A low-sodium diet is one with a limited amount of salt taken in with food. The sodium component in salt is a risk factor for high blood pressure, edema, kidney diseases and cardiac disease, as sodium is a mineral that draws in and retains moisture, affecting the balance of body fluids. In this case, reducing the intake of salt helps to control blood pressure, ease edema, and reduce stress on the heart.How to follow a low-salt diet 1. Things to be aware of when choosing food: On a preferential ba

1356By Bernard Cornwell(HarperCollins, NY)All in all, the Middle Ages in Europe was lousy living for most people.How can you tell? Just pick up “1356” by prolific author Bernard Cornwall and you’ll see. Like the period it is written about, it needs a strong stomach to finish.The pragmatic hero, Thomas of Hookton, is ordered to find the fictional lost sword of Saint Peter, “la Malice,” which is reputed to bring victory to the armies that wield it. Of course, others are also hunting the weapon.The

Curse of the Thirteenth Fey: The True Tale of Sleeping BeautyBy Jane Yolen(Philomel)We love fairy tales. Every culture offers them up: Scandinavians, Nigerians, Indonesians. Their commonality ― and the constant on-passing from parent to child ― attests to their endurance. It’s as though they are somehow encoded in our DNA.Theories abound about their importance in our social evolution: Tales of abandonment, death and monstrous behavior allow children to deal with their fears in an age-appropriate

The Constitution of the U.S. and the Presidential GovernmentBy Lee Sang-donSojin Publishing Co.America’s constitutionalism and the principle of checks and balances have offered crucial guidance for many nascent democracies around the world, including South Korea decades ago.In his new book, “The Constitution of the U.S. and the Presidential Government,” Lee Sang-don, law professor at Chung-Ang University, delineates how the U.S. legal and political systems have taken root and evolved, and affect

French classic novel’s sales soar after the release of its film adaptation, musical DVDs and soundtrack CDs

HONG KONG (AFP) ― A debut novel and a work by a Nobel laureate were among five books shortlisted for Asia’s most prestigious literary prize on Wednesday, with entries across the region from Turkey to Japan.The shortlist for the $30,000 Man Asian Literary Prize was drawn from a longlist of 15 published works, after 108 entries were submitted to a panel of judges led by literary critic and journalist Maya Jaggi.Professor David Parker, executive director of the Asian Literary Prize, the organising

Fred Turner, one of McDonald’s Corp.’s earliest employees, who created its distinctive Hamburger University and succeeded founder Ray Kroc as chief executive officer, has died. He was 80. He died Monday after entering hospice care in Deerfield, Illinois, his longtime hometown, according to his daughter, Paula Turner. The cause was complications from pneumonia. He was honorary chairman of the board of directors of what is today the world’s largest restaurant company. Turner founded Hamburger Univ

Singer Ko Young-wook, who is accused of sexually molesting a minor, was detained by the authorities on Thursday.The Seoul Western District Court’s judge Lee Dong-geun approved the application for the warrant to detain the 37-year-old singer, saying there was a risk of Ko fleeing or destroying evidence. Ko, who was booked without detention last year for allegedly sexually assaulting three minors, is accused of molesting a 13-year-old middle-school student in December.The singer allegedly lured th

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― South Korean rapper Psy is going nuts.Not content with starring in the most-watched video in YouTube history, the man behind viral hit “Gangnam Style” is to appear in a Super Bowl commercial for pistachios.“The Wonderful Pistachios brand is fun, just like me,” Psy said Wednesday by way of a press release from Paramount Farms, which owns the upmarket California snack label.“Also, I love pistachios and I look good in green.” It will be Wonderful Pistachios’ first spot ever duri

The most trustworthy face is a round one with a large chin, a big mouth and brown eyes, according to a study at Charles University in Czech Republic. Karel Kleisner’s team conducted the survey of rating faces with different features. Eye color and face shape were manipulated. People thought brown eyes were more reliable than blue ones, while the round face shape with a large chin, a big mouth was assumed the most credible, the study said. The face shape becomes more critical when it comes to men

For busy office workers, standing while working can help you burn extra calories, U.K. physiotherapist said.A person can burn off about 3.6 kilograms of fat each year -- or 144 calories a day -- by standing on one’s feet for three extra hours a day, according to exercise scientist John Buckley from the University of Chester.Buckley, from the department of clinical science and nutrition, said a person’s metabolic rate “crashes to an absolute minimum” when he or she is sitting down. “It isn’t natu