June 2010

How to detect if food is contaminated? You can't tell whether a food is contaminated with E. coli by the way it looks, smells or tastes. Although most types of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria are harmless, a few nasty strains, such as E. coli O157:H7, can cause serious food-borne illness.

To protect yourself from E. coli and other food-borne illnesses, follow basic food safety guidelines:

* Rinse raw produce thoroughly; scrub those with a firm surface.

* Wash your hands, utensils and kitchen surfaces with hot, soapy water before and after preparing or eating food.

* Keep raw foods, especially meats, separate from ready-to-eat foods.

* Cook your food thoroughly, especially ground beef to a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

* Refrigerate or freeze perishable foods promptly.

* Avoid unpasteurized juices, ciders and dairy products.

* Don't drink untreated water from lakes or streams.

Grilled Fish is the Most Nutritious Way of Cooking

Experiment: Fish rich in nutrition, taste delicious, very popular with everyone loved. Fish nutrition should be how to eat it? The experiment compared a variety of common ways of cooking, the nutrients in fish change.

Experimental Methods: catfish as raw material, metal frame were determined grilled fish, steamed, braised, microwave, boiling, frying six methods of cooking, a variety of vitamins and minerals in fish preservation rate.

The results: fish rich in B vitamins such as vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6 and so on, there is a small amount of vitamin A and vitamin E. Various cooking methods in our laboratory according to the corresponding changes in nutrients, a healthy cooking method for ranking.

First, barbecue fish. Fish in Victoria B2, B6, A and Victoria E Victoria losses are small, only a slight loss of B1 dimension. Meanwhile, after a barbecue, fish in calcium, potassium, magnesium content was significantly increased.

Second, steamed fish. Will lose more vitamin A and maintenance of B1, the other vitamins and minerals preserved.

Third, boiled fish. Significant loss of water-soluble vitamins, Victoria B1, B2, B6 significantly reduced, minerals are lost.

Fourth, microwave cooking. Victoria B1, B2, B6 significantly reduced, Omega -3 fatty acids decreased, other vitamins and minerals preserved.

Fifth, braised fish. After frying, pour out oil complex operation, braised fish, the loss of vitamins and minerals are large, but also a significant increase in fat content.

Sixth, fried fish. High-temperature deep-fried to a variety of vitamins and minerals are a lot of damage, and the fat content increased significantly.

Laboratory suggestions:

1. Grilled smaller fire. Be sure to grasp the method of grilled fish. Baking time by a slow flame must not touch meat, fish prevent scorching can cause cancer. Family can buy iron grills for cooking.

2. Steamed fish and stir to boiling water. Steamed fish when we have to wait until the boiling water, stir full steam. Steam volume of raw materials as small as possible, thin to reduce the steaming time. Do not pour out, after a good steaming oil.

3. Boiled fish and more soup. Boiled fish seasoning should be light. Because a lot of soup in the dissolved nutrients, the proposed multi-boiled fish soup.

4. Microwave temperature as low as possible to do the fish. Reduce nutrient loss, keep fish nutrition.

5. Braised fish less oil discharge. Braised fish Jianzhi put as little as possible when oil, fry the time is shorter. Less oil when the cream sauce, thicken more, to reduce fat intake.

6. Fried fish. Starching when fish eat the shell when the yellow peel, eat inside the fish, reducing fat intake.

source: health guide

How Long You Should Keep Your Food In Refrigerator?

According to the Department of Agriculture, you should eat refrigerated leftovers within four days to reduce the risk of food poisoning. If you don't anticipate being able to eat the leftovers within this period of time, freeze them immediately.

Food poisoning — also called food-borne illness — causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Food poisoning is caused by harmful organisms such as bacteria in contaminated food. Because bacteria typically don't change the taste, smell or appearance of food, you can't tell whether a food is dangerous to eat. So if you're in doubt about a food's safety, it's best to throw it out.

Fortunately, most cases of food poisoning can be prevented with proper food handling. To practice food safety, quickly refrigerate perishable foods such as meat, poultry, fish, dairy and eggs — don't let them sit more than two hours at typical room temperature or more than one hour at temperatures above 90 F (32 C). Uncooked foods, such as cold salads or sandwiches, also should be eaten or refrigerated promptly. Your goal is to minimize the time a food is in the "danger zone" — between 40 F (4 C) and 140 F (60 C) — when bacteria can multiply.

Before eating leftovers, reheat them thoroughly. Reheat leftover sauces, soups and gravies to boiling. If you're using the oven to reheat leftovers, set the temperature no lower than 325 F (163 C) to ensure they're reheated quickly. Because they may not get hot enough, slow cookers and chafing dishes aren't recommended for reheating leftovers. To safely reheat cooked food in a microwave oven:

* Cover foods with a lid or a microwave-safe plastic wrap to hold in moisture and provide safe, even heating. Turn back a corner for the steam to vent.
* After reheating foods in the microwave oven, allow standing time. Then, use a clean food thermometer to check that food has reached 165 F (74 C).

source: mayoclinic

Miracle Herb That Reverse Many Major Disease Like Cancer

Ganoderma is a herbal supplement that claims to have a significant healing effects. It contains natural solution to several health problems brought by sedentary lifestyle and environmental factors.

Use of herbs and herbal therapies has been an integral part of the Asian life and culture from time immemorial. China, India and Japan have their distinct herbal therapies, which have been effectively used to prevent and cure many ailments and disease.

The use of herbs and herbal nutritional supplements has now been widely accepted by the western society. It is surprising and ironical that West is now embracing herbal therapies with enthusiasm while east is more inclined more towards contemporary medicine.

Benefits of Ganoderma is not just as a nutritional supplement but it is a miraculous herb for its health giving properties. Ganoderma is an anti-aging natural food that actually help prevent as well as help reverse many diseases like cancer, arthritis, diabetes, obesity, cardiac problems to mention a few of the major benefits of ganoderma where clinical trials have consistently established its efficacy.

Benefits of ganoderma as herbal and nutritional supplement

It is the best adaptogen known to man and works on the cellular level. It is not disease specific but health specific and works in balancing the body functions, removes toxins and overall retards the aging process.

Ganoderma is classified as a food supplement by most countries, so there is no dosage restriction and can be had in any quantity without side effects. It is also suitable for consumption for all ages from a newborn baby to the most invalid or aged persons with visible improvements in health.

This is also perhaps the only single herbal source, which is rich in medicinal components such as Polysaccharides, Organic Germanium, Adenosine, triterpenoids and ganoderic essence.

Ganoderma is non-toxic and non-addictive.

The Ganoderma herb does not interact with other lines of treatment. It complements the same.

Many leading universities and research institutions are working to establish the efficacy of ganoderma and its curative properties with clinical trials. The internet has made available an abundance of research papers and details of clinical trials for those interested.

However, it is difficult for the extensive commercialization of ganoderma as a prescription drug due to it being a herb and a plant source which pharmaceutical companies may not be able to patent.

Leaving out the medicinal issues, ganoderma is undoubtedly a herb that needs to be part of every persons diet as an excellent nutritional supplement and a preventive herb for the many health hazards faced by the modern society.

Although you may find Ganoderma supplements in the market due to popularity, you must consider these factors when choosing a Ganoderma supplement:

1) Extracted or Grinded

Some manufacturers grinds ganoderma herb into powder form however, some are utilizing high technology extraction method to extract only its essences into powder form.

Some are claiming that ganoderma herb supplement acquired from extraction method is more effective, efficient and purer than grinding method.

2) Using log wood cultivation or in capsules

Ganoderma products in capsule form are cultivated using chemicals and wooden crams. There's a high probability due to the chemicals used, but some might be contaminated with toxics or heavy metals.

While, Ganoderma products that are log wood cultivated is few times more potent in its medicinal values because it's purer with higher content of beneficial active components.

3) Ganoderma spore powder

Spore powder is the most valuable part of Ganoderma herb for it has the most concentration of active components like Organic Germanium, Polysaccharides and Triterpenes.

Needless to say, though Ganoderma offers a natural supplement for our body, it's still best to discuss the product content to your doctor. Thus, you'll find it easy to choose whatever Ganoderma products suits you.

sources: mdinfo

Not everyone needs vitamin and mineral supplements By Peggy Piascik

For most adults, a healthy diet is the best way to get the nutrients your body needs rather than with vitamins and mineral supplements.

The American Heart Association recommends that healthy people get adequate nutrients by eating a variety of foods in moderation rather than by taking supplements.

In fact, supplements can do more harm than good.

Taking a megadose of a product — especially a fat-soluble vitamin such as A, D, E and K — can cause toxic levels to accumulate in body fat.

A balanced diet is the best strategy for good health, but some people might not be able to achieve healthy eating habits, or they might have conditions that require specific vitamin or mineral supplements.

The elderly, who because of a lack of appetite or other factors might not get enough daily nutrients, might need supplements. Patients with malabsorption diseases who might have trouble absorbing fat-soluble vitamins could benefit from a boost.

Smokers can have reduced vitamin C levels, and strict vegetarians might require supplemental B12 and vitamin D if milk products and sun exposure are minimal. Drugs such as lubricant laxatives and orlistat (Alli) also decrease fat-soluble vitamin absorption.

In addition, women who are pregnant and breastfeeding require additional folic acid, iron and calcium. And many women benefit from calcium supplements to maintain healthy bones.

Evidence suggests that Vitamin D might lower risks for colon and breast cancer.

If you use supplements, buy those labeled "USP." This means that the product meets the United States Pharmacopeia standards.

Also, don't take a dose that is more than 100 percent of the recommended daily value. Always tell your health care professional what vitamin and mineral supplements you are taking, to prevent interactions with prescription medicines.
Peggy Piascik is an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy.

source: kentucky

Red wine cures blindness and keep you young

Too much wine can blur your vision in the short term. But over the long haul? It could prevent blindness, thanks to resveratrol, an anti-aging compound found in red wine. And that's just the beginning of its benefits.

One of the main causes of blindness, particularly for older patients, is uncontrollable blood vessel growth in the eyes, a process called angiogenesis. (Angiogenesis can also cause certain cancers, heart attacks, and strokes, so it's about as serious as conditions get.) In the eyes, angiogenesis is a key part of blindness-inducing diseases like diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, the latter of which is the most common cause of blindness for patients fifty years and older.

Retina specialist Rajendra S. Apte of Washington University in St. Louis is the senior investigator of a new study that charts the effects of resveratrol on mice suffering from angiogenesis. He explains:

"A great deal of research has identified resveratrol as an anti-aging compound, and given our interest in age-related eye disease, we wanted to find out whether there was a link. There were reports on resveratrol's effects on blood vessels in other parts of the body, but there was no evidence that it had any effects within the eye."

In the study, mice were given laser treatment that caused abnormal blood vessel growth in their eyes. When given resveratrol, the condition subsided and the vessels started to disappear. They were then able to study the blood vessel cells and find the particular pathway that caused the compound's beneficial effects. They discovered it was a pathway known as the eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase (eEF2) regulated pathway, which isn't the same pathway found to be responsible for resveratrol's anti-aging effects in earlier studies.

According to Apte, this could signify a breakthrough, particularly because resveratrol was found both to prevent the formation of new blood vessels and to eradicate existing buildups:

"We have identified a novel pathway that could become a new target for therapies. And we believe the pathway may be involved both in age-related eye disease and in other diseases where angiogenesis plays a destructive role. This could potentially be a preventive therapy in high-risk patients. And because it worked on existing, abnormal blood vessels in the animals, it may be a therapy that can be started after angiogenesis already is causing damage."

Resveratrol is found in red wine as well as grapes, peanuts, blueberries, and other plants. But don't break out the boxes of wine just yet - Apte cautions that in order to replicate the effects seen in the mice, a person would need to drink dangerously high quantities of red wine to get the same dosage of resveratrol. If the compound is going to be effective in treatment, it probably would have to be given in pill form, although that doesn't rule out the possibility that moderate quantities of wine could still provide anti-blindness benefits over time.

There are other caveats to the study. The type of macular degeneration the mice experienced isn't precisely analogous to that of humans, so it's not necessarily a given that this treatment will also work for people. Still, Apte is optimistic that these results can indeed be applied to humans, and not just to the eyes. Since angiogenesis is a wide-ranging health risk, finding a way to prevent it in one instance could help in other areas, potentially helping to prevent the onset of heart disease and certain cancers.

source: [American Journal of Pathology]

U.K. Kids Getting Fatter at Twice the Rate of Americans

According to a new study, for every piece of candy American children eat, their British cohorts eat two, the Daily Mail reported.

Each year, the average amount spent on sugary treats for children in Britain is $458, more than doubling the $184 spent on the average American child.

This alarming study, conducted by Datamonitor, an independent research company, also found that one in three British children between the ages of five and 13 are overweight or obese, a number that is expected to jump 2.1 percent a year for the next four years. Obesity rates for American children are expected to rise 1.3 percent annually.

By 2014, 38.6 percent, or 2.5 million British children will be overweight, according to the study.

This study raises more concerns over the health implications of rising obesity rates.

In 2004, Members of Britain’s Parliament painted a bleak picture for the health of their youth. They warned that obesity could result in several diabetes-related issues such as kidney failure, blindness and amputations in a large number of people.

“Childhood obesity is a very worrying trend. However, we can do something about it,” Jackie Schneider, of the Children’s Food Campaign said. “Banning junk food advertising on TV before the 9 p.m. watershed, using traffic light labeling on food packaging and increasing eligibility of free school meals are effective ways of changing children’s eating habits.” The Food and Drink Federation rejected the study’s predictions, claiming that obesity levels among young children had leveled off, and other studies have shown a decrease in sales of snacks and sweets.

Click here to read more from the Daily Mail.

source: foxnews

Heart drug may be harmful for people having dialysis Taking a common heart drug called digoxin may increase the risk of an early death for some people with kidney disease, reports a new study. However, we can't yet be certain that digoxin, and not other factors, was responsible for this increase in risk.

If you have advanced kidney failure (also called end-stage renal disease) your kidneys have lost most, or all, of their filtering ability and can't make urine properly. This means you need either a kidney transplant or dialysis, which involves using a machine to filter waste products out of your blood.

Many people with kidney failure also have heart disease, as these conditions have interrelated risk factors. Notably, both conditions can be caused by diabetes and high blood pressure - two illnesses that can damage the kidneys and blood vessels over time.

Digoxin has been used for more than 200 years to treat heart disease. But little research has explored whether it's safe for people who are also having dialysis for kidney failure. In theory, dialysis might lead to a toxic amount of digoxin in the blood. This is because dialysis causes a drop in the blood's supply of potassium, and too little potassium is known to boost digoxin concentrations. If your level of digoxin becomes too high, it can cause serious side effects, including abnormal heart rhythms, which can sometimes be fatal.

To learn more about these possible risks, US researchers have now followed more than 120,000 dialysis patients for up to four years, tracking whether they took digoxin, and whether they died during this period.

Dialysis patients taking digoxin were 28 percent more likely to have died during the study than those not taking the drug. And among those taking digoxin, the risk of dying was greater for those who had higher levels of the drug in their blood and lower levels of potassium. This supports the theory that dialysis may dangerously boost digoxin concentrations by lowering potassium levels. However, this is still just a theory.

How reliable are the findings?

This study was carefully done. To arrive at these findings, the researchers took into account several factors that might have increased people's chance of dying during the study, such as their age, whether they had other health conditions, the severity of their heart disease, and what other medicines they were taking. This boosts the reliability of their findings.

However, the researchers still can't be certain that digoxin, and not other factors, increased people's risk of dying. For example, it's possible that people prescribed digoxin were more seriously ill in ways that the researchers didn't take into account.

The study was conducted by US researchers with Fresenius Medical Care in Waltham, Massachusetts. The research was published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

If you are having dialysis and take digoxin, this study suggests you may be at risk of dying earlier than someone not taking the drug. However, we can't yet be sure of these findings. We need more research to know whether digoxin can be harmful for people having dialysis and, if so, at what doses.

Until we know more, the researchers suggest that doctors closely monitor the blood levels of digoxin and potassium in their dialysis patients who take digoxin. This can help doctors minimise any possible harmful effects from the drug. The researchers also suggest doctors consider prescribing drugs other than digoxin when suitable alternatives are available.

Talk to your doctor if you're concerned about the possible risks of taking digoxin while having dialysis. And make sure you don't stop taking digoxin unless you're advised to do so by your doctor, as this could adversely affect your heart disease.

From:
Chan KE, Lazarus JM, Hakim RM. Digoxin associates with mortality in ESRD. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2010. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2009101047.

SOURCE: guardian

Great Health Benefits of Vitamin B Complex

The B vitamins help to maintain the health of the nerves, skin, eyes, hair, liver and mouth, as well as healthy muscle tone in the gastrointestinal tract and proper brain function. B-complex vitamins act as coenzymes, helping enzymes to react chemically with other substances, and are involved in energy production.

They may be useful for alleviating depression or anxiety as well. Adequate intake of the B vitamins is very important for elderly people because their nutrients are not as well absorbed as we age. There have even been cases of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease whose problems were later found to be due to a deficiency of vitamin B12 plus the B complex.

The B vitamins should always be taken together, but up to two or three times more of one B vitamin than another can be taken for a period of time id needed for a particular disorder. There are spray and sublingual forms that are absorbed more easily, which are good choices for older adults and those with absorption problems.

Because the B vitamins work together, a deficiency in one often indicates a deficiency in another.

source: wiki.answers

Cell phones to check your eyesight

THE HUMBLE mobile phone is soon going to be your ophthalmologist.

You will be able to self-test your eyesight just as you check your body temperature, blood pressure or blood glucose using digital devices. All you will need to do is run a simple application on your phone, look at the screen through a tiny attachment and press a few keys.

And within seconds, you will have the status of your eyesight on your phone's screen. This is an innovative piece of technology developed by a group of researchers led by India-born Ramesh Raskar at the media lab of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

It has yielded encouraging results and will soon be field-tested in India in collaboration with the Hyderabad-based L. V. Prasad Eye Institute.

The device has been named NETRA or Near-Eye Tool for Refractive Assessment. The device has the potential to make routine eye-testing simpler, cheaper and accessible to millions of people. It takes advantage of the huge improvements in the resolution of digital displays and their widespread proliferation on mobile phones, which have become ubiquitous in developing countries.

NETRA currently works with phones having high-resolution displays. But researchers are expanding the range of phones that it can work on and are also developing pattern designs that can work with low-resolution phones.

"You can think of it as a thermometer for visual performance. Just as a thermometer measures corporal temperature and does not prescribe medicine, NETRA measures the refractive error and does not necessarily prescribe glasses," says Raskar, who heads the Camera Culture group at the media lab. "It allows a user to self- assess the performance of his or her eyes over time. The goal is to empower people, not replace optometrists."

Apart from the software to run on the phone, all that's needed is a snap-on plastic device, which, researchers say, can be produced for about $2 (about Rs 93). But it would cost much lesser if produced in large quantities. The plastic device can be clipped on to the front of a cell phone's screen.

The micro-lens array in front of the LCD essentially creates a 4D display. The user looks into a small lens and presses the phone's navigation keys until sets of parallel green and red lines overlap. This is repeated eight times, with the lines at different angles, for each eye.

The whole process takes less than two minutes, at which point the software loaded on to the phone provides the prescription data. The prototype developed by Raskar's team has an array of tiny lenses and a grid of pinholes that, combined with the software on the phone, forces the user to focus at different depths.

This enables the eye's focusing ability to be measured. The test works by transforming any blurriness produced by aberrations in the eye into an array of separate lines or dots instead of a fuzzy blob, which makes it easier for the user to identify the discrepancy clearly. Rather than estimating which of the two views looks sharper, as in conventional eye tests, the user adjusts the display to make the separate lines or dots come together and overlap, which corresponds to bringing the view into sharp focus.

Earlier, people have tried all kinds of things as possible replacements for the heavy and expensive conventional eyetesting systems. "The key thing that differentiates ours is it doesn't require any moving parts," says Ankit Mohan, a member of the research team.

source: yahoonews

What does protein do for your body? Protein is necessary for building muscles and other tissues, it also defends against germs, regulates the body, transports things between cells, and also with your metabolism.
Protein helps your body because it is good for you.

You need protein to survive it helps the body develop ~(_8^(l) Protein is good for the body because it helps you grow and repair muscle damage. It also gives your muscles energy before you exercise.

Protein is a substance, which when digested, becomes amino acid. It is necessary for the body to repair cells and stimulate growth.

Good Sources of Protein
Good low- or nonfat sources of protein include:

* Beef, poultry, pork and lamb
* Fish and shellfish
* Dairy products, including cottage cheese, cheese, yogurt and milk
* Eggs, egg whites or egg substitutes
* Dry beans, peas, oats and legumes
* Tofu and soy products
* Nuts and seeds

Proteins are considered either complete proteins (which supply enough essential amino acids) or incomplete proteins (which lack adequate essential amino acids). Meat, eggs and dairy products are considered complete proteins, but vegetables, beans and other plant products are considered incomplete proteins. However, some incomplete proteins can be combined to create a complete protein - rice and beans, peanut butter and jelly, and corn and beans are examples of complete-protein meals.

source: lifeclinic

Healthy vegtetarian diet and lifestyle lifts bad mood

It has been well documented that people who choose a vegetarian diet enjoy superior health with lower risks for a variety of disorders, such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.1 Now, science has presented us with yet another reason to choose the healthful vegetarian lifestyle.

A new study published in Journal Nutrition has linked the vegetarian lifestyle with healthier mood states.2 It turns out that vegetarians are not only a lot healthier than the rest of the population, apparently, they are a lot happier, too. How does this finding challenge current recommendations?

Vegetarian diets exclude fish, long touted as a major dietary source of omega-3 fats. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients that cannot be synthesized in the body and must be obtained from dietary sources.

Omega-3 fats, in the form of DHA and EPA are critical regulators of brain cell structure and function. Omnivorous diets low in EPA and DHA have been linked to impaired mood states.

According to the researchers at Arizona State University, the vegetarians in their study experienced significantly less negative emotion than the omnivores. This is good news for everyone, because consuming fish is often the subject of government health advisories.

The oceans are increasingly polluted and contain unacceptable levels of contaminants, such as dioxin and PCPs, and a recent government study revealed widespread mercury contamination of fish in streams across the U.S.3 Consuming farmed fish can also be problematic, as raising fish in this way relies on a processed diet and requires the use of antibiotics and other elements to prevent the spread of disease.

Nuts, seeds, and polyunsaturated vegetable oils are rich sources of fat soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids and in fact, the omega fats in plant foods may be even more important to your health than that found in fish.

A Pennsylvania State University study showed that omega-3 fatty acids from plant sources actually promote bone formation and may help to reduce the risk for osteoporosis by inhibiting excessive bone loss.

Omega-3 fat in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is found dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, and a variety of vegetable oils.

Plant sources of essential fatty acids:

* Dark green leafy vegetables
* Flaxseed
* Flaxseed oil (also called linseed oil)
* Chia seeds
* Pumpkin seeds
* Sunflower seeds
* Canola oil
* Hemp oil
* Soy oil
* Wheat germ
* Soybeans
* Tofu
* Tempeh

Additionally, plant sources of this essential nutrient tend also to be rich in vitamin E, which has many benefits including promoting cardiovascular health.

Certainly, vegetarians attain optimal health by consuming plant-based meals. They are leaner and have more energy than their omnivorous counterparts and now it is apparent that they enjoy a healthier mood state, as well.

Marie Oser is a best-selling author and writer, producer, and host of VegTV, Follow Marie on Twitter: http://twitter.com/vegtv

More from ecomii:

* Learn how you may be polluting your home instead of cleaning it
* Learn more about the potential of nutritional supplements
* Find natural remedies for headaches
* Does aromatherapy actually work?
* What is your carbon footprint?

source: favstocks

Low-Glycemic Index diet (GI) new nutritional revolution

MOST Asians eat a healthy diet. However, it may be surprising to learn that there is an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and weight gain in Asians largely due to the high carbohydrate diets that we consume and the type of carbohydrates we consume.

This fact may sound confusing but scientific evidence from clinical trials in prestigious laboratories in the US and UK advocate the consumption of what is known as a low-Glycemic Index diet (GI). A low-GI diet has become the new nutritional revolution in Australia, Scandinavia, Canada, and more recently, the UK.

So what is a low-GI diet?

Carbohydrates can be divided into three main groups - simple sugar molecules, medium length chains of sugar molecules, and very long and complex combinations of sugar molecules. The Glycemic Index concept came about when scientists studied how the body breaks these different types of carbohydrates down when they are included in the diet.

The Glycemic Index (GI), first introduced by Jenkins and colleagues in 1981, is the classification of the blood glucose-raising potential of carbohydrate foods. It is defined as the incremental area under the blood glucose curve of a 50g carbohydrate portion of a test food expressed as a percentage of the response to 50g carbohydrate of a reference food (usually glucose solution) tested on the same subject on a different day.

The principle is that the slower the rate of carbohydrate absorption, the lower the rise in blood glucose level and the lower the GI value.

More Information

What Is Paget's Disease Of The Breast (nipple)? Paget's disease of the breast, also known as Paget's disease of the nipple, is a rare form of breast cancer. It accounts for less than 5 percent of all breast cancers. Paget's disease of the breast starts in the breast ducts and extends to the skin of the nipple and to the dark circle of skin (areola) around the nipple.

The condition may have the appearance of eczema, with skin changes involving the nipple of the breast. Since the condition is often innocuous and limited to a surface appearance, it is sometimes dismissed, despite the fact that it is indicative of a breast cancer.

Most women with Paget's disease of the breast have underlying infiltrating ductal breast cancer. Only in rare cases is the cancer confined to the nipple itself.

Paget's disease of the breast occurs most often in women over age 50. It can affect men, but this is extremely rare.

Signs and Symptoms of Paget's Disease Of The Breast?

A symptom is something the patient senses and describes, while a sign is something other people, such as the doctor notice. For example, drowsiness may be a symptom while dilated pupils may be a sign.

On average, a woman may experience signs and symptoms for six to eight months before a diagnosis is made.

Paget's disease of the breast affects the nipple and its surrounding skin. The signs and symptoms are easily mistaken for skin irritation (dermatitis) or another benign skin condition of the nipple. The first symptom is usually a scaly, red rash affecting the nipple and sometimes the dark area of skin surrounding the nipple (the areola). The rash always affects the nipple first, and may then affect the areola. It does not go away and may become sore.

Paget's disease's symptoms may vary based on the stage of the disease. Signs and symptoms of Paget's disease of the breast may include:

* A burning sensation
* A distinct lump underneath the nipple and areola
* A flattened or inverted nipple
* Affected areas beyond the nipple and areola
* Crusty, oozing or hardened skin resembling eczema, on the nipple, areola or both
* Flaky or scaly skin on the nipple
* Fluctuating skin changes at first (making it appear as if skin is healing on its own)
* Itching
* Redness
* Skin and nipple changes usually in one breast only
* Straw-colored or bloody nipple discharge

Around half of women who have Paget's disease have a breast lump that can be felt at the time it is diagnosed. It is recommended to check nipple and areola on both breasts on a regular basis, such as during breast self-exams. If there is a lump or skin irritation that persists for more than a month, seek medical advice.

It is common that the symptoms disappear for a while and this may be problematic as the patient takes it as a sign that the disease has cured, which is not the case.

Most women do not visit the doctor because they mistake it for contact dermatitis or eczema. Women who feel a lump or notice skin irritation that does not seem to heal for over a month should see a specialist.

If you are being treated for a skin lesion on your breast, and the condition does not resolve with treatment, make a follow-up appointment with your doctor. A biopsy may be recommended (a procedure that collects a small tissue sample for microscopic analysis) to evaluate the affected area.

More Information

source: medicalnewstoday

New Key Recommendations to Manage Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposit Disease New recommendations from the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) suggest 9 areas where doctors can manage calcium pyrophosphate disease, researchers reported here at the 2010 Annual Meeting of EULAR.

"The 9 key recommendations for management of calcium pyrophosphate crystal-associated arthritis were developed using both research evidence and expert consensus," said Thomas Bardin, MD, Hôpital Lariboisiére, Paris, France, who presented the findings of the 15-member expert panel during an oral presentation here on June 18.

The recommendations are as follows:

· Optimal treatment of calcium pyrophosphate disease requires both nonpharmacologic and pharmacological modalities and should be tailored to presentation, general factors such as age and comorbidities, and the presence of a predisposing disorder.

· For acute calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis, optimal and safe treatment comprises application of ice or cool packs, temporary rest, joint aspiration, and intra-articular injection of long-acting glucocorticosteroid. For many patients these alone may be sufficient.

· Both oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) -- with gastro protection therapy if indicated -- and low-dose colchicine (0.5 mg up to 4 times a day) are effective symptomatic treatment for acute calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis, although their use is limited by toxicity and comorbidities, especially in the elderly.

· A short tapering course of oral glucocorticosteroid or parenteral glucocorticosteroid of adrenocorticotropic hormone may be effective for acute calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis that is not amenable to intra-articular glucocorticosteroid injection and are alternatives to colchicine and/or NSAIDs.

· Prophylaxis against frequent recurrent acute calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis can be achieved with low-dose colchicines or low-dose oral NSAIDs.

· The management objectives and treatment options for osteoarthritis patients with calcium pyrophosphate disease are the same as those without calcium pyrophosphate disease.

· For chronic calcium pyrophosphate crystal inflammatory arthritis, pharmacological options to consider are oral NSAIDs, colchicines, low-dose corticosteroid, methotrexate, and hydroxychloroquine.

· If detected, associated conditions such as hyperparathyroidism, haemochromatosis, or hypomagnesaemia should be managed as appropriate.

· Currently no treatment is known to modify calcium pyrophosphate crystal formulation or dissolution and no treatment is recommended for asymptomatic calcium pyrophosphate crystal disease.

source: docguide

Abdominal pain and fatigue signs of celiac disease During World War II, a Dutch pediatrician named Willem Dicke noticed improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms among some of his patients when food shortages resulted in a deficiency of bread products, which were replaced with unconventional food stuffs.

When the patients' symptoms reoccurred upon reintroduction of bread after the war, it prompted Dr. Dicke and a colleague to design a series of experiments that confirmed that certain "toxic cereals" caused a disorder previously identified as celiac disease.

Also known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy and non-tropical sprue, celiac disease is very common primarily among people of northern European ancestry. It has been suggested that the prevalence of the disorder may be as high as 1 in every 250 Americans.

Celiac disease results from damage suffered by the digestive surface of the small intestine resulting from an immune response to the protein and gluten found in certain grains including wheat, barley and rye. This damage results in a problem known as malabsorption, in which some food passes undigested into the large intestine while certain vital nutrients are not absorbed into the bloodstream.

Celiac disease affects both children and adults. The symptoms of the disorder are highly variable and affect multiple body systems, not just the gastrointestinal system. In part because of this variability, the condition often goes undiagnosed and untreated.

Classic symptoms include bloating, flatulence and diarrhea as well as associated abdominal discomfort. Celiac sufferers are often misclassified as having an "irritable bowel."

These symptoms may be accompanied by the effects of poor nutrient absorption including impaired growth among children, weight loss, anemia and even neurologic problems resulting from lack of certain necessary vitamins.

Other symptoms can include depression and behavior changes, fatigue, menstrual irregularities among women, infertility in both genders and skin rash.

Long-term effects of celiac disease include increased risk for osteoporosis and certain types of cancer.

Celiac disease also is associated with a number of other conditions ranging from Type 1 diabetes to diseases of the liver, thyroid and heart.

The diagnosis of celiac disease often begins with blood tests that measure certain antibodies related to the condition. When these tests are positive or inconclusive in the setting of a strong suspicion for the disorder, a biopsy of the small intestine may be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Genetic tests do not effectively predict who will develop celiac disease. Certain genetic tests are available that, if negative, typically exclude the disorder.

The treatment of celiac disease involves the removal of gluten from the diet. In the setting of a gluten-free diet, medication is typically not required.

Adapting to a gluten-free diet can be challenging, though there are many resources to help. People who wish to obtain more information should consult their doctor or access the Celiac Disease Foundation website at www.celiac.org.

Dr. Matthew A. Clark is a board-certified physician in internal medicine and pediatrics practicing at the Ute Mountain Health Center in Towaoc.

source: durangoherald

FDA Approves Sanofi Drug Jevtana for Prostate Cancer Sanofi Aventis (SNY) recently received good news in the form of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its oncology drug, Jevtana (cabazitaxel). The FDA granted Sanofi approval for the use of Jevtana in combination with prednisone for the treatment of metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer (mHRPC) patients who were previously treated with a Taxotere (docetaxel)-containing treatment regimen.

The approval of Jevtana, which is a major positive for Sanofi, came about three months before the September PDUFA date. Phase III results on Jevtana showed that treatment with Jevtana in combination with prednisone resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the risk of death compared to treatment with mitoxantrone and prednisone.

The Sanofi approval of Jevtana provides advanced-stage prostate cancer patients with a new treatment option. Being the only FDA approved regimen that significantly improves overall survival in previously treated patients, Jevtana should see significant uptake on launch. Jevtana is currently under regulatory review in other territories, including the European Union.

Prostate cancer remains the second most common cause of cancer death in the US and it is estimated that about 217,730 new cases of prostate cancer will be detected in the US in 2010. About 32,050 men are expected to die from prostate cancer in 2010.

Sanofi’s leading oncology products are Taxotere and Eloxatin. Sanofi is working on building its oncology portfolio and currently has a wide range of novel agents in its oncology pipeline including BSI-201, alvocidib, and aflibercept among others. While some of these candidates are being developed by Sanofi itself, others are being developed in collaboration with companies like BiPar Sciences, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN), Exelixis (EXEL), Micromet (MITI ) and Merrimack among others.

We currently have a Neutral recommendation on Sanofi. Our biggest concern for the stock is the high exposure to generic risk on many of its leading franchises, especially Lovenox. However, we are encouraged to see Sanofi’s progress with its pipeline.

While new product launches like Jevtana should make significant revenue contributions in the early part of the decade, we expect Sanofi to continue look to contain operating costs in order to grow earnings in the face of weakening sales of some of its biggest products. This should help keep earnings at positive, albeit modest, growth over the next few years.

We also expect Sanofi to grow revenue through additional partnering deals and acquisitions.

source: notpicky.gather

CDC statistics reveal misuse of prescription pain drugs up 111% in 4 years In what can be termed as the nation’s fastest growing drug problem, a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals a rapid spurt in fatalities resulting from the abuse of prescription pain drugs.

In addition, emergency room visits from the abuse of prescriptions have become as common as those from illegal drugs.

The dangerous trend is cause for concern with health experts worrying over its adverse impact on public health.

CDC Director Thomas Frieden stated, “We urgently need to take action. Emergency department visits involving non-medical use of these prescription drugs are now as common as emergency department visits for use of illicit drugs. These prescriptions medicines help many people, but we need to be sure they are used properly and safely.”

The highest abused prescription pain drugs were oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone, all of which showed statistically significant increases during the 5-year period.

Analysis of data from DAWN
The study projects the national estimates from a sample of about 220 hospitals with 24-hour emergency departments.

The study also analyzed data provided by SAMHSA's Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), a public health information system that examined ED visits for non-medical use of prescription drugs.

According to official sources, there were two million visits to the ED in 2008 for misuse and abuse of all drugs.

These included nearly a million visits for illicit drugs like cocaine and heroin and almost the same number for non-medical use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

This report found that the approximate number of ED visits for nonmedical use of opioid analgesics increased 111percent during 2004--2008 (from 144,600 to 305,900 visits) and increased 29 percent during 2007—2008.

The most abused prescription drugs
The highest abused prescription pain drugs were oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone, all of which showed statistically significant increases during the 5-year period.

The emergency visits due to nonmedical use of oxycodone increased by 152 percent over the time frame while that of hydrocodone rose by 123 percent increase and that of methadone exhibited a 73 percent increase.

The report also found that ED visits involving misuse of anti-anxiety drugs such as Valium, Klonopin, Ativan and Xanax, increased 89 percent from 2004 to 2008 (from 143,500 to 271,700 visits) and 24 percent during 2007-2008.

The report found that peak rates for opioids and benzodiazepines abuse was among the 21-24 and 25-29 age groups.

The CDC report stated, “These increases in nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals
suggest that previous prevention measures, such as provider and patient education and restrictions on use of specific formulations, have not been adequate.

“Given the societal burden of the problem, additional interventions are urgently needed, such as more systematic provider education, universal use of state prescription drug monitoring programs by providers, the routine monitoring of insurance claims information for signs of inappropriate use and efforts by providers and insurers to intervene when patients use drugs inappropriately.”

Foods Do's and Don'ts For Irritable Colon, Constipation

Spastic colon is one more term for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The feature of this condition results in excessive and frequent bouts of diarrhea. One of the primary means of treatment of this condition is through a variety of lifestyle changes, such as following a diet planned to include foods known to help and avoid foods that aggravate the condition.

Here are some tips on what foods are to eat during IBS. One of the basics for a healthy diet and a healthy gastrointestinal system is the inclusion of fiber. Although fiber is best at relieving constipation, frequent use in between flare-ups of this can help regulate the digestive tract and keep it healthy all along.. Examples of foods rich in fiber include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.

Some tips of what foods are to be avoided are also discussed here. Although definite foods do not actually exacerbate IBS, some foods may make you feel worse, and therefore eliminating foods that you might think exacerbate the condition is recommended. These foods usually include any spicy or with a high fat content, as well as some vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower, which makes flatulence worse. Alcohol and caffeine can also stimulate the digestive tract and should be avoided or limited in their consumption.

source: mdinfo

What happens when you consume too much starch? Starches are a complex carbohydrate that has no taste or odor, which are granular or powdery in physical form. Complex carbohydrates are long chains of simple sugar units bonded together and for this reason the complex carbohydrates are usually referred to as polysaccharides.

Excess carbohydrate or starch in the body can cause generalized vascular disease. The high-carbohydrate diet which is now so popular causes the pancreas to produce large amounts of insulin in the body. Because insulin's action is to drive glucose into the cells, this will results in chronic hyperglycemia, also called "high blood sugar."

Excess insulin also causes hypertension and helps start the sequence of events in the arterial wall which leads to atherosclerosis and heart disease.

Are cell phones safe for kids?

It's grandma's 70th birthday. She lives in New Jersey and here you are in California. What do you do? Give her a call on your cell phone and then pass it around to your kids, including your 4-year-old who ends up chatting with grandma for 30 minutes.

Some researchers says this is a bad idea, especially if your preschooler is holding the phone directly to his ear. There's concern that the low-frequency electromagnetic radiation emitted by phones can increase the risk of brain cancer, and that children are especially vulnerable.

While X-rays emit high-frequency radiation that scientists know damages DNA and increases the risk of cancer, cell phones, like microwave ovens, give off a low frequency radiation that's less powerful and doesn't damage DNA. The research is inconclusive and contentious on whether this low-level radiation is dangerous.

Some studies have declared cell phones entirely safe, others have found a significant association between cell phone usage and brain tumor risk. Hundreds of experiments have been conducted in the past decade and some of these are funded by telecommunication companies, while others are sponsored by the government or nonprofits.

Last month, the World Health Organization released results of a 10-year, $25 million study that looked at cell phone usage in 13 countries. It didn't find any conclusive links between cell phone usage and brain cancer but it did suggest that high usage--30 minutes a day--might increase the risk of a certain type of brain cancer. They concluded that there are too many variables to consider to draw any conclusions, according to a recent segment on KQED's Forum.

Few studies have looked specifically at children--except a study from Sweden that used a small sample. The 2008 study found that children and teenagers are five times more likely to get brain cancer if they use mobile phones.

Scientists believe that cell phones could be of more concern for children because their brains and nervous systems are still developing. Also, their heads are smaller and their skulls thinner so radiation penetrates deeper into their brains

A handful of countries--not the United States--have made attempts to get kids off cell phones. Health ministries in Israel, Russia, Canada, and Finland have "urged restrictions on cell phone use by children," according to Harper's Magazine.

Last year, the French government outlawed all advertising of cell phones to children under 12 and the sale of any phone designed to be used by those under six amid growing fears that they may cause cancer and other diseases.

The government also introduced new limits for radiation from the phones and make it compulsory for handsets to be sold with earphones, so that users can avoid irradiating their heads and brains.

Today, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is voting on whether retailers should be required to label mobile phones with radiation emission levels.

Cell phone ownership among children has increased 68 percent in the past five years, according to Mediamark Research. Twenty percent of U.S. children ages 6 to 11 currently own a cell phone, up from 11.9 percent of children in 2005.

And so what are parents to do?

Many experts are saying that even though the research isn't definitive, parents should try to prevent their children, especially young ones, from talking on a cell phone, and when they do talk on a phone they should use a headset or the speaker setting.

Does your child use a cell phone? Does he use a headset? Are you concerned about the potential harmful affects of cell phone radiation?

source: sfgate

Diet, Meds and Smoking Linked to Eye Disease Risks Good nutrition staved off cataracts; some drugs, smoking increased vision problems, studies found

A healthy diet helps guard against cataracts, while certain medications raise the risks of this common cause of vision loss, two new studies suggest.

And a third study finds that smoking increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration, another disease that robs people of their sight.

The first study found that women who eat foods that contain high levels of a variety of vitamins and minerals may be less likely to develop nuclear cataract, which is the most common type of age-related cataract in the United States.

The study is published in the June issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.

The researchers looked at 1,808 women in Iowa, Oregon and Wisconsin who took part in a study about age-related eye disease. Overall, 736 (41 percent) of the women had either nuclear cataracts evident from lens photographs or reported having undergone cataract extraction.

"Results from this study indicate that healthy diets, which reflect adherence to the U.S. dietary guidelines . . . are more strongly related to the lower occurrence of nuclear cataracts than any other modifiable risk factor or protective factor studied in this sample of women," Julie A. Mares, of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and colleagues said in a news release from the journal.

The second study found that medications that increase sensitivity to the sun -- including antidepressants, diuretics, antibiotics and the pain reliever naproxen sodium (commonly sold over-the-counter as Aleve) -- increase the risk of age-related cataract.

Researchers followed-up with 4,926 participants over a 15-year period and concluded that an interaction between sun-sensitizing medications and sunlight (ultraviolet-B) exposure was associated with the development of cortical cataract.

"The medications [active ingredients] represent a broad range of chemical compounds, and the specific mechanism for the interaction is unclear," Dr. Barbara E.K. Klein and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, said in the news release. Their report was released online in advance of publication in the August print issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.

Because the lens of the eye develops from the same tissue layer as the skin, sun-sensitizing medications may affect the eyes as well as the skin, the researchers explained.

"Our results need to be evaluated in other populations, especially in view of the increasing frequency of sun-sensitizing medications," they concluded. "If our findings are confirmed, it would be important to examine whether the effect is greater in those with higher levels of ambient sunlight (UV-B) exposure and if dose or duration of medication use is also important."

The third study, also published online and in the August print issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, found that smoking and cholesterol levels affect the risk for early-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

AMD is uncommon before age 55 but the risk increases after that age, therefore most studies focus on AMD in middle-aged and older adults, according to background information in the report.

"To our knowledge, accurate estimates of prevalence of AMD among adults younger than 40 years are lacking. Such information is important for understanding the relationships of risk factors to AMD across the age spectrum and for identifying factors that might affect this disease earlier in life," Dr. Ronald Klein, of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and colleagues said in the news release.

The study included 2,810 people, aged 21 to 84, who were assessed for the presence and severity of drusen. These yellow or white deposits in the retina are an early sign of AMD.

Overall, early AMD was detected in 3.4 percent of the participants, with rates ranging from 2.4 percent among those aged 21 to 34 to 9.8 percent for those aged 65 and older. Besides age, additional risk factors associated with increased risk for AMD included being male, heavy smoking for a long period of time, and being hearing impaired. Elevated levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol were associated with a lower risk for AMD, the study authors noted.

The findings "demonstrate that early AMD onset may occur in midlife. Some modifiable factors [smoking status and serum HDL cholesterol level] associated with AMD in older cohorts were associated with early AMD in this cohort of middle-aged adults," the researchers concluded.

source: health.usnews

Sugary foods linked to pancreatic cancer risk People with diets high in sweets and other foods that cause rapid blood-sugar spikes may have a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than those who eat less of those foods, a new study suggests.

In a study of nearly 1,000 Italian adults with and without pancreatic cancer, researchers found that those whose diets were high in so-called "glycemic index" showed a greater risk of the cancer than participants whose diets were relatively low-glycemic index.

Glycemic index refers to how rapidly a food causes blood sugar to rise. High-glycemic index foods, like white bread and potatoes, tend to spur a quick elevation in blood sugar, while low-glycemic index foods, such as lentils, soybeans, yogurt and many high-fiber grains, create a more gradual increase in blood sugar.

In the new study, researchers found no relationship between the total carbohydrates in participants' diets and their risk of pancreatic cancer. And when they focused on fruit intake, higher consumption was related to a lower risk of the disease.

In contrast, there was a relationship between increased pancreatic cancer risk and higher intakes of sugar, candy, honey and jam. This suggests that sugary, processed carbohydrates -- rather than carbs like fiber-rich grains, fruits and vegetables -- may be particularly linked to pancreatic cancer, the researchers report in the Annals of Epidemiology.

The study follows one in February in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention showing a link between sugary sodas and pancreatic cancer. Whether all of these results will hold up, however, is unclear.

Pancreatic cancer is a relatively uncommon but particularly deadly form of cancer, with only about 5 percent of patients surviving for five years. Early on, the disease causes no symptoms, or only vague problems like indigestion, so it is rarely caught before it has advanced.

Researchers, therefore, are particularly interested in discovering modifiable risk factors for the cancer. Studies so far have identified smoking and long-standing diabetes as risk factors. But the role of diet remains unclear.

Some studies have found links between pancreatic cancer and high intakes of red meat and dietary fat, while others have failed to find such a relationship. Findings on carbohydrates and sugar have been similarly inconsistent.

Moreover, even when studies find an association between a diet pattern and a disease, that does not prove that the foods themselves are responsible for the increased risk.

For the current study, researchers led by Marta Rossi of the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Milan surveyed 326 pancreatic cancer patients about their health history and lifestyle, which included a detailed questionnaire on their diet habits in the two years prior to diagnosis.

Each patient was compared with two cancer-free adults the same age and sex.

Overall, Rossi's team found, the one-third of participants with the highest-glycemic index diets were 78 percent more likely to have pancreatic cancer than the third with the lowest-glycemic index diets. The middle third fell in between, with a 56 percent higher risk.

The researchers then looked at certain select sources of carbohydrates, including fruit and a category that included sugar, candy, honey and jam. High intakes of the latter, it turned out, were linked to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

Rossi and her colleagues accounted for certain other factors, including participants' weight, smoking history and any diabetes diagnoses -- suggesting that higher rates of smoking, obesity or diabetes do not explain the link between pancreatic cancer and sugary diets.

Even if this link holds true in other studies, the absolute risk to any one person would be small.

According to the American Cancer Society, the average adult has just over a 1 percent chance of developing pancreatic cancer in his or her life. So even the 78 percent increase in that one percent risk linked to high-glycemic index diets in this study would translate into a small absolute risk for an individual.

The study does not show that sugary foods cause pancreatic cancer, but it is possible that such diets could contribute to pancreatic risk, according to the researchers. Even in the absence of diabetes, such foods influence the body's secretion of the blood-sugar-regulating hormone insulin. And insulin encourages the growth and division of cells in the pancreas -- raising the possibility that the hormone could encourage the growth and spread of pancreatic cancer cells.

More research is needed, however, to show whether this is the case, they write.

source: reuters

A healthy natural protein diet works best to gain weight instead of supplements

Actually, Protein supplements have been very popular in the sport of body building for several years. Now, these products are used by the everyday person, frequently as an aid to lose weight or lose fat tissue.

There is no biological benefit in consuming individual amino acids which is protein. Some people take them as the claim is that they are absorbed more quickly and better. However, the body’s digestive system was designed to consume and utilize whole proteins in whole foods, and it has ample of enzymes to break down proteins for the needs of the body.

If you want to gain weight then here’s some tips for you:

• Eat nutrient-rich foods. As a component of an overall healthy diet, fruits and vegetables; choose whole-grain breads, pastas and cereals; low-fat dairy products; lean protein sources; and nuts and seeds.

• Eat more frequently. Eat at least five to six small meals throughout the day rather than two or three huge meals.

• Put in calorie-dense snacks. Prefer calorie-dense foods, like as nuts, peanut butter, cheese, dried fruits and avocados. Also, include a bedtime snack, such as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a wrap sandwich with avocado, sliced vegetables and meat or cheese. Mix it up. Put in cheese to casseroles; nonfat dried milk to stews; soups and scrambled eggs and chicken to soups.

• Observe what you drink. Don't fill up on diet soda, coffee, tea and other beverages with few calories and little nutritional value. As an alternative, drink smoothies or healthy shakes made with milk and fresh or frozen juice and sprinkle in some ground flaxseed. And drink fluids either 30 minutes before or after a meal, not with it, to keep away from becoming full before you eat.

Cholesterol not the most important factor in preventing heart disease It's important to recognize that even though cholesterol gets a lot of attention, it's not necessarily the most important (or even an especially significant) factor in preventing heart disease. Other factors, such as exercise, treating high blood pressure and diabetes, not smoking, healthy diet, nutritional support and optimizing thyroid function, may also decrease the risk of heart attack.

Although the cholesterol-lowering medications in use today can be lifesaving in those who have already had a heart attack or have angina, they only decrease heart attack deaths by 1.4% in those without a previous heart attack (called “primary prevention”), and they are not without risks. Some of these include muscle pain, liver inflammation, and depletion of the nutrient coenzyme Q10. This nutritional deficiency can then contribute to fatigue and congestive heart failure, and anybody on Mevacor family cholesterol-lowering medications (most are) should take 200 mg a day of coenzyme Q10.

To put that 1.4% benefit in perspective, let’s look at other research. Women whose thyroid blood tests show their thyroid function to be on the low vs. high side of normal were at a 69% increased risk of heart attack death. In another study, non cat owners were 30% more likely than cat owners to die of a heart attack. This makes owning a cat more than 20 times as effective as cholesterol medications for preventing heart attacks (which is the purpose of lowering cholesterol).

So why all the push for using cholesterol medicines? Could it be because they sell well over $10 billion worth yearly?

In the absence of underlying heart disease or if your cholesterol under 250, a good argument could be made to skip the cholesterol lowering medications.

TREATMENT
Diet and Exercise

Start an exercise program

Begin with an exercise program and, if overweight, bring your weight down.

Eggs

Enjoy eating your eggs and cholesterol — study after study shows that eating 6 eggs a day for 6 weeks has no effect on cholesterol blood levels. Yet this myth persists. Avoid saturated fats (hard fats) and margarine (butter is much healthier and tastier than margarine).

Garlic

Eat 1-3 cloves of garlic a day. Crushed into olive oil, it makes a yummy treat that may drop your cholesterol. In addition, have a cereal with oats for breakfast (e.g., Life, Cheerios, Quaker Oats Squares). Simply adding garlic and oats to your diet can lower your cholesterol almost as much as many medications.

Recommended Supplements

Herbals that reduce cholesterol

Herbals that reduce cholesterol can be quite effective at maintaining a healthy cholesterol level.

Coenzyme Q10

If on cholesterol lowering medications (statins), be sure to take Coenzyme Q10 (200 mg a day).

Acetyl-L-Carnitine

If triglycerides are also elevated, especially be sure to avoid sweets and add Acetyl-L-Carnitine 1,000 mg a day to the above for 3 months to see if it lowers the triglycerides.

Medications

Prescription natural testosterone

In men, especially those who are overweight, have high blood pressure, or have diabetes (or are prediabetic), this might ALL be coming from too low of a testosterone level. If your total testosterone is under 450 on the blood test, consider using prescription natural testosterone (Androgel or Testim or compounded) to bring your level up to over 700.

Armour Thyroid

In women, consider a trial of prescription natural Armour Thyroid — even if the labs are normal. High cholesterol is often caused by low thyroid and the tests are horribly unreliable (they miss the majority of those who need thyroid hormone.

source: mdinfo

Drinking soda may indicate unhealthy diet during adolescence

Drinking soda at an early age in girls may indicate unhealthy diet during adolescence, claims a new study. The study has shown that girls who drank soda at an early age of five were less likely to meet nutritional standards during adolescence. However, girls who did not drink soda at the age of five had comparatively healthy diet but did not meet certain nutritional requirements.

The research study, published in the recent issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, also reveals that soda drinkers drank far less milk than the non-soda drinkers, and milk has all of the nutrients that differed between the groups except fiber.

Adequate nutrient intake is important for optimal health and growth. Lack of nutrients such as calcium may lead to bone fractures or higher added sugar may cause dental problems and other chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes.

Girls between the age 14 and 18 are recommended to receive at least 65 milligrams of vitamin C daily by the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences. This study found that girls who drank soda fell short at just 55 milligrams daily while non-soda drinkers exceeded the recommendation at 70.5 milligrams daily.

The study also found that the consumption of soda intake in soda drinkers increased even more after 15 compared to their counterparts. Laura Fiorito, postdoctoral fellow in Penn State's Center for Child Obesity Research, suggested that "parents model consumption patterns for their children," and that the parents'' unhealthy eating habits not only contributed to an increased BMI, but influenced children.

This study presents a clear connection that soda can prevent people from maintaining a healthy diet.

Earlier a study conducted by a team from Brigham and Women’s Hospital had found that individuals consuming a diet high in sodium or artificially sweetened drinks might damage kidney functions among women. Dr Julie Lin, MPH, FASN of Brigham and Women’s Hospital stated that higher sodium and artificially sweetened soda intake are associated with greater rate of decline in kidney functions.

source: bolohealth

A Healthy Diet To Lose Weight: Burn the Belly Fat Very Quickly

Are you tired of lifting heavy weights in gym? Have you become frustrated because your efforts are not helping you in losing your weight? Well, here are some sure shot tips that will make certain you lose weight and get in the desired shape.

First of all, you will have to count the amount of calories you consume. I know this is a little tedious job but you will acknowledge its benefits later. It is not that difficult to do also. At the end of each day, take a piece of paper and write down everything you ate that day. Then using nutritional values provided on the pack, take note of the calories, fat, sugar that you intake. Sum up these values for over a week and then divide by 7 to get an average value of the amount of calories consumed per day in that week.

Now the real thing begins. Start to reduce this number. If that sounds a little difficult task, then try doing it in small percentages like 10% for starters. As you get used to 10% less calories in a day, then reduce some more. You will notice that by doing this small reduction of calories in your daily diets you have taken a big leap in your path towards the goal of achieving a flat belly.

Finally you need to tone your muscles and get rid of the extra fat already deposited on your body. Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to join the gym or buy an exercise machine. Just try to dedicate a small slot of your time to simple exercise, just to get you sweating. If your busy life doesn’t allow you doing that then I can suggest you another way to get your muscles working. Try to utilize your non productive time. For instance, instead of driving to the general store to buy stuffs, try walking to the place. And not just general store you can switch to walking to the nearby places. It will also cut down your petrol expenses. Another way is to do a little workout during the TV commercials. Whenever you watch TV and you encounter commercial do 10 push-ups, or anything that suits you.

There are numerous ways you can put yourself to sweating without actually joining a gym or exhausting yourself on an exercise machine.

What are you waiting for now? You are now the possessor of the best technique to lose weight. Start off instantly!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Karen is an expert nutritionist and health advisor. She helped to design the Diet Solution Program, the #1 weight loss program on the net today! Check it out now for a free video showing you how to lose weight the easy way.

Untangling the Mysteries of Alzheimer's Disease Lary Walker, associate professor of neuroscience, discusses the most common cause of dementia -- Alzheimer's disease -- and a promising diagnostic tool to detect it. Walker also explains what happens to the brain when someone gets this disease, and why Alzheimer's is exclusive to humans.

When our bodies make a protein, the protein tends to fold into a functional form. But when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease, some proteins misfold, becoming sticky and then combining with one another. In their collective form, the proteins can then form plaques or tangles, the two types of lesions associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

And for some unknown reason, people who have plaques usually go on to form tangles. But people who have tangles don’t always go on to form plaques. No one is sure why. But that’s what researcher Lary Walker wants to find out. Walker is an associate professor at Yerkes National Primate Research Center.

What complicates matters further is that patients with Alzheimer’s may have co-existing neurodegenerative diseases or conditions, such as vascular disease in the brain. “There’s pretty good evidence that vascular disorders will exacerbate dementia,” says Walker. “So, someone who has both the lesions of Alzheimer’s disease and problems with blood vessels in the brain is more likely to become demented early and faster than someone who just has the lesions of Alzheimer’s disease.”

source: physorg

Short people more prone to heart disease: study PARIS — Short people are 50 percent likelier than tall people to die prematurely of heart disease, researchers reported Wednesday in a major review of three million people.

The study showed that women under 1.53 metres (5 feet) and men under 1.65m (5 ft 5 in) are significantly more prone to cardiovascular or coronary heart problems than women and men taller than 1.66 (5 ft 6 in) and 1.73 metres (5 ft 8 in), respectively.

The findings, published in the European Heart Journal, suggest that short stature should be added to the list of known heart disease risk factors alongside obesity, advanced age and high cholesterol levels, the researchers said.

The link between height and heart conditions has been examined in nearly 2,000 studies from around the world over the last 60 years, but evidence remained contradictory.

Scientists in Finland led by Puula Paajanen of the University of Tampere sifted through all this research to see if they could tease out a definitive answer.

The best approach, they decided, was to compare the shortest group to the tallest group to highlight any differences that might emerge.

They focussed on 52 earlier studies, examining more than three million people in all, that met their criteria for both comparability and high standards.

"The results are unequivocal: short stature is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease," said Jaakko Tuomilehto, a professor at the University of Helsinki in commenting on the new study.

"But the possible patho-physiological, environmental, and genetic background of this peculiar association is not known," he added in a commentary, also in the European Heart Journal.

One theory is that shorter people have smaller coronary arteries that may become clogged earlier in life, especially when combined with poor nutrition or infections resulting in poor foetal or childhood growth.

But recent findings also suggest genes may be a culprit, Paajanen said.

"The genetic background of body height suggest that inherited factors ... may explain the association between small stature and an increased risk of heart disease in later life," she said in a statement.

Short people should not be worried about the new findings, she added.

"Height is only one factor that may contribute to heart disease. Whereas people have no control over their height, they can control their weight, lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking and exercise."

She also pointed out that being tall eliminated a risk factor for coronary heart disease but was not in itself a protection against it.

source: AFP

Healthy living: A men's perspective

Health experts urge males to get regular checkups

Even with the latest advancements in medical technology and treatments, statistics show men on average still live 5 to 6 years less than women do.

"The difference is even more profound for African-American men," according to the Florida Department of Health.

With Father's Day and Men's Health Awareness Week (June 14-20) approaching, health experts say there is no better time than today for men to focus on their health, not only for themselves but for their families.

Health experts say early detection screenings are vital in encouraging a healthier lifestyle for men in general.

According to the Florida Department of Health, Men's Health Month and National Men's Health Week are special campaigns that educate men and their families about the importance of positive health attitudes and preventive health care practices.

Research shows that males do not see a physician for a physical exam nearly as often as females. Males die at higher rates than women of the top causes of death. Men are considered more likely to be uninsured compared to women.

The Florida Department of Health recommends men have regular health screenings to prevent health problems. A screening can be done by a primary-care physician and should check things such as blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, weight, vision, hearing, skin and teeth and gums.

Starting at age 50, men should be screened for colorectal and prostate cancer. African-American and Hispanic males, however, should begin having these tests at 45 because of higher risk factors.

Heart disease

"The leading cause of death for both men and women is heart attacks," said Dr. Thomas Mathews, interventional cardiologist with St. Luke Heart Institute and medical director of the Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Program at Brooksville Regional Hospital.

Blood pressure testing detects hypertension, better known as high blood pressure. On average men should have their blood pressure tested every two years. If you have a family history or medical condition that can cause high blood pressure, more frequent testing could be needed, Mathews said.

The average, or normal, results is a systolic pressure of 120 or less and a diastolic pressure of 80. A man with a systolic pressure in the 120-139 range and diastolic in the 80-89 range should have annual checks.

Left untreated, blood pressure higher than these ranges could lead to heart attack, heart failure, stroke and kidney damage, Mathews said.

"Heart disease is one of the few preventable diseases, if diagnosed early," he said, adding that the average death for men from heart attack or stroke are generally between the ages of 40 and 50.

The American Heart Association recommends cholesterol and triglyceride level testing to measure the LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, and HDL, or high density lipoprotein, levels in the blood. This test is generally done every five years for normal levels; more frequent testing, however, may be needed if levels are considered abnormal. High fat or lipid levels - especially LDL, known as "bad cholesterol" - indicate increased risk to heart attack and stroke.

"Routinely looking at cholesterol screenings detects if an individual is at risk," Mathews said. "The recommendation of a daily aspirin should be taken by the patient, if directed by a physician."

Diabetes

Blood glucose is a test to measure the "sugar" in the blood after fasting for an eight-hour period. The test determines whether the individual has type 2 diabetes.

In recent studies by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Millions of Americans have been diagnosed, and many more are thought to be at risk.

Type 2 diabetes is more common among African-Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans, and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged population. Test results determine how often the individual will need to repeat testing for blood glucose levels.

According to the American Diabetes Association, roughly 1.6 million cases of diabetes are diagnosed in people over the age of 20 each year and 12 million men over the age of 20 have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Statistics show diabetes is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. It is an underlying cause of death and diabetics have a two to four times higher risk of heart attack, and stroke than people with normal blood sugar levels, according to the ADA.

The ADA recommends regular body mass index evaluations. BMI is based on a person's height and weight. Overweight or obese men should work with their doctor to reach a healthy weight.

Eye care

Eye exams performed on a regular basis can detect "silent" conditions that could lead to blindness, such as glaucoma.

"Taking care of your vision and hearing are two senses that should not be taken for granted," said Dr. Keith B. Stolte, an ophthalmologist with the Stolte Eye and Hearing Center, in Spring Hill. "A simple eye exam can save your vision and a simple hearing test can detect any hearing loss."

Stolte said an eye exam with an eye doctor can sometimes detect early signs of serious health problems such as diabetes or hypertension, both of which can cause damage to the eye.

Early diagnosis can make all the difference in treating these conditions and preventing extensive damage to the eye, he added, saying glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts are often picked up during routine eye exams.

"Patients often come in complaining of a decline in their vision with the assumption they need a new prescription for glasses," Stolte said. "A large percentage of time their vision loss is due to an eye disease. Patients are often in denial. It's hard for most to accept their diagnosis."

Stolte suggests a baseline eye exam be done at age 40 to determine the need for glasses and to detect for eye disease. A hearing test should be done every 10 years, or when the concern of a hearing loss is present, he added.

"I have seen patients as young as 30 have been diagnosed with cataracts," Stolte said, "and with iPods, MP3s, loud music and machinery on the rise, we are seeing a lot of young people with hearing loss as well."

Erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra, Levitra and Cialis can be another cause of vision loss in men, according to Stolte.

"These medications can cause a stroke of the eye know as NAION, non-arthritic ischemic optic neuropathy," Stolte said. "The condition occurs when blood flow to the optic nerve is interrupted, injuring the nerve, and causes permanent vision loss.For these reasons it is highly recommended to see your eye doctor and hearing specialist."

Colon

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colorectal cancer, in the colon or rectum, is one of three most common cancers and is also one of the top four cancers resulting in death among men.

"Colon and rectal cancers can occur when a growth or polyp on the lining of the colon or rectum has become malignant, or cancerous," said Dr. Syed Bin-Sagheer, a board-certified gastroenterologist at Advanced Gastroenterology and Pulmonary Care in Brooksville. "Colorectal cancer can be cured, especially when detected early."

According to research conducted by the Florida Department of Health, the death rate for colorectal cancer in Hernando County is about 16 percent, which is a decrease compared to four years ago, when the rate was 20 percent.

The procedure used by gastroenterologists to detect and test polyps is a colonoscopy, a medical procedure during which a long flexible tube is used to look inside the colon. The scope has a tiny video camera and a light on the end.

"Polyps are abnormal growths on the inside lining of the intestinal tract. They vary in size and shape and while most polyps are not cancerous, some may turn into cancer," said Bin-Sagheer.

Bin-Sagheer notes it is not possible to tell just by looking at a polyp if it is malignant or potentially malignant.

"Due to high risk factors, African-American and Hispanic men should be tested for colorectal cancer starting at age 45. For other males, testing should begin at age 50," said Bin-Sagheer. "Your physician will help you decide which test is right for you, as a family history of colorectal cancer may require earlier screenings."

Prostate

Research shows that about 30,000 men die in the U.S. each year from prostate cancer and is the second-leading cause of cancer death in men.

"Prostate screenings are usually started at the age of 50," said Dr. Omar Hamoui, urologist with Shoreline UroCare in Brooksville, "however, a baseline PSA is recommended at age 40, along with a digital rectal exam, or DRE, in men who have a family history of prostate cancer."

According to research from the Florida Department of Health, the death rate for prostate cancer in Hernando County is about 19 percent, which is an increase compared to four years ago, when the rate was 16 percent.

Hamoui describes the prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, as a protein substance that is produced by the prostate gland.

Testing the level in the blood for men measures the protein and is an important marker of many prostate diseases.

"Coinciding with the PSA, a DRE is done to detect if the prostate is enlarged or suspicious for a cancerous condition," Hamoui said, noting a majority of men over the age of 50 do have an enlarged prostate that is the result of a noncancerous condition.

"A PSA less than 4 nanograms per milliliter is considered normal for men, however, normal level depends on a males race and age. A high PSA level may indicate prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate," Hamoui said.

"The most common forms of benign prostate conditions are inflammations of the prostate, prostatitis and enlargement of the prostate, commonly referred to as BPH," Hamoui said. BPH stands for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

"It's also important to note that a PSA level alone does not provide enough information to distinguish between benign and cancerous conditions, but will provide enough information should further testing be needed."

Research shows that about 82 percent of men over the age of 50 receive an annual PSA test. However, those surveyed for follow-up for a re-screening within a two-year period is about 62 percent of men over the age of 50.

For further information on the National Men's Health month and week observances, you can go to www.menshealthmonth.org.

- Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - "Men: Stay Healthy at Any Age" Anna Lamy writes regularly for Hernando Today.

Lifestyle diseases now hitting the poor in E. Africa

A diabetes clinic. Drugs for diabetes, heart disease and cancer, are increasingly in demand in poorer nations whose populations are now living longer. File

With the ever present bright smile on his face, one can’t tell how severe the pain is that young Bryan Ndegwa has been through since he was born.

He is only seven months, but unlike his peers, he has had no chance to enjoy playing with toys.

Generally at four months, a boy is expected to start sitting up with ease during bathing and feeding time. Bryan’s case, however, is different, he has a hole in his heart.

His pulse rate increases immediately I try making him sit on a chair during the interview.
This does not stop him from humming notes while nodding his head, however.

Bryan is suffering from a cardiovascular disease medically referred to as ventricular septal defect (VSD) — or simply: a hole between the two ventricles of the heart.

Professor Gerald Yonga of the Aga Khan University Hospital, says VSD is a birth defect affecting the partition between the left and the right ventricle of the heart, resulting in a communication hole between them.

He says diagnosis and surgical correction of the condition is possible in Kenya and has been done with success rates comparable to any high quality medical centre in the developed countries.

But the process is very expensive.

“It cost between Kshs350,000 and 450,000 (about $4,488 to 5,769 ) for the operation — all costs inclusive from admission to discharge.

The charges at Kenyatta National Hospital, however, are lower, owing to a government subsidy.

The hole, explains the cardiologist, allows oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to mix with de-oxygenated blood in the right ventricle — which is not a normal part of the body physiology.

Previously considered as the disease of the rich, these lifestyle diseases are now catching up with the poor who cannot afford the expensive medication required. They also lack access to information on how to manage these lifelong conditions.

Yonga faults adverse living conditions brought about by poverty, lack of access to good nutrition, healthcare and poor infrastructure.

“The most surprising bit is that these diseases are largely preventable by simple measures such as reducing fat intake and consuming more vegetables and fruits,” he says.

At a crucial stage when his peers are enjoying their active peak, Bryan’s encounters with hospital beds and medical tests has yielded more confusion than answers. His mother, Meridith Kioko, 21, says after being admitted for two weeks at the Mbagathi Hospital, Bryan’s condition worsened, prompting the doctors to refer him to Kenyatta Hospital.

At KNH he was put under electrocardiogram and echocardiogram (ECHO) examination for sometime, then the doctors broke the news one morning. Bryan had a large hole in the heart.

Research by the African Population and Health Research Centreshows that in the slums, many people die from causes that can be prevented or cured but they lack access to medical services.

Around 37 per cent of those over 50 years have hypertension, the research shows. Of these, only 27 per cent are aware of it, and of those who are aware, only 45 per cent seek treatment.

This means that for every person in this age group on treatment for hypertension, there are seven who need treatment but are not getting it.

source: theeastafrican.co.ke

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