January 2010

Expanding waist worsens kids' sleep apnea

For children who have trouble breathing during sleep, gaining weight around the middle may make things worse, new research shows.

In obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, a person stops breathing multiple times during the night. It is often accompanied by heavy snoring. About 2 percent of children have OSA, which is frequently treated by removing the tonsils and adenoids.

Gaining weight is known to worsen OSA in adults, but it's not clear what factors increase the likelihood that a child with mild OSA will experience worsening of their symptoms, Dr. A. M. Li of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and colleagues point out in a report in the medical journal Thorax.

To investigate, they followed 56 children with mild OSA for two years. They were able to re-assess 45 of the children. In 13, OSA had gotten worse.

The children whose sleep apnea had worsened showed a greater increase, on average, in their waist size than the children whose condition hadn't worsened.

In addition, more of the children who experienced a worsening of OSA had large tonsils at the study's outset and at follow-up. These children were also more likely to habitually snore at both time points, while boys were more likely than girls to see their OSA get worse.

Li and colleagues say children with mild OSA apnea and large tonsils, especially boys, should be followed closely so that any worsening of the condition can be detected early. And, they add, weight control is an important aspect of managing mild OSA in children.

The finding linking increased waist size to worsening OSA "should be interpreted with caution," Dr. Carole L. Marcus of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia notes in a written commentary published with the study, because the investigators did not account for how much of this increase may have been due to a child's growth.

Nevertheless, Marcus says, the study "is an important first step in determining the natural history of mild OSA and provides valuable and clinically relevant information."

The issue of what exactly makes for mild OSA in children, and whether or not it should be treated, are still matters of debate, she notes, adding that a large National Institutes of Health study of adenotonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils and adenoids) now underway should help answer these questions.

SOURCE: Thorax, January 10, 2010, Reuters

New Computational Tool for Cancer Treatment Many human tumors express indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an enzyme which mediates an immune-escape in several cancer types. Researchers in the Molecular Modeling group at the SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics and Dr. Benoît J. Van den Eynde's group at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd (LICR) Brussels Branch developed an approach for creating new IDO inhibitors by computer-assisted structure-based drug design. The study was presented in the January 2010 online issue of the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

The docking algorithm EADock, used for this project, was developed by the Molecular Modeling Group over the last eight years. It provides solutions for the "lock-and-key" problem, wherein the protein active site is regarded as a "lock," which can be fitted with a "key" (usually a small organic molecule) able to regulate its activity. Once an interesting molecule has been obtained, synthesis and laboratory experiments are necessary to confirm or reject the prediction. This algorithm will soon be made available to the scientific community worldwide.

The scientists obtained a high success rate. Fifty percent of the molecules designed in silico were active IDO inhibitors in vitro. Compounds that displayed activities in the low micromolar to nanomolar range, made them suitable for further testing in tumor cell experiments and for in vivo evaluation in mice. If these studies are successful, scientists can begin evaluating these new compounds in patients undergoing cancer-immunotherapy.

According to Olivier Michielin, Assistant Member at the Lausanne Branch of LICR and leader of the SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics Molecular Modeling group, "This is a satisfactory proof of principle showing that computational techniques can produce very effective inhibitors for specific cancer targets with high yield. This is very encouraging for future drug developments in the academic environment."

source: sciencedaily

Cardiac Rehab Important To Heart Health A program to strengthen the heart is vital in preventing another heart attack.

Topeka (WIBW) - Once you'd had a heart attack, you're at greater risk for another. Strengthening your heart can help guard against a repeat.

A cardiac rehab program can take you through the steps to getting your heart, and your lifestyle, back in shape.

Kelly Barnes, an exercise physiologist with Topeka's Cotton-O'Neil Clinic, says cardiac rehab is a program for those who've gone through a cardiac event, such as a heart attack or heart surgery.

A key component of cardiac rehab is exercise.

"The heart is a muscle and it needs to be worked just like the rest of the body," Barnes said. "It needs to gain strength and endurance. Exercise is the way to do that."

Beyond exercise, a rehab program can pull patients to other lifestyle changes with educational clases. Barnes says the Cotton-O'Neil program includes classes on topics such as stress management; changing the diet to reduce fat, cholesterol and sodium; risk factors; and how medications affect the body and interact with each other.

Patients might take part in a program three times a week, for six to 12 weeks depending on insurance. It's time patients can use to steer toward the ultimate goal - a second chance at an increased quality of life.

Learn more:
The Cotton-O'nNeil Heart Center has free cardiac education sessions at 9-45 and 1-15 each Wednesday. Upcoming topics:
Feb. 4 - Risk factors
Feb. 11 - Medications

American Heart Assoc. Heart Gala
6 pm
Saturday, February 20th
TIckets: $150/each Sponsor a table of 10 for $1500
Call 785-228-3435

Freezing Vegetables in Refrigerator Good or Bad?

Refrigeration as well as freezing are probably the most popular forms of food preservation in use today. Refrigeration slows down bacterial action to a crawl so that it takes food much longer (perhaps a week or two, rather than half a day) to spoil.

In the case of freezing, the idea is to stop bacterial action altogether. Frozen bacteria are totally inactive. Therefore, refrigeration has several good effects on your vegetables.

source: mdinfo

"Doga", yoga and meditation for dogs and their owners

Dog-owners and yoga-lovers have finally found a way to bring their two passions together: doga. Yoga classes for dogs and their owners are sprouting all around the United States, combining massage and meditation techniques with gentle canine and human stretching. Ludicrous or blissfully relaxing?

Doga aficionados are adamant: there's nothing like balancing your cocker spaniel on your belly as you stretch to create a bond between you and your canine companion. The practice stems from an unsaid philosophy shared by many yogis: because dogs are pack animals, they are a natural match for yoga's emphasis on connection with other living creatures.

Created eight years ago by Florida-born yoga instructor Suzi Teitleman, the popularity of doga classes has skyrocketed in the US, drawing attention from major media outlets like the New York Times and CNN.

But not all yoga afficionados are comfortable with this new development. They fear that doga brings a trivial, fad-like approach to a 2,500 year-old spiritual practice. Teaching doga requires no official certification, so the quality and content of classes vary from veterinary-approved stretches and massages aimed at improving dog's digestion and heart function, to more dubious courses where dogs are trained into executing poses in exchange for treats.

Instructors vary in their approach to doga - some say it requires the same physical effort and concentration as traditional yoga, while others adopt a more laid-back approach. Brenda Bryan, a Seattle-based yoga and doga instructor who has recently written a book on the subject, told the New York Times her classes are loosely-structured and filled with humour, the essential being that humans and dogs alike leave with a smile.

Click for dog poses and more informations

source: observers.france24

Health Benefits of Cutting Salt From Your Daily Diet

Just when you had figured out how to manage fat, cholesterol and trans fats in your diet, researchers are now warning against another common mealtime pitfall — salt.

A study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Stanford University and Columbia University shows that even a modest decrease in daily salt intake can lead to dramatic health benefits. The authors documented an annual drop of as many as 120,000 cases of heart disease, 66,000 instances of stroke and 99,000 heart attacks caused by high blood pressure after a 3-g-per-day reduction in sodium.

The advantages, not surprisingly, were more profound for African Americans, who are more likely to develop high blood pressure and may be more sensitive to the hypertensive effects of salt than other ethnic groups, and for the elderly, since blood vessels stiffen with age, which can lead to higher blood pressure.

"Everyone in the U.S. is consuming salt far in excess of what is good for them," says lead author Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo of UCSF. "What we are suggesting is that a population-wide effort to reduce salt intake even slightly will have health benefits."

The team conducted a computer-based analysis to determine the impact of a 3-g-per-day reduction in sodium intake on rates of heart disease and death. They also calculated the cost savings emerging from the amount of disease that would be avoided because of lower blood pressure. The conclusion: by cutting salt intake nationwide, the U.S. could save $10 billion to $24 billion annually in health care costs.

That's a serious amount of money, but it's the health benefits that are even more stunning. Using data from previous clinical trials on salt intake and blood pressure, the researchers found that reducing sodium by 3 g per day would be as good for the heart as cutting tobacco use by half, lowering one's body mass index 5% or taking statin medications to lower cholesterol. Even more surprising, cutting salt by 3 g per day was as effective in reducing death rates among people with hypertension as taking medication to control blood pressure.

It's enough to prevent you from reaching for the salt shaker at your next meal, but unfortunately, it may not be that easy to keep sodium levels in check. Almost 75% of the salt we consume each day comes from processed and prepared foods, such as breads, cereals and dairy products — sources we have very little control over, not to mention awareness of. (You can easily get 3 g of sodium in a single sandwich with two pieces of bread, some deli meat and cheese.)

The average American man consumes 10.4 g of salt each day; the average woman, 7.3 g. The daily recommended amount, according to government nutrition experts, is 6 g. That means that even if most men were to cut 3 g of salt out of their diet each day, they would still be consuming more than the recommended daily allowance of sodium.

That's why, says Bibbins-Domingo, it will take a national intervention to lower the U.S. population's salt intake. "This really has to go beyond just individual efforts in counseling patients and people in communities to lower salt in their diet," she says. "This type of effort really requires some sort of regulation and engagement in collaboration with the food industry to target slightly lower salt content in foods."

It wouldn't take much to accustom the American palate to less salty fare, she says. In the U.K., government regulations lowering salt in processed foods resulted in a 10% drop in salt intake by the population, with few, if any, mourning any loss in taste.

Already, a New York City–led effort, the National Salt Reduction Initiative (NSRI), is promoting a voluntary reduction in sodium content by restaurants and packaged-food companies of 20% over five years. State and local health departments, as well as consumer- and professional-health organizations, have endorsed the effort.

What's needed is a recognition that salt, like fat and trans fats, is not good for you. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration considers sodium to be "generally regarded as safe." That will have to change, says Bibbins-Domingo, if the American population wants to get serious about lowering its sodium intake. "Too much salt is bad for your health, and that should be considered in the way labeling works," she says.

While the NSRI may be promoting only voluntary salt reduction, it's a start for getting people to consider the health effects of sodium as they would those of cholesterol and trans fats, and to keep track of their intake in order to stay healthy.

source: time

Magnesium could prevent memory loss and disease A magesium compound developed by neuroscientists at MIT and Tsinghua University in Beijing that targets the brain could help prevent memory loss associated with aging. Researchers studied the effect of the supplement magnesium-L-threonate (MgT) on rats, finding improvements in memory in both young and old rats. Boosting magnesium deficiency that affects half the population in industrialized countries could also help prevent disease.

The scientists developed the new magnesium compound in response to a 2004 study showing that the compound could have a positive effect on memory and learning.

Magnesium-L-threonate (MgT) is more effective than traditional oral supplements at raising magnesium levels in the brain. Magnesium deficiency is also linked to increased risk for allergies, asthma and heart disease.

"We found that elevation of brain magnesium led to significant enhancement of spatial and associative memory in both young and aged rats," said Liu, who is now the director of the Center for Learning and Memory at Tsinghua University. "If MgT is shown to be safe and effective in humans, these results may have a significant impact on public health." Liu is cofounder of Magceutics, a California-based company developing drugs for prevention and treatment of age-dependent memory decline and Alzheimer's disease.

Boosting brain levels of magnesium with the newly developed supplement could prevent memory loss that occurs with aging and improve learning ability by improving the connection between neurons in the brain.

The researchers noted improved brain health in the rats used in the study. MgT increased the quality of connections between neurons, and boosted the density of synapses in the area of the brain associated with learning and memory.

The study shows the importance of eating foods rich in magesium for overall health and for a healthy brain. Foods rich in magnesium include dark green leafy vegetables and some fruits. The magnesium supplement could be developed for humans to help prevent disease and memory loss associated with aging.

SOURCE: emaxhealth

Parents of brain-damaged baby win reprieve from ventilator disconnect

Isaac and Rebecka May hold a photo of their son, Isaiah, outside the Edmonton courthouse on Jan. 19. They are seeking a court injunction against the decision to end life support for their child born Oct. 24, 2009 in Edmonton.

A severely brain-damaged infant who has become a medical cause-celebre around the globe will remain on life support for at least another few weeks, an Edmonton court ruled Wednesday.

"It definitely gives us some more breathing space," said a relieved father Isaac May.

Wednesday's ruling gives lawyers more time to select medical experts to assess what's best for the infant and delays the matter from returning to court until Feb. 19.

May's son, Isaiah, was born with his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck Oct. 24 in Rocky Mountain House, Alta., about 220 kilometres southwest of Edmonton, after a difficult 40-hour labour.

Deprived of oxygen and having inhaled amniotic fluid and fecal matter, he was taken by air ambulance to the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton, where he has been on a ventilator since. He is fed through a tube and doctors there say there is no hope of recovery. They had urged May and his wife, Rebecka, to disconnect Isaiah from life support.

But they disagreed and sought another opinion. They went to court and initially got a weeklong extension.

"We've definitely had some nervous days but we've had a lot of time to have our cuddles and hold Isaiah too," said Isaac. "It's been all right."

In court documents, the parents pointed to the fact that Isaiah opens his eyes, brings his knees to his tummy and moves his hands, feet and arms.

"He is doing everything they said he would not do," Rebecka, 23, said recently outside court.

"Every time I hold my son and look in his eyes it gives me the strength to face another day," she said.

Both parents are unemployed.

More than 23,000 people from around the world have joined a Facebook site in support of the family, offering prayers for healing.

When Isaiah's parents challenged that decision in court, Fox News, United Press International, the Asian health portal Medindia.com and the religious LifeSiteNews.com were among many other media outlets to report Isaiah's story.

A neonatologist from B.C.'s Victoria General Hospital agreed Wednesday to provide an independent assessment of Isaiah for the court. Dr. Richard Taylor is expected to arrive in Edmonton in the third or fourth week of February.

Rebecka said it's a relief to have medical professionals willing to come to Edmonton. She also had kind words for health-care providers at the Stollery Children's Hospital.

"They remain professional and kind," she said. "We thank them for the care they're giving Isaiah. They're doing an outstanding job. They're very nice."

Rosanna Saccomani, the couple's lawyer, said finding medical experts outside Edmonton has been difficult.

"They are world-renowned and they have demands on their schedules. They have other children they're in charge for their care. They've got surgeries to perform so we're asking them to drop everything to pay attention to this case."

She said she's pleased with the co-operation given her by David Steele, the lawyer representing Dr. Phillipos, and Brent Windwick, the lawyer representing Alberta Health Services and the Stollery hospital.

"It's excellent that we're working as a team on this in the best interests of Isaiah," she said. "I know that everybody is doing their best to move this case along as quickly as possible."

Saccomani said she questions why Rebecka went through 40 hours of labour and four hours of pushing without getting a C-section. She had a full-term pregnancy and Isaiah was healthy until birth.

SOURCE: edmontonjournal

Healthy Foods, Vegetables, Grains Classification For Strong Body Balanced diet, staying clean, getting plenty of exercise are the things in staying healthy which makes our body strong as keeping the heart healthy and free of drugs. Individuals who practice good nutrition, proper hygiene and e4xercise pattern can develop a lifetime of good habits that will keep the individual healthy for many years to come as he gets older.

HEALTHY FOOD CLASSIFICATION:

FRUITS

1. Apricots Beta-carotene- helps prevent free-radical damage and protect the eyes.

2. Avocados Vitamin A- which may help ward off some cancers, most especially the skin.

3. Raspberries Ellagic acid-which helps stall cancer-cell growth, packed with Vit C
and are high in fiber, prevents cholesterol and heart disease.

4. Cantaloupe Vit C and beta-carotene-both powerful antioxidants that help protect cells from free radical damage.

5. Melon&Banana-Rich in potassium-helps to lower blood pressure.

6. Cranberry Juice-Helps fight bladder infections, preventing harmful bacteria from
growing.

7. Tomato Lycopene-one of the strongest carotenoids, acts as an antioxidant.

8. Raisins Great source of iron, helps the blood transport oxygen, many women are
short on.

9. Figs Great source of potassium and fiber, also contain Vit B6-responsible for
producing mood-boosting serotonin,lowers cholesterol and prevents water retention.

10. Lemons/Limes Lfurocoumarins, Limonene and Vitamin C-prevent cancer.

VEGETABLES

1. Onions Quercetin-one of the most powerful flavonoids (natural plant antioxidants)-helps protect against cancer.

2. Artichokes Contain silymarin, an antioxidant that helps prevent skin cancer, and has fiber to help control cholesterol.

3. Ginger Helps reduce queasiness-other compounds help ward off migraines and
arthritis pain-this blocks inflammation causing prostaglandins.

4. Broccoli Sulfarophane and Indole-3-carbinol-helps protect against breast cancer, has Vit c and beta-carotene.

5. Spinach Lutein and Zeaxanthin-cartenoids that help fend off macular degeneration-a
major cause of blindness in older people.

6. Bok Choy (Chinese Cabbage) Brassinin-Can help breast tumors with indoles and
isothiocyanates-lowers level of estrogen-prevents breast cancer.

7. Squash/Butternut/Pumpkin/Acorn - Has huge amounts of Vit C and beta-carotene-helps
protect against endometrial cancer.

8. Watercress and Arugula - Phenethyl isothiocyanate with beta-carotene and Vits C&E-help keep cancer cells at bay

9. Garlic Sulfur compounds-give garlic-its pungent flavor can also lower LDL or
bad cholesterol, lower blood pressure and reduce risk of stomach and colon cancer.

GRAINS

1. Quinoa Protein, iron, riboflavin and magnesium.

2. Wheat Germ Magnesium-helps prevent muscle cramps, good source of Vitamin E.

3. Lentils Isoflavones-may inhibit estrogen-promoted breast cancers plus fiber-good for heart.

4. Peanuts Contain saturared fat-can lower your heart disease risk.

5. Pinto Beans Folate-helps protect against heart disease and reduces risk of birth
defects.

6. Yogurt Helps prevent yeart infections and calcium strengthens bones.

7. Skim Milk Riboflavin Vit B2-important for good vision and Vit A-help improve eczema and allergies.

SEAFOOD

1. Shellfish/Clams/Mussels Vit B12 to support nerve and brain function, with iron and minerals like magnesium and potassium.

2. Salmon/Mackerel and Tuna -Best sources of omega-3, fatty acids, helps reduce risk of cardiac disease.

3. Crab Vit B12 and immunity-boosting zinc.

There are 3 basic rules for a healthy diet by using the food guide pyramid. It consists of :

Variety which means including foods from each level based on the Food Guide Pyramid because there is no single food that could supply all the nutrients needed by the body for growth on a daily basis. It also expands your food choices and would be best eaten in assorted colors.

There would be a better range of nutrients that a person could get if there are a lot of colors and texture present in daily meals.
Balanced would mean that a person must eat the right amount of foods in all levels based on the Pyramid. The size of serving will depend on the the size of the person as well as age, sex and activity level.

Moderation would mean that a person must be careful by not easting too much of any type of food present in the Food Guide Pyramid. This guide will help you plan your meals well.

source: mdinfo

Healthy Diet and Nutrition for Teenagers

Teen years are the growing years. It's a world of youthfulness characterized by growth and development of mind and the body. Lack of healthy diet in teenagers may lead to health problems like obesity, anemia, heart related complications and a lot more therefore, it is really very important to follow a healthy diet during this stage.

Teenagers should take three meals a day. Never skip breakfast! It is the most important meal of the day because it helps teens for proper physical and emotional development. Avoid junk foods, it's best to snack on fresh fruit. Fast foods, its okay to have it once in a while but it should not become a part of teens daily diet. Replace sodas, go for fruit juices. Sodas have a high calorie content.

Moderate intake of salt and sugar, sweets are not bad but of course cosume in moderate amount.

The following are a few recommendations for teenagers healthy diet:

1. Drink milk. Choose skim milk rather than whole milk, milk is a source of essential nutrients.

2. Start the day with fresh fruit juices and it is advisable to eat fresh vegetables and fruits. Fruits are the best breakfast option.

3. Oatmeal and cereals are also a good choice for breakfast and you may add fruits or nuts to the preparation.

4. Eat less red meats due to its high cholesterol content. Eat meat not more than two times a day. Cut down the number of eggs eaten per day, 3-4 eggs a week is not dangerous.

5. Pastas, vegetables, fruits, chicken can be some options for a healthy diet.

6. Water! our body is 70 percent water. So we need at least two liters of water daily. Health benefits of water are vital to our internal organs and it also aids in the life processes and metabolism.

7. Don't forget to EXERCISE.

*A healthy diet coupled with exercise is the key to a healthy life*

Goodluck

Infant swimming tied to lung infection, asthma

Children who start swimming before the age of 2 may be at increased risk of a common infant lung infection, and possibly asthma and respiratory allergies later in life, a new study suggests.

The findings, reported in the European Respiratory Journal, add to evidence that exposure to chlorinated pools may affect children's respiratory health -- particularly if they have a family history of asthma or respiratory allergies like hay fever.

Experts have suspected that the air quality around pools, particularly indoor ones, is to blame. When the chlorine used to disinfect pools combines with swimmers' sweat, saliva or urine, irritating chlorine byproducts are formed, and over time these chemicals may damage the airways.

In the new study, Belgian researchers found that infant swimming -- whether in indoor or outdoor pools -- was linked to a heightened risk of bronchiolitis.

Bronchiolitis is an infection of the lungs' small airways, usually caused by the respiratory syncytial virus, that is common in infants.

In this study, infant swimmers who developed the infection were also at increased risk of developing asthma or respiratory allergies by kindergarten.

"This suggests that chlorinated pool attendance can increase the risk of asthma and respiratory allergies by making the airways more sensitive not only to allergens but also to infectious agents," senior researcher Dr. Alfred Bernard, of Catholic University Louvain in Brussels, told Reuters Health in an email.

He did not advise parents to keep their young children away from pools, since it is an "enjoyable" way for kids to be active.

"Parents should, however, not lose sight that chlorine-based disinfectants and their derivatives are strong irritants not only for the skin but also the airways," Bernard added.

He said that parents should be sure not to over chlorinate their home pools and to try to avoid public pools that are heavily chlorinated. Some clues to the latter, according to Bernard, include an overwhelming chlorine smell, and eye, skin and throat irritation in pool users.

Where possible, the researcher said, parents can also opt for public pools that use alternative disinfecting methods, like ozone treatment -- which has long been used in Europe and is becoming more common in the U.S.

For their study, Bernard and his colleagues assessed 430 Belgian kindergarteners and surveyed parents on their children's health history, swimming habits and other factors.

They found that of children exposed to chlorinated indoor or outdoor pools before age 2, 36 percent had a history of bronchiolitis, compared with 24 percent of their peers.

Among children who had used only indoor pools for more than 20 hours before age 2, the risk of bronchiolitis was 3.5-times higher compared with children who had never been to a chlorinated indoor pool at that age. Meanwhile, children who had spent that much time at an outdoor pool showed a two-fold increase in their risk of the lung infection.

Overall, there were no significant differences in the rates of asthma and allergies among infant swimmers and their peers. But when the researchers looked at children with a history of bronchiolitis, only those who had been infant swimmers showed increased risks of asthma and respiratory allergies.

Among infant swimmers who had contracted the infection, 15 percent later developed asthma. That compared with 4 percent of swimmers with no history of bronchiolitis. The figures were nearly the same when it came to hay fever.

It is "very likely," according to the researchers, that airway irritation from chlorine byproducts makes babies more vulnerable to bronchiolitis.

From there, the infection and chronic chlorine exposure appear to "interact" to increase a child's risk of asthma and allergies later on.

SOURCE: European Respiratory Journal, online January 14, 2010, reuters

High blood PBDE levels harm female fertility Prolonged exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDE, a chemical found in common household objects can dampen female fertility making them take twice as long to conceive, warn results of an American study.

Besides conception problems, such contact commonly made while doing household cleaning or dusting, may also raise a woman’s chances of suffering from a variety of health problems, researchers add.

The chemical, used as a flame retardant, is usually found in household objects like foam furniture, electronics, fabrics, carpets and plastics.

The study
The study embarked by the researchers from the Center for Children's Environmental Health Research at the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health enrolled 223 pregnant women.

All participants were questioned on the time taken by them to conceive. Also, by the end of second trimester, each participant underwent a blood screening, measuring their PBDE levels.

Findings of the study
The average time taken to conceive was recorded at 3 months.

"But some took 10 years or more," study’s lead researcher Kim Harley, adjunct assistant professor of maternal and child health and associate director of the Center for Children’s Environment Health Research said.

Likewise, the blood PBDE levels, recorded in nanograms per gram of fat, ranged from 3 to 1,200, Harley noted.

A close comparison between conception time and blood PBDE levels revealed that women with higher blood levels of PBDE took about twice as long to conceive compared to women with lower blood levels.

"For every tenfold increase in PBDEs in the blood, we saw a 30 percent to 50 percent decrease in the odds of becoming pregnant in any given month" Harley averred.

"It’s a pretty strong effect. They can all become pregnant, but they all had very different amounts of time it took them to become pregnant" she added.

The linkup
Though the exact reason behind impaired female fertility upon chemical exposure is not known, past studies have linked PBDE exposure to disrupted thyroid functioning. Such abnormal thyroid functioning alters normal menstrual patterns affecting fertility, researchers explain.

Advice to women
As old household articles is the main source of PBDE exposure, researchers advice women and teenage girls not to reupholster foam-filled furniture themselves.

"The PBDEs are in the foam and can leach out. Limiting exposure to old carpet padding, which is often recycled foam, is also helpful," said Sonya Lunder, a senior analyst at the Environmental Working Group marks.

When you are replacing carpet, get women and children out of the house" Lunder says. "The exposure concern is not limited to its effect on fertility, but also to children's development."

The results of the study feature in the Jan. 26 issue of the Journal, Environmental Health Perspectives.

source: themoneytimes

Five lifestyle changes to make your heart healthy February is Heart Month — a time for awareness and education. And while heart disease is still the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. and Canada, there's good news: it's also largely preventable through proper diet, regular exercise, and a healthy weight.

That's why we launched Stronger Together — to encourage women to take care of themselves and then encourage others to do so as well. Together, we can help a million women prevent heart disease. Here are five basic heart-healthy lifestyle changes you can make today — and don't forget to share them with the women you love.

Healthy meals — Lifestyle change No. 1

Eating healthy will not only protect your heart, but it will also impact your overall health. Limit foods high in fat, cholesterol and salt; but, be sure to get plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat diary products. Most of us don't get enough Omega 3 fats (found in fish), but research has shown Omega 3 to have a positive impact on your heart health. Ask a member of our staff how you can order your Curves Omega 3 supplement today.

Exercise — Lifestyle change No. 2

It's recommended that we get at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days. Wow, that's just one more reason to love your Curves workout!

Air (Tobacco Free) — Lifestyle change No. 3

No amount of tobacco is a safe amount. To quit smoking today is absolutely, without a doubt, unequivocally one of the best decisions you can ever make for your health.

Regulate your weight — Lifestyle No. 4

Even a little extra weight can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, which increases your chance for heart disease. A BMI (body mass index) less than 25 and a waist measurement less than 35 inches are ideal, but remember that if you can reduce your weight even by just 10% that will make a difference.

Take the Tests — Life- style change No. 5

Get regular health screenings for your cholesterol and blood pressure. If you know your numbers, you know what action you need to take.

Now, don't you get a little flutter knowing that you have so much control over your heart health? Go get one of those cheesy cards and tape it on your bathroom mirror. Be your own Valentine this month and every month. Your heart, after all, does belong to you.

source: pottstownmercury

Which Is Better Powdered Milk or Liquid Milk?

Yes it is better to use powdered milk because it has a far longer shelf life than liquid milk and does not need to be refrigerated, due to its low moisture content. Also it helps reduce its bulk for economy of transportation. Available as Dry Whole Milk, it is most commonly produced as Non-Fat Dry Milk , also known as Dried Skim Milk.

Powdered milk is widely used in the manufacture of infant formula, confectionery such as chocolate and caramel candy, and in recipes for baked goods where adding liquid milk would render the product too thin and also used in various sweets such as the famous Indian milk balls known as gulab jamun and popular Pakistani sweet delicacy (sprinkled with desiccated coconut) known as Chum chum (made with skim milk powder).

Also a common item used in making food aid supplies, fallout shelters, warehouses, and wherever fresh milk is not a viable option. It is widely used in many developing countries because of low cost in transportaion and storage.

It is considered nonperishable and very easy to prepare food because it only needs to have one cup of potable water and one third cup of powdered milk. It is important to note that whether it is a powder milk or liquid milk, still they have pretty much the same amount of vitamins A and D, as well as calcium. All of them will provide us our need for continued growth and strengthening of the bones.

Both milk formulas are okay and safe to use. However, there are advantages of using powdered milk versus liquid milk. Powdered milk are much easier to store and convenient since it has longer shelf-life compared to it’s liquid form.

At the same time, it is a readily available source of protein and vitamin D and also high in calcium that is good for pregnant, nursing and those people suffering from osteoporosis. Powdered milk contains no fat and is low in calories and cholesterol-free.

On the other hand, non-fat dry milk can go rancid anytime since it contains fat. Liquid milk tastes much better than it’s counterparts. Others still prefer drinking fresh milk because of it’s flavor, quality and freshness.

Mouth to Mouth Resuscitation: How is it performed?

Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is an emergency medical procedure used to resuscitate a person who stopped from breathing, in which the rescuer will press the mouth against the mouth of the victim and blowing air into the lungs.

Here on how you can perform mouth to mouth resuscitation:

• To see if the patient is conscious, tap or shake the shoulder lightly and shout “Hey are you ok?” But if the person did not response that’s the time that you need to perform the mouth to mouth resuscitation.

• Tilt the persons head and place your hand in the forehead and chin lift maneuver with the two fingers of your other hand.

• Look, listen and feel for breathing, place your ears near the nose of the patient to listen the breathing, and keep your cheek near the mouth of the victim to feel for air from the patient’s mouth.

• If you don’t feel air, see if there’s any obstruction in the patient’s airway. Using your two fingers perform a sweep of the patient’s mouth while tilting the head back to see if there is anything caught in the air passageway.

• If the patient is not breathing, take a deep breath pinch the nose closed with your hand holding the forehead give 2 slow, long, full breaths just enough to make chest visibly rise using a mouth to mouth ventilation or mouth to nose ventilation.

• Always look to see if the chest of the patient is rising and falling to make sure that your breath are getting through.

What is the color of normal healthy urine? The normal and healthy urine color is pale yellow. The human body produces urine as a way to rid itself of harmful toxins like ammonia, which is broken down into urea by the kidneys, getting it ready for disposal. Urine also contains water, sugar, and urobilins.

The broken-down products of bilirubin are urobilins. Bilirubin is the broken-down product of the old blood cells. Bilirubin is what gives color to bile, feces and bruises, and most bilirubin is gathered from the blood stream by the liver. From there, bilirubin is broken down by the gall bladder and intestines, and then excreted by the bowel. There are some bilirubin, that stays in the blood until it is picked up by the kidneys, where it's the broken down into urobilins and removed from the body in urine. Urobilins are the pigment that gives urine its yellow color.

Urine is usually pale yellow, but it can range from clear to deep amber or straw color in a healthy person. The intensity of yellow color in the urine is determined by how hydrated a person is. An individual who is very hydrated has more water to release through urinating, and thus has a lesser concentrate of urobilin in the urine. While, an individual who is very dehydrated will have a much higher concentration, and thus much darker urine.

source: mdinfo

Why does body stop achieving its desired growth?

There are factors that can prevent you from achieving the desired height that you want, even if you are eating healthy foods.

First it could be the age, sex, hereditary which you got from your parents.

Males usually stop growing at the age of 21 years old and for females up to 18 years of age. Next, would be if it’s hereditary.

Always consider the genetic linkage of your height through your parent’s height also.

If both parents manifest having short in height then chances are you would also have the same as well. Males can maximize their growth based on age longer than for females.

Best Resolution To Get Rid of Stammering Problem Stammering is a problem with speech where a person has a trouble forming words or putting thoughts into words. No one understands why stammering occurs, but there are lot of research is being done to find it out.

Stammering seldom occurs when a single word is being spoken or read, but it is usually occurs at the beginning of a sentence or idea. Different parts of the brain deal with language processing and the formation of speech, and medical expert are looking at the coordination between these processes.

Here are 5 ways to help you and get rid of stammering:

1. Understand your stammering habits

The very first step to get rid of stammering is by knowing what exactly makes you stammer.

2. Tackle your stammering

Having analyzed your stammering habit, tackle it one element at a time, starting with something you feel you might be able to change.

3. Do not be afraid to talk in public

You have probably adopted some avoidance behaviors to hide or avoid your stammer. The problem is that the more you avoid, the more you need to go on avoiding the problem

4. Keep your eyes and ears open

Watch and listen carefully when people are speaking on buses, on radio phone-ins, at home and in shops.

5. Practice

Practice is the key to get rid of stammering. Take time to speak rather than rushing. Speak a little bit slowly. Have patient to yourself and say what you want to say, pause for a moment before you start to speak. Do not force the words you just makes them harder to say.

Blueberries gives the brain a memory boost

According to a new research by the scientists of the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, the antioxidative phytochemicals present in blueberries can give the brain a memory boost; and can, as such, play a notable role in improving memory in older adults with dementia risk.

Against the backdrop of the memory-enhancing benefit of blueberries in earlier animal studies, lead researcher Robert Krikorian and colleagues worked together with several other organizations to test the effect of blueberry juice on memory – observing a group of volunteers, aged around 70 years and showing early signs of memory loss.

The researchers asked the study participants to drink at least two cups of blueberry juice per day for two months; while a control group was made to drink a placebo non-juice beverage during the same period.

The researchers, who conducted learning and memory tests – like word association, list learning and recall tasks – at the beginning and end of the study period, found that the study participants who drank blueberry juice showed a noteworthy improvement in the memory-related tests.

Reporting their findings in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the researchers said: “These preliminary memory findings are encouraging and suggest that consistent supplementation with blueberries may offer an approach to forestall or mitigate neurodegeneration.”

source: topnews.us

Great News For People With Multiple Sclerosis A little pill may mean big news for people suffering from multiple sclerosis.
A new study out of the London School of Medicine and Dentistry shows a drug called "cladribine" significantly reduces MS relapse and deterioration, without the unpleasant side effects linked to existing therapies.

Doctors followed more than 1300 MS patients for two years.

Compared to those taking a dummy pill, those who received cladribine tablets were 55 percent less likely to suffer a relapse, and 30 percent less likely to have their disabilities worsen.

Multiple sclerosis is a neurological condition that interferes with the brain's ability to communicate with other parts of the body causing problems with muscle control, vision, hearing and memory.

Researchers say the cladribine works by suppressing the immune system enough for it not to attack the nervous system.

The study appears in The New England Journal of Medicine.

source: wctv.tv

US Researchers To Probe Genetic Changes In Children's Cancer WASHINGTON -Researchers unveiled an unprecedented effort Monday to map the genetic changes of common pediatric cancers to learn more about the underpinnings of the diseases, which could lead to new and better treatments.

Specifically, researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis embarked on a three-year, $65 million effort to decode the genomes of more than 600 cancer patients. The effort is being paid for with private funds including $20 million from Kay Jewelers, which is part of Signet Jewelers Ltd (SIG).

Cancer cells will be compared to normal cells taken from the same patient to find changes that occurred in the cancer cell that didn't occur in the normal cell.

Cancer is triggered by changes or mutations in the DNA of normal cells.

Dr. Larry Shapiro, dean of Washington University's school of medicine, explained that each cell contains more than 20,000 genes. The cells also contain about 3 billion nucleotides or molecules that make up the DNA inside the cells.

Until recently, it was impossible for researchers to look at all of the parts of a cell.

"For the first time in history we have the tools to identify all of the genetic abnormalities that turn a white blood cell into leukemia or a brain cell into brain cancer," said Dr. William Evans, St. Jude's director. St. Jude specializes in treating children with cancer.

Last September, the National Institutes of Health announced plans to map the most 20 common types of adult cancer.

Dr. Francis Collins, the head of NIH, said the pediatric cancer-research program will be complementary to the adult cancer-mapping effort.

"This is going to be the most significant set of data we can imagine in pediatric cancer," Collins said, adding that it "will provide new targets for treatments."

Evans explained that children's cancer likely differs significantly from adult cancer. For example, children typically get one form of leukemia, or cancer of the blood, while another type is more common in adults.

Although childhood cancer is relatively rare, with about 18,000 new cases diagnosed each year in the U.S., it's still the leading cause of death among children age 1 and older.

Richard Wilson, director of Washington University's Genome Center, said computer analyses will be conducted on cancer cells to "find needles in the haystack that are absent" in the normal cell.

Researchers will focus on childhood leukemias, brain tumors and tumors of bone, muscle and other connective tissues called sarcomas.

St. Jude will provide DNA from tumor and normal tissues of patients. Washington University's Genome Center will perform the whole genome sequencing. The research will be made public.

SOURCE: online.wsj

Poor oral health in pregnant women can cause stillbirth

The connection between poor oral health such as gum disease and unborn babies has been established before but the new study from researchers at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio has for the first time connected a pregnant mother’s gum infection to a stillbirth.

Pregnant women with untreated gum disease such as gingivitis may be risking the lives of their babies, says a new study.

Pregnant women who do not visit dentists, or maintain oral health, and allow oral bacteria to go unchecked are under the risk of having pre-term babies or babies with low birth weight.

The latest report on poor oral health among pregnant women cites the case of a mother with oral bacteria that led to an infection in a full-term baby, resulting in stillbirth.

So if there is one time in your life when it is absolutely essential to take the utmost care of your teeth and gums, it is during pregnancy. With all the hormonal changes going on in your body at this time, your risk of developing gum disease (pregnant women may suffer from pregnancy gingivitis – a condition which leads to bleeding of tender gums) goes up, and this can be detrimental to your developing baby’s health. In fact, doctors advise women who are hoping to conceive to get their teeth professionally cleaned and any tooth problems sorted out before conception.

What’s the connection?

You might be wondering what healthy gums have to do with your baby’s health. Researchers have demonstrated that women with gum disease are up to seven times more likely to deliver a pre-term baby or low-birth baby. A labor-inducing chemical found in oral bacteria called prostaglandin is responsible for this. Gum disease and cavities may enable oral bacteria to enter the blood stream and travel to the uterus, causing the mother to go into pre-term labor. In fact, studies have shown that women with gum disease have high levels of prostaglandin in their blood. Early labor means pre-term babies who are vulnerable to various conditions including vision and hearing loss, mental retardation, and premature death. Therefore, it is very important to control the levels of harmful bacteria in the mouth, especially during pregnancy.

Steps you must take:

Maintain good oral hygiene: Brush and floss regularly. If you are suffering from morning sickness, switch to a bland toothpaste after consulting options with your doctor. If you are having frequent bouts of vomiting, make sure you rinse your mouth frequently with water, or mouthwash advised by your dentist.

Visit your dentist: Inform your dentist that you are pregnant. Avoid scheduling any elective procedures and X-rays during your first trimester and the latter half of your third trimester, as these are important periods in your baby’s gestational cycle.

Make regular visits to your dentist so that he may flag any signs of gum disease and treat it. If you are diagnosed with gum disease during pregnancy, your dentist is likely to recommend a procedure called scaling and root planing that involves cleaning the surface of your teeth to get rid of plaque and tartar and removal of bacterial toxins from the root of your teeth. Studies have shown that this procedure may reduce the risk of pre-term labor in women with gum disease.

Eat healthy: Cravings are very common during pregnancy, and many women feel the urge to indulge in sugary treats. Try to rein in those cravings as sugar can play havoc on your teeth and increase your chances of tooth decay. Researchers also speculate that tooth decay-causing bacteria may pass on from the mother to the child.

Towards the end of your first trimester, your baby is developing his or her first teeth, so you want to make sure you’re getting enough calcium in your diet by eating dairy products during this time. Remember, by eating healthy, you are investing in your child’s oral health.

Avoid certain medications: Inform your doctor about any medications you might be taking, as some drugs are likely to interfere the development of your baby’s teeth. Some medicines during your pregnancy may cause yellowing of your baby’s teeth.

Taking good care of your oral health during pregnancy will improve your baby’s odds of being a full-term baby. Additionally, maintaining a healthy diet and getting in regular dental visits will not only help you establish healthy habits, it will ensure the healthy development of your baby’s teeth as well!

source: bolohealth

Low-Carb Diet Lowers Blood Pressure Along With Weight Loss

A low-carbohydrate diet may have health benefits that go beyond weight loss.

A new study shows that a low-carbohydrate diet was equally good as the weight loss drug orlistat (the active ingredient in Alli and Xenical) at helping overweight and obese people lose weight, but people who followed the low-carb diet also experienced a healthy drop in their blood pressure levels.

"I expected the weight loss to be considerable with both therapies but we were surprised to see blood pressure improve so much more with the low-carbohydrate diet than with orlistat," researcher William S. Yancy, Jr., MD, an associate professor of medicine at Duke University Medical Center, says in a news release. "If people have high blood pressure and a weight problem, a low-carbohydrate diet might be a better option than a weight loss medication."

Researchers say studies have already shown that the two weight loss methods are effective at promoting weight loss, but it's the first time the health effects of each have been compared head to head.

"It's important to know you can try a diet instead of medication and get the same weight loss results with fewer costs and potentially fewer side effects," Yancy says.

Low-Carb Lowers Blood Pressure

In the study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, 146 obese or overweight adults were randomly divided into two groups. Many of the participants also had chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

The first group was advised to follow a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet consisting of less than 20 grams of carbohydrates per day, and the second group received the weight loss drug orlistat three times a day, plus counseling in following a low-fat diet (less than 30% of daily calories from fat) at group meetings over 48 weeks.

The results showed weight loss was similar in the two groups. The low-carb diet group lost an average of 9.5% of their body weight and the orlistat group lost an average of 8.5%. Both weight loss methods were also not significantly different at improving cholesterol and glucose levels.

But when researchers looked at changes in blood pressure, they found nearly half of those who followed the low-carbohydrate group had their blood pressure medication decreased or discontinued during the study, compared to only 21% of those in the orlistat group.

Overall, systolic (the top number in a blood pressure reading) dropped an average of 5.9 points among the low-carb diet group, compared with an increase of 1.5 points in the orlistat group.

Researchers say weight loss itself typically produces a healthy reduction in blood pressure, but it appears that a low-carbohydrate diet has an additional blood pressure-lowering effect that merits further study.

source: webmd

Should you freeze out frozen foods? China’s manufacturing controls have caused alarm around the world -- most recently on Monday when frozen foods and dairy products were pulled from shelves in Southern China because of melamine contamination.

(Relaxnews) -
China’s manufacturing controls have caused alarm around the world - most recently on Monday when frozen foods and dairy products were pulled from shelves in Southern China because of melamine contamination.

Of course, you do not want to find any tainted foods in your kitchen but are frozen foods a sound option for living green and eating optimally?

If you are trying to decrease your oil footprint then you would want to stay clear from purchasing frozen foods (and chewing gum) according to Planet Green, a healthy living website, because the wax layer in frozen food packaging contains petroleum.

But BetterHealth Channel, an online health information site for consumers that is monitored by the Australian government, says "[t]he nutrient value of a food is retained when it is frozen. Any nutrient losses are due to the processing prior to freezing and the cooking once the frozen food is thawed."

Ideally it is best to purchase flash-frozen food products, as the integrity of the food is kept intact.

source: independent.co.uk

Fast Healthy Eating By Pressure Cooker Way

(Paula Crossfield, the managing editor of Civil Eats, e-mailed me recently about how much she likes her new pressure cooker. I asked her to write about it, and she did. –MB)

I received a great gift this year for Christmas: a pressure cooker. Popular in Europe, India and many other parts of the world, pressure cookers have become quite modern: my five-quart Swiss-made Kuhn Rikon has a lid that is simple to close, a lock inside which prevents me from opening the lid until the pressure is released, and a pressure indicator so I know when to turn down the heat. No more soup on the ceiling.

With it, I can cook most dried beans in twenty minutes or less. Some, like lentils or split peas, can be done in less than ten. Most vegetables need five minutes or less in a pressure cooker, and grains cook in a third of the time it would take in an ordinary pot. You can be endlessly creative: combine them in soups like a black-eyed pea chili or in Indian-style curries.

Lorna Sass, the author of the re-released cookbook “Cooking Under Pressure,” says that the pressure cooker “makes possible a healthy, new definition of fast food.” She continued, “I’m an impatient cook. If I have an appliance that allows me to eat a delicious lentil soup about 15 minutes after the idea comes to mind, that’s my idea of a great appliance.”

The key to pressure cooking is in the liquid you add to your grains, beans, veggies and meat. Liquids heat fast, and the steam produced helps build pressure in the sealed pot, quickly tenderizing the fibers of the food inside. The result of that contained cooking holds other surprises: intense flavor, and more nutrients maintained in the food.

Risotto, says Lorna Sass, is an impressive dish that has succeeded in converting many people to pressure cookers. I decided to make a basic broccoli risotto, based on her recipe. I chopped an onion, diced a clove of garlic and sautéed both in the pressure cooker, lid off. After the onions became translucent, I added a finely chopped head of broccoli and 1 1/2 cups of arborio rice, stirring to coat everything in the oil.

I already had stock in the fridge (a simple recipe of Mark’s from “How to Cook Everything Vegetarian”: a quartered onion, two halved garlic cloves sautéed in olive oil, to which I added three tablespoons of soy sauce, carrot peels, a quartered potato, one chopped rib of celery, a bunch of parsley stems, and eight cups of boiling water, cooked under high pressure for five minutes), so I added four cups along with a pinch of saffron and salt, and then locked the lid in place.

The prep took longer than the five minutes the dish required to cook; after that, I let the steam out by pressing on the valve with an oven-mitted hand.

Then I slid open the lid to find a transformation of rice and broccoli into the creamy, delicious Northern Italian dish. I stirred in a cup of grated parmesan and then tasted it: delicious.

Critics of pressure cooking are often people who like to monitor what’s going on in the pot. With this technique, it isn’t an option. However, once the pot is sealed, and the timer is set, the cook using a pressure cooker is free to set the table, open the wine, or prepare dessert. It takes some getting used to, but the time savings is always worth the trade off.

source: bitten.blogs.nytimes

Male Abusers Often Sabotage Birth Control With Partners Study found physical violence often accompanied by attempts to get young women pregnant

A new report says that male partners of teenage girls and young women who engage in physical and sexual violence also often try to sabotage the birth control the women are using.

The study, which appears online in the January issue of Contraception, also finds that women who experience both birth-control sabotage and violence from their partner are twice as likely to have an unintended pregnancy.

"This study highlights an under-recognized phenomenon where male partners actively attempt to promote pregnancy against the will of their female partners," study author Elizabeth Miller, an assistant professor of pediatrics in the University of California at Davis School of Medicine, said in a news release from the school. "Not only is reproductive coercion associated with violence from male partners, but when women report experiencing both reproductive coercion and partner violence, the risk for unintended pregnancy increases significantly."

The study was conducted from 2008-2009 at five health clinics that deal with reproductive issues in Northern California. About 1,300 women aged 16 to 29 took part by responding to a computerized survey.

About 15 percent said they'd experienced birth-control sabotage, and more than half reported physical or sexual violence from a partner. More than one-third of those who said they had been the victim of partner violence also acknowledged experiencing either pregnancy coercion or birth-control sabotage, the researchers found.

"We have known about the association between partner violence and unintended pregnancy for many years," study senior author Jay Silverman, an associate professor of society, human development and health in the Harvard School of Public Health, said in the news release. "What this study shows is that reproductive coercion likely explains why unintended pregnancies are far more common among abused women and teens."

source: businessweek

Kids Nutrition – Top 8 Healthy Diet To Boost Childs Growth

Mum Mum’s recently reported on understanding a whole food based diet. Developing healthy eating habits is not as difficult as one might think, and starting children are born with a clean slate and pick up their eating habits by mirror others. Even if you understand the lingo, but are still having a difficult time grasping how to implement a healthy diet into your family’s meals here are 8 building blocks to a healthy diet:

1. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes are the foundation of a healthy diet. Low in fat, rich in vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients; these foods provide what your body needs and should represent the bulk of your diet.

2. The second principal is to eat those foods in a wide variety, as different foods provide different nutrients. Create a rainbow on your plate of colorful produce daily and mix up the types of grains and legumes for maximum benefit.

3. The rest of the foods should come from low-fat dairy, lean meat, fish, and poultry. Vegetarians and vegans can still get adequate protein without animal foods as long as the previous rules are applied.

4. Make sure to include dark leafy green, yellow, and orange vegetables and fruits daily as they not only contain disease-fighting antioxidants and natural immune boosters, but are also important nutrients for growing kids like vitamins A and C, as well as calcium.

5. Choose high fiber foods: this one is easy if you follow the previous steps! Fiber is abundant in whole grains, legumes, fruits, and veggies and is basically an added bonus for the good food choices.

6. Go for the healthy fats and limit the unhealthy: opt for fish, nuts, and nut butters as well as olive and canola oils over hydrogenated oils, butter, margarine, or trans fats.

7. Get enough calcium: calcium is critical to maintain healthy bones and teeth and kids need lots of calcium to support their growing bones. Low fat dairy is an option, but if there is a dairy allergy in the house, emphasize non-dairy calcium sources like leafy greens, almonds, soy nuts, beans, or fortified orange juice.

8. Have sugary foods, processed grains, and high sodium snacks in moderation: this is the last step because these types of food can be eaten only when the proper foundation of a healthy diet is laid. Just like you can’t put a roof on a house until it is built from the ground up, refined or processed snack foods fit best on top of the healthy diet building blocks.

Fasting: What health benefits can we expect?

Many doctors disagree with me, but I believe that fasting--voluntarily abstaining from food for a set period of time--can be safe and beneficial if you do it correctly.

Giving your digestive system a break frees energy for your body to heal and repair itself. I have seen patients with asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease experience complete relief from their symptoms while forgoing food for a few days. Some people also feel more energetic and alert.

I recommend an occasional juice fast--no more than two or three times a year--during which you abstain from food but drink fresh juice (try to limit to 16 ounces a day), unsweetened herbal tea, and water for 1 to 3 days. I try to follow this regimen myself. To avoid constipation, drink a glass of water that contains a tablespoon of a fiber supplement made from psyllium once a day, and follow it with a second glass of pure water.

Keep taking any medications you've been prescribed. When the time comes, break your fast gently with a light meal of veggies and fruit.
Talk with your doctor before trying a fast. If you have diabetes, are pregnant or nursing, or are thin and frail, you shouldn't fast at all.

Source: Andrew Weil, MD, clinical professor of medicine at the University of Arizona and director of its Program in Integrative Medicine.

Medical Benefits of Fasting
It is a safe and effective means of maximizing the body’s self –healing capacities

An aid in transition

A speedy recovery

Overcoming addictions

Uterine fibroid tumor contributes to pain and excess bleeding, hysterectomy is often recommended and a proper fast reduces the size and effect of these tumors

Patients with chronic pain in the back and neck experience dramatic improvement through the use of fasting

A lot of people with cardiovascular problems achieve and maintain normal blood pressure without the use of medications

Gastrointestinal disorders like esophagitis, gastritis, colitis and constipation usually respond well to conservative care and fasting is of good help to people who have this condition

Diabetics can be brought under control and freed from the use of other medication and insulin through the use of fasting and a carefully followed diet and a lifestyle program.

Fasting can be used for almost every chronic condition, including allergies, arthritis, asthma, depression, anxiety, diabetes, headaches, heart disease, high cholesterol, low blood sugar, digestive disorders, mental illness, and obesity.

Fasting is also effective and safe weight loss method, and it is also often prescribed as a detoxification treatment for those with conditions that may be influenced by environmental factors, such as cancer and multiple chemical sensitivity.

Fasting so far, has been used successfully to help treat those who have been exposed to high levels of toxic materials due to accident or occupation. Fasting is actually thought to be helpful as a preventative measure to increase overall health, vitality, and resistance to disease, it has also been associated method of mental and spiritual rejuvenation.

source: mdinfo

Reap healthy benefits by including tomatoes in your diet

Lycopene is an excellent antioxidant, belonging to the family of carotenoids -- an extremely diverse class of phytochemical molecules responsible for the yellow, orange and red colours of many fruits and vegetables. (Lycopene is the pigment responsible for the tomato's red colour.)

Countries with heavy tomato consumption have much lower prostate cancer rates than Canada and the United States.

Some studies have suggested men who consume tomato-based products show a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer, especially the more aggressive forms of the disease. Lycopene may hinder the development of prostate cancer by acting directly on certain enzymes responsible for the growth of this tissue.

Where do I get lycopene?

As a general rule, tomato-based products constitute about 85 per cent of all lycopene intake, with other fruits supplying the remaining 15 per cent. Products made from cooked tomatoes are particularly rich in lycopene: exposing the cell walls to heat, allows for extraction of the molecule and causes changes in its structure that let the body absorb it more.

The presence of vegetable fats also increases the availability of lycopene. Cooking tomatoes in olive oil is an excellent way to increase the amount of lycopene that can be absorbed.

Best food sources include tomato paste, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, tomato soup, tomato juice and canned tomatoes. Smaller but significant amounts are also found in raw tomatoes, guava, watermelon, papaya and pink grapefruit.

How much do I need?

Eating two tomato sauce-based meals per week may lower your risk of developing prostate cancer by up to 25 per cent.

Hungarian Goulash

(Use leftover lean red meat to make this dish, which is great for a packed Thermos lunch)

1 tsp (5 mL) olive oil

1/2 cup (125 mL) chopped onion

1 cup (250 mL) diced green pepper

1 cup (250 mL) sliced mushrooms (Portobello best)

1 tbsp (15 mL) Hungarian paprika

1 cup (250 mL) low-sodium tomato sauce

6oz (170g)lean, cookedred meat (cut into 1-inch or 2.5 cm wide strips)

black pepper to taste

2 tbsp (25 mL) low fat sour cream (or plain yogurt)

2 fresh tomatoes, cut into small wedges

Heat oil in a non-stick skillet on low to medium heat and add onion, green pepper, and mushrooms. Saute for 4 to 5 minutes. Add paprika and tomato sauce; simmer for 2 minutes.

Add lean red meat and black pepper.

Heat for 2 minutes; serve over brown rice or whole grain noodles. Spoon sour cream on top and sprinkle with fresh tomatoes.

Makes 2 servings. Provides 24 mg of lycopene.

source: canada

How weather changes trigger kid's headache

Many people with chronic headaches believe that weather changes trigger their woes.

Turns out they may be right, suggest new research findings.

In a study of 25 children and teenagers with migraines or chronic tension-type headaches, researchers found that symptoms tended to flare up on days when it rained or when humidity was higher than normal.

Overall, study participants were nearly three times more likely to have a headache when it was raining or humidity was higher than average, compared with drier conditions, according to findings published in the journal Headache.

People who suffer migraines or other types of debilitating headaches commonly cite weather changes as one of the triggers. But studies on the matter have come to conflicting conclusions.

For the current study, researchers gave children handheld computers to record their headache symptoms in "real time" over two weeks. They then compared that information with weather data the researchers gathered using weather-tracking software.

This is an improvement over most past studies, which have used less- precise methods, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Mark Connelly of Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City, Missouri.

Overall, the researchers found that during periods of rain, kids in their study had a 59 percent probability of reporting headache symptoms. That compared with a 21 percent probability at rain-free times.

Similarly, the odds of headache symptoms were 58 percent when humidity was higher than average -- versus 22 percent when humidity levels were average.

"Results of the present study," Connelly's team writes, "lend some support to the belief commonly held by children with recurrent headaches that weather changes may contribute to headache onset."

Exactly why rain and humidity would trigger headaches in some children is not clear. Nor do the findings necessarily mean that other weather variables are unimportant.

One recent study of 7,000 patients with severe migraine or non- migraine headaches found that the risk of symptoms climbed on days when the temperature rose or barometric pressure dropped.

Low barometric pressure generally means cloudy skies and storms; in the current study, however, there was no specific link between headache symptoms and barometric pressure changes.

More research is needed to understand how weather variables may affect people's headache symptoms, according to Connelly and his colleagues.

It also remains to be seen how such knowledge could be practically useful for patients, the researchers conclude.

SOURCE: Headache, December 21, 2009.

Health Benefits of Vitamin D on Brains And Bones From time to time, I’ll write about various vitamins and how they affect our health. But what exactly is a vitamin?

A vitamin is an organic substance essential in small quantities to normal metabolism. It is found naturally in various foods, but it can also be produced artificially. A lack of vitamins can produce certain diseases.

Vitamin D has received quite a bit of press these days both in medical literature as well as in newspapers and magazines.

Vitamin D is the only nutrient the human body makes itself. Ultraviolet rays from sun exposure interact with a chemical in the skin to form an inactive version of vitamin D, which is then converted in the liver and kidneys into an active version useful to our bodies.

Because people have been warned to wear sunscreen and to limit sun exposure, though, we might not be able to manufacture enough of this vitamin on our own and may need to look for other sources.

Vitamin D can be found in a limited number of foods, including fatty fish, fish liver oils, liver, and egg yolks. Commercial milk products, breakfast cereals and juices are often fortified with low levels of vitamin D. People don’t usually eat enough of these foods to consistently cover their daily vitamin D requirements, though.

The primary benefits of vitamin D for our bodies are these:

• Bone health: Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus, which are two minerals needed for strong bones. People taking vitamin D have a lower risk of bone fractures and also have been found to have a lower chance of falling in the first place.

• Brain function: People with higher blood levels of vitamin D have higher cognitive performance, including memory and thinking skills.

Low levels of vitamin D, by contrast, have been associatedwith some increased risks: cancer of the colon, breast and prostate; arthritis; diabetes; and infections, such as tuberculosis.

The accepted recommended daily dose of vitamin D is 400 to 600 international units per day. Most common multivitamins contain 400 IU. Momentum is building within the medical community to increase the daily recommended dose to at least 800 to 1,000 IU. From what I can tell, this is a reasonable recommendation. The higher level should help to strengthen bones and muscles and hopefully prevent a variety of diseases, such as those I have mentioned.

source: presbanner

Individuals with HIV are found to suffer from premature aging of the brain Individuals with HIV are found to suffer from premature aging of the brain, either from the infection or from the treatments. Scientists say the findings of concerning, given the present statistics that 14 to 18 percent of HIV infections in the US are among the over 50 age group. Cognitive decline and memory loss are being reported by individuals with HIV. Researchers say brain aging associated with HIV is a public health concern that needs more study.

First author Beau Ances, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of neurology at Washington University says, "Patients are surviving into their senior years, and a number of them are coming forward to express concerns about problems they're having with memory and other cognitive functions." By the year 2015, fifty percent of individuals with HIV in the US will be over age 50, making the effects of HIV infection and treatments a significant public health concern.

HIV studies have shown that the infection ages the body by ten years and has an adverse effect the heart, liver, endocrine system, skeleton and kidneys. Now scientists, using a technique known as arterial spin labeling that measures blood flow to the brain, have been able to find the effect of brain aging by comparing 26 uninfected HIV subjects to 25 patients who have HIV.

The study showed increased blood flow to the brain in HIV infected patients asked to perform visual tasks, showing that the brain had to work harder, even among younger subjects. "Brain blood flow levels decline naturally as we age, but HIV, the medications we use to control it or some combination of the two appear to be accelerating this process independent of aging," Ances says.

Ances suggests that premature aging of the brain associated with HIV infection should be used as criteria for beginning medication treatment. "Could we reduce the harmful effects of the virus if we started treatment earlier, or does treatment significantly contribute to the harm that's being done?" Ances asks. "These are the kinds of issues we urgently need to start examining as the AIDS patient population ages." Premature aging of the brain associated with HIV infection could lead to full blown dementia as HIV infected patients who are living longer progress to their senior years.

SOURCE: emaxhealth

Key Risk Factors For Carotid Artery Disease Carotid arteries carry blood to the brain, but they can become narrowed or clogged when sticky substances known as plaque build up in these vessels.

Carotid artery blockages are caused by hardening of the arteries, called atherosclerosis

The U.S. National Library of Medicine says risk factors for carotid artery disease include:

* Having high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
* Being diabetic.
* Having heart disease.
* Drinking excessive alcohol.
* Having kidney disease, notably when dialysis is needed.
* Abusing cocaine.
* Having a family history of stroke.
* Getting older.
* Smoking.

source: businessweek

Immunomedics new blood test may help detect cancer better A blood test being developed by Immunomedics Inc. (IMMU) may help in identifying pancreatic cancer at an early-stage better by using clivatuzumab antibody.

Shares in the small biopharmaceutical firm following this announcement were up 9.5 per cent at $4.63.

Immunomedics Chairman and Chief Exeimmucutive Cynthia L. Sullivan noted the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer has always been a challenge. The company stated that if the disease was detected early then the five-year survival rate could improve by about 20 per cent.

Blood test of a small group with pancreatic cancer surgery found that the test was sensitive by 62 per cent for detecting stage-one pancreatic cancer, in stage two it was 86 per cent and for stages three and four the test was 91 per cent sensitive.

Dr David V. Gold, who developed clivatuzumab, the antibody, said, "Although the number of samples studied is still modest, the test appears to have the ability to detect early disease in a higher percent of patients than any other single test currently available.”

For coming to a conclusion a study involving about 68 patients who had pancreatic cancer surgery and 19 healthy patients were analyzed. Results of the study were presented at the annual Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in Orlando, Fla.

SOURCE topnews.us

Michelle Obama - First Lady to Fight for Kids' Health

First Lady Michelle Obama has declared: "Obesity is one of the biggest threats to the American economy." The fabulous first lady is set help kids' (and adults) with one of the biggest health battles they may face and she wants to use her bully pulpit and the nation's mayors to help her battle an epidemic that could see today's kids lead shorter lives than their parents.

Saying childhood obesity has "tripled in the last 30 years," she said the increase in weight gain, "could now be an even greater threat to America's health than smoking."

She added that if the nation stays on its current path, nearly 50 percent of all Americans will be obese in 10 years - "not just overweight, but obese."

E Canada Now notes: "Mrs. Obama also warned of the economic toll obesity brings to communities, as many employers do not want to hire obese people because of the high cost of health care."

She added, "Think about all the missed days of work and decreased productivity that we're going to see as a result."

On Wednesday she spoke out for kids: "It's about whether we're willing to use both our policies and our bully pulpits," she said in a 20-minute speech to the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

"Right now, nearly one third of children in America are overweight or obese. That's one in three children."

"One third of all children today will eventually suffer from diabetes - and in the African-American and Latino communities - that number goes up to almost half."

The best solution - get kids moving!

SOURCE: nationalledger

Supplements or Foods For Good Body Built

It is better for you to have both supplements and healthy foods to have a good built because all of these are all complete which our body needs. There are many factors that could be considered but these will go a long way to making sure you stay healthy and greatly enhance your resistance to illness and disease.

There are common and inexpensive supplements be it both vitamin and mineral that we all need to take on a regular basis to help maintain resistance and make sure that our bones, blood, brain and nervous system are all working correctly.

WHOLE FOOD MULTIVITAMIN
We all need taking a good whole food multivitamin on a daily basis to make sure that we are getting all the essential nutrients from complete whole food sources as the body is meant to.

VITAMIN C per day is three doses every six hours (Morn, noon, Eve)

Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin which can not be stored in the organs or fatty tissues as fat soluble vitamins such as A, D, and E can.

VITAMIN D be sure to get enough sunlight exposure on a daily basis.

ZINC is a vital mineral that due to food processing too low in the human diet today. It has powerful resistant enhancing properties especially when taken with extra selenium on a regular basis.

SELENIUM is a vital and essential mineral and is totally devoid from the human diet because of modern farming methods.

VITAMIN B complex provides potent anti-oxidant protection to the body and mostly to the cells of the brain and central nervous system.

Macrobiotic diet for good natural health

A macrobiotic diet is better understood as a lifestyle, rather than as a diet. Macrobiotics is not just focused on what we eat, but how we live each day. A macrobiotic lifestyle aims to achieve balance between the body and the natural world.

The nutritional aspect of the macrobiotic diet holds to the principle that your body could live in harmony with nature and recover its natural good health.

The following guidelines are important components of the macrobiotic approach to diet and eating:

• Whenever possible, use foods native to the climate and geography in which you live.

• Approximately 50% to 60% of the diet is composed of whole grains, including brown rice, millet, barley, oats, rye, corn, wheat, and buckwheat. Breads should be consumed sparingly, but eat only those made without yeast and without pasta.

• Approximately 20% to 30% percent of the diet consists of vegetables including green cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, collards, pumpkin, watercress, dandelion and mustard greens, scallions, onions, turnips, carrots, and winter squash. On occasion, eating cucumbers, lettuce, celery, chives and dill is permitted. Potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants are not permitted, as these foods are thought to undermine natural immunity.

• Another 5% to 10% of the diet is represented by soups made from vegetables and grains.

• The remaining 5% to 10% of the diet comes from cooked beans and mineral-rich sea vegetables, such as nori or hijiki.

• Fruits may be enjoyed occasionally, but should be locally grown.

• Fish and nuts may be enjoyed occasionally.

• All animal products, except the occasional fish, are eliminated from the macrobiotic diet.

• Dairy foods, refined sugars, honey, molasses, vanilla, and chocolate are eliminated from the macrobiotic diet.

• Water and decaffeinated teas are permitted. However, sodas, coffee, caffeinated and aromatic teas, and alcohol are not allowed.

• Food preparation also is central to the macrobiotic lifestyle. Recommended cooking fuels are wood and natural gas. As the objective is to live in harmony with nature, electrical- and microwave-based cooking is discouraged. A rationale is that electrical- and microwave-based cooking is believed to cause food to retain less energy and nutrients.

• Meals should take place in a relaxed and contemplative setting.

• Food should be savored with gratitude and chewed thoroughly—50 times is the official chew count per mouthful of food.

• Meals should take place in a relaxed and contemplative setting.

The macrobiotic lifestyle also encompasses guidelines for bathing, clothing, outdoor activities and exercise, and organization of the home:

• Excessively hot and long showers and baths are discouraged, as they can leach minerals from the body.

• Clothing should be made from natural fibers. Clothing made from synthetic fibers should be avoided.

• Fresh air and regular exercise are also essential components of the macrobiotic lifestyle.

• A neat and orderly home is encouraged.

source: mdinfo

Foods and drinks that improve sexual desire

The main thing that makes for exciting sex and will augment sexual desire is the brain. The brain creates visual images exciting and interprets sensual smells and a sexy sounding voice.

Here are vitamins, nutrients and foods that add to sexual drive.

B-Complex Vitamins – vitamins B-1, B-2 and B-3 are essential for healthy sex drive. You can discover vitamin B-1 in grains and nuts. Vitamin B-2 is established in bananas, broccoli and lean meats. Vitamin B-3 creates improved blood flow and is important for sex hormones and to augment sexual desire.

Vitamin E helps with sex hormone production and improves circulation - it is originate in whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Zinc is needed for testosterone production and is found in oysters, pumpkin seeds, spinach and garlic. Oysters are loaded with zinc, so oysters may aid you increase sexual desire.

Androsterone - the male hormone – it is originated in celery. When you eat celery, you can discharge the androsterone through your perspiration and women can be attracted to this. Pumpkin pie - the aroma of pumpkin pie can augment blood flow to the penis according to a study.

With all this focus on foods and nutrition that augment sexual desire, remember that the most important thing you can do is to pay attention to your partner.

Difference between Nuclear Stress Test and Treadmill Stress Test Nuclear stress test, also referred as cardiolyte, or tallium or Adenosine Test is normally done in conjunction with an exercise stress test on a treadmill, but can also be performed using medicines such as adenosine and dipyridamole that effectively simulate the effects of exercise on the heart.

With the help of a cardiac nuclear stress imaging, it can determine whether coronary artery stenoses (blockages) are so severe as to limit blood flow to heart muscle when it needs it most during physical activity. Moreover, nuclear imaging allows a determination of the heart’s pumping function (ejection fraction).

On the other hand, Treadmill stress test is a type of medical test that indirectly reflects arterial blood flow to the heart during physical exercise. When compared to blood flow during rest, this test reflects imbalances of blood flow to the heart's left ventricular muscle tissue which is the part of the heart that performs the greatest amount of work pumping blood. It is usually done for:
*Patients with symptoms or signs that are indicative of coronary artery diseases (CAD).

*To evaluate exercise tolerance to people who have unexplained fatigue and shortness of breath.

*To evaluate blood pressure response to exercise in persons with borderline hypertension.

source: mdinfo

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