Voice Of Post

Fire boat response crews

Fire boat response crews battle the blazing remnants of BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig at the site of the gulf oil spill off Louisiana in this April 21, 2010 handout file photo. When BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico last April, killing 11 workers, authorities first reported that no crude was leaking into the ocean. They were wrong. One year on, oil from the largest spill in U.S. history clogs wetlands, pollutes the ocean and endangers wildlife, not to mention the toll it has inflicted on the coastal economies of Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and especially Louisiana.
Deepwater Horizon oil rig is seen burning

FILE - In this April 21, 2010 file aerial photo taken in the Gulf of Mexico more than 50 miles southeast of Venice on Louisiana's tip, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig is seen burning. Oil giant BP and the Obama administration were among the winners of the Jefferson Muzzle awards, given Wednesday by a free-speech group to those it considered the worst First Amendment violators in 2010
Deepwater Horizon oil rig

FILE - In this April 21, 2010 file photo, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig burns in the Gulf of Mexico. In the year since the Gulf oil spill, officials along the coast have gone on a spending spree with BP money, dropping tens of millions of dollars on gadgets, vehicles and gear — much of which had little to do with the cleanup, an Associated Press investigation shows. The oil giant opened its checkbook while the crisis was still unfolding last spring and poured hundreds of millions of dollars into Gulf Coast communities with few strings attached
Boats try to contain oil spilled

In this aerial photo taken in the Gulf of Mexico more than 50 miles southeast of Venice on Louisiana's tip, boats with oil booms try to contain oil spilled from the explosion and collapse of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, approximately seven miles from where the rig sunk, on Friday, April 23, 2010.

Boats try to contain oil spilled

In this aerial photo taken in the Gulf of Mexico more than 50 miles southeast of Venice on Louisiana's tip, boats with oil booms try to contain oil spilled from the explosion and collapse of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, approximately seven miles from where the rig sunk, on Friday, April 23, 2010.

Controlled oil burn is seen near site

A controlled oil burn is seen near the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Sunday, July 11, 2010.

Oil floats Gulf of Mexico near coast

Crew releases oil dispersant

The crew of a Basler BT-67 fixed wing aircraft releases oil dispersant off the shore of Louisiana, May 5, 2010.

Shrimp boat is used to collect oil

A shrimp boat is used to collect oil with booms in the waters of Chandeleur Sound, La., Wednesday, May 5, 2010.

Television reporter stands beside oil booms

A television reporter stands beside oil booms at the coast of South Pass, south of Venice, Louisiana, May 2, 2010.

Worker uses suction hose to remove oil washed

FILE - In this June 9, 2010 file photo, a worker uses a suction hose to remove oil washed ashore from the Deepwater Horizon spill in Belle Terre, La. Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the federal government's point man on the disaster, said Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, BP's well 'is effectively dead.' A permanent cement plug sealed BP's well nearly 2.5 miles below the sea floor in the Gulf of Mexico, five agonizing months after an explosion sank a drilling rig and led to the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

P.J. Hahn

FILE - In this June 5, 2010, file photo Plaquemines Parish coastal zone director P.J. Hahn lifts his boot out of thick beached oil at Queen Bess Island in Barataria Bay, just off the Gulf of Mexico in Plaquemines Parish, La. After three long months, the bleeding from the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico has been finally, mercifully stanched. But in so many ways, the prognosis remains uncertain.

Beach goers sunbathe

Oil washes ashore with waves

Oil washes ashore with the waves onto New Harbor Island, La., Thursday, May 6, 2010. Oil giant BP PLC's oil rig exploded April 20, in the Gulf of Mexico killing 11 workers. It sank two days later, and oil is still pouring into the Gulf.

Bird is seen on beach after being drenched

FILE - In this June 3, 2010 file photo, a bird is seen on the beach at East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast after being drenched in oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the federal government's point man on the disaster, said Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, BP's well 'is effectively dead.' A permanent cement plug sealed BP's well nearly 2.5 miles below the sea floor in the Gulf of Mexico, five agonizing months after an explosion sank a drilling rig and led to the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

Crude oil washes ashore

FILE - In this June 12, 2010, file photo, crude oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill washes ashore in Orange Beach, Ala. The Justice Department on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010, sued BP and eight other companies in the Gulf oil spill disaster in an effort to recover billions of dollars from the largest offshore spill in U.S. history

Oil soaked bird struggles Iron Horse supply vessel

An oil soaked bird struggles against the side of the HOS an Iron Horse supply vessel at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana Sunday, May 9, 2010.

Small dead fish floats on pool

FILE - In this June 6, 2010 file photo, a small dead fish floats on a pool of oil at Bay Long off the coast of Louisiana. Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the federal government's point man on the disaster, said Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, BP's well 'is effectively dead.' A permanent cement plug sealed BP's well nearly 2.5 miles below the sea floor in the Gulf of Mexico, five agonizing months after an explosion sank a drilling rig and led to the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

Brown pelican is mired in heavy oil

FILE - In this June 3, 2010 file photo, a brown pelican is mired in heavy oil on the beach at East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast. Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the federal government's point man on the disaster, said Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, BP's well 'is effectively dead.' A permanent cement plug sealed BP's well nearly 2.5 miles below the sea floor in the Gulf of Mexico, five agonizing months after an explosion sank a drilling rig and led to the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

Greenpeace campaigner

A Greenpeace campaigner walks through a patch of oil on the breakwater in the mouth of the Mississippi River, May 18, 2010.

P.J. Hahn

Plaquemines Parish coastal zone director P.J. Hahn lifts an oil-covered pelican which was stuck in oil at Queen Bess Island in Barataria Bay, just off the Gulf of Mexico in Plaquemines Parish, La., Saturday, June 5, 2010.

Oil is seen floating

FILE - In this June 26, 2010 file photo, oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is seen floating on the surface of the water in Bay Jimmy in Plaquemines Parish, La. As the Gulf oil spill gushed out of control this summer, BP's financial liabilities expanded so rapidly that experts wondered if the company had drilled its last well. Only months later, though, the British oil giant has pulled itself back from the brink.

Brown pelican is seen on beach

FILE - In this June 3, 2010, file photo, a brown pelican is seen on the beach at East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast. The Justice Department on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010, sued BP and eight other companies in the Gulf oil spill disaster in an effort to recover billions of dollars from the largest offshore spill in U.S. history.

Food Lies You Shouldn't Believe

They run amok online, through e-mail chains and even across generations, making it harder and harder to separate fact from fiction.
Drinking water helps you lose weight

The nugget of truth: Water may trim meal size

Just adding a few glasses to your day isn’t going to melt away fat, but research shows if you drink up before a meal, you may eat less. Scientists at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University followed a group of adults on low-calorie diets for 12 weeks; they found that those who had two cups of water before each of their daily meals lost 4.5 more pounds than the non-water drinkers. Filling your stomach with a zero-calorie substance might lead to smaller meals, say scientists; plus, substituting water for soda and juices also helps save calories. Hate the nontaste of plain water? Stick a slice of lemon or lime in it, or look for flavored varieties that are calorie free: Some types of vitamin water, for example, contain 200 calories a bottle; drinking one a day could lead to a 20-pound weight gain in a year.
French fries give you zits

The tidbit of truth: Greasy fingers makes acne worse

Excess oil in your skin causes acne, but oily foods don’t contribute to the problem—that is, unless you’re a messy eater. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), when some vegetable oils get on the skin, they could make existing acne worse—so wipe your mouth if you miss, and keep greasy fingers off your face. What about chocolate? Scientists may need to look at this one a little more closely. Though experts agree specific foods don’t cause acne, very preliminary research presented at the AAD conference this year found that eating pure chocolate may exacerbate acne in people prone to pimples.
White flour is bleached with dangerous chemicals

The tidbit of truth: White flour is bleached, but the chemicals are safe

Flour whitens naturally on its own as yellow compounds called xantophylls react with oxygen in the air; this takes several weeks. To speed the process, manufacturers bleach flour, turning it white from its natural straw color, with safe, FDA-regulated chemicals (some of the same ones used to sanitize veggies). Alloxan—a compound that caused diabetes in animal research—may form as a byproduct, but the amount is minuscule (less than 0.03 mg per slice of bread) and harmless, says Julie Jones, PhD, professor emerita of family, consumer, and nutritional sciences at St. Catherine University. Is white flour less nutritious? Yes; the processing strips away essential nutrients such as fiber, magnesium, and vitamin E. Is it dangerous? No.
Carrots make you see better

The nugget of truth: Carrots contain nutrients that help keep eyes healthy

They are rich in vitamin A, and vitamin A is absolutely important for eye health—but there’s nothing magical in this orange veggie. Spinach, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin are also good sources. So yes, carrots are good for your vision, but no, they won’t improve it, say experts at the American Academy of Ophthalmology. To keep your peepers in tip-top shape, it’s more important to eat an overall balanced diet so you get all essential nutrients, and watch your weight—obesity increases your risk of diabetes and other chronic conditions, which can lead to vision loss.
Eating after dark packs on pounds

The nugget of truth: People are more prone to overeat at night

Consuming too many calories is what makes you gain weight—it doesn’t really matter what time of day you do it. That said, more people tend to overindulge at night out of boredom or other emotions instead of hunger—calories that are then stored as fat. Also, those who eat late-night often wake up without an appetite and skip breakfast, the meal that has been shown to control calorie intake throughout the day. To help curb nighttime noshing: Brush your teeth after your last meal (it sends a powerful message that eating time is over); “close” the kitchen 2 hours before bedtime; and keep snacks out of sight.