Which Country Has the Tallest People?

Haha, this is a good one! Check it out!

Statistically, the tallest people in the world, as measured by country are the Dutch. The average height for all adults for the Netherlands is 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m). This great leap in height is a huge change for Holland, where about 100 years ago, 25% of men who attempted to join the army were rejected as being too short, less than 62 inches (1.57 m) tall.

There are taller people belonging to certain populations within countries. This is especially true of the Maasai people, who live in parts of Tanzania and Kenya. But as a whole, the citizens living in the Netherlands are on average, the tallest people. Even people who have immigrated to the Netherlands from other parts of the world are taller on average than their racial groups in their countries of origin.

Standing next to the Dutch, almost shoulder to shoulder, are the Danes. Average height in Denmark is 6 feet (1.83 m). Americans, who once were the tallest people, have fallen in stature and are on average about 5 feet 9 inches (1.76 m) for men.

Researchers have attempted to account for what makes a certain country have the tallest people and conclude that factors for height include a combination of genetics and nutrition. The Dutch, several hundred years ago, were some of the tallest peoplein the world. Uneven distribution of wealth, poor nutrition, and years of bad crops certainly contributed to keeping the Dutchshorter for many years. From a genetic standpoint, though, the Dutch could have been the tallest people sooner with appropriate nutrition, especially during early childhood years.

Those who study these statistics suggest that the Dutch emphasis on early childhood care, a diet rich in dairy products and thus high in protein, and a fairly even distribution of wealth have contributed to making the Dutch the world’s tallest people. In contrast, in America, pockets of poverty, which contribute to poor childhood nutrition and lack of available healthcare, as well as immigration of shorter racial groups to America, have resulted in a shorter average height.

Being the tallest people in the world is not without disadvantage. In recent years, the Dutch have had to make changes to building codes order to provide taller doorframes, and more "height" friendly aspects to each new building and auto design. Further, the measurement is “average height” which means some people far exceed 6 feet 1 inch. Some people are significantly taller and may stand nearly 7 feet (2.13 m) tall, which can make traveling in the average car quite uncomfortable.

Source: http://www.wisegeek.com/which-country-has-the-tallest-people.htm

Stroke and heart attack symptoms in women

It’s easy to miss heart attack symptoms at the initial stages because symptoms show up differently in women than in men. In fact, the top four symptoms are often misdiagnosed. Immediate intervention can mean life or death, so it’s a good idea for all women to be aware of the warning signs of heart attacks.

Symptoms of heart attack in women

Most heart attacks start slowly with mild pain or discomfort. Here are the symptoms of heart attack in women:

• Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort.
• Nausea and light-headedness
• Flu-like symptoms, including chills and cold sweats
• Heart palpitations
• Chest discomfort (angina): pain, tightness or pressure in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back
• Discomfort in other areas, including pain or discomfort in: one or both arms (especially the left arm), the back, between the shoulder blades, neck, jaw or stomach
• Heartburn or indigestion
• Extreme fatigue

Symptoms of stroke in women

Strokes are not as common as heart attacks, but can come on without warning. Here are signs that a stroke may be occurring:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the bod
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

It’s worth noting that in some women symptoms of heart problems, like palpitations, chills or faintness, may actually be symptoms of perimenopause. However, if you are experiencing these symptoms, you should see your healthcare practitioner.

Symptoms of inflammation

Heart disease often occurs along with inflammation. Monitoring any inflammation symptoms you might have is a helpful way to assess your risk of heart attack or stroke. Here are some of the symptoms to look for:

• Elevated levels of CRP, homocysteine, or LDL
• High blood pressure
• Insulin resistance or diabetes
• Joint pain or arthritis
• Headaches
• GI distress, bloating, constipation/diarrhea
• Ulcer/heartburn
• Food and other allergies/sensitivities
• Chronic respiratory difficulties, asthma, or bronchitis
• Dry, itchy skin, rash, psoriasis or eczema
• Weight gain/obesity
• Fever or chronic infection
• Other autoimmune diseases

Source: http://www.womentowomen.com/heartdiseaseandstroke/symptoms.aspx

A Healthy Diet Can Prevent Some Cancers

Living a cancer-free life begins with keeping your plate full of color and including exercise as part of your daily routine.

The American Cancer Society estimates that one-third of all cancer deaths could be prevented if Americans ate a healthy, balanced diet that emphasized plant-based foods, participated in physical activity and maintained a healthy weight.

The following tips are not only good for your waistline, they’re also good for preventing many common types of cancers.

Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables.

They’re power-packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. A diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables has been linked to a decreased risk of bladder, colon, lung, mouth, throat, esophagus, pancreas, prostate and stomach cancers. The latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend five to nine servings of fruits or vegetables daily.

Include fiber in your diet every day.

Fiber has been proven to reduce the risk of several cancers including colon cancer. The American Dietetic Association recommends 25 grams of fiber for women and 38 grams of fiber for men daily. Choose whole-wheat breads, pastas and cereals over their refined white-flour counterparts. Adding dried beans or lentils to your meals not only increases your fiber intake, they also add healthy calories and protein.

Choose lean meats such as fish or poultry.

A diet high in red meats or in processed meats such as bacon, sausage or hot dogs may increase your risk of colon cancer. Bake, broil or grill your lean meats rather than fry them. Add low-fat cheeses to meals to increase healthy calories and protein.

Drink at least eight cups of water a day.

Unsweetened tea and coffee are other options, and drinking green tea may reduce your risk of breast or prostate cancer. Low-fat milk is a great source of calcium and vitamin D. Avoid sugary drinks like soft drinks and juice cocktail. Drinks with 100 percent juice are a viable alternative but should be limited to one 8-ounce glass a day.

Get moving.

Adults should aim for 3½ to seven hours of moderate-intensity exercise every week. Any variety of physical activity counts as long as it increases your heart rate — this even includes common activities such as walking, stretching or yard work.

For more healthy eating tips for cancer patients as well as those wishing to reduce their cancer risk, check out the Markey Menu blog at UKHealthCare.uky.edu/MarkeyMenu.

Karina Christopher is a registered dietitian at UK Markey Cancer Center and runs the Markey Menu blog for UK HealthCare.

By Karina Christopher, registered dietitian at the UK Markey Cancer Center

Source: http://uknow.uky.edu/content/healthy-diet-can-prevent-some-cancers