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If You Take A Nap Every Day, THIS Is What Will Happen To Your Body

Many times we forget what a simple nap can do for us after the everyday marathon we do to complete our daily tasks.

If you can find the time for a short nap, you will be pleasantly surprised of what it can do for you. There is a reason why we call it a power nap, after all. It is amazing what it does to your psychological and physical health.

For me, it is important to stay healthy, so I always find the time to close my eyes for a bit and have some rest. To me, small breaks and naps are key to staying in good health. Our body is a very smart system, and it always knows what it needs, which is essentially the reason why we feel sleepy or hungry or thirsty.

Our body knows that it needs energy or water and it sends us signals to give it what it lacks. It is not wise to ignore what our body asks from us, that’s for sure. Next time you feel sleepy or without energy take a quick power nap and that will be enough for you to recuperate.

These are the some of the benefits that you can feel once you start taking a nap every single day. 

  1. It goes together with exercise!

At a first glance, napping might seem like a total opposite of a good workout when it comes to our physical health. You might think that exercise is much better. Note that napping is as good for our physical health, because it restores the lost energy you have already used during the morning and the rest of the day.

Not only you will have more energy for the workout, but you will also have better motor skills reaction and better concentration, which will result in faster and more effective workout.  If you have no energy left in your body, exercise can even be damaging.

In order to have the benefit from exercising we need to do it correctly and for that we need to focus. No better way to get your maximum focus back than taking a small rest and a short nap. A poorly done workout often results in injuries that can have long term effects. Make sure you have enough concentration before you start your workout.

3. Helps you control the appetite

By having a good nap you can even moderate the desire for food that you have throughout the day.  When we are hungry our body, signals that it has a lack of energy. Sometimes it happens even though we have had proper meals during the day.

When we are lacking sleep we often try to find another energy source, such as snacks in order to boost our energy level. But, that’s not good. Your body will waste even more energy to properly digest the extra food. The quick boost you will get will reflect negatively later in the day.

Next time when you feel like you need a snack to stay awake, have a quick power nap instead. Your body will appreciate it.

 

  1. Reduces the Anxiety levels

Napping is the perfect way to reduce anxiety and stress levels. If you don’t give your body enough sleep, your body will release more cortisol in your system which can make you feel a bit on the edge. Never let this happen – we all know how bad stress can be for our health. In fact, stress is the biggest killer of all, according to some doctors. 

Since stress is something we can’t hide from, use every chance you have for a nap. Nothing reduces the level of cortisol like a nap. A nap will make you fill more rested, relaxed, and refreshed. Forget about all that stress that comes from your daily tasks because often, it is only present because of the lack of sleep. 

  1. Improves the hearth condition and health

Finally, the power nap also has a positive impact on your hearth. According to a study conducted at Harvard, a person who has regular naps has much lower risk of developing any kind of hearth condition or disease in near future.

Stress has a big impact on our health. Just remember that your body knows what it needs and it is screaming for it. Do not ignore it!

If you do not practice mid-day napping, then it is time to start to do so. In order for you to feel the benefits from it, here is what you need to do: Take a nap in the middle of the working day, every day if possible. Three or four times a week will also do the job.  Never ignore what your body asks from you, nobody has a spare one.

 

How To Grow Healthy Kids Through Motivation, Fun And Exercise

Raising children may seem easy these days, with everything at the touch of a button. All you need to do is provide them with healthy habits like doing exercise and eating healthy food, protecting them from becoming overweight and from developing diseases.

However, that is not always the case. Today’s parents who are prone to living a healthy lifestyle see it differently. Since there are countless diversities of various foods, especially unhealthy ones, the temptations are skyrocketing. Therefore, what can we do as adults to protect our children and raise them to be healthy?

There are many things we can do, but a few seem to dominate the others.

  • The plainer it is, the better
  • The key is to be included and keep them active
  • Try making it a family activity

Adults usually do not like being told how to raise they kids. However, a little help can go a long way.

Set the Example

Although we may not always be aware, our children look after us as their main role models for most of the things they do.

Therefore, you can do a few helpful things like:

  • Eating healthy in front of them and making it a primacy to adopt healthy routines
  • Always have them be involved
  • Constantly keep the tone of conversations and discussions polite and optimistic

Children often undertake the phrase “monkey see, monkey do”. Therefore, they mimic the behavior they see and believe to be acceptable. Most of their young life is spent watching how adults act, while copying them. Of course, expect the temper tantrums to erupt, but do not surrender to them. They will raise the white flag eventually. Sit them down calmly and discuss the positive outcomes of eating healthy and doing exercise.

Be You Children’s Encouragement

Of course, we all have our own individual ways of encouraging our children to be more physically active. However, they need to know how supportive the parents are in whatever they choose to pursue.

  • Plan family outdoor activities
  • Enroll them in a sports program
  • Drive them to their practices and events
  • Always be their biggest fan

Choose Games that are Fun and Dynamic

Most kids love to play outdoor games. However, there are always those who would rather stay copped up inside. Try planning more fun and dynamic games, making them want to come outside and play.

It is always a good idea to plan ahead by writing down any fun ideas you come up with that they would enjoy.

  • Start taking strolls
  • Try tickling them
  • Blow fun bubbles with them
  • Jump rope
  • Play Frisbee catch
  • Fly a kite
  • Play with a soccer or volley ball

Swap Watching TV with Physical Activity

Instead of allowing them to spend countless hours in front of the television, make them go outside.

  • Monitor their screen time and try to limit it
  • If they have a television set or laptop in their room, place it somewhere else
  • Make a schedule of when they can and cannot watch TV or use the laptop. Do not give in or negotiate. Studies done by the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage only a maximum of 2 hours screen time.

Try Being Fun with Healthy Eating

If children watch while we are preparing the healthy food, or even better, if they are directly involved in making it themselves, the likelihood of them eating it will dramatically increase. They will feel proud to have been included in the process.

  • Color always adds to a kid’s imagination, therefore use fruits and veggies to make things interesting for them
  • Since they also respond to shapes, try using cookie cutters
  • Plan a family outing to go apple picking and use the apples to make something later
  • Ask them to help you plant a garden in your backyard and then make the ripe fruits and veggies with them

Make Nutritious Food

Nutritious food always demands planned preparation. Therefore, try making a plan beforehand so you don’t have to spend all day in the kitchen cooking and baking.

  • Shop for nutritious and suitable foods
  • Kids respond better to frozen foods, so try keeping some fruits and veggies in the freezer
  • Make some foods beforehand and freeze them for later
  • Try finding recipes of foods that take up to 30 minutes to make

Try Keeping it Cheap

It is a rumor that all healthy foods are expensive. There are nutritious and delicious foods you can cook at an acceptable price.

  • Canned tuna or salmon
  • Lentils, beans or peas
  • Fruits and veggies that are in season
  • Frosted fruits and veggies

Gradually Eliminate the Junk Foods

Do not get rid of all the unhealthy foods at once. Instead, gradually replace them one by one with their healthier counterpart. No need to panic when doing this. The slower, the better.

  • Replace white rice with brown rice
  • Try using olive oil and not butter
  • Go for the non-sugar cereals
  • Eliminate the soda bottles and replace them with juice or water
  • Replace cheese with pureed veggies

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3 Emotions That Psychopaths And Narcissists Use To Manipulate Others

Psychopaths and narcissists are one of the biggest manipulators you can come across. They would use your emotions, feelings and thoughts in order to make sure they look good and benefit from your actions or opinion.

The main purpose of these manipulators is to get what they can from you. If you’re inexperienced with people like this, consider yourself a potential victim. However, nothing is lost just yet. You can take the control over manipulators by taking control over your own emotions.

Specifically, there are 3 emotions that manipulators use to benefit from the others. These emotions are not necessarily bad or negative, but they’re all deep and powerful. We have them only when we truly care for someone and love. Although they’re a result of loving and caring, psychopaths and narcissists often use them for manipulation.

There are still some things you can do to prevent these people from reaching their goals. It takes focus and bravery, but it’s not impossible. Don’t allow manipulators take advantage of your sensitivity for their own benefit.

You will encounter a manipulator at least once in your lifetime, but you can escape from their trap soon enough. If you want to stop them in their plans on time, you need to be careful when expressing the following emotions.

1.Anger

When you’re being angry, you’re also being vulnerable to attacks from manipulators. In this state, they will see a chance to get something from you or use you in some way. When we’re angry, we are unstable and that makes it easy for others to influence us and affect our opinions. It’s important to see that anger is your enemy here. Indeed, anger is your enemy almost everywhere.

Whenever you’re angry, you need to concentrate and focus in order to make sure you’re not doing something you would regret. Avoid conversations and social situations when you’re angry. Don’t argue with people and don’t go around people who have tried to manipulate you in this state.

2. Happiness

Manipulators can take control over you even when you have a positive attitude. Joy and happiness are two emotions that can be easily used for manipulation. For instance, if you’re in a close relationship with a psychopath or narcissist, they might use the happiness you express against you when they need something. I know many cases where one of the partners threatens to leave if they don’t get something.

In these cases, you have to be brave and strong. You don’t need a manipulator beside you. Don’t allow them to use your joy to control you. Nobody has the right to do that. Be strong and leave as soon as you notice this.

3. Jealousy

The third emotion that manipulators use to take control is jealousy. This emotion makes you feel bad, but it also serves as an opportunity for the manipulator. How exactly does it work?

People feel jealousy when they care for someone. These feelings are so strong that they make us lose the control over our actions and thoughts. Manipulators use this state to blame the other side for their “bad and unreasonable” actions in order to make you do things their way.

The more jealous you feel, the lower the control you have over your actions. Once you lose the control, it’s much easier for the manipulator to take over.

Whenever you feel jealousy, relax and stay calm without overthinking about the situation. Be honest and listen to the included parties before you start making conclusions. Don’t let manipulators use your feelings as your weakness and start fights that will lead to the realization of their plans at the end.

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Modern Educayshun: Brilliant Short Film Takes Cheeky Swipe At Political Correctness In Schools

We can all agree on one thing: Society’s insistence on political correctness has absolutely gone too far. There is no denying that over the last few decades, the concept has gradually taken hold of our educational system, creating an environment where mediocrity and the policy of absolute tolerance stifle any glimmer of progress and brilliance. However bitter and unbecoming it might seem, it is the naked truth.

Recognizing the crippling blow that political correctness has dealt on academia, Australian filmmaker Neel Kolhatkar recently created a masterful short movie called ‘Modern Educayshun’ that addresses this issue. The short film received over 3,000,000 hits on YouTube in just a week.

A powerful and straightforward piece of work, this satirical short film pulls no punches when it comes to criticizing political correctness and the detrimental effects it has on our education.

Just take a few minutes and see for yourself.

According To Buddha, These Are The Four Elements Of “True Love”

Some people say true love happens only once in a lifetime. But, not many people have actually been able to describe the meaning of “true love”. Is it the same feeling you have when you have a crush on someone at high school?

Or is it similar to close friendships, where you care for the person as a human being at first, and even afterwards you leave space for passion?

One way we can get closer to understanding the meaning of “true love” is actually talking to someone who has already felt it. But even then, we might find it difficult to understand it before experiencing it first.

It seems that there are lessons that can be learnt only through experience. But in order to help us grasp the notion of the term, Buddha has spoken about few components of “true love” that he has realized through his journey through the emotions, experiences and events happening in the world.

These four components Buddha has spoken of are what makes true love different than any other similar feeling. In order to understand the meaning, you need to practice certain things.

  1. Give without expecting to receive

True love is definitely not about being selfish and greedy. It’s the complete opposite of that. When you love someone truly, you give and don’t expect anything in return.

You want the other person to be happy and to benefit, so you are ready to give selflessly. If you’re not able to do this for someone you care, you might not be ready to understand the meaning of true love yet.

Giving is a feature of people with big hearts who are ready to experience true love. Start practicing this sooner and you will understand its importance and significance, just as Buddha did.

  1. Happiness

Happiness is inimitable feature of good life, just as true love is. These two come together. Positive energy can do wonders and joy is the greatest emotion you can transfer to someone.

The best thing is that anyone can do it. Everyone has the potential to become a source of positive energy and inspiration. Buddha himself has practiced happiness and joy even while doing the most boring routines.

Apart from the positive effect it can have on the others, joy is a key component of the meaning of “true love”. Negative attitude towards life and people will only get you more isolated in your negative thoughts and far from true love.

  1. Have passion

Many great thinkers have said that no matter what your job is, you have to give your best every day. Having passion for something you do daily is crucial for living a fulfilling life and loving someone.

When people are not passionate about their job or their actions, it might be a sign that they have made a mistake in the choice of occupation. On the other side, people who have passion for their job, even if that’s an occupation that might seem less important to the others, will achieve great success in life.

With great success comes big happiness, and this results in understanding the meaning of true love.

Whatever you do, be an expert at it!

  1. Be kind

Buddha has taught us a great lesson about kindness. From him, we learned that it’s important to be kind to others and to yourself. Practicing kindness is the last key component of true love which Buddha lists for people who haven’t understood the meaning of true love.

Only by being kind we can be loved by someone and only by being kind to ourselves we can appreciate ourselves. Satisfaction comes from ourselves. If we are not able to appreciate ourselves, then how can we expect someone else to appreciate us?

Practicing kindness will show you how beautiful people can be. It will show you that everyone is special and has a different role in the world. Finally, it will help you to grow and become a better person, thus motivating others to improve.

Understanding true love is about understanding these four components. Buddha has many other lessons for personal growth and taking control over one’s own emotions. The meaning of true love is just the start of a greater and more powerful spiritual journey.

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Do You Lose Friends As You Get Older?-5 Reasons Why Losing Friends As You Get Older Is Actually A Good Thing

losing friends as you get older

If you are at a point of life where you are losing friends as you are getting older, and feel scared about it, there is no need to worry. In fact, losing friends with age is quite normal and happens to everyone.

Let me tell you the good news first. The positive aspect in this is that you will become a completely different individual with entirely new way of living. Changing anything can be a chance for a fresh start. You will meet new friends and travel to new destinations that you will grow fond of.

Of course, there is bad news, as well. That’s the letting go of some things. The hardest thing is letting go of close friendships, especially best friends. But sometimes, this is necessary for new positive changes to take place. Changes often bring new opportunities for you and you should try to get a hold of them.  At the end, it is a good thing to be an opportunist. 

Why do we lose friends as we get older? 

1. Safe zone

The older we get the more we realize how protective we are over things that hold value for us. You will start building a safe zone and protect your standards and principles you set.

You will notice that you will respect more new friends you will make with time as you grow older and more mature and never take for granted the things you say and the things you do.

You will find new people that have similar interests and you will develop meaningful relationships with these people. At the end you choose these friends at a more mature age, therefore they will probably be a better choice than before.

2. See the world

As you grow older you also become more experienced with the world around you. You start to rely on the things you’ve learnt and also you begin to cherish the friends that you can really rely on for important things.

With time you will learn to recognize that some things and people aren’t really needed in your life and you may have to let those people go in order to move on with things that matter in your life. 

3. Relationships that matter

With time, you may lose some of the oldest and best friends as you gain age, but that doesn’t mean that you will never have good friends and close relationships that matter again.

That is completely opposite of the truth. In fact, now you make friends who know themselves better and have discovered their passions, which makes them happier.

As time goes on and on, you will find new things that attract you and new things that you want to talk about, new places that you want to visit.  You will find friends with similar interests and you will enjoy spending time talking about these new stuff. 

4. Less and less Time

The older we get the more obligations we have. Therefore, we realize we have less and less time to spare on things that does not matter to us.

The time line in our life will move faster, and eventually it will become a race track. We no longer have time for everyone. But we also need more time for ourselves.

You will learn to cherish time and preserve it for your own needs. You will see that the only option is the wise use of time. Therefore you will learn to give priority to some things and avoid other.

This goes to people in our life too. Soon you will have to decide who is worth spending your time with and who is not. Do not let unimportant people waste your time, because we all know that time moves in one direction only.

5. Dishonesty detector

When we are younger we have a habit of being a bit of dishonest at some times. Let’s be honest here, we have all lied to our parents and teachers, even friends at least couple of times, right? The bad thing is that lies are getting bigger and worse over time and age. So we grow to dislike them.

As we grow older we grow to have no tolerance for dishonesty. We no longer tolerate this and therefore we want to be the voice of reason when it comes to arguing with a dishonest person.

You will find yourself willing for an honest conversation, often trying to avoid conversations which have no real value or purpose. The good thing is that over time we learn how to detect people who are dishonest and we start to avoid them.

Hopefully this article helped you come over your fears of becoming older. Just remember every part of life has its own beauty, so don’t try to resist time, but embrace it.

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Being Awkward Can Lead You To A Likelier Success -THIS Is Why

Have you been tagged as being awkward by those who know you? Do you sometimes feel awkward when in company with people out of your closest circles? Do you know someone who is awkward?

Well, good news, your awkwardness. It turns out that you shouldn’t really care too much about it (if you ever have). As psychologist Ty Tashiro explains, people who are socially awkward are more likely to demonstrate what psychologists refer to as ‘striking talent’.

Striking talent’ refers to the immense ability a person can have in a specific area. This ability is what socially awkward people are most likely to exhibit, due to their peculiar nature. As Tashiro explains, it all comes down to their tendency to focus on a specific topic very narrowly and intensely.

He explains that these people may not be smart about everything. It is because they focus their intellect on one or two very specific areas, and will often be average, or even under-average, in other areas. This characteristic is what exactly makes them seem so awkward.

The fact is, when one focuses all their attention on a certain area, they are prone to be less socially skilled, or to be good communicators. Their intense focus on that certain area does not only inhibit their other potentials, but it can also mean that they may feel irritated when their routines are broken.

However, this same focus is of course a real strength too. Being able to stay true to the ideal they have set allows them to persist, even through hard times, when the task can become frustrating or boring to others.

This persistence is what psychologists refer to as ‘deliberate practice’. Deliberate practice, or the repetitive practice of the same thing until you reach mastery over it, is the key to achieving success in things you may be worst at.

It is exactly this kind of persistence that awkward people seem to enjoy the most. They won’t feel bothered with the long hours that take to master a certain topic or area. And it is exactly this characteristic which can lead these people to success.

As Tashiro puts it quite correctly, it is exactly this kind of focus and energy that can result in reaching groundbreaking innovation or redefining the way a field operates or thinks. It’s no wonder that all the greatest minds have shown great social awkwardness.

Ty Tashiro is the author of the book Awkward: n his book, he refers to decades of psychological research in human intelligence, neuroscience, personality, and sociology, in order to unravel the awkwardness behind being awkward.

His conclusion is simple: “The same characteristics that make people socially clumsy can be harnessed to produce remarkable achievements.”

So, stay awkward and don’t feel too concerned about it! Instead, focus on what you’re doing and keep doing it as you already know how. The world needs awkward people to help it to improve.

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Dad Of 3 Ariana Grande Fans Posts Powerful Open Letter To “Set Her Straight.”

The recent Manchester suicide attack, which killed 22 and left 59 injured, left everyone utterly shocked and devastated. It not only shook Manchester, but the whole world.

This did not leave Ariana Grande intact. Even though she was unharmed, the weight of so many people’s lives utterly changed for the worse has become hers too.

Except for a single heartfelt tweet, Ariana has avoided both social media and the spotlight since the attack.

Patrick Millsaps, a father of 3 girls and a film producer, touched by Ariana’s devastated reaction, felt compelled to write an open letter to Ariana.

In his letter, Millsaps decides to “set her straight”, and help her cope with the aftermath of the event in the best way possible.

It’s a worthwhile and powerful letter:

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The Goo That’s Good For Teeth

We all try to do our best to take care of our oral hygiene. We brush and floss daily (okay, some of us), we visit our dentist twice a year and we undertake the pain that comes with that visit: all that tools that buzz I think only exist to torture us.

So, we’re sorry to inform you that your effort and diligence along with fluoride treatments and fillings may not be the best defense against cavities. The best medicine is moist, warm, and a little slimy. Dare to guess? Yes, you’re right – snot.

According to one study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology journal, mucus, along with tears and skin, forms a defense barrier against germs. It turns out that mucus contains proteins called salivary mucins, which are essential for protecting our teeth from a type of bacteria called Streptococcus cavities, responsible for causing cavities.

Mucins prevent bacteria from sticking onto teeth and releasing acid that makes holes in tooth’s surface, unlike mouthwash and toothpaste that only kill bacteria. Researches who carried out the study, are working on synthetic mucus that could be added to toothpaste or a chewing gum. Is anyone up for a booger bubble gum?

However gross it may sound to you right now, this synthetic mucus will not only prevent bacteria, but it might also defend you against stomach ulcer, infections on the respiratory system, or even HIV.

They are definitely a better choice than antibiotics since mucins don’t kill bacteria – they only prevent bacteria for causing damage. Antibiotics, on the other hand, kill not only harmful bacteria, but also some helpful bacteria which could probably result in more dangerous viruses and infections taking place.

In other words, as Katharina Ribbeck, an assistant professor of biological engineering at MIT department, points out that this synthetic alternative is used “not necessarily to resolve infections but to stabilize or prevent infection.”

When bacteria S.mutans cling to our teeth, it forms a biofilm. Then it feeds on sugars we consume daily through food, thus producing acid that dissolves the tooth enamel.

This is how cavities are formed. Ribbeck’s group of research investigated the mucin known as MUC5B (the most common one) on a molecular level, in order to find out how it guards our teeth from cavities.

They first isolated MUC5B from the saliva they took from volunteers. Then on a different plate that was made from a plastic used often to resemble a tooth’s enamel, they grew S.mutans bacteria with sugar.

But, some of the plates contained MUC5B also. Finally, they discovered that there were more S.mutans bacteria floating around the plates that contained MUC5B than attached to them. This confirms our theory that mucin does prevent S.mutans bacteria, thus preventing cavities.

How can this happen? The researchers are not sure yet, but they think that it may be that MUC5B forms “a 3-D spider web” and catches S.mutans in it along with the secreted acid.

Moreover, it might be that MUC5B forms a coat that repels bacteria from the tooth thus preventing to form a biofilm. Ribbeck and Frenkel go deeper in the subject by saying that it is very possible that mucins not only keep S.mutans alive, but also neutralize the toxins that other bacteria produce.

Of course more research needs to be done since Ribbeck and Frenkel conducted their study in plastic wells – not on real teeth. Also, many other bacteria can cause cavities, not just S.mutans.

As William Bowen, a professor at the University of Rochester’s School of Medicine and Dentistry says that bacteria that cause cavities don’t stick directly to the tooth surface, but rather form a gluey film over the tooth that is known as plaque.

So, what can we conclude from all this? The fact is that the benefits of synthetic mucus are enormous since it can be used to prevent food spoilage or accumulation of bacteria on other surfaces as well. This process is called biofouling. “The applications are enormous”, Ribbeck adds.

All that being said, it is still important to have consistent dental check-ups to keep your teeth healthy. You may visit this family dentist in lancaster for all your dental needs.

12 Amazing Facts About Farting You Didn’t Know!

A few of the most embarrassing thing you can do in front of others would have to be farting, burping and letting out amusing sounds.

However, these are normal body functions that we need to release in order to be healthy and in normal condition. If we had to choose the most humiliating one of all, it would have to be farting. Apart from the funny noise it makes when releasing gases, it also gives off am awful odor.

Although we are all aware of the fact that farting is part of the digestive process and must take place, no matter how disturbing, it is still a mockery. We know about the farting process these things; but are there hidden facts we are unaware?

1.In comparison to women, men tend to fart a lot more and seem to be more comfortable with it. It is a known fact that men do not find it as awkward as women to fart when they are not alone.

2. Did you know that the word ‘fart’ was coined in 1962 and is defined as wind emerging from the anus? Funny, right?

3. We fart most while we are asleep. Thank goodness!

4. Farts travel at 10 feet per second.

5. They are made up of hydrogen sulfide that decreases mitochondrial harm. This fact you might have known. However, did you know that smelling the odor could actually be healthy? The next time you or someone around you farts, be grateful.

6. A healthy, typical person farts around 14 times a day.

7. The 14 farts that we let out are just enough to fill a whole balloon. How about that?

8. If you are someone who farts around 14 times a day, then consider yourself healthy. However, if you are farting a lot less than this or not at all, you should visit a doctor.

9. The difference between those who fart quieter and let you horrible loud noises is the size of their sphincter. The tighter the sphincter, the louder the fart!

10. Out of all the animals and such, termites harvest the most fart. After that, follow sheep, camels, zebras, elephants, dogs and cows.

11. The next time your chew gum or drink soda, think twice. They increase your chances of farting.

12. Compared to men, women contain more concentration of hydrogen sulfide, and therefore have smellier farts. However, they are healthier to smell than men’s are.

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