Top 5 BANNED Foods (Are They In Your House?

Every day, Americans eat tons of dangerous banned ingredients, and chances are you’re one of them. I don’t mean to scare you, but to simply tell you the truth.

I’ve spent the last 7+ years researching how our food is made, and discovered dark secrets I have to tell the world, even if it makes me the most HATED expert by the big companies.

Here’s my top 5 banned ingredients that end up in most plates:

1) Ractopamine (in pork)

It’s banned in the European Union, China, and Taiwan, but Consumer reports found this dangerous drug in 20% of all pork products. Oh, and as a side note, recent studies also found that 81% of all supermarket meats in the US are contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria which damage your gut flora and slow down your weight loss.

2) rBGH (in milk)

While Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel and all European Union countries banned the use of rBGH, this hormone used to increase cows’ milk product is still used in all 50 states. The use of rBGH increases the levels of IGF-1 hormone in the milk by at least 6 folds, increasing risks of various cancers.

3) GMOs (in almost everything)

Over 50 countries require labeling of GMO foods, and many of them banned GMOs altogether. In the US, GMO foods are NOT labeled, even if 91% of the population feels like they should be. And because 90% of all soy, corn, canola and sugar (sugar beet) in the US is now GMO, Americans eat their weight in GMO foods each year.

The first-ever lifetime feeding study on the potential health risks of GMOs was published in September 2012. The results of feeding rats GMO corn for two years were very scary:

• Some rats developed massive tumors that represent 25% of their body weight
• Liver damage was up to 5 times higher in the GMO group than in the non-GMO group
• Female rats that ate GMOs had a 3X higher risk of premature death

4) Potassium Bromate (in bread)

Called a cancer threat by the CSPI since 1999, banned from dozens of countries, this ingredient is still used in bread these days.

5) Chloramphenicol (in honey)

This antibiotic used on honey bees has been banned in the US for years, but can still be found in cheap supermarket honey (along with heavy metals) that comes from China. The concerning thing is that a recent study found that 75% or more of all the honey in the U.Surkish in a week? Romanian in an hour? We’ve made some pretty crazy claims when it comes to language learning. In our Turkish, French and Romanian Challenges, Babbel’s resident language experts battled it out to see who could make the greatest language gains in insanely short amounts of time. And while the results were certainly impressive, these lightning-quick learners were language aficionados, speakers of 3, 4, 5, or 9(!) languages and experts who’ve made it their lifelong goal to master as many languages as possible.

So where does that leave the rest of us? How much progress can I, the average learner, really make in his first weeks of study? As it turns out, quite a bit.

Back in November, we did a study that found (surprise) that Babbel was the most efficient way to learn a language. The independent study was conducted by researchers at the City University of New York (CUNY) and the University of South Carolina, and evaluated the overall efficacy of Babbel Spanish courses, examining the progress of 391 randomly selected learners and assessing participants’ knowledge of Spanish at the beginning and the end of the study.

So what did they find out? Turns out, novice users with no knowledge of Spanish only need about 15 hours of study over a two-month period with Babbel to cover the requirements of one beginner’s college semester of Spanish! Not bad, huh? (Actually, that’s really good.)

To put these findings to the test ourselves, we asked 15 of our hardest working Babbelonians to learn Spanish with Babbel for three weeks. None were expert learners, and few had very much free time to dedicate to language learning.

Though results were a bit varied, the consensus is in: three weeks with Babbel is ample time to start speaking a new language. Here, we take a look at some of the key findings from the study, and see if the experiences of our language learners reflect the results.Turkish in a week? Romanian in an hour? We’ve made some pretty crazy claims when it comes to language learning. In our Turkish, French and Romanian Challenges, Babbel’s resident language experts battled it out to see who could make the greatest language gains in insanely short amounts of time. And while the results were certainly impressive, these lightning-quick learners were language aficionados, speakers of 3, 4, 5, or 9(!) languages and experts who’ve made it their lifelong goal to master as many languages as possible.

So where does that leave the rest of us? How much progress can I, the average learner, really make in his first weeks of study? As it turns out, quite a bit.

Back in November, we did a study that found (surprise) that Babbel was the most efficient way to learn a language. The independent study was conducted by researchers at the City University of New York (CUNY) and the University of South Carolina, and evaluated the overall efficacy of Babbel Spanish courses, examining the progress of 391 randomly selected learners and assessing participants’ knowledge of Spanish at the beginning and the end of the study.When Carli Lloyd scored from the halfway line to complete a hat-trick in the first 16 minutes of the 2015 Women's World Cup final, her United States team-mate Hope Solo ran from her goal to scream: "Are you even human?"

Having already scored winning goals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic finals, Lloyd was already one of the most celebrated players in the United States.

But earning America's first World Cup in 16 years and scoring such a spectacular goal pitched the midfielder's status to almost superhero level, with 2015 and 2016 Fifa World Player of the Year awards following.

After spending years training on her own in a sparse field in Delran, New Jersey, and showing a single-mindedness which led to a relationship breakdown with her parents, Lloyd had finally proven her doubters wrong to reach the pinnacle of her sport.

Now a new journey begins for the 34-year-old US captain after leaving Houston Dash for a short-term deal with Manchester City, which former England striker Kelly Smith, a former club team-mate of Lloyd's, calls a "coup".

City will now hope Lloyd's undoubted stardust and renowned dedication rub off on a team who are gunning for the Champions League title in their competition debut

Who is Lloyd?

For those unfamiliar with Lloyd's story, her 55-yard lob in the World Cup final victory against Japan was no fluke.

It was the product of a feverish commitment to training - which included smashing shots from the halfway line - with her coach and mentor James Galanis. He has been credited with moulding a young player with serious confidence problems and a body not built for an elite midfielder into the world's best player.

As detailed in her autobiography, When Nobody Was Watching, it is clear nothing gets in the way of Lloyd's ambition to continually improve. And the good news for Manchester City fans is that, even after her World Cup triumph, she believes she can get even better.

"Her determination exceeds anyone I've ever met," Smith, who played with Lloyd for the New Jersey Wildcats in 2004 and spent the majority of her playing career in the US, told BBC Sport.

Carli Lloyd facts

Born: 16 July, 1982, Delran, New Jersey

Clubs: New Jersey Wildcats, Chicago Red Stars, Sky Blue FC, Atlanta Beat, Western New York Flash, Houston Dash

Country: US debut in 2005; 232 appearances and 96 goals

Honours: 2008 & 2012 Olympic gold medallist, 2015 World Cup winner, 2015 and 2016 Fifa World Player of the Year

Fuelling that drive is a quest for perfection and a desire to prove people wrong. It began when she was dropped from the Under-21 national team and was ready to quit football altogether, toying with the idea of becoming an FBI agent.

But then she met Australian coach Galanis, a trainee electrician, who offered a turning point in her career and proved a lifelong mentor. In 2004 he concocted a 12-year plan, which included Lloyd becoming World Player of the Year by 2016.

While her relationship with Galanis has been the backbone of her success, some of her family have blended into the background.

Her golfer husband, Brian Hollins, whom she met in her teens, has learned to stay away from big tournaments to prevent any distractions. And Lloyd's long-running feud with her parents dates back to the beginning of her career when she chose to do things her own way.

They disapproved of her aloofness around US team-mates and a choice of agent, and weeks before her triumph at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, asked her to move her possessions out of their home.

Lloyd hints in her book they may have been jealous of the part Galanis has played in her career and despite calling the situation "heartbreaking", has not spoken to them since 2012.

Lloyd says she "doesn't do fake" and has had disagreements with former US coaches but current manager Jill Ellis, who has had a long-standing connection with her captain since she managed the under-21 team, has said Lloyd is "team-orientated" and "real".

Washington Spirit midfielder Joanna Lohman, who has known Lloyd since they were 14 and played in the same US youth team, told BBC Sport: "It's great to have that edge, look where it's taken her.

"When you don't back down on things and you see things as challenges as opposed to failures, it pushes you even harder."

Lloyd won Fifa World Player of the year in 2015 after her World Cup triumph. She will play for Manchester City from April until 3 June

How good is Lloyd?

As a big Liverpool fan, Lloyd has always looked up to former Red Steven Gerrard as the player she wanted to emulate: a box-to-box midfielder with an eye for goal and a fearsome shot.

Smith likens her more to former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard for her "goalscoring ability, and how she arrives late in the box" but says it has taken time to develop those skills.

"She wasn't the most technical back when we played, she isn't like Brazilian forward Marta, who beats two or three players at a time," Smith adds. "But she was always very fit, had a fantastic work-rate and was a winner."

That much has been proven in her international career, with three major titles and 96 goals in 232 appearances, making her the national team's all-time highest goal-scoring midfielder. Current US boss Ellis calls Lloyd "incredible for her consistency in big games".

Club success for Lloyd has been less impressive. She is yet to win a US domestic championship - the closest she came was a runners-up medal with Western New York Flash in 2013, so winning the Champions League or FA Cup with Manchester City would be a glittering addition to her CV.

Can she help City achieve that success in the twilight of her career? Lloyd has already proven that age has little effect on her work-rate.

"Carli's a leader on and off the pitch and her winning mentality will help them reach the next level," Smith says.

Former England captain Casey Stoney says Lloyd will have a massive influence on City and the league.

"She's not past her peak," the Liverpool defender said. "Look at [Manchester United forward] Zlatan Ibrahimovic - he's playing some of the best football of his career and he's 35.

"Experience buys you time on the ball and better decision-making. It wouldn't surprise me if she was playing in the next World Cup in two years' time."

Lloyd is joining a Manchester City side who won the FA WSL in their third season. The league is shifting from a summer schedule to a winter one, culminating in a one-off Spring Series starting in April

Why has Lloyd come to England?

If Manchester City were looking for a marquee signing to demonstrate their growing status in women's football, then Lloyd is a stunning addition to their squad.

Lloyd is one of several US players who have recently left their country to ply their trade in Europe.

The best paid player in women's football, Alex Morgan, joined French side Lyon, lightning-fast winger Crystal Dunn signed for Chelsea and midfielder Heather O'Reilly, who recently retired from international football, joined Arsenal.

But according to Stoney, Lloyd will be "the biggest overseas player to have played in England, without a doubt". It is likely she will have a salary to match.

City, who only played their first season in the FA Women's Super League in 2014, won the title last season, and with the club's wealthy owners investing more in players and facilities than any other English side, a period of dominance looks likely.

Part of that masterplan is to make inroads in Europe in their debut Champions League season, which continues with a quarter-final tie against Danish side Fortuna Hjorring on 23 March.

Replacing a computer can be an expensive, time-consuming and annoying hassle. Spare yourself all the trouble of shopping for a new computer by keeping the one you already own in tip top shape. Here are some easy to use ideas for making sure you make you computer last as long as possible. 

Stay Healthy: The internet is great, but any computer connected to it needs to have some kind of protection or else you run the risk of being exposed to viruses, trojans, spyware, malware, and phishing scams. These problems not only have the potential to harm your computer: your identity and sensitive personal data are all at risk as well. Protect yourself and your computer by installing both a good antivirus program and some spyware detection software.

Dirty Work: An important part of keeping your computer running for as long as possible is making sure it stays clean. Computers that are full of dust and grit tend to overheat, especially when if the computer’s fans get clogged. When your computer gets too hot, your motherboard fries. This is a total failure state you want to avoid. Make sure you physically get inside your computer from time to time and clean out anything that has built up in there.

Junk Files: One of the first things you can do when you buy a new computer is to uninstall all of the junk files or bloatware that has come packaged with it. These programs tend to never be useful and slow down your computer’s performance. Over time, they will seriously affect your computer’s ability to run well. Take off any programs you know you will never use as soon as you see them. You should also uninstall any programs that you may have installed yourself but that you don’t use anymore.

Power Protection: Problems with the electricity source you’re plugged into can severely affect your computer. Blackouts, brownouts and power surges can all cause damage to a computer, maybe even destroy it. Never plug your computer into a socket without using a surge protector. You may also want to have your computer hooked up to a UPS When Carli Lloyd scored from the halfway line to complete a hat-trick in the first 16 minutes of the 2015 Women's World Cup final, her United States team-mate Hope Solo ran from her goal to scream: "Are you even human?"

Having already scored winning goals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic finals, Lloyd was already one of the most celebrated players in the United States.

But earning America's first World Cup in 16 years and scoring such a spectacular goal pitched the midfielder's status to almost superhero level, with 2015 and 2016 Fifa World Player of the Year awards following.

After spending years training on her own in a sparse field in Delran, New Jersey, and showing a single-mindedness which led to a relationship breakdown with her parents, Lloyd had finally proven her doubters wrong to reach the pinnacle of her sport.

Now a new journey begins for the 34-year-old US captain after leaving Houston Dash for a short-term deal with Manchester City, which former England striker Kelly Smith, a former club team-mate of Lloyd's, calls a "coup".

City will now hope Lloyd's undoubted stardust and renowned dedication rub off on a team who are gunning for the Champions League title in their competition debut

Who is Lloyd?

For those unfamiliar with Lloyd's story, her 55-yard lob in the World Cup final victory against Japan was no fluke.

It was the product of a feverish commitment to training - which included smashing shots from the halfway line - with her coach and mentor James Galanis. He has been credited with moulding a young player with serious confidence problems and a body not built for an elite midfielder into the world's best player.

As detailed in her autobiography, When Nobody Was Watching, it is clear nothing gets in the way of Lloyd's ambition to continually improve. And the good news for Manchester City fans is that, even after her World Cup triumph, she believes she can get even better.

"Her determination exceeds anyone I've ever met," Smith, who played with Lloyd for the New Jersey Wildcats in 2004 and spent the majority of her playing career in the US, told BBC Sport.

Carli Lloyd facts

Born: 16 July, 1982, Delran, New Jersey

Clubs: New Jersey Wildcats, Chicago Red Stars, Sky Blue FC, Atlanta Beat, Western New York Flash, Houston Dash

Country: US debut in 2005; 232 appearances and 96 goals

Honours: 2008 & 2012 Olympic gold medallist, 2015 World Cup winner, 2015 and 2016 Fifa World Player of the Year

Fuelling that drive is a quest for perfection and a desire to prove people wrong. It began when she was dropped from the Under-21 national team and was ready to quit football altogether, toying with the idea of becoming an FBI agent.

But then she met Australian coach Galanis, a trainee electrician, who offered a turning point in her career and proved a lifelong mentor. In 2004 he concocted a 12-year plan, which included Lloyd becoming World Player of the Year by 2016.

While her relationship with Galanis has been the backbone of her success, some of her family have blended into the background.

Her golfer husband, Brian Hollins, whom she met in her teens, has learned to stay away from big tournaments to prevent any distractions. And Lloyd's long-running feud with her parents dates back to the beginning of her career when she chose to do things her own way.

They disapproved of her aloofness around US team-mates and a choice of agent, and weeks before her triumph at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, asked her to move her possessions out of their home.

Lloyd hints in her book they may have been jealous of the part Galanis has played in her career and despite calling the situation "heartbreaking", has not spoken to them since 2012.

Lloyd says she "doesn't do fake" and has had disagreements with former US coaches but current manager Jill Ellis, who has had a long-standing connection with her captain since she managed the under-21 team, has said Lloyd is "team-orientated" and "real".

Washington Spirit midfielder Joanna Lohman, who has known Lloyd since they were 14 and played in the same US youth team, told BBC Sport: "It's great to have that edge, look where it's taken her.

"When you don't back down on things and you see things as challenges as opposed to failures, it pushes you even harder."

Lloyd won Fifa World Player of the year in 2015 after her World Cup triumph. She will play for Manchester City from April until 3 June

How good is Lloyd?

As a big Liverpool fan, Lloyd has always looked up to former Red Steven Gerrard as the player she wanted to emulate: a box-to-box midfielder with an eye for goal and a fearsome shot.

Smith likens her more to former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard for her "goalscoring ability, and how she arrives late in the box" but says it has taken time to develop those skills.

"She wasn't the most technical back when we played, she isn't like Brazilian forward Marta, who beats two or three players at a time," Smith adds. "But she was always very fit, had a fantastic work-rate and was a winner."

That much has been proven in her international career, with three major titles and 96 goals in 232 appearances, making her the national team's all-time highest goal-scoring midfielder. Current US boss Ellis calls Lloyd "incredible for her consistency in big games".

Club success for Lloyd has been less impressive. She is yet to win a US domestic championship - the closest she came was a runners-up medal with Western New York Flash in 2013, so winning the Champions League or FA Cup with Manchester City would be a glittering addition to her CV.

Can she help City achieve that success in the twilight of her career? Lloyd has already proven that age has little effect on her work-rate.

"Carli's a leader on and off the pitch and her winning mentality will help them reach the next level," Smith says.

Former England captain Casey Stoney says Lloyd will have a massive influence on City and the league.

"She's not past her peak," the Liverpool defender said. "Look at [Manchester United forward] Zlatan Ibrahimovic - he's playing some of the best football of his career and he's 35.

"Experience buys you time on the ball and better decision-making. It wouldn't surprise me if she was playing in the next World Cup in two years' time."

Lloyd is joining a Manchester City side who won the FA WSL in their third season. The league is shifting from a summer schedule to a winter one, culminating in a one-off Spring Series starting in April

Why has Lloyd come to England?

If Manchester City were looking for a marquee signing to demonstrate their growing status in women's football, then Lloyd is a stunning addition to their squad.

Lloyd is one of several US players who have recently left their country to ply their trade in Europe.

The best paid player in women's football, Alex Morgan, joined French side Lyon, lightning-fast winger Crystal Dunn signed for Chelsea and midfielder Heather O'Reilly, who recently retired from international football, joined Arsenal.

But according to Stoney, Lloyd will be "the biggest overseas player to have played in England, without a doubt". It is likely she will have a salary to match.

City, who only played their first season in the FA Women's Super League in 2014, won the title last season, and with the club's wealthy owners investing more in players and facilities than any other English side, a period of dominance looks likely.

Part of that masterplan is to make inroads in Europe in their debut Champions League season, which continues with a quarter-final tie against Danish side Fortuna Hjorring on 23 March.

But as much as Lloyd can benefit City, they can also provide a new chapter for the attacking midfielder.

US boss Ellis, who was born in England, has encouraged American players to experience European football in a year when there are no major tournaments. It comes at a time when US players are in a pay dispute with the national federation, but Smith believes it has more to do with the quality of the football on offer in Europe.

"The game in America can often be quite back to front and long ball, but players are more technical in Europe and nowhere more than in the Champions League so players want to sample that," she says.

"Lloyd will also experience the best facilities around. Sometimes in the American league you use university pitches and changing rooms, so to be part of a club like Manchester City can be quite precious to Carli."(Uninterruptible Power Supply), this way if the power ever cuts out, your computer won’t lose any data or functionality.

Stay Updated: Updates are essential for running your computer’s hardware and software after their initial release. Errors and vulnerabilities are constantly being addressed by updates that contain fixes to these problems. You should always click “Install” whenever a program says that it’s time for you to update your computer. Though sometimes updates come with bugs of their own, the risk of going without fixes for known problems far outweighs the chance that an update might be glitchy.

Follow these steps, and your computer will be running as fast as it did when you ripped it out of it’s brand new box.

If you took care of the above, then you are ready to install PC Health Boost. This cheap program will help solve all of your computer problems AND keep future ones from happening as well as save you both the time and money it would cost you to get the same things done with an IT guy or a computer repair shop! If your computer is slow, you need to figure out what is wrong – and PC Health Boost will help you do that! So download it now to see what is wrong with your PC and take the necessary steps to make sure your machine is the best it can be! 

But as much as Lloyd can benefit City, they can also provide a new chapter for the attacking midfielder.

US boss Ellis, who was born in England, has encouraged American players to experience European football in a year when there are no major tournaments. It comes at a time when US players are in a pay dispute with the national federation, but Smith believes it has more to do with the quality of the football on offer in Europe.

"The game in America can often be quite back to front and long ball, but players are more technical in Europe and nowhere more than in the Champions League so players want to sample that," she says.

"Lloyd will also experience the best facilities around. Sometimes in the American league you use university pitches and changing rooms, so to be part of a club like Manchester City can be quite precious to Carli."

So what did they find out? Turns out, novice users with no knowledge of Spanish only need about 15 hours of study over a two-month period with Babbel to cover the requirements of one beginner’s college semester of Spanish! Not bad, huh? (Actually, that’s really good.)

To put these findings to the test ourselves, we asked 15 of our hardest working Babbelonians to learn Spanish with Babbel for three weeks. None were expert learners, and few had very much free time to dedicate to language learning.

Though results were a bit varied, the consensus is in: three weeks with Babbel is ample time to start speaking a new language. Here, we take a look at some of the key findings from the study, and see if the experiences of our language learners reflect the results.. may be Chinese honey sold as American honey.