TECHNICIAN

LIFESTYLES
Features LIFE & STYLE

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2009 • PAGE 5

Peppermint Powers
Eight is enough
Peppermint has long been a and can be used as a mouthwash
The second set of octuplets ever key ingredient in many can- for babies with thrush (yeast in
recorded in the U.S. were born last dies and desserts, but pepper- the mouth). Peppermint’s most
week to a woman living in California.
All eight babies are living, and mint also serves many medici- powerful oil—menthol—has
seven are breathing unassisted. The nal purposes. The peppermint been shown to helpful in subdu-
woman’s mother said the woman plant contains an oil that hosts ing disease-producing bacteria,
received fertility treatments, but how many beneficial compounds, the viruses and fungi. Pavel Kloucek,
she ended up with eight embryos is
still unknown.
most important being menthol. a scientist at the Czech Univer-
Some people, like bioethicist M. Studies have shown that this oil sity of Life Science in Prague,
Sara Rosenthal, are questioning the is fairly effective at relieving ir- has discovered two other mint
ethics behind the situation. ritable bowel syndrome and ab- families —- Mentha villosa and
“This is an outrageous situation that dominal pain, including cramp- Faassen’s catnip -— that also
should not happen,” she said.
Doctors offered to selectively ing, bloating and constipation. have bacteria-fighting abilities.
reduce the pregnancy but the woman The oil blocks calcium channels, Furthermore, non-mint herb
refused. which has the effect of relax- bluebeard and essential oils from
SOURCE: CNN.COM ing the muscles on the intesti- horseradish, garlic, hyssop, basil,
nal walls. Peppermint can also marjoram, oregano, winter sa-
Touched for the temporarily relieve itching that vory and various types of thyme
very first time insect bites cause, eczema and
poison ivy rashes. Tea with pep-
showed antimicrobial activity.

First times are supposed to be permint can reduce nausea and SOURCE: HEALTHNEWS.COM
awkward, not profitable. But 22-year- vomiting caused by pregnancy
old Natalie Dylan may be depositing MEREDITH FAGGART/TECHNICIAN
a $3.8 million check in her bank A “Pretty In Pink” cupcake, a “Big Red” cupcake, and a “Brown Betty” cupcake are displayed on the
account soon. That is the highest counter of the Cupcake Shoppe Bakery on Glenwood Avenue.
bid Dylan received for her virginity,
Top caffeinated cities
Coleman’s cupcakes
which she is auctioning off through
the Moonlite Bunny Ranch in Nevada,
where prostitution is legal. Dylan
has not said whether or not she will
accept the bid. It’s everywhere — in soda, split. Older adults were found to
coffee, tea, energy drinks and drink more coffee — 54 percent

please the palate

SOURCE: CNN.COM
pills. It’s easy to overlook how between the ages of 45 and 54 —
Cut cals, gain memory much caffeine people consume
in everyday life. HealthNews
while ages 21-34 comprised only
29 percent. Also, 42 percent of
Can’t remember what you ate for conducted its second annual those survey said coffee would be
dinner last night? Well maybe you HealthSaver Caffeinated Cities the most difficult caffeine prod-
should be eating less. A new study’s
results show that cutting calories can
BAKERY MAKES TREATS FOR ALL OCCASIONS survey, which ranked 20 met- uct to give up. Cola followed at 17
improve memory. The study asked 20 ropolitan U.S. cities on overall percent and sweets at 16 percent.
women to reduce calorie intake by levels of consumption, including Forty percent thought of caffeine
39 percent. Overall, their scores on Taylor McCune professional life as a baker. She did just what specific categories such as cof- as “bad for you” and 28 percent
memory tests rose 20 percent. Features Editor someone with a business degree is ‘supposed’ fee, cola, tea, sweets, pain reliev- said the stimulant is “good for
SOURCE: CNN.COM to do — she got a job in the corporate world. ers, energy drinks and caffeine you.” Though the top spot went
The College of Management doesn’t offer After a few years of working for Johnson and pills. It’s no surprise that the to the Tampa/St. Petersburg/
Free drugs Batter Making 101 or Frosting 205, but 2001 Johnson, Coleman decided to take the plunge most popular caffeine-related Clearwater, Fla. area, Seattle,
alumna in business Sara Coleman didn’t need and open a bakery. product was coffee, which com- Wash. ranked first when bro-
If there was ever a time to quit
using brand name antibiotics and
a class to teach her how to turn cupcake baking She had no formal culinary training, but promised nearly half of the total ken down to the coffee category
decongestants, it’s now — for those into her dream job. Coleman said that wasn’t a problem — she caffeine consumption. Teas and alone. The survey was conducted
insured by Blue Cross Blue Shield Coleman is the owner of the Cupcake Shoppe grew up watching her aunt make wedding colas took about 20 percent each by health care discount program
of North Carolina. The insurance Bakery in downtown Raleigh, a store that deals cakes. while chocolate took 13 percent HealthSaver in conjunction with
company is waiving copays on almost exclusively in the tiny cakes. “Most of what I learned came from her,” she and pain relievers, energy drinks Prince Market Research.
generic prescriptions through June
30. “I just always liked sweets,” Coleman said. said. and caffeine pills totaled one
SOURCE: BCBSNC.COM
“Cupcakes are you own, individual dessert.” The watch and learn method worked. The percent each. The survey also
Coleman is surrounded by the sweet treats showed that more men drank SOURCE: HEALTHNEWS.COM
almost every day, but she didn’t start off her CUPCAKES continued page 6 coffee than women in a 53 to 46

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