Metabolism in a World of Crash Diets 15/04/2020

Extreme diets can be an effective way to lose weight quickly, but what many dieters do not realize the internal damage that occurs simultaneously. What may seem like a simple calorie deficit and carbohydrate reduction can result in much more than weight loss.

The Atkins, South Beach, Zone, and most recent, Ketogenic diet may all sound different, but are strikingly similar in their guidelines. All four diets are adversized as a healthy way to lose weight fast, with one catch being lowering carbohydrate intake.

The Ketogenic diet specifies 20 grams of net carbs are permitted in one day, to allow the body to go into the ketosis phase. Ketosis occurs when the body is deprived of carbohydrates, which is the body’s main energy source, forcing the body to use stored fat and proteins as fuel. This allows your body to burn fat as fuel instead of fueling off of carbohydrates that are consumed. This phase is not unique in diet trends, but different methods of measuring carbohydrate intake are used.

Another example of a diet that measures out carbohydrates is the Zone diet, created by Dr. Sears, a biochemist. He specified that a meal should be comprised of 40% carbohydrates, 30% fats, and 30% protein. Although this may not be as extreme, it is still considered a carbohydrate deficit, as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests carbohydrates should make up 45-65% of an individual's daily caloric intake.

What the average individual may not be aware of at the start of their diet that promises weight loss, is that a calorie deficit results in slowed metabolism. A slowed metabolism burns fewer calories, making weight loss through activity harder to achieve. Caloric deficit diets have been shown to be harmful to one’s health, long after a diet has been terminated. Once a metabolism is suppressed, it can be hard for the body to increase BMR, even if the body is being fueled sufficiently. Because carbohydrates are the body’s fuel, when the body is deprived, it will reach for fat and protein; meaning that not only will an individual lose weight from fat loss, but muscle weight will also diminish, ultimately weakening both the body and metabolism.

A standard diet should consist of fats, proteins, and carbs, all in moderation. Doctors, nutritionists, registered dieticians, and other health professionals should be the only individuals recommending diets to improve quality of life, not tabloid magazines.

Intraoperative Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer: Promising Outcomes 19/02/2020

Radiation therapy is a regularly sought out treatment for aggressive cancers, alongside a combination of medications and chemical therapy. While chemical therapy (referred to as chemo or chemotherapy) utilizes anti-cancer medications to combat fast-growing cancer cells, radiation therapy uses a linear accelerator to target and minimize cancerous tumours.

Using radiation therapy in part with chemo and medication increased the likelihood of surviving 10 years from treatment from 54% to 64%, according to two studies from the New England Journal of Medicine in 1997. Although these numbers are promising, scientists, surgeons, and oncologists have developed a new method of radiation therapy.

Intraoperative radiation therapy (otherwise known as IORT) is a method of targeting cancerous tumours that are otherwise difficult to treat or remove in surgery. IORT is a surgical procedure that uses ionizing radiation at a high GY on an exposed tumour. This method is extremely effective as it provides weeks worth of radiation in a matter of minutes. This vigorous method is often practiced with conventional radiation therapy before a lumpectomy. As IORT is provided during lumpectomies (surgical removal of a discrete portion or "lump" of breast tissue, usually in the treatment of a malignant tumour or breast cancer), not every patient is viable for this treatment.

Albeit invasive, IORT is a short term treatment option that can save hours of commute for patients, primarily in rural settings. This form of radiation also preserves surrounding healthy tissue, which is otherwise compromised during lumpectomies for tumours that are more integrated with tissue and muscle.

The future of cancer is unclear, but the treatments being developed are promising. Intraoperative radiation therapy is a very effective method of cancer treatment if the patient is viable. IORT allows the patient to live without scheduling their life around exhausting therapies that last for weeks at a time.

often practiced with conventional radiation therapy before a lumpectomy. As IORT is provided during lumpectomies (surgical removal of a discrete portion or "lump" of breast tissue, usually in the treatment of a malignant tumour or breast cancer), not every patient is viable for this treatment. 

Albeit invasive, IORT is a short term treatment option that can save hours of commute for patients, primarily in rural settings. This form of radiation also preserves surrounding healthy tissue, which is otherwise compromised during lumpectomies for tumours that are more integrated with tissue and muscle. 

The future of cancer is unclear, but the treatments being developed are promising. Intraoperative radiation therapy is a very effective method of cancer treatment if the patient is viable. IORT allows the patient to live without scheduling their life around exhausting therapies that last for weeks at a time.

To Prevent Next Coronavirus, Stop the Wildlife Trade, Conservationists Say 20/02/2020

The COVID-19 is a mild pandemic, affecting 73 000 individuals and has displaced millions. It has killed approximately 2 000 individuals, but humans aren’t the only ones who are infected. The first known case stems from a seafood market in Wuhan, China, which points to some form of the virus present in animals. This is not a unique story, in fact, the SARS pandemic and MERS epidemic were both directly caused by a virus that spread from mammal to human.

Conservationists believe that the only way that we can prevent devastating coronaviruses in the future is to put a screeching halt to global wildlife trade.

Beijing was the first to put a ban, temporary nonetheless, on all wildlife trade in attempts to stop the virus from spreading to the sprawling capital. This proves that individuals are able to recognize the linkage between mammal and human virus spreading, but can China stand the loss of global wildlife trade?

China is more or less a pro at illegal wildlife trade, ranking in billions every year from the lucrative practice. This is primarily done as a means of trade for goods and services amongst citizens, as it's a relatively inexpensive practice, but the market for these animals is high demand.

The world’s most trafficked mammal, pangolins are barred from international trade and are protected domestically in China. But pangolin meat and blood are considered delicacies on the black market, and sales of their scales for use in traditional Chinese medicine remain legal for certain hospitals and pharmacies. Experts still do not know which species transmitted the new coronavirus to people. But pangolins, also known as scaly anteaters, are now the leading suspects.

The country’s wildlife policies are based on the premise that wildlife is a natural resource that should be utilized, and officials tend to view wildlife from an economic standpoint rather than an ecological one. Banning wildlife trade would require a fundamental shift.

“The Chinese government has created an enormous problem for itself by encouraging wildlife use,” Dr. Li, the infamous Chinese ophthalmologist who was the whistleblower for the current mild pandemic, said. “Now it must choose whether to favour the economic interests of a small minority or to favour the public health interests of 1.4 billion Chinese people and the world.”

The Tears of Nature

"The Tears of Nature" - an original poem by Ava Munro

Her cries pour down in rain
Sorrows feeding the flowers
Her ignored sobs of pain
While toxins flow through her veins

We drive across her terrain
Over her body
Using her to entertain
Too careless to sustain

Her cries pour down in rain
She removes her daisy-chain crown
And protests with a hurricane
Surrendering in vain

Destruction as we reign
Each individual to their own
Construction of another lane
Propel us forward with propane

Her cries pour out of pain
Prospering population a plague
People plant posies to protect themselves
From the perfume of this pollution

As they perch on their pedestal and preach;
"Reduce, reuse, recycle"

While they relentlessly repeat
"Revolutionary" remedies
Readying for road-trips
And the rebirth of Earth remains reserved

Her cries pour down in rain
Acid from exhaust
Transportation a chain
Holding her to be slain

Hold ourselves accountable
No shifting the blame
If everyone acted like you,
Would you still do the same?

- A.M

Astigmatism by Ashley Lacasse

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vTV5e3Bflh1wJSad83I10E6sy6O2E-fBHyGNBamurx5cjG26yYe96PoLUP8_k-DNGiKbyHf7Z2sOEpJ/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=30000

Famous First Nations Role Model

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRn3_3xWtiOANn2OKAApzLaaQmZnWqfnsNlM2yvILx-b4rLQSM8NUKevIA8JOknYHcf7ZFuwZOOEvzM/pub

Drinking Water Advisories In Canada And Its Effects On First Nations, Metis, And Inuit Communities

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vTEXnJTJKSa0dZOM3w0gPxYIoAbKcHKWpx7cpJ2zkZEmA--_BHSS6H7zvNNr-CHERWkuFOiLAs-6D3k/pub?start=false&loop=true&delayms=60000

3 Sisters Soup

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTycrTzmbac8WmdbdVJFPBW4TAeUHT30HH2b_N7IoEsum56msh6hENzyJkyMbLXKZgiw-4u9zvKRxNZ/pub

Current First Nations, Metis, And Inuit Issues In The Media

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTycrTzmbac8WmdbdVJFPBW4TAeUHT30HH2b_N7IoEsum56msh6hENzyJkyMbLXKZgiw-4u9zvKRxNZ/pub

Banting Recycle and Waste Audit - November 2019 posted by Selina N.

Waste Diversion Rate at Banting
In November 2019 Frederick Banting a team of Banting students began their annual waste audit to see how they were recycling and composting compared to the amount of waste going to the landfill (garbage). This information is used to help us determine how we can reduce the amount of material going to landfills. Students weighed the compost, garbage, blue and black bins in each school areas and calculated the waste diversion rate. See sample pictures at the end of this report to see how we do it.

What is the diversion rate? 
Diversion rate is the total percentage of recyclable materials that have avoided being put to garbage dumps, and instead are put through the recycle system where the materials can get reused. Last year in 2018-2019 Frederick Banting Alternative Program had a diversion rate of 82% compared to 99% based on our recycle, compost and garbage audit for this academic year. Here is our data chart of each area of the school audited for this academic year.

Banting Recycling and Garbage Audit November 2019: 

Room	Garbage	Blue bin	Black bin	Compost
Janet	250g	1kg	1kg	1198 g
Hall outside (room 1)	No garbage	No blue bin	No black bin	bin 1: 2kg bin 2: 1kg
Amanda L	No garbage	1.5kg	2kg	50g
Boys 1	50g	No blue bin	No black bin	1kg
Girls 1	10g	No blue bin	No black bin	1kg
Staff Bathroom	No garbage	No blue bin	No black bin	1kg
Hall outside staff room	No garbage	1kg	2kg	250g
Meagan	143g	1kg	2kg	10g
Staff room	No garbage	No blue bin	3kg	200g
Staff room kitchen	3g	2kg	No black bin	Compost 1: 50g Compost 2: 1kg
Staff room bathroom	No garbage	No blue bin	No black bin	Compost 1: 3kg Compost 2: 3kg
Room 4	Small bag (20g)	1kg	No black bin	50g
Tom	No garbage	1kg	1kg	700g
Mary	No garbage	1kg	1kg	50g
Christine	Big bag (75g)	2kg	1kg	200g
Hall outside Christine	13g	1kg	550g	compost 1: 50g compost 2: 50g compost 3: 100g
Student kitchen	No garbage	1kg	1kg	600g
Office	No garbage	1kg	No black bin	10g
Photocopy room	No garbage	No blue bin	2kg	10g
Guidance	No garbage	1kg	2kg	250g
Safe school	No garbage	1kg	2kg	10g
Pam	123g	1kg	1kg	400g
Boys bathroom	100g	No blue bin	No black bin	3kg
Girls bathroom	385g	No blue bin	No black bin	2kg
Room 8	No garbage	No blue bin	1.5kg	No compost
Sarah	No garbage	900g	No black bin	10g
Custodian	2kg	2kg	1100kg	No compost
TOTAL:	1174g	20400g	1123050g	39900g

 2020 Diversion Rate equation: Total Waste Weight = Total Garbage Weight of 1 Day + Total Recycling Weight of 1 Day Diversion Rate = Total Recycling Weight of 1 Day / Total Waste Weight x 10 Total waste weight = 1174g + ((20400g + 1123050g + 39900g)/5) 1174g + (1183350g / 5) 1174g + 2366700g = 237844g Total weight of one day recycling = 237844g Diversion rate= (236670g / 237844g) 10 0.9950 10 = 99%

 2019-2020 diversion rate = 99%

 In 2018 the diversion rate was 92% then in 2019 it was 82%. Now in 2019-2020 the diversion rate is 99%. Working together in our school we have avoided putting recyclable items into garbage landfills.

Why is recycling important? 
Recycling is important for the environment by using old and waste products and making them into new products. Since we are saving resources there's less trash in landfills, this reduces air and water pollution. It's a fact that 60% of garbage that ends up in landfills are recyclable. Recycling is one of the best ways for you to have a positive impact on the world.

How do I start recycling?
Check out the infographic created by Banting Student and popsted to our blog! https://bantinggreen.blogspot.com/2019/06/recycling-at-banting.html
In addition view these tips on how to recycle from http://www.recycling-guide.org.uk/recycle.html)
Recycling in and around the home can be easy when you know how. By thinking carefully about what products you buy at the supermarket and other places and how to recycle them is the first step towards efficient recycling.

Find ways of recycling different materials
Many materials can be recycled, such as paper, plastic, metal and glass. Other items such as furniture, electronic equipment, building material and vehicles can also be recycled but many people don’t often think about how they can be recycled. See the City of Ottawa web links below for ideas as well as consider putting out reusable items out at the Ottawa Giveaway Weekend in June, 2020. https://ottawa.ca/en/garbage-and-recycling/garbage#give-away-weekend

Buy products that can be recycled
When shopping at the supermarket, buy products that can be recycled easily such as glass jars and tin cans. Bring your own shopping bags as well as produce bags. Avoid products that are over-wrapped. Contact the vendor and your government when you see ways to decrease plastic use in the store. Fast fashion is when fashion brands overstock stores to keep up with new trends but they are also quick to throw the old stuff away to make room for new collections. This mass clothing production requires a lot of resources and energy that depends on toxic dyes and chemicals that pollutes the environment. We have a Trader Location in the school in which staff, students and community members bring in gently used clothing items, books and other household items for “Trader Fred”. Anyone can take the items for re-use thereby reducing landfill waste. You may donate clothing to Salvation Army, Value Village, Shelters, and the City of Ottawa Welfare Offices where they can be taken by clients. We donate items not taken from Trader Fred to a City of Ottawa Welfare Office where they have a table for clients to take items. We are told that whatever we donate is taken immediately.

Buy products that have been made from recycled material. You can tell if a product is eco-friendly by looking at the label on the packaging. Avoiding buying hazardous material. It is difficult to recycle products that contain hazardous waste. Try to find safer alternatives to household cleaners and buy non-toxic products whenever possible. You can properly dispose of hazardous materials you do have by looking at the City of Ottawa website on how and where to dispose of hazardous waste. Sometimes you can find alternatives to hazardous materials for cleaning for example Queen of Green with the David Suzuki Foundation has a free online newsletter that gives lots of ideas for being more green including household cleaners. https://davidsuzuki.org/queen-green/

Recycle and compost bins
Make sure you have recycle and compost bins in your home, school and workplace. Keep them in an obvious place so you won’t forget to use it. Your local council should be able to provide you with a recycle bin that can be used for materials such as glass, paper, aluminium, plastic and compost. Compost liners can be made from flyers or newspapers. Banting Students and Staff did a training video with the Ottawa Citizen on how to make green bin liners. We make them at school with donated newspapers from members of one of our local churches. https://bantinggreen.blogspot.com/search?q=how+to+line+that+green+bin

In our locality, The City of Ottawa has a website with tips to help you start and how to reduce waste and specific sites to help you figure out what will go in your blue bin, black bin, compost and what is considered garbage. https://ottawa.ca/en/garbage-and-recycling/waste-reduction-and-education

How to get your blue, black and green bin https://ottawa.ca/en/garbage-and-recycling/recycling#get-blue-bin-black-bin-or-green-bin

What goes in your blue bin https://ottawa.ca/en/garbage-and-recycling/recycling#what-goes-your-blue-bin

What goes in your black bin https://ottawa.ca/en/garbage-and-recycling/recycling#what-goes-your-black-bin 

What goes in your compost as well as leaf and yard waste https://ottawa.ca/en/garbage-and-recycling/green-bin-and-leaf-and-yard-waste#what-goes-your-green-bin

What goes in your garbage https://ottawa.ca/en/garbage-and-recycling/garbage

For ther non garbage items and what to do The City of Ottawa Site has recommendations on what to do with other items which are not garbage and can be reused https://ottawa.ca/en/garbage-and-recycling/recycling#waste-explorer

Hazardous Waste Waste Explorer - if you are not sure about an item https://app06.ottawa.ca/cgi-bin/search/recycle/q.pl?q=&lang=en

What we have changed including this year to improve to reduce waste:
Two years ago Banting students created a petition to Tim Horton’s, Starbucks and McDonald’s to change the solf black plastic #6 lid to decomposable. This year Tim Horton’s has changed to a recyclable plastic #5 lid. Students had over 50,000 signatures! Another project last year was a petition to politicians to reduce pollution through human behavior https://bantinggreen.blogspot.com/2019/06/reducing-pollution-through-human.html

The result shortly after was an announcement by Prime Minister Trudeau that they planned the process to eliminate excess plastic use. Banting Students also submitted their ideas on the Ontario Government Consultation on Reducing Waste and Littering in Ontario in the spring of 2019. This year we have made more effort to have waste free food events in coordination with the local Community Bible Church (CBC). We now have sufficient cutlery (donated by a staff member that they obtained from second hand shops), have sufficient plates and use only decomposable materials that can be composted. Instead of drink boxes they provide juice in jugs which were also donated by a staff member. After our holiday event diner we had one small bag of garbage after feeding about 90 students and staff. At our Wellness day breakfast we had the same minimal amount of garbage created. In 2019 I wrote a petition to urge individuals, including fast food outlets, restaurants and any other location where drink straws are used or sold including food products manufactured such as drink boxes with excess plastic packaging including plastic wrapped plastic straws to please stop using plastic straws. Straws are one of the most common types of litter around the world and they can't even be recycled so it ends up in landfills polluting our planet. https://bantinggreen.blogspot.com/2019/11/this-is-my-petition-to-starbucks.html

What we at Banting can do better and continue to work on
We can still work on reducing plastic waste. My blog post above on using alternatives to plastic straws is a step in the right direction but more needs to be done. We have suggested making metal and bamboo straws available to students. We are working on reminding students and staff to rinse out any recyclable plastics with food waste before they go into the blue bin.  Our weekly recycling announcements remind students and staff to do so before bringing their recycling down for final assessment, sorting and bringing out to the outdoor bins. We need to continue to advocate for change with the governments to reduce waste and littering making sure they follow through with their promises. We need to continue to monitor and make sure that paper with food waste and food waste goes to the compost and that fast food and coffee outlet hot drink lids are placed in the blue bin provided they are not soft black plastic #6. We need to continue sharing where-ever we go throughout our days what we have learned here at Banting about being advocates for the planet. There is no Planet B!

Weighing the black bin contents from one class

Weighing the green bin contents from a washroom

Weighing the classroom compost from one class using a Newton Scale