenylalanine-1-methyl ester; i.e., a methyl ester of the dipeptide of the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine.

This sweetener is marketed under a number of trademark names, including Equal, NutraSweet, and Canderel, and is an ingredient of approximately 6,000 consumer foods and beverages sold worldwide. It is commonly used in diet soft drinks, and is provided as a table condiment in some countries. It is also used in some brands of chewable vitamin supplements and common in many sugar-free chewing gums and has now been found in some chewing gums that are not sugar free. However, aspartame is not always suitable for baking because it often breaks down when heated and loses much of its sweetness. In the European Union, it is also known under the E number (additive code) E951. Aspartame is also one of the sugar substitutes used by people with diabetes.

Because sucralose, unlike aspartame, retains its sweetness after being heated, it has become more popular as an ingredient. This, along with differences in marketing and changing consumer preferences, has caused aspartame to lose market share to sucralose."

So is it Carcinogenic?
I surfed in google and found this site with its descriptive explanation of thendangers of Aspartame. (Read Here)

Nowadays, getting sick or becoming ill is not a good thing to happen (even in the past) and having cancer is a NOT desirable thing.

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Aspartame in coke zero and pepsi max?

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Computer Vision Syndrome

As we all know, computers are now vast through out the world. And many people are enjoying or spending more time facing it than doing any other chores. May it be at home, school, or work. And I believe many people are experiencing this problem already. So here is a medical condition for us netsurfers and tips on how to manage it.

Computer vision syndrome is a condition resulting from prolonged focusing of eyes one a computer monitor. As our dependence on computers continues to grow, an increasing number of people are seeking medical attention for eye strain and irritation. Eyestrain is often caused by excessive bright light coming in from outside and excessively bright light inside.

If we spend more than two hours each day in front of a computer screen, we are likely to experience some symptoms of computer vision syndrome (or CVS) which include but not limited to:

■ Headaches
■ Loss of focus
■ Burning, tired and irritated eyes
■ Double vision
■ Neck and shoulder pains
■ Dry eyes

Tips to overcome the problems of CVS:
1. Position your terminal at right angle to the window if possible. Avoid facing bright light coming from behind the computer screen as well avoid bright light falling on the computer screen behind you.
2. Install an antiglare screen.
3. Make sure the screen surface is clean. Clean your screen at least once a week.
4. The top of your screen surface needs to be at, or slightly below, eye level; find a comfortable distance between your eyes and the screen (usually eighteen to twenty-eight inches).
5. Adjust the brightness controls n the screen until they are comfortable to your eyes.
6. Be sure the screen doesn't flicker or wave - this could indicate that service or adjustment is needed.
7. Look away from the screen periodically. One may be able to mitigate the risk of CVS by adhering to the "20-20-20 rule". Every 20 minutes, focus your eyes on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
8. Don't forget to blink - Blinking is very important when working at a computer - it rewets your eyes to avoid dryness and irritation. When working at a computer people blink less frequently - about five times less than normally. Tears coating the eye evaporate more rapidly during long non-blinking phases and cause dry eyes. The use of over-the-counter artificial tear solution can reduce the effects of CVS.
9. Also try this exercise. Every 30 minutes blink 10 times by closing your eyes as if falling asleep (very slowly). This will help rewet your eyes.
10. Computer eye glasses are available and if you are already wearing specs, change yours to these antiradiation and antiglare lenses on your next visit to the optometrist.
11. Gently massage your eyes, cheeks,and forehead from time to time to keep blood flowing and muscles loose.

I, young as I am, am currently experiencing some of the symptoms of CVS. And when it was lectured to us in Medtrans school I bothered to blog about it. And I hope this would really help

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Typing Master Software

So I am eager to increase my typing speed and accuracy. At medtrans school we are using typing master to do our typing drills. It has a 1 to 13 lessons where in you are to practice typing two letters at a time. Plus letter games, word and sentence drills. But of course you need to press with the proper finger and without looking at the keyboard. So I like the software. Sadly at school they won't allow us to have a copy to practice at home. So I checked it out and I see the reason why. If you go to their site (typingmaster.com) you can see that the software is being sold. It also has a demo. So I just downloaded the demo and well it could do. But the time of every drills and test is limited. So in case you are interested in improving your typing speed and accuracy try downloading this. Five days ago my typing speed is around 19-24 words per minute with 94-96% accuracy and today I can type 24-29 words per minute with 96-99% accuracy. Hopefully next week I can reach 35 wpm and not less than 95% of accuracy.

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Ever bother to develop your typing speed?

So have you ever bothered to develop your typing speed?

We were taught the proper way to type using the keyboard, especially which finger to use for every letter. But sadly I did not pay much attention into doing it properly. I thought as long as I can type what I want to type that's enough for me. Presently I can type 16-24 words per minute depending on the word being typed properly. I never imagine that I would be relearning it. So I mentioned about Medical Transcription in my other blog post. At first I never bothered about it. As time passed by, I kept hearing about it. I still have a few time to spare to look into it. So I did a google search. To summarize, Medical Transcriptionist acts as a doctors' typist. They are responsible for putting into writing patients' medical records and transcribing doctors reports. When I read about it, I was optimistic that I can a job like. I have transcribed a doctors order before. So I got really interested I went over a few schools and checked if they offered Medtrans. I found this school and the tuition is 17,000 pesos. You pick your schedule either regular morning and afternoon class good for 3-4 months or evening class good for 5-6 months. I paid the downpayment, but I'm not sure if we can spare money for the next payment. So I immediately emailed my cousins asking if they can cover up the remaining balance to be paid the following month. I got an immediate response asking if I am shifting course from nursing. So me and mom managed to talk things with them and I got my benefactor! Yey! Thank God for my cousins! We already owe them a lot. So today is my first day, we started out on improving our typing speed,. My hands are a bit stiff now. I never thought it would be difficult, but I believe I would benefit out of it. The goal is to be able to reach the to be able to reach 40 words per minute with an accuracy of 95%. So I need to improve. But I am am looking forward for the pharmacology and anatomy lecture. Hopefully it would help me refresh my learnings in nursing with the mentioned subjects.

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Survivor Philippines Episode 24

I was busy with blogging and clicking when my friend dropped by early yesterday evening. He mentioned he doesn't want to miss survivor Philippines. Because of the voting out that's going to happen. So when it showed up we watched the episode. Geez, that Marlon is really getting on my nerves. He was expressing the idea that he was going to be voted out. And he talking about it being his birthday present. On the humane aspect, being voted out on his birthday would be a sad thing. But seeing him voted out is what I believe to be a desire of all or most of the viewers. So the last part came where the votes are being shown . Damn episode! It was 4 votes on Kiko and 4 on Marlon when the episode ended. GMA really know how to keep their viewers on the suspense. So I have to wait and see the result on Monday.

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2005 Year Book

I'm glad that I finally got my yearbook today. I graduated in CPU Development High School last 2005 and was part of the centennial batch. I feel blessed to be graduating in highshool as a part of our school's Centennial graduates. And you don't become a part of that in every century. I have been enrolled in my Alma mater ever since I was in kindergarten. And I must say that the reason that I never planned on transferring to other schools when I got deloaded was because I'm after the loyalty award. I consider myself a true Centralian for this reason alone. So I manage to go over my yearbook 5 times since this morning. I usually got caught up reading other people's philosophy or motto in life and I'm thinking of what would be a good motto for me to put when I graduate? I had a few laughs seeing classmates and remembering their funny moments and good times spent during high school. Sure you would miss those good old days. Enjoying your youth, meeting new friends and everything. Now at 20 I feel old. Busy with life, facing adult decisions, less time socializing and I sure did have a good time going over memories.

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Family issues

We have two extra houses and we rent it to other people to get an extra income for the family. It's actually owned by my uncle but due to his good fortune in Kansas he owns 5 acres of land and is happily living with his American wife and does not bother about it. It was transferred to my mother's name and only me and my brother are her heirs and both of us are taking up nursing. If you look at it you think "financial stability" but that's not the case. I really am bothered with the people that rent our houses. Every time they go they leave problems, unpaid bills and some furniture missing. And that is not something to smile about. One of the house was rented to a distant relative but before all souls day they left leaving electric and water bills unpaid. Not to mention a few of the furniture is missing which was placed there for me to use in case I quarrel with my mom and leave the house and live by myself. Thinking about it if your relatives would see your side of your family to be in good financial status they tend to come and borrow money a lot. If you go and request for their payment they would give you comments that "it's only chicken feed" to what we receive each month from from relatives in the states. And that would leave them not to pay the borrowed money. And many cases, My family leaves these matters unresolved. But I can't stand it. They are leeching from other people. And you see them spending money on useless things, able to afford many cases of heavy beverages everyday but they come to you and look pitiful saying they have no food to eat. THIS IS A SOCIAL CANCER! Something that I don't like living in the Philippines. When I become a nurse and my dad would request me to go to the states I will work hard and bring my mom and brother there. Leaving behind the crab mentality, leeches and lazy relatives behind. Our family is a bit soft and get's easily sympathetic when they are presented with problems from our relatives especially my grandmother and mother. But this has got to stop. Lazy people are abusing this weakness of ours. We HIGHLY value virtues of honesty, reliability and good character and this kind of people are not among most of our relatives. We don't resort to tricking or deceiving other people its the other way around for us. Everytime me my grandmother and mother talk about this, we really wonder why people are like that? We would only resort to prayers and we believe in Karma.

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Medical Transcription

With all the earning online opportunity that I tackle in. I have not felt any fulfillment. That's because you either just click, click, click and surf or post and requires no skills. It seems easy and for my opinion, only incompetent people rely sooo much on easy things your better off betting on lottery, But things done with a little hardship is always much appreciated. I'm a nursing student and I feel the irony of spending hundreds of thousands of pesos just to end up relying on some clicking/surfing program to earn a few bucks. I met up with a data entry job called Medical Transcription which is inline with my field. I see it a bit challenging and requires the application with the knowledge of human anatomy, pharmacology and pretty much the things a nurse does on duty which is transcribing doctors order. I'm trying to learn MT and well, Assessing myself I'm positive that this is something that I can appreciate for myself.

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Back to School

Today is the first day of school. We had our general orientation which is held every first day of each semester to be reminded of the rules and regulations, dress codes and conduct. Prior to that we had a convocation to enrich our spirituality. Before going to school today, I never thought that I would feel good wearing my old school uniform. A white shirt and black slacks. We were the last batch to have that uniform until the school implemented the universal uniform. It distinguishes the medical course that you are taking once you go walk around the campus. Which is envied by the lower years after our batch. I was moved by the pastors message. It was about a spiritual disease called "Ingratitude". I never enjoyed a school convocation this much as I did before. Enjoyed or rather the word I should use is "miss". It feels good to be back and I'm looking forward the passing this semester.

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All Souls day and family

We live in Jaro, and we usually spend our all souls day here where most of my mother's relatives are. We never had any much contact with our father's side of relatives before. Prior to all souls day we we're invited to come to Zarraga where my dad's relatives on his maternal side are because one of my uncles had arrived from Afghanistan and my grandmothers wants to have a little family reunion with the occasion. I for one don't want to miss such a reunion. It's a good time to know who you are related too. When me and my brother arrived there it was passed lunch time. We ate, drank and played cards. Talked to my uncles who are around my age and I'm happy to see the family. It was getting dark and before we head off home we accompanied our grandmothers go to the cemetery to bring flowers and pay our respects. Along the way we we're introduced to more of their relatives who are heading off home themselves. At the cemetary we we're shown the resting places of our forefathers. But the introduction to relatives did not stop there. Beside the mausoleum was also a relative. Funny, they had a nurse who works in the hospital I'm having my intern in. And I remember going on duty in that area. We had a couple of laughs and was properly introduced and a little trace up of what is the exact blood relationship we have. Another funny thing is that A classmate of mine passed by and I was surprised that his mother was called by my grandmothers. The guy was a good friend of mine in first year. We got separated because of our school alphabetical sectioning system and we see each other at school sometimes. What a small world! We are blood related, hahaha. We we're arranged to go home with them as they are on they way to go back to the city. Before departing my grandmothers caught the attention that me and Micheal we're classmates and never knew we were relatives until that moment. So they want to hold a family reunion on December 25 where many of our relatives go home and spend the holiday. And for the purpose of having all the family being introduced properly. They even giggled on the idea that maybe their grandchildren are being intimately involve (bf and gf)with each other not knowing they are relatives. So after that we headed off home. And we see each other again on Christmas. When we arrived home, our mother and family is already praying the all souls novena we do every year. The foods are set on the table and we joined them pray. After that told them what happened during our stay in Zarraga. A few neighbors came by and we ate together and pretty much had a great time.

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