Living on the Edge: Four Peculiar Risks of Living in the 21st Century

Living on the Edge: Four Peculiar Risks of Living in the 21st Century
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Eating healthy? Too much of a good thing can be dangerous. Taking a vacation? The hotel you're staying in can make you sick. Buying a secondhand iPhone? Make sure it doesn't still belong to the previous owner. In a relationship? Protect yourself. To live in the modern world means that there's risk everywhere, but knowledge can protect you from the dangers you face. Don't be left without defenses when a little bit of information can help you live safely and responsibly in the 21 st Century.

Do you think of yourself as a risk taker? Are you someone who lives on the edge? You might be surprised that the every-day activities of your daily routine don't necessarily qualify as playing it safe in a world where, as you'll learn from this article, danger can hide from view and threaten you when you least expect it. By knowing the hidden dangers that you face, you can protect yourself from the consequences.

2016-07-24-1469368567-1507002-dice1209417_1920.jpgvia Pixabay

Listen up, because before you adopt a new health regimen, go on vacation, buy an iPhone, or become intimate in a relationship, you're going to want to know how you can protect yourself from four of the peculiar risks of living in today's world.

Killer Kale

Did you make a New Year's resolution to eat healthier this year? If that reform spirit defines you, there's a good chance that you've opted to add kale to your diet. You're not alone. The United States Department of Agriculture tells us that in 2007, 954 American farms were harvesting kale. Five years later, in 2012, approximately 2,500 farms were harvesting the new superfood.

It's in the smoothies that you drink, it's in the salads that you eat; you nibble on kale chips and you choose kale when you're dining out. With all this healthy eating, you're pretty confident that being a convert to kale is going to enhance your health. It's true that kale is a great source of anti-oxidants that are believed to help in the prevention of cancer, as well as containing vitamin K, calcium, potassium and magnesium.

That's the good news. The bad news, according to an article in Huffington Post United Kingdom, is that kale also contains thallium, which is also an ingredient in rat poison. Kale itself is safe if you're eating it in moderation, but if you've opted to binge-eat kale to improve your health, you could be experiencing hair loss, nausea, fatigue, and possible heart ailments.

Lean, Mean, Not-Green Hotel Clean

Now that you've got the healthy eating in balance, why not celebrate by going on vacation this year? Summer is the time to pack up the car or board the airplane and take off for somewhere else. Many of us have already made our hotel reservations and believe it or not, your hotel room can pose a safety threat. What's the problem with your hotel room, you're wondering?

It's nice and clean-- -yes, and that's part of the problem. Some of the chemicals that are used to clean that hotel room contain carcinogens which can make you sick, or even increase your risk of cancer. Watch out for mold in the bathroom; According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, mold can cause respiratory issues, mental impairment, and can even possibly do harm to your internal organs.

If you're worried about what kinds of cleaning products are used in the hotels on your vacation route, ask for information. More and more, eco-friendly hotels are opting for cleaning products that are free of chemicals. Use the ventilation fans in the bathroom so that the risk of mold in the shower is reduced. So, by all means, go visit Mickey and Minnie, or visit Yellowstone, but make a reservation to stay safe in your hotel.

Hey, You, Get Off Of My (iPhone) Cloud

So far, you've learned that danger is lurking in your hotel room and on your dinner plate. See what I mean about 21 st century life? All you've done is eat and go on vacation and you're living on the edge. But I'm not done. The risk continues and it exists in the technology that we use and the relationships that we enjoy.

First, let's talk about iPhones. Yes, your favorite, most often-used gadget, the piece of technology that according to a Time magazine poll, is so much a part of our daily routine that three-quarters of Americans ages 25-to- 29-year- olds don't go to bed alone; they bring their cell phones with them. Many iPhone users have bought a second-hand model, and it's easy to understand why: no expensive contract, the freedom to choose the call and data plan that you want, access to the complete iPhone back catalogue, and good resale value.

But amidst all the pluses, there's a significant minus that puts your freedom at risk. Does your iPhone have an iCloud account lock? If so, did you know that the person who owned your phone before you bought it can block you from using it? If the previous owner has your iPhone locked to their iCloud account, you won't be able to log in to your phone. In a world where cell phones are used for every aspect of our lives from contacting our families to paying bills to connecting on social media, your iPhone freedom is at risk.

But there is a solution. If you get an iCloud account unlock, your iPhone will be released from the iCloud account that belongs to the previous owner. That means that you can join everyone else in using your favorite apps, in texting, and in calling. Nine iCloud unlock providers were tested on the basis of price, customer service, success and speed, and the results showed that iPhone IMEI is the fastest, best supported, and cheapest iCloud account unlock with stand-out customer service.

STDs: The Love That Keeps on Giving

Your happy, healthy self is on vacation, faithful iPhone in hand, and you're ready for the most dangerous risk of all: love. You know how your iPhone used to belong to someone else, but now it's yours, and you're pleased with it? Love in the modern era is a little like that. The person that you fall in love with, whether it's on the home front or a vacation fling, had a life before meeting you. Emotional intimacy is risky because it means showing your vulnerable side to another person. Physical intimacy is risky because . . . well, I don't have to spell it out for you.

Sexually transmitted diseases aren't something that people like to talk about, but love isn't all valentines and roses. When you decide that you might need to be tested for an STD, you want to find a testing site that offers privacy, affordability and reliability.

Eat well, enjoy your leisure, make use of technology, and fall in love. There are risks involved in living life to the fullest, but in the 21 st Century, knowledge can keep you safe.

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