Saturday, December 7, 2024

BIG Exclusives

Assessing the relative lethality of COVID-19: a Canadian case study

“Everyone dies.” – Elon Musk Although most of us try to delay the inevitable as long as possible, death is a fact of life. Most people do not even like to mention it. In the midst of a pandemic, however, death is a hot topic. Yes, everyone dies, but what is killing us and how has COVID-19 changed the “deathscape”? Causes of death are many and sometimes difficult to pinpoint in individual cases. Data available from the...

Vitamins and supplements – linchpin of optimal health or expensive urine?

Dietary supplements are consumed by humans for many reasons, including performance enhancement, weight loss, filling dietary gaps, treating maladies, or general health maintenance. A majority of North Americans consume dietary supplements at some point in their lives. The vitamin and supplement industry is projected to be worth $306.8 billion globally in 2026.One out of two people in North America report taking supplements regularly (most commonly a daily multivitamin). What oversights exist to ensure we are getting what we...

No doubt about debt – is it time to push panic button?

It’s no secret – North America has got some serious debt issues. The U.S. debt is projected to surpass $23.53 trillion USD, and Canada $1.12 trillion CAD in net general government debt in 2021. Should you be worried? Many mainstream media headlines would have you believe so: Global credit rating agency issues new warning over Canada’s coronavirus spending, debt Your share of Canadian government debt: more than $34,000 Massive deficit to be revealed today begins new era of debt...

Wake up to the alarming A to ZZZZZs on the importance of sleep

There are few things more uncomfortable and debilitating to the human mind and body than sleep deprivation. Our bodies will attempt to shut down even when personal safety is at great risk. Beyond a drowsy, head-on collision with a semi-truck, sleep holds important implications in mental health, physical health, and even a country’s economy and your earning potential. Determinants of health Human health is a complex and dynamic spectrum composed of countless mental and physical elements....

Global oil resources – how much is left and do we have enough?

Modern economies run on fossil fuels – oil, natural gas, and coal. With a wide spectrum of applications – electrical generation, transportation, industrial applications such as making cement and steel, plus heating and cooling buildings – fossil fuels generate more than 80% of the energy we use. Focusing on oil, we refine crude oil to create transportation fuels including gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, and maritime fuels. Beyond energy, oil is a critical petrochemical feedstock, producing...

Homemade burger fries competition in price war

While I love my spinach and quinoa salad with a balsamic reduction vinaigrette, there are times when you just crave the salty, fatty deliciousness of a juicy fast-food hamburger. There are all kinds of reasons to occasionally swing by your local drive-through: On the way to soccer practice with hungry kids in the van, a few minutes between meetings, on the road and need something that is not going to slow you down, or...

COVID context – how concerned should we be about dying from this virus?

There seems to be a common belief that young people are selfishly going about their business while the elderly drop like flies during the COVID-19 crisis; that the youth of today do not really care about the virus’s impact on our society. As a 23-year-old Canadian university grad about to do veterinary school in the U.K., I can tell you that I care a lot. And I am frustrated by the steady barrage of sensational...

Deep dive delivers definitive data on meat marketplace

The processed meat industry in North America is a $230-billion-dollar venture that produces more than 40% of the world’s beef, pork and poultry supply. Robust growth is forecast for the industry as global demand and population increase steadily. In the United States, one of the world’s top meat-consuming countries, an estimated 96% of residents include a meat product as part of their daily diet. Some Netflix documentaries would have you believe that the meat sector is a blatant...

Sea level is rising; should we be worried?

One of the concerns associated with climate warming is rising sea level. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2019) estimates that global mean sea level will rise 30 to 110 centimetres (cm) between 2005 and 2100. Media reports have regularly blamed climate change for rising sea levels threatening the homes and livelihoods of people along the Gulf of Mexico coastline in Louisiana and in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. We have seen many...

Coffee culture continues to carry colossal clout

Coffee is as much a part of our society as television, music, and automobiles. Its provision of the stimulant caffeine is a functional answer to sleep deprivation, a low-key first-date proposal, a hangover cure, and it is a socially acceptable beverage to offer and consume any time of day. Beyond coffee’s engrained social status are significant health implications and a potent economic punch. The history of coffee 850 B.C. – Coffee makes its appearance in the Kaffa region...