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Low carb. High carb. Good carb. Bad carb. It sounds like the beginning of something by Dr. Seuss. If only dietary carbohydrates were as simple as a children's book! The reality? "Carb" is one of those nutrition buzzwords that leads to a lot of confusion.
Understanding the role of carbohydrates can help you eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight — both important ways to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. Here's what you need to know.
- Heart-Healthy Diet Headlines: Should You Cut Carbs?
- Are Certain Carbohydrates Unhealthy?
- Are Low-Carb Diets Best to Lose Weight?
- What about Carbohydrates & Heart Disease Prevention?
- A Reasonable Strategy for a Heart-Healthy Diet & Weight
- Heart risk from low-carb diets
- Where did the story come from?
- What kind of scientific study was this?
- What were the results of the study?
- What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results?
- What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study?
- Links to the headlines
- Links to the science
- Low-carb diets might not be the healthiest for a long life — 2 big new studies suggest they're linked to a higher risk of death
- Healthy carbs like whole grains and beans aren't bad for you
- That said, there are a few good reasons to go low-carb
Carbs 101
There are only three nutrients that contribute calories to the diet: fat, protein and carbohydrates. Yup, that's it. Just three. Most foods contain a mix of these nutrients — for example, yogurt contains carbs, protein and fat.
Carbs are the body's main source of energy; carbs from food turn into fuel for the body. Some nutrition textbooks divide carbs into "simple" (sugars) and "complex" (starches and fibres). Simple carbs, like jam and honey, are broken down quickly by the body, causing a faster rise in blood sugar levels. Complex carbs, such as oatmeal, have more fibre, so are digested more slowly and don't raise blood sugar levels as much. This keeps you full for longer and keeps blood sugar more stable.
Carbs are found in:
- vegetables
- fruit
- beans and lentils
- milk and yogurt
- grains – bread, pasta, rice, quinoa, oats
- sugary foods: candy, ice cream, pastries
- snack foods: chips, pretzels, crackers
- sweet beverages: soda, juice
- sweeteners: jam, honey, syrups.
Many of the foods on this list are super healthy. So it's a mistake to disparage a whole nutrient group just because some foods that contain carbs (like candy) are not nutritious. Take note: carbs themselves are not the enemy!
Good vs. bad carbs
Though dietitians are moving away from classifying foods as good or bad, these terms are widely used on diet-related websites, so we should define them. Your "good carbs" are generally the ones found in whole, unprocessed foods, which provide nutritional value from vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants. So, vegetables, fruit, beans, lentils and whole grains contain "good carbs." Include these in your diet.
The so-called "bad-carbs" are those in foods high in sugar, salt and/or fat. Examples are cookies, pretzels and soda. These foods are treats and should be limited.
What about white bread and pasta? They fall somewhere between good and bad carbs. They are not as nutritious as vegetables and whole grains, but not as nutrient-poor as cookies or candy. They contain some important nutrients, such as fibre, iron and folate.
Are low carb diets OK?
It is perfectly healthy to follow a low-carb diet, as long as it includes a variety of nutritious, whole, unprocessed foods. Low-carb diets can be good for heart health, since they may increase good cholesterol levels, and decrease blood pressure and triglyceride levels.
Studies show that some people successfully lose weight on a low carb diet, just as they can on a lower fat or Mediterranean-style diet. There's no one right diet that will work for everyone. Ultimately, the best diet is one you can stick to in the long term. So if you love bread but hate meat, the low-carb diet may not be the right fit for you.
And remember, low-carb does not mean no carb! A low carb diet still provides at least 20% of the day's calories from carbohydrates. Well-planned low-carb diets do include vegetables, fruit, beans and even small portions of whole grains, such as oats and quinoa.
So if your friend says "I don't eat carbs" or "I'm following a low-carb diet," it usually means they've cut back on sugar and bread. Hopefully it doesn't mean they have stopped eating nourishing foods like vegetables, fruit and beans. If they have, you're now equipped to educate them as to why that's not a nutritious idea.
- Reduce your risk with more healthy eating advice.
- Try our dietitian-approved recipes.
Heart-Healthy Diet Headlines: Should You Cut Carbs?
Questions about carbohydrates – total amounts and particular food choices — seemed to be top-of-mind for many people when I was speaking about a heart-healthy diet at recent conferences.
Studies suggesting new approaches to weight management and heart disease prevention are making headlines. And patients are asking challenging questions to health professionals who care for them. Unfortunately, sometimes these headlines distract attention away from eating choices that research continues to identify as health-protective.
I've most recently been talking about nutrition in the headlines to several multi-disciplinary audiences of health professionals. Focused on heart health, they were eager for help putting headlines in context of overall research.
When speaking to professionals from cardiac rehab programs at the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AAVPR) annual meeting, my topic was, "Nutrition News in Review: Clearing Through Headline Hype to Focus on Key Messages for Healthy Eating Strategies". Shortly thereafter, I was back on the podium in Nashville speaking at the National Lipid Association (NLA) Fall Clinical Lipid Update addressing, "Talking to Your Patients about Trending Diets".
In both presentations, I emphasized the need to support nutrition choices that are grounded in good science, while addressing people's questions and concerns about headlines they see.
Are Certain Carbohydrates Unhealthy?
Some books and blogs have garnered attention with claims that it's best to avoid broad categories of foods, such as gluten-containing foods, wheat in particular, or pulses (dried beans, peas and lentils). The rationale for such diets generally involves claims that these foods can promote inflammation or insulin resistance, or that they contain anti-nutrients that decrease our ability to absorb some nutrients.
I previously addressed concerns about compounds called phytates and lectins for readers of the American Institute for Cancer Research blog. The big picture of overall research does not show harm from phytates when wheat is included as part of healthful eating habits. If anything, they may benefit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defenses. Although compounds called lectins are high in uncooked grains and dried beans, proper cooking makes content negligible.
Rather than being pro-inflammatory, long-term population studies link whole grains with lower risk of heart disease. Studies show protection with three modest servings daily, and it grows even stronger with more substantial amounts.
Dried beans, peas and lentils offer potential for a variety of health benefits. They seem to provide prebiotic support for a health-promoting gut microbiota and help reduce LDL cholesterol. And their combination of protein and fiber may promote satiety, thus helping weight management.
Carb Choices that Make Sense
Some people do have intolerance to certain grains or pulses, but a blanket assumption that gluten, grains or beans is at fault can lead you to omit foods that could be supporting health.
For the average U.S. adult to meet amounts of dietary fiber recommended for lower cancer risk, for example, means boosting fiber by 13 grams a day. Here, I discussed how that's achievable, with one or two fiber-containing foods like vegetables, whole grains and beans swapped for less healthy foods at each meal. For more on why a variety of foods with fiber is the best strategy, check my AICR post. (For health professionals, I covered fiber in the diet in more depth here for Today's Dietitian.)
Chronic low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance are serious concerns for heart health and overall health, too. For most people, eating habits associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers include a variety of relatively unprocessed plant foods. That's vegetables, fruits, whole grains, pulses and nuts.
Unhealthy weight gain is tied to inflammation and insulin resistance. If you, like many adults, have pounds creeping up, look for realistic changes that can bring a modest weight loss. Take the focus off the search for a particular food as the sole problem or solution.
Are Low-Carb Diets Best to Lose Weight?
This was a hot topic at both of the cardiovascular conferences where I was presenting early this fall.
In carefully controlled research trials, low-carbohydrate diets average one or two pounds greater weight loss than low-fat diets at 3 to 6 months, but no difference at 12 months. Weight loss is generally more strongly related to how closely someone sticks to a diet than to whether the diet reduces calories by restricting carbohydrate or fat.
This highlights the need to identify changes that are most realistic for each individual.
In the DIETFITS trial published earlier this year, subjects were assigned to interventions targeting amounts of either carbohydrate or fat as low as each individual considered sustainable long-term. After one year, both groups had cut about 500 calories a day, with no difference in average weight loss. The only differences were that LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels dropped in the low-fat group, whereas they increased slightly in the low-carbohydrate group. (That's not really a surprise, since the group cutting carbs increased the saturated fat they were eating.) And blood triglycerides (another heart disease concern) dropped in both groups. This is as expected, since levels tend to decrease with weight loss. But the drop was substantially more in the low-carbohydrate group.
"All or nothing" rules may seem like they'd be easier to follow, yet this tends to be short-lived. In controlled trials, individuals vary, and average weight loss at 1 year on low-carb diets is no different than on low-fat diets.
What about Carbohydrates & Heart Disease Prevention?
An international study called the PURE study has made headlines linking high-carbohydrate diets with increased mortality rates. But the study draws heavily on poor and middle income countries in Asia. In many of these populations, a high-carbohydrate diet is often based primarily on white rice, with poor nutrient intake, poverty, and limited access to medical care. No surprise that carbohydrate is linked with poor health outcomes in that setting.
Conclusions are quite different when viewed in context of the ARIC study, which is based in the U.S. In this study, diets very low and very high in carbohydrate are both linked with greater heart disease deaths. Much more than a simplified answer about "carbs", this study showed again what has been seen in past studies: health effects depend on food choices that make up our eating habits.
- Low-carbohydrate diets are linked with worse health outcomes when less carbohydrate means more animal sources of protein and fat.
- High-carbohydrate diets are linked with worse health outcomes when carbohydrate comes mainly from refined carbohydrate (like sweets, refined grains and sugar-sweetened drinks), without much fat or protein from plant sources (such as pulses, whole grains, nuts and healthful oils).
When we talk about health and changes in carbohydrate, fat or protein, it's vital that we talk about the food choices that achieve those changes.
What about ketogenic diets?
One analysis pulled together 13 studies comparing diets low enough in carbohydrate to be ketogenic versus low-fat diets. After a year or more, ketogenic diets resulted in 2 pounds greater weight loss. That was "statistically significant", but is a two-pound difference clinically significant for effects on health? Regardless of the effects on weight, ketogenic diets overall resulted in a greater decrease in blood triglycerides, but an increase in LDL ("bad") cholesterol compared to low-fat diets.
This increase in LDL cholesterol with a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet has also been reported in a study published since these presentations that involved only normal weight, young adults. LDL response varied widely, suggesting that if someone wants to try a low-carbohydrate approach to eating, it's important to monitor effects on blood lipids like LDL. If ketogenic diets are reduced in calories to promote weight loss, or saturated fat is low (less than 8% of calories), they might not necessarily raise LDL levels.
A 2-year trial in people with type 2 diabetes used diets that reduced calories and also kept saturated fat low (no more than 10% of calories). One group of subjects did this with a ketogenic version of the diet, another with a version higher in carbohydrate but low in glycemic index (meaning the carbohydrates weren't coming from sweets and refined grains). At one year and at two years, both diets achieved similar decreases in weight, blood pressure, A1C (a marker of blood sugar control in these people with diabetes), and LDL cholesterol. The ketogenic diet, however, achieved this with fewer diabetes medications and less glycemic variability throughout the day (which researchers suggest may lead to better long-term outcomes).
It's great that more than one style of eating pattern may bring health benefits. But don't underestimate the challenges to people who don't have a research team supporting them as they try to implement an eating pattern like the one in this study. The more limits put on food choices, the harder it is to continue long-term in a realistically enjoyable lifestyle.
Cutting carbs for heart disease prevention? It's not that simple. Research shows food choices matter for both fat and carbohydrates in a heart-healthy diet.
What Makes a Heart-Healthy Food Choice?
Interest in potential benefits of low-carbohydrate diets has stemmed from headlines suggesting that reducing saturated fat may not protect against heart disease as claimed. Putting those headlines in perspective, however, we can see that when studies compared all people with higher and lower amounts of saturated fat in their diets without considering their food choices, that's when no benefit was seen for limiting saturated fat. Conclusion: swapping ice cream and fatty meat for fat-free cookies, sugar-laden soft drinks, and giant refined grain bagels doesn't help.
Choices research most clearly supports:
- Low in saturated fat if… Studies that consider the healthfulness of what people eat when they reduce saturated fat show that people are less likely to develop heart disease when they replace foods high in saturated fat with more whole grains and unsaturated fats (from nuts, avocadoes, fish and healthful oils, for example).
- Plant-focused if… A plant-based diet is often recommended as a heart-healthy eating pattern that also helps lower cancer risk and promotes overall health. But when plant food choices emphasize sweets and refined grains, risk of heart disease increases. In contrast, when a plant-focused diet emphasized vegetables, fruits, whole grains, dried beans, nuts and healthful oils, heart disease risk was reduced by 25% compared to people who ate lowest amounts of these foods.
- Calories supporting a healthy weight… In a study of adults with risk factors for heart disease, decreases in blood cholesterol, a marker of inflammation (CRP), and insulin levels at 12 months were unrelated to whether the diet focused on cutting carbohydrate, fat or calories. Changes in these risk factors were significantly related to weight loss. So for someone whose excess body fat is putting them at health risk, the question of what can help reach and maintain a weight that is healthy for him or her is worth individualized consideration.
- Supportive of long-term health… Studies showing that an eating pattern benefits weight at one year or two years are not able to address effects on long-term health. Evidence consistently shows health-protective effects of dietary fiber, nutrients and natural plant compounds in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, pulses (such as beans and lentils), and nuts. In that context, be cautious about assuming that benefits of cutting carbohydrate in short-term studies will necessarily translate to long-term health.
A Reasonable Strategy for a Heart-Healthy Diet & Weight
Instead of jumping to cut all carbohydrates, start with cutting down on carbohydrate-rich foods that do not provide health-protective compounds.
- Sweets and sugar-sweetened drinks account for a large part of the carbohydrate in the average American's diet. How low can you cut these choices without feeling so deprived that you are at risk for binges? Truly occasional use will not be a barrier to a healthy weight or heart health.
- Look at your portions of refined grains: white bread, rolls, crackers, and rice. What about refined grain cereals and bars? According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, many people exceed recommended amounts. If you've been among those going overboard, swap a few for whole grains, and cut portions of others.
- Make non-starchy vegetables the biggest portion on your plate. In addition to whole grains, include modest portions of other nutrient-rich foods with carbohydrates, such as starchy vegetables, fruits and pulses. And choose protein sources that have healthful fat, such as nuts, fish and poultry (and I don't mean deep-fried chicken wings). Explore meatless possibilities, too.
After living with those steps for a while, if someone strongly prefers a trial with a very low-carbohydrate diet, it's best to work with a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) for help including health-protective foods. Anyone with diabetes needs to coordinate a plan with their healthcare provider for monitoring safety and adjusting medications if needed. For people who are not simply cutting back on excess unhealthful carbohydrates, but targeting very low levels, based on potential that's been seen for unhealthy changes in risk factors for heart disease, it makes sense to follow the latest American Diabetes Association standards of care and see their healthcare provider after three or four months (if not sooner) to evaluate results and create a plan for next steps.
Bottom Line on Carbohydrates in a Heart-Healthy Diet:
Headlines may make low-carbohydrate diets seem more successful for weight loss. Controlled studies show them to be one option, not necessarily a better option. Eating habits full of low-nutrient carbohydrate-rich foods are associated with heart disease and provide excess calories that can lead to an unhealthy weight. But that doesn't justify jumping to minimize all carbohydrates. The association of high-fiber, nutrient-rich choices with heart health and overall health makes another approach a smart starting point. Target an eating pattern that includes moderate portions along with healthful sources of protein and fat. If that doesn't bring the desired results, meeting with a registered dietitian nutritionist can address whether what's needed is a new approach, or simply more help making this targeted pattern a realistic and enjoyable way to eat.
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Dansinger ML, Gleason JA, Griffith JL, et al. Comparison of the Atkins, Ornish, Weight Watchers, and Zone Diets for Weight Loss and Heart Disease Risk ReductionA Randomized Trial. JAMA. 2005; 293(1):43–53.
Gardner CD, Trepanowski JF, Del Gobbo LC, et al. Effect of Low-Fat vs Low-Carbohydrate Diet on 12-Month Weight Loss in Overweight Adults and the Association With Genotype Pattern or Insulin Secretion: The DIETFITS Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2018; 319(7):667–679.
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TUESDAY, Aug. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — People who slash carbohydrates from their diets may shorten their lifespan, a new study suggests.
Using data on nearly 25,000 Americans, researchers found that the one-quarter who ate the fewest carbs each day also had a higher risk of dying over the next six years. Specifically, they had higher death rates from heart disease, stroke and cancer.
The research was presented Tuesday at the European Society of Cardiology's annual meeting, in Munich, Germany.
While the study couldn't prove cause-and-effect, experts said the findings spotlight the potential impact of such diets — or any "extreme" way of eating — on long-term health.
Low-carb diets typically involve eating a lot of protein, mostly meat and dairy products, and consuming less vegetables, fruit and grains. The Atkins and Keto diets are two examples of this kind of eating regimen.
In fact, a study published earlier this month linked both high-carb and low-carb diets to an earlier death, said Connie Diekman, a registered dietitian who was not involved in the new research.
In that study, researchers found that Americans who typically ate a moderate amount of carbs — 50 to 55 percent of their daily calories — lived the longest, on average.
None of those studies prove that the carb content of people's diets was the key factor in longevity, Diekman stressed.
But she said it all suggests, once again, that moderation is the wisest course.
"If you want to protect your health — and work to help prevent disease — the best advice is to avoid extreme eating patterns, and focus on a good balance of plant and animal food sources," said Diekman, who directs university nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis.
The study's lead researcher cautioned on low-carb diets, specifically. "Low-carbohydrate diets might be useful in the short term to lose weight, lower blood pressure and improve blood control," Dr. Maciej Banach, of the Medical University of Lodz, in Poland, said in a statement.
"But," he added, "our study suggests that in the long term they are linked with an increased risk of death from any cause, and deaths due to cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease and cancer."
Nov. 19, 2002 (Chicago) — Fire up the barbee! Researchers from Duke University say that six months on the high-fat, low-carbohydrate Atkins Diet adds up to more weight loss and better cholesterol than a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet.
And if that isn't surprising consider this: Those researchers delivered the burger-friendly news at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2002.
Eric Westman, MD, Duke University obesity researcher, says he decided to study the Atkins Diet after treating several patients who were "losing significant weight using the Atkins diet." But Westman says he didn't expect the high-fat regimen to do better than "the standard low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet that we use at the Duke Diet Center." The study was funded by the Robert Atkins Foundation.
Westman assigned 120 obese volunteers — 75% of them women — to either the Atkins diet or to a low-fat diet that restricts fat to less than 30% of total calories. The participants following the Atkins diet got less than 10% of calories from carbohydrates, while 60% came from fat. The Atkins diet also includes the use of fish oil, borage oil, and flaxseed oil supplements.
After six months the Atkins diet group lost about 14% of their starting weight or an average of 30 pounds, which was considerably better than the 20-pound or 9% loss for the low-fat dieters.
Moreover, the Atkins group posted an impressive 11% increase in HDL "good" cholesterol compared to just a 1% improvement for people on the low-fat diet. At the same time triglycerides — another blood fat and suspected risk factor for heart disease — decreased a whopping 49% on the Atkins diet.
Neither diet had any significant effect on LDL "bad" cholesterol.
Westman tells WebMD that he thinks the Atkins diet "works" because people stay on it and lose more weight. Weight, he says, appears to be the real key to reducing heart disease risk factors. But he says that he still doesn't recommend the Atkins diet. "We really need a large, well designed study," he says. The National Institutes of Health is expected to start such a study early next year.
Heart risk from low-carb diets
New research suggests that "low-carbohydrate Atkins-style diets could increase risk of heart disease and stroke", reported the Daily Mail . Research in animals has found that "'low-carb', high-protein diets can lead to a 'significant' build-up in plaque in arteries" and "make it harder for the body to form new blood vessels", the Daily Mail 's article on low-carb diets said. It also said one of the researchers has warned that the effects do not show up in the usual tests.
This study looked at the effects of the low-carbohydrate high-protein diet in mice and found it to be associated with greater build-up of fatty deposits in blood vessels than a diet that had more carbohydrate and less protein, but similar amounts of fat.
As this research is in mice, it is unclear to what extent these findings apply to humans. It will no doubt prompt more research into this diet and into identifying an easy way to measure the effects it might have on the blood vessels. People trying to lose weight should try to do so by exercising and eating a healthy balanced diet that can be sustained long term.
Where did the story come from?
The research was carried out by Dr Foo and colleagues from Harvard Medical School and other research centres in the US. The study was funded by the Leducq Foundation Network of Research Excellence, the American Heart Association, the National Institutes of Health, Judith and David Ganz and the Maxwell Hurston Charitable Foundation. It was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA .
What kind of scientific study was this?
This animal study looked at the effects of a low-carbohydrate high-protein diet on the cardiovascular systems of mice. Low-carbohydrate diets, such as the traditional Atkins diet, are used by many as a way of losing weight, but some of these diets are high in protein and fat.
These researchers were particularly interested in the effects of the low-carbohydrate and high-protein aspects of the diet, and so used test diets that had similar amounts of fat. The long-term effects of low-carbohydrate high-protein diets on the cardiovascular system are unknown.
The researchers used male mice that were genetically engineered to develop atherosclerosis when they were given a diet designed to mimic a typical Western diet (43% carbohydrate, 42% fat, 15% protein and 0.15% cholesterol).
Atherosclerosis is the thickening of the walls of the arteries due to the accumulation of fatty substances such as cholesterol. It can lead to heart attacks.
The mice were put on one of three diets one week after weaning. These were:
The Western diet and LCHP diet had similar amounts of calories, fat and cholesterol.
The mice were weighed after 12 weeks on the diet, and their aortas (the main artery leading out of the heart) examined for signs of atherosclerosis after six and 12 weeks. Other signs of heart disease risk were also measured, including levels of cholesterol and other kinds of fats in the blood, levels of insulin and glucose, and levels of chemicals that indicate inflammation (which is involved in the formation of the fatty build-ups in the arteries).
The researchers assessed whether the diets affected cells called endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). These move into areas where blood vessels are susceptible to atherosclerosis, and may help to repair the blood vessels. A reduction in EPCs indicates greater risk of cardiovascular problems.
The researchers also looked at the effects of the diets on the mice's ability to form new blood vessels when blood supply (and therefore oxygen) was cut off from the tissues (ischaemia). To investigate this, normal laboratory mice were fed the Western-style or LCHP diet for four weeks. After this period the researchers surgically cut off blood flow to one of the mice's back legs and looked at how long it took for blood flow to re-establish itself, which indicates how well new blood vessels are being formed.
What were the results of the study?
The genetically engineered mice on the LCHP diet gained less weight over 12 weeks than those on the Western-style diet or standard food. Mice that were fed the LCHP diet had significantly greater fatty deposits in their aortas after six and 12 weeks than mice that were the Western-style diet or standard food. Mice fed on the Western-style diet had larger fatty deposits in their aortas than mice on standard food.
The mice on the LCHP diet did not show differences in the levels of cholesterol or chemicals relating to inflammation in their blood compared to those on the Western-style diet. However, they did show a reduction in the number of EPCs compared to mice that were fed on the Western or standard diets. This suggests that the mice would have limited ability to repair damaged blood vessels.
The researchers also found that mice fed on the LCHP diet showed less ability to regrow new blood vessels in response to a loss of blood supply to their back legs than mice fed on a Western diet.
What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results?
The researchers conclude that in an animal model of atherosclerosis, low-carbohydrate high-protein diets have adverse effects on blood-vessel health, and that typical markers of cardiovascular risk, including cholesterol levels and signs of inflammation, do not show this. They are not sure whether it is the low-carbohydrate or high-protein content that has these effects. They say that caution is needed if these findings are to be extended to humans, but raise their concerns that typical blood markers may not reflect the effects of the low-carbohydrate high-protein diet on cardiovascular risk.
What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study?
This study looked at the effects of a low-carbohydrate high-protein diet in mice, and found that it was associated with a greater build-up of fatty deposits than a diet that had more carbohydrate and less protein, but similar amounts of fat. As this research is in mice, it is unclear to what extent these findings apply to humans.
It is important to note that both the LCHP diet and the Western-style diet had a similar fat and cholesterol content. This means that some aspect of protein or carbohydrate metabolism contributed to the increased build-up of the cholesterol-rich fatty deposits in the mice on the LCHP diet. This is clearly a complex effect that will need further evaluation and the finding will prompt more research into how this diet has its effect.
The message for humans remains unchanged: people aiming to lose weight should try to do so by eating a healthy balanced diet that can be sustained in the long term and ensuring that they are physically active.
Analysis by Bazian
Edited by NHS Website
Links to the headlines
Low-carbohydrate Atkins-style diets could increase risk of heart disease and stroke.
Daily Mail, 25 August 2009
Low-carb diets 'damage arteries'.
BBC News, 25 August 2009
Links to the science
Foo SY, Heller ER, Wykrzykowska J et al.
Vascular effects of a low-carbohydrate high-protein diet.
PNAS 2009, Published online before print August 24
There is some evidence that a low-carbohydrate diet may help people lose weight more quickly than a low-fat diet (31,32)—and may help them maintain that weight loss.
- For example, POUNDS LOST (Preventing Overweight Using Novel Dietary Strategies), a two-year head-to-head trial comparing different weight loss strategies, found that healthy diets that varied in the proportions of different macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein and fats) worked equally well in the long run, and that there was no speed advantage for one diet over another. (33)
- The DIRECT study compared low-carb, low-fat, and Mediterranean-style diets and found that after 2 years, weight loss and maintenance were better for low-carb and Mediterranean-style diets as compared to low-fat diets.
- The diets also had different effects on heart disease risk factors.
The low-carb diet was most beneficial for lowering triglycerides, the main fat-carrying particle in the bloodstream, and also delivered the biggest boost in protective HDL cholesterol.
If interested in trying a lower-carbohydrate diet, try to include some fruits, vegetables, and whole grains for essential vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. (1) Learn more about healthy diets for weight loss.
Low carbohydrate diets and heart disease
Research shows that a moderately low-carbohydrate diet can help the heart, as long as protein and fat selections come from healthy sources.
- A 20-year prospective study of 82,802 women looked at the relationship between lower carbohydrate diets and heart disease; a subsequent study looked at lower carbohydrate diets and risk of diabetes. Women who ate low-carbohydrate diets that were high in vegetable sources of fat or protein had a 30 percent lower risk of heart disease (4) and about a 20 percent lower risk of type 2 diabetes, (34) compared to women who ate high-carbohydrate, low-fat diets. But women who ate low-carbohydrate diets that were high in animal fats or proteins did not see any such benefits. (4,34)
- More evidence of the heart benefits from a lower-carbohydrate approach comes from a randomized trial known as the Optimal Macronutrient Intake Trial for Heart Health (OmniHeart). (35) A healthy diet that replaced some carbohydrate with protein or fat did a better job of lowering blood pressure and "bad" LDL cholesterol than a healthy, higher-carbohydrate diet.
- Similarly, the small "EcoAtkins" weight loss trial compared a low-fat, high-carbohydrate vegetarian diet to a low-carbohydrate vegan diet that was high in vegetable protein and fat. While weight loss was similar on the two diets, study subjects who followed the low-carbohydrate "EcoAtkins" diet saw improvements in blood lipids and blood pressure. (36)
31. Foster GD, Wyatt HR, Hill JO, et al. A randomized trial of a low-carbohydrate diet for obesity. N Engl J Med. 2003;348:2082-90.
35. Appel LJ, Sacks FM, Carey VJ, et al. Effects of protein, monounsaturated fat, and carbohydrate intake on blood pressure and serum lipids: results of the OmniHeart randomized trial. JAMA. 2005;294:2455-64.
36. Jenkins DJ, Wong JM, Kendall CW, et al. The effect of a plant-based low-carbohydrate ("Eco-Atkins") diet on body weight and blood lipid concentrations in hyperlipidemic subjects. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169:1046-54.
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If you're looking for a heart-healthy weight-loss diet to try, it appears that low-carbohydrate might be more effective than low-fat.
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A recent study found that a low-carb diet is better for losing weight and reducing cardiovascular disease risk than a low-fat one.
Researchers at Tulane University randomly assigned 148 men and women to follow either a low-carbohydrate diet or a low-fat diet. None of the participants had heart disease or diabetes when the study began.
Participants assigned to the low-carbohydrate diet were told to maintain an intake of digestible carbohydrate – meaning total carbohydrate minus total fiber – of less than 40 grams daily. Those assigned to the low-fat diet were told to maintain less than 30 percent of their daily energy intake from fat, with less than 7 percent coming from saturated fat and 55 percent from carbohydrates. Neither diet included a specific calorie or energy goal. And the participants in each group were asked to avoid changing their physical activity levels during the study.
After a year, people on the low-carb diet had greater decreases in weight, fat mass and other cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as cholesterol levels, than those on the low-fat diet.
Those in the low-carb group lost an average of almost 8 pounds more than those in the low-fat group and blood levels of certain fats that are predictors of risk for heart disease, also decreased more in the low-carb group.
The researchers say that the underlying mechanisms that may account for the differences in weight loss by diet are not fully known. But another recent study indicates that low-carbohydrate diets may have a more favorable effect than low-fat diets on how your body burns calories.
The researchers say that low-carb diets have been a popular strategy for weight loss, but their cardiovascular effects have been unknown until now.
"A low-carb diet is effective way to lose weight and improve cardiovascular risk factors. However, the diet is difficult to maintain long-term," says registered dietitian Kate Patton, MEd, RD, CSSD, LD. Ms. Patton, a registered dietitian in Cleveland Clinic's Preventive Cardiology & Rehabilitation Section, did not take part in the study.
"Once you transition off a low-carb diet, follow a Mediterranean diet for a heart-healthy approach to reducing cardiovascular risk factors," Ms. Patton says.
Complete findings for the study, "Effects of Low-Carbohydrate and Low-Fat Diets: A Randomized Trial," appear in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.
Low-carb diets might not be the healthiest for a long life — 2 big new studies suggest they're linked to a higher risk of death
- Low-carb diets are a popular way to lose weight, but a growing body of research suggests they may also lead to premature death when followed for long periods.
- A new study of more than 24,800 adults in the US found that those who limited their carb intake had a 32% higher risk of death from any cause than people who ate high-carb diets.
- That finding aligns with other new data of more than 447,500 people around the globe.
- Limiting carbs might be a good strategy for weight loss, but experts say it's not a great plan to follow in the long term.
Low-carb diets have many iterations, each with a devoted following. Atkins dieters eat lots of meat and eggs before slowly and carefully reintroducing carbs, while the ketogenic diet urges people to severely cut carbs and focus on upping their fat intake from foods like butter, cheese, and avocados.
But increasingly, scientists are discovering that going low-carb may not do you any favors in the long run.
A study presented Tuesday at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2018 looked at the self-reported eating patterns of 24,825 people in the US over more than a decade.
The researchers separated participants into four quartiles, from lowest- to highest-carb diets. They found that Americans in the bottom 25% of the pack, who ate barely any carbs, had a 32% higher risk of death from any cause than those who had the highest carb intakes.
They also found that low-carb dieters had a 51% increased risk of dying from coronary heart disease and a 35% increased risk of dying from cancer relative to people in the top 25% of carb eaters.
The researchers compared those results with data on the diets of 447,506 people around the world and found that overall, low-carb dieters had a 15% increased risk of death.
The researchers think this may be because replacing healthy, fiber-rich carbs — like whole grains and certain vegetables — with more meat can lead to danger.
"Our study suggests that in the long-term they are linked with an increased risk of death from any cause, and deaths due to cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and cancer," Maciej Banach, a professor at the Medical University of Lodz in Poland who helped write the study, said in a release.
Healthy carbs like whole grains and beans aren't bad for you
This new study comes on the heels of another worldwide investigation into death data published in the Lancet earlier this month. It found that people who ate a moderate amount of carbs and focus on whole, healthful foods like veggies, legumes, and nuts tended to live longer than people who limited their carbohydrate intake.
It's more evidence that the best long-term diet strategy is a regimen rich in vegetables, filling whole grains, and healthy fats from naturally oily sources like olives and avocados.
"Try to make choices that fill your plate with plants," Sara Seidelmann, a cardiologist and nutrition researcher at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston who led the Lancet study, previously told Business Insider.
She said it's not clear whether a plant-based diet that is also low-carb might be a healthy long-term strategy because no one really eats that way.
"It's not a natural eating pattern," she said.
Instead, when people dump carbs, they often reach for more animal proteins and fats.
Eating more butter and meat can increase your blood pressure, and the World Health Organization says that processed meats like hot dogs, ham, bacon, and sausage can cause cancer. It's possible that any kind of red meat, processed or not, could be linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer. And some fish carry high levels of nitrates, which can cause cancer in animals.
What's more, low-carb dieters who trade grains and fresh produce for more meat and fish may unwittingly acidify their urine, putting them at risk for developing kidney stones.
That said, there are a few good reasons to go low-carb
/Suzanne Tucker
Still, low-carb diets offer real benefits for certain people.
The ketogenic diet — keto for short — was originally developed to help curb epileptic seizures in children. Cutting sugar and eating more fat has been found to help control seizures when drugs can't and to stop them completely in some cases.
Going keto can also help control blood glucose levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes. That's also why it can be an effective short-term weight-loss treatment.
"Low-carbohydrate diets might be useful in the short term to lose weight, lower blood pressure, and improve blood glucose control," Banach said in the release. His study suggests that the link between early death and low-carb diets is stronger for people who aren't obese, lending credence to the idea that it might be all right to cut carbs if you need to lose a lot of weight.
Cancer doctors also think that keto diets may play a role in making certain types of treatment more effective, and they've studied how cutting sugar from mice's diets helps one class of cancer drugs more effectively kill tumors. Human trials of this drug-diet combo are set for this fall.
But for most people, restricting carbs is done by ramping up their intake of meat and other proteins and forgoing high-fiber, carb-heavy foods like beans, carrots, and legumes that help keep you satisfied until your next meal.
That said, cutting back on carbs does help dieters eat healthier in one important way: It reduces their sugar intake.
Sugar is essentially all carbs, and research has clearly shown that eating sugar can lead to all kinds of health problems — like weight gain, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes — if left unchecked.
"If we're talking about a Mountain Dew from 7-Eleven, I would agree that carbohydrate in that context is bad," Edward Weiss, an exercise scientist, recently told Business Insider. But he said that processed carbs like white bread and sugary snacks that lack fiber and vitamins shouldn't be equated with healthy carbs like whole vegetables and whole grains.
"These are the healthiest foods we know of," he said. "To avoid them is, I think, really taking a chance and doing self-experimentation with something that might have long-term negative effects."


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We left Roswell, and went farther south, to Artesia, first, and stayed at the Walmart there for three days. Sharon had ordered something from Walmart online and had it delivered to that store. It wasn't a bad place to stay, and we were able to park on the perimeter, with a huge vacant lot just on the other side of a fence. There was a future driveway already laid out with a vehicle barricade across the entrance, but we could easily walk around it for Angel to take care of his business.
From there we went on down to the Carlsbad Walmart for a couple more days. Carlsbad was extremely busy in general, and the Walmart was no different. We parked as far back as we could go and still stay out of the loading bays. There was a large dry retaining pond with mowed grass to our right, so Angel enjoyed some running there (within the limits of his leash, of course).
The weather was still remaining quite chilly, so we weighed our options as to which way to go from there, while taking into account our traveling expenses, and how the trailer wheel expense had already impacted them.
Also, we had already gone through our fifth 20# can of propane to that point, or roughly $80 in heating fuel. That was for a little over a month. If we stayed in that climate the rest of the winter, another four months, we knew we could figure on about $320 to stay warm!
Of course, if we had a Wave 3 heater, instead of a Buddy, we wouldn't have to use 4000 btus on low, and could have used 1600 btus, which would have made our fuel last 2-1/2 times longer! They really are worth the extra money!
We had originally figured on the possibility of going clear over to Quartzsite/Ehrenberg again, and also going through Mesa and up to Payson at some point before heading back east in the spring. But mileage costs money, and the trailer wheel incident had already put a dent in our traveling kitty. It appeared more prudent to stay east of where we already were, but yet we needed to get farther south to find warmer weather.
We knew we probably would be going back through Texarkana from wherever we went, so that was our "crossover" point. From there to South Texas and back to there would only cost us about $280 in gas. And by staying in warm weather, we would need very little propane to stay warm. After the sun comes up, the trailer stays as much as 20° above outside temperature if we close the vents, so a can of propane "could" last all winter! It became clear that we needed to head for South Texas!
The shortest route was to Pecos, TX first, and then down to Fort Stockton. But as much as I am knowledgeable of such things, I forgot to check road conditions! After all, the roads so far had been nearly excellent, and in an area where they don't get freezing and thawing, why would I expect that to change? But it did!
The first half of Hwy 285 to Pecos was as good as the rest...but...we noticed that we were entering oil and gas country. With that came a much higher percentage of big trucks. We all know what they do to the roads!
Beyond the halfway point, the road started getting rougher, but still passable...except that there was hardly any space long enough to pass anybody!
The road was in the process of being widened to a four lane highway, and bridges were being worked on. At least four different times, we were delayed by nearly a half hour each time, for long one lane passages.
We had left plenty early enough for a normal drive, but now it was getting dark, and the road kept getting progressively worse! My night vision isn't the best right now, and I hate driving after dark...anywhere! Our speed had slowed to 45 mph because of dodging all the potholes...when I could even see them!
Suddenly, we hit three large ones in a row before I could even maneuver away from them, and both right hand wheels on the van bottomed out with a hard, metal to metal sounding bang!
The front wheel survived, maybe partly due to the trailer tongue weight on the back taking some of the weight off the front end. But the back wheels carried the 500# weight of the trailer tongue, and the suspension had far less distance to travel. The sharp edge of the pothole bent the inside edge of the van wheel in about two inches, while at the same time cutting the tire sidewall all the way through in several places!
I got the van slowed down to a crawl and tried to pull over to the side as far as I could, but there was no burm to speak of, and the dropoff at the edge of the main pavement was steep. I heard something scrape and crash, but couldn't stop to check it out. I could also hear the hitch dragging, so I pulled back on the road as far as I could, and kept rolling slow, with my flashers on, for another few hundred feet.
Finally, I saw a wider pulloff area, and was able to get off the road. It wasn't real level, but I knew that if we had to park there for the night that I could still pull the right trailer wheel up on some wood blocks if necessary.
It was chilly that night, and I didn't really want to change a tire with a trailer attached to the van, so I Googled tire repair places in Pecos, TX. The first place didn't have anyone available, but recommended a second place. That one took my information, but couldn't say how long it would take to get to me.
I decided to go ahead and start on it, and if they got there, fine, and if they didn't, we could still get on the road again. The first thing I had to do was put blocks under the tongue jack, as high as possible. Then, with the trailer attached, I lifted the tongue AND the back of the van together. Then I got the scissors jack for the van, read the directions for proper placement, and started jacking the van up.
Keep in mind, we also had roughly 500# of weight in the van yet! But I jacked on the van awhile, then raised the trailer tongue some more, then back to the van...repeating this at least three more times before the van tire cleared the ground.
Meanwhile, a good Samaritan by the name of Jamie pulled up next to us and offered some help. By then, I already had the spare out from under the van, and noticed that the protective cover was all freshly torn to shreds...obviously, the result of getting high centered on the edge of the road.
About that time, the service truck from the place I had called also pulled up behind us. But they could see I had things under control, and left again. Jamie stayed, and it was a good thing he did. After I got the "donut" spare on the van and let the jack down, I realized that the donut was nearly flat, too! After all, with being up under the middle of the van, who is going to get under there to check air pressure? It probably hadn't been checked since it was first installed several years ago!
I put my trucker's gauge on it, and it wouldn't even register on the gauge! But thank God for Jamie, he had a small compressor in his truck, with a good dial gauge inline, and it only registered 15# on the gauge! It was supposed to be 60#! Within five minutes, his compressor had us aired up properly. I finished putting all the "parts" away, and then Jamie offered to follow us the rest of the 5.6 miles into Pecos to the Walmart Store. We made it without incident.
The next task was to find a new fancy mag wheel for the Chrysler and a tire to fit. The place that I had called the night before only works on big trucks. But they recommended another place on the service road that deals in all kinds of tires. That place took my information and said they could get the tire there by the next afternoon, but that the wheel might take longer. It was a dealer item, and if the dealer didn't have one in stock, it may have to come from a warehouse.
We remained stuck at the Pecos Walmart for ten nights. The wheel finally arrived on the Friday before Christmas, and they got it installed that same day...at a cost of $427 for the wheel, another $110+ for the tire, plus mounting, balancing, etc. Ouch!
In reality, that is the going price. They didn't gouge me, and handled everything very professionally, even taking the time to call me in between to check on me. I couldn't expect more.
But there went even more of our traveling funds than it cost us earlier for the trailer wheel and tire. So it was good that we were already on our way south to warmer weather.
We went from Pecos to Fort Stockton, but rather than take Hwy 285 again, we went east on I-20 to Monahans, and then south on Hwy 18. It was a little longer, but far safer.
The Fort Stockton Walmart had no less than nine other RVers there that night. It was a good stay. The next day, we headed east on I-10, not sure if we would stop at a rest stop for the night, but we were rolling along good and had plenty of daylight left, so we drove on down to Uvalde before dark, where we stayed two nights.
We did splurge for one more thing, while there, that I have wanted for a long time and had put off buying. We purchased a reasonably good (actually the best Walmart had) 12-volt air compressor. I know there are "professional grade" compressors that sell for much more, but this one will keep us out of trouble.
I don't remember what law of the universe it is anymore, but I know there's one that says that if you purchase something like this, that you will likely never need it! I'm hoping that's true! We've had enough tire and wheel problems on this trip!
From Uvalde, we drove farther south and east to Alice, TX for one night, and then continued to South Texas. There are so many Walmarts in this area now, that I doubt if there are ten miles between them! We can rotate among them all winter and never have to wear out our tires!
We knew that the front tires on the van would need replacing by the time we got back up north this spring. But now, I've noticed that the van is pulling slightly to the right since hitting that pothole. But with adding limited mileage this winter, I'm hoping to hold out until we pass through Arkansas again. I can get the new tires at Walmart there, and then go right around the corner to our favorite mechanic of over thirty-five years, and have him check over the entire suspension and align the wheels.
Until then, we're content to enjoy warm winter weather, and not put any more miles on the van than necessary. Between us and Walmarts, we have everything we need!
There may not be much exciting happening this winter, but I'll post again when I have something to mention. We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, and are looking forward to a Happy and prosperous New Year!

subset: commoncrawl


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- 300-metre long driving range with covered and grass tee-offs
- 2x putting green
- 1x chipping green
- golf bag rentals with a full or half set of golf clubs, rental of individual clubs possible
- manual mechanical and electric carts for hire, motorised carts for hire
- professional lessons
- restaurant with a terrace and a view over the golf course
- refreshments every 9 holes
- wellness
Golf Academy
The Golf Academy is a special programme prepared for groups of new players and corporate groups when the basics of golf are taught. The price includes the essential golfing equipment, practice balls and a professional trainer or a golf trainer (2 trainers for groups of more than 15). A golf academy focusing on teeing off and putting lasts 90 minutes.
The Golf School
The offer of regular golf training is intended for our junior visitors. It is led by a professional golf trainer, Mr Jan Šedivec, a member of the PGAC. The training sessions take place twice a week with the exception of the summer holiday. The spring and autumn parts (3-month-long training blocks) are ended with a tournament.
The resort of Darovanský dvůr regularly organizes residential golf summer camps for children. Our spring and autumn weekend camps and a week-long summer camp providing intensive training and practice of golf skills for children have earned great popularity.


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This dev log will be a bit more technical than our other devlogs:
Our team has been working on improving the networking code, specifically in the movement area. We have already done this in the past for spells by implementing a 'Spell Queue' system.
The changes to movement greatly reduce stuttering for medium to high latency players. Here is a comparison between the old behavior and new behavior. Both are recorded with artificial 200ms latency on both clients:
Old stuttery behaviour video (click to expand)
As you can see, when a slowing effect is casted on our target the movement warps and jumps around every time his speed changes. This is because the new speed is applied instantly for observers, which is incorrect. The 'lagging' player isn't aware of his new speed yet and continues to move around with his old speed until he finally receives the message from the server that he has been slowed. The client on the left side however has already received the message from the server that the target has been slowed and has adjusted the targets speed accordingly.
This causes a desync between the two clients as they assume different speeds for the player, which in turn causes server correction and warping.
The new behavior takes into account the latency of the target and waits until it informs the observers of the slowing effect:
New smooth behaviour video (click to expand)
The most obvious difference is that the slow does not take effect the moment the aura is applied for observers (left client). The speed change is delayed shorty until the right-side client has been informed of the slow. In reality, this doesn't change anything. It just provides better timing for observing clients which no longer have to be server corrected and greatly reduces warping.
- These changes affect everyone, they are improvements for observers, not for the laggy players themselves. Every time you play with or against a player with higher than average latency, the new code is in effect and it will be buttery smooth.
These changes went live on our WoTLK server today.


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Michele Pred's "Promote the General Welfare" is an art project that uses old or expired birth control pills in conjunction with vintage materials (hats, tiaras, purses) in order to express her "frustration over the continuing and growing impediments to fair, safe and affordable access to birth control and other women's services in the United States" as well as responding to the negative attitudes that continue to surround birth control.
Christian L. Frock, a SF based art critic and curator had this to say about Pred's work:
These pills – so small as to seem inconsequential, really – signify an enduring battle and Pred's choice of demure, indeed ladylike, handbags reminds us of its timeline. The sculptures are representative too of a vast web of diverse personalities, each invested in the common goal of promoting dialogue around women's rights – from the pills themselves, as discrete objects, to their use in an artwork. Whereas the original owners of these bags were limited in their ability to amplify their voices, people seeing them today are empowered to do so with free tools online. Though progress is frequently challenged, the stakeholders in women's reproductive rights are increasingly networked. Michele Pred's work signifies the challenges and the triumphs of women's reproductive rights simultaneously, one tiny pill at a time.
Given the seemingly constant controversy that surrounds birth control access in the United States (and given that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear cases surrounding religious corporations who want to opt out of the ACA's birth control mandate), it's like we're back in the 1950s, before Griswold v. Connecticut and Eistenstadt v. Baird legalized birth control access, first for married couples, and then for all. Looks like we haven't come a long way yet.
(And – you can contribute to the project! If you sent any unwanted/expired pills to the artists, you'll get a signed print in return!)


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Super Moderator
- Apr 8, 2010
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This is part two
Part One can be found here -
Part One can be found here -
Mega Thread - Coronavirus & the AFL - season postponed.
The spread of Coronavirus the last few days has been unprecedented. The number of cases outside of China has jumped significantly with more than 82,000 people infected globally and is worrying governments worldwide with it's rapid spread. The PM has initiated an emergency response plan as a top...
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Unique and fun printed crepe fabric, take a closer look at that seaweed – it's filled with an 'overlocking' stitch! This fabric has a lovely handle and drape, perfect for our Rochester pattern.
COLOUR | Yellow and Turquoise
WIDTH |150cm wide
COMPOSITION | 100% Polyester
CARE | gentle 30° wash
PLEASE NOTE | colours may look different on a monitor than real life. Please email us to order a swatch if you would like to check the colour before you order.


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As they continue to grow year on year, 2020 brings some exciting changes to the show with the introduction of adventure activities for the whole family. Alongside their traditional exhibitions of boats and accessories, they'll will be offering adventure based activities from some of their local providers to celebrate what the Lake District has to…
We are now a Centurion Boats dealer.
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Sea-Doo 2020 model test day
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UK's First 5 Year warranty* on ALL brand NEW 2019 & 2020 Sea-Doo's
Derbyshire off road centre are pleased to be able to offer the UK's First 5 Year warranty* on ALL brand NEW 2019 & 2020 model Sea-Doo's along with some other great offers there really is know better time then to order a new Sea-Doo then NOW Please see the offer sheets below which outline the…
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Brand New JET SURF GP Boards
It's a FLASH SALE! Brand New Jetsurf GP100 boards 1 available in blue 1 available in green Now only £8,749 FINANCE AVAILABLE Contact the shop for more details
Krash industries comes to Derbyshire off road centre
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SAY GOODBYE TO ORDINARY SAY HELLO TO THE SCARAB BLACK EDITIONS The Scarab Black Edition Powered by a Supercharged 320HP Rotax Engine, the Black Edition is the baddest and fastest Jet Boat in its class. At 19ft, the Black Edition has enough room on board to offer you and 7 others an experience like no…
Special Deal on Brand new Sea Doo jet ski's
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April 18th - May 16th, 2020
Want to go vegan, but need some help and support? Be a Vegan Pledge in the Denver Vegan Living Program! The Vegan Living Program (VLP) is a FREE educational program that covers the how's and why's of living vegan, including the ethical and environmental considerations of veganism, nutrition, cooking, meal planning, and living vegan in a not-yet-vegan world. Participants pledge to live vegan for the duration of the program, with the help of volunteer Vegan Coaches and our educational program. Pledges receive a binder full of resources and recipes, and a goody bag of free vegan stuff to make the transition easier and more fun!
It's clear that more and more of us are interested in addressing animal exploitation, tackling climate change, and concerned about our own health. In fact, according to search engine giant Google, the search interest for "vegan" is on the rise, increasing 32% in recent years. Whatever your motivation, the Vegan Living Program is designed to provide you with the support you need, and to build a community of like-minded individuals.
The Vegan Living Program has been held with overwhelming success from 2011-2017 in Baltimore, MD, since 2014 in Long Island, NY (in conjunction with the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College), and since 2018 in Rochester, NY (in conjunction with Animal Rights Rochester) and Syracuse, NY.
This April 18th - May 16th we are happy to offer the first annual Denver Vegan Living Program! Join us for this life-changing month!
Registration opens soon! Please sign up for our email list below to be notified when registration opens.
Help us promote the VLP, or lend a hand at the program itself. Contact us at email@example.com.
"I recommend this excellent program to anyone who is interested in learning more about the vegan perspective. The presentations are informative and practical. Myths are dispelled here. Yes, it is possible to get enough protein on a vegan diet, and vegan food can be delicious! More importantly, people who care about the impact they have on their fellow beings, and on the environment, come together to explore the possibilities for change."
~ Pamela Kenley-Meschino
Vegan Living Program participant, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Stay updated on news about our Vegan Living Programs!


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History of Sweden between 1611 - 1721
The Swedish Empire refers to the Kingdom of Sweden's territorial control of much of the Baltic region during the 17th and early 18th centuries, a time when Sweden was one of the great European powers. The beginning of the Empire is usually taken as the reign of Gustavus Adolphus, who ascended the throne in 1611, and the end as the loss of territories in 1721 following the Great Northern War. In Swedish, the period is called Stormaktstiden, literally meaning "the Great Power Era".
After the death of Gustavus Adolphus in 1632, the empire was, over lengthy periods, controlled by part of the high nobility, most prominently the Oxenstierna family, acting as tutors for minor regents. The interests of the high nobility contrasted with the uniformity policy, i.e., the upholding of the traditional equality in status of the Swedish estates favoured by the kings and peasantry. In territories acquired during the periods of de facto noble rule, serfdom was not abolished, and there was also a trend to set up respective estates in Sweden proper. The Great Reduction of 1680 put an end to these efforts of the nobility and required them to return estates once gained from the crown to the king. Serfdom, however, remained in force in the dominions acquired in the Holy Roman Empire and in Swedish Estonia, where a consequent application of the uniformity policy was hindered by the treaties by which they were gained.
After the victories in the Thirty Years' War, the climax of stormaktstiden was reached in the Second Northern War, when the primary adversary Denmark was neutralized by the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658. However, in the further course of this war as well as in the subsequent Scanian War, Sweden was able to maintain her empire only by support of her closest ally, France. Charles XI of Sweden consolidated the empire and ensured a period of peace, before Russia, Saxony and Denmark started a concerted attack on his successor, Charles XII. After initial Swedish victories, Charles secured the empire for a last time in the Peace of Travendal (1700) and the Treaty of Altranstädt (1706), before the Battle of Poltava (1709) brought the stormaktstiden of Sweden to a sudden end.
References: Wikipedia
Kroměříž stands on the site of an earlier ford across the River Morava. The gardens and castle of Kroměříž are an exceptionally complete and well-preserved example of a European Baroque princely residence and its gardens and described as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The first residence on the site was founded by bishop Stanislas Thurzo in 1497. The building was in a Late Gothic style, with a modicum of Renaissance detail. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle was sacked by the Swedish army (1643).
It was not until 1664 that a bishop from the powerful Liechtenstein family charged architect Filiberto Lucchese with renovating the palace in a Baroque style. The chief monument of Lucchese's work in Kroměříž is the Pleasure Garden in front of the castle. Upon Lucchese's death in 1666, Giovanni Pietro Tencalla completed his work on the formal garden and had the palace rebuilt in a style reminiscent of the Turinese school to which he belonged.
After the castle was gutted by a major fire in March 1752, Bishop Hamilton commissioned two leading imperial artists, Franz Anton Maulbertsch and Josef Stern, arrived at the residence in order to decorate the halls of the palace with their works. In addition to their paintings, the palace still houses an art collection, generally considered the second finest in the country, which includes Titian's last mythological painting, The Flaying of Marsyas. The largest part of the collection was acquired by Bishop Karel in Cologne in 1673. The palace also contains an outstanding musical archive and a library of 33,000 volumes.
UNESCO lists the palace and garden among the World Heritage Sites. As the nomination dossier explains, 'the castle is a good but not outstanding example of a type of aristocratic or princely residence that has survived widely in Europe. The Pleasure Garden, by contrast, is a very rare and largely intact example of a Baroque garden'. Apart from the formal parterres there is also a less formal nineteenth-century English garden, which sustained damage during floods in 1997.
Interiors of the palace were extensively used by Miloš Forman as a stand-in for Vienna's Hofburg Imperial Palace during filming of Amadeus (1984), based on the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who actually never visited Kroměříž. The main audience chamber was also used in the film Immortal Beloved (1994), in the piano concerto scene.


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Mello Music Group
Joell Ortiz - Monday (LP)
"I'm back to work. Monday is the start of the week. The grind. Working people normally dread Mondays. Not me though. I embrace them! Feels like another opportunity. Another chance. The beginning of what's ahead. On "Monday" I talk about life. Old me, new me, and the guy that next Monday may introduce to you all." - Joell Ortiz
All Songs Written/Performed by Joell Ortiz
Sip Slow
Same Time
Learn You (feat. Big K.R.I.T.)
Jamaican Food
Before Hip Hop
Momma (feat. Blakk Soul)
Important information when ordering with Fatbeats.com
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How to Create Five-Year Goals for a Life You Love
Do you ever stop and ask where you want to be in the next five years? Do you have five-year goals? Sure, it's a common question you might get in a job interview, but it's also a great question to ask yourself about your personal goals and life plan.
The thing is, not many of … Read more


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2019 Dodge Challenger SXT Release Date and Price – Go as well as 2019 Steer clear of Challenger GT Its information may well possibly need to look to become veteran – Dodge but nonetheless but achieved quite a few parameters to up-time the would look. Which can be certainly ok provided that honestly is just not quite genuinely a terrific deal of generational- possibly the tummy in the-generational invigorate.
2019 Dodge Challenger SXT Redesign
The Challenger GT could just get larger-prime prime top quality lessen-very several wheels comprising a GT marker in genuinely ideal portion fender. Appropriate ahead of that, this could be with no the need to have of any situation your common Challenger SXT also. Alone, the car tires are 19-"aluminum sorts shaded in Sincerely Darkish reinforce and designed-in all at after as proficiently as P235/55R-series all-timeframe auto car auto tires. Make investments consideration on one's man or lady volume level element very a number of-just click pictures, and you may see this type of Challenger GT is producing consumption of Michelin cold months of winter car auto car tires.
More than any earlier stated its adjusting options company; a lot of in the Challenger GT is created up of projector haze brightness final results consequences and a full once again once again full once again once again when once again nonetheless the moment significantly a lot more nonetheless the moment significantly a lot more-up digicam. They may be helpful but straightforward elements delivering noticeably significantly far more characteristics and magnificent for this massive Avert. Safeguard in opposition to but nonetheless subjected comprehensive specs in the 2019 Challenger GT. Even so, the car is forecasted to have located for this standard shade design of 12 new pigmentation shades. About about-all physique-implement, the comprehensive 2019 Challenger GT will merge appropriately precisely the same grille located all through the Challenger SXT also, one a complete very good deal substantially drastically a lot more up in the bottom decrease, standard SXT. It qualities that far more aged type-designed sideways rectangle-developed nostrils despite the fact that generating utilization of spherical auto vehicle car vehicle auto vehicle parking lighting positive aspects and exclusive lamps flanking its ceases. The lowered grille includes dim pigmentation amazing exceptional wonderful fine mesh and is especially in which rather noticeably all oxygen-circulation approaches may possibly truly be found functioning with for chilling. A really modest chin splitter support widespread spot in a truthful way.
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2019 Dodge Challenger SXT Specs
Critical-circulation of blood ingestion, in addition to exhaust net web page hyperlink-ins, permits the 24-concern engine to vent activities simple, despite the fact that a digital electronic throttle complete all-around look shows outdoors-offer you. Any particular person inside on the exhaust manifolds is created-inside on the backyard back garden back garden hose heads for quite considerably every single basic and profitable design. The 3.6-liter has a operate in an outstanding 305 Hewlett Packard at 6,350 rpm and 268 lb-ft. Of torque at 4,800 rpm. Accurately specifically what exactly is drastically much more, the induction notebook personal computer prepare and two exhaust approach and the V-6 make 90 Pct of one's rather private person man or lady really ideal torque from just 1,800 rpm up functioning with 6,400 rpm? The mated certain distinct engine could possibly be the typical TorqueFlite 8-10-price auto transmission from ZF. Around the inside of just before contemplating, we've received came up with all the selection this gearbox involves a propensity to could make it doable for amazing, amazing and impressive changes significantly less than lighting effects anxiousness, but offer you an interest to speedily company up when moved challenging, providing quick changes entirely price.
2019 Dodge Challenger SXT Release Date and Price
It normally substantially not in close proximity to the extended distance to in the path of firms or merchandise appropriate only supplied that troubles are obtaining mentioned that reliant on speculations, and also reviews discussed my net internet sites. Gossips certified especially specifically how the company would release these sorts of the car about July of 2019 paired on account of the new type of Viper and other suitably-respected automobiles on credit accounts of Keep away from. It'll call for a place to come out to become approximated the price have to will need to have to go probably not more than 30,000 $ exclusively for this program.


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(WFI) Premier League CEO Richard Scudamore is effusive in his praise of Hong Kong's fanbase, infrastructure, and football leadership ahead of the sixth edition of the Barclays Asia Trophy.
Tottenham Hotspur will face Sunderland to open the tournament on Wednesday, taking place 10 years to the day since the first Premier League-sanctioned match took place in Kuala Lumpur. As in previous editions, the format remains the same – four teams take part in semi-finals with a final and third-place play-off.
That semifinal will be followed by one between Manchester City and South China. South China, which also competed in 2007, will attempt to join the 2005 Thailand national team as the only host squads in tournament history to advance from the first round. Meanwhile, Tottenham return for the first time since taking the tournament title in 2009 in Beijing.
"What's been noticeable is how the young fans, between 15 and 25, think of the Barclays Asia Trophy as their Premier League," Scudamore told Premierleague.com.
"They see these matches as the real deal. The intensity of the matches is matched by the intensity of the fans and that will be fascinating to see again."
Hong Kong hosts the tournament for the third time since its inception in 2003 in Kuala Lampur. It is the only site to play host to more than one tournament, all of which have come since 2007.
Scudamore said this was due to a number of factors, including an "extremely knowledgable and…enthusiastic" fanbase and a high level of professionalism from the Hong Kong FA and its senior executives.
He also mentioned Hong Kong's array of training facilities and the role they play in aiding the clubs' pre-season preparation.
Scudamore said he expects all the teams to take the competition "very seriously".
"This is an important part of their build-up and winning the Barclays Asia Trophy gives teams bragging rights. Lifting the trophy will give them something to start their season off on a positive note," he said.
The biggest development in the tournament's six editions is in the increasing activity off the pitch, the EPL boss added.
"Before it was just one day, but now we have activities going on all week, such as coaching sessions for coaches, players and referees, as well as knowledge transfer sessions for people in club administration. We are doing a whole series of workshops with the HKFA this week ranging from elite coaching down through to the grassroots.
"The Barclays Asia Trophy has, in effect, become a microcosm of what the clubs and the Premier League are doing in England. In their communities the clubs have expanded their work, their coaching, while there are the Premier League's referee development courses that will be repeated in Hong Kong, working with the Hong Kong and Chinese FAs."
The final and third place play-off will be staged on Saturday at the Hong Kong Stadium.
By INSIDER's Nick Devlin
Your best source of news about the global football business is World Football INSIDER


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Gravity Quizzes & Trivia
Less sci-fi and more of a thriller, Alfonso Cuaron's incredibly stimulating and visually stunning film Gravity, does not fail to send chills down your spine. Do you know it took the whole team 4.5 years to make this exceptional piece of cinema? That's quite a lot of time, isn't it?
Whether you are a huge fan of George Clooney, or a space enthusiast, put your knowledge to test by taking on these Gravity quizzes! Do you know Sandra Bullock trained under an ISS official to mimic the microgravity movements for the movie? What real life events led to the conception of the idea behind Gravity, or who was the man behind the familiar voice from mission control? If these seem too basic for your erudite mind, you may want to check out our quizzes to challenge yourself!
Whether you are a huge fan of George Clooney, or a space enthusiast, put your knowledge to test by taking on these Gravity quizzes! Do you know Sandra Bullock trained under an ISS official to mimic the microgravity movements for the movie? What real life events led to the conception of the idea behind Gravity, or who was the man behind the familiar voice from mission control? If these seem too basic for your erudite mind, you may want to check out our quizzes to challenge yourself!
Gravity and Space for Year Nine revision before end of topic test.
Questions: 10 | Attempts: 189 | Last updated: Dec 26, 2012
Sample QuestionWhat O decides the length of a year.
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Sample QuestionGravity is down.
Gravity, or gravitation, is a phenomenon that is natural. It operates on the principle that anything with mass will move towards each other. Stone thrown up falls to the ground and atoms and photons move to each other.
Questions: 10 | Attempts: 100 | Last updated: Mar 14, 2018
Sample QuestionThe gravitational attraction of the original gaseous matter present in the?
Gravity Questions & Answers
Which of the following descriptions best describes gravity?
The statement that best-described gravity has to be 1. This is the force that pulls the objects to the ground. It should be remembered that gravity is known to be a force that pulls objects towards the center of the earth. This applies to anything th
Why is Einstein's definition of gravity considered more accurate?
Because it is. Let me explain! Newton's concept of gravity is good for explaining the basic motions around us and still holds in many situations but the problem is that Newton made a mistake. Newton treated gravity as a force, and in working,
What is gravitational radiation?
Before discussing gravitational radiation, let's talk gravitational waves, as they play a huge role in gravitational radiation. Gravitational waves are created when there is a disturbance in space and time, which creates curvature that radiates
Why is gravity an inherent property of every body?More
Gravity is considered to be an inherent part of everybody because everything that can be seen in this world is connected to the center which is where gravity is supposed to come from. People are being pulled towards the center of the earth. There are
This quiz will be on the lesson plan and experiement preformed in class today.
Questions: 5 | Attempts: 100 | Last updated: Jun 1, 2017
Sample QuestionGravity is exerted on all objects on our planet?
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Sample QuestionScientists do many types of work. Their work often includes making field observations, conducting surveys, creating models, and carrying out experiments. Which description characterizes an experiment?
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Sample QuestionThe kinetic energy of an object will increase the most if you __________________.
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Sample QuestionAt which angle is the car inclined at the tilt test and which force of gravity is represented at 60° tilt.
Test YOUR knowlodge on gravity now!
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Sample QuestionGravity makes the Earth rotate around the sun.
SCIENCE: Chapter 6, Section 1 ***Test MONDAY, DECEMBER 12th!!!***
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Sample QuestionWho thought that heavier objects would fall faster than light objects?
In case you've been living under a rock your whole life, you'll know that gravity is a natural phenomenon by which all things with mass are brought toward one another. What do you know about the concepts of the theory?
Questions: 5 | Attempts: 19 | Last updated: Dec 5, 2017
Sample QuestionWhat means the amount of matter in an object?
A short 6 question quiz about gravity, created for Digital Card 3 - Physical Science Grade 7.
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Sample QuestionWhat is Gravity?
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Sample QuestionNewton discovered
> This quiz is worth 1.0 pt. (Each question is worth 0.10 pt)Â > You need 6 correct answers to pass.> Send your score to me after you finish the quiz.> In the address line put Your Name/Quiz Title/Score (Joe...
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If you think you know a lot about Gravity falls Take this quiz
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Can you name who said a quote from Gravity Falls?
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After reading the CK12 chapter on gravity, please take this quiz.
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Sample QuestionWho discovered gravity?


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My Forums May 10, 2014 2:08:51 GMT -5
Post by Raphael on May 10, 2014 2:08:51 GMT -5
Welcome to the 24th century. Technology has advanced greatly and fossil fuels and physical currency are a thing of the past. The internet has also evolved, and has formed a condensed virtual realm in the datascape now known as Cyber Earth, with digital inhabitants known as avatars. However, like modern day life, this world is not without its troubles. The world is being manipulated in the shadows by the four global megacorporations that built and maintain the economic foundation and fuel technological progression, and there are always the threats of rogue avatars and mass viral outbreaks on the network.
Will you be someone dedicated to protecting the stable society, or will you try to bring the world to ruin. Maybe you're an important person on the social ladder, or just an average joe that enjoys friendly matches with other people.
> World navigation separated by continent, for easy maneuvering of the forum.
> Megaman.exe, Tron, Netrunner, and other sci-fi themes, all with the dark twist of modern crime.
> Forum-wide tournaments that any RPC can participate in (pending more members)
> Member input welcome for helping the forum evolve and grow.
The forum is up and running, with a main storyline being kept running by our 4 lonely members. If you're interested in what the site has to offer, or just looking for a fun sci-fi RP forum with a friendly member base, then click the banner and check us out!


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What's on
The 39 Steps
By John Buchan | Adapted by Patrick Barlow | Directed by Stanley Walton
Take a legendary espionage novel, mix in Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 film version masterpiece, add a dash of Monty Python and you have a hilarious, fast-paced and spectacular spy story.
Patrick Barlow's Olivier Award-winning stage adaptation was performed for almost a decade at the Criterion Theatre in London's West End. Now it comes to St Albans for the first time.
A cast of four play 40 roles (we think – we lost count) and with some frantic staging they recreate all the iconic scenes including the intense chase aboard a train, the escape on the Forth Bridge, the bi-plane crash and the death-defying (or nearly!) finale at the London Palladium.
It's the wildest condensed film adaptation ever staged!
Tickets: £13.50/£11/£7.50


text: Poor Disadvantaged Posted April 13, 2018 (edited) "Neither these bonds nor I can be broken... Pity I can't say the same about you, runt." Once a labourer, then slave, then test subject; bound in manacles engineered to be completely immune to physical or conjured force, Troddon barely endured his tribulations.Now free solely by being overlooked in an administration error: he is nobody. Nothing. Yet - tired, half-blind, shackled and alone - dragging the entirety of his burden with him, Troddon plods onward with a whimsical grin on his face. Not because of any idealistic, puerile hope for a brighter future; when not only the world, but fate itself is against you, there can be no light in a tunnel that has no end. He gets up and carries on, simply because while he does: he hasn't lost. [Theme: Get Up - All Good Things]* Warning: Makes a great morning alarm. Thought I'd make a Self-MOC that's representative of an in-universe species that's not yet-another-blimmin-Toa, so here's a Skakdi (Piraka). Had a blast with the colours, especially the Metallic Blue, and blocking the black to represent skin – these abs are plastic-hard. Edited April 17, 2018 by Poor Disadvantaged 10 Quote - Another Poor Original! - - Revamps - - Combiner Models - Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Large Carpe Diem Box
Match Pewter
Item: 945.4
Match Pewter lends elegance to traditional and contemporary settings. Each piece is handmade in Italy, using techniques that are hundreds of years old.
Match Pewter is absolutely lead free, food safe, and approved by the FDA.
4.5 W x 3.1 D x 1.2 H


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Probably no other file in Associate-O-Matic is misunderstood, overlooked or ignored more than the aomtrial.license file. And yet it plays a crucial role in setting up the Trial version. The instructions are straightforward, and clearly indicated. Still, it's missed by a large number of new users for some reason. So if you've come here to learn about this mysterious little file, you're certainly not alone.
When AOM switched to incorporate ioncube several years ago, it was quickly realized that the standard ioncube loader files were not compatible with the mechanics of the 30-day lifespan of the Trial version. In order to make it work, a second 'key' file was required. This small snippet of code became the aomtrial.license file. When the Trial version is installed without this file, an error message similar to the one below is generated:
Fatal error:
The encoded file /home/mysite/html/admin.php requires a license file aomtrial.license. in Unknown on line 0
Once the file is in place, this message goes away. If everything else is set up correctly, AOM should function at this point. Usually if there are other problems, they will pop up before this one.
So if this error message is encountered, the solution is simply to upload the aomtrial.license file into the same area as the admin.php and shop.php files. Not a complicated procedure at all. However, the most common difficulty is that new users fail to get the file in the first place. So let's walk through the process, screen by screen.
We start from the Download page of the Associate-O-Matic website:
From here you would click the Download button for the 30-day Trial version. If you have not registered with AOM yet, you will be taken to the Account Registration page:
If you have already registered, you should be taken instead to the Login page (https://www.associate-o-matic.com/users/login.php), shown below. If you turn up at the Account Registration page even after you've already registered, you should be able to click on the Login link in the right top corner (note the red arrow indicated in the image above). That should take you here:
Your login information may or may not be displayed in the boxes. If not, simply type in the information. Once you have successfully logged in, on the next page you'll see a box on the left side marked Members Area:
Note the Download TRIAL Version link (highlighted above). This will take you to the download page for the Trial version:
Here you are presented with two blue Download buttons for the Trial version itself (zip or exe). At this point, many people simply click one of the blue buttons and ignore everything else. But if you read the instructions, you will clearly see that step 4 (highlighted above) includes a RED Download button for the aomtrial.license file, along with installation instructions:
- Save the license file to your hard drive
- Upload the file to your web host (same location as shop.php file)
- License file only required for the Trial version
As you can see, the procedure for obtaining the aomtrial.license file is fairly straightforward. Yet many new users consistently fail to notice it, guaranteeing an error message similar to the one shown at the top of this page when they try to access their AOM storefront.
It should be obvious that the aomtrial.license file should not be confused with the LICENSE_TRIAL.txt file that comes with the AOM program files. The LICENSE_TRIAL file is a simple text file that explains the license agreement for using Associate-O-Matic, and has nothing to do with making the Trial version functional.
Also, the aomtrial.license file will not work if it is modified or renamed in any way. Examples in the past have included adding a DOCTYPE statement and/or <html> tags, renaming the file to aomtrial_license.txt, etc. Some webhosts will balk at uploading a file with an extension that they may not recognize. In such cases, you may need to manually create the file in your website directory, then copy and paste the file contents into it. If so, you must not change the contents in any way, or allow the host software to 'helpfully' add extra code to the file.
After the 30-day Trial expires, and if you go on to upgrade to the Lite or Full version of AOM, the aomtrial.license file may be deleted, as it is not required for the other versions.
So to summarize, the aomtrial.license file is crucial for the operation of the Trial version of Associate-O-Matic, but many people overlook it when obtaining the files. But as we've seen, it's easy to obtain and put into place, as long as you don't try to change or alter it in any way (or confuse it with other files with similar-sounding names). Possibly it provides a very good example of the old adage that the best way to make something invisible is to simply hide it in plain sight.