its all about your health

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:10:00 +0000

Jam, yoghurt help fight cancer

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:20:00 +0000

DANGERS OF SEA FOOD DURING PREGNANCY

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:03:00 +0000

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)

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:46:00 +0000

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'

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:01:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:46:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 19:56:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 19:47:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 19:10:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 19:09:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 04:51:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 04:24:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:40:00 +0000

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)

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:52:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:28:00 +0000

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?

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:01:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:45:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:25:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:24:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:30:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:28:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:39:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:47:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:44:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (the essentials) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:40:00 +0000

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.