From the "just what America needs" department (though for now, apparently only available in Singapore): mashed potatoes and gravy served Slurpee-style. Get yourself a bucket of 'em plus a Big Gulp for just $2. From The Clearly Dope.

The New York Times reports on research showing that several shorter periods of exercise may as beneficial -- or even moreso -- than one longer workout:

With the sudden cool and wet weather around here this weekend, seems may people have a case of the sniffles. It's probably not a "cold" in the sense of a rhinovirus infection, and pollen levels are low; but the body can have a reaction to climatic factors that looks pretty damned similar. (There's a fancy word for it: vasomotor rhinitis, which means nothing more than "inflammation inside your nose from blood vessels opening up.") Chinese medicine, though, doesn't really care if there's a virus, allergen, or environmental factor involved; it's interested in how your body is responding.

Try the following acupressure points. Apply pressure slowly and gently. Poke around in the general area indicated to find the point that feels most responsive. If it hurts -- don't do it.

From Vegan Fighter, video of vegetarian thai boxing champion Lucie Mlejnkova. I think I may be in love... :-) More info: http://www.vegan-fighter.com/news/undefeated-vegetarian-back-in-the-rin…

Another one from The Week, not only a tear-jerker but a fascinating example of neuroplasticity:

From The Week:

5 ways milk doesn't do a body good
Got milk? Not so fast. The All-American beverage of choice is high in calories, saturated fat, and unnatural chemicals that can cause a range of health problems

Nothing new, but nice to see more attention being paid to the fact that "milk is a perfect food" is a marketing slogan, not science.

You may have heard about bigger-than-big-pharma company GlaxoSmithKline being fined $3 billion for pushing Paxil and Wellbutrin for unapproved uses and hiding important information about drug safety.

In his blog at NutritionFacts.org, Dr. Michael Greger reports on the link between plant-based diets and eysight: how just one serving of collard greens or kale per month can decrease the risk of glaucoma by 69%, and how cutting out meat can prevent cataracts:

The researchers conclude: “Overall, compared with meat eaters who consumed 100g meat and meat products/d[ay], fish eaters, vegetarians, and vegans had approximately 20%, 30%, and 40% lower risk of cataract, respectively.”

"You are what you eat" is a well-worn cliche -- but it turns out to be true in a more direct way than most of us ever suspected. 80 beats reports on research showing that micro-RNA (miRNA) from the plants that we eat can enter the bloodstrean and affect the expression of our genes. It's yet another example of how epigenetics is shattering notions of genetic determinism and showing that inheritance is not destiny.