Bonding in Wood Composites

Published Date

Volume 3 of the series NATO Conference Series pp 127-146

Title 

Bonding in Wood Composites

• Author 

• J. D. Wellons

Abstract

To form an adhesive bond between wood fibers there must be flow to bring components in proximity, adhesion across an interface and cure of the adhesive. Because wood fibers are porous and adsorptive and are a heterogeneous mix of polymers and oligomers, we seldom can isolate these actions. Thus, I have chosen to consider the entire bonding process, not merely adhesion. In fact, experience suggests that adhesion alone is seldom the reason for bond failure in wood composites.

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How Much Cinnamon Do I Need to Take Lower My Cholesterol Levels?

by LISA SEFCIK   

A bowl of ground cinnamon on a wooden table. Photo Credit YelenaYemchuk/iStock/Getty Images

The spice cinnamon purportedly lowers cholesterol levels when consumed in large amounts. Cinnamon is also touted as a treatment for other health issues such as diabetes, diarrhea and even the common cold. Medline indicates that there's no solid science supporting cinnamon's effectiveness for anything. Mayo Clinic cardiologist Thomas Behrenbeck indicates that the amount of cinnamon you should take to lower cholesterol levels is none. Talk to your doctor before you self-treat with a complementary or alternative therapies.

About Cinnamon

Cinnamon is native to Southeast Asia; the bark's essential oil and the bark itself are used to flavor and spice foods. Cinnamon got a buzz as a cholesterol-reducing agent after a small clinical study conducted in Pakistan was published in the December 2003 issue of "Diabetes Care." The study examined the effects of cinnamon on 60 people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers gave the control group 1, 3 or 6 g cinnamon a day for 40 days. At the end of the study, the control group exhibited reduced mean fasting serum glucose, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol. There were no changes noted in the group of participants who were given a placebo.

Cinnamon and Cholesterol

Some people take a large amount of cinnamon with an eye to controlling their cholesterol levels — between 1 g and 6 g., says Behrenbeck, which is the amount used in the study. He goes on to state that while cinnamon may affect how your body metabolizes sugar and fat, there's still no conclusive evidence that cinnamon works for high cholesterol. The study conducted on cinnamon focused on its effects on people with diabetes — not specifically those with high cholesterol. Researcher Richard Anderson of the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center in Maryland participated in the Pakistan study and indicated that cinnamon can be toxic in high amounts.

Better Foods

Cinnamon may not be the answer to your cholesterol problems, but MayoClinic.com suggests other foods that are beneficial. Add high-fiber foods such as oatmeal and oat bran to your breakfast. Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids are helpful; eat these at least twice a week. Choose from salmon, halibut, albacore tuna, herring, sardines, mackerel or freshwater trout. One-and-a-half oz. of walnuts or almonds can also help lower your cholesterol due to these nuts' heart-healthy unsaturated fats. Use extra-virgin olive oil in lieu of butter or margarine. Treat yourself to juices and yogurt drinks with added plant sterols or stanols.

Other Tips

MedlinePlus indicates that cinnamon can interact with numerous medications, including diabetes drugs and hepatotoxic drugs, medications that may harm the liver. Taking large amounts of cinnamon can be particularly risky for people with existing liver disease. Behrenbeck suggests using cinnamon as a healthy flavoring for your food in lieu of sugar or salt. Talk to your treating physician if you have questions about cinnamon and your cholesterol levels. If you have high cholesterol, your doctor may recommend that you take specific medications.

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Do Honey & Cinnamon Lower Cholesterol?

by SARAH TERRY   

Cinnamon could help to lower your cholesterol levels. Photo Credit Lianne Milton/Photodisc/Getty Images

Many natural and herbal remedies could lower your cholesterol levels, and honey and cinnamon are two such remedies that have this potential. Both honey and cinnamon also have a variety of other possible medicinal uses. But before you begin taking either honey or cinnamon to lower your cholesterol, talk with your doctor about possible risks and proper dosage.

Function

Both honey and cinnamon appear to have cholesterol-lowering properties, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Honey also seems to have antimicrobial properties due to its high sugar content, which may help to prevent or treat infections. Honey could help stimulate wound healing, fight periodontal disease or gingivitis, regulate blood-sugar levels and provide laxative effects. In addition to lowering cholesterol, cinnamon contains terpenoids in its volatile oil that appear to have antifungal, antibacterial, anti-allergic and insulin-stimulating functions, notes the University of Michigan Health System.

Effects

Both honey and cinnamon appear to reduce high cholesterol levels, says The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center agrees that both honey and cinnamon appear to reduce high cholesterol levels. For both remedies the scientific evidence is promising, while preliminary. For example, a double-blind clinical trial conducted in Pakistan found that type 2 diabetics who took 1 to 6 grams of cinnamon each day significantly lowered their total cholesterol, LDL or "bad cholesterol" and triglyceride levels, according to a 2003 report in "Diabetes Care." Another study observed that taking honey improved cholesterol profiles and helped regulate blood-sugar levels in diabetics with high cholesterol, according to a 2004 issue of the "Journal of Medicinal Foods." However, little other medical research exists to support the use of honey and cinnamon for treating high cholesterol.

Uses

Both honey and cinnamon are sometimes also recommended for treating various gastrointestinal problems, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Specifically, cinnamon is used to stimulate appetite and treat indigestion and stomach ulcers, while honey is used to treat constipation. Honey also has a long history of topical use in treating burns and wounds, as well as oral use in treating gingivitis, allergies and alcohol intoxication. Cinnamon may help in treating type 2 diabetes, heavy menstruation or "menorrhagia," yeast infections and colic, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Cinnamon could also help treat polycystic ovary disease and heartburn.

Dosage Recommendations

To lower your cholesterol levels, you might take 1/2- to 3/4-teaspoon of cinnamon powder daily or 1/2-teaspoon of cinnamon oil tincture three times per day, says the University of Michigan Health System. This is the equivalent to 2 to 4 grams of cinnamon powder each day or 2 to 3 milliliters of tincture three times daily. Alternatively, you could take 1 to 5 tablespoons of honey several times per day to treat high cholesterol, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Ask your physician about the dosage of honey or cinnamon that's right for you to lower you cholesterol.

Warning

Both cinnamon and honey are considered very safe for consumption, because they've been used in cuisine and as foods for thousands of years, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Although rare, allergic reactions to honey sometimes occur to people with pollen allergies. Honey is also unsafe for infants less than one year of age due to the possibility of infant botulism. Cinnamon can also produce allergic reactions in certain people, and sometimes causes airway constriction or skin rashes, warns the University of Michigan Health System. Avoid using cinnamon while you're pregnant, and avoid excessive use of cinnamon oil to prevent mouth inflammation or irritation.

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