St u d en t N u t ri t i on a n d
D i et et i cs A ssoci a t i on
U pdates
We h ope ever yon e is h avin g a f an t ast ic
su m m er !
As the break is com ing to an end, SNDA is gearing up for the
2017-2018 school year. We have so m any exciting things happening
so stay tuned for the announcem ent of our very first m eeting, which
will be announced on all our news outlets including Facebook,
Canvas, and em ail! Not to m ention, starting in the Fall sem ester, you
will find a m onth-to-m onth updated SNDA Board in the 3rd floor of
the UNF Brooks College of Health Building! We?ll have our m eeting
inform ation there to help rem ind you as you?re going to classes. We?ll
also leave updated officer inform ation in case you want to reach any
of us, along with volunteer inform ation! You won?t want to m iss one
of the first opportunities to m ake this a successful, rewarding, and
FUN year. We really hope to see you there!
Until then, continue volunteering and seeking m eaningful
experiences! Making the m ost of your tim e and have a safe and
happy rest of your sum m er!
Sincerely,
Brittany Mock
SNDA President
Nutritional Updates
Food Trends
Many people assum e all chocolate is unhealthy and should be considered an
indulgence when really unprocessed dark chocolate actually boosts m any benefits. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants, which help to neutralize free radicals in our bodies. Specifically, dark chocolate contains flavonols which protect us from the
dam age caused by aging as well as environm ental toxins1. Additionally, flavonols have
been shown to help lower blood pressure, im prove blood flow to the brain and heart,
and reduce cholesterol levels1. Many food com panies process the chocolate so m uch
that it loses these valuable properties, but fortunately m any health com panies are changing the gam e and m aking m aking healthy dark chocolate products. The dark chocolate is unprocessed, low in sugar, and low in ingredients which m akes it popular am ong those who are health conscious or those who just want to enjoy chocolate every day.
Alternative baking flours have been on the rise with alm ond and coconut flour in the lead, but there?s a new flour m aking its way. Cassava flour is a gluten and grain free
flour m ade by grating dried cassava root2. The texture is workable for m ost recipes
and it has a very m ild taste that won?t overpower sweets. It does not rise as well as all-purpose flour, but can still be substituted for up to half the recipes flour. In baked goods that don?t require rising, cassava flour can com pletely replace all the flour.
Cassava flour is relatively low in calories, and contains a high am ount of vitam in C2.
This is a great alternative to use if one is gluten intolerant, or just to avoid all the processed and refined carbs found in other flours. Cassava flour can be purchased at health food stores, as well as cassava containing products such tortillas and chips.
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Supplement Trends
From the sam e fam ily as Spirulina, chlorella is a bright blue-green algae that gets its color from its high concentration of chlorophyll. It is shown to have m any effects on the entire body such as, but not lim ited to, supporting horm onal health, prom oting
cardiovascular health, and aiding in detoxification3. Chlorella is extrem ely nutrient
dense with one serving (1 oz) boosting 16g protein, 200% iron, 133% zinc, 287%
vitam in A and respectable am ounts of vitam in B2, vitam in B3, and m agnesium . With a nutrition profile this good it actually ranks above spinach and kale in term s of nutrient density per gram . Som e of the m ost notable things chlorella does is detox heavy
m etals, detox radiation and chem otherapy, support im m unity, prom ote weight loss,
lower blood sugar and cholesterol, and even fight against cancer3. Chlorella can be
consum ed either by tablet or in a powder form which is best added to a sm oothie or som ething that ?s heavy due to its very strong taste.
?MCTs? are m edium chained triglycerides which are a form of a saturated fatty acid.
These MCTs com e in a couple form s including caprioc, caprylic, capric, and lauric acids4.
Currently, it has been shown that we are lacking ?MCTs? in our diet, m ost likely due to the recom m endation to avoid saturated fat. With that being said, MCT oil is actually has num erous benefits and can be consum ed daily. MCTs are m uch easier to digest than LCTs (long chain triglycerides) and are sent directly to ones liver where they have a
therm ogenic effect and have the ability to boost ones m etabolism4. So, in turn, MCTs
are thought to be used directly for fuel, rather than stored as fat. Other benefits of consum ing these triglycerides include helping to m aintain a healthy weight, gives ones m ore energy, aids in digestion, balances horm one levels, fights bacterial infections and viruses, and helps with the absorption of fat soluble vitam ins from food sources. MCTs can be consum ed in the form of an MCT oil which is purely concentrated MCTs or from sources that contain MCTs. The m ost popular source would be coconut oil which
contains about 65% MCTs.
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Wellness Trends
Cupping dates back to B.C years, but did not becom e com m on in
the West until now. Cupping uses suctions cups on the surface of
the skin on ones back which creates a vacuum e like effect. This
targets the deep tissue within the back which helps to break up
scar tissue, relax the m uscles, and im prove blood flow5. There are
different types including dry cupping, wet cupping fire cupping,
and m oving cupping which all involve slightly different techniques.
Cupping has been shown to reduce pain, create relaxation, treat
respiratory issues and colds, and even im prove digestion5. A
great advantage of this alternative m ethod of healing com pared
to other traditional m ethods is there are no side effects such as
with pharm aceutical drugs. Although the afterm ath of cupping
m ay look painful, the process usually is not painful, but rather a
soothing and relaxing process.
Cu ppin g
References
1. Why is Chocolate Healthy? Dr. Axe Website. https://draxe.com /healthy-chocolate/. Accessed July 22nd, 2017.
2. Cassava Flour-The Best Grain Free Baking Alternative? Dr. Axe Website. https://draxe.com /cassava-flour/. Accessed July 22nd, 2017.
3. 7 Proven Chlorella Facts. Dr. Axe Website. https://draxe.com /7-proven-chlorella-benefits-side-effects/. Accessed July 22nd, 2017. 4. 6 Benefits of MCT Oil-Is It Better Than Coconut Oil. Dr. Axe Website. https://draxe.com /m ct-oil/. Accessed July 22nd, 2017. 5. Cupping Therapy: Alternative Medicine for Pain, Im m unity, and Digestion. https://draxe.com /cupping-therapy/. Dr. Axe Website. Accessed July 22nd, 2017,
Ac t i v at ed
Char c oal
By: M au de M agee
Sum m er is all about kicking back,
grilling out, and com plaining about how
hum id it is despite knowing in 6 m onths
you?ll com plain about how cold it is and
how you wish it were sum m er. No
judgm ent, we all do it. Mem orial Day,
Labor Day, and the 4th are all ?grill and
chill? days. Food is a huge social factor in
our society, and sparking up the charcoal
grill is one way to enjoy the sum m er with
friends and fam ily. This charcoal that
m akes the day happen is essentially a
jum p of carbon. Suddenly, som ething that
was best left for grilling seem s to be the
latest, greatest health fad. But, is it safe to
take an activated charcoal supplem ent
daily like you would a m ultivitam in?
?There would be m inim al risk.
Overall, it is pretty safe,? said Dr. Michael
Lynch, the m edical director for Pittsburgh
Poison Center and assistant professor in
the departm ent of em ergency m edicine at
the University of Pittsburgh School of
Medicine, during an interview for Today.
1The lum p charcoal, that is used during
cookouts am ong m any other uses, and the
activated charcoal that is m edically used
are both derived from carbon. The
difference lies within the porosity and
surface area. ?Activated" m eans the
charcoal ? m ade from wood, peat, or
coconut shells ? was heated, then
oxidized, expanding its surface area. The
preparation process gives the charcoal the
ability to absorb various chem icals to its
surface. This is why you?ll see charcoal as a
filtering agent in com m ercial and
household use, ranging from gas m asks to
water filters.
The fad is m ostly centered about the
claim of its ability to clean your body of
dangerous toxins. Many college students
rely on it to cleanse them of the lasts
nights? leftover alcohol or drink it along
with their alcoholic beverage. Or people
worry that toxins and m etals build up in
their system and drinking activated
charcoal will cleanse everything out.
However, this isn?t the case.
Activated charcoal does not get absorbed into the bloodstream . So while it could help trap toxins and drugs from entering into the bloodstream , by absorption in the digestive tract, it has very little ability to absorb alcohol. So if you had a shot of activated charcoal along with your drink of choice, would it be even a little beneficial to take anyways? A study published in Hum an Toxicology found that after having a couple drinks, blood alcohol levels in study subjects were the sam e whether they took activated charcoal or not.
This supplem ent cannot distinguish between m edications, the toxins, and the nutrients that they can absorb. While it can rem ove certain ?toxins? that haven?t m ake it into the bloodstream yet, they will equally likely absorb vitam ins and m inerals that are essential for m any biological and physiological responses. When AC is added to a superfood sm oothie or a juice, the
activated charcoal m ay bind nutrients and phytochem icals from fruit and
vegetables and prevent their absorption by your body.1 Since activated
charcoal can bind drugs in the digestive tract, taking it along with oral
m edications can lower the effect of m edication.2
Activated charcoal, because of the sam e absorption properties that allow it to trap poisons, also can absorb water. This can lead to dehydration and intestinal problem s.
There are m any other claim s about the benefits from activated charcoal like lowering risk of cancer, weight loss, and lowering cholesterol. The research results are split down the m iddle of concluding that there are or are not benefits of activated charcoal and that is in ineffective. Over the past 30 years there have been 316 published studies on PUBMED where
?Activated Charcoal? appears in both the title and abstract of the journal article However, only 159 are hum an studies ? others are anim al, plant, and
laboratory studies.3 With very little research of activated charcoal and hum an
studies, there is not enough research to conclude that claim s are true. If
som eone overdoses on Aspirin, antidepressants4, antiarrhythm ic
m edications, or Theophylline5, it ?s sound to assum e that taking activated
charcoal quickly afterward will help while the poisons are still in the digestive
track.6 But really, that is a lot riskier than going to the hospital where there
are people who studied m edicine and know what they are doing. Other than that, the sim ple fact is, due to the lack of definitive studies showing any benefit, Activated Charcoal should not be used routinely as part of your daily health plan to elim inate trace toxins, help prevent hangovers, assist in weight loss, lower cancer risk, or to help lower cholesterol.
[1] http://www.today.com /health/heres-truth-about-activated-charcoal-t26721 [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm .nih.gov/pm c/articles/PMC3649719/
[3] https://www.caloriesecrets.net/the-real-truth-about-activated-charcoal-backed-by-research/ [4]https://healthybutsm art.com /activated-charcoal/#To_sum _things_up_8211_what_should_you_do [5] https://www.ncbi.nlm .nih.gov/pubm ed/?term =10954340
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm .nih.gov/pubm ed/?term =3737269 [7] https://www.ncbi.nlm .nih.gov/pubm ed/?term =17719135
A premat ure birt h is a birt h t hat t akes place more t han t hree weeks before t he baby is due. This means t hat a premat ure birt h occurs before t he st art of t he 37t h week of pregnancy. A normal pregnancy usually last s about 40 weeks. Premat ure birt h does not allow for proper growt h of t he baby when inside t he womb, which oft en leads t o complicat ed
medical problems.1 There are four different
cat egories of pret erm birt hs but for t he sake of t his art icle, we will group t hem all t oget her and label t hem as simply pret erm infant s.
Inadequat e nut rient st ores at birt h are anot her consequence of being a pret erm infant (along wit h medical problems). Pret erm infant s also have high nut rient requirement s already, which increase wit h earlier gest at ional ages. As a result , early nut rit ion int ervent ion is required t o prevent furt her deficit s t hat , if not
correct ed, can affect growt h and long-t erm out comes. Pret erm infant s oft en require several weeks of parent eral nut rit ion (PN) support , which includes t race mineral supplement at ion. This parent al nut rit ion is simply feeding t he infant int ravenously,
because it is deemed more beneficial and/or a
safer means of feeding.2 Trace minerals are
considered essent ial nut rient s, unable t o be synt hesized in t he human body. Deficiencies of t race minerals have been report ed, yet
evidence-based guidelines for assessment and supplement at ion have not been clearly defined. Infant s and pret erm infant s have guidelines t o follow, which are given t o t he parent s by doct ors. Food and Drug
Administ rat ion-approved parent eral t race mineral int ake guidelines are more t han 30 years old and are up for quest ion. ?Review of
lit erat ure support s t hat t race mineral deplet ion can lead t o clinical compromise in pret erm infant s; t herefore, suggest ing t hat every effort be made t o ensure adequat e provision of t race
minerals is given t o pret erm infant s.?2
The recommendat ion for pret erm infant s for parent eral iodine int ake is 1 ?g/ kg per day. Wit hout t his recommendat ion, it is t hought t hat pret erm infant s are vulnerable t o
iodide insufficiency and t hyroid dysfunct ion.3
St udies have been conduct ed t o challenge t his recommendat ion and challenge t he so called, ?dysfunct ions? associat ed wit h not
administ ering iodine supplement at ion t o pret erm infant s.
For pret erm infant s, iodide supplement at ion is not associat ed wit h neurodevelopment al benefit at age 2 years, according t o a st udy published online April 14 in Pediatrics. Overall iodide supplement at ion provided no benefit t o neurodevelopment
measured at 2 years of age. 4 There are many
st udies t hat conclude t he same.
Anot her st udy st at es t hat t here is
insufficient dat a present t o det ermine whet her providing pret erm infant s wit h supplement al iodine (t o mat ch fet al accret ion rat es) prevent s
morbidit y and mort alit y in pret erm infant s.5
St udies like t hese may need t o be
recreat ed and looked at t horoughly, along wit h t he 30 year old recommendat ions of iodine consumpt ion for pret erm infant s. It seems t hat t hese more recent st udies are challenging t he current recommendat ions and doct ors may be administ ering iodine supplement at ion t o pret erm infant s when it is not needed.
References
1. http://www.m ayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prem ature-birth/basics/definition/CON-20020050. Accessed July 2017.
2. Finch CW. Review of trace m ineral requirem ents for preterm infants: what are the current recom m endations for clinical practice? Nutr Clin Pract. Feb 2015;30(1):44-58. . 3. William FL, Ogston S, Hum e R, et al. Supplem ental Iodide for Preterm Infants and Developm ental Outcom es at 2 Years: an RCT. Pediatrics. Apr 2017.
4. Iodine Supplem entation No Benefit For Preem ies. Health Day News. Apr 2017. http://www.physiciansbriefing.com /Article.asp?AID=721566
5. Ibrahim M, Sinn J, McGuire W. Iodine supplem entation for the prevention of m ortality and adverse neurodevelopm ental outcom es in preterm infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Apr 19;(2).
Iodide Supplement at ion Has No
Benef it in Pr eemies
A popular com bination am ong college students and young adults could lead to devastating effects: alcohol m ixed and energy drinks. Vodka and Red Bull is what m any people m ay order on a night out, but are they aware of the possible consequences?
Let ?s begin by stating that in m ost energy drinks caffeine levels per serving were found to range from about 6 m illigram s to 242 m illigram s per serving. Keep in m ind that som e contain m ore than one serving! In com parison, one 8-ounce cup of coffee contains about 100 m illigram s. Som e think that by consum ing caffeine while drinking alcohol, it will m ake them less drowsy or im paired. In fact, it will not m ake you feel sober. Consum ing caffeine while under the influence can alter your judgem ent severely and could lead to serious health com plications such as com a, respiratory depression, im paired m ental/physical coordination, dehydration, seizures, overdose, and death. This is a m atter that should be taken seriously as we educate about the risks and consequences of alcohol and caffeine consum ption.
A system atic review was conducted in Canada to exam ine the relationship between alcohol m ixed with energy drinks and injury. The study found support of the association between alcohol m ixed with energy drinks and caffeine consum ption. However, due to the wide variability of the injuries provided in the various studies analyzed, m ore exam ination of this association should be encouraged.
Thankfully, prepackaged alcohol m ixed with caffeine is a thing of the past in Am erica. According to the CDC, ?in Novem ber 2010, the US Food and Drug Adm inistration (FDA) told the m anufacturers of seven CABs (caffeinated alcoholic beverages) that their drinks could no longer stay on the m arket in their current form , stating that ?FDA does not find support for the claim that the addition of caffeine to these alcoholic beverages is ?generally recognized as safe,? which is the legal standard.?? CABs used to be m arket with bright colors and certain flavors m aking them m ore attractive to youth, so thankfully these are off the m arket now. Unfortunately, the ingredients can still be bought separately and then m ixed, so m ore preventative m easures should be taken to prevent any other serious injuries from this dangerous com bination! Until then, if you?re ever thinking of having a Vodka Red Bull, just don?t do it!
What No t To Do :
Al c o ho l + Caf f e i n e
References: http://www.jsad.com /doi/10.15288/jsad.2017.78.175 http://www.philly.com /philly/health/topics/HealthDay720798_20170321_Do_Energy_Drinks__plus__Booze__More_Injuries_.htm lhttp://www.consum erreports.org/cro/m agazine/2012/12/the-buzz-on-energy-drink-caffeine/index.htm
http://www.drug-rehab-experts.org/treatm ent-inform ation/dangers-of-using-stim ulants-and-depressants-together/
https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/caffeine-and-alcohol.htm
Celiac Disease, found in about 1% of the Am erican population, is an autoim m une disease in which the body responds incorrectly when gluten is consum ed. One of the largest side effects of the disease is dam age to the sm all intestine, which leads to a m alabsorption of nutrients. The Celiac Disease diet includes avoiding wheat, barley, and rye due to the
prolam ins found within these grains. Originally, oats were also included in the list of grains that people suffering from Celiac Disease should stay away from . However, a recent m eta-analysis exam ined 433 studies and found 6 random ized controlled trials and 2 non-random ized
controlled trials that were used to determ ine the safety of adding oats into the Celiac Disease diet. This potential addition could help bring variety into the diet and it could increase nutrient intake.
According to Green et al., there are no alterations in sym ptom s, histology, im m unity, or serologic features when pure oats are added to the diets of participants m ainly found in
Europe.1 While it was noted that European oat contam ination is probably less likely due to
restrictions, one of the non-random ized control trials was located in Am erica and supported the idea of adding oats into the diet. The North Am erican Society for the Study of Celiac Disease, as well as the researchers of the m eta-analysis, believe that the addition of oats into the diet of som eone suffering with Celiac Disease is not likely to have negative effects, but
tTGA should be m onitored throughout the duration of the inclusion of oat.2 As people are
diagnosed with Celiac Disease, it is not recom m ended to keep oats in the diet until sym ptom s are alleviated. More research on the subject of the addition of oats into the Celiac Disease diet is necessary because there are variations in oat quality from overseas and within the U.S. Also, m ore random ized control trials need to be done before enough inform ation is known about the topic.
References:
Green P, Ford A, Pinto- Sanchez M, et al. Safety of Adding Oats to a Gluten-free Diet for Patients With Celiac Disease: System atic Review and Meta-analysis of Clinical and Observational Studies. Journal of Gastroenterology. 2017. DiMarino A. Oats appear safe for patients with celiac disease. Healio.
O a t s a ppea r sa fe for
pa t i en t s w i t h C el i a c
D i sea se
Ma r mi t e a n d Br a i n
Fu n ct i on i n g
GABA, an im portant
neurotransm itter in the brain,
plays a vital role in the
developm ent of epilepsy and
other neurological disorders.
One study, led by, Anika Sm ith of
the University of York, observed
the effects of consum ing one
teaspoon of m arm ite each day
com pared to a control group
that consum ed the sam e
am ount of peanut butter1. The
study consisted of 28
participants and researchers
found that those in the
experim ental group experienced
a reduction in the brain?s
response to visual stim uli by
nearly 30% in contrast to the
control group counterparts,
m eaning there were higher levels
of GABA. It is thought that this
response by the brain is due to
the concentrated am ount of
vitam in B-12 in m arm ite. These
results im plicate that diet choice
can im pact and possibly prolong
the effects of GABA and
therefore, neurological
disorders. Researchers urge
those inspired by their findings
to support further research and
not take the results as definitive
evidence, as these study findings
are lim ited and did not include
participants who suffer from
neurological disorders1. This
study was deem ed a great
starting point for future research.
This study was funded by the
com pany that m anufactures
Marm ite, but they are assure the
scientific com m unity and
consum ers that they do not seek
to influence results when they
provide grants2.
By: M alar ie War r en
=References:
Sm ith, A.K., Wade, A., Penkm an K.E., et al., Dietary Modulation of Cortical Excitation and Inhibition. J of Psychopharm acol. 2017;31(5), 632-637.10.1177/0269881117699613. 2. Gray, N. Marmite on the Mind? Research Suggest Marmite Impacts Brain Functioning. Food Navigator.
I s Sod a Ba d for
Y ou r Bra i n ?
By: Kea Sch w ar z
According t o t he US Depart ment of Agricult ure, 11 million met ric t ons of sugar were consumed by Americans in 2016 most of which were in t he form of sport s drinks and sodas. It ?s safe t o say
Americans love sugar and t his may be wreaking havoc our brain. New research from t he Framingham Heart St udy found t hat individuals who
drink sugary beverages oft en have poorer memory, smaller brain volume, and a much smaller hippocampus, which is an import ant memory and learning cent er of t he brain. Before you chuck your sugary soda away and reach for a diet version t here?s more you should know. In a follow-up st udy, it was found t hat individuals who drank diet soda on a daily basis were t hree t imes as likely t o develop st roke and dement ia
compared t o t hose who did not . At t he same t ime researchers point out t hat t hese finding show a correlat ion and not a cause-and-effect of drinking sugary beverages. More research is needed t o det ermine how or if t hese drinks cause
brain damage and how much damage is done by underlying causes like vascular disease or diabet es.1
Excess sugar has been associat ed wit h cardiovascular disease, obesit y, heart disease, and t ype 2 diabet es. St ill, not much is known about t he long-t erm effect s on t he human brain.1 Two separat e
st udies were conduct ed t o det ermine t he effect s of sugary drinks on brain funct ion. The first st udy looked at links bet ween sugary drinks and Alzheimer?s disease. Magnet ic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and cognit ive t est result s were t aken from 4,000 people who were enrolled in t he Framingham Heart St udy and t hird generat ion cohort s. The research focused around people t hat consumed more t han t wo sugary drink a day or more t han t hree soda beverages a week. The group wit h t he highest int ake showed signs of fast er t han normal brain aging, smaller brain volume, poor memory, and smaller hippocampus. All of t hese are risk fact ors for t he early st ages of Alzheimer?s disease. Researchers also saw t hat t hose who drank at least one diet soda per day also had a smaller brain volume.2
The second st udy, looked at whet her sugar or art ificially sweet ened beverages was associat ed wit h increased incidence of st roke or dement ia based on t he Framingham Heart St udy Offspring cohort . Researchers measured t he volunt eer?s beverage int ake at t hree point s over seven years and monit ored t hem for 10 years looking for signs of st roke in people over 45 and dement ia in t hose over 60. Though t hey found no correlat ion bet ween sugary beverage int ake and st roke or dement ia, t hey saw t hat people who consumed at least one diet soda per day were t hree t imes more likely t o develop st roke and dement ia.3
It was surprising t o researchers t hat diet soda int ake showed t hese result s. There have been
previous st udies t hat linked diet soda int ake t o st roke risk, but t here had been no previous risk
associat ed wit h dement ia. Also, t he st udy did not different iat e bet ween t ypes of art ificial
sweet eners but scient ist s have various ideas of how art ificial sweet eners may t ransform gut
bact eria alt ering t he brains percept ion of ?sweet .?1 More informat ion is needed and furt her
st udies will need t o be done t o det ermine exact links bet ween art ificial sweet eners and bodily
harm. Regardless, consumpt ion of soda and sugary drinks doesn?t seem t o have any posit ive
correlat ion t o healt h. Maybe it is t ime t o revert back t o plain wat er which we all know is vit al for a
healt hy individual.
References:
Moran B.. Is soda bad for your brain? (And is diet soda worse?) Both sugary, diet drinks correlated with accelerated brain aging. ScienceDaily.
https://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2017/04/170420162254.htm . Published April 20, 2017. Accessed May 10, 2017. Pase M. Sugary beverage intake and preclinical Alzheim er 's disease in the com m unity. Alzheim er 's association . http://www.alzheim ersanddem entia.com /article/S1552-5260(17)30050-X/abstract. Published March 5, 2017. Accessed May 10, 2017. Pase MP, Him ali JJ, Beiser AS, et al. Sugar- and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and the Risks of Incident Stroke and Dem entia. Stroke. http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/early/2017/04/20/STROKEAHA.116.016027. Published January 1, 2017. Accessed May 10, 2017.