Herbs for Health

Why anything can be addictive

2011-12-29T23:04:00.001+07:00

By Dr Mark Griffiths
Gambling studies expert, Nottingham Trent University
BBC News

Even work can be addictive, according to Dr Griffiths

For many people the concept of addiction involves taking drugs such as alcohol, nicotine, cocaine and heroin.

But in this week's Scrubbing Up, gambling studies expert Mark Griffiths warns that if the rewards are there people can become addicted to almost anything.

For the past 25 years I have been studying gambling and I passionately believe that gambling at its most extreme is just as addictive as any drug.

The social and health costs of problem gambling are large and have many things in common with more traditional addictions, including moodiness, relationship problems, absenteeism from work, domestic violence, and bankruptcy.

Health effects - for gamblers and their partners - include anxiety and depression, insomnia, intestinal disorders, migraine, stress related disorders, stomach problems, and suicidal thoughts.

If behaviours like gambling can become a genuine addiction, there is no theoretical reason why some people might not become genuinely addicted to activities like video games, work or exercise.

Research on pathological gamblers has reported at least one physical side effect when they undergo withdrawal, including insomnia, headaches, loss of appetite, physical weakness, heart palpitations, muscle aches, breathing difficulty, and chills.

In fact, pathological gamblers appear to experience more physical withdrawal effects when attempting to stop their behaviour when compared directly with drug addicts.

'Most important thing'

But when does an excessive healthy enthusiasm become an addiction?

“Behavioural addictions can be just as serious as drug addictions”

Dr Mark Griffiths

Excessive behaviour on its own does not mean someone is addicted.

I can think of lots of people who engage in excessive activities but I wouldn't class them as addicts as they don't appear to experience any detrimental effects from engaging in the behaviour.

In a nutshell, the fundamental difference between excessive enthusiasm and addiction is that healthy enthusiasms add to life whereas addiction takes away from it.

For any behaviour to be defined as addictive, there have to be specific consequences such as it becoming the most important activity in the person's life or being the way they improve their mood.

They may also begin to need to do more and more of the activity over time to feel the effects, and experience physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms if they can't do it.

This may lead to conflict with work and personal responsibilities, and people may even experience "relapses" if they try to give up.

The way addictions develop - whether chemical or behavioural - is complex.

Addictive behaviour develops from a combination of a person's biological/genetic predisposition, the social environment they were brought up in, their psychological constitution - such as personality factors, attitudes, expectations and beliefs, and the activity itself.

Many behavioural addictions are "hidden" addictions. Unlike, say, alcoholism, there is no slurred speech and no stumbling into work.

However, behavioural addiction is a health issue that needs to be taken seriously by all those in the health and medical profession.

If the main aim of practitioners is to ensure the health of their patients, then an awareness of behavioural addiction and the issues surrounding it should be an important part of basic knowledge and training.

Behavioural addictions can be just as serious as drug addictions.

Clean up toxins in your body

Age of criminal responsibility 'too low', experts say

2011-12-13T20:10:00.001+07:00

BBC News

Some parts of the brain are not fully mature "until at least the age of 20"

Advances in neuroscience suggest the age of criminal responsibility - 10 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - might be too low, according to a study.

The Royal Society report considers areas where recent scientific findings could have an impact on the law.

At the age of 10 parts of the brain connected with decision-making and judgement are still developing, the study says.

But it says there are limits to how the science can be used in court.

Professor Nicholas Mackintosh, who chaired the working group that compiled the study, said: "There's now incontrovertible evidence that the brain continues to develop throughout adolescence."

He said some regions of the brain - including parts responsible for decision-making and impulse control - are not fully mature "until at least the age of 20".

"Now that clearly has some implications for how adolescents behave," he said.

The report notes the concern of some neuroscientists that the current age of criminal responsibility in the UK is set too low. In most European countries it is far higher - 18 in Belgium and 16 in Spain.

It also suggests that because of differences between individuals a cut-off age may not be justifiable.

'Fresh look needed'

Professor Mackintosh said it was for policy makers to decide on altering the age of responsibility, but the changing science meant it should at least be reviewed.

He said: "I think the Royal Society is in a position to present the scientific evidence - other people need to draw conclusions from it.

"But the extent to which the scientific evidence wasn't well known 10, 15 years ago, then it suggests that things do need looking at again."

The study identifies areas where expectations of what neuroscience can deliver in courts should be handled with caution.

Claims that criminals can be identified by imaging their brains, or that there could be a gene for psychopathy are "wide of the mark", it says.

In Scotland children cannot be convicted until they are 12. In Northern Ireland, a review of the youth justice system recommends increasing the age to 12.

Calls from England's children's commissioner to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 were rejected by the government in in March 2010.

At the time, Maggie Atkinson said most criminals under 12 did not fully understand their actions.

She also said civilised society should recognise that children who commit offences needed to be treated differently from adult criminals.

Memory concentration

Scan can spot 'curable cause of high blood pressure'

2011-11-30T16:38:00.001+07:00

By Michelle Roberts
Health reporter, BBC News

The scan can show up the small growths

Doctors say they have found a medical test that can diagnose the most common curable cause of high blood pressure.

Conn's syndrome - a disease of the adrenal glands that sit above the kidneys - is thought to be the cause behind one in 20 cases of hypertension.

But until now it has been difficult to detect, requiring a complex series of tests on blood taken from a vein supplying the adrenal gland.

Experts at the University of Cambridge say a simple scan can spot the problem.

The hi-tech PET-CT scan looks for small growths in the adrenal glands that are about the size of a five pence piece, the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism reports.

These benign growths or tumours - called adenomas - pump out too much of a hormone called aldosterone, which in turn raises blood pressure.

“There are drugs that can control the high blood pressure caused by Conn's syndrome, but the only cure is surgery, so making the diagnosis is very important”

End Quote Dr Shannon Amoils British Heart Foundation

The researchers developed a special radioactive tracer called 11C-metomidate, which lights up culprit adenomas in the scan.

Once the problem is identified the condition can be treated either by surgically removing the affected gland or by using a drug to block the effects of aldosterone.

This is important because high blood pressure greatly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

After initial success in 44 patients, the Cambridge team is now using the scan on any patients they suspect to have Conn's syndrome.

Reassurance

Lead researcher Prof Morris Brown said: "We were excited to see our technique work so well, and shortcut the delays and discomforts associated with the alternative test.

"We're using PET-CT on our patients already, but we also plan a larger study to work out who will benefit the most."

He says the test could be especially important for older patients. "We often see growths in the adrenal glands during a routine CT scan. Often these growths are not Conn's adenomas, but it's difficult to be sure and they create a lot of anxiety in patients and doctors.

"In the future PET-CT could be a quick way to reassure a lot of patients without the need for detailed investigations."

Dr Shannon Amoils, of the British Heart Foundation, which part-funded the work, said getting an accurate diagnosis would mean thousands of patients could potentially be cured of high blood pressure.

"There are drugs that can control the high blood pressure caused by Conn's syndrome, but the only cure is surgery, so making the diagnosis is very important."

Healthy blood pressure

Cancer drug Avastin loses US approval

2011-11-19T11:54:00.001+07:00

BBC News

The drug-maker says it will undertake further study to establish which patients will benefit from the drug

US drug regulators have rescinded approval of a breast cancer drug, saying it is not effective enough to justify the risks of taking it.

The drug, Avastin, was approved for US use in 2008, but UK officials have also rejected claims that it prolongs life.

Further research showed it did not help patients live longer or improve quality of life, Food and Drug Administration commissioner Margaret Hamburg said.

Avastin will still be used to treat other kinds of cancer.

The drug is used to treat breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. It works by starving cancer cells of a blood supply.

However, its side-effects include severe high blood pressure, massive bleeding, heart attack or heart failure and tears in the stomach and intestines, FDA studies have found.

FDA approval of the drug had initially been given under a special programme that allows patients to start using promising treatments while the manufacturer finishes the studies to prove the medicine works as well as expected.

The decision to withdraw the approval - which can happen if results of the research do not match predictions - was not easy, the FDA said.

Stalling cancer growth

"With so much at stake, patients and their doctors count on the FDA to ensure the drugs they use have been shown to be safe and effective for their intended use. Sometimes, the results of rigorous testing can be disappointing," Ms Hamburg told the Associated Press news agency.

US health insurance companies could remove the drug, which can cost as much as $100,000 (£63,342) per year, from their coverage - although doctors would still be permitted to administer the drug.

But the government-backed Medicaid programme has said it has no immediate plans to change its policy of paying for it.

Some advocates of the drug disagree with the watchdog's decision.

"The bottom line is that they are throwing out the baby with the bathwater. There absolutely may be subsets of carefully chosen breast cancer patients who benefit from Avastin," said Dr Elisa Port, co-director of the Dubin Breast Center of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

Roche, the Swiss manufacturer of the drug, has said it will undertake further study of the treatment, especially with the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel, to try to identify which patients might be best suited to benefit from use of the drug.

The company says it expects the medicine will generate $7.6bn (£4.8m) of revenue annually, despite the FDA decision.

The drug was approved on the basis of a study that showed Avastin was able to stall the growth of breast cancer by five-and-a-half months, when used together with a standard chemotherapy treatment.

But subsequent studies revised the period of delay to between one and three months, and there was no evidence to show that the drug extended patients' lives.

International problems

The US decision comes after Avastin fell foul of health authorities in the UK and in Europe.

In February 2011, the UK's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), the NHS drugs advisory body, said Avastin should not be used to treat secondary breast cancers.

NICE, which issues guidance for NHS in England and Wales, said there was insufficient evidence that the drug prolonged life.

This guidance followed a recommendation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) that doctors only prescribe the drug in combination with the taxane drug, paclitaxel.

Ayurtox for Body Detoxification

Bowel cancer awareness 'stubbornly low'

2011-11-11T10:53:00.001+07:00

BBC News

About 16,000 people a year die of bowel cancer in the UK

Awareness about bowel cancer is still "stubbornly low" - despite it being the second biggest cause of cancer deaths in the UK, a study suggests.

The Cancer Research UK-funded survey showed that many people did not know that lifestyle factors such as diet, weight and exercise affected risk.

The research, involving more than 1,500 people, also raised concerns about the lack of knowledge about symptoms.

Researchers said attitudes needed to change to get survival rates up.

Currently less than three quarters of the 40,000 people diagnosed each year in the UK survive for more than a year - lower than the European average.

Symptoms

This is partly to do with the low levels of early diagnosis.

It means 16,000 people die of the disease each year - the second highest for any cancer.

The survey, published in the journal BMC Cancer, found a quarter of people were unaware of any symptoms.

Less than one in 10 able were able to name anything other than changing bowel habits and blood in stools.

There was a similar lack of awareness about risk factors. One in five mentioned a close relative having the disease and alcohol consumption affecting risk, but less than one in 10 could name any others.

Dr Emily Power, who led the study, said: "This reveals that the public's awareness is still stubbornly low.

"Public health initiatives to increase awareness of risk factors are essential and not only for lowering cancer risk. Improving attitudes towards healthy behaviour can go some way towards reducing other diseases triggered by unhealthy lifestyles."

A Department of Health spokesman said: "Bowel cancer is one of the biggest cancer killers in England and we know one of the main reasons is because too many people are diagnosed late.

"That is why we trialled a campaign earlier this year, to raise awareness of the key signs and symptoms and to encourage people with them to visit their GP. We hope to launch a wider campaign shortly.

"We are also investing £60 million over the next four years to fund flexible sigmoidoscopy - a new screening technique for people around 55 - which will help save 3,000 lives every year.

"People aged 60 and over who have not been screened for bowel cancer should contact the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Helpline on 0800 707 6060."

Cleansing the body

Abuse of painkillers reaches 'epidemic' levels in US

2011-11-03T13:37:00.002+07:00

BBC News

Abuse of prescription painkiller have reached "epidemic" levels in the US, a government report says.

Overdoses of pain relievers cause more deaths than heroin and cocaine combined, the report has found.

It says sales and prescriptions of the drugs rose sharply in recent years and this was linked to the rise in overdoses.

Narcotic painkillers are prescribed to relieve chronic pain but the drugs can be "highly addictive", the report says.

The report, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said fatalities caused by narcotic pain relievers have more than tripled in the last 10 years - equivalent to 40 deaths a day.

Last year, a national survey on drug use and health showed that one in 20 Americans over the age of 12 said they had used painkillers for non-medical reasons.

Named as the fastest growing drug problem facing the US, narcotic painkillers are increasingly used recreationally - for the high they cause.

Surging sales

"Almost 5,500 people start to misuse prescription painkillers every day," said Pamela Hyde, administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a federal body.

Sales of the drugs to pharmacies and health care facilities have surged more than 300% since 1999, according to figures from the Drug Enforcement Administration.

But prescriptions of the drug have risen sharply too.

The report says enough medicine was prescribed last year to keep every American adult medicated for one month.

Florida was found to have the highest rate of sales of narcotic painkillers per person, almost three times the rate in Illinois, which had the lowest rate.

Officials believe state health policies can help reverse the trend.

The report recommends tracking prescriptions more carefully and cracking down on "pill mills" (clinics that prescribe drugs inappropriately) and "doctor shopping" (when patients collect prescriptions from several doctors).

"This highlights the importance of states getting policies right on preventing drug abuse," CDC Thomas Frieden told the Associated Press news agency.

In 2008, almost 15,000 deaths were caused by prescription painkillers, including the death of actor Heath Ledger.

Arthritis hip pain

Gene therapy and stem cells unite

2011-10-14T13:26:00.001+07:00

By James Gallagher
Health reporter, BBC News

Could genetically modified stem cells be used to treat genetic diseases?

Two of the holy grails of medicine - stem cell technology and precision gene therapy - have been united for the first time in humans, say scientists.

It means patients with a genetic disease could, one day, be treated with their own cells.

A study in Nature corrected a mutation in stem cells made from a patient with a liver disease.

Researchers said this was a "critical step" towards devising treatments, but safety tests were still needed.

At the moment, stem cells created from a patient with a genetic illness cannot be used to cure the disease as those cells would also contain the corrupted genetic code.

Scientists, at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge, were working on cirrhotic liver disease.

It is caused by a change to a single pair of letters, out of the six billion which make up the genetic code.

“They functioned beautifully”

End Quote Prof David Lomas Researcher

As a result, a protein which protects the body from damage, antitrypsin, cannot escape from the liver where it is made.

The illness is one of the most common genetic diseases, affecting one in 2,000 people in Europe.

The only solution is a liver transplant, but this requires a lifetime of drugs to prevent organ rejection.

The research group took a skin cell from a patient and converted it to a stem cell.

A molecular scalpel was used to cut out the single mutation and insert the right letter - correcting the genetic fault.

The stem cells were then turned into liver cells. One of the lead researchers, Prof David Lomas, said: "They functioned beautifully with normal secretion and function".

When the cells were placed into mice, they were still working correctly six weeks later.

'Enormous potential'

Prof Lomas said if this could be developed into a therapy it would be preferable to liver transplant as the patient would not need to take immunosuppressant drugs.

He told the BBC that the technique was "ridiculously hard," yet "the potential is enormous, but only time will tell".

Further animal studies and human clinical trials would be needed before any treatment as "the key thing is safety".

For example, concerns have been raised about "induced" stem cells being prone to expressing cancer causing genes.

Prof Robin Ali, from University College London and the Medical Research Council's stem cell translational research committee, said: "It's very interesting.

"Most gene therapy is not correcting the gene, it's introducing a new copy of the gene, what's exciting is that this corrects.

"The big problem with individualised medicine is the cost - that is one of the major barriers."

AyurGold for Healthy Blood

NDM-1 superbug enzyme's 'photofit' taken

2011-09-07T08:23:00.001+07:00

By James Gallagher
Health reporter, BBC News
The structure of the protein which stops some of medicine's most powerful antibiotics working has been determined by researchers.

Bacteria which make NDM-1 are of growing concern to health professionals.

The NDM-1 enzyme, in red, breaking down an antibiotic in blue.

The protein has larger "jaws" which allow it to attack more antibiotics than other enzymes.

It is hoped drug companies will be able to use the chemical structure to design new drugs.

Carbapenem antibiotics are considered the last line of defence against resistant bacteria. However, some are now resistant even to these drugs.

Bacteria with a gene for New Delhi metallo beta lactamase (NDM-1) are able to produce an enzyme which breaks antibiotics down.

The way bacteria freely exchange genes between themselves, and even between species, means this resistance gene could spread to other disease-causing bacteria.

Photofit

Research published by groups in China, Canada and the UK have determined the structure of the NDM-1 enzyme.

“It shows the architecture of the active site, ie how it breaks down antibiotics and potential ways to develop new medicines”

End Quote Prof Timothy Walsh Cardiff University

They used the genetic code to produce the enzyme, crystallised it and then used X-rays to develop a detailed picture of the enzyme's structure.

Prof Simon Phillips, part of the Medical Research Council study at the Research Complex at Harwell, said: "It is like getting a photofit of a criminal so the police can go after it."

He said NDM-1 belonged to a class of enzymes which break down antibiotics. Most of these enzymes cannot attack carbapenems because their active sites - or jaws - are too small. However, NDM-1's active site is a little bit bigger and can destroy carbapenems.

Scientists say this knowledge could be used to develop two types of treatment.

A drug could be designed to inactivate NDM-1 so current drugs would work again or to create different antibiotics which are not susceptible to NDM-1.

Cardiff University's Prof Timothy Walsh, who discovered the NDM-1 gene, said: "Given the NDM-1 sequence is very different to other similar resistance mechanisms of its type, the crystal structure is very important indeed.

"It shows the architecture of the active site, ie how it breaks down antibiotics and potential ways to develop new medicines."

Prof Sharon Peacock, a member of the Medical Research Council Infections and Immunity Board, said: "Identifying the structure of NDM-1 is a crucial step towards ensuring that drug development is based on a sound understanding of the mechanisms of bacterial resistance to antibiotics."

Natural Ayurvedic Care

'Super antibody' fights off flu

2011-07-30T10:56:00.001+07:00

By James Gallagher
Health reporter, BBC News
The first antibody which can fight all types of the influenza A virus has been discovered, researchers claim.

Experiments on flu-infected mice, published in Science Express, showed the antibody could be used as an "emergency treatment".

It is hoped the development will lead to a "universal vaccine" - currently a new jab has to be made for each winter as viruses change.

A jab protecting against all flu viruses is considered a holy grails of vaccine research

Virologists described the finding as a "good step forward".

Many research groups around the world are trying to develop a universal vaccine. They need to attack something common to all influenza which does not change or mutate.

Human source

It has already been suggested that some people who had swine flu may develop 'super immunity' to other infections.

Scientists from the Medical Research Council's National Institute for Medical Research at Mill Hill and colleagues in Switzerland looked at more than 100,000 samples of immune cells from patients who had flu or a flu vaccine.

They isolated an antibody - called FI6 - which targeted a protein found on the surface of all influenza A viruses called haemagglutinin.

Sir John Skehel, MRC scientist at Mill Hill, said: "We've tried every subtype of influenza A and it interacts with them all.

"We eventually hope it can be used as a therapy by injecting the antibody to stop the infection."

Professor Antonio Lanzavecchia, director of the Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Switzerland, said: "As the first and only antibody which targets all known subtypes of the influenza A virus, FI6 represents an important new treatment option."

When mice were given FI6, the antibody was "fully protective" against a later lethal doses of H1N1 virus.

Mice injected with the antibody up to two days after being given a lethal dose of the virus recovered and survived.

This is only the antibody, however, not the vaccine.

A vaccine would need to trigger the human body's immune system to produce the antibody itself.

Sir John said the structure of the antibody and how it interacted with haemagglutinin had been worked out, which would help in the search for a vaccine, but that was "definitely years away".

Professor John Oxford, a virologist at Queen Mary, University of London, said: "It's pretty good if you've got one against the whole shebang, that's a good step forward."

Ayurveda Formula for Cold & Flu

Hong Kong fertility clinic admits embryo error

2011-07-19T10:48:00.000+07:00

By Annemarie Evans
BBC News, Hong Kong
A high-profile fertility clinic in Hong Kong has admitted that it implanted two embryos into the wrong woman.

The two women affected are receiving compensation. Other pregnant women who have used the clinic say they are appalled by the medical error.

The Hong Kong clinic has apologised for the error but online mothers' forums are angry

The government's Council on Human Reproductive Technology decided to take no action against the Victory ART Laboratory.

The council ruled the mistake was down to human error, not systemic failings.

A junior embryologist neglected to read the label on the embryos before they were implanted in the wrong woman through IVF.

The clinic realised the error very quickly and the embryos were taken out and discarded.

The woman whose embryos they were and the woman who had them implanted have both received counselling and have been offered compensation, the clinic told local media.

Victory ART Laboratory has been allowed to stay open after the council's investigation decided it was a human error.

Some pregnant women who have used the clinic reacted angrily online.

They said they were horrified by the error, with one saying she would consider a DNA test once her baby was born to check if it was hers.

The IVF clinic is one of a group whose patients include several Hong Kong celebrities.

The company also has clinics in Malaysia and the Philippines.

Immunice for Immune Support

Eat more nuts and fruit to 'help weight loss'

2011-06-29T10:17:00.001+07:00

BBC News
Eating larger portions of healthy food is more important than dieting when it comes to staying slim, say scientists.

The US team found people who increased their intake of more high-fibre food like nuts, fruit, yoghurt and vegetables actually lost weight.

No more burgers - topping up on nuts and yogurt is a better option.

The Harvard School of Public Health researchers believe consumption of these products left less room for fatty foods.

The study of 120,000 people appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The participants were monitored over 20 years.

Unsurprisingly, the food linked to the greatest amount of weight gain was chips. An extra daily portion led to an increase in weight of over 3lbs in four years.

Similar results were seen among people who consumed extra portions of crisps, sugary drinks and meats.

Go nuts

However, there was less weight gain as time went on among people who ate more of certain foods, such as yoghurt, vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

For example, an extra helping of yoghurt led to a fall in weight of 0.37 kilos (0.82lbs) and for vegetables it was 0.1 kilos (0.22lbs).

Dariush Mozaffarian, associate professor at Harvard and lead author of the study, said the fibre content of these foods could explain their effect.

"Their inverse associations with weight gain suggest that the increase in their consumption reduced the intake of other foods to a greater (caloric) extent, decreasing the overall amount of energy consumed.

"Higher fibre content and slower digestion of these foods would augment satiety, and their increased consumption would also displace other, more highly processed foods in the diet."

Colon cleanse diet

Scarlet fever hits Hong Kong

2011-06-22T18:21:00.001+07:00

BBC News
Officials are warning of an outbreak of scarlet fever among children in Hong Kong.

There have been more than 400 cases of the disease this year, including the death of a six-year-old last month.

A strain of streptococcus bacterium causes scarlet fever

Initial tests suggest a five-year-old boy may also have died from the bacterial infection, which is spread by coughing and sneezing.

Scientists in Hong Kong believe the bacteria may be spreading more quickly than usual due to a genetic mutation.

Cases have also been seen in mainland China and Macau.

Scarlet fever

Scarlet fever is due to a throat infection caused by a bacterium called streptococcus
A strain called group A streptococcus causes scarlet fever
Scarlet fever causes a sore throat, high temperature and a rash
It usually occurs in children
The tongue may become pale but coated with red spots (strawberry tongue)
Treatment is with antibiotics like penicillin
Source: Patient UK

Dr Thomas Tsang, controller of Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection, said: "If the genetic mutation is responsible for the increased transmissibility of the bacteria, the outbreak may be sustained for some time."

Scarlet fever happens every year in the region, but this year there have been more cases than usual.

Hong Kong has had 419 cases, already the highest annual total in the city.

Most are in children under 10, with clusters in kindergartens, primary schools and childcare centres.

Scarlet fever infections have gone up around 5-fold in China, and 3-fold in Macau, about an hour by ferry from Hong Kong.

According to a government statement, there may be regional outbreak of scarlet fever.

Prostate cancer

E. coli outbreak: Why bean sprouts?

2011-06-08T19:07:00.002+07:00

By James Gallagher
Health reporter, BBC News

First it was Spanish cucumbers, then salad vegetables and now bean sprouts are the prime suspect in the search for a source of the E. coli outbreak.

German officials believe there is a connection with infected patients and bean sprouts grown at one farm in Uelzen, south of Hamburg.

Early results have come back negative. Forty samples were taken from the farm, 23 results are in, and none have E. coli.

Investigators say tests are still ongoing and warn that answers may be difficult to find, as it is several weeks since the potentially contaminated sprouts were grown.

It is not the first time bean sprouts - including adzuki, alfalfa, lentils and mung beans - have been associated with a health scare.

They were linked to an outbreak of Salmonella in the UK in 2010 and at least 30 outbreaks in the US since 1996.

The way they are farmed and how they are prepared in the kitchen both contain potential risks.

At home

Bean sprouts are often used in salads. If the vegetable is contaminated then eating it raw could be a health risk.

Advice on the Food Standards Agency website says that to be completely safe the sprouts should be cooked thoroughly until they are steaming hot.

It also advises rinsing before cooking and not eating them after the use by date.

Farm

Bean sprouts are grown from seeds, some in steam drums at a temperature of 38C.

Causes of past E.coli outbreaks

Processed meats: hamburgers, kebabs and salami
Cheese, milk, butter, yoghurt, ice cream and other dairy products
Salad vegetables such as coleslaw, lettuce, spinach, radishes and alfafa sprouts
Fruits including melons, grapes and apple juice
Waterborne outbreaks associated with lakes, ponds, paddling and swimming pools

As the agriculture minister for Lower Saxony, Gert Lindemann, puts it, this is "ideal" breeding ground for all bacteria.

However, it is uncertain how the O104 strain of E. coli could get there in the first place. The bacterium normally lives in the gut of animals and E. coli outbreaks can start when faeces are used as fertiliser or when they contaminate water.

However, Klaus Verbeck, managing director of the farm in Germany, is reported as saying: "The salad sprouts are grown only from seeds and water, and they aren't fertilised at all. There aren't any animal fertilisers used in other areas on the farm either."

Source's source

It is possible that even if tests confirm that the outbreak started at the farm, this might not be the ultimate source.

Dr Stephen Smith, a clinical microbiologist at Trinity College Dublin, said: "E. coli can stick tightly to the surface of seeds needed to make sprouts and they can lay dormant on the seeds for months, during germination the population of bugs can expand 100,000 fold.

"However, and this is probably the key to the German outbreak, the bacteria are inside the sprout tube as well as outside. Thus washing probably had no effect. The bottom line is that it is crucial to source where the seeds came from and recall any stock."

Colon body cleanse

E. coli cucumber scare: Cases 'likely to increase'

2011-05-31T20:23:00.002+07:00

BBC News
A deadly E. coli outbreak in Europe is expected to worsen in coming days, a senior German scientist has said.

Fourteen people have died in Germany and one woman has now died in Sweden after a trip to Germany.

"We hope the number of cases will go down but we fear it will worsen," said Oliver Grieve, of the University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, where many victims are being treated.

The Andalucian agriculture minister was keen to show her confidence in the region's cucumbers

It is thought cucumbers from Spain caused the outbreak.

But Spanish officials have refused to accept the blame, saying it is still unclear exactly when and where the vegetables were contaminated.

The president of Spain's fruit and vegetable export federation has urged the government to deal with the outbreak, saying it was costing Spanish exporters $200m (£120m) a week.

Asked which countries had stopped buying Spanish produce, Jorge Brotons reportedly told a news conference: "Almost all Europe. There is a domino effect on all vegetables and fruits."

Travel link

The World Health Organization (WHO) has described the outbreak as "very large and very severe" and has urged countries to work together to find the source of contamination.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany's national disease institute, has confirmed 329 cases in the country - though some reports have mentioned as many as 1,200 cases.

In Sweden, authorities earlier said there were 36 suspected E. coli infections, all linked to travel in northern Germany.

On Tuesday, Swedish authorities said a woman in her 50s had died in hospital, after being admitted on Sunday following a trip to Germany.

Cases have also been reported in Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK.

This is believed to be an outbreak of the 0104 strain of E. coli.

In many instances, the gastrointestinal infection has led to Haemolytic-uraemic Syndrome (HUS), which causes kidney problems and is potentially fatal.

Suspicion has fallen on organic cucumbers from Spain imported by Germany but then re-exported to other European countries, or exported directly by Spain.

Cucumbers from the cities of Almeria and Malaga have been identified as possible sources of contamination, according to an EU spokeswoman. Read more...

Toxins cleanse, Liver detox

Juice cocktail 'good for heart'

2011-05-09T17:50:00.001+07:00

BBC News
A blend of fruit juices, including grape, cranberry and blackcurrant, may have benefits for the heart, research suggests.

French scientists tested the blend on pig arteries in the lab, and found it caused artery walls to relax.

Cranberry juice is in the blend

It remains to be seen whether fruit juices can improve vascular health, they report in a scientific journal.

The study adds weight to evidence fruit and veg reduces heart disease risk, says the British Heart Foundation.

The researchers looked for a chemical called polyphenol in fruit and berries.

They found the most active fruits included blackcurrant, blueberry, aronia (choke berries), cranberry, lingonberry and grape.

Commenting on the study, Tracy Parker, heart health dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, said: "This research adds more weight to evidence that eating fruit and vegetables is good for us in terms of reducing our risk for heart disease.

"However, we still don't fully understand why, or whether certain fruits and vegetables are better than others. Even this study acknowledges that scientists can't yet explain any link.

"What we do know is that we should all eat a wide range of fruit and veg as part of a balanced diet, and fruit juice is a tasty and handy way of doing this.

"Don't forget though, juice contains less fibre and more sugar than the original fruit so it only counts as one of our five-a-day."

The research was published in the Royal Society of Chemistry journal, Food and Function.

What is healthy blood sugar level

Heart beat problem 'largely avoidable'

2011-04-01T16:27:00.000+07:00

BBC News
Over half of all cases of the most common type of heart rhythm disturbance could be avoided by "clean living", such as avoiding smoking and eating more healthily, say scientists.

If individuals were to maintain a healthy weight and normal blood pressure and abstain from tobacco 57% of cases of atrial fibrillation (AF) could be averted, the US experts say.

Taking regular exercise can improve your health outlook

The study in Circulation journal is based on nearly 15,000 patients.

AF is a major cause of stroke.

Yet many people are unaware that they have this heart condition because often it causes very few symptoms.

Experts believe up to 500,000 people in the UK have AF.

The condition can be treated with medication to slow the irregular heartbeat and blood-thinning drugs to reduce stroke risk, but the latest research shows how much illness could be avoided by simple lifestyle measures.

Dr Alvaro Alonso, who led the research at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, said: "We now know that a significant proportion of all cases of atrial fibrillation can be avoided.

"Ideally, if individuals were able to maintain a normal blood pressure and healthy body weight and didn't smoke, not only would it reduce their risks for other forms of cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease and stroke, but it also would significantly impact the risk of developing atrial fibrillation in later life."

Only 5% of the people in the study had a lifestyle that would be deemed healthy enough to cut their risk of AF.

Over a period of 17 years, 1,520 episodes of AF were noted among the participants, and 57% of these episodes were linked to clear risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes or smoking.

The findings suggest over 860 of the events might have been avoided by "clean living".

Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the BHF, said: "This study shows not only can you identify people with AF and treat them to reduce their risk of stroke, AF can also be prevented in the first place with simple messages about lifestyle changes."

He said the difficulty was helping people to make healthy choices when their environment and society often encouraged unhealthy options.

AyurGold for Healthy Blood

Centella asiatica Linn. (Bua Bok tea.)

2011-03-04T18:05:00.016+07:00

Medicinal Plants in Thailand.

Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urban
APIACEAE
Asiatic Pennywort, Tiger Herbal
Thai name : Bua Bok

Perennial creeping herb. Leaf simple, alternate, kidney-shaped, 2-5 cm in diameter. Inflorescence in axillary umbel; flowers small, violet. Fruit dry, dehiscent.
Fresh leaf: treatment of sore throat, thirst; antipyretic, diuretic, antidiarrheal; externally used for burns and wounds. Preparation: grind 1 handful of well-cleaned fresh leaves with small amount of water, put on the affected area or squeeze and use only watery juice. Active constituents are madecassic acid, asiatic acid and asiaticoside, which are astringent and stimulate tissue repairmen! at affected area, lower the probability of keloid formation, inhibits growth of Staphylococcus spp., possess antifungal activity against tinea versicolor and reduce inflammation. Commercialized product as anti-inflammatory cream for surgical wounds.

By: Medicinal Plants in Thailand
Volume 1

Bua Bok tea

Centella Asiatica (Linn.) Urban.

Properties :

Heal bruised symptoms that born within the body , Maintain the heart , nourish , Heal exhausted symptoms , be exhausted , and help drive urine .

Quantity: 25 Packs/lot = $125
(1 Pack/15 tea bags )
SHIPPING:

We ship the item via Thailand Post. The orders are shipped within three business days of payment.

Regarding the shipping via Thailand post By Air mail take 1-2 weeks to arrive

Contact hling99@gmail.com

Blocking enzyme cut cancer spread

2011-02-27T15:18:00.000+07:00

BBC News
Scientists at the UK's Institute of Cancer Research have prevented breast cancer spreading to other organs in mice by blocking a chemical.

In their experiments, they showed that blocking the enzyme LOXL2 prevented metastasis.

Blocking an enzyme can prevent cells spreading

They said their findings, published in Cancer Research, provided a "fantastic drug target" and were "highly likely" to be used in a clinical setting.

Cancer charities say the research shows great promise.

The authors of the report say 90% of cancer deaths are due to tumours migrating around the body.

When they looked at patients with breast cancer, they showed that high levels of the enzyme LOXL2 were linked with cancer spread and poor survival rates.

They also showed that LOXL2 was important in the early stages of cancer spread. It helps cancerous cells escape from the breast tissue and get into the bloodstream.

“This laboratory research shows great promise and we look forward to seeing how it translates into patients”

End Quote Arlene Wilkie Breast Cancer Campaign

In their studies on mice, they used chemicals and antibodies to block the activity of LOXL2. This stopped breast cancer spreading to other tissues.

Lab to Medicine

Dr Janine Erler, team leader at the Institute of Cancer Research, said: "LOXL2 is a fantastic drug target, it's highly likely to be used in a clinical setting."

She said the findings were not just important for drug development, but also for developing a test which can predict the likelihood of cancer spreading and as a result, patient outcomes.

Arlene Wilkie, Director of Research and Policy at Breast Cancer Campaign, which funded the study with the ICR and Cancer Research UK, said: "Dr Erler's results are very exciting, as although currently we can treat breast cancer that has spread, we cannot cure it.

"By using LOXL2 to predict whose cancer will spread and drugs to block the enzyme to stop this from happening, many more lives could be saved. This laboratory research shows great promise and we look forward to seeing how it translates into patients."

Dr Julie Sharp, senior science information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: "Cancer spread is an important problem in breast and other cancers, and scientists are searching to find new ways to stop cancer spread and save many more lives.

"The team have shown that targeting the molecule LOXL2, which plays a key role in spread, could offer new approaches to tackle this problem."

Prostate disease, Prostate problems

Key breast cancer 'driver' gene found

2011-02-20T19:19:00.002+07:00

BBC News
Cancer experts have identified a gene which can cause a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer to develop.

ZNF703 is the first "oncogene" to be discovered in five years.

It is overactive in around one in 12 breast cancers, and could account for up to 4,000 UK cases a year.

The researchers carried out gene research

Cancer Research UK, whose scientists carried out the work, said the gene was a "prime candidate" for the development of new breast cancer drugs.

An oncogene is one which would normally help instruct healthy cells to divide but if it becomes overactive, it upsets the normal checks and balances that control that process.

That damage is described as being "like a car's accelerator becoming stuck down", and the cell and all its daughter cells are permanently instructed to divide.

Her2 - another oncogene - is already tested for. The drug Herceptin was developed to treat Her2 positive breast cancers.

Elimination

Scientists at Cancer Research UK's Cambridge Research Institute and the British Columbia Cancer Agency in Vancouver, Canada carried out the study, which is published in EMBO Molecular Medicine,

They looked at gene activity in 1,172 breast tumour samples, as well as looking at breast cancer cells grown in the lab.

“This is the first gene of its kind to be discovered in breast cancer for five years”

End Quote Dr Lesley Walker, Cancer Research UK

They were able to eliminate genes until there was only the ZNF703 gene left within a region on chromosome 8 that was overactive in all the samples tested.

And in two patients studied, ZNF703 was the only gene shown to be overactive, showing it was driving the development of the cancer.

Professor Carlos Caldas, of the Cambridge Research Institute, who led the research, said: "Scientists first discovered this region of DNA may be harbouring genes linked to the development of breast cancer 20 years ago.

"But it's only with the technology we have today that we've been able to narrow down the search sufficiently to pinpoint the gene responsible."

He added: "Crucially, testing whether this gene is overactive in a patient's tumour could help highlight those more likely to be resistant to standard hormone therapies, helping to make sure the right drugs are matched to the right patient."

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: "This is the first gene of its kind to be discovered in breast cancer for five years.

"This is exciting because it's a prime candidate for the development of new breast cancer drugs designed specifically to target tumours in which this gene is overactive.

"Hopefully this will lead to more effective cancer treatments in the future."

Dr Rachel Greig, of Breakthrough Breast Cancer said the research was "a vital step in understanding the genes that drive the growth of some types of breast cancer".

Harmful Organism Cleanse Kit

Motherly love 'does breed confidence'

2011-02-10T13:45:00.001+07:00

BBC News
Being lavished with affection by your mum as a young child makes you better able to cope with the stresses and strains of adult life, say researchers.

Hugs, kisses and expressive declarations of love appear to rub off and foster emotional resilience.

The results are from nearly 500 people, from the US state of Rhode Island, who were studied as children and adults.

A responsive mum will know when to soothe her baby

A secure mother-child bond may be key, the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health reports.

But experts say it is important to know when to stop. Over-mothering can be intrusive and embarrassing, especially as children grow older.

Maternal warmth

High levels of motherly affection are likely to facilitate secure attachments and bonding, say the study authors, led by Dr Joanna Maselko.

This not only lowers distress but may also help a child to develop effective life, social, and coping skills, which will stand them in good stead as adults.

In the study, a psychologist rated the quality of interactions between the mothers and their eight-month-old children during a routine developmental check-up.

The psychologist judged how well the mother responded to her child's emotions and needs, and gave her an "affection score" based on the warmth of the interaction.

“What you really want is responsiveness as well as affection - a mother who is in sync with her baby”

End Quote Dr Terri Apter Psychologist and tutor

Thirty years later, the researchers approached the children, who were now adults, and asked them to take part in a survey about their well-being and emotions.

The group was also asked whether they thought their mothers had been affectionate towards them, with responses ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree".

The results revealed that children whose mothers gave them lots of affection handled all types of distress better.

In particular, the children of warm mothers were far better at dealing with anxiety than those of emotionally cold mothers.

The researchers said: "It is striking that a brief observation of level of maternal warmth in infancy is associated with distress in adult offspring 30 years later."

They said the findings added to the growing evidence that early childhood helped set the stage for later life experiences, but said the influence of other factors, such as personality, upbringing and schooling, could not be ruled out.

Dr Terri Apter, a psychologist, writer and senior tutor at Newnham College, Cambridge, has studied the effects of mother-child relationships.

"What you really want is responsiveness as well as affection - a mother who is in sync with her baby," she said.

"Babies are not born knowing how to regulate their emotions. They learn by being distressed and being soothed.

"And a responsive mum will pick up on cues that a child has had enough."

A responsive mum will know not only when to give cuddles but also when to stop.

"If she is being responsive she will say: 'You are a big 12-year-old and I guess it is embarrassing if I kiss and squeeze you like I did when you were a baby'. And she won't make you feel bad about it," added Dr Apter.

Top Quality Chemical and Heavy Metal Cleansing

Fears public health may be hit in shake-up of NHS

2011-02-03T20:47:00.001+07:00

BBC News
The overhaul of the NHS may harm the public health drive, experts fear.

Under government plans, primary care trusts in England will be abolished and GPs given control of the budget.

Responsibility for public health is to be handed to local authorities

The shake-up will also mean public health is handed to councils, but the King's Fund health think tank said this could lead the NHS to turn its back on issues like smoking and drinking.

The government said it would be setting out detailed plans for public health in England later this year.

Public health has traditionally been the responsibility of local health managers working for the 151 PCTs.

They have been in charge of recruiting local public health directors and coordinating campaigns to encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyles.

“I think there are risks - I think there is a particular danger that the NHS no longer sees health at its responsibility but just health care”

End Quote Dr Anna Dixon King's Fund

But under the changes announced earlier this month, that role is to be handed to local authorities.

'GP risk'

And the King's Fund believes it could mean the GP consortiums that will be in charge of local NHS services will not be engaged in the issue in the same way the health service was in the past.

Dr Anna Dixon, director of policy at the health think tank, said the move could lead to doctors and other staff concentrating on just "treating ill-health rather than preventing it" too.

"I think there are risks. I think there is a particular danger that the NHS no longer sees health at its responsibility but just health care," she said.

Dr Dixon also said the fact that the consortium boundaries will differ from local authority ones - PCT areas largely mirror council ones - could hamper partnership working.

Public health consultants have already started lobbying the government about the issue and have asked for a key role on the independent board which will monitor GP consortiums.

Professor Steve Field, of the Royal College of GPs, said he would support such a move.

"There is a risk here, especially as not every GP has a great knowledge of public health," he said.

But public health minister Anne Milton said there was no need to be concerned, saying detailed plans about how public health would work under the new system would be set out later this year in a White Paper.

She added: "It is not a second thought or forgotten by any stretch of the imagination."

She also pointed out the government was going to ring-fence the public health budget to protect it during the tough times ahead.

Ayurtox for Body Detoxification

Fit heart can slow brain ageing, US researchers say

2011-01-28T19:12:00.001+07:00

BBC News
Keeping your heart fit and strong can slow down the ageing of your brain, US researchers say.

A Boston University team found healthy people with sluggish hearts that pumped out less blood had "older" brains on scans than others.

Heart and brain health appear to go hand in hand

Out of the 1,500 people studied, the team observed that the brain shrinks as it ages.

A poor cardiac output aged the brain by nearly two years on average, Circulation journal says.

The link was seen in younger people in their 30s who did not have heart disease, as well as elderly people who did.

“It is too early to dole out health advice based on this one finding but it does suggest that heart and brain health go hand in hand”

End Quote Dr Angela Jefferson Lead researcher

Lead researcher Dr Angela Jefferson said: "These participants are not sick people. A very small number have heart disease. The observation that nearly a third of the entire sample has low cardiac index and that lower cardiac index is related to smaller brain volume is concerning and requires further study."

The participants with smaller brain volumes on magnetic resonance imaging did not show obvious clinical signs of reduced brain function.

But the researchers say the shrinkage may be an early sign that something is wrong.

More severe shrinkage or atrophy occurs with dementia.

Dr Jefferson said there were several theories for why reduced cardiac index - how much blood the heart pumps out relative to body size - might affect brain health.

For example, a lower volume of blood pumping from the heart might reduce flow to the brain, providing less oxygen and fewer nutrients needed for brain cells.

"It is too early to dole out health advice based on this one finding but it does suggest that heart and brain health go hand in hand," she said.

Experts say a person's cardiac index is fairly static - meaning it would be difficult to change it if it were low, without doing pretty intensive exercise training.

Dr Clinton Wright, a brain and memory expert from the University of Miami, said: "Whether lower cardiac index leads to reduced brain volumes and accelerates neurodegeneration on an eventual path to dementia is not yet clear.

"To address the health needs of our ageing population, a better understanding of the links between cardiovascular disease and brain structure and function will be required."

The Boston School of Medicine team will now continue to study the individuals in the trial to see if and how the brain changes affect memory and cognitive abilities over time.

Improving memory

Kellogg's announces cut in sugar in its cereals

2011-01-22T22:22:00.001+07:00

BBC News
Kellogg's is reducing the sugar content in a range of its breakfast cereals by 15%.

The move comes after criticism that high levels of sugar, salt and fat in cereals are contributing to childhood obesity.

The change will happen next year in four of the firm's Coco Pops products.

Coco Pops will contain less sugar

Greg Peterson, Kellogg's UK managing director, said: "We have listened to mums. They want a balance: lower sugar cereals which children will still eat."

He added: "We have invested millions of pounds and thousands of staff hours over the last two years to make this happen, and will do this without compromising the taste."

At present Coco Pops contain 35% sugar. After the reduction the level will go down to 29.75 %.

“We will go further if we can take people's palates with us ”

End Quote Greg Peterson Kellogg's

However, it will still be almost double the maximum amount recommended by the Food Standards Agency of 15% - the amount where sugar turns red on the traffic light labelling system.

Growing trend

Kellogg's move follows a trend of reductions - particularly in salt levels which have fallen significantly in a range of food products in recent years.

Lucy Jones, from the British Dietetic Association, said Kellogg's had made a small move in the right direction.

She said: "It will make a difference to the overall sugar percentages in a diet and of what nutrients are making it up.

"But certainly it would benefit from further reductions in sugar as we want to limit the refined sugars in our diet.

"They can affect your teeth, your blood glucose levels and ultimately your weight management."

Popular cereal

Four out of 10 people have a box of Coco Pops in their cupboard.

Mother of three Sarah Hardcastle limits the amount she gives to her daughters to what she calls "high days and holidays".

She said: "My perception is that it's very full of sugar. It must be, it's covered in chocolate.

"I don't give my kids chocolate every day on any other occasions so I certainly don't want to give it to them it at breakfast every day."

Nutritionists have long argued that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Going without can lower concentration and energy levels and can lead to weight problems later in life.

Nonetheless one in six children does not eat breakfast.

Mr Peterson said the company was committed to further reducing sugar levels in the future.

"This is a process, so while we have announced we are taking 15% of sugar out by mid-next year, we will go further if we can take people's palates with us."

Ten Super Secrets For Weight Loss

China's herbal medicine plagued by inflation

2011-01-17T18:16:00.001+07:00

By Michael Bristow
BBC News, Anguo, Northern China
At the Central Trade Hall in the city of Anguo there are hundreds of stalls selling unusual products - tree bark, wild flowers and roots.

Many of them have unusual names, such as Baikal Skullcap and Pagoda Tree.

These products are all used in traditional Chinese medicine and are on sale at the country's largest market for medicinal herbs.

The Anguo market has been selling medicinal herbs for 1,000 years

It is an ancient industry that is currently grappling with an age-old problem: inflation.

Medicinal herbs have on average nearly doubled in price over the last year. Some particular ingredients have gone up even more.

It is just one of many Chinese industries affected by inflation, which is now at its highest level in more than two years.

The government says keeping prices stable will be one of its key jobs this year.

Medicine capital

Anguo has been producing and selling medicinal herbs for 1,000 years, according to the inscription on a commemorative arch.

Its connection with the profession can be seen across the city, in the northern province of Hebei.

Main roads running through the city centre hint at the area's business. One is called Medicine Capital North Street.

Dozens of shops and offices have some link to the production or sale of herbs, some of which are laid out on the streets to dry.

The cathedral-sized Central Trade Hall is where most of the selling takes place.

Buyer Mu Aimin's family runs a pharmacy in the city of Shahe. He regularly makes the four-hour drive to Anguo to stock up on herbs. Read more...

AyurGold for Healthy Blood

Teenage health campaigns 'reduce adult heart risks'

2011-01-12T11:18:00.001+07:00

BBC News
Health campaigns targeted at teens could help reduce their risk of heart problems as adults, a study suggests.

Concerns have been raised that warning signs like high cholesterol are being seen in the young, laying the foundation for future health problems.

Smoking can have a big impact on general health and cholesterol levels in later life

But the study of more than 500 people found those with high cholesterol at 15 could normalise it by their mid-30s.

The Australian research is published in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Participants in the Australian study had levels of cholesterol and other blood fats measured in 1985 when they were aged 9, 12 or 15.

They were measured again between 2004 and 2006, an average of 20 years later.

High risk levels in this study were defined as a total cholesterol level of 240 miligrams per deciliter or higher (6.2mmol/l).

The average total cholesterol level in the UK is 5.5mmol/l for men and 5.6mmol/l for women.

Height, weight, waist circumference, skin-fold thickness, smoking habits and cardio-respiratory fitness were also measured in the study.

Good and bad

Of those participants who had high-risk cholesterol levels in their youth, those who stopped smoking or lost weight became low-risk in adulthood, while those who increased their body weight or who started smoking were more likely to maintain those high-risk levels 20 years later.

Costan Magnussen, lead study author from the University of Tasmania, said their findings were important.

"They suggest that beneficial changes in modifiable risk factors in the time between youth and adulthood have the potential to shift those with high-risk blood lipid and lipoprotein levels in youth to low-risk levels in adulthood," he said.

He added that prevention programmes targeted at the young could also benefit those who develop bad habits as they get older.

Dr John Coleman, chairman of the Association for Young People's Health, said: "This reseach gives a very clear example of why we need to invest more in adolescent health and make it a higher priority.

"It is clear that young people's lifestyle choices have a long term impact on their health and it is cost effective and sensible to work with them to encourage healthy habits."

Mike Knaptonof the Brtish Heart Foundation said: "All teenagers can do something to improve their cholesterol.

"We should all be eating five portions of fruit and veg a day. And, most importantly, the message is don't smoke."

Body cleansing, Detox cleanse