This week I am introducing a new app I found called “Daily Yoga”.
This week I would like to talk about the benefits of a yoga practice:
Improved flexibility
Builds muscle strength
Improves posture- Unfortunately these days, we spend a lot of time leaning over our desks or computers, yoga helps to extend the back and shoulders.
Improves Joint health- You take your joints through their full range of motion when you practice yoga preventing arthritis. Joint cartilage is like a sponge that receives fresh nutrients only when its fluid is squeezed out and a new supply can be soaked up.
Protects your spine if you go through the full range of motion of backbends, forward bends, and twists.
Improves bone health- Weight-bearing exercise strengthens bones and prevents osteoporosis. Many postures in yoga require that you lift your own weight and some help strengthen the arm bones.
Yoga gets your blood flowing- Relaxation exercises in yoga can help your circulation, especially in your hands and feet. Yoga also gets more oxygen to your cells. Yoga also boosts levels of hemoglobin and red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the tissues. It also thins the blood by making platelets less sticky and cutting the level of clot-promoting proteins in the blood, which can decrease in heart attack and stroke risk.
Drains your lymphatic system- When you contract and stretch muscles, move organs around, and come in and out of yoga postures, you increase the drainage of lymph (a viscous fluid rich in immune cells), which helps your body fight infection, destroy cancer cells, and dispose of waste products of cells.
Increases aerobic endurance-When you get your heart rate into the aerobic range, you lower your risk of heart attack. Flow or vigorous classes can boost your heart rate into aerobic range. Yoga has been found to lower the resting heart rate, increase endurance, and improve your maximum uptake of oxygen during exercise.
Yoga can help decrease your blood pressure
Lowers the levels of the stress hormone cortisol- High levels of cortisol are linked to depression, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance and “food-seeking behavior” . The body takes those extra calories and distributes them as fat in the abdomen!
Improves depression by increasing serotonin and decreasing monoamine oxidase and cortisol.
May help you lose weight since it burns calories like other forms of exercise
Lowers blood sugar in diabetics by lowering cortisol and adrenaline levels
Lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol and boosts HDL (good) cholesterol
Improves focus- Yoga practice improves coordination, reaction time, memory, and even IQ!
Aids relaxation- Yoga helps slow breathing, and encourages focusing on the present, shifting the balance from the sympathetic nervous system to the parasympathetic nervous system, lowering respiratory and heart rates, decreasing blood pressure, and increasing blood flow to the intestines and reproductive organs
Improves balance
Releases tension in your body
Relieves stress which can decrease your risk for irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, migraines, lupus, insomnia, heart attacks, and other diseases related to stress
Improves breathing helping you to take deeper breaths!
Yoga, as with any exercise, can help constipation
Relieves chronic pain syndromes such as arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome.
Calms your mind like meditation!
May help you lower your medication dosage if you have asthma, high blood pressure, Type II diabetes , or obsessive-compulsive disorder
Supports your fascia (connective tissue)
I think a lot of people could benefit from some daily yoga! In the coming weeks, I will have more videos with yoga and stretching exercises. Stay tuned!
Reference:
McCall, Timothy. “38 Health Benefits of Yoga.” Yoga Journal. Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc. 28 August 2007. Web. Accessed 29 November 2015. <http://www.yogajournal.com/article/health/count-yoga-38-ways-yoga-keeps-fit/>.
I am dedicating this episode to how one can get started with meditating as a daily practice. There are so many resources out there. I recommend starting with 5-15 minutes daily. It will be difficult to clear all the thoughts from your head at first, so you can start with five minutes and go from there. I suggest these podcasts, since this may be an easier way to ease into it. Good luck!
Some of the benefits of meditation include:
Mindfulness can help treat depression, even postpartum depression.
Meditation reduces stress and anxiety, even panic disorder.
Meditation may decrease sleep need.
Meditation can help reduce substance and alcohol abuse.
Meditation improves mental processing, decision-making, mental strength and resilience.
Meditation improves emotional intelligence.
Meditation can relieve pain. People who meditate perceive pain as less than people who do not.
Meditation can help reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
Meditation improves learning, memory, self-awareness, compassion, and introspection.
Meditation has positive effects on creativity.
Meditation reduces blood pressure and the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Meditation decreases inflammation (It has helped in asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and inflammatory bowel disease).
Meditation can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Meditation can help premenstrual symptoms and menopausal symptoms.
Meditation may extend longevity.
Meditation reduces heart rate and respiratory rate.
Meditation decreases feelings of loneliness and increases compassion.
Reference:
Dienstmann, Giovanni, “SCIENTIFIC BENEFITS OF MEDITATION – 76 THINGS YOU MIGHT BE MISSING OUT ON.” Live and Dare: Meditation Blog and Non-sectarian Spirituality. Giovanni Dienstmann. Web. Accessed 28 November 2015. <http://liveanddare.com/benefits-of-meditation/>.
Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday for us to remember all our blessings! For those of you who do not like eating poultry on thanksgiving, I suggest a veggie loaf. It is easy to create with the “Magic Loaf Studio”! Check it out at veganlunchbox.com. You can make your own loaf with whatever ingredients you have available. In this episode, I show you how to navigate the website and then make my own loaf ! The Magic Loaf Studio makes it easy for everyone to make their own veggie loaf.
Happy thanksgiving!
Ingredient information:
Quinoa:
Quinoa is a versatile grain. You can use it in the place of rice, and it is very high in protein. Protein is made out of amino acids, some essential because we can not produce them and need to get them from the diet. Quinoa is a “complete” protein because it contains all the essential amino acids. It is an excellent plant-based protein source.(1)
Another benefit of quinoa is that it is high in fiber. Quinoa is also high in certain minerals which people lack such as Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc and Iron (for women). By soaking and/or sprouting the quinoa before cooking it, you can reduce the phytic acid (which binds the minerals and reduces absorption) and make these minerals more available. Quinoa is also high in antioxidants which neutralize free radicals and fight aging and disease. Allowing quinoa seeds to sprout increases the antioxidant content even more.(1)
Foods with a high glycemic index stimulate hunger and contribute to obesity and are linked to chronic western diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Quinoa has a low glycemic index, which is a measure of how quickly foods raise blood sugar levels.(1)
Lentils:
Lentils have many health benefits. Lentils are high in fiber, preventing constipation and other diseases in the colon such as diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Fiber traps carbohydrates, slowing down digestion and stabilizing blood sugar levels. Fiber also reduces blood cholesterol, which in turn reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke by keeping your arteries clean. Lentils are also a good source of folate and magnesium. Folate lowers your homocysteine levels, a risk factor for heart disease, and magnesium improves blood flow. Low levels of magnesium have been associated with heart disease. Lentils are also a good source of iron, which transports oxygen throughout your body and is key to energy production and metabolism. About one quarter percent of lentil’s calories are attributed to protein, which makes them a wonderful source of protein. The most wonderful thing about lentils is that they are low in calories and contain virtually no fat, leaving you feeling full and satisfied.(2)
Mushrooms:
One cup of chopped or sliced raw white mushrooms contains 15 calories, no fat, 2 grams of protein, and 2 grams of carbs. Mushrooms help prevent chronic disease due to the presence of antioxidants and beneficial dietary fibers such as chitin and beta-glucans.
Mushrooms have a high antioxidant capacity. They are the only vegan, non-fortified dietary source of vitamin D. Vitamin D in mushrooms has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Folate in mushrooms plays an important role in DNA synthesis and repair, preventing the formation of cancer cells. Mushrooms are rich in B vitamins such as riboflavin, folate, thiamine, pantothenic acid, and niacin. Mushrooms also provide minerals difficult to obtain in the diet, such as selenium, potassium, copper, iron, and phosphorus. Selenium is not present in most fruits and vegetables but can be found in mushrooms. It helps detoxify some cancer-causing compounds in the body and prevents inflammation, decreasing tumor growth rates. Mushrooms also contain choline, which helps with sleep, muscle movement, learning and memory. Choline assists in maintaining the structure of cellular membranes, aids in the transmission of nerve impulses, supports proper fat absorption and reduces inflammation.(3)
One cup of grilled portabella mushrooms provides about 3 grams of fiber. Mushrooms contain two types of dietary fibers in their cell walls: beta-glucans and chitin which increase satiety and reduce appetite, making you feel fuller longer, lowering your calorie intake. Beta-glucans have been shown in studies to improve insulin resistance and blood cholesterol levels, lowering the risk of obesity. They also help lower blood cholesterol levels. Since mushrooms are high in potassium and low in sodium, they help lower blood pressure, decreasing the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.(3)
Carrots:
There are many health benefits of carrots. Carrots contain beta carotene and other antioxidants. Beta-carotene consumption has been linked to a reduced risk of cancer, notably lung cancer. Beta-carotene improves eye health. Research found that people who ate the most amount of beta-carotene had a lower risk of macular degeneration than those who consumed the least. Beta-carotene can also split itself via an enzymatic reaction to form provitamin A, associated with antioxidant capacity in relation to vision. Carotenoids help lower blood sugar, helping diabetics. They regulate the amount of insulin and glucose that is being used and metabolized by the body, providing a more even fluctuation for diabetic patients.(4)
Carrots also contain vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency can cause difficulty seeing in dim light. Therefore, carrots are good for preventing conditions like night blindness. Carrots contain Vitamin C, which stimulates the activity of white blood cells, an important element in the immune system. They also contain Vitamin K, vitamin B8, pantothenic acid, folate, potassium, iron, copper, and manganese.(4)
Eating carrots can help prevent heart disease. Studies have shown that cholesterol levels drop when eating carrots . Studies have found that root vegetables, such as carrots, can reduce the chances of having a heart attack as well. Carrots are a good source of potassium, which can relax your blood vessels and arteries, increasing blood flow, boosting organ function throughout the body, and reducing the stress on the cardiovascular system. Eating carrots reduces stroke as well. In addition, stroke patients with highest levels of beta carotene had the highest survival rate.($)
Carrots, like most vegetables, have significant amounts of fiber. Fiber protects your colon and stomach from illnesses, including colorectal cancer. Another study shows that women who ate raw carrots were less likely to develop breast cancer than women who did not eat carrots. Further research into the application of both carrots and beta-carotene in relation to other forms of cancer is ongoing. It also boosts heart health by eliminating excess LDL cholesterol from the walls of blood vessels.(4)
Garlic:
The combination of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant compounds in garlic makes it a food for preventing atherosclerosis. Garlic lowers blood triglycerides and total cholesterol. Garlic has also been found to lower blood pressure. Allicin in garlic blocks the activity of angiotensin II, helping prevent unwanted contraction and increases in blood pressure. In addition, garlic is rich in sulfur-containing molecules called polysulfide, converted into hydrogen sulfide, once inside our red blood cells, triggering dilation of our blood vessels, reducing blood pressure. (5)
In addition to the ability of garlic to help prevent our blood vessels from becoming blocked, it may also be able to help prevent clots from forming inside of our blood vessels. Garlic contains Ajoene which can help prevent certain cells in our blood (called platelets) from becoming too sticky, lowering the risk of them clumping together and forming a clot.(5)
Garlic is also an excellent source of vitamin C, which protects protects LDL cholesterol from oxidation into free radicals in the bloodstream. Garlic’s vitamin B6 helps prevent heart disease by lowering levels of homocysteine, which can directly damage blood vessel walls. Garlic is rich in selenium, a a cofactor of glutathione peroxidase, one of the body’s most important antioxidant enzymes. (5)
Our musculoskeletal system and respiratory system can also benefit from anti-inflammatory compounds in garlic, shown to have anti-arthritic properties. And in the case of allergic airway inflammation, aged garlic extract has been show to improve inflammatory conditions. Some inflammatory aspects of obesity may be altered by sulfur-containing compounds in garlic. Recent research has shown the ability of crushed fresh garlic to help prevent infection by the bacteria, fungi, and yeast. (5)
Garlic has a consistent track record for general anti-cancer benefits. A high intake of garlic has been found to lower risk of virtually all cancer types except cancer of the prostate and breast cancer. (5)
Oregano:
Oregano is a great source of antioxidants and Vitamin K, which promotes bone growth, the maintenance of bone density, and the production of blood clotting proteins. It has been shown to have antimicrobial activity in several studies. In one study, oregano oil even killed Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus! Beta-caryophyllin (E-BCP) in oregano may possibly be of use against disorders such as osteoporis and arteriosclerosis.There has been research that shows components oregano may help slow down or prevent the progression of breast cancer in patients. Oregano has been used to treat respiratory tract disorders, gastrointestinaldisorders, menstrual cramps, and urinary tract disorders. It has also beenapplied topically to help treat a number of skin conditions, like acne and dandruff. Other nutrients in oregano include: fiber, iron, manganese, vitamin E, iron, calcium, omega fatty acids, manganese, and tryptophan.(6)
(1) Gunnars, Kris. “11 Proven Health Benefits of Quinoa.” Authority Nutrition: An evidenced-based approach. Authority Nutrition.com. July 2014. Web. Accessed 28 November 2015. <http://authoritynutrition.com/11-proven-benefits-of-quinoa/>.
(2) Wilcox, Julie. “7 Health Benefits of Lentils.” MindBodyGreen. MindBodyGreen.com. 17 July 2012. Web. Accessed 28 November 2015. <http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5488/7-Health-Benefits-of-Lentils.html>.
(3) “Mushrooms: Health Benefits, Nutritional Information.” Medical News Today. Medilexicon International, Ltd. 14 September 2015. Web. Accessed 28 November 2015. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/278858.php>.
(4) “Health Benefits of Carrots.” Organic Facts. Organic Information Services Pvt. Ltd. Web. Accessed 28 November 2015. <https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vegetable/carrots.html>.
(5) “Garlic.” The World’s Healthiest Foods. The George Matejian Foundation. Web. Accessed 28 November 2015. <http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=60>.
(6) “Oregano: Health Benefits, Side Effects” Medical News Today. Medilexicon International, Ltd. 29 September 2015. Web. Accessed 28 November 2015. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266259.php>.
Fish oil is the third most widely used dietary supplement in the United States. People believe that the omega-3 fatty acids in the supplements will protect their cardiovascular health. The belief originated from the research of Dr. Hans Olaf Bang and Dr. Jorn Dyerberg, Danish scientists. They determined that Inuits living in northern Greenland had low rates of cardiovascular disease, which they thought was due to an omega-3-rich diet consisting mainly of fish, seal and whale blubber. (However, Dr. George Fodor, a cardiologist at the University of Ottawa found that the rate of heart disease among the Inuit was vastly underestimated by them.) Then, in the 1990s, a study that found that heart attack survivors treated with a gram of fish oil daily had a drop in mortality, compared with patients taking vitamin E. (1)
Unfortunately, the most of the clinical trials involving fish oil show no evidence for lowered risk of heart attack and stroke. In a recent New York Times Article:
“From 2005 to 2012, at least two dozen rigorous studies of fish oil were published in leading medical journals, most of which looked at whether fish oil could prevent cardiovascular events in high-risk populations (who had a history of heart disease or strong risk factors for it, like high cholesterol, hypertension or Type 2 diabetes)…All but two of these studies found that compared with a placebo, fish oil showed no benefit.”(1)
A lot of people take fish oil capsules to get their omega 3, but I suggest this delicious omega 3 smoothie instead! This omega 3 (fish oil free) smoothie is made with chia seeds:
Directions: Combine all in a high power blender (such as the vitamix) and mix until smoothie consistency…I like the taste of adding a banana, but it does have a slightly less favorable omega 6:3 ratio. But with the other ingredients, this smoothie still has a favorable 6:3 ratio even with the banana.
Information on ingredients:
Omega 6:3 ratio:
Mango 1:3
Banana 5:3
Spinach: 1:5
Chia Seeds: 1:3
Mint:1:6
*Please see mango salsa episode from August 2015 for information on mango nutritional value and Oatmeal raisin bites post from June 2015 for information on banana nutritional value.
Spinach:
I love spinach because it has so few calories and so much nutrition! 1 cup of spinach has 7 calories! Another wonderful fact is that most of the calories in spinach come from protein! Spinach contains a lot of vitamin A and vitamin K. Vitamin A is important for the health of your eyes, and vitamin K is important for maintaining bone health, as well as calcium and magnesium, which is also contained in spinach.(2)
Spinach is also an excellent source of other nutrients including potassium, manganese, folate, andiron. Potassium is an essential part of heart health. Many studies have linked it with lower blood pressure since it promotes widening of the blood vessels. Spinach’s high levels of chlorophyll may have anti-cancer and anti-carcinogen effects. Studies have noted anti-cancer effects among breast and prostate cancers. Folate helps prevent neural tube defects in pregnancy. (3)
Chia Seeds:
For all of you out there who have a problem with constipation, chia seeds are the food for you! An ounce of chia seeds has 12 grams of carbohydrate, but 11 of those grams are fiber, which isn’t digested by the body. Fiber does not require insulin to dispose of it and does not raise blood sugar. Therefore, the carb content (excluding fiber) is only 1 gram per ounce, which is very low. Chia seeds can absorb up to 10-12 times their weight in water, becoming gel-like and expanding in your stomach, which increase satiety. They are 40% fiber, by weight, which makes them one of the best sources of fiber in the world.(4)
By weight, chia seeds are 14% protein, which is high compared to most plants. A high protein intake can reduce appetite and reduce thoughts about food and the desire for night time snacking.(3)
Chia seeds are high in several nutrients that are important for bone health, such as calcium, phosphorus,and magnesium. Chia seeds contain 18% of the recommended daily allowance of calcium in one ounce, which is higher than most dairy products per ounce(5).
Mint:
I love adding mint to my smoothies. It has a great omega 6:3 ratio, plus it gives you minty fresh breath! What more can a girl ask for?
Fresh mint leaves contain minimal protein and fat, and provide small amounts of carbohydrates. A serving of spearmint contains 2 grams of carbohydrates per serving, with 1.6 grams of fiber. Fiber helps reduce cholesterol and lowers risk of obesity. Spearmint is high in vitamin A, which promotes skin and immune system health and helps cells reproduce normally. Mint also has small amounts of vitamin C and B-complex vitamins.(4)
(1) O’Connor, Anahad. “Fish Oil Claims Not Supported by Research.” The New York Times. The New York Times Company. 30 March 2015. Web. 18 November 2015.
(2) “Spinach.” The World’s Healthiest Foods. The Goerge Mateljian Foundation. Web. 15 November 2015.
(3) Szalay, Jessie. “Spinach: Health Benefits, Nutrition Facts (& Popeye).” Live science. Purch. 24 June 2015. Web. 15 November 2015.
(4) Gunnars, Kris. “11 Proven Health Benefits of Chia Seeds (No. 3 is Best).” Authority Nutrition: An Evidence-Based Approach. June 2014. Web. 15 November 2015.
(5) Tremblay, Sylvie. “Nutrition of Mint Leaves.” Livestrong.com. Demand Media, Inc. 04 May 2015. Web. 15 November 2015.
This is a really easy recipe with no added sugar! There is some saturated fat in coconut milk, however, so if you have some health problems such as heart disease or stroke, it may be best to avoid the saturated fat.
Mix both contents together in a high power blender until it makes a smoothie. You can drink it as a smoothie or freeze it in the freezer and make the sorbet!
Nutritional Contents:
Pineapple:
Pineapples contain bromelain which can be extracted from the stem and core fruit of the pineapple. Studies have shown that bromelain has health benefits including decreasing inflammation, excessive coagulation of the blood, and certain types of tumor growth. Pineapples also contain vitamin C, which defends all aqueous areas of the body against free radicals that attack and damage normal cells. Free radicals promote artery plaque build-up in atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease, cause the airway spasm leading to asthma attacks, damage colon cells causing cancer, and contribute to the joint pain and disability. Vitamin C is also essential for the immune system. Pineapple is also a great source manganese, an essential cofactor in a number of enzymes important in energy production and antioxidant defenses. In addition to manganese, pineapple is a good source of thiamin, a B vitamin which is cofactor in enzymatic reactions central to energy production.(1)
Coconut Milk:
Coconuts contain significant amounts of fat, but unlike other nuts, they provide fat that is mostly in the form of medium chain saturated fatty acids (MCFAs). One is called auric acid, which is converted in the body into a beneficial compound called monolaurin, an antiviral and antibacterial substance. Unlike other saturated fats, MCFAs are used up more quickly by the body and are less likely to be stored as fat. However, they do contribute to heart disease, since they are still a fat.(2)
(1) “Pineapple.” The World’s Healthiest Foods. George Mateljan Foundation. Web. Accessed 10 November 2015.
(2) Lewin, Jo. “The health benefits of…coconut milk.” Good food. BBC Worldwide. Web. Accessed 10 November 2015.
I took a recent vacation to Guadalupe Island to go cage diving with the great white sharks.
With the recent surge in shark attacks, this is an opportune moment for a blog post about sharks. The media has been capitalizing on the shark attacks. To put everything in perspective, for every human killed by a shark, humans kill approximately two million sharks. According to National Geographic, in 1996, toilets injured 43,000 Americans a year,while sharks only injured 13. (1)
Unfortunately, aggressive overfishing threatens to push some shark species to extinction. Scientists say that the number of annual shark deaths is around 100 million. Sharks are fished for their meat, liver oil, cartilage and fins, which are used for shark fin soup. Since sharks have slow growth and reproductive rates, it can be tough for their populations to bounce back.(2)
In the practice of shark finning, the fins are kept and the shark’s body is usually thrown off the boat, often while the shark is still alive. The shark is unable to swim or pass water across its gills and dies from suffocation, blood loss or predation by other species. Only the fins are kept because shark fins are among the most expensive seafood items in the world. The value of the shark fin is many times the value of the meat by weight, so economically, it makes sense to use the limited space on a vessel to store the high-priced fins rather than the low-priced meat of the sharks’ body. Therefore, 95% of the carcass is wasted. (3)
Sharks are important apex predators and play an important role in the ecosystem by maintaining the species below them in the food chain. Sharks remove the weak and the sick and keep the balance with competitors helping to ensure species diversity. When sharks are taken out of the coral reef ecosystem, larger predatory fish, such as groupers, increase in abundance and feed on the herbivores. With less herbivores, macroalgae expands and coral can no longer compete, shifting the ecosystem to one of algae dominance, affecting the survival of the reef system.(4)
So how can you avoid a shark attack? Here is some advice from the Florida Natural Museum of Ichthyology(5):
1. Swim in a group, since sharks most often attack people who are alone.
2. Do not wander too far offshore, since you may isolate yourself from people who can assist you.
3. Avoid the water at night, dawn, or dusk.
4. Don’t enter the water if bleeding.
5. Don’t wear shiny jewelry, since the reflected light looks like shining fish scales.
6. Don’t go into waters containing sewage which attracts bait fishes, which attract sharks.
7. Avoid waters being fished. Diving seabirds are good indicators of such activities.
8. Don’t enter the water if sharks are present, and leave if sharks are seen.
9. Avoid an uneven tan and brightly colored clothing.
10. Don’t splash a lot. Also, keep pets out of the water. Erratic movements can attract sharks.
11. Use care near sandbars or steep drop-offs, which are favorite hangouts for sharks.
12. Don’t try to touch a shark!
If you are attacked by a shark, how can you survive? Here are recommendations in the order they should be tried: (6)
Experts advise that you arm yourself with a weapon if one is available to you. Any blunt object is a better option than smacking a shark with your edible body parts!
Try to get away from the shark at the first opportunity. However, do not lose sight of the shark during an attack. Do not play dead because you will present yourself as an easy meal.
If possible, move yourself into a position where your back is against a solid structure. This way you can decrease the angles at which the shark can strike.
Punch the shark in its face; directly on its nose will deter it. Try to make the best of the first jab and escape as subsequent jabs won’t be as effective.
Scratch and claw at the shark’s two most vulnerable features: the gills and the eyes.
If all else fails, thrash and splash and pound the creature in any way you can.
Have fun out there in the ocean and be safe ! You will likely never have to use these techniques since the chances of being attacked by a shark are just one in 11.5 million, according to the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File.(7) We are much more of a danger to sharks than sharks are to us! I love the coral reef and do not want to see it overrun by algae, so I hope that we can take steps to conserve sharks by improving commercial fishing practices and banning shark finning.
(1)”Shark attack facts.” National Geographic Channel. National Geographic Channel. Web. Accessed 1 November 2015. < http://natgeotv.com/ca/human-shark-bait/facts>.
(2) Gannon, Megan. ” 100 million sharks killed each year, study finds.” Live Science. Purch. 1 March 2013. Web. Accessed 1 November 2015. <http://www.livescience.com/27575-100-million-sharks-killed-annually.html>.
(3) “Finning and the Fin Trade.” Shark Savers. Wild Aid. Web. Accessed 1 November 2015 . <http://www.sharksavers.org/en/education/sharks-are-in-trouble/finning-and-the-fin-trade/>.
(4) “The Importance of Sharks.” Oceana: Protecting the World’s Oceans. Oceana. Web. Accessed 1 November 2015. <http://eu.oceana.org/en/importance-sharks>.
(5) Burgess, George. “Just for Kids: How to Avoid a Shark Attack.” Ichthyology at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Web. Accessed 1 November 2015. <https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/kids/avoid/avoid.htm>.
(6) Wells, Jonathan. “How to survive a Shark Attack.” The Telegraph. The Telegraph. 20 July 2015. Web. Accessed 1 November 2015. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/11750497/How-to-survive-a-shark-attack.html>.
(7) Reilly, Michael. “Shark Attacks: What are the Odds?” Discovery News. Discovery Communications, LLC. 20 August 2010. Web. Accessed 1 November 2015. <http://news.discovery.com/animals/sharks/shark-attacks-what-are-the-odds-20100802.htm>
