As promised you have photos of Sakura blossoms @ Shinjuku Gyoen - largest park in Tokyo.
http://picasaweb.google.com/rajeshkvp/JapanSCherryBlossomSakuraShinjukuGyoenLargestParkInTokyo
Tree count = 10,000 trees
Turn out = About 1 lakh people between 2pm to 3pm on 29th March 2008 - estimated
Park Size = 58.3 hectares in size, biggest in japan
history = it was built for Imperial Household earlier and later for commoners.
it was completely destroyed during worldwar-2
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Japan's cherry blossom (sakura)
For those of you who are crazy about flowers..
As many of you know, Japan is world popular for its flowery
collections and craze for flowers. Sakura flower blooms during the
spring season(which started about 10-15 days back..) it usually
lasts for a short-time.. and I will try posting photos.. as soon as
I can capture them on my camera.
This year sakura blossoms started on March 22nd, Best time to view
in tokyo is March 27 to April 5th 2008.
there are some beautiful photos in this site.. enjoy viewing.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011_where.html
Exact Description=
"The cherry blossom (sakura) is Japan's unofficial national flower.
It has been celebrated for many centuries and takes a very prominent
position in Japanese culture.
There are many dozens of different cherry tree varieties in Japan,
most of which bloom for just a couple of days in spring. The
Japanese celebrate that time of the year with hanami (cherry blossom
viewing) parties under the blooming trees
As many of you know, Japan is world popular for its flowery
collections and craze for flowers. Sakura flower blooms during the
spring season(which started about 10-15 days back..) it usually
lasts for a short-time.. and I will try posting photos.. as soon as
I can capture them on my camera.
This year sakura blossoms started on March 22nd, Best time to view
in tokyo is March 27 to April 5th 2008.
there are some beautiful photos in this site.. enjoy viewing.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011_where.html
Exact Description=
"The cherry blossom (sakura) is Japan's unofficial national flower.
It has been celebrated for many centuries and takes a very prominent
position in Japanese culture.
There are many dozens of different cherry tree varieties in Japan,
most of which bloom for just a couple of days in spring. The
Japanese celebrate that time of the year with hanami (cherry blossom
viewing) parties under the blooming trees
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Sleeplessness
HELP WITH INSOMNIAInsomnia is a more and more common condition in modern times. Sadly, a huge percentage of us are sleep-deprived or sleep-impaired, and this leads to irritability, sub-par functioning, muddy thinking, poor judgment, inefficient use of time, dangerous driving, tanking relationships and decreased enjoyment of life.
There are two kinds of sleeplessness or insomnia – the kind where you have trouble falling asleep, and the kind where you wake up in the wee hours and can’t fall back to sleep – or both. Here are a few simple but effective behavioral suggestions to help with insomnia.
Try to make a habit of writing down, before bedtime, all the things you need to take care of for the next day, so that you are, in essence, getting it out of your head and onto a sheet of paper. Journaling thoughts and feelings also serves the same purpose in a more wide-ranging way.
If you work out or exercise at night, it would be better to switch to the morning or afternoon – not just before bedtime. Evening exercise too close to bedtime feeds insomnia.
If you drink alcohol at dinner or after, this might help you fall asleep in the short term, but it’s also likely to be what’s waking you up at 2 or 3 a.m.. Booze is a terrible intervention for insomnia.
If you wake up in the middle of the night and your mind revs up with worries, plans, problems, solutions, whatever, you will either need to distract your mind – with reading, or music or one of the resources I’ll suggest later on in this list; or else get out of bed and try to address some of these things in a more proactive way. The worst thing you can do is just lie there thinking “I have to get some sleep!!! I’m going to be exhausted tomorrow!!! I MUST sleep!! This insomnia is going to wreck my ability to function!!” because, of course, once you’re having that conversation with yourself, you’ll never fall asleep!
If you’re in the middle of one of these dreadful insomnia cycles, you would do well to consider getting a prescription for a mild sleeping pill – not as a permanent solution, but to break the cycle of sleeplessness. Work with your doc to find a good medication that works well for you, without producing a “hangover” the next day. It’s best to experiment over the weekend or on a week night when you don’t have to be terribly sharp the next morning.
Some more tips:-
Try to maintain fixed timings for your sleep. Try to go to sleep at the same time everyday. Also wake up at the same time. This will help your body and mind to regularize your sleep.
Have some simple and light snack before going to bed. Avoid spicy food or too much of sweets. Help your digestive system by taking light snacks like a few slices of bread or some cereal. This is just to reduce the pressure on your digestive system which will allow you to sleep peacefully and will not disturb you struggling to digest food.
Do not take nicotine... or atleast avoid consuming any kind of nicotine atleast 5-6 hours before you go to bed.
The general assumption is taking alcohol gives better sleep. This is not true and also this could lead to complications. Usually, you will have disturbed sleep after consuming Alcohol. Avoid Alcohol atleast for 5-6 hours befor you go to sleep.
Take milk before going to bed. You can take some malt beverages too, which normally helps in having good sleep. Always ensure that you dont go to bed hungry.
Try to keep your bedroom well ventilated and clean. If you are getting disturbed by any noise around, try to use earplugs to have a peaceful sleep.
Be active during the day. Dont doze off during the day, as this may be an obstacle to your night sleep.
There are two kinds of sleeplessness or insomnia – the kind where you have trouble falling asleep, and the kind where you wake up in the wee hours and can’t fall back to sleep – or both. Here are a few simple but effective behavioral suggestions to help with insomnia.
Try to make a habit of writing down, before bedtime, all the things you need to take care of for the next day, so that you are, in essence, getting it out of your head and onto a sheet of paper. Journaling thoughts and feelings also serves the same purpose in a more wide-ranging way.
If you work out or exercise at night, it would be better to switch to the morning or afternoon – not just before bedtime. Evening exercise too close to bedtime feeds insomnia.
If you drink alcohol at dinner or after, this might help you fall asleep in the short term, but it’s also likely to be what’s waking you up at 2 or 3 a.m.. Booze is a terrible intervention for insomnia.
If you wake up in the middle of the night and your mind revs up with worries, plans, problems, solutions, whatever, you will either need to distract your mind – with reading, or music or one of the resources I’ll suggest later on in this list; or else get out of bed and try to address some of these things in a more proactive way. The worst thing you can do is just lie there thinking “I have to get some sleep!!! I’m going to be exhausted tomorrow!!! I MUST sleep!! This insomnia is going to wreck my ability to function!!” because, of course, once you’re having that conversation with yourself, you’ll never fall asleep!
If you’re in the middle of one of these dreadful insomnia cycles, you would do well to consider getting a prescription for a mild sleeping pill – not as a permanent solution, but to break the cycle of sleeplessness. Work with your doc to find a good medication that works well for you, without producing a “hangover” the next day. It’s best to experiment over the weekend or on a week night when you don’t have to be terribly sharp the next morning.
Some more tips:-
Try to maintain fixed timings for your sleep. Try to go to sleep at the same time everyday. Also wake up at the same time. This will help your body and mind to regularize your sleep.
Have some simple and light snack before going to bed. Avoid spicy food or too much of sweets. Help your digestive system by taking light snacks like a few slices of bread or some cereal. This is just to reduce the pressure on your digestive system which will allow you to sleep peacefully and will not disturb you struggling to digest food.
Do not take nicotine... or atleast avoid consuming any kind of nicotine atleast 5-6 hours before you go to bed.
The general assumption is taking alcohol gives better sleep. This is not true and also this could lead to complications. Usually, you will have disturbed sleep after consuming Alcohol. Avoid Alcohol atleast for 5-6 hours befor you go to sleep.
Take milk before going to bed. You can take some malt beverages too, which normally helps in having good sleep. Always ensure that you dont go to bed hungry.
Try to keep your bedroom well ventilated and clean. If you are getting disturbed by any noise around, try to use earplugs to have a peaceful sleep.
Be active during the day. Dont doze off during the day, as this may be an obstacle to your night sleep.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Microsoft Office Boy
Microsoft Office Boy
A jobless man applied for the position of "office boy" at Microsoft.
The HR manager interviewed him then watched him cleaning the floor as a test.
"You are employed." He said." Give me your e-mail address and I'll send you the application to fill in, as well as date when you may start."
The man replied "But I don't have a computer, neither an email."
I'm sorry", said the HR manager, "If you don't have an email, that means you do not exist. And who doesn't exist, cannot have the job."
The man left with no hope at all. He didn't know what to do, with only $10 in his pocket. He then decided to go to the supermarket and buy a 10Kg tomato crate. He then sold the tomatoes in a door to door round. In less than two hours, he succeeded to double his capital. He repeated the Operation three times, and returned home with $60. The man realized that he can survive by this Way, and started to go everyday earlier, and return late Thus, his money doubled or tripled every day.
Shortly, he bought a cart, then a truck, then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles. 5 years later , the man is one of the biggest food retailers in the US .
He started to plan his family's future, and decided to have a life insurance.
He called an insurance broker, and chose a protection plan. When the conversation was concluded, the broker asked him his email. The man replied, "I don't have an email". The broker answered curiously, "You don't have an email, and yet have succeeded to build an empire. Can you imagine what you could have been if you had an email?!!"
The man thought for a while and replied, "Yes, I'd be an office boy at Microsoft!"
Moral of the story:
M1 - Internet is not the solution to your life.
M2 - If you don't have internet, and work hard, you can be a millionaire.
M3 - If you received this message by email, you are closer to being an office boy, than a millionaire. .........
Have a great day!!!
A jobless man applied for the position of "office boy" at Microsoft.
The HR manager interviewed him then watched him cleaning the floor as a test.
"You are employed." He said." Give me your e-mail address and I'll send you the application to fill in, as well as date when you may start."
The man replied "But I don't have a computer, neither an email."
I'm sorry", said the HR manager, "If you don't have an email, that means you do not exist. And who doesn't exist, cannot have the job."
The man left with no hope at all. He didn't know what to do, with only $10 in his pocket. He then decided to go to the supermarket and buy a 10Kg tomato crate. He then sold the tomatoes in a door to door round. In less than two hours, he succeeded to double his capital. He repeated the Operation three times, and returned home with $60. The man realized that he can survive by this Way, and started to go everyday earlier, and return late Thus, his money doubled or tripled every day.
Shortly, he bought a cart, then a truck, then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles. 5 years later , the man is one of the biggest food retailers in the US .
He started to plan his family's future, and decided to have a life insurance.
He called an insurance broker, and chose a protection plan. When the conversation was concluded, the broker asked him his email. The man replied, "I don't have an email". The broker answered curiously, "You don't have an email, and yet have succeeded to build an empire. Can you imagine what you could have been if you had an email?!!"
The man thought for a while and replied, "Yes, I'd be an office boy at Microsoft!"
Moral of the story:
M1 - Internet is not the solution to your life.
M2 - If you don't have internet, and work hard, you can be a millionaire.
M3 - If you received this message by email, you are closer to being an office boy, than a millionaire. .........
Have a great day!!!
Humility
Humility
Visiting that Ragavendra temple in Bangalore is almost more than a routine for her. She has not seen him ever before in the temple.
He was sitting on the floor with his closed eyes, folded legs and locked fingers in ' Gnana Mudra '. He looked strange and different with a turban on his head and the very long flowing beard. Some thing was there in his face that attracted her. She could not understand what that was.
She finished her ' darshan ' and came out; she saw the man was walking in the corridor. Again something was happening in her, she could not understand what was that. She was telling herself, "a poor old man. I have to help him". She ran to him, gave rupees ten in his hand and forced him to accept. He smiled, expressed a reverence like a ' prasadam ' by keeping it in the forehead and thanked her by keeping the hand in prayer position (' Namasthey' ).
As she came out, she saw the man was getting into his Mercedes Benz, she was perplexed, shivered and ran to him and said, "Sir (Ayya!), Please forgive me, I did not do this to insult you. By seeing your dress and appearance, I thought you are struggling in life and offered you the money. It is a blunder. I am sorry. Please forgive me. Please give me back that money. I am sorry".
The man with the fake beard and turban laughed and replied her politely, "Ammaa.. There is no mistake of yours. It is the other way. The creator is again and again reminding me through some body, "You are nothing. You are not special. Everybody is equal in front of me". He keeps on sending this message again and again and today you happened to be a medium. That's it. Thanks a ton". His hand again went to prayer position, expressed gratitude to the lady and he went into his car.
When the lady realized the man was none other than Super star Rajini Kanth - Asia's number one paid actor, he has left the place.
She did not know what to do. With tears in her eyes, she was starring at the direction that the car went.
- From Dr. Gayathri Sreekanth's "The Name Is Rajini Kanth – A biography"
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
7 Keys to P.E.R.F.E.C.T. communication
7 Keys to P.E.R.F.E.C.T. communication
Personal Impact
Non-verbal communication such as unease, uncertainty or nervousness can convey negative signals to your audience. These subconsciously perceived weaknesses can capture the audience's attention so that what you are saying is lost.
Know exactly how you are going to start your presentation or conversation. Ensure that it's powerful and engaging and be aware of you body language.
Emotional Connection
If you aren't passionate about what your topic how can you expect any body else to be?
Engage people at an emotional level during a presentation or conversation. Tell personal stories, use metaphors and let people into your life's experiences. You will find that your audience will more easily join you in your pictures.
Right to Talk
What right do you have to talk about the subject you are talking to us about? Tell us your History and in doing so create authority?
As a child we were told not brag about our achievements. You then enter the world of work and what happens you are judged on your accomplishments.
When you identify your expertise and call on the 'hands on' elements of the matter being discussed you develop personal credibility and elicit an emotional response from those listening.
Facts
Once you have developed an emotional rapport, and a reason for them to trust and believe in you, then your presentation has to have defined facts and detail.
Don't talk in terms of hypothetical situations. Make it relevant to your 'audience', their businesses, their hopes and concerns. Understand what they want to know, not what you want to tell them.
Encapsulate
We live in a sound bite society.
"Just do it", "it's the real thing", "Am I bovvered?" We are programmed to expect information to be packaged in instantly memorable phrases. Encapsulate your message, the key elements of your presentation / conversation and translate them into succinct, influential language.
Credibility
Don't make claims that you can't substantiate. At a seminar recently a speaker used the following information.
"A first impression is based on 7% spoken words, 38% tone of voice and 55% body language."
The speaker was questioned about the provenance of the quote but did not know the originator. His credibility was immediately blown.
If you are going to use quotes make sure you know who said it and in what context.
The Company
Apart from your individual right to talk on a specific subject it is also important to establish the credentials of the company or companies that you are associated with.
Use testimonials from delighted customers and the value you bring to the company. Is is a universal truth that those we associate with can give us even greater standing and authority.
The key to your personal and financial success is in your ability to positively impact others
Monday, March 17, 2008
Coffee with Rajesh !
Pharmacist point of view:
Answer the phone by LEFT ear.
Do not drink coffee TWICE a day.
Do not take pills with COOL water.
Do not have HUGE meals after 5pm.
Reduce the amount of OILY food you consume.
Drink more WATER in the morning, less at night.
Keep your distance from hand phone CHARGERS.
Do not use headphones/earphone for LONG period of time.
Best sleeping time is from 10pm at night to 6am in the morning.
Do not lie down immediately after taking medicine before sleeping.
When battery is down to the LAST grid/bar, do not answer the phone as the radiation is 1000 times.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Decide to buy a Mobile ?
Would like to know if your mobile is original or not?!!
Press the following on your mobile *#06# and the-international mobile equipment identity number appears
check the 7th and 8th numbers
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 th 8 th 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Phone serial no. x x x x x x ? ? x x x x x x x
IF the digit number Seven & Eight is 02 or 20 that mean it was assembled in the Emirates which is very Bad quality
IF the digit number Seven & Eight is 08 or 80 that means it was manufactured in Germany which is not bad
IF the digit number Seven & Eight is 01 or 10 that mean it's manufactured in Finland which is Good
IF the digit number Seven & Eight is 00 that means it was manufactured in original factory which is the best Mobile Quality ....
IF the digit number Seven & Eight is 13 that means it was assembled in Azerbaijan which is very poor quality and potentially very dangerous to your health!!!
Press the following on your mobile *#06# and the-international mobile equipment identity number appears
check the 7th and 8th numbers
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 th 8 th 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Phone serial no. x x x x x x ? ? x x x x x x x
IF the digit number Seven & Eight is 02 or 20 that mean it was assembled in the Emirates which is very Bad quality
IF the digit number Seven & Eight is 08 or 80 that means it was manufactured in Germany which is not bad
IF the digit number Seven & Eight is 01 or 10 that mean it's manufactured in Finland which is Good
IF the digit number Seven & Eight is 00 that means it was manufactured in original factory which is the best Mobile Quality ....
IF the digit number Seven & Eight is 13 that means it was assembled in Azerbaijan which is very poor quality and potentially very dangerous to your health!!!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
India has become a dumping ground for banned drugs
India has become a dumping ground for banned drugs; also the business for production of banned drugs is booming. Plz make sure that u buy drugs only if prescribed by a doctor (Also, ask which company manufactures it, this would help to ensure that u get what is prescribed at the Drug Store) and that also from a reputed drug store. Not many people know about these banned drugs and consume them causing a lot of damage to themselves.
DANGEROUS DRUGS HAVE BEEN GLOBALLY DISCARDED BUT ARE AVAILABLE IN INDIA. The most common ones are D cold, action 500 & Nimulid.
ANALGIN:
This is a pain-killer. Reason for ban: Bone marrow depression.
Brand name : Novalgin
CISAPRIDE:
Acidity, constipation. Reason for ban : irregular heartbeat
Brand name : Ciza, Syspride
DROPERIDOL:
Anti-depressant. Reason for ban : Irregular heartbeat.
Brand name : Droperol
FURAZOLIDONE:
Antidiarrhoeal.. Reason for ban : Cancer.
Brand name : Furoxone, Lomofen
NIMESULIDE:
Painkiller, fever. Reason for ban : Liver failure.
Brand name : Nise, Nimulid
NITROFURAZONE:
Antibacterial cream.
Reason for ban :
Cancer..
Brand name : Furacin
PHENOLPHTHALEIN:
Laxative. Reason for ban : Cancer.
Brand name : Agarol
PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE:
cold and cough. Reason for ban : stroke.
Brand name : D'cold,Vicks Action-500
OXYPHENBUTAZONE:
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Reason for ban : Bone marrow depression.
Brand name : Sioril
PIPERAZINE:
Anti-worms. Reason for ban : Nerve damage.
Brand name : Piperazine
QUINIODOCHLOR:
Anti-diarrhoeal. Reason for ban : Damage to sight.
Brand name : Enteroquinol
--
Dr. Kaiser Jamil
Research Director
Indo American Cancer Institute & Research Centre
Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500034, A.P. India .
DANGEROUS DRUGS HAVE BEEN GLOBALLY DISCARDED BUT ARE AVAILABLE IN INDIA. The most common ones are D cold, action 500 & Nimulid.
ANALGIN:
This is a pain-killer. Reason for ban: Bone marrow depression.
Brand name : Novalgin
CISAPRIDE:
Acidity, constipation. Reason for ban : irregular heartbeat
Brand name : Ciza, Syspride
DROPERIDOL:
Anti-depressant. Reason for ban : Irregular heartbeat.
Brand name : Droperol
FURAZOLIDONE:
Antidiarrhoeal.. Reason for ban : Cancer.
Brand name : Furoxone, Lomofen
NIMESULIDE:
Painkiller, fever. Reason for ban : Liver failure.
Brand name : Nise, Nimulid
NITROFURAZONE:
Antibacterial cream.
Reason for ban :
Cancer..
Brand name : Furacin
PHENOLPHTHALEIN:
Laxative. Reason for ban : Cancer.
Brand name : Agarol
PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE:
cold and cough. Reason for ban : stroke.
Brand name : D'cold,Vicks Action-500
OXYPHENBUTAZONE:
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Reason for ban : Bone marrow depression.
Brand name : Sioril
PIPERAZINE:
Anti-worms. Reason for ban : Nerve damage.
Brand name : Piperazine
QUINIODOCHLOR:
Anti-diarrhoeal. Reason for ban : Damage to sight.
Brand name : Enteroquinol
--
Dr. Kaiser Jamil
Research Director
Indo American Cancer Institute & Research Centre
Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500034, A.P. India .
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The Comparative Anatomy of Eating by Milton R. Mills, M.D.
The Comparative Anatomy of Eating
by Milton R. Mills, M.D.
(Source : http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/2062/ana.HTML)
Humans are most often described as "omnivores". This classification is based on the "observation" that humans generally eat a wide variety of plant and animal foods. However, culture, custom and training are confounding variables when looking at human dietary practices. Thus, "observation" is not the best technique to use when trying to identify the most "natural" diet for humans. While most humans are clearly "behavioral" omnivores, the question still remains as to whether humans are anatomically suited for a diet that includes animal as well as plant foods.
A better and more objective technique is to look at human anatomy and physiology. Mammals are anatomically and physiologically adapted to procure and consume particular kinds of diets. (It is common practice when examining fossils of extinct mammals to examine anatomical features to deduce the animal's probable diet.) Therefore, we can look at mammalian carnivores, herbivores (plant-eaters) and omnivores to see which anatomical and physiological features are associated with each kind of diet. Then we can look at human anatomy and physiology to see in which group we belong.
Oral Cavity
Carnivores have a wide mouth opening in relation to their head size. This confers obvious advantages in developing the forces used in seizing, killing and dismembering prey. Facial musculature is reduced since these muscles would hinder a wide gape, and play no part in the animal's preparation of food for swallowing. In all mammalian carnivores, the jaw joint is a simple hinge joint lying in the same plane as the teeth. This type of joint is extremely stable and acts as the pivot point for the "lever arms" formed by the upper and lower jaws. The primary muscle used for operating the jaw in carnivores is the temporalis muscle. This muscle is so massive in carnivores that it accounts for most of the bulk of the sides of the head (when you pet a dog, you are petting its temporalis muscles). The "angle" of the mandible (lower jaw) in carnivores is small. This is because the muscles (masseter and pterygoids) that attach there are of minor importance in these animals. The lower jaw of carnivores cannot move forward, and has very limited side-to-side motion. When the jaw of a carnivore closes, the blade-shaped cheek molars slide past each other to give a slicing motion that is very effective for shearing meat off bone.
The teeth of a carnivore are discretely spaced so as not to trap stringy debris. The incisors are short, pointed and prong-like and are used for grasping and shredding. The canines are greatly elongated and dagger-like for stabbing, tearing and killing prey. The molars (carnassials) are flattened and triangular with jagged edges such that they function like serrated-edged blades. Because of the hinge-type joint, when a carnivore closes its jaw, the cheek teeth come together in a back-to-front fashion giving a smooth cutting motion like the blades on a pair of shears.
The saliva of carnivorous animals does not contain digestive enzymes. When eating, a mammalian carnivore gorges itself rapidly and does not chew its food. Since proteolytic (protein-digesting) enzymes cannot be liberated in the mouth due to the danger of autodigestion (damaging the oral cavity), carnivores do not need to mix their food with saliva; they simply bite off huge chunks of meat and swallow them whole.
According to evolutionary theory, the anatomical features consistent with an herbivorous diet represent a more recently derived condition than that of the carnivore. Herbivorous mammals have well-developed facial musculature, fleshy lips, a relatively small opening into the oral cavity and a thickened, muscular tongue. The lips aid in the movement of food into the mouth and, along with the facial (cheek) musculature and tongue, assist in the chewing of food. In herbivores, the jaw joint has moved to position above the plane of the teeth. Although this type of joint is less stable than the hinge-type joint of the carnivore, it is much more mobile and allows the complex jaw motions needed when chewing plant foods. Additionally, this type of jaw joint allows the upper and lower cheek teeth to come together along the length of the jaw more or less at once when the mouth is closed in order to form grinding platforms. (This type of joint is so important to a plant-eating animal, that it is believed to have evolved at least 15 different times in various plant-eating mammalian species.) The angle of the mandible has expanded to provide a broad area of attachment for the well-developed masseter and pterygoid muscles (these are the major muscles of chewing in plant-eating animals). The temporalis muscle is small and of minor importance. The masseter and pterygoid muscles hold the mandible in a sling-like arrangement and swing the jaw from side-to-side. Accordingly, the lower jaw of plant-eating mammals has a pronounced sideways motion when eating. This lateral movement is necessary for the grinding motion of chewing.
The dentition of herbivores is quite varied depending on the kind of vegetation a particular species is adapted to eat. Although these animals differ in the types and numbers of teeth they posses, the various kinds of teeth when present, share common structural features. The incisors are broad, flattened and spade-like. Canines may be small as in horses, prominent as in hippos, pigs and some primates (these are thought to be used for defense) or absent altogether. The molars, in general, are squared and flattened on top to provide a grinding surface. The molars cannot vertically slide past one another in a shearing/slicing motion, but they do horizontally slide across one another to crush and grind. The surface features of the molars vary depending on the type of plant material the animal eats. The teeth of herbivorous animals are closely grouped so that the incisors form an efficient cropping/biting mechanism, and the upper and lower molars form extended platforms for crushing and grinding. The "walled-in" oral cavity has a lot of potential space that is realized during eating.
These animals carefully and methodically chew their food, pushing the food back and forth into the grinding teeth with the tongue and cheek muscles. This thorough process is necessary to mechanically disrupt plant cell walls in order to release the digestible intracellular contents and ensure thorough mixing of this material with their saliva. This is important because the saliva of plant-eating mammals often contains carbohydrate-digesting enzymes which begin breaking down food molecules while the food is still in the mouth.
Stomach and Small Intestine
Striking differences between carnivores and herbivores are seen in these organs. Carnivores have a capacious simple (single-chambered) stomach. The stomach volume of a carnivore represents 60-70% of the total capacity of the digestive system. Because meat is relatively easily digested, their small intestines (where absorption of food molecules takes place) are short -- about three to five or six times the body length. Since these animals average a kill only about once a week, a large stomach volume is advantageous because it allows the animals to quickly gorge themselves when eating, taking in as much meat as possible at one time which can then be digested later while resting. Additionally, the ability of the carnivore stomach to secrete hydrochloric acid is exceptional. Carnivores are able to keep their gastric pH down around 1-2 even with food present. This is necessary to facilitate protein breakdown and to kill the abundant dangerous bacteria often found in decaying flesh foods.
Because of the relative difficulty with which various kinds of plant foods are broken down (due to large amounts of indigestible fibers), herbivores have significantly longer and in some cases, far more elaborate guts than carnivores. Herbivorous animals that consume plants containing a high proportion of cellulose must "ferment" (digest by bacterial enzyme action) their food to obtain the nutrient value. They are classified as either "ruminants" (foregut fermenters) or hindgut fermenters. The ruminants are the plant-eating animals with the celebrated multiple-chambered stomachs. Herbivorous animals that eat a diet of relatively soft vegetation do not need a multiple-chambered stomach. They typically have a simple stomach, and a long small intestine. These animals ferment the difficult-to-digest fibrous portions of their diets in their hindguts (colons). Many of these herbivores increase the sophistication and efficiency of their GI tracts by including carbohydrate-digesting enzymes in their saliva. A multiple-stomach fermentation process in an animal which consumed a diet of soft, pulpy vegetation would be energetically wasteful. Nutrients and calories would be consumed by the fermenting bacteria and protozoa before reaching the small intestine for absorption. The small intestine of plant-eating animals tends to be very long (greater than 10 times body length) to allow adequate time and space for absorption of the nutrients.
Colon
The large intestine (colon) of carnivores is simple and very short, as its only purposes are to absorb salt and water. It is approximately the same diameter as the small intestine and, consequently, has a limited capacity to function as a reservoir. The colon is short and non-pouched. The muscle is distributed throughout the wall, giving the colon a smooth cylindrical appearance. Although a bacterial population is present in the colon of carnivores, its activities are essentially putrefactive.
In herbivorous animals, the large intestine tends to be a highly specialized organ involved in water and electrolyte absorption, vitamin production and absorption, and/or fermentation of fibrous plant materials. The colons of herbivores are usually wider than their small intestine and are relatively long. In some plant-eating mammals, the colon has a pouched appearance due to the arrangement of the muscle fibers in the intestinal wall. Additionally, in some herbivores the cecum (the first section of the colon) is quite large and serves as the primary or accessory fermentation site.
What About Omnivores?
One would expect an omnivore to show anatomical features which equip it to eat both animal and plant foods. According to evolutionary theory, carnivore gut structure is more primitive than herbivorous adaptations. Thus, an omnivore might be expected to be a carnivore which shows some gastrointestinal tract adaptations to an herbivorous diet.
This is exactly the situation we find in the Bear, Raccoon and certain members of the Canine families. (This discussion will be limited to bears because they are, in general, representative of the anatomical omnivores.) Bears are classified as carnivores but are classic anatomical omnivores. Although they eat some animal foods, bears are primarily herbivorous with 70-80% of their diet comprised of plant foods. (The one exception is the Polar bear which lives in the frozen, vegetation poor arctic and feeds primarily on seal blubber.) Bears cannot digest fibrous vegetation well, and therefore, are highly selective feeders. Their diet is dominated by primarily succulent lent herbage, tubers and berries. Many scientists believe the reason bears hibernate is because their chief food (succulent vegetation) not available in the cold northern winters. (Interestingly, Polar bears hibernate during the summer months when seals are unavailable.)
In general, bears exhibit anatomical features consistent with a carnivorous diet. The jaw joint of bears is in the same plane as the molar teeth. The temporalis muscle is massive, and the angle of the mandible is small corresponding to the limited role the pterygoid and masseter muscles play in operating the jaw. The small intestine is short ( less than five times body length) like that of the pure carnivores, and the colon is simple, smooth and short. The most prominent adaptation to an herbivorous diet in bears (and other "anatomical" omnivores) is the modification of their dentition. Bears retain the peg-like incisors, large canines and shearing premolars of a carnivore; but the molars have become squared with rounded cusps for crushing and grinding. Bears have not, however, adopted the flattened, blunt nails seen in most herbivores and retain the elongated, pointed claws of a carnivore.
An animal which captures, kills and eats prey must have the physical equipment which makes predation practical and efficient. Since bears include significant amounts of meat in their diet, they must retain the anatomical features that permit them to capture and kill prey animals. Hence, bears have a jaw structure, musculature and dentition which enable them to develop and apply the forces necessary to kill and dismember prey even though the majority of their diet is comprised of plant foods. Although an herbivore-style jaw joint (above the plane of the teeth) is a far more efficient joint for crushing and grinding vegetation and would potentially allow bears to exploit a wider range of plant foods in their diet, it is a much weaker joint than the hinge-style carnivore joint. The herbivore-style jaw joint is relatively easily dislocated and would not hold up well under the stresses of subduing struggling prey and/or crushing bones (nor would it allow the wide gape carnivores need). In the wild, an animal with a dislocated jaw would either soon starve to death or be eaten by something else and would, therefore, be selected against. A given species cannot adopt the weaker but more mobile and efficient herbivore-style joint until it has committed to an essentially plant-food diet test it risk jaw dislocation, death and ultimately, extinction.
What About Me?
The human gastrointestinal tract features the anatomical modifications consistent with an herbivorous diet. Humans have muscular lips and a small opening into the oral cavity. Many of the so-called "muscles of expression" are actually the muscles used in chewing. The muscular and agile tongue essential for eating, has adapted to use in speech and other things. The mandibular joint is flattened by a cartilaginous plate and is located well above the plane of the teeth. The temporalis muscle is reduced. The characteristic "square jaw" of adult males reflects the expanded angular process of the mandible and the enlarged masseter/pterygoid muscle group. The human mandible can move forward to engage the incisors, and side-to-side to crush and grind.
Human teeth are also similar to those found in other herbivores with the exception of the canines (the canines of some of the apes are elongated and are thought to be used for display and/or defense). Our teeth are rather large and usually abut against one another. The incisors are flat and spade-like, useful for peeling, snipping and biting relatively soft materials. The canines are neither serrated nor conical, but are flattened, blunt and small and function Like incisors. The premolars and molars are squarish, flattened and nodular, and used for crushing, grinding and pulping noncoarse foods.
Human saliva contains the carbohydrate-digesting enzyme, salivary amylase. This enzyme is responsible for the majority of starch digestion. The esophagus is narrow and suited to small, soft balls of thoroughly chewed food. Eating quickly, attempting to swallow a large amount of food or swallowing fibrous and/or poorly chewed food (meat is the most frequent culprit) often results in choking in humans.
Man's stomach is single-chambered, but only moderately acidic. (Clinically, a person presenting with a gastric pH less than 4-5 when there is food in the stomach is cause for concern.) The stomach volume represents about 21-27% of the total volume of the human GI tract. The stomach serves as a mixing and storage chamber, mixing and liquefying ingested foodstuffs and regulating their entry into the small intestine. The human small intestine is long, averaging from 10 to 11 times the body length. (Our small intestine averages 22 to 30 feet in length. Human body size is measured from the top of the head to end of the spine and averages between two to three feet in length in normal-sized individuals.)
The human colon demonstrates the pouched structure peculiar to herbivores. The distensible large intestine is larger in cross-section than the small intestine, and is relatively long. Man's colon is responsible for water and electrolyte absorption and vitamin production and absorption. There is also extensive bacterial fermentation of fibrous plant materials, with the production and absorption of significant amounts of food energy (volatile short-chain fatty acids) depending upon the fiber content of the diet. The extent to which the fermentation and absorption of metabolites takes place in the human colon has only recently begun to be investigated.
In conclusion, we see that human beings have the gastrointestinal tract structure of a "committed" herbivore. Humankind does not show the mixed structural features one expects and finds in anatomical omnivores such as bears and raccoons. Thus, from comparing the gastrointestinal tract of humans to that of carnivores, herbivores and omnivores we must conclude that humankind's GI tract is designed for a purely plant-food diet.
Summary
Facial Muscles
CARNIVORE: Reduced to allow wide mouth gape
HERBIVORE: Well-developed
OMNIVORE: Reduced
HUMAN: Well-developed
Jaw Type
CARNIVORE: Angle not expanded
HERBIVORE: Expanded angle
OMNIVORE: Angle not expanded
HUMAN: Expanded angle
Jaw Joint Location
CARNIVORE: On same plane as molar teeth
HERBIVORE: Above the plane of the molars
OMNIVORE: On same plane as molar teeth
HUMAN: Above the plane of the molars
Jaw Motion
CARNIVORE: Shearing; minimal side-to-side motion
HERBIVORE: No shear; good side-to-side, front-to-back
OMNIVORE: Shearing; minimal side-to-side
HUMAN: No shear; good side-to-side, front-to-back
Major Jaw Muscles
CARNIVORE: Temporalis
HERBIVORE: Masseter and pterygoids
OMNIVORE: Temporalis
HUMAN: Masseter and pterygoids
Mouth Opening vs. Head Size
CARNIVORE: Large
HERBIVORE: Small
OMNIVORE: Large
HUMAN: Small
Teeth: Incisors
CARNIVORE: Short and pointed
HERBIVORE: Broad, flattened and spade shaped
OMNIVORE: Short and pointed
HUMAN: Broad, flattened and spade shaped
Teeth: Canines
CARNIVORE: Long, sharp and curved
HERBIVORE: Dull and short or long (for defense), or none
OMNIVORE: Long, sharp and curved
HUMAN: Short and blunted
Teeth: Molars
CARNIVORE: Sharp, jagged and blade shaped
HERBIVORE: Flattened with cusps vs complex surface
OMNIVORE: Sharp blades and/or flattened
HUMAN: Flattened with nodular cusps
Chewing
CARNIVORE: None; swallows food whole
HERBIVORE: Extensive chewing necessary
OMNIVORE: Swallows food whole and/or simple crushing
HUMAN: Extensive chewing necessary
Saliva
CARNIVORE: No digestive enzymes
HERBIVORE: Carbohydrate digesting enzymes
OMNIVORE: No digestive enzymes
HUMAN: Carbohydrate digesting enzymes
Stomach Type
CARNIVORE: Simple
HERBIVORE: Simple or multiple chambers
OMNIVORE: Simple
HUMAN: Simple
Stomach Acidity
CARNIVORE: Less than or equal to pH 1 with food in stomach
HERBIVORE: pH 4 to 5 with food in stomach
OMNIVORE: Less than or equal to pH 1 with food in stomach
HUMAN: pH 4 to 5 with food in stomach
Stomach Capacity
CARNIVORE: 60% to 70% of total volume of digestive tract
HERBIVORE: Less than 30% of total volume of digestive tract
OMNIVORE: 60% to 70% of total volume of digestive tract
HUMAN: 21% to 27% of total volume of digestive tract
Length of Small Intestine
CARNIVORE: 3 to 6 times body length
HERBIVORE: 10 to more than 12 times body length
OMNIVORE: 4 to 6 times body length
HUMAN: 10 to 11 times body length
Colon
CARNIVORE: Simple, short and smooth
HERBIVORE: Long, complex; may be sacculated
OMNIVORE: Simple, short and smooth
HUMAN: Long, sacculated
Liver
CARNIVORE: Can detoxify vitamin A
HERBIVORE: Cannot detoxify vitamin A
OMNIVORE: Can detoxify vitamin A
HUMAN: Cannot detoxify vitamin A
Kidney
CARNIVORE: Extremely concentrated urine
HERBIVORE: Moderately concentrated urine
OMNIVORE: Extremely concentrated urine
HUMAN: Moderately concentrated urine
Nails
CARNIVORE: Sharp claws
HERBIVORE: Flattened nails or blunt hooves
OMNIVORE: Sharp claws
HUMAN: Flattened nails
by Milton R. Mills, M.D.
(Source : http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/2062/ana.HTML)
Humans are most often described as "omnivores". This classification is based on the "observation" that humans generally eat a wide variety of plant and animal foods. However, culture, custom and training are confounding variables when looking at human dietary practices. Thus, "observation" is not the best technique to use when trying to identify the most "natural" diet for humans. While most humans are clearly "behavioral" omnivores, the question still remains as to whether humans are anatomically suited for a diet that includes animal as well as plant foods.
A better and more objective technique is to look at human anatomy and physiology. Mammals are anatomically and physiologically adapted to procure and consume particular kinds of diets. (It is common practice when examining fossils of extinct mammals to examine anatomical features to deduce the animal's probable diet.) Therefore, we can look at mammalian carnivores, herbivores (plant-eaters) and omnivores to see which anatomical and physiological features are associated with each kind of diet. Then we can look at human anatomy and physiology to see in which group we belong.
Oral Cavity
Carnivores have a wide mouth opening in relation to their head size. This confers obvious advantages in developing the forces used in seizing, killing and dismembering prey. Facial musculature is reduced since these muscles would hinder a wide gape, and play no part in the animal's preparation of food for swallowing. In all mammalian carnivores, the jaw joint is a simple hinge joint lying in the same plane as the teeth. This type of joint is extremely stable and acts as the pivot point for the "lever arms" formed by the upper and lower jaws. The primary muscle used for operating the jaw in carnivores is the temporalis muscle. This muscle is so massive in carnivores that it accounts for most of the bulk of the sides of the head (when you pet a dog, you are petting its temporalis muscles). The "angle" of the mandible (lower jaw) in carnivores is small. This is because the muscles (masseter and pterygoids) that attach there are of minor importance in these animals. The lower jaw of carnivores cannot move forward, and has very limited side-to-side motion. When the jaw of a carnivore closes, the blade-shaped cheek molars slide past each other to give a slicing motion that is very effective for shearing meat off bone.
The teeth of a carnivore are discretely spaced so as not to trap stringy debris. The incisors are short, pointed and prong-like and are used for grasping and shredding. The canines are greatly elongated and dagger-like for stabbing, tearing and killing prey. The molars (carnassials) are flattened and triangular with jagged edges such that they function like serrated-edged blades. Because of the hinge-type joint, when a carnivore closes its jaw, the cheek teeth come together in a back-to-front fashion giving a smooth cutting motion like the blades on a pair of shears.
The saliva of carnivorous animals does not contain digestive enzymes. When eating, a mammalian carnivore gorges itself rapidly and does not chew its food. Since proteolytic (protein-digesting) enzymes cannot be liberated in the mouth due to the danger of autodigestion (damaging the oral cavity), carnivores do not need to mix their food with saliva; they simply bite off huge chunks of meat and swallow them whole.
According to evolutionary theory, the anatomical features consistent with an herbivorous diet represent a more recently derived condition than that of the carnivore. Herbivorous mammals have well-developed facial musculature, fleshy lips, a relatively small opening into the oral cavity and a thickened, muscular tongue. The lips aid in the movement of food into the mouth and, along with the facial (cheek) musculature and tongue, assist in the chewing of food. In herbivores, the jaw joint has moved to position above the plane of the teeth. Although this type of joint is less stable than the hinge-type joint of the carnivore, it is much more mobile and allows the complex jaw motions needed when chewing plant foods. Additionally, this type of jaw joint allows the upper and lower cheek teeth to come together along the length of the jaw more or less at once when the mouth is closed in order to form grinding platforms. (This type of joint is so important to a plant-eating animal, that it is believed to have evolved at least 15 different times in various plant-eating mammalian species.) The angle of the mandible has expanded to provide a broad area of attachment for the well-developed masseter and pterygoid muscles (these are the major muscles of chewing in plant-eating animals). The temporalis muscle is small and of minor importance. The masseter and pterygoid muscles hold the mandible in a sling-like arrangement and swing the jaw from side-to-side. Accordingly, the lower jaw of plant-eating mammals has a pronounced sideways motion when eating. This lateral movement is necessary for the grinding motion of chewing.
The dentition of herbivores is quite varied depending on the kind of vegetation a particular species is adapted to eat. Although these animals differ in the types and numbers of teeth they posses, the various kinds of teeth when present, share common structural features. The incisors are broad, flattened and spade-like. Canines may be small as in horses, prominent as in hippos, pigs and some primates (these are thought to be used for defense) or absent altogether. The molars, in general, are squared and flattened on top to provide a grinding surface. The molars cannot vertically slide past one another in a shearing/slicing motion, but they do horizontally slide across one another to crush and grind. The surface features of the molars vary depending on the type of plant material the animal eats. The teeth of herbivorous animals are closely grouped so that the incisors form an efficient cropping/biting mechanism, and the upper and lower molars form extended platforms for crushing and grinding. The "walled-in" oral cavity has a lot of potential space that is realized during eating.
These animals carefully and methodically chew their food, pushing the food back and forth into the grinding teeth with the tongue and cheek muscles. This thorough process is necessary to mechanically disrupt plant cell walls in order to release the digestible intracellular contents and ensure thorough mixing of this material with their saliva. This is important because the saliva of plant-eating mammals often contains carbohydrate-digesting enzymes which begin breaking down food molecules while the food is still in the mouth.
Stomach and Small Intestine
Striking differences between carnivores and herbivores are seen in these organs. Carnivores have a capacious simple (single-chambered) stomach. The stomach volume of a carnivore represents 60-70% of the total capacity of the digestive system. Because meat is relatively easily digested, their small intestines (where absorption of food molecules takes place) are short -- about three to five or six times the body length. Since these animals average a kill only about once a week, a large stomach volume is advantageous because it allows the animals to quickly gorge themselves when eating, taking in as much meat as possible at one time which can then be digested later while resting. Additionally, the ability of the carnivore stomach to secrete hydrochloric acid is exceptional. Carnivores are able to keep their gastric pH down around 1-2 even with food present. This is necessary to facilitate protein breakdown and to kill the abundant dangerous bacteria often found in decaying flesh foods.
Because of the relative difficulty with which various kinds of plant foods are broken down (due to large amounts of indigestible fibers), herbivores have significantly longer and in some cases, far more elaborate guts than carnivores. Herbivorous animals that consume plants containing a high proportion of cellulose must "ferment" (digest by bacterial enzyme action) their food to obtain the nutrient value. They are classified as either "ruminants" (foregut fermenters) or hindgut fermenters. The ruminants are the plant-eating animals with the celebrated multiple-chambered stomachs. Herbivorous animals that eat a diet of relatively soft vegetation do not need a multiple-chambered stomach. They typically have a simple stomach, and a long small intestine. These animals ferment the difficult-to-digest fibrous portions of their diets in their hindguts (colons). Many of these herbivores increase the sophistication and efficiency of their GI tracts by including carbohydrate-digesting enzymes in their saliva. A multiple-stomach fermentation process in an animal which consumed a diet of soft, pulpy vegetation would be energetically wasteful. Nutrients and calories would be consumed by the fermenting bacteria and protozoa before reaching the small intestine for absorption. The small intestine of plant-eating animals tends to be very long (greater than 10 times body length) to allow adequate time and space for absorption of the nutrients.
Colon
The large intestine (colon) of carnivores is simple and very short, as its only purposes are to absorb salt and water. It is approximately the same diameter as the small intestine and, consequently, has a limited capacity to function as a reservoir. The colon is short and non-pouched. The muscle is distributed throughout the wall, giving the colon a smooth cylindrical appearance. Although a bacterial population is present in the colon of carnivores, its activities are essentially putrefactive.
In herbivorous animals, the large intestine tends to be a highly specialized organ involved in water and electrolyte absorption, vitamin production and absorption, and/or fermentation of fibrous plant materials. The colons of herbivores are usually wider than their small intestine and are relatively long. In some plant-eating mammals, the colon has a pouched appearance due to the arrangement of the muscle fibers in the intestinal wall. Additionally, in some herbivores the cecum (the first section of the colon) is quite large and serves as the primary or accessory fermentation site.
What About Omnivores?
One would expect an omnivore to show anatomical features which equip it to eat both animal and plant foods. According to evolutionary theory, carnivore gut structure is more primitive than herbivorous adaptations. Thus, an omnivore might be expected to be a carnivore which shows some gastrointestinal tract adaptations to an herbivorous diet.
This is exactly the situation we find in the Bear, Raccoon and certain members of the Canine families. (This discussion will be limited to bears because they are, in general, representative of the anatomical omnivores.) Bears are classified as carnivores but are classic anatomical omnivores. Although they eat some animal foods, bears are primarily herbivorous with 70-80% of their diet comprised of plant foods. (The one exception is the Polar bear which lives in the frozen, vegetation poor arctic and feeds primarily on seal blubber.) Bears cannot digest fibrous vegetation well, and therefore, are highly selective feeders. Their diet is dominated by primarily succulent lent herbage, tubers and berries. Many scientists believe the reason bears hibernate is because their chief food (succulent vegetation) not available in the cold northern winters. (Interestingly, Polar bears hibernate during the summer months when seals are unavailable.)
In general, bears exhibit anatomical features consistent with a carnivorous diet. The jaw joint of bears is in the same plane as the molar teeth. The temporalis muscle is massive, and the angle of the mandible is small corresponding to the limited role the pterygoid and masseter muscles play in operating the jaw. The small intestine is short ( less than five times body length) like that of the pure carnivores, and the colon is simple, smooth and short. The most prominent adaptation to an herbivorous diet in bears (and other "anatomical" omnivores) is the modification of their dentition. Bears retain the peg-like incisors, large canines and shearing premolars of a carnivore; but the molars have become squared with rounded cusps for crushing and grinding. Bears have not, however, adopted the flattened, blunt nails seen in most herbivores and retain the elongated, pointed claws of a carnivore.
An animal which captures, kills and eats prey must have the physical equipment which makes predation practical and efficient. Since bears include significant amounts of meat in their diet, they must retain the anatomical features that permit them to capture and kill prey animals. Hence, bears have a jaw structure, musculature and dentition which enable them to develop and apply the forces necessary to kill and dismember prey even though the majority of their diet is comprised of plant foods. Although an herbivore-style jaw joint (above the plane of the teeth) is a far more efficient joint for crushing and grinding vegetation and would potentially allow bears to exploit a wider range of plant foods in their diet, it is a much weaker joint than the hinge-style carnivore joint. The herbivore-style jaw joint is relatively easily dislocated and would not hold up well under the stresses of subduing struggling prey and/or crushing bones (nor would it allow the wide gape carnivores need). In the wild, an animal with a dislocated jaw would either soon starve to death or be eaten by something else and would, therefore, be selected against. A given species cannot adopt the weaker but more mobile and efficient herbivore-style joint until it has committed to an essentially plant-food diet test it risk jaw dislocation, death and ultimately, extinction.
What About Me?
The human gastrointestinal tract features the anatomical modifications consistent with an herbivorous diet. Humans have muscular lips and a small opening into the oral cavity. Many of the so-called "muscles of expression" are actually the muscles used in chewing. The muscular and agile tongue essential for eating, has adapted to use in speech and other things. The mandibular joint is flattened by a cartilaginous plate and is located well above the plane of the teeth. The temporalis muscle is reduced. The characteristic "square jaw" of adult males reflects the expanded angular process of the mandible and the enlarged masseter/pterygoid muscle group. The human mandible can move forward to engage the incisors, and side-to-side to crush and grind.
Human teeth are also similar to those found in other herbivores with the exception of the canines (the canines of some of the apes are elongated and are thought to be used for display and/or defense). Our teeth are rather large and usually abut against one another. The incisors are flat and spade-like, useful for peeling, snipping and biting relatively soft materials. The canines are neither serrated nor conical, but are flattened, blunt and small and function Like incisors. The premolars and molars are squarish, flattened and nodular, and used for crushing, grinding and pulping noncoarse foods.
Human saliva contains the carbohydrate-digesting enzyme, salivary amylase. This enzyme is responsible for the majority of starch digestion. The esophagus is narrow and suited to small, soft balls of thoroughly chewed food. Eating quickly, attempting to swallow a large amount of food or swallowing fibrous and/or poorly chewed food (meat is the most frequent culprit) often results in choking in humans.
Man's stomach is single-chambered, but only moderately acidic. (Clinically, a person presenting with a gastric pH less than 4-5 when there is food in the stomach is cause for concern.) The stomach volume represents about 21-27% of the total volume of the human GI tract. The stomach serves as a mixing and storage chamber, mixing and liquefying ingested foodstuffs and regulating their entry into the small intestine. The human small intestine is long, averaging from 10 to 11 times the body length. (Our small intestine averages 22 to 30 feet in length. Human body size is measured from the top of the head to end of the spine and averages between two to three feet in length in normal-sized individuals.)
The human colon demonstrates the pouched structure peculiar to herbivores. The distensible large intestine is larger in cross-section than the small intestine, and is relatively long. Man's colon is responsible for water and electrolyte absorption and vitamin production and absorption. There is also extensive bacterial fermentation of fibrous plant materials, with the production and absorption of significant amounts of food energy (volatile short-chain fatty acids) depending upon the fiber content of the diet. The extent to which the fermentation and absorption of metabolites takes place in the human colon has only recently begun to be investigated.
In conclusion, we see that human beings have the gastrointestinal tract structure of a "committed" herbivore. Humankind does not show the mixed structural features one expects and finds in anatomical omnivores such as bears and raccoons. Thus, from comparing the gastrointestinal tract of humans to that of carnivores, herbivores and omnivores we must conclude that humankind's GI tract is designed for a purely plant-food diet.
Summary
Facial Muscles
CARNIVORE: Reduced to allow wide mouth gape
HERBIVORE: Well-developed
OMNIVORE: Reduced
HUMAN: Well-developed
Jaw Type
CARNIVORE: Angle not expanded
HERBIVORE: Expanded angle
OMNIVORE: Angle not expanded
HUMAN: Expanded angle
Jaw Joint Location
CARNIVORE: On same plane as molar teeth
HERBIVORE: Above the plane of the molars
OMNIVORE: On same plane as molar teeth
HUMAN: Above the plane of the molars
Jaw Motion
CARNIVORE: Shearing; minimal side-to-side motion
HERBIVORE: No shear; good side-to-side, front-to-back
OMNIVORE: Shearing; minimal side-to-side
HUMAN: No shear; good side-to-side, front-to-back
Major Jaw Muscles
CARNIVORE: Temporalis
HERBIVORE: Masseter and pterygoids
OMNIVORE: Temporalis
HUMAN: Masseter and pterygoids
Mouth Opening vs. Head Size
CARNIVORE: Large
HERBIVORE: Small
OMNIVORE: Large
HUMAN: Small
Teeth: Incisors
CARNIVORE: Short and pointed
HERBIVORE: Broad, flattened and spade shaped
OMNIVORE: Short and pointed
HUMAN: Broad, flattened and spade shaped
Teeth: Canines
CARNIVORE: Long, sharp and curved
HERBIVORE: Dull and short or long (for defense), or none
OMNIVORE: Long, sharp and curved
HUMAN: Short and blunted
Teeth: Molars
CARNIVORE: Sharp, jagged and blade shaped
HERBIVORE: Flattened with cusps vs complex surface
OMNIVORE: Sharp blades and/or flattened
HUMAN: Flattened with nodular cusps
Chewing
CARNIVORE: None; swallows food whole
HERBIVORE: Extensive chewing necessary
OMNIVORE: Swallows food whole and/or simple crushing
HUMAN: Extensive chewing necessary
Saliva
CARNIVORE: No digestive enzymes
HERBIVORE: Carbohydrate digesting enzymes
OMNIVORE: No digestive enzymes
HUMAN: Carbohydrate digesting enzymes
Stomach Type
CARNIVORE: Simple
HERBIVORE: Simple or multiple chambers
OMNIVORE: Simple
HUMAN: Simple
Stomach Acidity
CARNIVORE: Less than or equal to pH 1 with food in stomach
HERBIVORE: pH 4 to 5 with food in stomach
OMNIVORE: Less than or equal to pH 1 with food in stomach
HUMAN: pH 4 to 5 with food in stomach
Stomach Capacity
CARNIVORE: 60% to 70% of total volume of digestive tract
HERBIVORE: Less than 30% of total volume of digestive tract
OMNIVORE: 60% to 70% of total volume of digestive tract
HUMAN: 21% to 27% of total volume of digestive tract
Length of Small Intestine
CARNIVORE: 3 to 6 times body length
HERBIVORE: 10 to more than 12 times body length
OMNIVORE: 4 to 6 times body length
HUMAN: 10 to 11 times body length
Colon
CARNIVORE: Simple, short and smooth
HERBIVORE: Long, complex; may be sacculated
OMNIVORE: Simple, short and smooth
HUMAN: Long, sacculated
Liver
CARNIVORE: Can detoxify vitamin A
HERBIVORE: Cannot detoxify vitamin A
OMNIVORE: Can detoxify vitamin A
HUMAN: Cannot detoxify vitamin A
Kidney
CARNIVORE: Extremely concentrated urine
HERBIVORE: Moderately concentrated urine
OMNIVORE: Extremely concentrated urine
HUMAN: Moderately concentrated urine
Nails
CARNIVORE: Sharp claws
HERBIVORE: Flattened nails or blunt hooves
OMNIVORE: Sharp claws
HUMAN: Flattened nails
ADDRESSES AT THE PARLIAMENT OF RELIGIONS
RESPONSE TO WELCOME
Chicago, September 11, 1893
Sisters and Brothers of America,
It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions, and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.
My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honor of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration. I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: "As the different streams having their sources in different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee."
The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: "Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me." Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.
ADDRESS AT THE FINAL SESSION
Chicago, September 27, 1893
The World's Parliament of Religions has become an accomplished fact, and the merciful Father has helped those who laboured to bring it into existence, and crowned with success their most unselfish labour.
My thanks to those noble souls whose large hearts and love of truth first dreamed this wonderful dream and then realized it. My thanks to the shower of liberal sentiments that has overflowed this platform. My thanks to this enlightened audience for their uniform kindness to me and for their appreciation of every thought that tends to smooth the friction of religions. A few jarring notes were heard from time to time in this harmony. My special thanks to them, for they have, by their striking contrast, made general harmony the sweeter.
Much has been said of the common ground of religious unity. I am not going just now to venture my own theory. But if any one here hopes that this unity will come by the triumph of any one of the religions and the destruction of the others, to him I say, "Brother, yours is an impossible hope." Do I wish that the Christian would become Hindu? God forbid. Do I wish that the Hindu or Buddhist would become Christian? God forbid.
The seed is put in the ground, and earth and air and water are placed around it. Does the seed become the earth, or the air, or the water? No. It becomes a plant. It develops after the law of its own growth, assimilates the air, the earth, and the water, converts them into plant substance, and grows into a plant.
Similar is the case with religion. The Christian is not to become a Hindu or a Buddhist, nor a Hindu or a Buddhist to become a Christian. But each must assimilate the spirit of the others and yet preserve his individuality and grow according to his own law of growth.
If the Parliament of Religions has shown anything to the world, it is this: It has proved to the world that holiness, purity and charity are not the exclusive possessions of any church in the world, and that every system has produced men and women of the most exalted character. In the face of this evidence, if anybody dreams of the exclusive survival of his own religion and the destruction of the others, I pity him from the bottom of my heart, and point out to him that upon the banner of every religion will soon be written in spite of resistance: "Help and not fight," "Assimilation and not Destruction," "Harmony and Peace and not Dissension."
Chicago, September 11, 1893
Sisters and Brothers of America,
It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions, and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.
My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honor of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration. I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: "As the different streams having their sources in different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee."
The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: "Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me." Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.
ADDRESS AT THE FINAL SESSION
Chicago, September 27, 1893
The World's Parliament of Religions has become an accomplished fact, and the merciful Father has helped those who laboured to bring it into existence, and crowned with success their most unselfish labour.
My thanks to those noble souls whose large hearts and love of truth first dreamed this wonderful dream and then realized it. My thanks to the shower of liberal sentiments that has overflowed this platform. My thanks to this enlightened audience for their uniform kindness to me and for their appreciation of every thought that tends to smooth the friction of religions. A few jarring notes were heard from time to time in this harmony. My special thanks to them, for they have, by their striking contrast, made general harmony the sweeter.
Much has been said of the common ground of religious unity. I am not going just now to venture my own theory. But if any one here hopes that this unity will come by the triumph of any one of the religions and the destruction of the others, to him I say, "Brother, yours is an impossible hope." Do I wish that the Christian would become Hindu? God forbid. Do I wish that the Hindu or Buddhist would become Christian? God forbid.
The seed is put in the ground, and earth and air and water are placed around it. Does the seed become the earth, or the air, or the water? No. It becomes a plant. It develops after the law of its own growth, assimilates the air, the earth, and the water, converts them into plant substance, and grows into a plant.
Similar is the case with religion. The Christian is not to become a Hindu or a Buddhist, nor a Hindu or a Buddhist to become a Christian. But each must assimilate the spirit of the others and yet preserve his individuality and grow according to his own law of growth.
If the Parliament of Religions has shown anything to the world, it is this: It has proved to the world that holiness, purity and charity are not the exclusive possessions of any church in the world, and that every system has produced men and women of the most exalted character. In the face of this evidence, if anybody dreams of the exclusive survival of his own religion and the destruction of the others, I pity him from the bottom of my heart, and point out to him that upon the banner of every religion will soon be written in spite of resistance: "Help and not fight," "Assimilation and not Destruction," "Harmony and Peace and not Dissension."
VIVEKANANDA IN AMERICA
On the occasion of America's Bicentennial Celebration in 1976, the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C., mounted a large portrait of Swami Vivekananda as part of its exhibition "Abroad in America: Visitors to the New Nation," which paid tribute to the great personalities who visited America from abroad and made a deep impression on the American mind. Among those honored in the exhibition, some influenced art or literature, some science, education or social reform. But Swami Vivekananda touched the very soul of American people. The commemorative volume of the exhibition says: "The Swami charmed the audiences with his magical oratory, and left an indelible mark on America's spiritual development." This is no exaggeration. Swami Vivekananda was the first Hindu monk from India ever to visit America. Guided solely by the will of Providence, he embarked on this journey to the new world. The unknown wandering monk, lost in the streets of Chicago, suddenly became famous after his first day's brief address before the Parliament. A select audience of nearly 7,000 enlightened representatives of different branches of American thought became thrilled to hear his message and welcomed him with sustained and thunderous applause. He captured the hearts of the American people. Crowds gathered in the streets of Chicago to see the picture posters of Swami Vivekananda placed on billboards around the city, and lecture bureaus vied with one another to enlist him for lectures in different cities. Leading newspapers and journals published his words in bold letters. Some of these newspapers described him as the "cyclonic Hindu," some as "prince among men" or "Brahmin monk," while others chose to designate him by such epithets as "warrior prophet" and "militant mystic." Contemporary leaders of American thought who met him were entranced by the radiance of his spiritual personality and his powerful message. Professor John Henry Wright of Harvard University told Swami Vivekananda: "To ask you, Swami, for your credentials is like asking the sun about its right to shine." After hearing Swami Vivekananda, the correspondent of one journal wrote: "The impertinence of sending half-educated theological students to instruct the wise and erudite Orientals was never brought home to an English-speaking audience more forcibly." Professor William James referred to Swami Vivekananda as "the paragon of Vedantists." The Parliament of Religions, which was an afterthought of the planners of the Columbian Exposition, became a focus of historic importance because it served as a pulpit for the presentation of the message of Swami Vivekananda to the American public. Recalling this event, Romain Rolland wrote: "His strength and beauty, the grace and dignity of his bearing, the dark light of his eyes, his imposing appearance, and from the moment he began to speak, the splendid music of his rich deep voice enthralled the vast audience.... The thought of this warrior prophet of India left a deep mark upon the United States." America thus had the blessing of directly hearing a person of the stature of Buddha, radiating purity, compassion, and love.
The message of Swami Vivekananda was the message of Vedanta -- a spiritual teaching that again and again saved India during periods of decline and crisis. The keynote of this message is: "Truth is one: Sages call it by various names." Its four cardinal points are non-duality of the Godhead, divinity of the soul, oneness of existence, and harmony of religions. Religion, in the light of Vedanta, is the manifestation of the divinity already in man. The central theme of Vedanta is harmony of religions. This spiritual harmony is to be realized by deepening our spiritual consciousness. Vedanta asks a Christian to be a true Christian, a Hindu a true Hindu, a Buddhist a true Buddhist, a Jew a true Jew, Moslem a true Moslem. The message was timely and powerful. America had received a rude shock from the Civil War and its aftermath. Science had already shaken the very roots of religious beliefs and dogmas, and the ideas of Darwin were challenging conventional American thought and religion. Americans were looking for a philosophy that could harmonize science with humanism and mystical experience, and Swami Vivekananda's words gave them hope for the fulfillment of their spiritual aspirations. The message was powerful not because of its dialectical superiority or philosophical subtlety, but because of the personality of Swami Vivekananda. The message was an ancient one, but it bore a fire of conviction that was new. One familiar with the life of Swami Vivekananda will recall that his Master, Sri Ramakrishna, saw in him the power and potentiality of a great world teacher. Before the Master passed away, he prophesied: "Narendra (Swami Vivekananda) will teach others ….. Very soon he will shake the world by his intellectual and spiritual powers."
The news of Swami Vivekananda’s success in America soon reached the shores of India and spread like wildfire. The country, lost in the slumber of inertia, woke up with its new vigor and confidence, and a spiritual renaissance was set into motion that would propel India to great intellectual and social development. Today Swami Vivekananda is regarded as the "patriot prophet" of new India. His words carry the power of inspiration and transformation.
Swami Vivekananda indicated Vedanta is the future religion of mankind. With his prophetic vision, he predicted that modern science and education would break down the barriers between nations and prepare the ground for the fulfillment of the age-old dream of one united world. But one world is possible only when there is one common Soul that transcends the limitations of race, culture, and religious denominations. Swami Vivekananda presents before humanity the World-Soul of Vedanta, the non-dual, nameless and formless all-pervading Pure Spirit that alone can make the dream of one world a reality. He foresaw a new world order in which science and religion would cooperate, mysticism would combine with humanism and spiritual harmony would replace religious dissension. His final words at the Chicago Parliament of Religions were, "Upon the banner of every religion will soon be written in spite of resistance 'Help and not Fight,' 'Assimilation and not Destruction,' 'Harmony and Peace and not Dissension.'" At a time when world peace is being maintained by continuous wars, divisiveness is glorified at the expense of unity, and the human soul is being buried beneath the debris of brutality, violence and hatred, the words of Swami Vivekananda give us assurance -- an assurance that we are not living the last days of our destiny and that the light of the Divine, shining in every heart, will triumph over the forces of darkness.
- Swami Adiswarananda
Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York
The message of Swami Vivekananda was the message of Vedanta -- a spiritual teaching that again and again saved India during periods of decline and crisis. The keynote of this message is: "Truth is one: Sages call it by various names." Its four cardinal points are non-duality of the Godhead, divinity of the soul, oneness of existence, and harmony of religions. Religion, in the light of Vedanta, is the manifestation of the divinity already in man. The central theme of Vedanta is harmony of religions. This spiritual harmony is to be realized by deepening our spiritual consciousness. Vedanta asks a Christian to be a true Christian, a Hindu a true Hindu, a Buddhist a true Buddhist, a Jew a true Jew, Moslem a true Moslem. The message was timely and powerful. America had received a rude shock from the Civil War and its aftermath. Science had already shaken the very roots of religious beliefs and dogmas, and the ideas of Darwin were challenging conventional American thought and religion. Americans were looking for a philosophy that could harmonize science with humanism and mystical experience, and Swami Vivekananda's words gave them hope for the fulfillment of their spiritual aspirations. The message was powerful not because of its dialectical superiority or philosophical subtlety, but because of the personality of Swami Vivekananda. The message was an ancient one, but it bore a fire of conviction that was new. One familiar with the life of Swami Vivekananda will recall that his Master, Sri Ramakrishna, saw in him the power and potentiality of a great world teacher. Before the Master passed away, he prophesied: "Narendra (Swami Vivekananda) will teach others ….. Very soon he will shake the world by his intellectual and spiritual powers."
The news of Swami Vivekananda’s success in America soon reached the shores of India and spread like wildfire. The country, lost in the slumber of inertia, woke up with its new vigor and confidence, and a spiritual renaissance was set into motion that would propel India to great intellectual and social development. Today Swami Vivekananda is regarded as the "patriot prophet" of new India. His words carry the power of inspiration and transformation.
Swami Vivekananda indicated Vedanta is the future religion of mankind. With his prophetic vision, he predicted that modern science and education would break down the barriers between nations and prepare the ground for the fulfillment of the age-old dream of one united world. But one world is possible only when there is one common Soul that transcends the limitations of race, culture, and religious denominations. Swami Vivekananda presents before humanity the World-Soul of Vedanta, the non-dual, nameless and formless all-pervading Pure Spirit that alone can make the dream of one world a reality. He foresaw a new world order in which science and religion would cooperate, mysticism would combine with humanism and spiritual harmony would replace religious dissension. His final words at the Chicago Parliament of Religions were, "Upon the banner of every religion will soon be written in spite of resistance 'Help and not Fight,' 'Assimilation and not Destruction,' 'Harmony and Peace and not Dissension.'" At a time when world peace is being maintained by continuous wars, divisiveness is glorified at the expense of unity, and the human soul is being buried beneath the debris of brutality, violence and hatred, the words of Swami Vivekananda give us assurance -- an assurance that we are not living the last days of our destiny and that the light of the Divine, shining in every heart, will triumph over the forces of darkness.
- Swami Adiswarananda
Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York
UNIVERSAL TEACHINGS OF SWAMI VIVEKANANDA
SEE GOD IN ALL
This is the gist of all worship - to be pure and to do good to others. He who sees Siva in the poor, in the weak, and in the diseased, really worships Siva, and if he sees Siva only in the image, his worship is but preliminary. He who has served and helped one poor man seeing Siva in him, without thinking of his cast, creed, or race, or anything, with him Siva is more pleased than with the man who sees Him only in temples.
GOD IS WITHIN YOU
It is impossible to find God outside of ourselves. Our own souls contribute all of the divinity that is outside of us. We are the greatest temple. The objectification is only a faint imitation of what we see within ourselves.
PERSEVERE IN YOUR SEARCH FOR GOD
To succeed, you must have tremendous perseverance, tremendous will. "I will drink the ocean," says the persevering soul, "at my will mountains will crumble up." Have that sort of energy, that sort of will, work hard, and you will reach the goal.
TRUST COMPLETELY IN GOD
Stand up for God; let the world go.
LOVE OF GOD IS ESSENTIAL
Giving up all other thoughts, with the whole mind day and night worship God. Thus being worshipped day and night, He reveals himself and makes His worshippers feel His presence.
This is the gist of all worship - to be pure and to do good to others. He who sees Siva in the poor, in the weak, and in the diseased, really worships Siva, and if he sees Siva only in the image, his worship is but preliminary. He who has served and helped one poor man seeing Siva in him, without thinking of his cast, creed, or race, or anything, with him Siva is more pleased than with the man who sees Him only in temples.
GOD IS WITHIN YOU
It is impossible to find God outside of ourselves. Our own souls contribute all of the divinity that is outside of us. We are the greatest temple. The objectification is only a faint imitation of what we see within ourselves.
PERSEVERE IN YOUR SEARCH FOR GOD
To succeed, you must have tremendous perseverance, tremendous will. "I will drink the ocean," says the persevering soul, "at my will mountains will crumble up." Have that sort of energy, that sort of will, work hard, and you will reach the goal.
TRUST COMPLETELY IN GOD
Stand up for God; let the world go.
LOVE OF GOD IS ESSENTIAL
Giving up all other thoughts, with the whole mind day and night worship God. Thus being worshipped day and night, He reveals himself and makes His worshippers feel His presence.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Units and Conversion Factors
Units and Conversion Factors
------------------------------------------
Length
1 centimeter (cm)
= 0.3937 inches
1 meter (m)
= 3.281 feet
1 kilometer (km)
= 0.6214 miles
1 inch (in)
= 2.540 centimeters
1 foot (ft) = 12 inches
= 0.3048 meters
1 mile = 5280 feet
= 1.609 kilometers
Area
1 square centimeter (cm2)
= 0.1550 square inches
1 square meter (m2)
= 10.76 square feet
1 hectare (ha) = 10,000 square meters
= 2.471 acres
1 square kilometer (km2)= 100 hectares
= 0.3861 square miles
1 square inch (in2)
= 6.452 square centimeters
1 square foot (ft2)
= 0.09290 square meters
1 acre = 43,560 square feet
= 0.4047 hectares
1 square mile = 640 acres
= 2.590 square kilometers
Volume
1 cubic centimeter (cm3) = 1 milliliter (ml)
= 0.06102 cubic inches
1 liter (l) = 1,000 cubic centimeters
= 0.2642 gallons (liquid, U.S.)
1 cubic meter (m3)= 1,000 liters
= 35.31 cubic feet
1 cubic inch (in3)
= 16.39 cubic centimeters
1 gallon (liquid, U.S.) =231.0 cubic inches
= 3.785 liters
1 cubic foot (ft3) = 7.481 gallons (liquid, U.S.)
= 0.02832 cubic meters
1 barrel (bbl) (oil, US) = 42 gallons (liquid, US)
= 159.0 liters
1 cord (U.S.) = 128.0 cubic feet
= 3.625 cubic meters
B-2
Weight
1 gram (g)
= 0.03527 ounces
1 kilogram (kg)
= 2.205 pounds
1 metric tonne (t) = 1,000 kilograms
= 1.1023 short tons (U.S.)
1 ounce (oz)
= 28.35 grams
1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces
= 0.4536 kilograms
1 short ton (U.S.) = 2,000 pounds
= 0.9072 metric tonnes
Energy
1 joule (J)
= 0.2388 calories (International Table)
1000 joules (J)
= 0.9479 Btu
1 kilowatthour (kWh) = 3.600 x 10
6
joules
= 3,412 British thermal units
1 calorie (International Table)
= 4.187 joules
1 British thermal unit (Btu) = 252.0 calories
= 1055 joules
1 quad = 1 x 10
15
British thermal units
= 2.931 x 10
11
kilowatthours
Power
1 watt (W) = 1 joule per second
= 3.412 British thermal units per hour
1 kilowatt (kW)
= 0.9478 British thermal units per second
= 1.341 horsepower (imperial)
1 British thermal unit per hour (Btu/h)
= 0.2931 watts
1 British thermal unit per second (Btu/s)
= 1.055 kilowatts
1 horsepower (hp) (imperial) = 0.7068 British
thermal units per second
= 0.7457 kilowatts
Temperature
From Centigrade(oC) to Fahrenheit(oF):
(oC x 9/5) + 32 = oF
From Fahrenheit(oF) to Centigrade(oC):
(oF - 32) x 5/9 = oC
B-3
Prefixes in the International System of Units
Multiplier Symbol Prefix
1018 E exa
1015 P peta
1012 T tera
109 G giga
106 M mega
103 k kilo
102 h hecto
101 da deca
10-1 d deci
10-2 c centi
10-3 m milli
10-6 μ micro
10-9 n nano
Approximate Carbon and Thermal Conversion Factors
Fuel Density
(kg/liter)
Carbon a
(kg C/GJ)
Energy
Coal (bituminous) 24.4 20.5 MMBtu/ton
23.8MJ/kg
Oil (crude) 0.744 18.9 5.8 MMBtu/Bbl
Natural Gas 1000 cubic feet =
19.18 kg
13.6 1025 Btu/cf
Ethanol 0.792 17.8 26.8 MJ/kg
Wood 0.7-0.8 NA 18-20 MJ/kg
a 1 kilogram of carbon is equivalent to 3.667 kgs. Of carbon dioxide measures at full molecular weightz
Length
1 centimeter (cm)
= 0.3937 inches
1 meter (m)
= 3.281 feet
1 kilometer (km)
= 0.6214 miles
1 inch (in)
= 2.540 centimeters
1 foot (ft) = 12 inches
= 0.3048 meters
1 mile = 5280 feet
= 1.609 kilometers
Area
1 square centimeter (cm2)
= 0.1550 square inches
1 square meter (m2)
= 10.76 square feet
1 hectare (ha) = 10,000 square meters
= 2.471 acres
1 square kilometer (km2)= 100 hectares
= 0.3861 square miles
1 square inch (in2)
= 6.452 square centimeters
1 square foot (ft2)
= 0.09290 square meters
1 acre = 43,560 square feet
= 0.4047 hectares
1 square mile = 640 acres
= 2.590 square kilometers
Volume
1 cubic centimeter (cm3) = 1 milliliter (ml)
= 0.06102 cubic inches
1 liter (l) = 1,000 cubic centimeters
= 0.2642 gallons (liquid, U.S.)
1 cubic meter (m3)= 1,000 liters
= 35.31 cubic feet
1 cubic inch (in3)
= 16.39 cubic centimeters
1 gallon (liquid, U.S.) =231.0 cubic inches
= 3.785 liters
1 cubic foot (ft3) = 7.481 gallons (liquid, U.S.)
= 0.02832 cubic meters
1 barrel (bbl) (oil, US) = 42 gallons (liquid, US)
= 159.0 liters
1 cord (U.S.) = 128.0 cubic feet
= 3.625 cubic meters
B-2
Weight
1 gram (g)
= 0.03527 ounces
1 kilogram (kg)
= 2.205 pounds
1 metric tonne (t) = 1,000 kilograms
= 1.1023 short tons (U.S.)
1 ounce (oz)
= 28.35 grams
1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces
= 0.4536 kilograms
1 short ton (U.S.) = 2,000 pounds
= 0.9072 metric tonnes
Energy
1 joule (J)
= 0.2388 calories (International Table)
1000 joules (J)
= 0.9479 Btu
1 kilowatthour (kWh) = 3.600 x 10
6
joules
= 3,412 British thermal units
1 calorie (International Table)
= 4.187 joules
1 British thermal unit (Btu) = 252.0 calories
= 1055 joules
1 quad = 1 x 10
15
British thermal units
= 2.931 x 10
11
kilowatthours
Power
1 watt (W) = 1 joule per second
= 3.412 British thermal units per hour
1 kilowatt (kW)
= 0.9478 British thermal units per second
= 1.341 horsepower (imperial)
1 British thermal unit per hour (Btu/h)
= 0.2931 watts
1 British thermal unit per second (Btu/s)
= 1.055 kilowatts
1 horsepower (hp) (imperial) = 0.7068 British
thermal units per second
= 0.7457 kilowatts
Temperature
From Centigrade(oC) to Fahrenheit(oF):
(oC x 9/5) + 32 = oF
From Fahrenheit(oF) to Centigrade(oC):
(oF - 32) x 5/9 = oC
B-3
Prefixes in the International System of Units
Multiplier Symbol Prefix
1018 E exa
1015 P peta
1012 T tera
109 G giga
106 M mega
103 k kilo
102 h hecto
101 da deca
10-1 d deci
10-2 c centi
10-3 m milli
10-6 μ micro
10-9 n nano
Approximate Carbon and Thermal Conversion Factors
Fuel Density
(kg/liter)
Carbon a
(kg C/GJ)
Energy
Coal (bituminous) 24.4 20.5 MMBtu/ton
23.8MJ/kg
Oil (crude) 0.744 18.9 5.8 MMBtu/Bbl
Natural Gas 1000 cubic feet =
19.18 kg
13.6 1025 Btu/cf
Ethanol 0.792 17.8 26.8 MJ/kg
Wood 0.7-0.8 NA 18-20 MJ/kg
a 1 kilogram of carbon is equivalent to 3.667 kgs. Of carbon dioxide measures at full molecular weightz
This e-mail is confidential and may be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately and delete this e-mail.
?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Friday, January 12, 2007
Thursday, October 19, 2006
HUMAN RELATION
A conversation.
My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the airport to see them off. In fact, my father had never traveled by air before,
so I just took this opportunity to make him experience the same. In spite of being asked to book tickets by train, I got them tickets on
Jet Airways.
The moment I handed over the tickets to him, he was surprised to see that I had booked them by air. The excitement was very apparent on his face,
waiting for the time of travel. Just like a school boy, he was preparing himself on that day and we all went to the airport, right from
using the trolley for his luggage, the baggage check-in and asking for window seat and waiting restlessly for the security check-in to happen.
He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I, too, was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things.
As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional and
it was not as if I had done something great but the fact that this meant a great deal to him.
When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me. But later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at my life.
As a child how many dreams our parents have made come true. Without understanding the financial situation, we ask for cricket bats, dresses, toys,
outings, etc. Irrespective of their affordability, they have catered to all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices they had to make
to accommodate many of our wishes? Did we ever say thanks for all that they have done for us?
Same way, today when it comes to our children, we always think that we should put them in a good school. Regardless of the amount of donation,
we will ensure that we will have to give the child the best, theme parks, toys, etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a
lot for our sake to see us happy, so it is our responsibility to ensure that their dreams are realized and what they failed to see when they
were young, it is our responsibility to ensure that they experience all those and their life is complete.
Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I have actually answered back without patience. When my daughter asks me something,
I have been very polite in answering. Now I realize how they would have felt at those moments. Let us realize that old age is a second childhood
and just as we take care of our children, the same attention and same care need to be given to our parents and elders.
Rather than my dad saying thank you to me, I would want to say sorry for making him wait so long for this small dream. I do realize how much
he has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to give the best possible attention to all their wishes.
Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also. They have
wishes, too. Take good care of
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Emotional Management
When someone is doing something or is about to do something, in a way we don't want it to be done and when we are not able to accept it, we become angry.
However, when someone is doing something or is about to do something, in a way we don't want it to be done - and we are able to accept it - We remain tolerant.
When someone has something which we don't have, or someone is able to produce the results which we are not able to produce - and we are not able to accept it - we become jealous.
When someone has something which we don't have or someone is able to produce the results which we are not able to produce and we are able to accept it we get inspired.
When Someone is present in our thoughts, but if not physically present and we are not able to accept it - We say 'I am missing you'.
When someone is present in our thoughts, but not physically present - and we are able to accept it - We say 'I am thinking of you'.
Then emotional equation is quite simple.
Something + Acceptance = Positive Emotion
Something + Non Acceptance = Negative Emotion
So, it is not 'Something' or 'someone' who is making us feel positive or negative, but it is our 'acceptance' or 'non acceptance' of something or someone, which is making us feel positive or negative.
It isn't the world but the quality of our response to the world (acceptance or non acceptance) that determines the quality of our emotions.
Next time we feel disturbed with a negative emotion, instead of asking who or what is disturbing us, we will examine who or what we are resisting (not accepting) that is causing this disturbance in us. We will replace resistance (non acceptance) with acceptance, and the negative emotion will turn into a positive one.
Emotional management begins by stopping to blame that 'something' or 'someone' and starting to take the responsibility to respond to life with 'acceptance'.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Easy Ways To Avoid Dandruff
(CBS) Dandruff is a very common condition of the scalp, reports medical contributor Dr. Emily Senay. It's estimated that it affects about one in three people. The skin on your head renews itself by shedding old skin. And that typically happens about every four weeks or so. But with dandruff, the process is sped up and there is an overgrowth of cells. These cells tend to clump together and absorb the oils produced in the hair follicle which can make the flakes even larger.
TRIGGERS FOR DANDRUFF
· OILY SCALP
Many people wrongly assume that it's a dry scalp that promotes dandruff but in fact, it's an oily scalp that's actually is a major trigger for dandruff.
· MICROORGANISMS
You may not want to hear this, but you have many microorganisms on your head. And your skin's secretions usually keep them in check. But if you have too many of them, it can lead to flaking.
· STRESS
This may surprise a lot of people but stress can actually contribute to dandruff. The reason is, is that when you are feeling anxious
your skin's secretions increase which impairs resistance to the microorganisms that we just spoke about.
· COLD WEATHER
Cold, dry weather can often make dandruff worse.
TIPS ON FIGHTING DANDRUFF
· SHAMPOO FREQUENTLY
For many people, just washing your hair more often with regular shampoo can decrease flakes. And be sure to rinse well.
· USE MEDICATED SHAMPOOS
There are several popular and very effective dandruff fighting shampoos on the market such as X-Seb -T , Selsun Blue, Head & Shoulders, Neutrogena T-Gel and Nizoral A-D. Now each of these shampoos contain a different active ingredient. For instance T-Gel contains Tar. Many people find relief from Tar based products but others don't. So if after using one brand of shampoo you find that the flakes aren't going away, try another brand.
· USE HAIR PRODUCTS SPARINGLY
An overuse of products such as mousses, gels and hairsprays can lead to the accumulation of oils on the hair and scalp.
· EXPOSE HAIR TO SUN
We are only talking about moderate exposure here, because as we all know, too much sun can lead to skin cancer. But what happens is that exposure to the sunlight may produce an anti-inflammatory effect, making your scalp less sensitive.
WHEN TO CONSULT A DOCTOR
If all of the above methods have failed, you'll want to contact your physician. He or she can prescribe shampoos that contain higher doses of dandruff fighting ingredients as well as topical solutions that contain cortisone.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
About Marital Relationships
About Relationships
1. It starts with you
The happier you are with yourself and your life, the more attractive you are to your partner. Another way to look at this is: if you were someone else, would you marry you? Start today to work on being the kind of person you would want to know, date, and marry. If you're not that kind of person, how can you expect your spouse to stay attracted or stay passionate?
2. There's you, there's him/her, and then there's we.
You don't have to give up your identity or be known as your spouse's partner.
It also doesn't work when two people each do their own thing without regard to their partner's wishes and feelings. Marriage is, and should be, more than cohabitation. As the marriage vows state, "two shall be as one". That "one" is neither you nor him. The "one" is a third entity: the relationship, the marriage, the "we".
The "we" is what you share, what you have in common, the nurturing that cannot be provided on your own. Think companionship, intimacy, and sharing.
3. Leave behind your emotional baggage
Are you really over your previous relationship? If not, you can't fully commit to your spouse. Likewise, if you are still Daddy's little girl or Mommy's boy, you are not in control of your own life. Therefore, you cannot fully enter into an adult relationship of mutual sharing and support. You can't be accountable to your spouse if you have to keep pleasing Mommy or Daddy.
4. Your marriage comes first
Marriage is the strongest bond between two people. Parents are here and one day they are gone. Children grow into adults and leave to start their own lives. Your spouse is only person who is meant to stay with you the rest of your time on this planet.
Women who say their children come first are usually unable to let their children grow up and become independent adults. Instead of a mature adult-adult relationship, the roles are forever adult-child. So the children never emotionally leave home and are forever dependent on the parent.
These women are always surprised when their mates get tired of being number two, and decide to leave for someone else who WILL put them first.
5. Your marriage is your top priority.
You didn't get married to commute two hours a day, work at the office 60 hours a week, and pay on a mortgage for 30 years. You probably got married to share your life, your hopes, your dreams-not your bills-with that special someone. During life's ups and especially during life's downs, keep in mind why you married in the first place. Not jobs, nor cars, nor your favorite sports team. At one time, your partner was the most important thing in this world to you. Act like it today and every day.
6. Don't compare
This holds true in your life as well as in your marriage. There will always be a couple that seems happier, wealthier, sexier, and more perfect than you two are. So what? Their happiness doesn't increase or diminish your happiness. Neither does their money, their jobs, their house, or their glamour. All that matters is whether you and your spouse have created a relationship that works for you.
7. Don't wonder "what if?"
Wondering what it would be like to be with another person-for a night or for a lifetime-is self-delusion and is really unfair to your spouse. You see other people socially when they are at their best. You see your spouse when he/she is at his best, her average, and sometimes at her worst. If you could swap mates, guess what? You'd see that person at his/her worst, and you probably wouldn't like what you see.
8. Realize that love can grow.
As much as you were in love when you got married, your love and commitment to each other can grow over the years. Marriage can get better, not worse, with time. The longer you've been married, the more history you have together.The triumphs and disappointments, the successes and the failures, all are part of sharing a life together. And that history is unique to you. No one else has that or can duplicate it. This is why a man who leaves his middle aged wife for a younger woman eventually wants to come back. With his wife he has a history-a shared past. With the new woman there is only the present.
9. Commitment means no matter what.
It's as simple as making the decision to be totally committed to your spouse and to the relationship. No matter what happens financially, or health wise, or otherwise. No matter what. Once the two of you have decided to stay "no matter what", there is no question of stay or go, yes or no. Now the emphasis is on problem solving. Write this down: all couples have problems. Happy couples learn to deal with their problems. Unhappy couples eventually just run away.
10. Believe that a happy marriage is not only possible, it's yours for the making.
It won't happen by itself. It takes intention, commitment, and practice. But the couples who have happy, blissful, and satisfying marriages are proof that it is possible. Just choose to be happy, and choose to be happily married.
About The Author
Alan Stafford, Certified Coach. "Helping Singles and Couples Find Love that Lasts a Lifetime". Subscribe to our newsletter at http://www.relationshipsuccessexperts.com for relationship tips and advice.
1. It starts with you
The happier you are with yourself and your life, the more attractive you are to your partner. Another way to look at this is: if you were someone else, would you marry you? Start today to work on being the kind of person you would want to know, date, and marry. If you're not that kind of person, how can you expect your spouse to stay attracted or stay passionate?
2. There's you, there's him/her, and then there's we.
You don't have to give up your identity or be known as your spouse's partner.
It also doesn't work when two people each do their own thing without regard to their partner's wishes and feelings. Marriage is, and should be, more than cohabitation. As the marriage vows state, "two shall be as one". That "one" is neither you nor him. The "one" is a third entity: the relationship, the marriage, the "we".
The "we" is what you share, what you have in common, the nurturing that cannot be provided on your own. Think companionship, intimacy, and sharing.
3. Leave behind your emotional baggage
Are you really over your previous relationship? If not, you can't fully commit to your spouse. Likewise, if you are still Daddy's little girl or Mommy's boy, you are not in control of your own life. Therefore, you cannot fully enter into an adult relationship of mutual sharing and support. You can't be accountable to your spouse if you have to keep pleasing Mommy or Daddy.
4. Your marriage comes first
Marriage is the strongest bond between two people. Parents are here and one day they are gone. Children grow into adults and leave to start their own lives. Your spouse is only person who is meant to stay with you the rest of your time on this planet.
Women who say their children come first are usually unable to let their children grow up and become independent adults. Instead of a mature adult-adult relationship, the roles are forever adult-child. So the children never emotionally leave home and are forever dependent on the parent.
These women are always surprised when their mates get tired of being number two, and decide to leave for someone else who WILL put them first.
5. Your marriage is your top priority.
You didn't get married to commute two hours a day, work at the office 60 hours a week, and pay on a mortgage for 30 years. You probably got married to share your life, your hopes, your dreams-not your bills-with that special someone. During life's ups and especially during life's downs, keep in mind why you married in the first place. Not jobs, nor cars, nor your favorite sports team. At one time, your partner was the most important thing in this world to you. Act like it today and every day.
6. Don't compare
This holds true in your life as well as in your marriage. There will always be a couple that seems happier, wealthier, sexier, and more perfect than you two are. So what? Their happiness doesn't increase or diminish your happiness. Neither does their money, their jobs, their house, or their glamour. All that matters is whether you and your spouse have created a relationship that works for you.
7. Don't wonder "what if?"
Wondering what it would be like to be with another person-for a night or for a lifetime-is self-delusion and is really unfair to your spouse. You see other people socially when they are at their best. You see your spouse when he/she is at his best, her average, and sometimes at her worst. If you could swap mates, guess what? You'd see that person at his/her worst, and you probably wouldn't like what you see.
8. Realize that love can grow.
As much as you were in love when you got married, your love and commitment to each other can grow over the years. Marriage can get better, not worse, with time. The longer you've been married, the more history you have together.The triumphs and disappointments, the successes and the failures, all are part of sharing a life together. And that history is unique to you. No one else has that or can duplicate it. This is why a man who leaves his middle aged wife for a younger woman eventually wants to come back. With his wife he has a history-a shared past. With the new woman there is only the present.
9. Commitment means no matter what.
It's as simple as making the decision to be totally committed to your spouse and to the relationship. No matter what happens financially, or health wise, or otherwise. No matter what. Once the two of you have decided to stay "no matter what", there is no question of stay or go, yes or no. Now the emphasis is on problem solving. Write this down: all couples have problems. Happy couples learn to deal with their problems. Unhappy couples eventually just run away.
10. Believe that a happy marriage is not only possible, it's yours for the making.
It won't happen by itself. It takes intention, commitment, and practice. But the couples who have happy, blissful, and satisfying marriages are proof that it is possible. Just choose to be happy, and choose to be happily married.
About The Author
Alan Stafford, Certified Coach. "Helping Singles and Couples Find Love that Lasts a Lifetime". Subscribe to our newsletter at http://www.relationshipsuccessexperts.com for relationship tips and advice.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Flying and the ear (factsheet)
The effects of flying on your ears and hearing
Many people, whether they are hearing or deaf, or they have tinnitus, find that flying can cause pain or discomfort in their ears, and temporary hearing loss. These side effects usually last only while you are flying and should get back to what is normal for you after a short time.
What causes pain and discomfort?
Pain or discomfort in your ears and temporary hearing loss during flying results from a difference between the air pressure in the part of your ear called the 'middle ear' and the atmospheric pressure of the plane. The middle ear is behind your eardrum, or tympanic membrane, and it contains the ossicles that conduct sound to the inner ear and nerve of hearing.
The space in the middle ear is normally filled with air at the same pressure as the surrounding air. Air reaches the middle ear through the eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat. The eustachian tube is closed for 95% of the time and only opens when you swallow or yawn: when this happens the air pressure on either side of the eardrum evens out.
After an aeroplane takes off, the pressure inside slowly drops. Usually this does not cause a problem as the air in the middle ear is at a relatively high pressure and gets blown down the eustachian tube.
You are most likely to get pain or discomfort, or hearing loss, when the plane comes down to land. During landing, the air in the middle ear is at a lower pressure than that in the plane. The eustachian tube may become blocked and the small muscles in the throat may not be able to open it. The resulting low pressure in the middle ear causes the eardrum to press inward, causing discomfort or pain, and temporary hearing loss. This small temporary reduction in your hearing may make a huge difference in your ability to understand speech if you already have a hearing loss. However, the blockage usually clears up by itself after a short time.
The inner ear and flying
Very occasionally, sudden decompression - a drop in air pressure - occurs in the plane. This can affect the inner ear and cause a sudden disturbance in your balance and hearing. Though this is extremely rare, if it happens to you, you should go to the accident and emergency department of the nearest hospital as quickly as possible to check for any damage and to get treatment.
If you develop any ear problems or conditions during or following a flight which do not clear up after a few hours, you should see your GP.
Reducing the effects of flying on your ear
You can do a number of things to reduce the effects of flying on your ear. Most of these help to help keep your eustachian tube open.
The eustachian tube does not open effectively when you are sleeping. Make sure you are awake before the plane begins its descent, which may start up to an hour before it lands.
Yawn, chew gum or suck on a hard sweet to encourage your eustachian tube to open.
Keep swallowing, using a glass of water or another drink, but not alcohol. Do this regularly; every 15 to 30 seconds if you need to. If this does not clear your ears, carry out the 'Valsalva manoeuvre': pinch your nose between your finger and thumb, and gently blow air down it with your mouth closed, without releasing the air. If you hear or feel air going into your ears then your eustachian tube is working well.
Make sure you are not dehydrated and that you have had plenty to drink. Do not drink alcohol.
Flying may be uncomfortable if you have a cold. When you get a cold or other infection around the nose and throat, the lining of the eustachian tube is swollen and gets blocked more easily. If you have to travel, ask your GP (family doctor) or local pharmacist for advice and ask about decongestants you can use. Decongestants reduce inflammation and relieve the blocked sensation. Many GPs recommend you use a decongestant spray about 20 minutes before you land. It is important not to use the spray for more than five days in a row.
Some people have reported that earplugs called EarPlanes® have helped them to fly comfortably. EarPlanes® are earplugs designed for flying. They have a small ventilation tube down the middle, which slows down the pressure change in the eardrum when the plane is pressurised and depressurised. However, so far, there has been no medical study to prove that EarPlanes® help people who normally get severe ear pain when flying. The use of ordinary soft earplugs is not recommended. You can buy EarPlanes® from RNID Sound Advantage (see "Buying equipment from RNID" for contact details) or try your high street pharmacy.
Tinnitus and flying
If you have tinnitus, you may find that flying is the one time when you are usually completely free of tinnitus because of the noise made by the engines and airflow around the plane. However, if your eustachian tubes are blocked, your tinnitus may seem temporarily louder. It should return to its previous level when your eustachian tubes become unblocked.
If you have tinnitus and hearing loss, you will find that it is often the 'straining to hear' that makes your tinnitus louder when on a plane. If you normally wear hearing aids, you should keep them on during your flight as removing them may make your tinnitus louder and more noticeable. Being anxious about flying may make your tinnitus worse: basic relaxation exercises during the flight may help you. For further information about relaxation exercises, see our factsheet "Tinnitus and relaxation".
Very rarely, the sound of plane engines can make your tinnitus worse.
If you are worried about the noise of the plane engines, book ahead and try and get a seat near the front of the plane, away from the engines. Sound generators that you wear can help to reduce any discomfort due to loud sounds such as engine noise. For more information about sound generators, see our factsheet "Equipment, sound therapy and tinnitus".
Grommets and flying
Flying is less likely to cause discomfort in a child or adult with a grommet in their ear. The grommet allows air in and out of the ear and reduces the stress on the eardrum that is caused by changes in air pressure in the plane. However, children who have a history of frequent ear infections or have had grommets in the past (but no longer have them) are occasionally at risk of perforation of the eardrum when flying. If you are worried about this, ask your GP.
If you have perforated eardrums as a result of infection or injury, flying is also less likely to cause discomfort. This is because any change in pressure can even out across the eardrum and does not depend on the eustachian tube working normally.
Flying after ear surgery
If you have any kind of ear surgery, always check first with your ear, nose and throat (ENT) consultant when it would be safe for you to fly.
Flying and anxiety
If you are anxious about the effects of flying on your ears and worried about flying generally, discuss your fears with your GP. Very rarely they may prescribe tranquillisers. Relaxation and breathing exercises can also be helpful for anxiety in general.
If your only worry is that flying may be harmful to your ears, in almost all cases you can go ahead and enjoy your flight. If your reason for flying is to take a holiday, you have something enjoyable and relaxing to look forward to!
Many people, whether they are hearing or deaf, or they have tinnitus, find that flying can cause pain or discomfort in their ears, and temporary hearing loss. These side effects usually last only while you are flying and should get back to what is normal for you after a short time.
What causes pain and discomfort?
Pain or discomfort in your ears and temporary hearing loss during flying results from a difference between the air pressure in the part of your ear called the 'middle ear' and the atmospheric pressure of the plane. The middle ear is behind your eardrum, or tympanic membrane, and it contains the ossicles that conduct sound to the inner ear and nerve of hearing.
The space in the middle ear is normally filled with air at the same pressure as the surrounding air. Air reaches the middle ear through the eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat. The eustachian tube is closed for 95% of the time and only opens when you swallow or yawn: when this happens the air pressure on either side of the eardrum evens out.
After an aeroplane takes off, the pressure inside slowly drops. Usually this does not cause a problem as the air in the middle ear is at a relatively high pressure and gets blown down the eustachian tube.
You are most likely to get pain or discomfort, or hearing loss, when the plane comes down to land. During landing, the air in the middle ear is at a lower pressure than that in the plane. The eustachian tube may become blocked and the small muscles in the throat may not be able to open it. The resulting low pressure in the middle ear causes the eardrum to press inward, causing discomfort or pain, and temporary hearing loss. This small temporary reduction in your hearing may make a huge difference in your ability to understand speech if you already have a hearing loss. However, the blockage usually clears up by itself after a short time.
The inner ear and flying
Very occasionally, sudden decompression - a drop in air pressure - occurs in the plane. This can affect the inner ear and cause a sudden disturbance in your balance and hearing. Though this is extremely rare, if it happens to you, you should go to the accident and emergency department of the nearest hospital as quickly as possible to check for any damage and to get treatment.
If you develop any ear problems or conditions during or following a flight which do not clear up after a few hours, you should see your GP.
Reducing the effects of flying on your ear
You can do a number of things to reduce the effects of flying on your ear. Most of these help to help keep your eustachian tube open.
The eustachian tube does not open effectively when you are sleeping. Make sure you are awake before the plane begins its descent, which may start up to an hour before it lands.
Yawn, chew gum or suck on a hard sweet to encourage your eustachian tube to open.
Keep swallowing, using a glass of water or another drink, but not alcohol. Do this regularly; every 15 to 30 seconds if you need to. If this does not clear your ears, carry out the 'Valsalva manoeuvre': pinch your nose between your finger and thumb, and gently blow air down it with your mouth closed, without releasing the air. If you hear or feel air going into your ears then your eustachian tube is working well.
Make sure you are not dehydrated and that you have had plenty to drink. Do not drink alcohol.
Flying may be uncomfortable if you have a cold. When you get a cold or other infection around the nose and throat, the lining of the eustachian tube is swollen and gets blocked more easily. If you have to travel, ask your GP (family doctor) or local pharmacist for advice and ask about decongestants you can use. Decongestants reduce inflammation and relieve the blocked sensation. Many GPs recommend you use a decongestant spray about 20 minutes before you land. It is important not to use the spray for more than five days in a row.
Some people have reported that earplugs called EarPlanes® have helped them to fly comfortably. EarPlanes® are earplugs designed for flying. They have a small ventilation tube down the middle, which slows down the pressure change in the eardrum when the plane is pressurised and depressurised. However, so far, there has been no medical study to prove that EarPlanes® help people who normally get severe ear pain when flying. The use of ordinary soft earplugs is not recommended. You can buy EarPlanes® from RNID Sound Advantage (see "Buying equipment from RNID" for contact details) or try your high street pharmacy.
Tinnitus and flying
If you have tinnitus, you may find that flying is the one time when you are usually completely free of tinnitus because of the noise made by the engines and airflow around the plane. However, if your eustachian tubes are blocked, your tinnitus may seem temporarily louder. It should return to its previous level when your eustachian tubes become unblocked.
If you have tinnitus and hearing loss, you will find that it is often the 'straining to hear' that makes your tinnitus louder when on a plane. If you normally wear hearing aids, you should keep them on during your flight as removing them may make your tinnitus louder and more noticeable. Being anxious about flying may make your tinnitus worse: basic relaxation exercises during the flight may help you. For further information about relaxation exercises, see our factsheet "Tinnitus and relaxation".
Very rarely, the sound of plane engines can make your tinnitus worse.
If you are worried about the noise of the plane engines, book ahead and try and get a seat near the front of the plane, away from the engines. Sound generators that you wear can help to reduce any discomfort due to loud sounds such as engine noise. For more information about sound generators, see our factsheet "Equipment, sound therapy and tinnitus".
Grommets and flying
Flying is less likely to cause discomfort in a child or adult with a grommet in their ear. The grommet allows air in and out of the ear and reduces the stress on the eardrum that is caused by changes in air pressure in the plane. However, children who have a history of frequent ear infections or have had grommets in the past (but no longer have them) are occasionally at risk of perforation of the eardrum when flying. If you are worried about this, ask your GP.
If you have perforated eardrums as a result of infection or injury, flying is also less likely to cause discomfort. This is because any change in pressure can even out across the eardrum and does not depend on the eustachian tube working normally.
Flying after ear surgery
If you have any kind of ear surgery, always check first with your ear, nose and throat (ENT) consultant when it would be safe for you to fly.
Flying and anxiety
If you are anxious about the effects of flying on your ears and worried about flying generally, discuss your fears with your GP. Very rarely they may prescribe tranquillisers. Relaxation and breathing exercises can also be helpful for anxiety in general.
If your only worry is that flying may be harmful to your ears, in almost all cases you can go ahead and enjoy your flight. If your reason for flying is to take a holiday, you have something enjoyable and relaxing to look forward to!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
