University of New Hampshire students may now have a good excuse to order another round: a recent study has found that beer may help keep bones strong.
Researchers from the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of California, Davis have found that beer is a rich source of dietary silicon and could help prevent osteoporosis.
Silicon, the eighth most common element in the universe by mass, is one of the major factors involved in increasing bone mineral density.
Researchers tested 100 commercial beers for silicon content and categorized the data according to beer style and source. They did this by studying beer production methods and the resulting silicon content.
Previous research has suggested that beer contained silicon but little was known about how silicon levels varied with the different types of beer and malting processes.
“We have examined a wide range of beer styles for their silicon content and have also studied the impact of raw materials and the brewing process on the quantities of silicon that enter wort and beer,” said researcher Charles Bamforth of U.C. Davis in a public statement.
The study, published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, found the beers’ silicon content ranged from 6.4 milligrams per liter to 56.5 mg per liter. The average person’s silicon intake each day is between 20 and 50 mgs.
The researchers found there was little change in the silicon content of barley during the malting process. This is because most of the silicon in barley is located in the husk, which is not affected during malting.
They found pale ales showed the highest silicon content while non-alcoholic beers, light lagers and wheat beers had the least silicon.
“Wheat contains less silicon than barley because it is the husk of the barley that is rich in this element,” said Bamforth in his statement.
The news, which links beer with health benefits, could potentially give beer drinkers some peace of mind.
“It’s nice to know that some of those calories in beer are actually going to help my body,” said UNH junior Julia Laroche, 21.
“I didn’t know that an alcoholic drink could be good for you,” said Bridget McLaughlin, 22, a UNH senior, “I’m not particularly concerned about my bones because I drink milk and all, but this makes me feel less bad about drinking a beer on the weekends.”
Fellow UNH senior Kerri Rosenberg, 21, agrees with McLaughlin that the study’s results have lightened her conscious. “It’s nice to know that some of those calories in beer are actually going to help my body,” said Rosenberg.
Although the research suggests such potential health benefits, it does not indicated if any clinical studies have been done to compare the bone health of beer drinkers to those of non beer drinkers.
“I wonder if bone density is higher because of increased rates of falling down,” said junior Julia Laroche, 21. “Being drunk makes people fall down, and falling down has a high impact on the bones, so maybe bone’s get denser to compensate,” said Laroche.
Many UNH students, however, seem to not be too concerned either way with the results. “Guess I have one more reason to drink,” says Matt Normandeau, a sophomore who turns 21 in two weeks.
“It’s nice to know that beer can be good for me, but I’m really not going to change my habits because of this one study,” said Rosenberg.
Normandeau doubts that many students will change their habits because of these results. If anything, he thought students may drink more. “This is just another way beer makes everyone happy,” said Normandeau.
Nurses from UNH Health Services declined commenting on this subject. The department stated that it does not support excessive drinking and that anyone with substance abuse problems should contact 862-1530 for help.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
UNH Symphony Orchestra May Cease to Play
The University of New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra could face extinction if the UNH Music Department fails to find a new conductor and participation rates continue to drop.
The UNH Symphony Orchestra, which is a 1 credit class that meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m to 12:30 p.m has recently undergone some fine tuning as conductors have shifted in and out of the ensemble.
William Kempster, the current conductor of the ensemble, is also the director of the choir at UNH. He has volunteered to also take on the responsibility of orchestra and conduct the next upcoming concert on March 5.
Principal violist Alex Preece, a junior music major, says that the shift in conductors has required the students to make some changes. “I think it was definitely different for a lot of people who have never played or sang in choir with Bill Kempster,” says Preece, “But for those of us who have it was an easy transition. He is a great conductor and musician.”
Preece, a section leader, works with the other section leaders to help lead the ensemble. One of these leaders, the concertmistress, plays a very important role in the orchestra. She is supposed to be the best violinist and is in charge of leading the ensemble. “The concertmistress is responsible for coordinating the bowing and articulations of all the strings,” says Kathryn Skudera, the UNH Symphony Orchestra Concertmistress.
“It’s my favorite class,” says Skudera, who is a music major. However, Skudera, like many of the other musicians, have seen multiple conductors come and go. During Skudera’s four years at UNH she has already had three different conductors for this one class.
Skudera could soon be adding a forth to her list if the orchestra is passed from Kempster to the band conductor, Professor Orovich. Although Kempster denied commenting for this article, he has stated in the past that he will not serve the orchestra for the entire semester.
Preece says that he also has taken on many responsibilities as well to help improve the ensemble. “I lead sectionals for more group work to make sure that everyone is comfortable on their part,” says Preece.
Despite music students stepping up to help secure the ensemble, if the UNH Music Department fails to find a permanent conductor for the group, then it could potentially face being shut down. Without a strong orchestra group to advertise to potential new students, recruiting new musicians from high school into the program could prove challenging.
Another problem the orchestra faces is the fact that there are not enough music majors to fill the seats required. Non-majors are encouraged to join in order to help flesh out the ensemble and fill otherwise empty parts. “String sections always change because more of the players are non-majors and have classes that change semester to semester,” says Preece.
The constant shifting in both musicians and conductors may make it difficult for music majors, who are required to take the class, feel as if the program is secure and growing. Although the music department holds auditions every year around the beginning of second semester, finding many students to join the string section still can prove difficult.
Still, some may think that the real problem is that less and less people are interested in classical music these days. “I don’t think it’s a matter of recruiting violists as it is the fact that not a lot of people play viola,” says Preece.
The current conductor William Kempster, the head of the Music Department Mark DeTurk and the program coordinator Isabel Gray all declined the option of commenting on the UNH Symphony Orchestra.
The UNH Symphony Orchestra, which is a 1 credit class that meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m to 12:30 p.m has recently undergone some fine tuning as conductors have shifted in and out of the ensemble.
William Kempster, the current conductor of the ensemble, is also the director of the choir at UNH. He has volunteered to also take on the responsibility of orchestra and conduct the next upcoming concert on March 5.
Principal violist Alex Preece, a junior music major, says that the shift in conductors has required the students to make some changes. “I think it was definitely different for a lot of people who have never played or sang in choir with Bill Kempster,” says Preece, “But for those of us who have it was an easy transition. He is a great conductor and musician.”
Preece, a section leader, works with the other section leaders to help lead the ensemble. One of these leaders, the concertmistress, plays a very important role in the orchestra. She is supposed to be the best violinist and is in charge of leading the ensemble. “The concertmistress is responsible for coordinating the bowing and articulations of all the strings,” says Kathryn Skudera, the UNH Symphony Orchestra Concertmistress.
“It’s my favorite class,” says Skudera, who is a music major. However, Skudera, like many of the other musicians, have seen multiple conductors come and go. During Skudera’s four years at UNH she has already had three different conductors for this one class.
Skudera could soon be adding a forth to her list if the orchestra is passed from Kempster to the band conductor, Professor Orovich. Although Kempster denied commenting for this article, he has stated in the past that he will not serve the orchestra for the entire semester.
Preece says that he also has taken on many responsibilities as well to help improve the ensemble. “I lead sectionals for more group work to make sure that everyone is comfortable on their part,” says Preece.
Despite music students stepping up to help secure the ensemble, if the UNH Music Department fails to find a permanent conductor for the group, then it could potentially face being shut down. Without a strong orchestra group to advertise to potential new students, recruiting new musicians from high school into the program could prove challenging.
Another problem the orchestra faces is the fact that there are not enough music majors to fill the seats required. Non-majors are encouraged to join in order to help flesh out the ensemble and fill otherwise empty parts. “String sections always change because more of the players are non-majors and have classes that change semester to semester,” says Preece.
The constant shifting in both musicians and conductors may make it difficult for music majors, who are required to take the class, feel as if the program is secure and growing. Although the music department holds auditions every year around the beginning of second semester, finding many students to join the string section still can prove difficult.
Still, some may think that the real problem is that less and less people are interested in classical music these days. “I don’t think it’s a matter of recruiting violists as it is the fact that not a lot of people play viola,” says Preece.
The current conductor William Kempster, the head of the Music Department Mark DeTurk and the program coordinator Isabel Gray all declined the option of commenting on the UNH Symphony Orchestra.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
2010 Winter Olympics Captivate UNH Students
The start of the 2010 Winter Olympics has diverted many UNH students’ attentions away from their studies this week.
The Olympics, which will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, began on February 12 with an opening ceremony. Over 80 countries will send a total of over 5,500 athletes to the competitions. This is the third Olympics held in Canada, the first in 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta.
“The opening ceremonies were amazing,” said sophomore Erika Swanson. The ceremony, which included many performances, a traditional parade of nations, an honoring of the late Nodar Kumaritashvili and the lighting of only three of four Olympic caldrons, due to a mechanical flaw, took place Friday night.
The United States athletes also received one of the warmest welcomes while entering BC Place. Only Georgia, home country of Nodar Kumaritashvili, and Canada were greeted with bigger cheers. Absent from the United State’s team was Linsey Vonn, an alpine skier who is facing an ambitious five-race schedule.
“I’m just so worried about Vonn,” said Swanson, “I love skiing and I really want her to do well.” A favorite from the American team, Vonn recently suffered a calf injury which severely bruised her shin. Not wanting to risk worsening her injury, Vonn did not join the other athletes in the opening ceremonies. Instead, Vonn was in Whistler during the festivities, recovering from her shin injury.
Apart from skiing, other events in the Winter Olympics include ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating, snowboarding, luge, bobsleigh, skeleton (a type of sledding), curling, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, slalom, alpine skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined (skiing plus ski jumping), and biathlon (skiing and shooting).
“My favorite is the figure skating,” said sophomore Nicole Labbe. “I used to skate, so I love watching the sport. It's so impressive."
Olympic history was created on Valentine’s day for figure skating. The French pair, Yannick Bonheur and Vanessa James, became the first black couple to compete in figure skating at the Olympic Games. They have been together for two years since James answered Bonheur’s advert on the internet for a new partner.
The winter games will continue until February 28, 2010. “I’m really excited to see how America does,” said junior Julia Laroche. “It’s really such a big even that it’s hard not to get somewhat excited,” said Laroche.
The Olympics, which will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, began on February 12 with an opening ceremony. Over 80 countries will send a total of over 5,500 athletes to the competitions. This is the third Olympics held in Canada, the first in 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta.
“The opening ceremonies were amazing,” said sophomore Erika Swanson. The ceremony, which included many performances, a traditional parade of nations, an honoring of the late Nodar Kumaritashvili and the lighting of only three of four Olympic caldrons, due to a mechanical flaw, took place Friday night.
The United States athletes also received one of the warmest welcomes while entering BC Place. Only Georgia, home country of Nodar Kumaritashvili, and Canada were greeted with bigger cheers. Absent from the United State’s team was Linsey Vonn, an alpine skier who is facing an ambitious five-race schedule.
“I’m just so worried about Vonn,” said Swanson, “I love skiing and I really want her to do well.” A favorite from the American team, Vonn recently suffered a calf injury which severely bruised her shin. Not wanting to risk worsening her injury, Vonn did not join the other athletes in the opening ceremonies. Instead, Vonn was in Whistler during the festivities, recovering from her shin injury.
Apart from skiing, other events in the Winter Olympics include ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating, snowboarding, luge, bobsleigh, skeleton (a type of sledding), curling, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, slalom, alpine skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined (skiing plus ski jumping), and biathlon (skiing and shooting).
“My favorite is the figure skating,” said sophomore Nicole Labbe. “I used to skate, so I love watching the sport. It's so impressive."
Olympic history was created on Valentine’s day for figure skating. The French pair, Yannick Bonheur and Vanessa James, became the first black couple to compete in figure skating at the Olympic Games. They have been together for two years since James answered Bonheur’s advert on the internet for a new partner.
The winter games will continue until February 28, 2010. “I’m really excited to see how America does,” said junior Julia Laroche. “It’s really such a big even that it’s hard not to get somewhat excited,” said Laroche.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Zumba Zoo
Nearly one hundred girls, all decked out in sneakers and a wide variety of brightly colored t-shirts, flock to the aerobics room in the Whittemore Center every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday night for some “butt-shaking Spanish dancing,” as freshman Michelle Buldoc calls it.
“I try to get there by 7 pm,” says freshman Mandy Abbott, “You really have to be there early if you want a spot.” Zumba, a fitness system that involves learning and performing dance moves to Latin and International music, has quickly grown in popularity at the University of New Hampshire. Huge crowds of girls fill the Whittemore, making it difficult for others to navigate their way around.
The class, which is free to students once they sign the waiver form at the front desk, has become so popular that many girls will be turned away if there isn’t enough room. “Word gets around about how fun it is. And it’s a better way to work out than running or something,” says sophomore Alicia Papandrea.
Many girls agree that the class, co-taught by Hannah and Andrea of the Whittemore Staff, provides a good workout even though it’s mostly fun. “You sweat a ton,” Abbot says, “It’s definitely different. It’s more modern. It fits our generation better.”
Despite the appeal, the question as to whether you will get in or not is daunting for some girls. “I’m willing to wait for a half hour, but that’s it,” says Papandrea. Some girls have asked if a list could be made for the course, or even a fee imposed to guarantee their spot. “It just sucks going all the way there and not knowing if you can get in,” says Papandrea.
Perhaps the rush in interest has to do with Spring Break looming so close. “Probably not a lot of people went last semester but now realize they’ve gained weight and want to loose it before spring break,” says Abbott.
Although there is such a high demand for the class, it is definitely not for everyone. “I hate it,” says Michelle Bolduc. “It’s easy to get frustrated you first time because you have to know what you’re doing,” says Bolduc.
Classes are free to students and ten dollars per class for guests. They are in the aerobics room at 8 p.m every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Says Abbott, “Just make sure you get there early if you want a spot.”
“I try to get there by 7 pm,” says freshman Mandy Abbott, “You really have to be there early if you want a spot.” Zumba, a fitness system that involves learning and performing dance moves to Latin and International music, has quickly grown in popularity at the University of New Hampshire. Huge crowds of girls fill the Whittemore, making it difficult for others to navigate their way around.
The class, which is free to students once they sign the waiver form at the front desk, has become so popular that many girls will be turned away if there isn’t enough room. “Word gets around about how fun it is. And it’s a better way to work out than running or something,” says sophomore Alicia Papandrea.
Many girls agree that the class, co-taught by Hannah and Andrea of the Whittemore Staff, provides a good workout even though it’s mostly fun. “You sweat a ton,” Abbot says, “It’s definitely different. It’s more modern. It fits our generation better.”
Despite the appeal, the question as to whether you will get in or not is daunting for some girls. “I’m willing to wait for a half hour, but that’s it,” says Papandrea. Some girls have asked if a list could be made for the course, or even a fee imposed to guarantee their spot. “It just sucks going all the way there and not knowing if you can get in,” says Papandrea.
Perhaps the rush in interest has to do with Spring Break looming so close. “Probably not a lot of people went last semester but now realize they’ve gained weight and want to loose it before spring break,” says Abbott.
Although there is such a high demand for the class, it is definitely not for everyone. “I hate it,” says Michelle Bolduc. “It’s easy to get frustrated you first time because you have to know what you’re doing,” says Bolduc.
Classes are free to students and ten dollars per class for guests. They are in the aerobics room at 8 p.m every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Says Abbott, “Just make sure you get there early if you want a spot.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
