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Muslims learned today they have been praying in the wrong direction, after the country’s highest Islamic authority said its directive on the direction of Mecca actually had people facing Africa.

Muslims are supposed to face the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia during prayer and the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) issued an edict in March stipulating westward was the correct direction.

“But it has been decided that actually the mosques are facing Somalia or Kenya, so we are now suggesting people shift the direction slightly to the north-west,”

“There’s no need to knock down mosques, just shift your direction slightly during prayer.”

Ridwan said Muslims need not fear that their prayers have been wasted because they were facing the wrong way.

“Their prayers will still be heard by Allah,” he said.

What an unfair win. What incompetent referring at the Finals...

World Cup a triumph for Africa but not for the game

Do sweeteners bring on early birth? How fizzy drinks can harm an unborn child

By SEAN POULTER, CONSUMER AFFAIRS EDITOR
Last updated at 10:15 AM on 10th July 2010

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Concern: The study suggests pregnant women should think about how many fizzy drinks they consume (picture posed by model)

Mothers-to-be who down cans of fizzy drink containing artificial sweeteners could be at greater risk of having a premature baby.

Research funded by the EU found a correlation between the amount of diet drink consumed and an early birth among the 60,000 women studied.

Many had switched from sugary drinks to those with artificial sweeteners believing they were a healthier option.

But this study suggests that drinks using sweeteners, such as aspartame, carried dangers for the unborn child.

Some British public health experts are now advising expectant mothers to avoid food and drink containing the chemicals.

It is rare for a mother-to-be to give birth before 37 weeks of a normal pregnancy.

But the EU research suggests this low risk was increased by 38 per cent if the woman was drinking, on average, one can of diet drink a day.

Routinely drinking four or more cans a day could increase the risk by as much as 78 per cent.

However, the researchers said in a report in the journal of the American Society for Clinical Nutrition that there was no link associated with sugar-sweetened drinks.

They suggested that exposure to methanol, which is in some artificial sweeteners, may play a part in bringing forward the birth.

More...

• Teenagers more likely to have premature babies because they are 'biologically immature'
• A regular chocolate treat 'could halve a woman's risk of giving birth prematurely'
• Health expert says that binge drinking during pregnancy is 'child abuse by umbilical cord'

Critics of the sweeteners say methanol is a known nerve toxin, which can form formic acid in the body.

It can also lead to formaldehyde, the chemical used to preserve dead bodies. Historically, saccharine has also been identified as accumulating in the placenta.

Co-author of the study, Dr Thorhallur Ingi Halldorsson, said the research might be 'helpful in identifying sub-groups where intake of these sweeteners should perhaps be avoided or limited'.

Public health expert Professor Erik Millstone, of the University of Sussex, said: 'I would think it is prudent for pregnant women to diminish consumption of these drinks and possibly those foods containing artificial sweeteners.'

The British Soft Drinks Association said: 'This study merits a cautious reaction.

'Its findings should not be over-stated.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1293495/Do-sweeteners-bring-early-birth-How-fizzy-drinks-harm-unborn-child.html#ixzz0tOtfD4Dc

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Think of what aspartame can do to the diabetic. It not only can precipitate diabetes, but aggravates and simulates diabetic retinopathy and ...

Think of what aspartame can do to the diabetic. It not only can precipitate diabetes, but aggravates and simulates diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy, destroys the optic nerve, causes diabetics to go into convulsions and even interacts with insulin.

From Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum

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Image ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame

Is eating lots of Domino's Pizza during the World Cup season unhealthy?

Been doing this almost everyday as long as there is a wee-hours of the morning telecast of the World Cup.

Is Pizza a Good Choice For a Healthy Diet?

Domino's pizza is apparently a "Good Choice for a Healthy Diet".

That's according to a press release claiming that Glamour magazine and Men's Health both recommended Domino's Pizza.

Domino's list the following "facts" about their pizza:

• * Pizza is essentially a meal in itself, as you can find foods from the four basic food groups in one slice.
• * A crunchy thin crust Domino's pizza contains less than half the carbohydrates of Domino's classic hand-tossed pizza.
• * None of the core products on Domino's menu (pizza, bread side items, chicken) contain trans fats.
• * Customers seeking a healthier pizza have the option of ordering their pizza with a lighter portion of cheese.
• * The tomatoes in pizza sauce contain lycopene, which helps protect against prostate cancer. Tomatoes are also an excellent source of vitamins A and C.

The nutrition data on Domino's site is very confusing. You have to add up each individual item to get the total for one slice.

Pizza is one of the most calorie dense items you can find. A single slice is usually in the range of 250-500 calories. The sodium levels are very high indeed. A single slice of Domino's 14" Pepperoni Feast looks to have well over 1,000 mg of sodium.

A single slice of pizza? Oxymoron!

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Is eating Domino