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Cowden Syndrome is a rare hereditary condition characterized by multiple noncancerous nodules called hamartomas and an increased risk of certain forms of cancer. It is also known as Cowden's disease or Multiple hamartoma syndrome and was named after the family in which it was first reported. The disease can be difficult to diagnose and the exact prevalence is unknown, but it is thought it occurs in 1 in 200,000 people. Cowden disease is caused in more than 80% of cases by mutations in the PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) tumor suppressor gene. The mutations prevent the PTEN protein from effectively regulating cell survival and division, which can lead to the formation of tumors. Approximately 18% of patients are negative for PTEN mutations and what causes the disease in these cases is yet unknown.
The onset of clinical manifestations varies in age, ranging from birth to age 46 years. Signs and symptoms for Cowden's syndrome include: breast cancer, thyroid cancer, meningioma, café au lait spots (macules of a light brown color located on the skin), small skin bumps on the face, uterine (endometrial) cancer, goiters, polyposis in the gastrointestinal tract, mental retardation, enlarged head, skin lumps, mucous membrane lumps and Lhermitte - Duclos disease (noncancerous brain tumor). Almost every person with Cowden syndrome develops hamartomas. The cutaneous manifestations of the disease are similar in both sexes, but the incidence of malignancies varies depending on the sex: females are more likely to develop breast cancer and males are at greater risk for thyroid cancer.
Almost 50% of Cowden disease patients have at least 1 malignant primary tumor. If detected early, many of the cancers are curable. Because of the complex nature of the disease patients are usually managed by a multidisciplinary team including surgeon, endocrinologist, gynecologist, dermatologist and neurologist. Systemic therapy with retinoids can temporarily control some of the cutaneous lesions of Cowden disease. The effect of Rapamycin (Sirolimus), an immunosuppressant drug usually used to prevent rejection in organ transplantation, on syndromes with PTEN mutations is currently being studied.

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A Poltergeist is described as a spirit or ghost that enjoys terrorizing humans and/or animals. Poltergeists are usually associated with events of telekinesis and demonic possession. Our list was created to present you some stories believed to be manifestations of a Poltergeist. Enjoy:

The case of Eleonore Zugun
Eleonore Zugun, born on 24 May 1913 in Talpa, Romania, is better known as Poltergeist Girl. When she was eleven years old, while visiting her grandmother's house at Buhai, she found some money by the side of the road and she spent it on sweets. But then, her 105 years old grandmother who was supposedly a witch, warned her that the devil (Dracu in Romanian) had left the money to tempt her and once she took the money Dracu started „stalking” her. The next day poltergeist activity began: stones crashed against the house and broke windows and furniture, and when a priest called by her grandmother marked a stone and threw it out, it crashed right back into the house. Eleonore’s father sent her to the Convent of Gorovei where monks performed an exorcism, but to no avail, so she was sent to a mental asylum. Berlin Engineer and a Psychic researcher Fritz Grunewald took her out of the asylum and studied the phenomenon, but he suddenly died of a heart attack. Countess Zo Wassilko-Serecki, interested in Psychic research offered Eleonore a home. The Countess kept a diary of events and recorded witnessing movement of various objects in and outside the house. The activity stopped when Eleonore turned 14.

The Bell Witch
The story of the Bell Witch comes from the Southern United States folklore. In the early 1800s, John Bell moved his family from North Carolina to Robertson County, on the Red River, near Adams, Tennessee. In 1917, while inspecting his corn field, he encountered a strange-looking animal that had the body of a dog and the head of a rabbit sitting in the middle of a corn row. He shot at it several times but the animal vanished. Later that night the whole family started hearing banging sounds on the outside walls of their log house. The sounds got louder as time went by, but each time Bell and his sons went out to discover the culprit, they found no one. The voice sang hymns, quoted scripture, carried on intelligent conversation and in one occasion quoted word-for-word two sermons that were preached at the same time on the same day, thirteen miles apart. The children woke up terrified every morning and they complained their blankets were pulled from them and their pillows tossed onto the floor. As the sounds became clearer, they distinguished a woman’s voice. Bell’s younger daughter had violent encounters with the spirit: it pulled her hair and slapped her violently, leaving marks on her face. It is said that before his presidency, the Bell Witch haunted Andrew Jackson.

The Drummer of Tedworth
Joseph Glanvill in the West Country of England reported the story of the drummer of Tedworth in his „Saducismus Triumphatus (The Triumph over Saducism)”. Saducees denied the existence of the soul and life after death, thus contradicting the doctrines of Christ and were seen by Glanvill (a believer in witchcraft and very religious) as worshipers and cohorts of Satan. Apparently local landowner, John Mompesson brought a lawsuit against a local drummer, whom he accused of extorting money by false pretenses. After winning the lawsuit the drum was confiscated and given to Mompesson. From then on, 1661, Poltergeist activities started happening. Several members of the household saw apparitions, invisible hands around small objects, young children levitating and heard continual drumming every night. According to Glanvil he heard the phantom drummer one morning shouting: 'A witch, a witch!' and days after his visit tot the household his horse died. How the Poltergeist’s activities ended is not clear, but by the time Glanvil published his book, 20 years later, there were no more strange occurrences. This story is considered by many to be an early account of the activity of a Poltergeist.

The case of Robbie Mannheim
Robbie Mannheim, also known as Roland Doe, born circa 1936 is a pseudonym given by author Thomas B. Allen to an anonymous 14 years old boy better known for allegedly being possessed by a Poltergeist and exorcised during his childhood in the late 1940s. The events which were reported in the media of the time inspired the novel “The Exorcist” by William Peter Blatty and film of the same name, as well as Thomas B. Allen's nonfiction account “Possessed”. Mannheim was an only child born into a German Lutheran Christian family and during the 1940s they lived in Cottage City, Maryland. When Robbie was thirteen his aunt died in Saint Louis and the Poltergeist activity commenced around that time: strange noises, furniture and objects moving or levitating, the word "hell" appeared on Robbie’s skin and blessed objects placed near him smashed to the ground on their own. His case was referred to various reverends and legend says Rev. William S. Bowdern casted out the spirits that possessed Mannheim. Apparently “Robbie” had no memory of the events and the story of his alleged possession and exorcism comes from a diary kept by the attending priest, Fr. Raymond Bishop.

The case of Tina Resch
Tina Resch born October 23, 1969, is better known as the protagonist of what the media called the “Columbus Poltergeist” case. Tina was an adopted child, and while she was 14 unexplained events of alleged spontaneous telekinesis at her home were covered extensively by news media: especially flying objects. Many experts visited Tina’s home, even James Randi, but he accused the Resches and parapsychologist William Roll of denying him full access at the phenomena. In 1992, as an adult with the divorced name of Christina Boyer, she was jailed for allegedly being responsible for the death of her three-year-old daughter, who was in the sole custody of her boyfriend at the time. She accepted a plea bargain to avoid the possibility of a death penalty although she passed a polygraph examination indicating her innocence less than 24 hours before her plea hearing. She was sentenced to life plus 20 years in prison. She was dubbed "Telekinetic Mom" by the media and a book about her case called “Unleashed - Of Poltergeists and Murder: The Curious Story of Tina Resch” by William Roll and writer Valerie Storey was published which shed some light on the family's and paranormal investigators' side of events.

BONUS:

The case of Gef the Talking Mongoose
Gef the Talking Mongoose is thought to have been a manifestation of a Poltergeist. It was a talking mongoose that inhabited a farmhouse near the hamlet of Dalby on the Isle of Man. The Irving family heard persistent scratching and rustling noises behind their farmhouse's wooden wall panels. The creature making the sounds introduced itself as Gef, a mongoose. It claimed to have been born in New Delhi, India, in 1852. Gef variously claimed to be "an extra extra clever mongoose" and an "earthbound spirit". It had an uneven temper, threw objects at people and was arrogant. Gef was friendly towards the Irvings and joked around with them, even spying on their neighbors for them. James Irving kept diaries about Gef between 1932 and 1935. These diaries, along with reports about the case, are in Harry Price's archives in the Senate House Library, University of London. The story of Gef became popular in the press and many journalists came to the Isle to see it, but apparently no one other than the Irvings saw Gef.

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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive, recurrent thoughts or impulses (obsession) and repetitive behaviors (compulsion). The disorder can interfere with the person's ability to function socially, occupationally or educationally and cause significant distress and depression. There are four types of OCD: obsessions that are aggressive, sexual, religious or harm-related with checking compulsions, obsessions about symmetry that are accompanied by arranging or repeating compulsions, obsessions of contamination are associated with cleaning compulsions and obsessions symptoms of hoarding. Here 5 amazing and inspiring geniuses that are thought to have been suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder:

Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla (10 July 1856 - 7 January 1943) was an inventor, electrical engineer and mechanical engineer. Dubbed by many as “the man who invented the 20th Century”, Tesla’s inventions include the induction motor, rotary transformers, Tesla’s coil, bladeless turbines for water, steam and gas, arc light systems, devices for lightning protection, systems for wireless communication and radio frequency oscillators. Tesla started showing pronounced symptoms of OCD around 1917. He became obsessed with the number three: he walked around a block three times before entering a building, demanded three folded cloth napkins beside his plate at every meal and always stayed in a hotel room with a number divisible by three (he lived the last ten years of his life in suite 3327 on the 33rd floor of the New Yorker Hotel). He considered jewelry revolting and especially hated pearl earrings.

Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709 - 13 December 1784) was a poet, essayist, lexicographer, literary critic, biographer and editor. He was often referred to as Dr. Johnson and has been described as "the most distinguished man of letters in English history" and “the only great critic of English literature”. He wrote the “Dictionary of the English Language” that before the completion of the Oxford English Dictionary 150 years later was the most complete and used British dictionary. James Boswell wrote a biography of Dr. Johnson entitled “Life of Samuel Johnson” that offers an insight into his health problems. It is believed that Johnson displayed symptoms of Tourette syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He had elaborate rituals for crossing the thresholds of doorways and always counted the steps when walking up and down the stairway.

Michelangelo Buonarroti
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6 March 1475 - 18 February 1564) was a Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet and engineer considered alongside Leonardo da Vinci the archetypal Renaissance man. His most well known works are probably the sculptures Pietà and David and the Sistine Chapel ceiling painted by him between 1508 and 1512. He was the first Western artist whose biography was published while he was alive and he influenced the next major movement in Western art after the High Renaissance, Mannerism. Michelangelo was not a social person, had a very short temper, often treated others with arrogance and was constantly dissatisfied with himself. It is thought he suffered from depression, bipolar manic-depressive illness and OCD. It is well known he would isolate himself for long periods of time to work and often ignored his surroundings. His apprentice Ascanio Condivi claimed Michelangelo often slept fully clothed and wearing his boots.


Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven (16 December 1770 - 26 March 1827) was a composer and pianist and without a doubt one of the most influential composers of all time. Beethoven’s works changed and refined the rules of classical period composition. Moonlight Sonata, The Pathetique Sonata and Fur Elise are his most well known piano works and among his symphonies the Fifth and Ninth are the most famous and inspired many composers such as Johannes Brahms, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Hector Berlioz and Gustav Mahler. Beethoven started losing his hearing around 1796, but it did not prevent him from composing music. It has been speculated the cause of his deafness was either syphilis, auto-immune disorder, typhus, lead poisoning or even his habit of immersing his head in cold water to stay awake. It is thought he also suffered from OCD and bipolar disorder. He was often was often irascible and he had so much contempt for social ranks and rules of court etiquette that the Archduke Rudolph, his friend and pupil decreed that these rules not apply to Beethoven.

Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein (pronounced 14 March 1879 - 18 April 1955) was a theoretical physicist, philosopher and author considered one of the most influential scientists of all time. He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics, received honorary doctorate degrees in science, medicine and philosophy from many universities and published more than 300 scientific and over 150 non-scientific works. His more important works in the scientific field include “Special Theory of Relativity”, “Relativity”, “General Theory of Relativity”, “Investigations on Theory of Brownian Movement” and “The Evolution of Physics”. Einstein was posthumously diagnosed with an array of conditions, including OCD. Einstein became a model for depictions of mad scientists and absent-minded professors and among his most well known quotes associated with his OCD is “It is impossible to get out of a problem by using the same kind of thinking that it took to get into it”.

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What happens while we sleep? Some things such as dreams we sometimes remember and even have deep meanings to some of us, others we never recollect, but yet they affect our well being. Sleep disorders can be treated through medication or behavioral and psychotherapeutic methods. Here are 5 sleep disorders we might be afflicted with:

Sleepwalking
Sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism is characterized by complex behavior accomplished while asleep: walking, nonsensical talking or other activities of which the afflicted aren't aware when they wake up. It is more prevalent among children and young adults. The cause of sleepwalking is usually unknown, but it is thought it may be fatigue, lack of sleep, anxiety, mental disorders or reactions to drugs and alcohol.

Night terror
A night terror, also known as pavor nocturnus is a common sleep problem among children characterized by extreme terror and a temporary inability to regain full consciousness. It can occur among adults also as it is caused sleep deprivation, fever, stress or certain medications. Although considered normal and harmless, night terrors can lead to significant distress and depression. Usually an episodes lasts between 2 and 30 minutes and unlike usual nightmares the patient does not remember night terrors.

Obstructive sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by obstruction of the upper airway and is the most common type of sleep apnea (abnormal pauses in breathing or abnormally low breathing during sleep). Factors such as obesity, narrow airways, drinking alcohol or using sedatives may cause obstructive sleep apnea. Untreated, the disorder can lead to heart failure, arrhythmias or high blood pressure.

Rapid eye movement behavior disorder
RBD is a type of sleep disorder or parasomnia, which is a condition that involves abnormal behavior during the sleep phase with rapid eye movement. During REM sleep in RBD patients a loss of muscle atonia occurs, which sometimes can lead to unconsciously acting out of dreams that are vivid, intense and violent. It can be caused bu adverse reaction to drugs, but it is more common in the elderly afflicted with diseases such as Parkinson’s.

Bruxism
Bruxism is the clenching or grinding of teeth. While for most people bruxism is a mild problem that does not become a health problem, nocturnal bruxism can cause major health problems such as dental damage, temporomandibular joint disorder, headaches, depression, or in extreme cases arthritis of the temporomandibular joints. It is one of the most common sleeping disorders.

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Just for fun, here is a list of female celebrities considered promiscuous. We don’t intend to judge or offend anyone, it is just a collection of relationships or “encounters” these women admitted to or supposedly had. Enjoy!

Madonna
One of the most successful artists whose career spans almost three decades, Madonna is without a doubt a lasting influence in the music world. Married twice, to Sean Penn and Guy Ritchie, she had numerous well known relationships and affairs. Here are some of her partners: John Benitez, Vanilla Ice, Lenny Kravitz, Warren Beatty, Dennis Rodman, Carlos Leon, Jenny Shimizu, Tony Ward, John F. Kennedy Jr., John Enos III, David Blaine, Sandra Bernhard, Jean-Michel Basquiat, John "Jellybean" Benitez, Jesus Luz. As I am writing this I discovered Jesus is out, Brahim is in (who is Brahim and how old is he is still unknown).

Naomi Campbell
English supermodel Naomi Campbell is as well known for her successful career in the modeling world as she is for a series of legal issues. She is currently dating billionaire Vladimir Doronin, but before him there were others. Here are just a few actors, billionaires, heirs, models, musicians or athletes: Mike Tyson, Joaquín Cortes, Adam Clayton, Flavio Briatore, Eric Clapton, Usher, Tommy Lee, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert de Niro, Prince Albert II, Pedro Diniz, Joseph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Robert Goode, Shiek Mohammad Al-Habtoor, Andre Balazs, Matteo Marzotto, Eddie Murphy, Robbie Williams, Enrique Palacio, Badr Jafar, Luca Orlandini, Guy Laliberté, Sylvester Stallone.

Janice Dickinson
The first supermodel (as she dubbed herself) Janice Dickinson was a successful model in the 70s and 80s and she expanded into reality television in the 2000s. She has been married three times, but in her books and many interviews she claimed numerous sexual relationships with both men and women. Here are some: Warren Beatty, Sylvester Stallone, Jack Nicholson, Liam Neeson, Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood, Prince Albert II, Roman Polanski, Dolph Lundgren, Grace Jones, Kelly LeBrock, Bruce Willis, Frank Zappa, John Cusack, David O'Hara, Jon Lovitz, John F. Kennedy, Jr., Michael Birnbaum, Steve Bing.

Paris Hilton
Famous for being famous, rich, a convict, the main attraction in a sex tape and for carrying a purse that did not belong to her, Paris Hilton gains a well deserved spot on our list. Here are some of her men: Rick Salmon, Colin Farrell, Edward Furlong, Randy Spelling, Nick Carter, Vincent Gallo, Joe Francis, Jared Leto, Jamie Kennedy, Tom Sizemore, Paris Latsis, Benji Madden, Stavros Niarchos III, Mark Philippoussis, Doug Reinhardt, Jason Shaw, Cristiano Ronaldo, Cy Waits.

Pamela Anderson
One of the most successful Playboy Playmates, Pamela Anderson is best known for her roles in the television series “Home Improvement”, “Baywatch” and “V.I.P.”. She has been married three times: to Tommy Lee (1995-1998), Kid Rock (2006-2007) and Rick Salomon (2007-2008) (the last marriage was annulled). Other relationships include: Scott Baio, Dean Cain, Vince Neil, Marcus Schenkenberg, Stephen Dorff, Bret Michaels, Sylvester Stallone, David Charvet, Mark McGrath, David Spade, Jamie Padgett, Fred Durst, Alexandre Daigle, Kelly Slater, David Binn.

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Cigarettes have 4,000 chemicals, including 43 known cancer-causing compounds and 400 other toxins. These include nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide, as well as formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide and arsenic. According to researches, tobacco is the cause of 443,000 premature deaths each year, and is associated with emphysema, lung cancer, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, chronic cough and an increase in frequency of colds and flu.

Those trying to quit smoking are likely to feel depressed, anxious, irritable, and restless, and may have difficulty sleeping or concentrating. Weight gain can also be a deterrent in the smoking cessation process as almost 75% of smokers gain weight after quitting. To avoid gaining weight it is very important to follow a healthy diet and to exercise regularly.
There are many ways you can quit smoking, including the nicotine patch, gum, cold turkey, even hypnosis. All methods are considered safe for all smokers by medical professionals, assuming no other health problems or risk factors are present.
Smokers can usually "feel" several reasons to quit and they are all health related. Almost all smokers feel a pressure or heaviness in their chest and experience breathlessness when reading out loud or running.
The warning on your cigarette pack is not a pun. Improved health is one of the primary reasons to stop smoking. Quitting smoking may produce some withdrawal symptoms but think of the benefits it can offer you in the long run.
Although quitting smoking is difficult, it's not impossible. Recent research has found that there are a lot of factors that work in tobacco cessation treatment including treatment with medications (pharmacotherapy), counseling and social support.

Quitting smoking is more successful when done with the help of counseling and nicotine replacement medication, but many people do not use this resource, partially due to cost. Not every smoker is affected to the same degree. But generally the symptoms will come and go over a period of a few days and most are gone within three weeks. Each one lasts 3 -5 minutes, and may be strong. Over time however, cravings will happen less often. Upon smoking cessation, the body will rid itself of harmful substances in the blood such as nicotine and carbon monoxide, and also accumulated tar from the lungs.
If you prefer a natural quit smoking product, there are many herbal products available that are a very efficient alternative that will reduce the cigarette cravings, the cessation symptoms, and help you to quit smoking. There are herbal pills and drops available that work on the same principle as many chemical pills. Some herbal teas also help reduce the cravings. When you feel like a smoke, have a cup of tea instead. There are also herbal cigarettes that can help with the something in your hands habit. Herbal cigarettes look the same as nicotine cigarettes but do not contain the nicotine or tar.
But more important is your will power. Unless you really want to quit smoking, you won't in the end.

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Death… it scares, hunts and fascinates us and is the truth that we can’t avoid. As much as we wish to die dignified deaths, it does not always happen. When there are no souls left in our bodies, no will left, it means control is gone so our bodies are free to go wild. What happens after? Here are 3 ways in which our bodies betray or stay true to us…

Postmortem erectionA death erection, also known as terminal erection or angel lust is a post-mortem erection. Technically a death erection is a priapism (a medical condition in which the erect penis or clitoris remains erect despite the absence of physical and psychological stimulation).It is usually observed in the corpses of human males who have been executed, particularly by hanging. Spinal cord injuries are associated with priaprism, and usually postmortem priapism is an indicator that death was violent.

Cadaveric spasmsA spasm is a rare form of muscular stiffening, a sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle or a group of muscles that occurs at the moment of death. Cadaveric spasms are often seen in drowning victims or victims of violent deaths. Cadaveric spasms are often confused with rigor mortis. They are very important in forensic investigations.

Death rattle A death rattle is a gurgling or rattle-like noise produced shortly before or after death. Usually it is caused by the accumulation of excessive respiratory secretions in the throat. It can be used as an indication of death, but more often it can be a sign of other problems that cause interference with the swallowing reflex.

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The “Epic of Gilgamesh” dating back at least to the 22nd century BC is probably the first story of a hero's quest to seek immortality. Many dreamt of becoming immortals. Kings, scientists, warriors and common people searched sources of immortality. Here is a list of 3 people who hoped finding eternal life or have been thought to be immortals:

Count of St. Germain

The Count of Saint Germain is the most mysterious and fascinating person on our list. His date of birth is unknown, he is believed to be have been born in the late 1600. But many folk legends say he was born long before that, some even claim he was alive in the time of Jesus and attended the wedding at Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine. The Count has been described as a charlatan, alchemist, courtier, adventurer, writer, inventor, painter, pianist, violinist and composer, but is best known as a recurring figure in world of occultism. In some of the occult writings he is referred to as Master R or the Master Rakoczi , one of the Masters of the Ancient Wisdom and is credited with god-like powers such as the ability to teleport, levitate, walk through walls, immortality and telepathy. He first came into prominence in the high society of Europe in 1742, when he enchanted the royals and the rich with his musical ability, his vast knowledge of science and history and his wit. Over the next 40 years he traveled throughout Europe, and those who met him reported he looked like a man in his mid 40s. Even Voltaire mentioned Saint Germain as "a man who never dies, and who knows everything."

Qin Shi Huang

Qin Shi Huang (259 BC - 210 BC), or “First Emperor of Qin”, was the son of the king of the Qin State and the age of thirteen he succeeded his father's regality. Born Ying Zheng, he is best known as the creator of the first version of the Great Wall of China and for his Terracotta Army interred in his tomb. He was extremely ambitious and wanted to unify and subjugate all the states like Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu, Yan and Qi. He realized his ambition and built the first feudal and centralized empire in Chinese history in 221 BC. During his reign he reformed politics, economy and culture. Qin Shi Huang became obsessed with acquiring immortality towards the end of his life. More precisely he wanted to find the Elixir of Life. He visited Zhifu Island three times believing it was the place where immortality could be achieved. In one story, he sent a Zhifu islander with ships carrying hundreds of young men and women in search of the mystical Penglai Mountain where Anqi Sheng, a 1,000-year-old magician whom Qin Shi Huang had supposedly met in his travels lived. The Emperor died during one of his tours of Eastern China, apparently from swallowing mercury pills meant to make him immortal.

Nicolas Flamel

Nicolas Flanel is probably best known to young readers from “Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone” or “Indiana Jones and the Philosopher's Stone”. But the real Nicolas Flamel was born in France around the year 1330 and he was a successful French manuscript-seller that developed a reputation as an alchemist due to his work on the Philosopher's Stone. Flamel wrote a book entitled “Exposition of the Hieroglyphical Figures” that was not published until 1612 in Paris and 1624 in London. His search for the Philosopher’s Stone was detailed in the introduction.He was a very wealthy and generous man. He and his wife often invited the poor into their home for lodging and prayer, as they were both devout Roman Catholics. Flamel lived well into his 80s, which might have contributed to his immortality legend, since in those times life spans were much shorter. He died in 1418, but some texts state that he lived for more than 300 years after his death was recorded. His wife Perenelle was also believed to be immortal. Perenelle was an alchemist like her husband and she worked with her him on the alchemical quest as his partner. Their house at 51 Rue de Montmorency still stands.

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Pseudocereals are plants that do not belong to the grass family but produce fruits and seeds and can be ground into flour and otherwise used as cereals. They are ideal for gluten-free diets. Here is a list of five pseudocerals and their health benefits:

Quinoa

Quinoa is a species of goosefoot closely related beets and spinach. It is grown primarily for the seeds, but the leaves are also edible. The Incas considered quinoa sacred and referred to it as “mother of all grains”. Indeed quinoa is one of the most nutritious foods in nature as it contains amino acids, enzymes, vitamins and minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.

It is gluten free, easy to digest, a food source of phosphorus and dietary fiber and contains high amounts of iron and magnesium. Quinoa is also rich in calcium, potassium, copper and zinc. It is believe to be effective in the prevention and/or treatment of diabetes, artherosclerosis, breast cancer, migraines and heart diseases.

Breadnut

Brosimum alicastrum, better known as Maya nut is large rainforest tree native to Latin America and the Caribbean. It belongs to a family of flowering plants that also includes fig, banyan and mulberry. The tree can reach up to 130 feet (40 meters) and it is also central to the diet of many forest animals.

The breadnut fruit has a large edible seed covered by a thin, citrus-flavored orange-colored skin. It was a central food in the Maya diet thousands of years ago, but more recently it is regarded as a famine food. The breadnut is rich in vitamins (A, B, C and E), iron, protein, zinc, calcium, potassium, fiber and folic acid. It is extremely versatile and can be used fresh or dried, roasted or raw. When roasted it tastes like coffee or chocolate, stewed it tastes like mashed potato.

Amaranth

Amaranth is a heat and drought resistant crop originating in the Americas that belongs to the same family as pigweed, tumbleweed, and wild beet. Each plant yields from 40,000 to 60,000 seeds and is extremely adaptable to adverse growing conditions. It has been cultivated as a grain for over 8000 year and was a staple food for the Aztecs.

Amaranth can be ground into flour, popped like popcorn, cooked as a cereal, sprouted or toasted and is highly nutritional. It is particularly high in lysine, an amino acid that most grains lack. It is extremely rich in fiber and contains potassium, phosphorus and vitamins A and C. Due to high levels of calcium, magnesium and iron it helps prevent and treat osteoporosis. Amaranth also improves brain function and memory.

Chia

Salvia hispanica, better known as Chia, is a flowering plant in the mint family and is native to central and southern Mexico and Guatemala. The use of chia seeds can be traced back to 3500 B.C. The Aztecs used the seeds medicinally to stimulate saliva flow and to relieve joint pain and sore skin. Chia is particularly rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.

It also provides fiber, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc. Chia seeds reduce high blood pressure, can stabilize blood sugar levels in diabetics, have anti-inflammatory properties beneficial for patients with arthritis and can help in improving the function of the brain. Due to the low amount in calories chia is also recommended is weight loss programs.

Buckwheat

Buckwheat is part of the Polygonaceae family and is both an aliment and an herb used medicinally. It was first cultivated in Southeast Asia. Buckwheat contains linoleic acid, vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, E, P), essential amino acids, chromium, copper, manganese, folic acid and magnesium. It also contains rutin, a medicinal chemical that strengthens capillary walls, reducing hemorrhaging in people with high blood pressure and increasing microcirculation in people with chronic venous insufficiency.Because it contains so many vitamins with B complex, buckwheat is recommended in cases of liver disorders, sugary diabetes and Polycystic ovary syndrome. Buckwheat is recommended for people with hyperlipidemia. It also has anti-tumor and tonic effects.

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Here is a list of five rumored to be/have been very well endowed actors:

Milton Berle

The beloved actor and comedian was as well known in show business for his large penis as he was for his jokes. At a memorial held for him at New York Friars' Club comedian Freddie Roman remarked: "We are here to honor Milton Berle, who passed away on March 27th. On May 1st and May 2nd, his penis will be buried."

Comedian Phil Silvers, also known as "The King of Chutzpah", once told a story about standing next to Berle at a urinal and saying to him "You'd better feed that thing, or it's liable to turn on you!". It is rumored Uncle Millie’s penis was over 11 inches (28 cm) long. Alan Zweibel, a writer for “Saturday Night Live” said Berle showed him his penis during rehearsals for his SNL appearance: "He just takes out this— this anaconda. He lays it on the table and I'm looking into this thing, right? I'm looking into the head of Milton Berle's dick. It was enormous. It was like a pepperoni. And he goes, 'What do you think of the boy?' And I'm looking right at it and I go, 'Oh, it's really, really nice.'"

Liam Neeson

Irish actor Liam Neeson has starred in many well known movies, such as: “Schindler's List”, “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace”, “Kingdom of Heaven”, “Rob Roy” and “Taken”. It is rumored he is also very well endowed. Actress Dana Delany once said “If you put Willem Dafoe, Liam Neeson and James Woods in a room together, there wouldn't be room for anyone else.”

In her autobiography “No Lifeguard on Duty” Janice Dickinson admitted to sleeping with many famous men. But she was especially impressed with Neeson , with whom she claims she had an affair: "He unzipped his pants and an Evian bottle fell out. It was insane! Wouldn't you just go gaga? He was amazing!". She also remarked: "Liam Neeson has the biggest penis of any man alive".

Frank Sinatra

Ol' Blue Eyes enchanted us with his voice and beautiful songs and was the recipient of eleven Grammy Awards. He was also a successful actor and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in “From Here to Eternity”. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan in 1985 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1997.

But apparently he wasn't just very charming and talented but also well equipped. His valet George Jacobs claimed Sinatra had to wear custom made underpants which concealed his impressive package. In Hollywood rumors said he had giant-sized python in his pants. But more famously, his second wife, the beautiful Ava Gardner once said "He only weighs 120, but 100 pounds is cock."

Willem Dafoe

Willem Dafoe starred in many blockbusters and cult movies: “Platoon”, “The Last Temptation of Christ”, “Wild at Heart”, “Spider-Man”, “The Boondock Saints”, “Inside Man” and “Mississippi Burning”. His performances are always memorable and he was twice nominated for an Academy Award.

Much has been said about how well endowed Dafoe is. When he appeared in a play in New York less than fully clothed, one reviewer noted “As one, the women in the audience let out a gasp of delighted astonishment.” But more famously, Lars von Trier said he had stand-in for him during naked scenes in “Antichrist”: “We had to take the scenes out with his own dick.”When asked why he said it was so big “Everybody got very confused when they saw it.”

Charlie Chaplin

Sir Charles Chaplin is the most famous actor and influential personalities of the silent film era. His movies were extremely popular and controversial. Some of his most famous movies are: “Limelight”, “The Great Dictator”, “A King in New York”, “Gold Rush” and “City Lights”.

Also highly controversial was his lifelong attraction to younger women. Chaplin was married four times. His last marriage, with Oona O’Neill, Eugene O’neill’s daughter, was also his longest. He also had relationships with many famous women, including Pola Negri, Marion Davies and Edna Purviance. Chaplin was also famous in Hollywood circle for his large penis. Apparently it was once dubbed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”.

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Enjoy these ten hilarious quotes:


“My doctor recently told me that jogging could add years to my life. I think he was right. I feel ten years older already.”

Milton Berle (12 July 1908-27 March 2002) was a popular American actor and comedian. In the early days of television came to be known as “Mr. Television” due to his very popular TV show “Texaco Star Theater”. He appeared in numerous movies and was among the first inductees into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1984.




“The word aerobics comes from two Greek words: aero, meaning “ability to,” and bics, meaning “withstand tremendous boredom.”

Dave Barry (3 July 1947) is an American columnist and bestselling author better known for his humor column written for The Miami Herald from 1983 to 2005. In 1988 he won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. He has run several mock campaigns for President of the United States.




“How do I stay so healthy and boyishly handsome? It's simple. I drink the blood of young runaways.”

William Shatner (22 March 1931) is a Canadian actor that became a cultural icon due to his portrayal of James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek TV series and the first 7 Star Trek movies. He won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award for his role as attorney Denny Crane in the television drama “Boston Legal”.




“I went on a diet, swore off drinking and heavy eating, and in fourteen days I lost two weeks.”

Joseph Klewan (12 January 1902 – 4 June 1971) better known by his stage name Joe E. Lewis was an American comedian and singer. In 1927, after refusing Jack "Machine Gun" McGurn’s request to renew a contract at the "Green Mill Cocktail Lounge he was badly beaten and left for dead. It took him years to recover and resume his career.




“According to a new study, women in satisfying marriages are less likely to develop cardiovascular diseases than unmarried women. So don't worry lonely women, you'll be dead soon.”

Tina Fey (18 May 1970) is an American comedian, actress and writer who has won seven Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, and four Writers Guild of America Awards. Since leaving Saturday Night Live in 2006 she portrays Liz Lemon in the television comedy “30 Rock”.




“To be stupid, selfish, and have good health are three requirements for happiness, though if stupidity is lacking, all is lost.”

Gustave Flaubert (12 December 1821 - 8 May 1880) was a French writer better known for his first published novel, “Madame Bovary”. He is regarded as one of the greatest Western novelists. His writing style influenced almost every major literary personality of the 20th century.





“What's the two things they tell you are healthiest to eat? Chicken and fish... You know what you should do? Combine them ... eat a penguin.”

Dave Attell (18 January 1965) is an American stand-up comedian and television personality. He is the host of Comedy Central's “Insomniac with Dave Attell” and “The Gong Show with Dave Attell”.






“Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.”

John Elroy Sanford (9 December 1922 - 11 October 1991), better known by his stage name Redd Foxx, was an American comedian and actor. His portrayal of Fred G. Sanford in the television sitcom comedy “Sanford and Son” brought him widespread fame.





“I don't jog. If I die I want to be sick.”

Abe Lemons (21 November 1922 – 2 September 2002) was a head basketball coach. He is one of the most successful basketball coaches in Oklahoma history. He coached Oklahoma City University basketball team for 25 years.





“Serious illness doesn't bother me for long because I am too inhospitable a host.”

Albert Schweitzer (14 January 1875 - 4 September 1965) was Franco - German physician, theologian, philosopher and organist. He won the 1952 Nobel Prize for Peace. He founded and sustained the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Gabon, west central Africa, a leading African research center, specialising in pathophysiology and treatment of infectious diseases found in sub-Saharan Africa.