Sick on prescription

There's a report circulating in the media right now that an insulin preparation, used by approximately 500,000 diabetics in Germany alone, is causing cancer as an unpleasant side effect. It sounds pretty scary.

The fact is, the 500,000 diabetics suffer enough from their first illness alone, and 3,500 more cases of cancer per year won't make much difference. But it's also a fact that the insulin medications now suspected of causing cancer are prescribed by doctors.

Cocoa tastes good and is healthy. A nice claim, to begin with

Cocoa tastes good and is healthy. A nice claim, to begin with.
Well, there's no accounting for taste; some like it, some don't.

But cocoa is definitely healthy. The active ingredient flavonol, contained in cocoa, protects against arteriosclerosis. Flavonol binds reactive, cell-damaging substances, the free radicals. Flavonoids are even said to be able to repair blood vessels to a certain extent. 

Anyone who thinks consuming cocoa in large quantities is good should note that everything in moderation is ok; excessive consumption of anything never helps. It's actually harmful. It just depends on the amount. But a nice cup of hot, real cocoa, perhaps with a bit of milk, instead of the usual coffee, is good for your health.

18 or 80 ?

How old am I actually? The question is, which age am I referring to? The one on my birth certificate? The one others think of me? Or when I look at myself in the mirror. It makes a big difference whether this happens in the morning or evening. 

If I feel balanced and content today, I'll appear younger in times of stress and worry. As an introduction to the broad and exciting topic of age, here's a link for a so-called Methuselah check. It provides insight, but shouldn't be taken too seriously. It's certainly good and helpful for shedding light on certain factors, and it's certainly thought-provoking. Because age, how old we feel, always depends on external factors and our attitude towards age. 

There should actually be a link to the check here. But these days, almost every test of this kind involves registration, consent to data collection, use of a camera, etc. I'll spare you that. Instead, I suggest that you are as old as you feel!