15 Calcium Sources That Don't Require a Cow By Shereen Lehman, MS Nutrition Expert

Calcium is essential for healthy bones, but it does so much more. Calcium is required for normal muscle and nerve function and your blood to clot properly. A calcium deficiency is bad news because it can lead to osteoporosis or osteopenia. 

The Institute of Medicine recommends that adults get from 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams of calcium every day based on age. 

Milk and other dairy products are well known for their calcium content -- that's why they make up one whole food group -- the United States Department of Agriculture says adults should get three cups of dairy products in their diet every day.But not everyone can consume dairy products or just choose not to eat or drink dairy products. Does avoiding dairy put you at risk for not getting enough calcium? Maybe, but not if you indulge in non-dairy foods that are naturally high in calcium or fortified with this vital nutrient. Flip through the slideshow to see 15 of  my favorite calcium-rich, cow-free foods.

Sources:

Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. "Dietary Reference Intakes: The Essential Guide to Nutrient Requirements." Accessed March 2, 2015.

#How does heroin effect the brain ? By Aol.Com

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, close to half of young people surveyed in three recent studies who have injected heroin said they had abused prescription painkillers before they started using heroin.

How does heroin effect the brain?

When someone injects, snorts, or smokes heroin, the brain converts it into morphine. Morphine binds to molecules on cells located throughout the brain and body called opioid receptors, which affect how we perceive pain and rewards.

This explains the surging sense of euphoria that many people feel when they inject the drug straight into the bloodstream. After the initial "rush," the skin gets flushed and warm, the arms and legs start to feel heavy, and thinking slows.

Because we also have opioid receptors in our brain stem — the body's main control center that is in charge of automatic processes such as blood pressure and breathing — overdosing on heroin can slow and even stop breathing, leading to brain damage or coma.

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