What I’ve learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0071

3501.  There is no single most-attractive scent, but studies show that women can smell symmetry, just like they can hear it;

3502.  Apparently, you shouldn’t top your sushi with the pickled ginger. . . . It’s there as a palate cleanser, not (as) a condiment;

3503.  You must be born into royalty, but to be an entrepreneur you need only create an empire in your mind;

3504.  Refined sugars deplete essential minerals and vitamins within the body;

3505.  The amount of effort the human body expends on digestion, detoxification and elimination of sugar alone ends up leaching nutrition and energy from nearly every bodily function.  In particular, magnesium and B vitamins take a big hit around sugar;

3506.  B vitamins are essential to healthy brain function.  Your brain needs vitamin B to divide glutamic acid;

3507.  When refined sugar is consumed daily, the symbiotic healthy bacteria in our intestines actually wither and die, depleting our stock of vitamin B.  Low stock in vitamin B has a strong map-effect on brain function, lessening your ability to calculate or remember;

3508.  Most people, even with a clean diet, are already mineral deficient;

3509.  Chocolate cravings in women are often attributed specifically to magnesium deficiency.  A daily magnesium supplement helps the body absorb calcium and cut back on cravings;

3510.  Sugar is one of the single most inflammatory substances the body can absorb;

3511.  When the body's system consistently experiences an inflammatory response, it leaves you wide open to disease and aging;

3512.  Heart disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, cancer and digestive conditions are all linked to inflammation in the body;

3513.  Over time, excess sugar will eventually come to affect every organ in the body.  Upon initial intake, sugar is stored in the liver as glucose.  Too much sugar throws the liver into overdrive.  Once the liver maxes out its capacity for glucose, the excess glycogen is returned to the blood stream in the form of fatty acids.  The body carries these to every part of the body, storing them as fat;

3514.  Insulin is the hormone created in the pancreas responsible for the storing and processing of sugar;

3515.  When you consume meals high in sugar, the body's demand for insulin increases.  If insulin levels remain consistently high, your body's sensitivity to the hormone becomes numbed, causing glucose to build up in the blood;

3516.  In order to keep the body in equilibrium, insulin levels should remain within a safe zone consistently throughout the day.  Spikes and dips lead to a litany of health issues from fatigue to kidney failure.  If your blood sugar dips too low, the body’s cells become energy starved.  Depending on the duration of the dip, minor or major complications can arise;

3517.  Normal body pH falls between 7.35 and 7.45, even marginal deviations on either side of the spectrum can lead to major side effects;

3518.  When consumed every day, sugar produces a continuously acidic environment within the body's system, meaning more and more minerals are required to offset the imbalance;

3519.  Disease loves an acidic climate.  Obesity, cancer, heartburn, even signs of aging can be linked to acidic build up in the body;

3520.  Chronically acidic diets (more than achievable with the ubiquity of high fructose corn syrups and fructose overloaded products on the market) leads to serious health risk and affects all cellular function, from the beating of your heart to the neural workings of your brain;

3521.  An alkaline diet high in water dense vegetables, good fats and fiber rich foods will rid the body of toxins and keep you feeling younger, leaner and stronger;

3522.  While some studies insist sugar is “non-addictive,” sugar intake spikes dopamine levels in the brain, giving you a consistent rush that will have you wanting more.  The good news is, you can absolutely rewire your brain.  Seven days has been known to create new habit forming pathways within the brain.  One week cold turkey without sugar will ease you into a solid regimen going forward;

3523.  Cancer cells thrive on sugar;

3524.  Research shows sugar not only feeds existing cancer cells, it is a primary driver in oncogenesis, the initiation of cancerous characteristics in healthy cells;

3525.  High sugar diets are strongly linked to pancreatic cancer;

3526.  The thread between high sugar diets and acid build up, obesity and diabetes all raise the risk factor for certain types of cancer;

3527.  The World Health Organization previously recommended no more than 10% of daily calorie intake should be derived from sugar.  They are considering lowering that percentage to five (i.e., 25 grams for the average adult);

3528.  The first YouTube video was uploaded on (Saturday,) April 23^rd, 2005;

3529.  Anne Hathaway was (William) Shakespeare’s wife;

3530.  One of the problems with work is that you waste a lot of time with people you can’t stand;

3531.  Shōchū is like the Japanese version of vodka;

3532.  The “fish and chips” (specialty) roll (i.e., flounder, malt vinegar, potato crisps & wasabi tartar) at SEI (SEIRestaurant.com) in D.C. is pretty tasty;

3533.  A single entry visa into China is $140.00 for U.S. citizens and $30.00 for everyone else. . . . Who says the Chinese don’t like Americans?

3534.  Flonase actually works. . . . The smell reminds me of orchids;

3535.  According to Luisa, she sweats a lot . . . and it’s the stinky kind;

3536.  Eddie Vedder worked as a nightshift security guard at the La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla, California;

3537.  It seems that after living in a newly constructed place for about seven years, things start to break down;

3538.  (President) George Washington signed the first Patent Act into law on April 10^th, 1790;

3539.  Sometimes it’s easier to want something than to have something;

3540.  The bacon wrapped scallops are really salty at Bobby Van’s Steakhouse (in D.C.);

3541.  When a waiter/waitress asks me if I want bread, I should (just) say “no.”  When a waiter/waitress asks me if I want more bread, I should definitely say “no;”

3542.  Happiness is not an object you search out and grab onto.  Happiness is a process;

3543.  The Whole Foods (Market) in Clarendon has Happy Hour every day from 4 o’clock to 8 o’clock.  It includes a Happy Hour food menu featuring half a dozen oysters for $6.00;

3544.  I know Gary.  Gary has a brother, (named) Richard.  Richard plays guitar.  Richard plays (lead) guitar in a band (i.e., “O.A.R.”).  Richard knows Brooks Laich (of the Washington Capitals) and Julianne Hough. . . . Who knew?

3545.  Laura’s hands and fingers are about the size of mine;

3546.  Laura said I have soft hands;

3547.  Laura has soft hands;

3548.  If she holds hands with you, tells you where she hangs out and says she’ll remember you because she’s only had a couple of drinks, ask her for her number, even if she says she’s had a boyfriend for two years;

3549.  Anyone can be an entrepreneur.  All it takes is a little drive and ambition;

3550.  In the 19^th century, people consumed an average of about 13 grams of sugar a day.  Today, we consume an incredible 285 grams of sugar per day;