its all about your health

2008-11-13T06:10:00.001-08:00

Jam, yoghurt help fight cancer

2008-11-06T12:20:00.000-08:00

DANGERS OF SEA FOOD DURING PREGNANCY

2008-11-03T15:03:00.000-08:00

For years, pregnant and nursing women have been warned to limit the amount of fish they eat, because many marine species may contain high levels of mercury, which endangers newborns and fetuses. Yesterday, however, a children’s health group challenged the conventional wisdom, advising pregnant women and nursing mothers to eat more fish so as to ensure optimal brain development in their babies.

Fearing mercury contamination, many pregnant women avoid seafood altogether. That may actually harm newborns, according to some scientists. (John McConnico for The New York Times)What’s going on here? Currently, the Food and Drug Administration advises pregnant women to limit their weekly seafood consumption to no more than 12 ounces, or about two servings, per week. The newest recommendation comes from the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, a nonprofit group that focuses on childhood health issues. That group’s scientific advisors say that pregnant women and nursing mothers should eat at least 12 ounces of fish per week.
Although both recommendations acknowledge that pregnant women can safely eat about two servings a week, fears of mercury contamination in seafood have prompted many pregnant women to forgo fish entirely. And here’s the conundrum: an increasing number of studies indicate that omega-3 fatty acids, found mostly in fish, are essential to brain development in fetuses and newborns.
Earlier this year, a report in The Lancet, a medical journal, concluded that women who had eaten more than 12 ounces of fish per week during pregnancy produced better developed, more intelligent children. “Advice that limits seafood consumption might reduce the intake of nutrients necessary for optimum neurological development,” wrote scientists from the National Institutes of Health and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
“The real problem here are the women who are just eliminating fish from their diet,” said Judy Meehan, executive director of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition. “Eating 12 ounces is a very safe, smart move, and nobody is disputing that.”
While none of the research cited yesterday in the coalition’s recommendations has been funded by the fish industry, the coalition is using a grant from the National Fisheries Institute, a seafood industry group, to fund its educational campaign, according to Ms. Meehan.
For women who want the health benefits but worry about mercury and other toxins, the wisest course is to choose fish with the lowest levels of mercury. A recent report in The Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that the health benefits are likely greatest from such oily fish as salmon, herring and sardines — which are all generally low in mercury anyway. Among the fish to avoid are shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish, all of which may contain high levels of mercury.

Jam, yoghurt help fight cancer (continuation)

2008-11-03T14:46:00.000-08:00

continuation
A new weapon against cancer could be found in a jar of jam due to a basic ingredient it contains according to researchers in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology journal.
The research, led by Professor Vic Morris from the Institute of Food Research said, that under the right condition, jam releases a modified pectin fragment with anti-cancer properties. Pectin is a natural gelling agent made from the peel of citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons.
Professor Morris, however explained: “I expect you would get some protection from jam, but it’s packed full of sugar. It might be better to get the same protection from fruit and vegetables which would give you other anti-cancer magic bullets as well.”
Experts began to see pectin as a potential weapon in the fight against cancer last year when a study revealed that it might help slow the progress of prostate cancer.
That study, published by a team from the University of Georgia in the journal Glycobiology, found that exposing prostate cancer cells to pectin under laboratory conditions reduced the number of cells by up to 40 per cent. Cancer is a complex disease with many risk factors. There are a number of questions that remain unanswered about the effects of pectin. Firstly, whether or not pectin has any effect on cancer in humans and, secondly, what the best dietary sources of the right kinds of pectin are.
A team from the university’s cancer centre found that the cells literally “self-destructed” in a process known as apoptosis. Pectin even killed cells that were not sensitive to hormone therapy. Nutritionists already hail jam as an ideal snack to replace lost energy after a workout. The fast-releasing sugars help to get glycogen back into muscles quickly and efficiently.

Broccoli 'could help fight cancer'

2008-11-03T14:01:00.000-08:00

Broccoli may combat prostate cancer by altering the activity levels of genes involved in tumour growth, a ground-breaking study has shown.
Scientists made the discovery after adding either peas or broccoli to the normal diets of two groups of men for a year.
During the study tissue samples were removed from the men's prostate glands and analysed using "gene chip" technology to gauge the activity of thousands of genes. The results showed that a broccoli-rich diet produced changes in gene activity, or expression, that were likely to prevent or hinder cancer growth and inflammation in the prostate.
In particular, biological signalling pathways involving two growth factors, TGF beta 1 and EGF, as well as the hormone insulin, were altered.
Growth factors are proteins that typically stimulate cell division or development, and often play a role in cancer. TGF beta 1, EGF and insulin signalling have all been implicated in prostate and other cancers.
Messenger RNA - the molecule that carries genetic instructions to protein-making machinery in the cell - was also affected by eating broccoli, the scientists found. The implications of this are still being investigated.
Before the study it was already known that eating as little as one portion of broccoli every week can reduce the risk of prostate cancer, and lessen the chances of confined cancer becoming more aggressive.
However scientists have been unable to explain with any certainty how the process works. Animal and laboratory experiments have suggested possible mechanisms but involved doses of broccoli extract far in excess of what would be consumed in real life.
The new study is said to be the first in which gene expression in a target tissue has been studied after a dietary intervention.
Professor Richard Mithen, from the Institute of Food Research in Norwich, who led the British and Italian team, said: "This is the first study providing experimental evidence obtained in humans that diets rich in cruciferous vegetables may reduce the risk of prostate cancer."

Fish oil supplements ensure good school performance

2008-11-03T13:46:00.000-08:00

The Durham County Council has claimed that daily doses of fish oil supplements can help children improve their exam grades considerably.
The research team found that pupils who took Omega-3 capsules in the year before their GCSE exams had better results than those who did not.
The children that continued taking the free supplements got two grades higher in their exams, an average of 17.7 points more, than those who did not take the pills.
However, scientists have dismissed the experiment because it did not include a second group of children taking placebo pills.
Professor Tom Sanders, head of nutrition at King’s College, London said the trial was not “randomized”, which is essential to avoid changes, which occur, by play of chance.
“No conclusions can be made about the benefits or otherwise. Parents who agree to supplementation of their children may differ with regard to motivate and support their children compared with those that do not,” Telegraph quoted him, as saying.
“Making comparisons with a group that did not take supplements introduces selection bias. The conclusions cannot be trusted,” he added.

Antipsychotic Drugs Boost Stroke Risk

2008-11-01T12:56:00.000-07:00

And patients with dementia face a more than 3-fold danger, study finds.
All antipsychotic drugs can increase the risk of stroke, but the risk is greatest among older patients with dementia, British researchers report.
Concerns about the risk of stroke and antipsychotics were first raised in 2002, especially in people with dementia. In 2004, Britain's Committee on Safety of Medicines recommended that antipsychotics not be used in people with dementia. And, in 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered manufacturers of atypical antipsychotics to add a black box warning to their products about the increased risk for stroke.
"Antipsychotics are effective in treating potentially very distressing psychiatric symptoms, but as with all drugs, their use can be associated with a range of benefits and possible side effects," said study author Dr. Ian Douglas, a research fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. "This study has further clarified the potential for antipsychotics to increase the risk of stroke."
Both typical (first generation) and atypical (second generation) antipsychotics are associated with an increased risk of stroke, Douglas said. "This risk is substantially higher in patients with dementia than those without. These findings need to be factored into prescribing decisions made by doctors caring for patients with often-distressing and difficult-to-treat psychiatric symptoms."
For the study, Douglas and his colleague Liam Smeeth, a professor of clinical epidemiology, collected data on 6,790 patients who had suffered a stroke and were taking antipsychotic drugs. Patients taking antipsychotic drugs were 1.7 times more likely to have a stroke, and patients with dementia taking antipsychotics were 3.5 times more likely to have a stroke.
The risk for stroke was slightly higher for people taking the newer atypical antipsychotics, compared with people taking the older typical antipsychotics. Atypical antipsychotics include drugs such as Abilify, Clozaril and Zyprexa. Typical antipsychotics include Thorazine, Haldol and Clopixol.

Early Weight Gain Might Mean Higher Blood Pressure Later

2008-11-01T12:47:00.001-07:00

By Ed Edelson
Children who gain weight rapidly in the first five months of life and from ages 2 to 5 have higher blood pressure as adults, a new study finds
But rapid weight gain that early in life shouldn't be a major cause of worry for parents, said Dr. Yoav Ben-Shlomo, a professor of clinical epidemiology at the University of Bristol in England, and lead author of a report in the October issue of Hypertension.
"In absolute terms, the relationship is moderate," Ben-Shlomo said. The difference in the study was about 2.5 points in systolic blood pressure, the higher number in a 120/80 blood pressure reading.
Nevertheless, he said, the finding "adds to the scientific literature evidence that conditions not only in the womb but also in early childhood can predispose to various disease, such as diabetes."
The information comes from a study done in Wales more than two decades ago to see whether giving pregnant women and children extra milk would help the children grow better. (It didn't have much effect.) As part of the study, children were weighed 10 days after birth, then at six weeks, three months, six months and nine months, and periodically in the following years.
Looking at their blood pressure at age 25 or so, the researchers found not only the relationship between early weight gain but also weight at birth — lower-weight newborns tended to have higher adult systolic blood pressure.
The finding is of interest "in public health terms, showing that there might be a change in future patterns of disease," Ben-Shlomo said. "In terms of predicting disease on an individual parental level, I wouldn't be too concerned."
"My two children grew rapidly, and it doesn't bother me," he said.
The results confirm the findings of animal trials, which have shown that rapid early growth of laboratory rats is associated with higher blood pressure later in life, said Barbara T. Alexander, an associate professor of physiology at the University of Mississippi who has done such trials and wrote an accompanying editorial. The meaning of the results in medical terms is uncertain, she said.
"Clinicians need to look at these studies and at some point make suggestions about what to do," Alexander said.
Both animal and human results indicate that "not only the time during gestation but also the first few months of life are very critical in programming health," she said, adding that, "a lot of this research has not yet been translated into actual applications."
"At what point they are going to be translated, I don't know," Alexander said. "But it is something that should be of consideration in future health care."

Vigorous Exercise Cuts Breast Cancer Risk

2008-11-01T12:10:00.000-07:00

Exercise cuts a woman's risk of breast cancer after menopause -- but only vigorous exercise, a National Cancer Institute study shows.

Moderate exercise did not cut breast cancer risk. Vigorous exercise did, but only in women who were not overweight. However, it's possible that overweight and obese women found moderate exercise more taxing and misreported it as strenuous exercise.

The findings suggest that exercise itself protects against breast cancer, regardless of whether it leads to weight loss, note Michael F. Leitzmann, MD, and colleagues at the National Cancer Institute.

The researchers analyzed data on more than 32,000 postmenopausal women collected over 11 years as part of the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project.

Women were asked about their exercise habits, and Leitzmann's team rated their exercise as "moderate" or "vigorous."

Activities rated as "moderate" were rated "non-vigorous." They included:

Light housework
Vacuuming
Washing clothes
Painting
Home repairs
Lawn mowing
General gardening
Raking
Light sports or exercise
Walking
Hiking
Light jogging
Recreational tennis
Bowling
Golf
Bicycling on level ground
"We observed no association between non-vigorous activity and breast cancer," Leitzmann and colleagues report.

Activities rated as "vigorous" include:

Housework such as scrubbing floors or washing windows
Heavy yard work
Digging in the garden
Chopping wood
Strenuous sports or exercise
Running
Fast jogging
Competitive tennis
Aerobics
Bicycling on hills
Fast dancing
Overall, women who got a lot of vigorous exercise had only a small decrease in breast cancer. But the researchers saw a much stronger effect in women who were neither overweight nor obese.

"When we evaluated the relation of vigorous activity to breast cancer among women who were of normal weight ... the risk among women reporting the highest amount of vigorous activity decreased by about 30% compared with women with no vigorous activity," Leitzmann and colleagues found.

The study appears in the Oct. 31 online issue of the open-access journal Breast Cancer Research. Leitzmann is now with University Hospital Regensburg, Germany.

Eat red pepper, drive away fatigue, stress

2008-11-01T12:09:00.001-07:00

It was at a dinner table that the benefits of eating red pepper was raised. Listening to Barrister Thien
Luong Van My, Nestle’s Nutrition Manager, Policy Application and Management, talking of red pepper as his recipe for fatigue really attested to what many people that refuses eating pepper in their meals might be missing.
Barrister Thien Luong Van My was recollecting his experience, during a media tour for journalists to the renowned Nestle Research Centre (NRC) in Lusanne, Switzerland. It was on a day after a week of working without rest, and still needed to sit in the court room as an assistant to a judge that he found himself falling asleep.
Despite all he tried to do to keep awake, he said all efforts failed and that was the beginning of his search for a solution to dosing off, while at the bench in the law court.
“I remembered having some chili in my pocket and I chewed one of it. The hot sensation it sent into my body, including my brain, made me to always be at alert. This is one thing I never do without having some in my pockets because it indeed is effective in driving off fatigue”, Barrister Thien Luong Van My recollected.
In addition to their use as food and spice, chillies or red pepper have been popular in both Ayurvedic and homoeopathic treatments since ancient times. Red pepper is used as a natural fat burner and painkiller, to treat ulcers, increase metabolism, improve circulation, boost the immune system and aid digestion. It is used as a tonic for the heart, kidneys, lungs, pancreas, spleen and stomach and to treat herpes, shingles and rheumatism. It is also known to combat chills, treat psoriasis and indicated for preventing heart disease.
Red pepper has many common names such as African pepper, Bird pepper, Chili pepper, Tabasco Pepper and Zanzibar Pepper. The powerful compound in it called capsaicin is what gives red pepper its hotness and is also responsible for most of its beneficial effects on human physiology. The hotter the pepper, the higher its content of capsaicin
All the parts of the plant, including the roots, leaves and fruits, have different uses. In African communities, its leaves are boiled with palm kernel oil as a laxative for pregnant women. The infusion of the leaf is used as a remedy for stomach pains, anasarea (a form of dropsy) and ascites in adults. A decoction of the root in local dry gin {alcohol} is used against inflammatory tumours and rheumatism. The fruit is crush, mixed with oil and apply to the area affected by arthritis and rheumatism.
Meanwhile, the practice by Barrister Thien Luong Van My may have a scientific basis, given that a study found that Capsicum, the peppery ingredient in red pepper help alleviate fatigue in people with acute tonsillitis.
In experts assessed the efficacy of a fixed-combination herbal compound of Phytolacca americana, commonly referred to as pigeon berry; Guajacum sanctum commonly referred to as tree-of –life; and Capsicum present in red pepper in treating acute tonsillitis in the 2000 edition of Journal Advances in Therapy. The participants in the study reported a marked alleviation in the principal symptom of tonsillitis, which included, moderate or severe difficulty in swallowing. Comparable improvements occurred in other outcome measures, including earache, headache, and fatigue. No adverse side effects were reported.
The ability of red pepper to stimulate circulation and respiratory reflexes may help to enhance physiologic performance under periods of stress or fatigue. Scientists in France have accrued additional evidence that taking red pepper’s active substace called capsicum, does indeed help to counteract fatigue. In addition to physical stress, mental disorders like depression may also respond to the stimulating effect of capsicum.
In 1980, a study of the effect of eating chilies by Yongyot Monsereenusorn from the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkamhaeng University, Bangkok, Thailand published in journal, Pharmaceutical Biology, corroborated its benefit in controlling blood sugar.
Experts have also linked eating pepper to increase fertility in women. In 2006, some researchers found that in some species of worm, addition of pepper to their meal stimulated more egg laying in these worms, they asserted in the Chemoecology journal.
Eating red pepper can have a very positive impact on people that are overweight or suffer from diabetes, according to a team of researchers at The University of Tasmania, whose research was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, in July 2006.
The study carried out yielded that the normal eating of pepper can help significantly control insulin levels after eating a meal. The actual data they collected was able to show that after eating red pepper, the amount of insulin needed to lower the body’s blood sugar level following a meal, was reduced by a staggering 60 per cent.
Cancer Research published a study in March 2006, which concluded that Capsaicin helped stop the spread of prostate cancer. The capsaicin found in red pepper triggered suicide in both primary types of prostate cancer cell lines. The researcher said that it dramatically slowed the development of prostate cancer formed by those human cell lines grown in mouse models.
In addition, if you suffer from indigestion, eating red pepper can bring relieve. In a small trial in Italy by Dr. Mauro Bortolotti and other researchers from the University of Bologna, 30 patients with indigestion were randomized on daily capsules of 2.5 g of red pepper or placebo. The capsaicin content was 0.7 mg/g of red pepper power.
After three weeks, upper gastrointestinal symptoms of epigastric pain (upper abdominal pain), fullness, nausea and early satiety (feeling full after only a small amount of food) were all significantly reduced in the capsaicin group and not in the placebo group, the report said in New England Journal of Medicine.
Next time you want an afternoon snack that would not put you to sleep, try adding a bit of hot pepper to your snack. It will give you an extra nudge to make it through the day.

health and nutrictional benefits of cocoa

2008-10-30T21:51:00.000-07:00

Cocoa prevents hypertension
Source-Professor Nonnnan hollenberg, Boston University, USA.
Professor Hollenberg found that kuna ameridians who live on an island off the coast of panama have unique health characteritics. the kuna eat much salt but their blood pressures do not rise with age and they rarely suffer hypertension . it turned out that the answer to the Kuna’s unique health characteristics lies in their habit of drinking hot lightly processed cocoa at least five times a day
COCOA DRINK REVERSED HEART RELATED DYSFUNTION IN SMOKERS.
SOURCE-CHRISTIAN, MD, PhD, ANDRE DEJAN MD, PhD, SANDRE FERRE, MS HAGEN SCHPROETER,MD Journal of the American college of cardiology, vol 46, no7.
the study was designed to assess the effects of acute consumption of flavonol-rich cocoa on endothelial dysfunction in smoker. What in cocoa prevents heart disease?
Source-ghanascience.org.
It is widely known cocoa contains high levels of chemicals known as phenolics, which may help to lower the risk of the heart disease. the bitter astringent taste of unsaturated cocoa indicates presence of the phonolics found in them. the phenolic compounds in chocolate include falconoid, which are well known anti-oxidants have been chemically proven to reduce oxidation, scientific evidence has long indicated that damage done in the body by free oxygen radical (in oxidation) is linked to heart disease, certain cancers, and physical degeneration maladies associated with the aging process, anti-oxidants in blood stream can help to eliminate free oxygen radicals, potential reducing the risk of developing heart disease, certain cancers, and cerebrovascular disease. How might the flanoids in chocolate ( or from other source) prevents heart disease? There is evidence that flanoids prevent fat like substances in the blood stream from oxidizing and clogging the arteries.
Atiries are the vessels that carry blood pumped by the heart to every part of the body. The arteries that carry blood to the wall of the heart itself are the most susceptible to the formation of fatty deposits in the wall of the arteries are known a arteriosclerosis-present to some degree in the middle-aged and elderly is caused by oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) one of the cholesterol types. at first the atheroma causes subtle damage to the formation of advanced plague. the build up of plague can lead to the clogging of the arteries, a condition that is a major cause of heart attack.

Jam, yoghurt help fight cancer

2008-10-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

Regular intake of Yoghurt and jam help fight cancer, experts have said.
In two separate studies, scientists declared that intake of yoghurt twice a day reduce bladder cancer risk by 45 per cent in women and 36 per cent in men just as jam prevents prostate cancer.
The study, by Dr Susanna Larsson and colleagues at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden followed 80,000 patients to see whether there were any links between their consumption of cultured milk and other dairy foods. Food intake was recorded using a food frequency questionnaire, which was completed in 1997 at the beginning of the study.
According to the findings, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, those who ate two servings a day were significantly less likely to go on to have the disease than those who ate yogurt only occasionally or not at all.
Intake of cheese or milk was not significantly related to risk of bladder cancer. When they analysed the results separately for smokers and non-smokers, they found that the protective effect of cultured milk products on bladder cancer was only significant in non-smokers.
The scientists said before now cultured milk products, such as yogurt, contain lactic acid bacteria, have been shown to suppress bladder cancer in rats and as such “Our research suggests a high intake (of yogurt in humans) may reduce the risk.”
Though the study suggested that yoghurt may have a role to play in the development of bladder cancer, it is not yet clear which component of yoghurt might be responsible, or if the effect is due to other related dietary or environmental components, which may themselves be linked to yoghurt eating.
A new weapon against cancer could be found in a jar of jam due to a basic ingredient it contains according to researchers in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology journal.
The research, led by Professor Vic Morris from the Institute of Food Research said, that under the right condition, jam releases a modified pectin fragment with anti-cancer properties. Pectin is a natural gelling agent made from the peel of citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons.
Professor Morris, however explained: “I expect you would get some protection from jam, but it’s packed full of sugar. It might be better to get the same protection from fruit and vegetables which would give you other anti-cancer magic bullets as well.”
Experts began to see pectin as a potential weapon in the fight against cancer last year when a study revealed that it might help slow the progress of prostate cancer.
That study, published by a team from the University of Georgia in the journal Glycobiology, found that exposing prostate cancer cells to pectin under laboratory conditions reduced the number of cells by up to 40 per cent. Cancer is a complex disease with many risk factors. There are a number of questions that remain unanswered about the effects of pectin. Firstly, whether or not pectin has any effect on cancer in humans and, secondly, what the best dietary sources of the right kinds of pectin are.
A team from the university’s cancer centre found that the cells literally “self-destructed” in a process known as apoptosis. Pectin even killed cells that were not sensitive to hormone therapy. Nutritionists already hail jam as an ideal snack to replace lost energy after a workout. The fast-releasing sugars help to get glycogen back into muscles quickly and efficiently.

The many benefits of honey

2008-10-30T15:40:00.000-07:00

If you are one those who avoid pap because you want to minimize your sugar intake, there is a way out. You can avoid sugar and still enjoy sweet tasting pap by simply adding honey.
Honey is man's oldest sweetener, so it serves as a good substitute for sugar. But much more important than that, it is highly medicinal and have been scientifically proven to be able to penetrate certain tissue that some orthodox drugs cannot penetrate to take kill certain variants of virus that often prove stubborn.
Honey is composed of sugars like glucose and fructose, as well as minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium sodium, chlorine sulphur, iron and phosphate. It contains vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3, all of which charge according to the qualities of the nectar and pollen. Beside the above, copper, iodine and zinc exist in it in small quantities.
If you have allergies, honey can be beneficial. If you eat the honey that is found in your locality, it may prevent your seasonal allergies. Honey may also be good for your skin. It has the ability to attract water. You can use honey instead of alpha hydroxyl masks because of its high content of the acid. it is also safe for sensitive skin.
You can also use it as moisturizer and a hair conditioner; mix the honey with olive oil. Be sure to wash hand thoroughly before you go outside. If you have sore throat, take some honey. Due to its natural anti-inflammatory effect, it will help to heal the wounds more quickly. it also contain chemicals that are capable of killing viruses, bacteria and fungi, making it a good substitute for wound dressing. The taste also may take your mind off the pain.
Experts are of the opinion that honey diluted in water can help to ease stomach aches and take care of dehydration. Honey may also be effective in the treatment of ulcer. A major advantage of honey is that it does not only prevents infections, it accelerate the healing of the wounds
Because sugar molecules in honey can be converted into other sugars, like fructose to glucose, it is easily digested by the most sensitive stomachs, despite its high acid content. It helps kidneys and intestine to function better
Another quality of honey is that when compared with the same amount of sugar, it gives 40 percent less calories to the body. Although it gives great energy to the body, it does not add weight. It has a laxarative effect on the digestion system of an individual and helps provide relief from constipation.
Honey has been associated with treatments of persistent coughs and sore throat and its consumption is believed to provide relief from diarrhea and dysentery. It has been found to have anti-bacteria properties, which seem to increase when it is diluted with water.
Honey helps in cleansing blood and has positive effects on the regulation of blood and has positive effects on the regulation of blood as well as circulation. Having antiseptic properties, honey is good for treating burns and infected surgical wounds.
Honey help to improve appetite, especially in children. it reduces the production of acid in the mouth , so it is good for those who are trying to loose weight .
When used in form of face packs, honey helps in rejuvenating the skin and also helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Honey has been found to be beneficial to those suffering from anemia, asthma, baldness, fatigue and exhaustion headache and migraine and exhaustion headache and migraine high blood pressure and insect bites

Interrupted night sleep worsens ability to remember information (CONTINUATION)

2008-10-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

While factors entirely, such as brain inflammation or genetic changes, might cause both cognitive decline and sleep disturbance at the same time, but the fact that when you are woken up from sleep in the middle of the night, it may leave you thinking less clearly, has great implications. This is very applicable to many categories of people, including medical doctors on call, emergency personnel and even parents. According to the expert in a study, published in the August issue of the Journal of Biological Rhythms, sleep inertia, the period of grogginess and impaired cognitive performance experienced upon awakening, was nearly four times stronger when people were awoken during the middle of their “biological night” (a period of normal night of sleep) compared to their biological day.

The feeling was almost twice as strong during the person’s biological morning, the wake-up period following a normal night of sleep. People also showed the least thinking impairment after awakening during the middle of the biological day. The lead author, Frank A.J.L. Scheer, a neuroscientist in Brigham and Women’s Hospital Division of Sleep Medicine, in a release from the hospital declared also that, “This is especially important, considering that already following awakening during the morning, the cognitive impairment can be more detrimental than staying awake all night. This has been shown to be comparable to the effects of alcoholic intoxication.”

Similarly, the amount of oxygen supplied to the brain may play a role in the relationship between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB such as snoring) and cognitive problems in children some experts also submitted in an American Thoracic Society news release. Dr. Raouf Amin, a professor of paediatrics and director of the division of pulmonary medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre, said in the news release that a history of snoring is a predictor for cognitive deficit in children with SDB. “However, the frequency of snoring(apnea) events during sleep does not predict cognitive deficit and does not correlate with the degree of cognitive deficit. Such a paradox raised the question of whether there are some variables that we do not traditionally measure in the sleep laboratory that might modify the effect of SDB on cognition,” Amin said

For this study, which included children aged between seven and 13, the results showed that children that snore had lower regional cerebral oxygen concentration than healthy children. However, children with sleep apnea (usually considered a more severe type of SDB) had higher regional cerebral oxygen concentration than children with just snoring, said the study published in the first issue for November of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. However, Dr Stephen Oluwole, a neurologist at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, said that it is true that one’s quality of sleep can affect one’s cognitive skills, adding that studies have shown that those that have enough sleep are better in school than those who either sleep too much or too little. He said that the body has an optimal number of hours of sleep that it needs. If it is too long, the individual wakes up drowsy and if it is too short, you wake up not feeling fresh.

According to the expert, very few people have uninterrupted sleep because most people experience micro awaking. Some individuals wake up and goes back to sleep and would not even remember waking up, some to go and urinate, check for the time, kill a disturbing mosquito and some to pray. However, he declared that the mere fact that you have your sleep interrupted because of a big noise or to read in the night, might not really affect your ability to regain your cognitive function. However, the situation may be different in the case of people, who because of their shift work, have to interrupt their sleep. He said that this would affect their whole body system and not only the cognitive aspect

Dr. Mayowa Owolabi, a consultant neurologist also with UCH, Ibadan, also raised the fact that one’s ability to recollect one’s memeory can be affected in persons that have their sleep cycle interrupted by snoring. According to him, in people that snore, the respiratory tract is blocked during certain periods and so leading to a reduction in amount of oxygen available to the brain. This may lead to the function of the brain getting impaired. This might manifest in different ways, such as the individual feeling drowsy during the day, experience reduced reaction time and memory impairment.

Interrupted night sleep worsens ability to remember information

2008-10-29T22:28:00.001-07:00

Having one’s sleep interrupted sometimes may not be preventable. However, care must be exercised considering the fact that interruption of sleep may affect the brain functions in several ways, including one’s cognitive functions.

For many people, waking them from sleep to attend to any issue is something they do not like. Some say this makes them develop headache, others say that they later find it difficult to go back to sleep. Some mothers too will rather not wake their children up for a late night dinner because it might mean their inability to fall asleep immediately.

Sleep interruption sometimes may not be preventable. However, this is an act in which care must be exercised, considering that interruption of sleep may affect the brain functions in several ways, contribute to development of diseases that affect important organs of the body such as the brain, heart and reduce one’s life span. It also can affect one’s cognitive function. Cognition function refers to a range of high-level brain functions, including the ability to learn and remember information: organise, plan and problem-solve; focus, maintain and shift attention as necessary; understand and use language; accurately perceive the environment and perform calculations.

The human body works, according to a natural 24-hour sleep-wake cycle referred to as a circadian rhythm, which controls body temperature, sleep/wake timing, and the way our organs and body systems work together. Past research has shown that irregular sleep patterns and shift work take a toll on even the healthiest person over an extended period of time. Experts have linked disruption of an individual’s natural sleep-wake cycle with reduced longevity and demonstrated it can actually cause heart and kidney disease when internal biological clocks in hamsters are out of sync with external rhythm regulators (i.e. light/dark); the heart becomes damaged and enlarged (cardiomyopathy) and the kidney tubules sustain significant scarring.

In 2007, researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Centre (SFVAMC) attributed cognitive decline in elderly women to interrupted or fitful sleep when they were younger, in a study that appeared in the July issue of Neurology. Though they said it is not how long they sleep but how well, they speculated that the first and most likely reason is that whatever neurodegenerative condition such as Alzheimer’s disease, is starting to cause cognitive decline, may also affect areas of the brain that govern sleep.
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Erectile Dysfunction: A Warning Signal For Heart Problem?

2008-10-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

Erectile dysfunction (inability to achieve erection) is certainly not a condition that a man wants to have. However, experts warn that this may be a sign that he has developed a much more serious medical problem such as a heart disease,
It is a lot easier for men having problem with their sexual life to want to talk about it either with their friends or even with their medical doctors. With announcements on radio and television as well as open streets of major towns talking about drugs that can help to maintain a good libido, it is certainly obvious that poor libido is widespread and occurs for several factors.
However, the age at which impotence sets in could be as low as 30 years, but in most cases many men develop it by the time they are 60 or 70. Nevertheless, erectile dysfunction (inability to achieve erection) is certainly not a condition that a man wants to have, but it could be a sign that he needs treatment for a much more serious medical problem such as a heart disease.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is distressing, no doubt, but not life-threatening. As a result, many people still treat it as a recreational or “lifestyle issue” rather than a predictor of a serious health problem.
The first study that discovered the link was in 2005 and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In the study, 64 per cent of men who suffered heart attacks had ED before they discovered they had heart disease.
Steven Grover, a specialist in cardiovascular health at the McGill University Health Centre and his colleagues also studied a group of 3,912 Canadians ranging from 40 to 88 years old and came to the same conclusion. The study also shows that men aged 55 and over with erectile dysfunction are more likely to experience chest pain, a heart attack or a stroke over the next seven years.
Dr. Grover declared that “More and more work was pointing in the direction that erectile dysfunction was just an early manifestation of artherosclerosis considering that the penis is linked to all other organs, and it may be the first to be affected. The researchers, in the Archives of Internal Medicine, measured the level of cholesterol and glucose in the participants’ blood, and recorded their blood pressure and the medications they were taking. Some of these parametres were assessed because basically anything that keeps blood from flowing to the penis, such as narrowing or constriction of the blood vessels (atherosclerosis) or high blood pressure, can lead to erectile difficulties. Also, some medications, age and diabetes can also cause erectile dysfunction.
Diabetes increases the chances of having erectile dysfunction about three-fold, after taking into consideration other factors such as age, the presence of medications, the already existence of heart disease and cigarette smoking. Dr. Taofeek Adeyemi, the medical Director in charge of TZ Hospital Iwo Road, Ibadan, said the researchers making such a conclusion indeed have a basis. “It is possible because for penile erection, blood vessels in the penis should be filled with blood after nerves have carried a message of sexual stimulation from the brain. If the ability of the heart to pump blood adequately to achieve erection is weak, no doubt, such a person will have problem maintaining erection.”
Dr. Adeyemi said that men with hypertension might also experience poor ability to retain erection, explaining that with hypertension, the man might have had his blood vessels including that leading to the heart and the genital organ narrowed down because of fat deposit, thus making retaining erection difficult.
He added that some men might not even be aware that they had a heart disease. “They only find themselves always fatigued and not realising that the fatigue they are experiencing may even be a warning sign that something is wrong with their heart. Of course, a man that is fatigued will find it hard having erection because of the tiredness,” he explained.
Dr. Akin Shodipo, the medical consultant in charge of Comfort Medical Centre, Ibadan, said though there is no direct link between erectile dysfunction and heart disease, but some heart medications may lead to ED just as some medications to treat hypertension and depression can affect a man’s libido.
Meanwhile, a full understanding of how some medications affect a man’s ability to maintain erection is not completely understood. However, some of the drugs are thought to lower a man’s level of testosterone, which is a hormone that affects your interest in sex.
“Basically what we know is that it is possible for poor erection to be a side effect of some of these drugs but what is expected, like other drugs, is that any man experiencing such should tell his doctor so that adjustments can be made to prevent this kind of side effect,” he declared.
The possibility that a man with heart disease may experience poor erection, Dr. Shodipo also attributed to the fear that sexual activity may cause a heart attack, adding that this on its own is a major source of anxiety and depression for them.
Depression is treated with counselling and medications. Although treating depression can help with erectile dysfunction, some anti-depressants have sexual side effects. If you do have bothersome sexual side effects, you may need to try another anti-depressant. Your doctor can also decrease the dose or add another medication to offset the effects of the anti-depressant on erectile dysfunction.
“Most times, people with heart disease even fear having sex. Because sex itself is a vigorous exercise in which at the point of ejaculation, their heart may have to pump harder, as if life is about coming out of them, they are usually afraid they may develop a heart attack,” he stated.
“Currently, there are medications that can be prescribed to help them correct the problem. Unlike before, the drugs will end up affecting other muscles of the body, but the new generation of drugs now prescribed specifically target only the muscles of the male genital organ.
Meanwhile, maintaining a healthy lifestyle has benefits beyond reducing the risk of developing hypertension, diabetes, or cognitive decline and dementia. Other risk factors for heart disease that can contribute to ED include obesity, being overweight places extra strain on the heart and may disrupt the delicate balance needed to have an erection.

Red Wine Can Help You Live Longer

2008-10-29T11:45:00.000-07:00

Drinking Red Wine Offers Benefits Similar to Low-Calorie Diet
By Kelli Miller Stacy
Here's a new reason to toast red wine: A natural compound called resveratrol, found in certain red wines, may trick the body into thinking it's getting fewer calories than it actually is -- and you don't need to overindulge to reap the reward.
Research published in the June 3 issue of the online, open-access journal Public Library of Science One (PLoS One) suggests that drinking red wine may offer many of the same benefits as a reduced-calorie diet.
A team of international researchers found that low doses of resveratrol slowed the aging process in middle-aged mice and improved their overall heart health. Specifically, the results observed in the resveratrol-fed mice mimicked those often seen with caloric restriction -- the practice of cutting 20%-30% of calories out of one's typical diet in an effort to improve health and prolong life. Numerous studies have linked caloric restriction to a longer, healthier life.
What's more, the study researchers discovered that resveratrol is active in much lower doses than previously thought. Until now, researchers believed that high doses of resveratrol -- impossible to obtain by drinking wine -- were necessary to ward off the unhealthy consequences of eating a high-fat, high-calorie diet.
"This brings down the dose of resveratrol toward the consumption reality mode," study researcher Richard Weindruch, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of medicine and a researcher at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, says in a news release.
The researchers believe their findings provide strong evidence that resveratrol can improve one's quality of life and call the idea of low-dose resveratrol supplementation -- in the form of wine or perhaps one day a pill -- "a robust intervention in the retardation of cardiac aging."
Drinking one or two glasses of red wine each day can protect against cardiovascular disease in certain people. However, more than that can result in negative effects that outweigh the positive ones. For example, drinking too much alcohol can raise the levels of triglycerides in some people.
Finally, drinking red wine does not completely negate poor lifestyle choices. The calorie-restricted mice had lower rates of cancer. There was no comparable reduction in the incidence of tumors in the resveratrol-supplemented mice. So attaining and maintaining a normal weight, eating a sensible diet, and engaging in regular exercise remain important components for living a long and healthy life.

Medicinal use of Aloe Vera

2008-10-28T23:25:00.000-07:00

Aloe has been well known for centuries for its healing properties, and both oral intake and topical dressings have been documented to facilitate healing of any kind of skin wound, burn, or scald - even speeding recovery time after surgery. Situations to try it on include blisters, insect bites, rashes, sores, herpes, urticaria, athlete's foot, fungus, vaginal infections, conjunctivitis, sties, allergic reactions, and dry skin. The raw plant is best, but commercial preparations can also be used, especially for taking orally, as this plant tastes horrible. Other topical uses include acne, sunburn, frostbite (it appears to prevent decreased blood flow), shingles, screening out x-ray radiation, psoriasis, preventing scarring, rosacea, warts, wrinkles from aging, and eczema.

Internally, aloe is showing real promise in the fight against AIDS, and the virus has become undetectable in some patients who used it on a regular basis, due to its immune system stimulant properties. It also seems to help prevent opportunistic infections in cases of HIV and AIDS. It appears to be of help in cancer patients (including lung cancer) by activating the white blood cells and promoting growth of non-cancerous cells. The National Cancer Institute has included Aloe Vera in their recommendations for increased testing because of these apparent cancer fighting properties. Taken orally, aloe also appears to work on heartburn, arthritis and rheumatism pain and asthma, and studies have shown that it has an effect on lowering blood sugar levels in diabetics. Other situations in which it appears to work when taken internally include congestion, intestinal worms, indigestion, stomach ulcers, colitis, hemorrhoids, liver problems such as cirrhosis and hepatitis, kidney infections, urinary tract infections, prostate problems, and as a general detoxifier. Lastly, many people who take aloe internally report just feeling better overall, which is in and of itself something of a testament to its remarkable properties.

Commercially, aloe can be found in pills, sprays, ointments, lotions, liquids, drinks, jellies, and creams, to name a few of the thousands of products available. Unfortunately, the aloe industry is virtually unregulated, and some products that advertise aloe content actually have little to none. Therefore, if you are embarking on a regimen with aloe, you should become an avid reader of ingredients. Look for the word aloe to appear near the top of the ingredient list first and foremost, then follow the guidelines below:

Sunburn treatments - 20% or more aloe content
Creams & Ointments - 20% or more aloe content
Juices - 95% or more aloe content
Beverages - 50% or more aloe content
Drinks - 10% or more aloe content
Capsules - 5-10% or more aloe content

As far as dosages are concerned, start small and work your way up to a therapeutic dose. Juices are a good way to start, and pills are probably the worst way to go with aloe. Aloe pulp is 95% water, and if you consider the process of drying this, then sticking it back together into a pill form, you can see why pills are probably not the best way to go. Also, give your regimen time to work. Sometimes it takes a couple of months for you to see the real effects of aloe treatments, so don't give up too soon.

Aloe is safe when used in moderation, but there are a few contraindications. If you have a heart problem and use any kind of digitalis medication, consult your doctor before using any aloe product internally, as the interaction may cause irregular heartbeat. Avoid aloe preparations if you are pregnant, breast feeding, or menstruating, as it can cause uterine contractions.

Saw palmetto safe for prostate health

2008-10-28T23:24:00.001-07:00

Safety concerns over saw palmetto supplements for prostate health may be unfounded, according to a new study from the US that reported no adverse effects. Results of the Saw palmetto for Treatment of Enlarged Prostates (STEP) study look set to be welcomed by all those with an interest in the herbal, which has been the focus of safety concerns.
Indeed, the Danish food safety authorities withdrew saw palmetto products from the market pending an assessment of their safety in March 2006.
“Because many men choose to take saw palmetto extracts, the potential adverse effects of this dietary supplement must be ascertained so that these individuals can make informed decisions about their use of this product,” wrote lead author Andrew Avins from Northern California Kaiser Permanente in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine. “The STEP study provided a unique opportunity to make detailed assessments about potential toxicities of saw palmetto…Overall, we found no evidence that consumption of this saw palmetto extract, at a dose of 160 mg twice daily over a period of 1 year, was associated with any clinically important adverse effects.”
Saw palmetto, extracted from the berries of a dwarf palm tree, has a long history of use as a remedy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous swelling in the prostate gland of older men, early in the 20th century. It was listed in the US Pharmacopoeia in the early 20th century. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous swelling in the prostate gland of older men. It affects approximately 25 per cent of American Caucasians over the age of 50, with the direct cost of BPH in 2000 calculated to be $1.1 billion (€ 0.9 billion). According to the European Association of Urology, 30 per cent of men older that 65 are affected by BPH.
The randomised clinical trial recruited 225 men with moderate-to-severe symptoms of BPH and assigned them to receive either a daily saw palmetto supplement (320 mg per day, Cardinal Health) or placebo for one year. Avins and co-workers report no significant differences between the groups with respect to suffering at least one serious adverse event. The data showed that 5.4 per cent of men in the saw palmetto group experienced such an event, compared to 9.7 per cent in the placebo group. No significant differences were also observed with respect to non-serious symptomatic adverse event, with 34.8 per cent of men in the saw palmetto group experiencing such an event, compared to 30.1 per cent in the placebo group.
Despite such ‘reassuring results’, the authors note that the study only lasted for one year, and therefore long-term safety cannot be supported. Moreover, generalization to other saw palmetto extracts and products is not possible, they said, since the extract used in this study may not be representative of other extracts. “Overall, the data from the STEP trial do not support the concern of serious clinical adverse effects of this saw palmetto extract over a period of 1 year. While these results are reassuring, further data are needed to more definitively address toxicity issues and will likely emerge from ongoing investigations of saw palmetto as well as population-based toxicity studies,” concluded the authors.

Signs to watch out for in diabetes

2008-10-28T13:30:00.000-07:00

Signs to watch out for in diabetes
Are you thirsty and tired all time? Do you constantly need to visit the toilet? And is your eye sight failing? If you experience all these symptoms, you could be suffering from diabetes; you are even at greater risk if you are overweight and have close family members with blood-sugar problems. Sadly a large percentage of those afflicted with the ailment do not realize it. And ignorance of the condition could make you blind even kill you.
The experience of 20-years old Greg Richardson, an undergraduate at Cardiff University, United Kingdom, amply expressed the danger. When he began to feel unwell earlier this year, Richardson thought he had a hangover, “I’d been out with my mates for a few drinks on the Monday night-I was drinking liters and liters of squash and just assumed booze had dehydrated me”, he said. By Thursday, Greg was no better “I was still drinking loads and going to loo every 20 minutes” he said, adding “the worst thing was I was having trouble seeing. My sight was down to about five meters”
When he went to Gloucester for the weekend, “my mum kept nagging me to go to the doctor but I didn’t think it was necessary” he said. But his mother Ava dragged him to their local pharmacy for a blood glucose test. It showed his level was almost six times what is considered safe-34mmol/1 compared with around 6.
Another test was carried out to confirmed the result-and gave a reading of 31.7 “The pharmacist thought I’d broken the machine and sent me straight to hospital.

The health Benefits of drinking Red Wine

2008-10-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

Nothing quite beats a night at home with a great DVD, some spaghetti, good company and a bottle of red (or two). But it's the next day when you think "alcohol is bad for me" that the shine of your great night at home dulls a little isn't it? Well you know how people say red wine is good for you? They're not in denial. It really is... here's why...

Heart Protection
Many studies investigated the benefits of red wine suggested that moderate amount of red wine (one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men) lowers the risk of heart attack for people in middle age by, 30 to 50 percent. It is also suggested that alcohol such as red wine may prevent additional heart attacks if you have already suffered from one. Other studies also indicated that red wine can raise HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol) and prevent LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) from forming. Indeed, studies showed that people from the Mediterranean region who regularly drank red wine have lower risks of heart disease.
Why?
Red wine is a particularly rich source of antioxidants flavonoid phenolics, so many studies to uncover a cause for red wine's effects have focused on its phenolic constituents, particularly resveratrol and the flavonoids. Resveratrol, found in grape skins and seeds, increases HDL cholesterol and prevent blood clotting. Flavonoids, on the other hand, exhibit antioxidant properties helping prevent blood clots and plaques formation in arteries.

So should I drink a bottle a day?
In a word. Studies showed that alcohol drinking may result in weight gain due to its empty calories. Other studies also suggested that alcohol consumption is associated with cancer risk. The American Heart Association cautions people not start drinking if they do not already drink alcohol. If you already drink alcohol, do so in moderation. One to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women, is recommende

Detoxify your body, prevent cancer with green tea

2008-10-27T17:39:00.000-07:00

According to medical submission, cancer of the stomach and bowel is more likely to occur after the person reaches the age of 40. Stomach cancer for instance, may show few symptoms at the initial stage, but may later make the patient to complain of certain abdominal distress, which is often more noticeable after eating food.
Not only that, cancer of the stomach may also present or manifest its symptoms in form of ulcer like pains, that may be felt in the upper part of the abdomen. Once this begins to manifest, there may be some loss of appetite and there may also be some occasional vomiting with dark brown granules, which medical doctors often referred to as “Coffee grounds” that usually indicate bleeding in the stomach patients with unexplained loss of weight should visit a hospital for proper and thorough medical test to find out the true cause of this unusual condition and to rule out a hidden malignancy especially in the gastrointestinal tract or elsewhere.
Patients with larger ulcers in the stomach are also advised to be close to their doctor so that the physician can regularly monitor the patient to make sure that there is no malignant growth in the stomach.
Malignant growth are rarely found in the small intestine and this according to medical explanation is often surprising when one consider the length of the small bowel and the numerous activities which are carried out within the small intestine. Malignancy is said to be more common in the large bowel possibly because the bowel content move more slowly and there is also the greater likelihood of irritation.
However, there are growing scientific evidences that say green tea and black tea can reduce the risk of developing some forms of cancer like stomach, colon, rectum, liver, lungs as well as pancreas cancers.
Both green tea and black tea according to researchers as well as natural health practitioners contain certain antioxidants known as polyphenols (Catechins), which appear to prevent cancer cells from dividing. This evidence of cancer preventing ability of green tea and black tea has also been buttressed by research report documented in the 2007 August issue of cancer epidemiology, Bio-makers and prevention - a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, as well as a research study reported in the July 2007 issue of the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry.
Green tea, was reported the best in cancer preventing ability when compared with black tea, although black tea is in the second position, while herbal teas was reported do not show this benefit. The polyphenols that are abundant in green tea and which make it prevent cancerous cells from dividing can also make the cancer cell to die.
Red wine as well as olive oil also contain polyphenols and can also protect against various forms/types of cancer. But it should be noted that dry green tea leaves, which contain about 40 percent polyphenols by weight, may also have the ability of reducing the risk of cancer of the stomach, lung, colon, rectum, liver as well as pancreas.
Other advantage of drinking green tea is that the concentrated chemicals derived from green tea dramatically boosted production of a group of key detoxification enzymes in people with low levels of these beneficial protein. Green tea concentrate may also help some people to strengthen their metabolic defense against toxins capable of causing cancer. The concentrate in green tea contain catechins, which belong to the gluthathione S - transferase (GST) family, by as much as 80 percent.
For example, researchers have also reported that there is a lower rates of cancer development in population such as the Chinese and Japanese, which often consumed green tea. Not only that, regular drinking of green tea also help the body system to detoxify or get rid any toxic chemicals inside the body system

why a big breakfast is key to slimming

2008-10-27T16:47:00.000-07:00

Eating a big breakfast is the key to keeping, according to new research.
Experts say that the bigger the food and more cabohydrates-laden the meal is, the better. The study found women who eat half of thier daily calories first thing lose more weight in the long term than those who start who start a day with a small breakfast.
And they are also less likely pile the pounds back on. It is thought that eating a meal packed with protein and carbohydrates helpes cut cravings for sweet or starchy foods as well as boosting the metabolism.
Nutriction Angela Dowder said; "A big breakfast everyday might be impratical but you are more able to deal with hunger pangs later and eat less overall. The ideal breakfast is grilled bacon sansage, scrambled egg, mushrooms and tomatoes. It must be low-fat, high protein , grilled, not fried"
Scientist compared the "big breakfast" diet with a strict low-carb weight-loss regime. They studied 94 obese, inactive women and found that carb dieters initially loss more weight. But the "big breakfast" group continued to loss weight while those on strictdiet regained almost all thier weight loss.
Dr. jakubowiz, from Hospital de Clinicals in Caracas, Venezuala, who led the study said "A very low carbohydrate deit exacerbaths the craving for carbohydrates and slows metabolism. After a short period of weight loss, there is quick return to obesity" Dr. jakubowics said

Drinking green tea keeps off urinary tract infections

2008-10-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

Millions of people have problems controlling their bladder. Bladders and bladder disease is not a respecter of sex or race. In fact, approximately ten million Americans are reported to have one type of bladder problem or the other and this disease can include incontinence or interstitial cystitis. Interstitial cystitis is a chronic inflammatory condition that causes frequent, urgent and painful urination and pelvic discomfort.
Bladder infection (cystitis) may also arise from infections in other areas of the body, such as the kidneys, prostate or urethra. Continual draining of pus and germs from an infected kidney as in a condition known as pyelonephritis may also injure the epithelial lining of the bladder, leading to serious and painful condition.
According to medical explaination, trouble may also arise from the presence of a stone in either bladder or kidney. An enlarged prostate or some stricture or narrowing of the urethra can also wear down the resistance of the bladder wall thus resulting in cystitis. Other condition that may also lead to the infection of the bladder include childbirth injuries and major surgical procedures within the pelvis.
Diabetes especially if not properly controlled could sometimes be a major factor for the development of bladder disease. There is also another problem which new brides may sometime experience called honeymoon cystitis. When this happened, the bladder wall may become swollen and ulcerated to the extent that the bladder cannot may not hold the normal amount of urine. If not properly treated, germs may then find their way into the bladder and bring about chemical changes in the urine, and eventually, calcium may then be deposited in the wall of the bladder, thus increasing the patient’s discomfort.
When a person suffer from bladder infection or disease and it does not tackle it on times she patient may complain of frequency or burning sensation while urinating, as well as continuous urge to void. The patient may also complain of feeling of pain in the pelvis and lower part of the abdomen. Blood may also be seen at the end of urination. Other physical symptoms of bladder infection include; chills and fevers, which could be precipitated by bacteria finding their way into the blood stream.
However, to protect our bladder from bacterial infection and other diseases, there are preventive measures or “do-it-yourself” strategies that we can rembark upon to keep bladder disease at distance. Ctterbal agents, according to recent study done by scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, could be used to treat inflammatory bladder diseases, according to a preliminary study carned out by the researchers when they looked at the ability of green tea to protect bladder cells from inflammation.
The result of the study on green tea presented at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) in Anaheim, California, USA, found that some components of green tea protected bladders cells from damage in culture. Green tea have many health benefits and it is rich in powerful antioxidants that make a possible natural remedy for many medical conditions. It contain a powerful compound Catechins, a plant metabolites that provide it with many anti-oxidative properties.
According to a professor of urology, Michael. B. Chancellor, at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, “we discovered that catechins found in green tea protected both normal and cancerous bladder cells from inflammation when we exposed the cells to hydrogen peroxide. Although further studies are needed, these results indicate herbal supplement from green tea could be an alternative treatment option for various bladder conditions /infections that are caused by injury or inflammation.”
The researchers exposed normal and cancerous bladder cells to two major catechin components of green tea epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG), for 23 hours. The result outcome showed both significantly protected cell lines from exposure to hydrogen peroxide, which damages or kills cells. The concentrations of EGCG and ECG used in the study were also at level that may be achieved through dietary intake. Commenting about medicinal effects of green tea, a natural medicine practitioner, Dr. Nurudeen Animasaun said this story is not new to some of them who know the efficacy of certain compounds in green tea which not only fight bladder infections, but also protect, renew and give vigour to body organs including kidney.
“There are certain compounds in green tea which has the ability of renewing liver and kidney cells. It could also be used in the prevention of some sexually transmitted infections , so I encourage people to be drinking this type of tea regularly. Green tea also protect against malaria and fever and most importantly, it is good for the anybody above the age of 40,” he stated.

How nutmeg, guinea pepper can prevent sickle cell crisis

2008-10-27T16:40:00.000-07:00

The search for an effective treatment for sickle cell disease with less adverse effects have had researchers trying out many nutrients derived from plants and animals as possible and reliable option for the effective management of sickle cell disease.
Expert believe that probably by augmenting abnormally low levels of certain micronutrients in sickle cell blood or certain dietary constituent such as thiocyanate, this might help ensure they are healthy. For instance, thery found that Ascorbic acid (or micro-nutrients such as zinc) is beneficial in ensuring that persons living with sickle cell disease have less incidences of severe anaemia and sickle cell crisis.
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. People with sickle cell disease have red blood cells that contain mostly hemoglobin S, an abnormal type of hemoglobin. Sometimes these red blood cells become sickle-shaped (crescent shaped) and have difficulty passing through small blood vessels.
When sickle-shaped cells block small blood vessels, less blood can reach that part of the body. Any tissue that does not receive a normal blood flow eventually becomes damaged. This is what causes the complications of sickle cell disease. There is currently no universal cure for sickle cell disease.
While the disease may affect various ethnic groups such as the people of the Hispanic and Middle East descent, it affects those of African descent, the more. Due to a rapid destruction of sickle-shaped red blood cells in the body of people with the disease, this leads to anaemia jaundice and the formation of gallstones.

The sickled cells also block the flow of blood through vessels resulting in lung tissue damage, pain episodes (arms, legs, chest and abdomen), stroke and priapism (painful prolonged erection). It also causes damage to most organs including the spleen, kidneys and liver.
Several root crops, spices, fruits and vegetables have been prescribed for persons with sickle cell disease. Some ripe fruit juices, edible legumes and free amino acids were shown in under laboratory conditions to reverse the sickle-shaped red blood cells.
A new study titled, “In vitro antisickling effects of Xylopia aethiopica and Monodora myristica” have just added these spices to the list of food items that can help alleviate problems associated with sickle cell disease. The study was published in the June edition of the Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. It was carried out by Dr. A. A Uwakwe from the Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Dr. R.N. Nwaoguikpe from the Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria.

Meanwhile, studies have reported Xylopia aethiopica commonly called African guinea pepper to possess medicinal and nutritional values. In folk medicine, it is used for the treatment of biliousness, bronchitis and dysentery. Its chemical constituents include essential oils, resin, alkaloids, tannins, oxalate and flavonoids as well as vitamins, A, B, C, D, E, proteins, and minerals.

Monodora myristica (nutmeg) is found in tropical Africa. The fruits contain brown-oval seeds, which have a mint smell. It is the seed that is used as spice. Its chemical constituents include resin, terpene, lactose, arocine, saponins, flavonoids and tannins. Nutmeg is used to prepare pepper soup as a stimulant to relieve constipation, mild fever and control passive bleeding from the womb immediately after childbirth.

Testing the extracts of guinea pepper and nutmeg on blood samples that were collected from patients confirmed to have sickle cell disease, the reseachers found that irrespective of using the water, chloroform, methanol or butanol extract of these spices, they were able to prevent red blood cells becoming sickle in shape to varying extents- from 70 per cent to 90 per cent in 15 minutes.

Also, the study stated that the crude and the water extracts of these spices equally improved the oxygen affinity of the red blood cells. Further analysis of the spices showed that they contain some antisickling amino acids such as Arginine and Tyrsine at varying concentrations.

From the results, the crude aqueous extracts of the spices had the highest antisickling effectiveness, ensure better oxygen carriage by the blood and reversion of red blood cells that had developed sickle shape. From their results, the experts suggested that these spices when used in combination with other nutritious regimen like fruits, fish and legumes, might be a promising option for the effective management of sickle cell disease and its many complications.

Given that many chemical substances ingested by breast-feeding mothers find their way into breast milk, they suggested that mothers should eat more of these spices in order that it might help prevent Sickle cell disease crisis even in their babies.

Vitamin E may slash lung cancer risk: Study

2008-10-27T16:39:00.001-07:00

Increasing intakes of vitamin E may decrease the risk of lung cancer by over 50 per cent, according to a new study from the US.
Researchers from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center report that intakes of vitamin E in the alpha-tocopherol form were associated with consistent and independent reductions in lung cancer risk. Other forms of the vitamin did not have any effects on their own, they added.
“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to compare dietary intakes of the different forms of tocopherols (alpha-, beta-, gamma and delta-tocopherol) and lung cancer risk,” wrote lead author Somdat Mahabir in the International Journal of Cancer.
“Our large lung cancer case-control study adds meaningful data on alpha-, gamma-, beta- and delta-tocopherol to the literature,”
There are eight forms of vitamin E: four tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) and four tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta). Alpha-tocopherol is the main source found in supplements and in the European diet, while gamma-tocopherol is the most common form in the American diet.
Study details
Mahabir and co-workers report results from an ongoing study involving 1,088 patients with lung cancer (average age 61.7) and 1,414 healthy controls (average age 60.8). Dietary intakes were assessed using a modified version of the 135-item National Cancer Institute’s Health Habits and History Questionnaire Food Frequency Questionnaire. Demographic and lifestyle data were also collected, including smoking habits.
The researchers calculated that the highest average intakes of alpha-tocopherol (more than 7.73 mg per day) were associated with a 53 per cent reduction in lung cancer risk, compared to the lowest average intakes (less than 4.13 mg per day). This result took into account the other forms of tocopherols.
When the researchers accounted for the other tocopherols they observed no significant associations on lung cancer risk for beta-, gamma, and delta-tocopherol.
Considering all the tocopherols together, the highest average intake (more than 12.95 mg per day) was associated with a 55 per cent reduction in the risk of lung cancer, compared to the lowest average intakes (less than 6.68 mg per day), said the researchers.
found consistent independent associations for increased dietary alpha-tocopherol intake and risk reduction but did not find independent associations for gamma-, beta- and delta-tocopherol in lung cancer risk,” wrote Mahabir.
“Our data should be useful in stimulating additional epidemiologic and basic science research in the relationship of different forms of vitamin E and cancer.”
No mechanistic study was performed by the researchers, and they make no discussion of it in their article.
Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer worldwide with over 1.2m new cases diagnosed annually, according to the European School of Oncology. It has one of the lowest survival rates with only 25 per cent of patients surviving more than one year after diagnosis (England and Wales).
Source: International Journal of Cancer
Volume 123, Pages 1173-1180
“Dietary alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-tocopherols in lung cancer risk”
Authors: S. Mahabir, K. Schendel, Y.Q. Dong, S.L. Barrera, M.R. Spitz, M.R. Forman

5 super cancer fighers and 5 to avoid

2008-10-27T16:36:00.000-07:00

Cruciferous vegetables, cabbage, broccoli, water cress and mustard greens . all are rich in antioxidant phytochemidal and fibre, which are cancer protectors.
Broccoli, cabbage and canliflower cotain indole-3-carbinol that can combat breast cancer by converting a cancer promoting estrogen into a more protective variety. Broccoli, canliflower and cabbage antioxidant lutien and zeaxanthing and other cancers.
COLOURFUL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES;
Protect your cells from ravage of free radicals produced by the body's metabolism and from the environment. colour means super nutriction, so eat at least nine helpings a day. A serving is one small to medium piece of fruit.
Crunch on baby carrots, add tomatoes to salad, Deep orange, sweet potatoes. Mangoes and nectarines mean vitamin C and beta carotene. Rad grapes contain antioxidants called bioflavonoid and asre rich in resveratrol, which inhibits tumour growth.
folate; Think green and brown, as in whole grains, beans and fortified breads and cereals. Green leafy vegetables and grain foods are rich in folate, and research points to higher risk for colon, rectum and breast cancer in poeple who get less folate than they need.
FAT research shows that poeple who replace saturated fat from red meat with fish rich in omega 3-fatty acid have lower rates of breast and colon cancer. Omega 3s promote brain growth and development and they are also impotarnt in reducing risk of information and cancer. the best fats are found in tuna, malkecel and sandines. whatever you do, do not fry them !
5 TO AVOID
-Bad fats
-Meat
-Burnt meat
-Too much achohol
-sugary soda

Apple as a special fruit

2008-10-27T16:34:00.000-07:00

An apple a day: Fruit such as apples, bananas and oranges are though to prevent certain diseases
Fruit may help prevent diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, according to research.
Extracts from apples, oranges and bananas were found to reduce the damage the illnesses do to neurons - nerve cells in the brain and spine.
Researchers found antioxidants in these fruits - the three most popular in the Western diet - prevented toxicity in neurons under stress.
Unpeeled apples have the highest quantity of the antioxidants, followed by bananas and oranges, according to Professor Chang Y Lee, who led the research.
He said: "We received many requests asking about the potential benefits of common fresh fruits in our daily diet, such as oranges or bananas.
"To answer these questions, we did some additional work.
"Many studies indicate that the brains of Alzheimer's patients are subjected to increased stress.
"The resulting dysfunctions in cells are widely believed to be responsible for the nerve degeneration in these patients.
"Our results suggest that fresh apples, bananas and oranges in our daily diet, along with other fruits, may protect neuron cells.
"They may play an important role in reducing the risk of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease."

Do-it-yourself solution to painful menstruation

2008-10-27T16:31:00.000-07:00

By Seye Adeniyi

Many times, we experience some ailments which may make us feel uncomfortable or sickly. Many of these minor ailments can even keep us indoor if not properly taken care of, and the reason why this happens is because we tend to overlook or under rate them.

For instance, some women can be kept indoors for few days especially when they start their menstruation, these women are often uncomfortable or feel sickly even few days before the commencement of the monthly period. Some of the complements of such women who always dread their monthly period include; headache, undue tiredness, inability to walk properly, lack of appetite and redness of the eye .

Women however should not see menstruation as something to fear, according to medical explanation. During the letter part of the female cycle, both female hormones, oestrogen and progesterone fall to a very low level in the blood stream. This then lead to what is called menstruation, which should be seen as normal process and nothing more than the shedding off of the uterus in preparation for the beginning of a new female cycle.

Menstruation it should be emphasised should normally continue for four or five days, and may sometimes be followed by a slight discharge which can last for several days. But any bleeding or discharge continuing for more than six or seven days should be considered abnormal and may be due to lack of hormone balance within the body.

However, just before menstruations, it has become nervous and irritable, while some women’s problem with their menstruations is that they usually suffer from depression, headaches, fullness in the breasts while some may suffer or experience swelling in the lower extremities.

According to explanation given by natural medicine doctors, this is probably due to increased hormone activity from the adrenal glands during the letter parts of the menstrual cycle, which may cause retention of sodium and water in the tissues.

The question then is: How can women who often experience this unpleasant feelings prevent or avoid such uncomfortable condition prior to their monthly period? Answering the question, a naturopath, Dr. Nurudeen Animasaun explained that there simple natural preventive methods/ therapy that women can embark upon to prevent all these feelings. He said such simple natural therapy can be called do- it- yourself natural therapy without using any medication which can only ameliorate such unpleasant experiences.

According to him, aromatherapy can relief pain and painful menstruations can be relieved by gentle massage over the abdomen with what he referred to as the anti- spasmodic oil such as majoram, lavender or chamomile.

These oils according to the naturopath, also work for serious backache and stomach cramps. Those experiencing muscular pain can also get substantial relief both by massaging the affect musnules where the pain is being felt and by putting these essential oil in water and bath with it. This is because the massage movements and hot water bath heighten the medicinal effects of the oils.

On what could cause regular painful menstruation, backache and stomach cramp, the natural medicine practitioner said severe pain before driving menstruation apart from hormonal problems may be due to some abnormality that need to be corrected. He said the painful menstruation may also be due to some endocrine imbalance which may clear up entirely following pregnancy or satisfactory marital relationship (Satisfactory Sexual Intercourse).

Abnormal position of the uterus may also lead to menstrual pain or discomfort, while certain pelvic conditions, such as endometriosis and fibroids are also sure possibilities.

Infections such as syphilis, gonorrhea, or tuberculosis, may sometimes cause pelvic pain which may be aggravated during menstruation. Also rectal conditions such as constipation can also aggravate.

CURE FOR PREMATURE EJACULATION

2008-10-21T16:06:00.000-07:00

WHAT IS PREMATURE EJACULATION?
Premature ejaculation (PE), also known as rapid ejaculation, rapid climax, premature climax or early ejaculation, is the most common sexual problem in men, affecting 25%-40% of men. It is characterized by a lack of voluntary control over ejaculation.
Masters and Johnson stated that a man suffers from premature ejaculation if he ejaculates before his sex partner achieves orgasm in more than fifty percent of their sexual encounters. Other sex researchers have defined premature ejaculation as occurring if the man ejaculates within two minutes of penetration; however, a survey by Alfred Kinsey in the 1950s demonstrated that three quarters of men ejaculate within two minutes of penetration in over half of their sexual encounters.[citation needed] Today, most sex therapists understand premature ejaculation as occurring when a lack of ejaculatory control interferes with sexual or emotional well-being in one or both partners.
IS THERE ANY CURE FOR PREMATURE EJACULATION?
Premature ejaculation is a cruel impediment that has ruined thousands of men's sex lives. Men suffering from premature ejaculation (PE) either ejaculate before or shortly after sexual penetration, with minimal sexual stimulation. This can lead to dissatisfaction with sex, stress in the relationship, and feelings of shame or anxiety for both partners. Premature ejaculation is one of the most common forms of male sexual dysfunctions, and has probably affected every man at some point in his life. The elemental force of fear associated with PE makes this condition vicious and distressful in a man's life. but thank God scientist have now found a means of curing this. u dont need to purchase any drug or pay for any treatment. All u need to do is follow this simple steps and behold you are free click here

MEDICINAL BENEFITS OF CASHEW NUTS

2008-10-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

The cashew tree's leaves and bark as well as the popular cashew apple possess herbal health benefits that include killing bacteria and germs, stoping diarrhea, drying secretions, increasing the libido, and reducing fever, blood sugar, blood pressure and body temparature.
The cashew nut, a popular treat found on groccy and health food store shelves accross the world, is jame-packed with nutrictional content. It packed 5 gramms of protein per ounce and high levels of the essentialsminerals, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper and maganese, which are utilized in holistic health solutions and healthy diets. Cashew nuts do heve a relatively high fat content (12 gramms per saturated fat), but it is considered "good fat".
This is due to the agreable fat ratio in the nut, 1:2:1 for saturated, monosaturated, and polysaturated respectively, which scientist say is ideal ratio for optimal health. Cashew nuts also have fatty acid profile that contributes to good health. though phytosterol, and sqaulene, all of which lower the risk of heart disease combined with the nut's zero percent cholesterol content. With no cholesterol, a rarity for such a tasty and pleasing treat, cashew nuts are a healthy fat food for heart patients. And because of thier levels of monosaturated fatty acids, they also help support healthy levels of good (H.D.L) cholesterol.
The cashew nut's high magnesium content content also takes the credit for it's healthy heart qualities.In thier raw form, cashews contain 82.5 milligramms of magnesium per ounce, or 21 percent of daily recommended vale of heart healthy minerals which also protects against high blood pressure, muscle spams, migarine headchaches, tension, soreness and fatigue. Magnesium also works with calcium to support with calcium to support healthy muscles and bones in the human body.
And with high copper content too, cashew nut consuption helps the body utilise iron, eliminate free radical, develop bone and connective tissue, andf produce the skin and hair pigment melanin copper which is an essential component of the enzyme "superoxide dismutase, is vital in energy prodution and antioxidant defense producing greather flexibility in blood vessels, bones and joints.
Recent clinical trials have shows that cashews and other nuts works with a person's lipid profile to have a beneficial on those with diabetes or at risk for diabetes. And with 37.7 percent of the daily recomended value of monosaturated fats, cashews can reduce triglyceride levels in diabetics, protecting them from further complications.
Integrating frequent nut consumption into your diet, especially raw cashews, may lower the risk of developing type-2 diabetes.All nuts, including the cashew nut, have been associated with a reduced risk of gallstone disease. According to the nurses health study, looking at the dietary data of 80,718 women, integrating at least one ounce of nuts a week, such as cashews, gives a women a 25 percent lower risk of developing gallsstones.
Eating cashews provide the body with a good source of copper. Cashew nuts are significant sources of
*iron (essential for real blood cell funtion and enzyme activity),
*magnesium (promotes energy release and bone growth)
*phosphorus (builds bones and teeth),
*zinc (essential to digestion and metabolism) and
*solenium( has important antioxidant properties, thus protecting the body from cancer)
These nuts are also good services of protein. In comparison to other tree nuts, cashew nut have lower fat content. They are also like all other tree nuts, cholesterol free cashew nut also contain significant amounts of phytochemicals with antioxidant properties that protects the body fron cancer and heart disease.
HOW MUCH CASHEW NUT TO EAT
Eighteen medium cashews count as one serving(30 gramms). Dont eat more than three servings per week. Unless you need to gain weight, then you can add two more servings
to your weekly intake. Always ensure you are replacing other dietary facts by simply adding the cashew nuts to your diet, you will add many extra calories to your deit.
A quarter-cup of cashew nuts supplies;
-37.4% of daily recomended value for monosaturated.
-38.0% of daily recommended value for coppwer
_22.3% of daily recommended value for magnesium

Signs to watch out for in diabetes

2008-10-12T02:05:00.000-07:00

EFFECTS OF ACHOHOL ON MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

2008-10-12T01:34:00.000-07:00

Alcohol causes loss of libido, impotence, and sterility in males.
Direct damage to testicular cells and impairment of control centers in
the brain may help explain the sexual dysfunction.

The association between alcohol abuse and reproductive dysfunction has
long been recognized. For example,
the Greeks proscribed the use of alcohol on the day of matrimony.
Signs and symptoms of inadequate sexual function (hypogonadism)
associated with alcohol abuse include testicular atrophy (shrinkage),
sterility, impotence, loss of libido, reduction in size of the
prostate gland, and decreased sperm production.
Hypogonadism may be caused by direct effects of alcohol on the testis;
it can also be caused by effects of
alcohol on parts of the brain that regulate gonadal function. These
parts of the brain include the hypothalamus, located approximately in
the center of the brain, and the pituitary gland, located at the base
of the brain just below the hypothalamus. The term "hypothalamic-
pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis" refers to the interaction of these three
levels of control of testicular function.

Alcohol, Sexual Function, And The Liver

Because hypogonadism was first reported in alcoholic men with
cirrhosis of the liver (Table 1), alcohol-induced sexual dysfunction
was initially attributed to liver disease. As reliable methods of
quantifying sex hormones became available, levels of the male sex
hormone testosterone were measured in the blood of cirrhotic men.
Subjects with alcohol-induced liver disease were found to have
markedly reduced testosterone levels, while those with advanced liver
disease due to other causes often had normal testosterone levels

Direct Effects of Alcohol on the Testis

When assessing testicular failure, the two functions of the testis--
sperm production and testosterone production--must be examined
independently.The cells responsible for sperm production occupy 95
percent of the testicular volume. Therefore, failure of
spermatogenesis (sperm production) may be characterized by testicular
atrophy associated with oligospermia (decreased sperm production) or
azoospermia (absence of sperm). In contrast, decreased production of
steriod sex hormones (principally testosterone) is characterized by a
loss of male secondary sex characteristics, impotence, diminished
libido, and other symptoms, but usually not by an obvious reduction in
testicular size.

With respect to spermatogenesis, the testes of both alcoholic men and
rats fed alcohol chronically show advanced injury to the germ cells of
the seminiferous tubules, the site of sperm production within the
testis (Gavaler and Van Thiel 1987).

LOW MALE LIBIDO! UNDERSTAND YOUR SPOUSE

2008-10-11T11:13:00.000-07:00

Low male libido
If he's not up for some action it doesn't necessarily mean he's gone off you.
The following migth be afeecting him

He's exhausted
If a man's physically knackered it can quickly sap his sex potential. Being out of shape won't help either. Even if he's just overworked, the only thing he'll want to do in bed is sleep.

He's depressed
Loss of libido is a symptom in almost three quarters of all depression cases, so if he's got the blues then sex is the one thing he won't have on his mind. Depression is a treatable condition, however, and talking about the issue plays a central role in recovery. A man who seems depressed should be encouraged to see his doctor, who can recommend an appropriate therapy.

He's medicated
Certain antidepressants and recreational drugs like cannabis are known to reduce sex drive. Excessive amounts of alcohol, heroin and cocaine will also have a marked effect on his libido.

He's low on testosterone
Low levels of this male hormone can decrease his passion potential. Hormone replacement therapy will help, but only his GP can diagnose if there's a problem.

He's unwell
The slightest sniffle can leave some people switched off sex, and everyone knows what bad patients men often make. Everyone copes with illness differently, of course, just be aware that in some cases a loss of libido can be symptomatic of a more serious condition, from thyroid disease to pituitary gland problems.

He has 'issues'
If his head's full of hassles, then sex can easily be squeezed. It's not just everyday stresses and strains that can take the wind from his sails. Problems stemming from his formative years may still be troubling him, especially if they're sex related. He may not want to talk about it on request, but if he's aware that his partner is concerned and keen to help, he'll know who to turn to when he's ready.

He's complacent
Sex-wise, the early stages of a relationship are often highly charged. The physical attraction, combined with the excitement of being intimate with someone new, can be a potent combination. Over time, however, as the emotional bond begins to strengthen, and lives return to normality, the instinct to get jiggy at every opportunity may well diminish. Still, there's a fine line between being comfortable with your other half and being complacent, and if a partner is feeling neglected then they should let him know!

A note for partners:
If your boyfriend's off sex and you're worried then you have to talk to him about it. Just avoid raising the subject when he's rolled away in a bid to get some shut-eye, and keep an open mind!

FRUITS FOR DIABETES

2008-10-10T11:25:00.000-07:00

A person suffering from diabetes should abstain from eating foods that are rich in cholesterol and fats. The food should be light, non-greasy and easy to digest with lots of fibre content.
Most fruits fit correctly in this category, and are known for rhier various beneficial effects on a patient suffering from diabetes. they are low on fats and highly rich in nutrients and vitamins and have a positive effect on the unussual rise in the blood glucose levels.
However, one should avoid fruits juices and fruit concentrates, because they contain a lot of sugar and many fruits are required to make one glass of juice. Moreover, fruit juice do not provide a person with the dietary fibre.
Although diabetes can have any frui, but they should preferably avoid mango, custard apple, grapes, chikoo, banana as they have a high sugar content. There are three fruits in particula that are especially beneficial for diabetics patients, apple, grapefruit and jambul (jamun)
APPLE- One of the most popular fruit, apple have a high pectin content and are very beneficial to diabeticpatients, pectin is found in the rind and in the pulp, and acts as a detoxifier of the body by suplying an excessive amount of galacturonic acid.
This helps remove harmful waste from the bloodstream and can lower a diabetics insulin requirments by up to even more than 35%. Besidesbeing rich in pectin, apples are also rich in in vitamins B1. Vitamin B1 prevents the damage of the brain cells that occur due to diabetic acidosis.
GRAPEFRUIT-Grapefruit, a citrus with a typical refressing flavour has several medicinal properties that helps one fight diabetes can bring down the blood glucose level within a time span of three days. However, just a diet of grapefruit is not enough. One needs to take more of vegetables and fruits rather than a diet rich in fats.
Nutrictionist recomend that anyone suffering from high blood sugar levels should be comsuming at least three servings of grapefruit everyday. Grapefruit can also be used as a peventive measure against high blood sugar levels, especially when used in conjuction with a low fat, low-sugar, low-starch diet. Diabetic patients should experience a change in less than three months.
ROSE APPLE OR JAMBUL- The elements present in jambul have a strong positive effect on pancreas. It prevents effect on starch into bad sugar, thus controling the blood sugar levels. Apart from controling diabetes, it also relieves thirst and prevents excessive urination.
In addition to the fruit, the bank of jambul tree is also used to treat diabetes. the bark itself is dried out entirely, and then burned into a white-coloured ash which is then taken. In ayurveda, a diabetic patient is given about two grams each in the evening an hour after meals.
The questuin is not whether or not you should eat fruit but rather howe much and what kinds of fruit you should be eating. poeple with diabetes are encouraged to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetableseveryday. Spreading the fruit you eat through the day will avoid a suddenrise in glucose levels. Although some fruits have a lower glycemic index, the impotant thing is to increase the variety of diffrent fruits that one eats. Eating more fruits and vegetable also help to improve the overall balance of the diet. Fruit is the perfect snack.
however, one needs to be careful about the fruits chosen to eat, how often you eat them. It is advisable to choose fruits that low on glycemic index. Fruits high on the index are bananas, mango, chikoo, custard apple, dates and pineapple.
How fast a fruit will raise your blood sugar also depends on considerations as whether you eat the fruit after a high calorie meal or drink it as a glass of fruit juice on an empty stomach. It is also important to pay attention to the size of the fruit you eat-choose a small or medium sized portion over a large one

SPA TREATMENT

2008-10-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

Spas have become very popular nowadays with new outlets opening daily. So what treatment are available at the spa? Apart from facials which has been previously treated here, body treatment is major spa treat. find out more.
Body treatments are essetially a facial for your whole body. It is just as important to cleanse, exfoliate and hydrate the skin of your body as it is the skin of your face. the most popular body treatment is a salt glow or sea-salt scrub, this is an exfoliation treatment that teke place on a massage table covered with a sheet and a large thin piece of plastic.
As you lay your stomarch, the massage therapist rubs a mixture of sea salt, oil, and aromatics like lemon into your skin. This exfoliates the skin and leaves it feeling velvety soft. once your body is scrubbed, which may takes ten or fifteen minutes, you shower it all off without soap, leaving a nice coating of oil. Its a good ideal to get your scrub before your massage, if you are having both.
Variations can come from the essential oils or scrub materals. You might get an orange blossom/peppermint, salt glow or cucumber salt glow, or a body scrub done with coffee grounds, finely ground pecan shells or grape seeds.
A body mask and body wrap often takes place after a scrub . After you rinse off the salt, you return to the treatment table, if you are slathered with mud, algae or seaweed and wrapped in a thermal blanket, its a "detoxifying" treatment that stimulates your metabolic system, speeding its ability to carry away waste products. If the products is cream or lotion it is a "hydrating" treatment. A body wrap can also be a wrapping treatment used to treat cellulite. It sometimes has a diuretic effect that aids in temporary weight reduction.
SALT GLOW- A salt scrub or glow (also known as a salt scrub or sea salt srub) is the most popular body treatment at the spa. The primary purpose of a salt glow is to exfoliate your skin. A skin also hydartes your skin because the salt is combined with oil and ussaully some aromatic like lemon, lavender or even figs. ( spas can get very creative here). The salt glow followed by a shower and an application of body lotion, and leaves your skin feeling very soft and fragnat.
EXFOLIATION- Spas are always talking about exfoliation. But what is it? why is it important? and can you overdo it?
Exfoliation is the removal of the oldest dead skin cells that cling to the skin's outtermost surface. When doen correctly exfoliation leaves the skin smooter and fresher looking. It also make penetration easier for products like serums that nourish the skin , exfoliation is an impotant part of facials and body treatments.
There are two forms of exfoliation
(1) Mechanical exfoliation
(2) Chemical exfoliation

TOP 5 CANCER CAUSING FOODS.....BEWARE!!

2008-10-05T04:19:00.000-07:00

There are some foods that people who are at high risk for developing cancer should definitely avoid. Generally, says natural health researcher Mike Adams, they should avoid foods that contain ingredients known to cause
cancer, such as refined sugars and grains , hydrogenated oils, and nitrates.

But which foods are the absolute worst?

The top five cancer-causing foods are:

1. Hot dogs
Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention
Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month.
If you can"t live without hot dogs, buy those made without
sodium nitrate.

2. Processed meats and bacon
Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon,
and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease.
The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.

3. Doughnuts
Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made
with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried
at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams , may be the worst
food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.

4. French fries
Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and
then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer-
causing acrylamides which occur during the frying process. They
should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .

5. Chips, crackers, and cookies
All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones
whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small
amounts of trans-fats.

THE TEN SUPRISING HEALTH BENEFITS OF SEX

2008-10-03T08:29:00.001-07:00

10 Surprising Health Benefits of Sex

The health benefits of sex extend well beyond the bedroom. Turns out sex is good for you in ways you may never have imagined.

When you're in the mood, it's a sure bet that the last thing on your mind is boosting your immune system or maintaining a healthy weight. Yet good sex offers those health benefits and more.

That's a surprise to many people, says Joy Davidson, PhD, a New York psychologist and sex therapist. "Of course, sex is everywhere in the media," she says. "But the idea that we are vital, sexual creatures is still looked at in some cases with disgust or in other cases a bit of embarrassment. So to really take a look at how our sexuality adds to our life and enhances our life and our health, both physical and psychological, is eye-opening for many people."
Sex does a body good in a number of ways, according to Davidson and other experts. The benefits aren't just anecdotal or hearsay -- each of these 10 health benefits of sex is backed by scientific scrutiny.
Among the benefits of healthy loving in a relationship:

1. Sex Relieves Stress
A big health benefit of sex is lower blood pressure, and overall stress reduction, according to researchers from Scotland who reported their findings in the journal Biological Psychology. They studied 24 women and 22 men who kept records of their sexual activity. Then the researchers subjected them to stressful situations -- such as speaking in public and doing verbal arithmetic -- and noted their blood pressure response to stress.
Those who had intercourse had better responses to stress than those who engaged in other sexual behaviors or abstained.
Another study published in the same journal found that frequent intercourse was associated with lower diastolic blood pressure in cohabiting participants. Yet other research found a link between partner hugs and lower blood pressure in women.

2. Sex Boosts Immunity
Good sexual health may mean better physical health. Having sex once or twice a week has been linked with higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A or IgA, which can protect you from getting colds and other infections. Scientists at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., took samples of saliva, which contain IgA, from 112 college students who reported the frequency of sex they had.
Those in the "frequent" group -- once or twice a week -- had higher levels of IgA than those in the other three groups -- who reported being abstinent, having sex less than once a week, or having it very often, three or more times weekly.

3. Sex Burns Calories
Thirty minutes of sex burns 85 calories or more. It may not sound like much, but it adds up: 42 half-hour sessions will burn 3,570 calories, more than enough to lose a pound. Doubling up, you could drop that pound in 21 hour-long sessions.
"Sex is a great mode of exercise," says Patti Britton, PhD, a Los Angeles sexologist and president of the American Association of Sexuality Educators and Therapists. It takes work, from both a physical and psychological perspective, to do it well, she says.

4. Sex Improves Cardiovascular Health
While some older folks may worry that the efforts expended during sex could cause a stroke, that's not so, according to researchers from England. In a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, scientists found frequency of sex was not associated with stroke in the 914 men they followed for 20 years.
And the heart health benefits of sex don't end there. The researchers also found that having sex twice or more a week reduced the risk of fatal heart attack by half for the men, compared with those who had sex less than once a month.

5. Sex Boosts Self-Esteem
Boosting self-esteem was one of 237 reasons people have sex, collected by University of Texas researchers and published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior.
That finding makes sense to Gina Ogden, PhD, a sex therapist and marriage and family therapist in Cambridge, Mass., although she finds that those who already have self-esteem say they sometimes have sex to feel even better. "One of the reasons people say they have sex is to feel good about themselves," she tells WebMD. "Great sex begins with self-esteem, and it raises it. If the sex is loving, connected, and what you want, it raises it."

6. Sex Improves Intimacy
Having sex and orgasms increases levels of the hormone oxytocin, the so-called love hormone, which helps us bond and build trust. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of North Carolina evaluated 59 premenopausal women before and after warm contact with their husbands and partners ending with hugs. They found that the more contact, the higher the oxytocin levels.
"Oxytocin allows us to feel the urge to nurture and to bond," Britton says.
Higher oxytocin has also been linked with a feeling of generosity. So if you're feeling suddenly more generous toward your partner than usual, credit the love hormone.

7. Sex Reduces Pain
As the hormone oxytocin surges, endorphins increase, and pain declines. So if your headache, arthritis pain, or PMS symptoms seem to improve after sex, you can thank those higher oxytocin levels.
In a study published in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 48 volunteers who inhaled oxytocin vapor and then had their fingers pricked lowered their pain threshold by more than half.

8. Sex Reduces Prostate Cancer Risk
Frequent ejaculations, especially in 20-something men, may reduce the risk of prostate cancer later in life, Australian researchers reported in the British Journal of Urology International. When they followed men diagnosed with prostate cancer and those without, they found no association of prostate cancer with the number of sexual partners as the men reached their 30s, 40s, and 50s.
But they found men who had five or more ejaculations weekly while in their 20s reduced their risk of getting prostate cancer later by a third.
Another study, reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that frequent ejaculations, 21 or more a month, were linked to lower prostate cancer risk in older men, as well, compared with less frequent ejaculations of four to seven monthly.

9. Sex Strengthens Pelvic Floor Muscles
For women, doing a few pelvic floor muscle exercises known as Kegels during sex offers a couple of benefits. You will enjoy more pleasure, and you'll also strengthen the area and help to minimize the risk of incontinence later in life.
To do a basic Kegel exercise, tighten the muscles of your pelvic floor, as if you're trying to stop the flow of urine. Count to three, then release.

10. Sex Helps You Sleep Better
The oxytocin released during orgasm also promotes sleep, according to research.
And getting enough sleep has been linked with a host of other good things, such as maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure. Something to think about, especially if you've been wondering why your guy can be active one minute and snoring the next.

APPLE AS A SPECIAL FRUIT

2008-10-03T08:16:00.000-07:00

RED PALM OIL WITH NATURAL REMEDIES (SPECIAL POISON ANTIDOTE)

2008-10-01T18:03:00.000-07:00

Palm oil is know to neutralise all forms of poison when up to 10ml unrefined crude oil is taken orally as soon as poison is accidentally comsumed
Palm oil is the red oil obtained from the ripe fruit (mesocarp) of palm tree (elacis guineasis)
Hardly will any indegenous foods be prepared in nigeria without the use of red palm oil, and this explain the vital role it plays in the daily diets. In traditional medicine, palm oil is a very popular poiso antidote. Oral consuption of a spoonful of red oil 30 minutes before bed time promotes restful sleep especially among those who have difficulty in sleeping (insomnia) at night.
Chewing one whole raw onion before the palm oil promotes the mild sedative efforts of the oil. Taking a spoonful of red palm oil, first thing from waking up from bed brings quick and sustained relief to the patients suffering from peptic or dudenal ulsers.
In the past, some health reason chers thought oil could increase the risk of hearth disease because of its high content of saturated fatty acid acid, but today further research by scientist has shown that palm, oil contains no cholesterol and that it has lots of the short-chain fatty acids which are helpful to the human.
Recent discoveries sa shown that crude red oil is one of the richest sourse of CARTENOIDS, an example of carotenoid is beta-carotene. Beta-carotenoid is also found in carrot or in tomatoes (lycopene). Studies have shown that help in checking the cell-damaging effects of free redicals generated in heman body.
The carotenoids found in palm oil and in other natural product
*Help in preventing premature aging
*Help to protect the liver
*Help in reducing the risk of cancers .e.g prostate and breast cancer
In natural medicine pratice, those who are highly suceptible tp prostate cancer are ussually adviced to eat regularly the soup made by coocking a mixture of ripe tomatoes, red pepper. red onions and palm oil as thier natural sourse of carotenoids.

Basic Weight Loss Mistakes

2008-10-01T14:39:00.000-07:00

Basic Weight Loss Mistakes

A lot of us are out there watching what we eat and exercising, but still not making a dent in our bellies and body weight. There are a few things we are probably not doing, or doing too much of, that would mean major improvements in our health.

Get more sleep. After a very short period of time (about 6 nights), studies show that your glucose levels can rise if you get only 4 to 7 hours of sleep each night. New parents are excluded, but everyone else should try to hit the 8 hour mark as often as you can and get to bed BEFORE midnight. Every hour of rest before 12 a.m. is twice as valuable as the hours after midnight: Our cortisol levels are lowest before midnight therefore our recovery is the highest.

Eating fewer refined and processed foods. Avoid fast and fried food and try to consume as many real foods as you can. It's also imperative to get enough fiber (helps with elimination); fruits and veggies are a great way to fill up.

Avoid sugary drinks and reach for more water. Water is great for so many things like digestion, eliminating toxins in the body, and transporting important nutrients to our cells which need energy to burn calories. Americans drink 20% of their calories, so be careful of that silent pitfall.

Get to know your kitchen. I realize it takes more work, but the simple truth is we eat out or order in too often. There is a greater opportunity to control what is in your food if you cook it yourself.

Slow down. When you do sit down to a meal, don't wolf it down. Our culture encourages eating while driving or sitting at our desks. The only time we seem to sit down and enjoy our food is at Thanksgiving. The monks chew each bite of food 100 times (which is excessive), but they also eat only until they are full. They recognize that chewing their food more makes it easier for the body to digest.

Breathe. There are so many days that I don't breathe deeply. In the morning, mid-afternoon, and at the end of the day take a 10 conscious, belly-deep breaths. Close your eyes, pull that air deep into your stomach via your nose and let all the junk out through your mouth. Whether its a stressful day, or you just want to start and end your day on the right foot, breathing is important.

Don't starve yourself. Oddly enough some of you may not be eating enough, and the lack of calories is putting your body into save mode. Our bodies are so brilliant, and if they aren't getting enough food, your metabolism will tell your body to store each and every calorie it receives or to make energy from whatever muscle tissue you have. Not good. Oh and by the way, don't skip breakfast. People who skip breakfast are over 4 times more likely to be overweight.

Do more than exercise. Even if you are working out, you can't eat and drink whatever you want. It really is a three sided puzzle: balancing exercise, food, and (oh yes) the spirit (which stress and happiness play into).

I wish you the greatest of success, and remember, being healthy is like making your bed. It really is something we have to work at everyday.

How to Train Your Brain

2008-10-01T14:26:00.000-07:00

How to Train Your Brain
In our imaginations we fancy ourselves possessors of the wit and skill at repartee of a Robin Williams. Until we stand tongue-tied over cocktails. But it's not entirely a flight of fancy. It's entirely possible to think a little faster, a little smarter, a little wittier.

Think of it as cross-training your brain. It's not all that difficult, insists Joel Saltzman, author of Shake That Brain. Conventional wisdom holds that we use a mere 10 percent of our brain cells. Why not put the rest of your head into gear?

Saltzman offers some fun, simple techniques that will help flex your brain muscles.

Question your assumptions. Give conventional wisdom a nudge and re-think your environment. Consider an everyday product and list everything you know to be absolutely true about the product. Now go back and question every assumption. Tony Basche did just that when he stopped assuming locks had numbers and invented the Wordlock—he won $25,000 plus royalties in a Staples contest for his innovation.

Laugh. Watching Comedy Central may give your creative thinking a boost. Studies show that people are better at solving exercises designed to measure creative thinking immediately after exposure to comedy. Subjects said they felt more alert, active, interested and excited after watching comedy. But there's a caveat: Humor can be distracting and can decrease performance on non-creative tasks.

Limit TV. When you watch television, your brain goes into neutral. In one study, people watching television had increased alpha brain waves—their brains were in a passive state, as if they were just sitting in the dark. No wonder TV watching has been tied to low achievement.

Think beans for breakfast. Eating the right morning meal can have a big impact on brainpower. Kids who have fizzy drinks and sugary snacks for breakfast perform poorly on tests of memory and attention. You can get the biggest brain boost from—believe it or not—beans. High-protein beans up cognitive test scores by a wide margin.

Exercise. Physical activity is as much a workout for your brain as for your body. Exercise actually stimulates growth in brain cells. Schoolchildren who exercise three or four times a week get higher than average exam scores. Senior citizens who walk regularly perform better on memory tests than their sedentary peers. In fact, as they age, walkers show far less cognitive decline than that of non-walkers.

Master eloquence. Verbal charm is a powerful tool—it can get you that job you are seeking or that date you are after. Each day, prepare flashcards with a few new words and review them at least four times a day. Content yourself with fewer than eight new words per day; more than that could inhibit retention. At the end of the year, you will have increased your vocabulary by 2,000 words!

Get your nutrients. Unlike muscles, the brain cannot store energy; it must be constantly replenished with nutrients. Studies show that a diet rich in antioxidants and vitamins boosts memory and cognition. The best way to meet needs is by eating a variety of foods. In fact, healthy individuals who eat a balanced diet rarely need supplements. So load up on foods like nuts, whole grains, vegetables, fruits and fish.

Play with your brain. Learn a new language, master a new hobby or engage in friendly debate. Playing with your brain stimulates blood flow and strengthens the connections (synapses) between nerve cells in the brain. Read challenging books, do puzzles—and whatever you do, use your other hand to comb your hair or brush your teeth.

Unconventional Teeth Whitening Methods -- Charcoal

2008-09-28T09:37:00.000-07:00

Unconventional Teeth Whitening Methods -- Charcoal

By: Ivan Cuxeva
The one procedure which is most popular amongst people or interested in cosmetic dentistry is tooth whitening. Ever since we were little most of us were taught that someone who has white teeth has them because they have continuously brushed their teeth and as a result they are now white and healthy. If you have done a little bit of research regarding the field of dentistry that you know that brushing your teeth at least three times on a daily basis does make a difference but it takes a lot more to have a white beautiful and healthy smile.

A phrase I am very sure you have heard dozens of times if not hundreds of times throughout your life is that you should pay a visit to the dentist at least twice a year, besides a regular checkup your dentist can remove small portions of food which are stuck in between your teeth, is our very hard and nearly impossible to reach by simply brushing your teeth and flossing.

In addition, your dad this is also able to detect many forms of diseases which start in the mouth for instance, if you have a gum disease and you suffer from diabetes and it is important that you have your gums treated first, this will make it easier for the diabetes to be controlled, the same can be said of people who suffer from cardiovascular conditions and have some sort of periodontal disease.

Teeth whitening
Many people are concerned about the appearance of your smile so they focus on the shade of white that they want to achieve, the only problem is that teeth whitening can be somewhat expensive if you don't have a dental insurance, in order to address this issue companies which manufacture toothpaste and oral health products have also started to sell items which will help you get a brighter smile after using their products constantly.

Those who don't want to invest a lot of money in teeth whitening can try the following method, grab a piece of charcoal (charcoal is burned wood which is used to start a barbecue fire) then grab a toothbrush and start brushing the charcoal onto your toothbrush becomes black, then proceed to dip your black toothbrush on some baking soda, only dip the strings of the toothbrush, not the entire head of the toothbrush, quickly submerge in water the strings of the toothbrush which had baking soda, and lastly proceed to brush your teeth with the same toothbrush, after you have finished brushing your teeth with the charcoal and baking soda mixture continued to brush your teeth with regular tooth paste.

Charcoal plus baking soda makes a powerful combination which can help you whiten your teeth in just a minute. When you aren't looking for charcoal though make sure that it has no chemicals, charcoal which is sold at stores normally have a certain degree of chemicals which help keep their shape as well is maintained a fire going at a steady temperature. When it comes to charcoal for teeth whitening make sure that you go all natural, also did not repeat this process more than once every week.

Cancer doctor warns of cell phone use

2008-09-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

Cancer doctor warns of cell phone use

A cancer researcher’s warning to limit cell phone use has rekindled anew the longstanding question over mobile-phone health risks.A memo from Dr. R. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburg’s Cancer Institute was sent to faculty and staff urging immediate precautionary measures.
The tumor immunologist’s words are grabbing widespread attention because of his professional position and because they contradict numerous studies that don’t find a link between cancer and cell phone use.
“Recently, I have become aware of the growing body of literature linking long-term cell phone use to possible adverse health effects including cancer,” he says. “Although the evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there are sufficient data to warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cell phone use.”
Here are the 10 major suggestions he made:
Do not allow children to use a cell phone, except for emergencies. The developing organs of a fetus or child are the most likely to be sensitive to any possible effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields. While communicating using your cell phone, try to keep the cell phone away from the body as much as possible. The amplitude of the electromagnetic field is one fourth the strength at a distance of two inches and fifty times lower at three feet. Whenever possible, use the speaker-phone mode or a wireless Bluetooth headset, which has less than 1/100th of the electromagnetic emission of a normal cell phone. Use of a hands-free ear piece attachment may also reduce exposures. Avoid using your cell phone in places, like a bus, where you can passively expose others to your phone’s electromagnetic fields. Avoid carrying your cell phone on your body at all times. Do not keep it near your body at night such as under the pillow or on a bedside table, particularly if pregnant. You can also put it on “flight” or “off-line” mode, which stops electromagnetic emissions. If you must carry your cell phone on you, make sure that the keypad is positioned toward your body and the back is positioned toward the outside so that the transmitted electromagnetic fields move away from your rather than through you. Only use your cell phone to establish contact or for conversations lasting a few minutes, as the biological effects are directly related to the duration of exposure.For longer conversations, use a land line with a corded phone, not a cordless phone, which uses electromagnetic emitting technology similar to that of cell phones. Switch sides regularly while communicating on your cell phone to spread out your exposure. Before putting your cell phone to the ear, wait until your correspondent has picked up. This limits the power of the electromagnetic field emitted near your ear and the duration of your exposure. Avoid using your cell phone when the signal is weak or when moving at high speed, such as in a car or train, as this automatically increases power to a maximum as the phone repeatedly attempts to connect to a new relay antenna. When possible, communicate via text messaging rather than making a call, limiting the duration of exposure and the proximity to the body. Choose a device with the lowest SAR possible (SAR = Specific Absorption Rate, which is a measure of the strength of the magnetic field absorbed by the body). SAR ratings of contemporary phones by different manufacturers are available by searching for “sar ratings cell phones” on the internet.

MEMORY ENHANCEMENT! HOW DO I KEEP MY MEMORY SHARP?

2008-09-27T10:22:00.000-07:00

As you are growing older, there is a question that has consumed your thougths, and you can bet that all those in your age brackets have the same question in thier minds too. so, what do you do to stop memory loss due to aging.?
The hippocampus, a part of the brain where information is stored temporarily before beign transfered to the cerebral cortex, is involved age-related memory problem. chronic stress in addition to age harm can harm this part of the brain via the realease of high levels of hormone cotisol from the adrenal gland. Cotisol is directly to toxic to neurons. It actually destroys hippocampus cells resulting in loss of the ability to voluntarily recall previously learned infomation.
There have been tests and scientific trials about how one can best maintain memory and prevent the loss of thier cognitive skills. While the result of this tests may not be all that encompassing, few items have been consistently observed for the roles they play in boosting or bringing about the deterioration of your brain. Puting these items into your daily habits can prevent memory loss from happening to you.
The secret of memory improvement may be some thing you already know is good for you, Stop searching for that secret suppliment magic pill that promises memory improvement as you age. Studies show that one of the best thing you can do for your memory improvement is physical exercise. In case you need one more reason to get off the cough , reseachers have found that exeercise can increase your brain power.
Help put off normal aging-related memory loss and perharps, vevn prevent demential(significant loss of intellectual abilities) and alzheimer's disease. Its long been known that exercise is good for your heart, but now it seems whats good for your body is also good for your brain.
Exercise increase blood flow to your whole body body, includng your. and exercise seems to slow the loss of brain tissue that typically begins in your 40s. Normal aging process can make it difficult to recall certain facts, normal aging also makes multi-task more difficult for instance , you may need to stop between tasks and and remenber what u were working on rather than seamlessly switching back and forth. Studies have found that exercise seems to delay or sometimes prevent these specific aging-related changes in your brain.
More than 60 percent of adults do not exercise according to survey by the Centres for Disease Control (CDC). That's a big mistake since an impressive line of reseach suggest that exercise promotes the area of the brain responsible for some aspect of memory. Neuroscientist Arthur kramer and colleaques at the unversity of ILLINOIS, U.S.A. found that after six months poeple who are over sixty years who exercised three times a week for an hour had the brain volume of poeple three years younger. In 2006, the annals of internal medicine reported a six-year project involving 1,740 poeple and over 65 of this figurewho had moderate exercise had redused risk of demential. So get your heart pumping by huffing and puffing to bring more blood and your oxygen to your brain.
Nutrition as also been found to mitigate memory loss in aging adults , it has been proved over and overagain that eating vegetables can help in inhibiting the dying out of countless neurons in your brain, hereby helping you are so old that you can not remenber how much your first pay check was.
sure when you are growing old, you are becoming more forgeful and you are forgiven for it. But would you be senile than beign mentally active ? Brain experts and nutrictionist haver linked vegetables particularlly with improving cognitive skills in adult of at least sixty years of age. Apart from the greens, good cholesterols found in fatty acids, like Omega-3 can promote the overall health of your brain.
Omega-3 is abundant in fish like salma and tuna. bad cholesterol(s) as they are widely been preached against as they are responsible for clogging artilerries and developing vascula disease that lead to high blood pressure and heart disease. but because of vascular congestion, the brain may experiance multiple infarctions or dying out of cells due to deprivation of blood which might be characterised by degradation of intellectual functions.
Smoking is another factor that could bring down the memory. statistically, poeple who smoke perfom poorly in tests that guage memory skills; they also lack the thinking abilities, that can be readilly exibited by poeple who do not smoke cigarretes . Diffrent studies have also shown that heavy drinkers os ahcohol can experience impairment of their memory abilities, not to mention motor skills.
Even if you are the most intellegent human biegn on the planet , your cognitive skills amd memory abilities can diminished if you stop interacting with other poeple. being content with lonesomeness for most of the time, may bring you at increased risk of loosing intellectual abilitie. scientist have found that social interaction can diminish stress level and allow you learn new things-two aspect that can boost your brain.
One more thing you need to do to help slow down age-related memory loss is to never stop thinking. think of your brain as a muscle. The more you exercise it, the harder and stronger it becomes. In this view, all the basic learning processes that you used since chilhood can actuallylend you a big hand in maintaining or improving your mental capacity. Reading books, writen stuffs, learning new skills and even playing intelligent games ( like chess and scrable) can be considered as effective exercise for your brain. These simple processes can lower your chances of suffering from dementia or even mild forgetfulness

Handshakes more dangerous than kissing!

2008-09-27T07:22:00.000-07:00

Handshakes more dangerous than kissing!
Several studies have shown that hands are the single most important transmission routes for all types of infections when they are not kept clean by washing with soap and water. In addition, an unwashed hand also spreads more diseases than other modes of welcoming guests, such as kissing, reports Sade Oguntola.

Everyone knows proper washing of the hands is important to ensure clean hands, which is also a way of stopping the spread of infections. Several studies have even showed that hands are the single most important transmission routes for all types of infections. But the act of washing our hands cannot be said to be foolproof as studies on hand washing suggest many people are still ending up with germs, particularly those spread by faeces, on their hands after leaving the bathroom or caring for a baby. Doorknobs, bathroom faucets and toilet flush handles are key sources of germ transmission in the home.

One study that looked in homes of infants recently vaccinated against polio, a virus known to be passed out in the baby’s faeces, found the virus on 13 per cent of bathroom, living room and kitchen surfaces. While the virus from the vaccine didn’t pose a health risk, the study showed how faeces-borne viruses can travel through the home. Equally another study found that in homes where salmonella cases had been diagnosed, the bacteria were still lurking in toilet bowls three weeks after the outbreak. Water splashing on the toilet seat was a source of contamination.

Germs are normal and they are everywhere. There are times and places for rigorous hand washing, like hospitals, if you are sick or immune-compromised, or if you are working with someone who was rude enough to come to work sick. Quite unlike what may be expected, the chances of contracting germs is yet higher through hands that were not thoroughly cleaned than even in sharing a kiss.According to a report by International Scientific Forum for Home Hygiene, the possibility of people passing on an infection by shaking someone’s hand is even higher than in sharing a kiss.

A team of international researchers has carried out a study and found that people who greet each other with handshakes are more likely to pass on germs, such as flu and stomach bugs, than those who settle for a kiss. The study, funded by the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene, came to the conclusion after analyzing the effects of handshakes and kisses on a group of people, according to media reports.

According to the lead researcher, Prof Sally Bloomfield of the London School of Hygiene, “Shaking hands is the main form of physical contact with each other but you don’t know what the other person has been touching before you greet them. People avoid kissing each other when they have a cold, but in fact they are more likely to pass on an infection by shaking someone’s hand.”

Given that the hands are critical in the chain of infection as they transmit infections from surfaces to people and between people, the study emphasized that people must always remember that good hygiene is more than just washing our hands.

Similarly, another report compiled by a group of hygiene experts from the United States and the UK published in the American Journal of Infection Control, has recommended that we have to pay greater attention to good hand hygiene if we have to avoid catching flu, tummy bugs or protecting ourselves from disease causing germs. It suggested that in the event of outbreak of diseases such as flu, good hand hygiene should be the first line of defense during the early critical period before mass vaccination becomes available.

According to the researchers, good hygiene at home also means fewer infections, which means fewer patients demanding treatment at hospitals, and fewer resistant strains developing and circulating in the community. They said that people often put their fingers in their mouths carelessly and even end up forgetting to wash their hands before preparing foods too. They said that stomach germs can be passed on to other persons via this route.

The authors said that breaking the chain of infection from one person to another depends on how well people wash their hands. If they do not do it properly, washing with soap and rinsing under running water, then it is like they did not do it at all.

The report warned that good hygiene is beyond just washing our hands. Although the hands are the main superhighway for the spread of germs – because they are the ‘last line of defense’, surfaces from which the hands become contaminated, such as food contact surfaces, door handles, tap handles, toilet seats and cleaning cloths also need regular hygienic cleaning. Clothing and linens, baths, basin and toilet surfaces can also play a part in spreading germs among family members in the home.

Dr. Fayefunmi, a consultant medical microbiologist at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, however, said that the act of kissing and handshake couldn’t be compared in terms of one’s chances of contracting infections from the two acts. According to him, there are many microorganisms in the mouth and so there is the possibility of transmitting many infections from the mouth, including HIV.

He said both the act of kissing and handshakes have different associated factors that can increase a person’s chances of contracting an infection. “Supposing after using the toilet and the next thing you do is to put your hand in your mouth, all the germs from the body can be transmitted into your mouth and this could cause infections.

Then whoever enjoys deep kissing should ensure his or her partner does not have sores in the mouth as this could cause infections.He explained further that the two could not be compared because contracting diseases from either of the two acts depends on other factors such as the type of germs, the severity of the organism or the population of the germs on the surface of the hand or in the mouth and the immunity status of the individual. For example somebody that is diabetic or with cancer, the immunity will be so low and can pick up any infection easily. The statement that you can catch infection from handshakes and kissing is correct, but the risk of catching infection through these two means are not comparable.

Mrs. Agnes Ewete, Assistant Director, Infection Control Unit of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, acknowledged that hand washing is a tradition that everybody practises but which they do not know its importance, stressing that, it is the beat way of controlling the spread of infections.

According to her, “People must see their hands as objects that can carry germs from one place to anther and to other individuals. Once they understand this, they will understand the need to wash their hands better and more frequently. They will realise the need to apply soap and rub their hands very well to ensure they are properly cleaned.”

The epidemic of too much weight

2008-09-23T12:46:00.000-07:00

The epidemic of too much weight: if you're overweight, you need to lose those excess pounds—now!

Let's be honest. Most of us eat too much and exercise too little. No wonder, then, that obesity in America is a major public health problem. In recent decades, obesity has increased among men, women and children, across all age groups and within all educational levels and races.

After smoking, obesity is the leading lifestyle-related cause of disease and death in the United States. And a growing number of Americans are putting themselves at risk. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 1980 and 2000, the number of obese adult Americans increased more than 50 percent. The increase in the number of overweight young people has been even more dramatic, as the number of overweight children and adolescents in the United States has tripled. And among African-American adults and children, obesity is particularly rampant. What's going on here?

The simple answer is we are in the midst of an epidemic, one that threatens the well-being of millions of Americans. Obesity is a dangerous precursor to numerous chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some cancers. In children, being overweight leads to hypertension, sleep apnea, gallbladder disease and bony abnormalities, particularly of the legs. Type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset diabetes, is now occurring in adolescents.

There is no magic bullet or simple solution to this problem. Tackling obesity--and overcoming it--requires a multitiered response. But we can start with ourselves--taking a hard look in the mirror and evaluating what we personally can do to eliminate obesity as a health problem.
We know that good nutrition and regular exercise (the recommended amount is 30 minutes a day) are vital components in the fight against obesity. Just making small changes can go a long way toward maintaining a healthier weight. For instance, instead of choosing a bag of potato chips for a snack, try some carrots. Instead of eating a candy bar, enjoy a nutritious orange. Instead of sitting in front of the TV for several hours and snacking on sugary treats, take a walk, ride a bike or jog in the park. Rather than riding the elevator, use the stairs, when possible. The cumulative effect of making these kinds of changes can help to dramatically reduce weight and enhance overall health. And the more we consciously incorporate healthier habits, the easier it becomes.
While some people are predisposed to being obese, because of their genetic make up, they can still significantly decrease their weight by making better lifestyle choices. So there is much that we all can do to become part of the solution, not the problem.

Beyond our own personal responsibility, society, too, plays a critical role in fighting obesity. Schools, community organizations and public health agencies need to work more closely in partnership to provide anti-obesity messages and activities that can be widely incorporated. We cannot afford to have the health of our children--and of our nation--further compromised. Promoting nutritious eating, exercising regularly and adopting an overall healthier lifestyle are the best weapons in our arsenal to stop the epidemic of obesity.
Our elders have said, "If you know better, you should do better." Brothers and Sisters, let's do better.

PERMANENT CURE TO PREMATURE EJACULATION

2008-09-22T22:26:00.000-07:00

QUESTION.
I want some opinions. My husband and I love each other very much but our sex life (on my end) leaves much to be desired. He has no problems getting an erection but when we start he can't last longer than literally a minute and then it is over. I haven't even heated up in that amount of time and BAM it's over. So what can we do to get him to last longer.

ANSWER AND HEALTH SOLUTION TO PREMATURE EJACULTION

Well, Brenna, it sounds like your hubby has a simple case of premature ejaculation... pretty common to young guys--how well I know (frown). I dealt with this for awhile with my fiancee. I tried to find out everything I could about this and discovered that some guys just need to learn how to handle the warm, moist sensation of penile containment that we provide. Many of them can't handle that initially which causes them to exlode inside of us almost as soon as they arrive. I once read it's partially an anthropological response to ensure they leave their seed in the event something interrupts the act before it is completed. I don't know if there is anything to that or if it's just some PhD nonsense, but the article referenced the sexual endurance of several male mamals and it was incredibly short. Point is, that for whatever reason, guys have to be guided. You'll need to have more foreplay beforehand and don't let him inside you too soon! And when you think he's ready, have him enter slowly, only a little bit at a time. In fact, a sideways position is preferable because you can communicate easier and he is less likely to spill his luv juices than if he is on top. You being on top is also very helpful as it allows you to set the pace and move in a way that feels better for you. When he's fully inserted make him rest inside you--NO thrusting! After awhile you can let him move slowly. With your support and patience he'll develop the staying power he needs to make sex more of a complete experience for both of you. For us it took a couple of months, but I'm convinced it made us closer, less inhibited, and more of a team than if we had been able to go at it from the beginning like a couple of rabbits.

Have fun teaching him!

NUMEROUS WAYS OF USING WHITE ONIONS

2008-09-21T15:53:00.000-07:00

For thousands of years, onions have been used externally as medicines, like all other vegetables that contain sulphur compound. onions have powerful antiseptic and anti-bacteria properties.

(1) The mashed bulb of the onion is applied externally as poultice:

* To mature boil and draw out pus

*To cool abscess

To heal bruises, sores and wounds.

the (i.e mashed onions) can also be applied as poultice on the chest to help relieve.

*Chest conjestion and bronchitis

*Pneumonia and asthma.

This helpful therapy becomes more potentif at the same time the strong/sharp flavour from sliced onions is inhaled

(2) Hot roasted onions can be mashed into a pulp and be applied as poultice or compress:

*To help dissolve small growths on any part of the body.

*To help releive the discomfort of an inflamed or producing and bleeding pile.

*To help relieve painful and purulent discharge from an infected ears.

(3) Slices of onions can be rubbed on the body:

*To heal warts and skin infections.

*To relieve the irritation caused by bites and to repel mosquitoes

(4) In the so-called "medico-magical"pratice , it is known that several onion bulbs cut into halves and placed in homes to absorbs harmful negative vibrations. In the same vein the accient people

plant onion around thier homes to ward negativities and also protect the environment.

(5) The steam inhalation of hot onion tea will help break down sinu and nasal congestion associated with cold.

(6) The juice of fresh onion can be obtained by gratting whole bulb of onion and the bulb is pressed and then pulp is pressed and then sieved .

The fresh juice of onion can be used as:

(a) Nasal drops to stop nose bleeding

(b) Ear drops (when warmed)

(d) gargle to ease the pains of the gum and tooth problems.

(e) Massage juice on the head or scalp to promote hair growth or to cure baldness. After massaging the scalp with the juice the head, the head is exposed to the sun to enhance stimulation .

(g) When the juice is mixed with coconut oil ( the onion juice coconut oil mixture) can be applied on swellings and inflamations due to artlihritis or rheumatism

(h) Mixing the juice with honey is used as gargle to help the pain association with sore throat and coughs.

(i) In some third world countries , fresh onion juice is mixed with pure natural honey together with a pinch of ground turmeric.

This mixture is used in massaging breast

(i) To help develop the breast

(ii) To firm up sapped breast.

(iii) To help prevent the breast from sagging.

After massaging the breast with the mixture, bra could be worn and left to stand over nigth before bathing.