What Diet Soda Is Doing to Your Brain

Ordering a diet soda feels like the obvious healthier choice, but it’s not that straightforward. Researchers are beginning to wonder if we traded one problem for another, and this time it involves the brain. Diet sodas contain little to no calories, relying on artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or splenda to provide sweetness. However, one recent study found that people who drink more than one diet soda a day are over four times more likely to develop dementia than those who have one or none. Also, each additional diet soda per day is linked to about a 39% higher risk of dementia. “We don’t know what ingredients may be driving the association,” said Hannah Gardener, a research associate professor and study author. “More research is needed to understand whether different types of diet soda play different roles.” Higher diet soda intake is also associated with vascular risks. Poor blood vessel function can reduce blood flow to the brain, which is important for delivering oxygen and nutrients and supporting normal cognitive function. An occasional diet soda is unlikely to have a direct effect on its own, but regular high intake may bring harm. Just in case you’re thinking of switching back to regular soda, it’s no better. The negative effects of regular soda on cardiovascular and metabolic health are well-established, and the brain is not spared. What should you drink instead? The most evidence-backed alternatives are also the least glamorous. “Plain or sparkling water can be a good substitute for diet soda because it provides the carbonation many soda drinkers enjoy,” said nutritionist Jaz Robbins. For those who want a bit of flavor, adding lemon or cucumber slices, or a handful of berries, can make water more interesting without adding sugar. Coconut water, unsweetened herbal teas, or fruit-infused water can help ease the transition away from sweetened drinks. You can also reduce sweetness gradually, rather than cutting it out overnight.

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Glacier Girl: The Plane That Was Frozen For 50 Years

In the midst of World War II, on a fog-laden day in July 1942, an ensemble of fighters and bombers set course for the British Isles during Operation Bolo. As the harsh weather persisted and visibility waned, the planes found themselves unable to complete their journey. The only option was an emergency landing on the treacherous Greenland ice sheet. All crew members were safely evacuated, but the formidable Glacier Girl, accompanied by her squadron of five other P-38 fighters and two B-17 bombers, met a chilly fate. Over the next 50 years, they disappeared beneath a daunting 268 feet of accumulating snow and ice. Fast forward half a century to 1992, when a mix of passion and persistence led the Greenland Expedition Society to undertake a mission that many deemed impossible. After extensive searching and excavation, they located the once-mighty Glacier Girl trapped beneath a frozen fortress. Extracting her from the icy grasp was no easy feat. With the utmost care, Glacier Girl was transported to Kentucky to begin her second lease on life. After diligent repairs, including the installation of two newly manufactured Allison engines, Glacier Girl was ready to fly again. In October 2002, with her engines humming a triumphant tune, Glacier Girl soared once more to dazzle crowds at various air shows.

 

 

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Drivers Are Finding Mysterious Burn Marks in Their Cars — Even Though They Don’t Smoke

Where there’s no smoking, there’s fire? Drivers have been racking their brains after finding mysterious burn marks in their cars, despite the fact that they don’t smoke. The issue has come to light on social media, where victims have been posting their strange encounters with burn marks in their vehicles. One screenshot showed a scorch mark traversing a sun visor, as if someone sliced across it with a laser. Other examples include a long black burn mark that ran across the entire headliner of a car, and another that melted through the visor. Even more common were what looked like cigarette burns in the interior of some cars. They’re apparently so common that many people have been falsely accused of smoking in their cars, even though they have denied it. One young man said his parents accused him of smoking because of a burn mark in the seat, though he swears he has never even had the desire to smoke. So, what's the common cause of these charred cars? You might think that the one thing that connects all of these cases is a water bottle left in the vehicle. That's because water bottles are known to be the perfect tool for focusing sunlight — just like a magnifying glass — melting and burning the interior of people’s cars with the beam. These firewater fiascos are so prevalent that fire departments have held demonstrations on the phenomenon, showing that you can actually set a piece paper on fire with nothing more than a bottle of water, the sun and a few minutes. However, not all of these marks are caused by water bottles. The long, ceiling-scorching burn marks were the result of leaving a makeup mirror in a passenger seat. Any sufficiently reflective surface will produce this destructive beam. Another person left a CD on a seat and it did the dirty deed. The best thing you can do is make sure that no reflective surfaces are left out when you close up your car for the day.

 

 

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Southern Pineapple Cheese Casserole

This southern pineapple casserole recipe is one of those retro dishes that’s still totally delicious. The strange dish features simple ingredients like sweet pineapple and savory cheddar cheese, but it's also got a little bit of flour and sugar to hold it all together. The casserole is topped with buttery cracker crumbs, melted butter, a little bit of pineapple juice. Then it’s baked to golden brown perfection.

Servings: 8

Ingredients:

• 2 20-oz cans Dole Pineapple Tidbits drained, with juice set aside

• ½ cup white sugar, brown sugar, or sugar substitute

• ⅓ cup flour

• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

• 2 cups Ritz Crackers, crushed

• ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, melted 

• ¼ cup reserved pineapple juice saved from the can

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350º F.

• Drain pineapple tidbits and reserve ¼ cup of the pineapple juice. 

• In a large bowl, add flour and sugar and mix so that there are no clumps.

• Add drained pineapple and shredded cheese to the mixing bowl and stir everything together until combined

• Add the mixture to a casserole dish.

• Add the crushed ritz crackers to a medium sized bowl and drizzle with melted butter.

• Add the pineapple juice and stir everything until combined.

• Place the buttery cracker crumbs on top of pineapple mixture and place in the oven.

• Bake 30-40 minutes or until the crushed crackers turn golden brown and the pineapple cheese mixture is bubbling. 

• Let rest for a few minutes before serving. 

 

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