Month: April 2021

Health

Habits and Foods that Are Damaging Your Kidneys

Post author By Taylor Quinn
Post date April 30, 2021

Your kidneys are two small, bean-shaped organs that sit below the ribs on either side of the spine. Roughly the size of a fist, kidneys are in charge of filtering the blood and removing toxic substances from the food we eat, expelling these toxins out in the form of waste products. Kidneys also help maintain the delicate balance of fluids in the body.

If our kidneys are not working properly, our body cannot function. The breakdown of kidneys can lead to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), an umbrella term that covers various conditions that damage your kidneys and decrease their performance ability. The major causes of CKD are high blood pressure and diabetes, but anyone can be at risk of potential kidney disease. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can dramatically decrease your risk. It’s important to know what can cause kidney damage, so here are some of the top damaging factors to your kidneys.

1. Red Meat

Red meat is a great source of protein, but did you know that including too much meat in your diet can put you at a higher risk of kidney disease? Red meat intake (mostly pork) was strongly associated with an increased risk of end-stage renal disease, the loss of normal kidney function. The relationship was also “dose dependent”, meaning the higher the consumption, the greater the risk. A study, conducted by Dr. Woon-Puay Koh, followed 63,257 adults in Singapore for an average of 15.5 years and found that people consuming the highest amounts of red meat had a 40% increased risk of developing the end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

2. Alcohol

In social settings, alcohol is the most acceptable drug of choice. Alcohol is technically a depressant, which means it slows down your brain and affects the way it sends and receives messages. It can also badly damage your kidneys by changing the way they function. But you may be asking yourself why? Alcohol causes changes in the function of the kidneys and makes them less able to filter the blood; an extremely important function. Alcohol has many other harmful effects. Aside from damage to your kidneys, excessive alcohol consumption also puts you at a higher risk of hypertension and stroke. According to the National Kidney Foundation, more than four alcoholic drinks a day can have a negative effect on your health and worsen kidney disease.

3. Table Salt

This is a strange one because salt is essential for our health. It helps regulate our blood pressure, control fluid balance, and helps our muscles and nerves function correctly. It can also be used as a remedy for heat stroke, soothe sore throats and treat tooth and gum issues. But even though it’s an important part of our diet, too much can cause a lot of damage. Table salt is a very common staple in many households all over the world but is considered to be the least healthy type of salt. Sodium balance in the human body is extremely important. A high salt diet will alter this sodium balance, causing the kidneys to have reduced function and remove less water resulting in higher blood pressure. This puts strain on the kidneys and can lead to kidney disease.

4. Caffeine

For many, caffeine is essential to starting every day – especially in coffee form. Caffeine is a natural stimulant, found in many different foods and drinks like coffee, tea, cocoa, and chocolate. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) consider caffeine to be both a drug and food additive, and it is likely to be the world’s most popular stimulant. According to the 2013 online survey conducted by the National Coffee Association, over 587 million cups of coffee are drunk per year in the US alone. But even though caffeine is a popular pick-me-up, there can be detrimental side effects. Because caffeine is a stimulant, it speeds up the central nervous system, making the brain send and receive messages at a faster rate than usual. Caffeine stimulates blood flow, which places additional stress on the kidneys, and this can also increase blood pressure.

5. Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners have been around since the 1800s, with saccharin the first to be discovered. Many people who already struggle with weight or diabetes will often turn to these sweeteners as a substitute for regular sugar. There are many various types of artificial sweeteners these days, including aspartame, found in Equal and NutraSweet; sucralose, found in Splenda; acesulfame, found in Sunette and Equal Spoonful; saccharin, found in Sweet ‘N Low; and xylitol, found in Perfect Sweet. Artificial sweeteners are highly addictive. Too much can cause headaches, migraines, weight gain, and increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. A diet high in sugars and sweeteners also puts you at risk of dental problems like cavities and tooth decay. Research published by the National Center for Biotechnology found that two or more servings per day of artificially sweetened soda was associated with increased chances of a decline in kidney function in women.

Here are our Sources:

https://www.kidney.org/news/kidneyCare/winter10/AlcoholAffects

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20160714/too-much-red-meat-might-harm-kidneys-study-suggests

https://www.kidney.org/newsletter/coffee-and-kidney-disease

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tags artificial sweeteners, caffeine, diabetes, end stage renal disease, kidney, kidney damage, kidney failure, kidney health, kidneys, renal disease

Cars

Nine V4 Engines With More Speed Than V8s

Post author By Taylor Quinn
Post date April 12, 2021

The four-cylinder engine has been a constant for the automotive industry since as far back as the car could move. In recent years, the four-cylinder has taken precedence over other engine displacements because it’s the most economically friendly option.

Likewise, modern four-cylinder powerplants are offering everything from turbo power to almost as much horsepower as the previous generation V8s could muster up. We are going to be taking a look at a few four-cylinder engines that pack a lot more power than many V8s via Motor Junkie right here.

9: Ford Focus RS

Although the Focus RS has gone the way of most passenger cars, the model had a superb amount of power for the price. The RS could pump out 345 HP to all four wheels, which gave the car an impressive amount of performance. The awe-inspiring look of the car helped things out as well, giving the RS a sort of cult-like following that hadn’t been seen before.

8: Chevrolet Camaro

The Camaro has a notorious history of four-cylinder engines, with the “Iron Duke” being famously the worst. However, the current four-cylinder Camaro is quite a powerful sports car. The features of the four cylinders are in line with the performance that you would get from the V6 version of the car.

7: Audi TT

The Audi TT is a fine automobile that has been on the road for two decades now. With the German engineering and the powerful four-cylinder engine, the TT managed to break down just about every barrier that you can think of when it comes to a car like this. The engineers were some of the first to be able to squeeze this kind of power out of a four-cylinder.

6: Porsche 944 Turbo

The folks at Porsche are no strangers to getting the most out of the least amount of displacement. The 944 Turbo was a fine example of this, released at a time when pockets were still burning from the fuel crisis of the seventies. The performance of the 944 was at a time much better than anything else that was on the market.

5: BMW M3 E30

BMW’s inline motors have always been a step above the competition. The interesting thing about the E30 was the fact that it managed to best many V8 sports cars. The E30 has been steadily rising in value and the car is among one of the top collector items on the market right now.

4: Subaru BRZ

Designed in partnership with Toyota the BRZ has one of the best flat-four engines in the business. Likewise, very few cars manage to rival the BRZ in sheer value for the money. The Toyota engineering is evident in this car and in a lot of ways the BRZ is the next generation of the Celica.

3: Alfa Romeo 4C

Introduced way back in 2013 the 4C is perhaps the most barebones sports car that you can get today. That’s a good thing because the 4C drives more purely than almost anything else. The driving exhilaration of the 4C is only amplified by the turbocharged four-cylinder engine which pumps out a whopping amount of power. And it has no power steering.

2: Ford Mustang EcoBoost

The Mustang has also had its fair share of four cylinders over the years, and the Mustang EcoBoost is at the top of the list. The modern engine has revitalized the brand in a lot of ways. The EcoBoost manages to provide stellar performance while at the same time offering a decent amount of fuel economy as well.

1: BMW Z4

At the heart of the BMW Z4 is a four-cylinder engine that manages to pump out a respectable amount of power. For anyone in the market for a sports car that performs well and still provides luxury, the Z4 is a great choice. The four-cylinder engine is at the top of its class.

Tags 3-Series, 4, 4C, Audi, BMW, Coupe, Cylinder, Eco, EcoBoost, Focus, ford, Four, M, M-Class, Mustang, Romeo, RS, Sport, TT, V8

Cars

Seven Drawbacks Of Electric Vehicles That Drivers Overlook

Post author By Taylor Quinn
Post date April 8, 2021

Whether you’re a petrol gearhead or a classic car junkie, electric cars are the wave of the future. And although drivers are stuck in our ways, there will come a time when electric cars will be the only thing on the road. Electric cars drive great and offer a greater amount of range than ever before and are also extremely powerful.

It used to be a pipedream to think that we could get V8 power out of an electric engine, but that is now a reality. Yet that doesn’t mean everything about them is effective or efficient. Read on as we take a look at some of the drawbacks that electric car drivers often overlook.

7: Short Range Anxiety

One of the oldest clichés that come with owning an electric car is ‘range anxiety.’ You’ll never get the same range that you’ll get out of a gas motor because electric charging stations are few and far between. The range has gotten a lot better on these cars in recent years but you still have to find a charging station. Hopefully, technology will advance enough to where these cars can be charged with an ordinary outlet.

6: Long Charging Times

Another drawback to an electric car is the amount of time that it takes to charge. You can charge the car at a public charging station when you are at work, but even this won’t guarantee a fully charged battery. Most electric cars will require upwards of eight hours for a full battery, and this is almost unfathomable if you’re on a road trip.

5: Trip Planning Problems

Because of the long charge times and the limited amount of charging stations, owners of electric cars have to plan their trips a lot differently than the rest of us. For most people, you just need to map out the nearest gas station, but that has changed with the advent of the electric car. You have to plan your trips a lot more accordingly, and this can mean marking off a destination completely.

4: Mostly Geared For Urban Use

Electric cars shine in an environment where drivers are either commuting a lot or doing repetitive driving. If you live in an urban environment, an electric car can be a godsend. You’ll save on gas and at the same time help the environment, whereas a gasoline-powered car isn’t doing much positive for the environment. If you do a lot of long-haul driving, an electric car might not be the best choice for you.

3: Too Expensive

Electric cars cost a pretty penny, oftentimes costing more than a well-equipped luxury car. The rise of the electric car in the past decade has made it more or less of a luxury for most drivers. Yet the high price tag often deters customers who would otherwise be happy to own an electric car.

2: Heaviness

Another thing that you’ll notice about electric cars is that these vehicles are a lot heavier than their gasoline counterparts. The fact that these cars house such massive electric batteries only adds to the curb weight. The heaviness decreases the car’s range and also makes it a difficult proposition for someone who wants something light and nimble.

1: Low Top Speed

Off the line, acceleration is phenomenal for electric cars, but their top-end speed is not all that great. Most electric cars only have a limited top speed of 100MPH, which might seem like a letdown for the speed demons. Electric cars have come a long way, but there are still aspects of ownership that will frustrate discerning drivers.

Source: Motor Junkie

Tags Bolt, Chevrolet, Cybertruk, ev, ev1, Genesis, Hummer, Hummer EV, Hybrid, Hyundai, Leaf, Model X, Model Y, nissan, Tesla, Volt

Cars

Seven Cars That Get Drivers Noticed By Police

Post author By Taylor Quinn
Post date April 8, 2021

Fast sports cars are one of the biggest reasons drivers enjoy driving, but they also have some drawbacks. Driving a fast sports car is only going to increase the attention of authorities when you are flying by them. There’s an old wives tale that red cars are the most noticeable for police officers, but these aren’t the only noticeable vehicles.

We looked at seven cars that are bound to get you noticed by the police faster than you can say ticket. Drivers despie getting speeding tickets, but these car will only increase the odds.

7: AMC Javelin

The rare Javelin is not the most common muscle car you’ll see on the road’ likewise, it’s also not the fastest. But when you take off in this performance car, you’re sure to hear a resounding exhaust note. Most cops will take heed of this and quickly get onto your tail. The Javelin stands out from the crowd, and part of this is because the car is rare. You don’t see too many AMCs on the road anymore.

6: Ram TRX

As pickup trucks become more powerful, drivers have witnessed a lot more tickets being handed out. One truck that specifically is causing a stir is the Ram TRX. This powerful truck does a lot more than just look good, it’s Chrysler’s answer to the popular Ford Raptor. The TRX is fast and means business, pounding more horsepower to the pavement than you’d believe out of a pickup truck.

5: Lamborghini LM002

Another rarity on the road is the LM002, which in addition to being the first Lamborghini SUV, is also unique-looking. The performance of the LM002 was, by all means, the first “exotic” SUV on the market. With Lamborghini styling and performance the Lm002 looks like nothing else on the market. Likewise, the LM002 is liable to get you a ticket or two because of the high-performance motor under the hood.

4: Saleen S7

The “New Edge” Mustang that debuted in 1999 is controversial enough as it is, but the Saleen S7 took things to the next level. The powerful new V8 engine was a direct competitor for the fourth-gen Camaro. Which by this point in time had introduced the Corvette’s LS1 to the fray. The Saleen S7 looked aggressive and had a nice growl to it, which in the long term made for a collectible muscle car.

3: Hennessey Venom GT

Few cars are as noticeable as the Hennessey Venom GT, one of the most powerful supercars in the world. The exotic look of the car stands out more than any other supercar on earth. These sports cars were not street-legal in many parts of the county, making the Venom GT a professional track car. If you take it out on the street, be prepared to get a ticket.

2: Mazdaspeed 3

The Mazda 3 is one of the few compact car success stories on the market. The four-cylinder engine delivers a whopping 263 HP. Occupying the same market as the Civic SI the Mazda Speed 3 is an interesting compact car that still offers exceptional value. In the bright red paint job, you can expect to get a ticket or two.

1: Fox Body Mustang

Perhaps the most iconic Mustang in the bunch, the Fox Body models are known for a lightweight design and stellar performance. Likewise, the Fox Body is easy to work on and you can select from literally thousands of aftermarket parts. This fast little Mustang is sure to get you on the police radar.

Sources: Motor Junkie

Tags AMC, dodge, fox body, high, Mustang, performance, ram, s7, TRX