Tag: Information

Keto Help List

Here are some good tips to help you if you’re just getting started. Hope it helps:)!

Keep it simple. Download Carb manager app and don’t forget to take your electrolytes! and don’t waste your money to buy keto pills!

No fruit, unless it’s berries in moderation

No wheat

No sugar

No grains

No pasta

No potatoes

No rice

No beans

No starches

No milk as it’s loaded with sugar. ( unsweetened almond milk is recommended.)

Meat, cheese, eggs, vegetable, nuts, and healthy fats. It’s simple. Stick to that, and you should be ok!

Vegetables that should be avoided are :

Sweet potatoes

Corn

Peas

Potatoes

Carrots – can be used in moderation, just don’t go over board.

They are full of starches and not recommended.

Make sure to drink half your body weight In oz of water as well if you aren’t getting the adequate amount of water it can be bad for your kidneys! This applies for all forms of keto.

Do not forget your electrolytes, they are needed daily.

A good form of electrolytes is:

Pickle juice

Pink Himalayan salt added to your food

Strict keto – counts all macros, does not eat processed foods.

Dirty keto – doesn’t track all macros, still eats processed foods, as long as they are on plan

Macros are a break down of the calories you intake for the day. Which should be :

5% carbs

20% protein

75% fat

Carbs are a limit – try not to go over your carb limit.

Fat is a lever – you don’t have to meet your fat macro, it’s simply there to help you get full.

Protein is a goal- try your best to reach your protein goal, but try not to go over. Excessive amounts of protein can cause you to stall in weight loss.

Anything other than this food group selection would be considered low carb. Also, if you are in ketosis, and eat outside of this food group not only could it take you out of ketosis, but it could spike your blood sugar! Which can make you sick.

Hope this helps. 😊

A Keto Helper: The FREE 28 Day Meal Plan With Recipes,Macros & Shopping List

https://www.guideforketodiet.com/2018/11/a-keto-helper-free-28-day-meal-plan.html

How Much Exercise~ Information

HOW MUCH EXERCISE DO YOU NEED TO DO?

To stay healthy, adults aged 19 to 64 should try to be active daily and should do:

  • at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity such as cycling or brisk walking every week and
  • strength exercises on 2 or more days a week that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms)

Or:

  • 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity such as running or a game of singles tennis every week and
  • strength exercises on 2 or more days a week that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms)

Or:

  • a mix of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity every week – for example, 2 x 30-minute runs plus 30 minutes of brisk walking equates to 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity and
  • strength exercises on 2 or more days a week that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms)

A good rule is that 1 minute of vigorous activity provides the same health benefits as 2 minutes of moderate activity.

One way to do your recommended 150 minutes of weekly physical activity is to do 30 minutes on 5 days every week.

All adults should also break up long periods of sitting with light activity.

Source: NHS 

Bugs of the Summer~Information

https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/lightning-bugs-june-bugs-and-sweet-tea
firefly lit up on a leaf

Lightning bug facts

These fascinating creatures are among several species of bio-luminescent insects that produce visible light. They store the chemicals and enzymes needed to produce the flashes in their bodies and mix it with oxygen to create the light. These flashes are unique to each species and the observer (and potential mates) can recognize which one they are seeing just by watching the flight pattern or counting the flashes. Females wait in the grass in one spot while flashing their ‘come hither’ lights directing the males to a rendezvous. Once mated, the females lay their eggs and die shortly after. Lightning bugs do not bite or sting and the light they emit has no heat. That’s why they are irresistible to kids. They fly slowly and are easy to catch in cupped hands. Some species of fireflies also have bio-luminescent eggs that flash when disturbed and the larvae (known as glow-worms) also emit light. Fireflies are pollen eaters and do not do any harm to flowers, grasses or trees.

Lightning bug lore

These unique little insects are special to many cultures around the world. They are believed to hold the souls of the departed in Japan. Another Asian legend was that fireflies were the souls of warriors that had fallen in battle. Native Americans believed that the fox tried to steal fire from the fireflies and set his tail on fire with some bark. He gives the hawk the flaming bark as he left the village, who scattered the embers as he flew away. That’s how the Apache people first received fire. The Victorians, who were experts at celebrating death and mourning believed that if a firefly came into a home that someone would die.

striped junebug

June bugs mean summer is here

June bugs did not have the same allure as the lightning bugs, however we still liked them because they meant that summer was officially here, and they also made good fishing bait. We saw two different beetles that we called June bugs here in western Kentucky. We saw striped ones and brown ones at night and the bigger, metallic green ones during the day. The night-time June bugs often arrived in May and while their numbers were the highest in early summer, they stayed around most of the season. The big, bumbling, clumsy beetles were attracted to the light over the garage door every evening and there were a couple of fat toads that lived under the porch steps that were well fed on June bugs. When they inevitably hit the garage door and fell to the ground, the toads were always waiting to slurp them up with their long, sticky tongues. There are over 100 species of scarab beetles that people call June bugs.

June bug lore

Many cultures with June bug lore believe that the presence of June bugs represent someone with a tough personality and not easily crushed by life’s troubles. On the opposite side of this, the term ‘crazy as a June bug in May’ describes someone who acts irrationally, probably because the June bugs seem irrational when they bumble around the lights at night.

June bug facts and how to deal with the larvae

It is unknown why certain insects are attracted to night-time lights. Most often it is the males, although in a few species both genders flock to the light. Often, they fly around the lights all night until they drop to the ground, exhausted. A popular theory is that they rely on a light source, such as the moon or the sun to navigate, however scientists really do not know why they have this behavior. June bugs flock to lights in such numbers that they often interfere with outdoor activities, bumbling and bumping into guests and family members on patios and in pools. June bugs to not bite or sting, however they do have prickly, stiff hairs on their legs that might pinch a bit if they land on you. The real problem with June bugs is the larval form. These grubs (which are also great fish bait) live in lawns and turf grass and cause damage by eating the roots. Damage appears as brown patches of dead grass and turf that is easily pulled with no roots attached. The grub population also attracts moles and armadillos and they can wreck a lawn with their tunnels and digging. A natural way to rid your lawn of these grubs is by broadcasting Hb nematodes across the lawn. The nematodes are tiny, microscopic worms that burrow into the grubs and kill them from the inside. If you go this route, then do not use the poisons that are available on the market, as they will kill the nematodes you’ve just bought too.

Summer in the South means bugs and humidity and you can either choose to embrace it or move. I grew up in a time where summer evenings were for sitting on the porch with a glass of sweet tea and your neighbors, or kids playing hide-and-seek or catching lightning bugs. Even now, the sight of fireflies blinking as I drive down the highway brings back fond memories and I head home to sit in my porch swing with a tall glass of sweet tea and enjoy the show in my front yard.

Mental health~DYK

Intrusive thought

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An intrusive thought is an unwelcome involuntary thought, image, or unpleasant idea that may become an obsession, is upsetting or distressing, and can feel difficult to manage or eliminate.[1] When such thoughts are associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), and sometimes attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the thoughts may become paralyzing, anxiety-provoking, or persistent. Intrusive thoughts may also be associated with episodic memory, unwanted worries or memories from OCD,[2] posttraumatic stress disorder, other anxiety disorders, eating disorders, or psychosis.[3] Intrusive thoughts, urges, and images are of inappropriate things at inappropriate times, and generally have aggressive, sexual, or blasphemous themes.[4]

General

Many people experience the type of bad or unwanted thoughts that people with more troubling intrusive thoughts have, but most people can dismiss these thoughts.[1] For most people, intrusive thoughts are a “fleeting annoyance”.[5] Psychologist Stanley Rachman presented a questionnaire to healthy college students and found that virtually all said they had these thoughts from time to time, including thoughts of sexual violence, sexual punishment, “unnatural” sex acts, painful sexual practices, blasphemous or obscene images, thoughts of harming elderly people or someone close to them, violence against animals or towards children, and impulsive or abusive outbursts or utterances.[6] Such bad thoughts are universal among humans, and have “almost certainly always been a part of the human condition”.[7]

When intrusive thoughts occur with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), patients are less able to ignore the unpleasant thoughts and may pay undue attention to them, causing the thoughts to become more frequent and distressing.[1] The thoughts may become obsessions which are paralyzing, severe, and constantly present, and can range from thoughts of violence or sex to religious blasphemy.[5] Distinguishing them from normal intrusive thoughts experienced by many people, the intrusive thoughts associated with OCD may be anxiety provoking, irrepressible, and persistent.[8]

How people react to intrusive thoughts may determine whether these thoughts will become severe, turn into obsessions, or require treatment. Intrusive thoughts can occur with or without compulsions. Carrying out the compulsion reduces the anxiety, but makes the urge to perform the compulsion stronger each time it recurs, reinforcing the intrusive thoughts.[1] According to Lee Baer, suppressing the thoughts only makes them stronger, and recognizing that bad thoughts do not signify that one is truly evil is one of the steps to overcoming them.[9] There is evidence of the benefit of acceptance as an alternative to suppression of intrusive thoughts. A study showed that those instructed to suppress intrusive thoughts experienced more distress after suppression, while patients instructed to accept the bad thoughts experienced decreased discomfort.[10] These results may be related to underlying cognitive processes involved in OCD.[11] However, accepting the thoughts can be more difficult for persons with OCD. In the 19th century, OCD was known as “the doubting sickness”;[12] the “pathological doubt” that accompanies OCD can make it harder for a person with OCD to distinguish “normal” intrusive thoughts as experienced by most people, causing them to “suffer in silence, feeling too embarrassed or worried that they will be thought crazy”.[13]

The possibility that most patients suffering from intrusive thoughts will ever act on those thoughts is low. Patients who are experiencing intense guilt, anxiety, shame, and upset over these thoughts are different from those who actually act on them. The history of violent crime is dominated by those who feel no guilt or remorse; the very fact that someone is tormented by intrusive thoughts and has never acted on them before is an excellent predictor that they will not act upon the thoughts. Patients who are not troubled or shamed by their thoughts, do not find them distasteful, or who have actually taken action, might need to have more serious conditions such as psychosis or potentially criminal behaviors ruled out.[14] According to Lee Baer, a patient should be concerned that intrusive thoughts are dangerous if the person does not feel upset by the thoughts, or rather finds them pleasurable; has ever acted on violent or sexual thoughts or urges; hears voices or sees things that others do not see; or feels uncontrollable irresistible anger.[15]

Aggressive thoughts

Intrusive thoughts may involve violent obsessions about hurting others or themselves.[16] They can be related to primarily obsessional obsessive compulsive disorder. These thoughts can include harming a child; jumping from a bridge, mountain, or the top of a tall building; urges to jump in front of a train or automobile; and urges to push another in front of a train or automobile.[4] Rachman’s survey of healthy college students found that virtually all of them had intrusive thoughts from time to time, including:[6]

  • causing harm to elderly people
  • imagining or wishing harm upon someone close to oneself
  • impulses to violently attack, hit, harm or kill a person, small child, or animal
  • impulses to shout at or abuse someone, or attack and violently punish someone, or say something rude, inappropriate, nasty, or violent to someone.

These thoughts are part of being human, and need not ruin quality of life.[17] Treatment is available when the thoughts are associated with OCD and become persistent, severe, or distressing.

A variant of aggressive intrusive thoughts is L’appel du vide, or the call of the void. Sufferers of L’appel du vide generally describe the condition as manifesting in certain situations, normally as a wish or brief desire to jump from a high location.

Sexual thoughts[edit]

Sexual obsession involves intrusive thoughts or images of “kissing, touching, fondling, oral sex, anal sex, intercourse, and rape” with “strangers, acquaintances, parents, children, family members, friends, coworkers, animals and religious figures”, involving “heterosexual or homosexual content” with persons of any age.[18]

Like other unwanted intrusive thoughts or images, everyone has some inappropriate sexual thoughts at times, but people with OCD may attach significance to the unwanted sexual thoughts, generating anxiety and distress. The doubt that accompanies OCD leads to uncertainty regarding whether one might act on the intrusive thoughts, resulting in self-criticism or loathing.[18]

One of the more common sexual intrusive thoughts occurs when an obsessive person doubts his or her sexual identity. As in the case of most sexual obsessions, sufferers may feel shame and live in isolation, finding it hard to discuss their fears, doubts, and concerns about their sexual identity.[12]

A person experiencing sexual intrusive thoughts may feel shame, “embarrassment, guilt, distress, torment, fear of acting on the thought or perceived impulse, and doubt about whether they have already acted in such a way.” Depression may be a result of the self-loathing that can occur, depending on how much the OCD interferes with daily functioning or causes distress.[18] Their concern over these thoughts may cause them to scrutinize their bodies to determine if the thoughts result in feelings of arousal. However, focusing attention of any part of the body can result in feelings in that part of the body, hence doing so may decrease confidence and increase fear about acting on the urges. Part of treatment of sexual intrusive thoughts involves therapy to help sufferers accept intrusive thoughts and stop trying to reassure themselves by checking their bodies.[19] This arousal in the part of the body is due to conditioned physiological responses in the brain, which do not respond to the subject of the sexual intrusive thought but rather to the fact that a sexual thought is occurring at all and thus engage an automatic response (research indicates that the correlation between what the genitalia regard as “sexually relevant” and what the brain regards as “sexually appealing” only correlates 50% of the time in men and 10% of the time in women[20]). This means that an arousal response does not necessarily indicate that the person desires what they are thinking about. However, rational thinking processes attempt to explain this reaction and OCD causes people to attribute false meaning and importance to these physiological reactions in an attempt to make sense of them.[21] Sufferers can also experience heightened anxiety caused by “forbidden” images or simply discussing the matter which can then also cause physiological arousal, such as sweating, increased heart rate and some degree of tumescence or lubrication. This is often misinterpreted by the sufferer as an indication of desire or intent, when it is in fact not.[22]

Religious thoughts

Blasphemous thoughts are a common component of OCD, documented throughout history; notable religious figures such as Martin Luther and Ignatius of Loyola were known to be tormented by intrusive, blasphemous or religious thoughts and urges.[23] Martin Luther had urges to curse God and Jesus, and was obsessed with images of “the Devil’s behind.”[23][24] St. Ignatius had numerous obsessions, including the fear of stepping on pieces of straw forming a cross, fearing that it showed disrespect to Christ.[23][25] A study of 50 patients with a primary diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder found that 40% had religious and blasphemous thoughts and doubts—a higher, but not statistically significantly different number than the 38% who had the obsessional thoughts related to dirt and contamination more commonly associated with OCD.[26] One study suggests that content of intrusive thoughts may vary depending on culture, and that blasphemous thoughts may be more common in men than in women.[27]

According to Fred Penzel, a New York psychologist, some common religious obsessions and intrusive thoughts are:[13]

  • sexual thoughts about God, saints, and religious figures
  • bad thoughts or images during prayer or meditation
  • thoughts of being possessed
  • fears of sinning or breaking a religious law or performing a ritual incorrectly
  • fears of omitting prayers or reciting them incorrectly
  • repetitive and intrusive blasphemous thoughts
  • urges or impulses to say blasphemous words or commit blasphemous acts during religious services.

Suffering can be greater and treatment complicated when intrusive thoughts involve religious implications;[23] patients may believe the thoughts are inspired by Satan,[28] and may fear punishment from God or have magnified shame because they perceive themselves as sinful.[29] Symptoms can be more distressing for sufferers with strong religious convictions or beliefs.[13]

Baer believes that blasphemous thoughts are more common in Catholics and evangelical Protestants than in other religions, whereas Jews or Muslims tend to have obsessions related more to complying with the laws and rituals of their faith, and performing the rituals perfectly.[30] He hypothesizes that this is because what is considered inappropriate varies among cultures and religions, and intrusive thoughts torment their sufferers with whatever is considered most inappropriate in the surrounding culture.[31]

Associated conditions

Intrusive thoughts are associated with OCD or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder,[32] but may also occur with other conditions[3] such as post-traumatic stress disorder,[33] clinical depression,[34] postpartum depression,[8] and anxiety.[35][36] One of these conditions[37] is almost always present in people whose intrusive thoughts reach a clinical level of severity.[38] A large study published in 2005 found that aggressive, sexual, and religious obsessions were broadly associated with comorbid anxiety disorders and depression.[39] The intrusive thoughts that occur in a schizophrenic episode differ from the obsessional thoughts that occur with OCD or depression in that the intrusive thoughts of schizophrenics are false or delusional beliefs (i.e. held by the schizophrenic individual to be real and not doubted, as is typically the case with intrusive thoughts) .[40]

Post-traumatic stress disorder

The key difference between OCD and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is that the intrusive thoughts of PTSD sufferers are of traumatic events that actually happened to them, whereas OCD sufferers have thoughts of imagined catastrophes. PTSD patients with intrusive thoughts have to sort out violent, sexual, or blasphemous thoughts from memories of traumatic experiences.[41] When patients with intrusive thoughts do not respond to treatment, physicians may suspect past physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.[42]

Depression

People who are clinically depressed may experience intrusive thoughts more intensely, and view them as evidence that they are worthless or sinful people. The suicidal thoughts that are common in depression must be distinguished from intrusive thoughts, because suicidal thoughts—unlike harmless sexual, aggressive, or religious thoughts—can be dangerous.[43]

Postpartum depression and OCD

Unwanted thoughts by mothers about harming infants are common in postpartum depression.[44] A 1999 study of 65 women with postpartum major depression by Katherine Wisner et al. found the most frequent aggressive thought for women with postpartum depression was causing harm to their newborn infants.[45] A study of 85 new parents found that 89% experienced intrusive images, for example, of the baby suffocating, having an accident, being harmed, or being kidnapped.[8][46]

Some women may develop symptoms of OCD during pregnancy or the postpartum period.[8][47] Postpartum OCD occurs mainly in women who may already have OCD, perhaps in a mild or undiagnosed form. Postpartum depression and OCD may be comorbid (often occurring together). And though physicians may focus more on the depressive symptoms, one study found that obsessive thoughts did accompany postpartum depression in 57% of new mothers.[8]

Wisner found common obsessions about harming babies in mothers experiencing postpartum depression include images of the baby lying dead in a casket or being eaten by sharks; stabbing the baby; throwing the baby down the stairs; or drowning or burning the baby (as by submerging it in the bathtub in the former case or throwing it in the fire or putting it in the microwave in the latter).[45][48] Baer estimates that up to 200,000 new mothers with postpartum depression each year may develop these obsessional thoughts about their babies;[49] and because they may be reluctant to share these thoughts with a physician or family member, or suffer in silence and fear they are “crazy”, their depression can worsen.[50]

Intrusive fears of harming immediate children can last longer than the postpartum period. A study of 100 clinically depressed women found that 41% had obsessive fears that they might harm their child, and some were afraid to care for their children. Among non-depressed mothers, the study found 7% had thoughts of harming their child[51]—a rate that yields an additional 280,000 non-depressed mothers in the United States with intrusive thoughts about harming their children.[52]

Treatment

Treatment for intrusive thoughts is similar to treatment for OCD. Exposure and response prevention therapy—also referred to as habituation or desensitization—is useful in treating intrusive thoughts.[18] Mild cases can also be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps patients identify and manage the unwanted thoughts.[8]

Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy is the treatment of choice for intrusive thoughts.[53] According to Deborah Osgood-Hynes, Psy.D. Director of Psychological Services and Training at the MGH/McLean OCD Institute, “In order to reduce a fear, you have to face a fear. This is true of all types of anxiety and fear reactions, not just OCD.” Because it is uncomfortable to experience bad thoughts and urges, shame, doubt or fear, the initial reaction is usually to do something to make the feelings diminish. By engaging in a ritual or compulsion to diminish the anxiety or bad feeling, the action is strengthened via a process called negative reinforcement—the mind learns that the way to avoid the bad feeling is by engaging in a ritual or compulsions. When OCD becomes severe, this leads to more interference in life and continues the frequency and severity of the thoughts the person sought to avoid.[18]

Exposure therapy (or exposure and response prevention) is the practice of staying in an anxiety-provoking or feared situation until the distress or anxiety diminishes. The goal is to reduce the fear reaction, learning to not react to the bad thoughts. This is the most effective way to reduce the frequency and severity of the intrusive thoughts.[18] The goal is to be able to “expose yourself to the thing that most triggers your fear or discomfort for one to two hours at a time, without leaving the situation, or doing anything else to distract or comfort you.”[54] Exposure therapy will not completely eliminate intrusive thoughts—everyone has bad thoughts—but most patients find that it can decrease their thoughts sufficiently that intrusive thoughts no longer interfere with their lives.[55]

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a newer therapy than exposure therapy, available for those unable or unwilling to undergo exposure therapy.[53] Cognitive therapy has been shown to be useful in reducing intrusive thoughts,[56][57] but developing a conceptualization of the obsessions and compulsions with the patient is important.[58]

Medication

Antidepressants or antipsychotic medications may be used for more severe cases if intrusive thoughts do not respond to cognitive behavioral or exposure therapy alone.[8][59] Whether the cause of intrusive thoughts is OCD, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs (a class of antidepressants) are the most commonly prescribed.[59] Intrusive thoughts may occur in persons with Tourette syndrome (TS) who also have OCD; the obsessions in TS-related OCD are thought to respond to SSRI drugs as well.[60]

Antidepressants which have been shown to be effective in treating OCD include fluvoxamine (trade name[a] Luvox), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), citalopram (Celexa), and clomipramine (Anafranil).[61] Although SSRIs are known to be effective for OCD in general, there have been fewer studies on their effectiveness for intrusive thoughts.[62] A retrospective chart review of patients with sexual symptoms treated with SSRIs showed the greatest improvement was in those with intrusive sexual obsessions typical of OCD.[63] A study of ten patients with religious or blasphemous obsessions found that most patients responded to treatment with fluoxetine or clomipramine.[64] Women with postpartum depression often have anxiety as well, and may need lower starting doses of SSRIs; they may not respond fully to the medication, and may benefit from adding cognitive behavioral or response prevention therapy.[65]

Patients with intense intrusive thoughts that do not respond to SSRIs or other antidepressants may be prescribed typical and atypical neuroleptics including risperidone (trade name Risperdal), ziprasidone (Geodon), haloperidol (Haldol), and pimozide (Orap).[66]

Studies suggest that therapeutic doses of inositol may be useful in the treatment of obsessive thoughts.[67][68]

Epidemiolog

A 2007 study found that 78% of a clinical sample of OCD patients had intrusive images.[3] Most people who suffer from intrusive thoughts have not identified themselves as having OCD, because they may not have what they believe to be classic symptoms of OCD, such as handwashing. Yet, epidemiological studies suggest that intrusive thoughts are the most common kind of OCD worldwide; if people in the United States with intrusive thoughts gathered, they would form the fourth-largest city in the US, following New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.[69]

The prevalence of OCD in every culture studied is at least 2% of the population, and the majority of those have obsessions, or bad thoughts, only; this results in a conservative estimate of more than 2 million sufferers in the United States alone (as of 2000).[70] One author estimates that one in 50 adults have OCD and about 10–20% of these have sexual obsessions.[18] A recent study found that 25% of 293 patients with a primary diagnosis of OCD had a history of sexual obsessions.[71]

    Zinc Deficieny~ Signs

    The World Health Organization reported that zinc deficiency has become quite common in the recent years. It is a widespread epidemic that affects the well-being and health of many populations.

    The average American goes on with their daily routine surrounded by multivitamin supplements and fortified foods at every supermarket in the country. As a result, they have become stranger to various global health problems that affect millions of people on a daily basis.

    Studies show that zinc deficiency is actually a common micronutrient deficiency. It is associated with intellectual impairments, poor growth, perinatal complications and increased risk of mortality and morbidity.

    As the name suggests, zinc deficiency is a condition when the body does not have the recommended amount of zinc for proper functioning.

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/zinc-deficiency-signs-and-symptoms-you-shouldnt-ignore/ar-AAC4Xa1?ocid=spartandhp

    Weak Immunity

    Zinc is critical to maintaining our body’s immune system. It is essential for gene transcription; apoptosis, which is responsible for killing dangerous bacteria in our body; the growth of T cells and other protective functions of our cell membranes.

    Poor Neuropsychologic Performance

    An individual that has low zinc levels will most likely experience motor disorders and poor neuropsychologic performance. In order to experience growth in the neurological function, one must have to balance the consumption of zinc and other nutrients.

    Thinning Hair

    Zinc deficiency has been associated with hair loss in the past. According to researchers, low zinc levels can cause hypothyroidism, which is the thinning of hair. There have been studies in India that claim thyroid hormones play in important role in the successful zinc absorption of the body.

    Rashes and Acne

    Various skin issues can also be linked to low zinc levels in the body. Those who do not consume enough zinc on a daily basis may develop skin rashes and acne. This is because the wound healing process is affected and delayed due to the lack of zinc in the body.

    Intestinal Permeability

    Intestinal permeability also referred to as a leaky gut, is a sign that your body is not consuming enough zinc. There have been clinical studies showing how zinc can tighten the gut.

      Spices Info

      Cat Facts~

      • Unlike dogs, cats do not have a sweet tooth. Scientists believe this is due to a mutation in a key taste receptor.[5]
      • When a cat chases its prey, it keeps its head level. Dogs and humans bob their heads up and down.[10]
      • The technical term for a cat’s hairball is a “bezoar.”[7]
      • A group of cats is called a “clowder.”[8]
      • A cat can’t climb head first down a tree because every claw on a cat’s paw points the same way. To get down from a tree, a cat must back down.[10]
      • Cats make about 100 different sounds. Dogs make only about 10.[10]
      • Every year, nearly four million cats are eaten in Asia.[9]
      • There are more than 500 million domestic cats in the world, with approximately 40 recognized breeds.[12]
      • Approximately 24 cat skins can make a coat.[6]
      • While it is commonly thought that the ancient Egyptians were the first to domesticate cats, the oldest known pet cat was recently found in a 9,500-year-old grave on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. This grave predates early Egyptian art depicting cats by 4,000 years or more.[8]
      • During the time of the Spanish Inquisition, Pope Innocent VIII condemned cats as evil and thousands of cats were burned. Unfortunately, the widespread killing of cats led to an explosion of the rat population, which exacerbated the effects of the Black Death.[8]
      • During the Middle Ages, cats were associated with withcraft, and on St. John’s Day, people all over Europe would stuff them into sacks and toss the cats into bonfires. On holy days, people celebrated by tossing cats from church towers.[8]
      • The first cat in space was a French cat named Felicette (a.k.a. “Astrocat”) In 1963, France blasted the cat into outer space. Electrodes implanted in her brains sent neurological signals back to Earth. She survived the trip.[8]
      • The group of words associated with cat (catt, cath, chat, katze) stem from the Latin catus, meaning domestic cat, as opposed to feles, or wild cat.[3]
      • The term “puss” is the root of the principal word for “cat” in the Romanian term pisica and the root of secondary words in Lithuanian (puz) and Low German puus. Some scholars suggest that “puss” could be imitative of the hissing sound used to get a cat’s attention. As a slang word for the female pudenda, it could be associated with the connotation of a cat being soft, warm, and fuzzy.[11]
      • Approximately 40,000 people are bitten by cats in the U.S. annually.[8]
      • Cats are North America’s most popular pets: there are 73 million cats compared to 63 million dogs. Over 30% of households in North America own a cat.[8]
      • According to Hebrew legend, Noah prayed to God for help protecting all the food he stored on the ark from being eaten by rats. In reply, God made the lion sneeze, and out popped a cat.[10]
      • A cat’s hearing is better than a dog’s. And a cat can hear high-frequency sounds up to two octaves higher than a human.[1]
      • A cat can travel at a top speed of approximately 31 mph (49 km) over a short distance.[1]

      Facts About US Presidents

      https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/did-you-know/52-astonishing-facts-you-never-knew-about-us-presidents/ss-BBTbA5p?ocid=spartandhp&fullscreen=true#image=34

      Abraham Lincoln turned down the chance to host elephants

      Slide 1 of 52: In 1861, the King of Siam offered to gift President Lincoln 'several pairs of young male and female elephants,' which were indigenous to his country (today we know it as Thailand). The elephants could be bred to multiply, the king suggested, and the herds could be used as 'beasts of burden' that could work alongside the military during the Civil War. The president politely declined the offer, opting to use steam power instead of animal labor.

      In 1861, the King of Siam offered to gift President Lincoln ‘several pairs of young male and female elephants,’ which were indigenous to his country (today we know it as Thailand). The elephants could be bred to multiply, the king suggested, and the herds could be used as ‘beasts of burden’ that could work alongside the military during the Civil War. The president politely declined the offer, opting to use steam power instead of animal labor.

      Gerald Ford modeled on the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine

      Slide 2 of 52: Before he became our nation's 38th president, Gerald Ford had a side gig as a model. In 1942, shortly after joining the Navy, he landed an uncredited spot on the cover of Cosmopolitan in his uniform. Another fun fact? It was during this time that he met and went on to marry a fellow model, Elizabeth Bloomer. She became known to Americans as First Lady Betty Ford.

      Before he became our nation’s 38th president, Gerald Ford had a side gig as a model. In 1942, shortly after joining the Navy, he landed an uncredited spot on the cover of Cosmopolitan in his uniform. Another fun fact? It was during this time that he met and went on to marry a fellow model, Elizabeth Bloomer. She became known to Americans as First Lady Betty Ford.

      Slide 3 of 52: Back in the 1800s, little was known about our planet. In the absence of scientific evidence, some people believed in some pretty kooky theories—like the idea that planet Earth is actually hollow. Our sixth president, John Quincy Adams, was on board with this one. The commander-in-chief even signed off on a proposed expedition by a fellow Hollow Earther and would-be explorer to the Earth's 'empty' core. But when Andrew Jackson was voted into office four years later, he put the kibosh on the journey that never was.

      John Quincy Adams approved a real-life journey to the center of the Earth

      Back in the 1800s, little was known about our planet. In the absence of scientific evidence, some people believed in some pretty kooky theories—like the idea that planet Earth is actually hollow. Our sixth president, John Quincy Adams, was on board with this one. The commander-in-chief even signed off on a proposed expedition by a fellow Hollow Earther and would-be explorer to the Earth’s ’empty’ core. But when Andrew Jackson was voted into office four years later, he put the kibosh on the journey that never was.4/52 SLIDES© AP/REX/Shutterstock

      William Howard Taft took a custom bathtub on a trip to Panama

      Slide 4 of 52: The legend goes that our 27th president once got stuck in a bathtub and had to be pulled out by six men. Although President William Taft did weigh 340 pounds at his heaviest, this story is wholly false. But it probably stemmed from Taft's (very true) affinity for baths. In fact, he ordered a 7-foot-long tub that weighed a literal ton to be built and placed aboard the USS North Carolina, so he could luxuriate in it on his way to Panama.

      The legend goes that our 27th president once got stuck in a bathtub and had to be pulled out by six men. Although President William Taft did weigh 340 pounds at his heaviest, this story is wholly false. But it probably stemmed from Taft’s (very true) affinity for baths. In fact, he ordered a 7-foot-long tub that weighed a literal ton to be built and placed aboard the USS North Carolina, so he could luxuriate in it on his way to Panama. 5/52 SLIDES© Historia/REX/Shutterstock

      Herbert Hoover’s White House staff hid from him

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      Slide 5 of 52: In a very diva move, 31st president Herbert Hoover insisted that his staff never see him around the White House—and he didn't want to see them either. This caused quite the charade, of course, as the staff felt pressured to hide from the president whenever he was present. According to White House journalist Kenneth Walsh, staffers would 'pile into closets' and 'hide behind bushes so the president couldn't see them.'

      n a very diva move, 31st president Herbert Hoover insisted that his staff never see him around the White House—and he didn’t want to see them either. This caused quite the charade, of course, as the staff felt pressured to hide from the president whenever he was present. According to White House journalist Kenneth Walsh, staffers would ‘pile into closets’ and ‘hide behind bushes so the president couldn’t see them.’6/52 SLIDES© John Knoote/Daily Mail/REX/Shutterstock

      Lyndon B. Johnson proposed to Lady Bird with a $2.50 ring from Sears

      Slide 6 of 52: In 1934, Lyndon B. Johnson, then 26, proposed to Claudia Alta 'Ladybird' Taylor, 22, on their first date. Though she declined his offer, Johnson continued to woo her from afar, sending his sweetheart 90 letters in the span of about 90 days. Impatient, Johnson traveled from Washington, D.C. to Texas to arrive at her door with an ultimatum—marry me now or forever hold your peace. She accepted his proposal and the $2.50 engagement ring that came with it. Find out more fascinating trivia about America's first ladies.

      In 1934, Lyndon B. Johnson, then 26, proposed to Claudia Alta ‘Ladybird’ Taylor, 22, on their first date. Though she declined his offer, Johnson continued to woo her from afar, sending his sweetheart 90 letters in the span of about 90 days. Impatient, Johnson traveled from Washington, D.C. to Texas to arrive at her door with an ultimatum—marry me now or forever hold your peace. She accepted his proposal and the $2.50 engagement ring that came with it. Find out more fascinating trivia about America’s first ladies. 7/52 SLIDES© Charles Gorry/AP/REX/Shutterstock

      John Quincy Adams loved to skinny-dip

      Slide 7 of 52: While in office, sixth president John Quincy Adams often swam in the Potomac River, and he preferred to do so in the buff. Adams was an early riser, and in his diaries, he wrote of waking at about 4 a.m. and taking a morning dip—nude. Though it sounds risqué now, skinny-dipping was apparently common in the 1800s.

      While in office, sixth president John Quincy Adams often swam in the Potomac River, and he preferred to do so in the buff. Adams was an early riser, and in his diaries, he wrote of waking at about 4 a.m. and taking a morning dip—nude. Though it sounds risqué now, skinny-dipping was apparently common in the 1800s.8/52 SLIDES© Philippe Hays/REX/Shutterstock

      George Washington grew cannabis

      Slide 8 of 52: Before you start thinking the nation's first president was a stoner, you should know that George Washington grew hemp, not marijuana (they both belong to the cannabis family). He cultivated the hemp at his estate in Mount Vernon for industrial uses, like rope- and canvas-making.

      Before you start thinking the nation’s first president was a stoner, you should know that George Washington grew hemp, not marijuana (they both belong to the cannabis family). He cultivated the hemp at his estate in Mount Vernon for industrial uses, like rope- and canvas-making. 9/52 SLIDES© Kristian Dowling/AP/REX/Shutterstock

      George W. Bush is cousins with Hugh Hefner

      Slide 9 of 52: It turns out our 43rd president and the founder of Playboy are distant cousins. More specifically, they're ninth cousins twice removed, sharing the same pair of great-grandparents. Another cousin shared by the two is former presidential candidate John Kerry. Check out these rare, candid photos of U.S. presidents.

      It turns out our 43rd president and the founder of Playboy are distant cousins. More specifically, they’re ninth cousins twice removed, sharing the same pair of great-grandparents. Another cousin shared by the two is former presidential candidate John Kerry. Check out these rare, candid photos of U.S. presidents. 10/52 SLIDES© AP/REX/Shutterstock

      Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its name

      Slide 10 of 52: Though the residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is painted white, it was known as The Executive Mansion and The President's Palace until October 1901, when then-president Theodore Roosevelt referred to it as The White House. The 26th president made the moniker official when he had it engraved on his stationery.

      Though the residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is painted white, it was known as The Executive Mansion and The President’s Palace until October 1901, when then-president Theodore Roosevelt referred to it as The White House. The 26th president made the moniker official when he had it engraved on his stationery. 11/52 SLIDES© Chris Barham/Daily Mail/REX/Shutterstock

      Warren Harding lost the White House china in a poker game

      Slide 11 of 52: Warren Harding, our 29th president, loved a game of poker—and apparently, he was a high roller. During one of his bi-weekly poker games, Harding gambled away a set of china that had been in the White House since President Benjamin Harrison's tenure six terms prior. He bet it all on one ill-advised hand.

      Warren Harding, our 29th president, loved a game of poker—and apparently, he was a high roller. During one of his bi-weekly poker games, Harding gambled away a set of china that had been in the White House since President Benjamin Harrison’s tenure six terms prior. He bet it all on one ill-advised hand. 12/52 SLIDES© Mike Hollist/ANL/REX/Shutterstock

      Thomas Jefferson kept pet grizzly bears

      Slide 12 of 52: During his tenure as our third president, Thomas Jefferson became the happy recipient of a wild gift: a pair of grizzly bear cubs. He kept them in a cage on the front lawn of the White House for a few months before deciding they were too dangerous to keep and bequeathing them to a museum. These are the 13 presidents with the highest IQ scores.

      During his tenure as our third president, Thomas Jefferson became the happy recipient of a wild gift: a pair of grizzly bear cubs. He kept them in a cage on the front lawn of the White House for a few months before deciding they were too dangerous to keep and bequeathing them to a museum. These are the 13 presidents with the highest IQ scores. 13/52 SLIDES© MATHEW B. BRADY/AP/REX/Shutterstock

      Ulysses S. Grant was arrested for speeding—on a horse

      Slide 13 of 52: A noted equestrian, our 18th president was quite confident on a horse—perhaps too confident. While driving his horse and buggy at a furious pace during his presidential tenure, Grant was pulled over twice within the span of 24 hours. The second time, one bold police officer decided to arrest the commander-in-chief, who was ultimately given a fine. Legend has it that the officer and the president eventually became friends.

      A noted equestrian, our 18th president was quite confident on a horse—perhaps too confident. While driving his horse and buggy at a furious pace during his presidential tenure, Grant was pulled over twice within the span of 24 hours. The second time, one bold police officer decided to arrest the commander-in-chief, who was ultimately given a fine. Legend has it that the officer and the president eventually became friends. 14/52 SLIDES© AP/REX/Shutterstock

      The first White House bowling alley was a birthday present for Harry Truman

      Slide 14 of 52: In 1947, 33rd president Harry Truman became responsible for having a bowling alley installed in the West Wing in celebration of his 63rd birthday. He became the first person to ever throw a bowling ball down the White House lane, and one of the seven pins he knocked down is on display at the Smithsonian Institution.

      In 1947, 33rd president Harry Truman became responsible for having a bowling alley installed in the West Wing in celebration of his 63rd birthday. He became the first person to ever throw a bowling ball down the White House lane, and one of the seven pins he knocked down is on display at the Smithsonian Institution. 15/52 SLIDES© A.Sontaya/Shutterstock

      Bill Clinton is a My Little Pony Expert

      Slide 15 of 52: During a segment on the NPR show 'Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!,' 42nd president Bill Clinton was quizzed about the animated movie My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. To the amazement of his hosts, he nailed all three questions and won a prize on behalf of the listener for whom he was playing.

      During a segment on the NPR show ‘Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me!,’ 42nd president Bill Clinton was quizzed about the animated movie My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. To the amazement of his hosts, he nailed all three questions and won a prize on behalf of the listener for whom he was playing. 16/52 SLIDES© STEWART COOK/REX/Shutterstock

      Clint Eastwood was almost Vice President under George H.W. Bush

      Slide 16 of 52: While running for office in 1988, then-presidential nominee George Bush was not feeling lucky, so he considered bringing on the 'Dirty Harry' actor to help breathe life into his struggling campaign. Clint Eastwood had been mayor of Carmel, California, but Bush famously chose Dan Quayle as his running mate instead. Here are more things you probably don't know about the vice presidency.

      While running for office in 1988, then-presidential nominee George Bush was not feeling lucky, so he considered bringing on the ‘Dirty Harry’ actor to help breathe life into his struggling campaign. Clint Eastwood had been mayor of Carmel, California, but Bush famously chose Dan Quayle as his running mate instead. Here are more things you probably don’t know about the vice presidency. 17/52 SLIDES© Universal History Archive/REX/Shutterstock

      James Garfield could write in Greek with one hand and Latin with the other

      Slide 17 of 52: The ambidextrous James Garfield could write in two languages simultaneously: Latin and Greek. He taught both languages while attending the acclaimed Williams College in Massachusetts, where he was later named president before going on to be elected as the 20th president of the United States.

      The ambidextrous James Garfield could write in two languages simultaneously: Latin and Greek. He taught both languages while attending the acclaimed Williams College in Massachusetts, where he was later named president before going on to be elected as the 20th president of the United States.18/52 SLIDES© Shutterstock

      Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first president to name a woman to his cabinet

      Slide 18 of 52: In 1933, our 32nd president became the first one to hire a woman by naming Frances Perkins as secretary of labor in 1933. She had previously worked for him when he was governor of New York.

      In 1933, our 32nd president became the first one to hire a woman by naming Frances Perkins as secretary of labor in 1933. She had previously worked for him when he was governor of New York. 19/52 SLIDES© Historia/REX/Shutterstock

      Abraham Lincoln allowed seances in the White House

      Slide 19 of 52: First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln reportedly invited mediums to the White House to call on departed spirits through seances during Abraham Lincoln's tenure. While there's no definitive evidence, the president was said to have attended some of the events. He was also thought to believe in the occult to an extent.

      First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln reportedly invited mediums to the White House to call on departed spirits through seances during Abraham Lincoln’s tenure. While there’s no definitive evidence, the president was said to have attended some of the events. He was also thought to believe in the occult to an extent. 20/52 SLIDES© Zick Jochen/action press/REX/Shutterstock

      Three presidents are Grammy winners

      Slide 20 of 52: It may sound odd, but Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Jimmy Carter have each won a Grammy. No, they're not singers or songwriters, but they did nab prizes for Best Spoken Word Album for the audio versions of their biographies. Check out more impressive hidden talents of U.S. presidents.

      It may sound odd, but Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Jimmy Carter have each won a Grammy. No, they’re not singers or songwriters, but they did nab prizes for Best Spoken Word Album for the audio versions of their biographies. Check out more impressive hidden talents of U.S. presidents. 21/52 SLIDES© Universal History Archive/UIG/REX/Shutterstock

      George Washington’s teeth were made of something more disturbing than wood

      Slide 21 of 52: It's a popular misconception that our first president's teeth were made of wood. In fact, they were made of something even more horrifying: other people's teeth—likely those of slaves or impoverished people. The dentures apparently also contained ivory.

      It’s a popular misconception that our first president’s teeth were made of wood. In fact, they were made of something even more horrifying: other people’s teeth—likely those of slaves or impoverished people. The dentures apparently also contained ivory. 22/52 SLIDES© Universal History Archive/UIG/REX/Shutterstock

      Two rival presidents died on the exact same day

      Slide 22 of 52: Thought friendly in their personal lives, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were political competitors. On his deathbed, Adams is believed to have uttered, 'Thomas Jefferson still survives,' in a final act of rivalry. Little did he know that Jefferson had actual died hours earlier.

      Thought friendly in their personal lives, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were political competitors. On his deathbed, Adams is believed to have uttered, ‘Thomas Jefferson still survives,’ in a final act of rivalry. Little did he know that Jefferson had actual died hours earlier. 23/52 SLIDES© Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/REX/Shutterstock

      America’s eighth president was the first to be born stateside

      Slide 23 of 52: There were seven official U.S. presidents before Martin Van Buren, the first president to actually be born in the states, took office. Van Buren was the eighth U.S. president. In fairness, the United States was not even founded until 1776, two years before George Washington took office, but facts are facts. Don't miss these presidential trivia facts that simply aren't true.

      There were seven official U.S. presidents before Martin Van Buren, the first president to actually be born in the states, took office. Van Buren was the eighth U.S. president. In fairness, the United States was not even founded until 1776, two years before George Washington took office, but facts are facts. Don’t miss these presidential trivia facts that simply aren’t true. 24/52 SLIDES© Historia/REX/Shutterstock

      Two of 10th President Tyler’s grandchildren are still alive

      Slide 24 of 52: How is it possible that two grandchildren of our nation's 10th president, born one year after George Washington took office and elected to office himself in 1841, are still alive as of this story's publication in 2019? The president was 75 when his last child was born in 1928, and the two living grandsons are descendants of that son.

      How is it possible that two grandchildren of our nation’s 10th president, born one year after George Washington took office and elected to office himself in 1841, are still alive as of this story’s publication in 2019? The president was 75 when his last child was born in 1928, and the two living grandsons are descendants of that son. 25/52 SLIDES© Nara Archives/REX/Shutterstock

      No one could dance in the White House during James Polk’s tenure

      Slide 25 of 52: The wife of 11th president James Polk was a strict Presbyterian and looked down upon dancing, so it was banned in the White House while her husband was in office and at the Inaugural Ball. She also disapproved of horse racing and the theater. Here are 14 of the most gorgeous inaugural gowns worn by First Ladies.

      The wife of 11th president James Polk was a strict Presbyterian and looked down upon dancing, so it was banned in the White House while her husband was in office and at the Inaugural Ball. She also disapproved of horse racing and the theater. Here are 14 of the most gorgeous inaugural gowns worn by First Ladies. 26/52 SLIDES© F A Archive/REX/Shutterstock

      Ulysses S. Grant’s middle initial stood for nothing

      Slide 26 of 52: You might know who is buried in Grant's tomb, but do you know what his middle initial stood for? Well, neither did he. Apparently, it came from a typo on his application to West Point.

      You might know who is buried in Grant’s tomb, but do you know what his middle initial stood for? Well, neither did he. Apparently, it came from a typo on his application to West Point.27/52 SLIDES© Universal History Archive/UIG/REX/Shutterstock

      Rutherford B. Hayes was the first American to own a Siamese cat

      Slide 27 of 52: The First Cat during Hayes's presidency was literally the first cat—as in the first Siamese cat to be owned by a U.S. citizen. She was a gift to the president and First Lady. They originally named her Miss Pussy, but eventually simplified things by calling the cat Siam. Check out these funny words that were made up by U.S. presidents.

      The First Cat during Hayes’s presidency was literally the first cat—as in the first Siamese cat to be owned by a U.S. citizen. She was a gift to the president and First Lady. They originally named her Miss Pussy, but eventually simplified things by calling the cat Siam. Check out these funny words that were made up by U.S. presidents.28/52 SLIDES© Historia/REX/Shutterstock

      James Garfield’s spine was on display at a museum

      Slide 28 of 52: At the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Washington D.C., the spine of President Garfield was displayed along with other medical oddities in 2000. A bullet hole from his 1881 assassination is clearly visible.

      At the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Washington D.C., the spine of President Garfield was displayed along with other medical oddities in 2000. A bullet hole from his 1881 assassination is clearly visible. 29/52 SLIDES© Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/REX/Shutterstock

      Chester Arthur held a White House yard sale to finance a redecorating project

      Slide 29 of 52: In what was probably the first White House yard sale, the 21st president sold two dozen wagon loads of presidential merchandise including a pair of Abraham Lincoln's pants and John Quincy Adams' hat. He then used the money to hire an interior decorator. Don't miss these hilarious quotes from past presidents.

      In what was probably the first White House yard sale, the 21st president sold two dozen wagon loads of presidential merchandise including a pair of Abraham Lincoln’s pants and John Quincy Adams’ hat. He then used the money to hire an interior decorator. Don’t miss these hilarious quotes from past presidents. 30/52 SLIDES© Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/REX/Shutterstock

      William McKinley’s red carnation might have saved his life

      Slide 30 of 52: The 25th president was known for wearing a red carnation on his lapel for good luck. The boutonniere probably was a good luck charm after all. While greeting a little girl at an event in 1901, he decided to give his lucky flower to her. Moments later, he was assassinated.

      The 25th president was known for wearing a red carnation on his lapel for good luck. The boutonniere probably was a good luck charm after all. While greeting a little girl at an event in 1901, he decided to give his lucky flower to her. Moments later, he was assassinated. 31/52 SLIDES© Nara Archives/REX/Shutterstock

      Herbert Hoover had his own sport

      Slide 31 of 52: To keep our 31st president fit, his physician invented a sport that was later called Hoover-ball while Herbert Hoover was in office. It's a combination of tennis and volleyball and uses a medicine ball. The sport is still played competitively in Hoover's hometown of West Branch, Iowa.

      To keep our 31st president fit, his physician invented a sport that was later called Hoover-ball while Herbert Hoover was in office. It’s a combination of tennis and volleyball and uses a medicine ball. The sport is still played competitively in Hoover’s hometown of West Branch, Iowa. 32/52 SLIDES© James Gray/ANL/REX/Shutterstock

      Dwight Eisenhower ordered the assassination of squirrels

      Slide 32 of 52: Our 34th president, an avid golfer, got sick and tired of squirrels messing up his game by digging up the green to bury their acorns. He ordered his valet to shoot the rodents, but the Secret Service forbade the use of guns on the White House grounds, so groundkeepers trapped and released the animals instead. Check out these other things presidents have tried to have banned from the White House.

      Our 34th president, an avid golfer, got sick and tired of squirrels messing up his game by digging up the green to bury their acorns. He ordered his valet to shoot the rodents, but the Secret Service forbade the use of guns on the White House grounds, so groundkeepers trapped and released the animals instead. Check out these other things presidents have tried to have banned from the White House. 33/52 SLIDES© REX/Shutterstock

      Four presidents were cheerleaders

      Slide 33 of 52: What did Ronald Reagan, Dwight Eisenhower, Franklin Roosevelt, and George W. Bush have in common? They all served as cheerleaders either in high school or college. Talk about squad goals!

      What did Ronald Reagan, Dwight Eisenhower, Franklin Roosevelt, and George W. Bush have in common? They all served as cheerleaders either in high school or college. Talk about squad goals! 34/52 SLIDES© Historia/REX/Shutterstock

      Ronald Reagan did standup comedy

      Franklin Roosevelt wore dresses as a child

      Jimmy Carter believed in UFOs

      Abraham Lincoln was a licensed bartender

      John Adams named his dog ‘Satan’

      We had a 24-hour president

      Ever hear of President David Rice Atchison? If the answer is no, that’s probably because he was only ‘president’ for a day. In 1849, the inauguration of Zachary Taylor landed on a Sunday, and the religious incumbent refused to be sworn in on a holy day. He had Atchison stand in for him.

      Presidents’ Day is technically called Washington’s Birthday

      Presidents’ Day has a more complex history than one would think. After George Washington died in 1799, his supporters recognized his birthday as a day of remembrance. In 1885, his birthday became a federal holiday for the whole country. Later, in 1968, a new bill made certain federal holidays on Mondays and combined birthday celebrations for Washington and Lincoln for a ‘Presidents’ Day.’ According to the United States Code, however, that holiday is technically still called Washington’s Birthday and never officially changed to Presidents’ Day. Federal code permits local governments and private businesses to name federal holidays whatever they want, so most states call it Presidents’ Day.