September 2010

By Paul Rogers, Weight Training Guide

I've touched on the subject of how weights and resistance training impact on heart disease, but perhaps not highlighted it specifically. It's well established that regular physical activity can reduce your risks of heart and lung disease. This is reflected in the national exercise guidelines.

These guidelines recommend doing aerobic and resistance exercise. But what if you decide to do just weight training as your favored form of exercise? Is any exercise as good as a combination of weights and cardio?

Probably not. Cardio provides us with a different set of advantages to weight training. The regular, steady-state nature of cardio builds a strong circulatory system (arteries and capillaries) and improves lung function, resting heart rate and oxygen delivery. Weight training also does some of these things and no one would deny that a regular weights program will get you fitter than if you did nothing. And, of course, muscle and bone strength and general flexibility can be improved.

But if your weight training is too centered on heavy lifting with little movement and high pressor effects, (which tend to cause narrowing of blood vessels) -- and you don't do some cardio -- you might not be training in an optimal way for heart health. I'm making a somewhat loose distinction here between static weights programs and those that have useful movement combined with weights -- various circuits and metabolic programs like Crossfit for example.

The idea that weight training can reduce 'arterial compliance,' a measure of arterial elasticity and flexibility (and that this may compromise cardiovascular health), has some scientific substantiation, although not quite conclusive and still under experimental observation across different groups.

The bottom line is that you can probably keep your blood vessels and arteries expanding and contracting in good fashion by ensuring you do your share of cardio in any training program. It may seem like a distraction if you're a big boofy guy or gal who wants muscle and strength and little else, but over a lifetime of training, you might do well to note this simple precaution.

source: weighttraining.about.com

Nighttime urination might indicate serious health problems Q: A few years ago, we rescued a racing greyhound that had been retired. She is now 11 years old and has been very healthy. However, lately in the middle of the night she asks to be let out to urinate. Sometimes, it happens two to three times a night. We normally let her out to do her business before we go to bed so this is completely new to us.

There have been no significant changes in her routine or her diet. She is completely house trained and appears healthy otherwise. Is this something to be concerned about? How do we get her to stop so that we can sleep through the night?

A: Your dog appears to have a condition referred to as nocturia, a term that is used when a pet has a need to urinate during the night. Nocturia is often due to an excessive intake of water, which then leads to excessive urination, a combination of symptoms referred to as "polydypsia and polyuria" in medical circles.

Nocturia can be associated with several medical conditions that have polyuria and polydypsia among their clinical signs. Some of these diseases include diabetes (a syndrome characterized by high blood sugar due to abnormally low insulin levels or resistance to the effects of insulin), Cushing's Disease (a disease that causes hyperadrenalcorticism resulting in excessive steroid production), and liver disease.

One of the more common reasons for nocturia can be a urinary tract infection (UTI). Dogs with UTI often need to urinate frequently and do so with a high degree of urgency. These dogs may also have poor bladder control and have a strong urge to urinate because of irritation and inflammation of the bladder. A urinalysis can easily rule out this possibility.

Another common reason for nocturia is kidney disease. Kidney disease occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to function properly. Kidney disease can have many causes including inflammation, infection, cancer, toxins, autoimmune diseases and trauma. In many cases, the kidneys start to fail simply because they are getting old and "worn out."

Besides nocturia, some other signs of kidney disease are polydypsia and polyuria, intermittent vomiting, lethargy, weight loss and loose stools or diarrhea.

Nocturia definitely warrants further investigation. Since your dog is 11 years old, there may be an underlying serious medical problem such as diabetes or kidney failure.

Ask your veterinarian to run a few simple tests such as a urinalysis and blood test to determine whether a medical problem is the basis for her nocturia.

Dr. Bernhard Pukay is an Ottawa veterinarian. Questions and comments are welcome. Address letters to Pet Care, Ottawa Citizen, Box 5020, Ottawa K2C 3M4.

source: ottawacitizen

New diagnostic kits to tackle salmon diseases

The main aim of the kits are to ultimately lead to the recovery of domestic production of Atlantic salmon. (Photo: Aquainnovo)

The University of Chile and Aquainnovo S.A. have received government aid for their work on a project to develop diagnostic kits for diseases affecting salmonids in the country.

The initiative, in the development of which also participated producers of salmon and trout, is under the scientific direction of Maria Eugenia Cabrejos, an academic at the University of Chile and director of the Laboratory Unit at Aquainnovo S.A.

The implementation of diagnostic kits for diseases in the Official Program of the National Fisheries Service (SERNAPESCA) will simultaneously identify the different conditions through a single sample.

One of the kits can detect the infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) virus, the infectious salmon anemia (ISA) virus and R. salmoninarum (or BKD), all of which are included in the General Health Program for Fish Reproduction.

Another kit detects Alphavirus viral diseases, infectious hematopoietic necrosis (IHN) and viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), in accordance with the Health Program for Specific Diseases with Active Surveillance for High Risk Farmed Fish.

"The team has high technical standards in order to comply with international quality standards, in the same way, the project convened with valuable partners such as the European Laboratory for Fish Disease Reference, consultants, experts in national Technology Transfer and experienced entrepreneurs in the area of salmon and trout production," said Aquainnovo.

The company also said it will assume the objective of Technology Transfer, including placing new products and diagnostic services in the market.

"These new tools and services associated with them, allow the authorities and employers to take effective measures for disease control, which will ultimately lead to the recovery of domestic production of Atlantic salmon," said Cabrejos.

This initiative was the only one in the area of salmon farming to enter the Competition for Research and Development Projects (I+D) by Fondef, which this year received a record of 268 applicants.

By Analia Murias

source: fis

Development of Pancreatic Cancer Lies in Protein Pancreatic cancer is caused by a protein, the discovery of which could help in earlier diagnosis and new treatment methods, according to researchers in Britain.

Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all cancers due to its lack of symptoms in the early stages, late diagnosis and its resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

The research – funded by the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund – found that nearly three quarters of pancreatic cancer tumours had high levels of a protein known as P110ã. In laboratory experiments, when production of this protein was blocked, the cancer cells stopped growing. The findings are published online today (28 September 2010) in Clinical Cancer Research.

"It is a striking number of patients who present with high levels of P110ã," says Professor of Molecular Pharmacology, Marco Falasca, who led the research. "The fact that P110ã is needed for pancreatic cancer cells to grow shows that it is likely to have a critical role in the progression of the disease, which makes it a potential target for developing new treatments."

The team discovered the link with P110ã by screening both normal and cancerous pancreatic tissue for particular proteins linked to cell proliferation. Up to half of all cancers are linked to a member of one family of these proteins – called Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase (PI3K) – and the team wanted to see if a link could be made with pancreatic cancer.

source: medindia.net

Rubbing a bump makes it feel better?

Does rubbing a bump or scrape make it feel better? Scientists found that people experience much less pain when they gently rub a sore part of the body.

The finding helps explain why most of us instinctively clutch an arm or leg when it is injured, but are reluctant to let anyone else touch it.

British scientists believe that touching an injury helps to reset the brain's internal 'map' of the body - that seems to play a key role in pain perception, reports the Daily Mail.

Scientists studied the soothing power of touch using a well-tested lab experiment that inflicts pain on volunteers without causing physical damage, according to the journal Current Biology.

Study author Professor Patrick Haggard of the University College London said: "The index and ring fingers are placed in warm water and the middle finger in cold water."

"This generates a paradoxical feeling that the middle finger is painfully hot." In the experiment, the volunteers were asked to place both hands into the water until they felt pain.

Once their fingers were lifted out of the water, they were asked to record how much pain they were experiencing on a scale.

When they were allowed to bring their two hands together - so each sore finger was touching its opposite number - the painful heat experienced in the middle finger dropped by 64 per cent.

But on occasions when they kept their hands apart, the pain levels stayed the same. Touching the hand of somebody else made no difference to pain levels. And the pain levels only dropped when all the volunteer's fingers were touching.

Marjolein Kammers of University College London, said the study shed light on the origins of pain in the brain.

source: TOI

Avoid bone weakness as you grow old

Osteoporosis is considered a "silent disease" because it can develop with very little warning and go virtually undetected for many years. Given the hidden nature of our bones, it can be very difficult to determine if they are healthy. There are very few actual physical symptoms of osteoporosis, but the following risk factors increase your likelihood for developing the weak, porous bones of osteoporosis:

Family History - If someone in your family has osteoporosis, you have a 60 to 80 percent chance of getting it too. If your mother has broken a hip in her later years, heads up, as your chances are greater to do so also. Hip fractures are a strong indicator of bone weakness.

Preventing and lowering your risk of osteoporosis and osteopenia requires a lifelong commitment to:

* A Bone-Healthy Diet - There are many components to a well-balanced healthy diet, but the elements that are most important for bone health include:

*Getting ample daily calcium and vitamin D, along with magnesium, phosphorous, and vitamin K.

*Limiting the amounts of protein and alcohol and lowering the amounts of sodium, caffeine, and cola drinks (containing phosphoric acid) because each of these components in excess can cause bone loss.

*Consuming the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils (EPA/DHA, which have proven to be beneficial to bones).

* Weight-bearing Exercise - Just 30 minutes of weight-bearing exercise daily benefits your bones, heart, muscles, coordination, and balance. Those 30 minutes don't need to be done all at once either; it's just as good for you to do 10 minutes at a time. But what exactly is a "weight-bearing" activity? It is one where your legs support most of your weight and your body is working against gravity so that bones are given the greatest challenge. Examples of good bone builders include: brisk walking, aerobics, tennis, volleyball, hiking, dancing, soccer, gymnastics, jumping rope, and weight lifting.

source: adoracalcium

Overdose on B vitamins can halve the rate of brain shrinkage in elderly people with memory problems Could This be the Key Factor Spiking the Rise in Dementia and Alzheimer's?

Large doses of B vitamins can halve the rate of brain shrinkage in elderly people with memory problems. It may slow their progression toward dementia.

A two-year clinical trial
was the largest to date into the effect of B vitamins on "mild cognitive impairment," a condition which is a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

Reuters reports:

"[Researchers] conducted a two-year trial with 168 volunteers with MCI who were given either a vitamin pill containing very high doses of folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, or a placebo dummy pill ...

[O]n average the brains of those taking the vitamin treatment shrank at a rate of 0.76 percent a year, while those taking the dummy pill had an average brain shrinkage of 1.08 percent."

Sources:
Reuters September 8, 2010
Los Angeles Times September 9, 2010

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

We are in the midst of an Alzheimer's epidemic. Odds are absolutely overwhelming that you personally know someone with this disease or who has recently died from it.

In the next 20 years it is projected that Alzheimer's will affect one in four Americans.

According to the Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report for 2009, 5.3 million people in the U. S. now have the disease, which bumps it up to the sixth leading cause of death.

Reuters reports:

"Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) affects around 16 percent of people aged over 70 worldwide and is characterized by slight problems with memory loss, language or other mental functions.

MCI does not usually interfere with daily life, but around 50 percent of people diagnosed with it go on to develop the far more severe Alzheimer's disease within five years.

Alzheimer's is a mind-wasting disease for which there are few treatments and no cure, and which affects 26 million people around the world."

Absolute Best Way to Treat Alzheimer's

Believe me, I don't mention these statistics to frighten you, but to warn you, because this is a bugger of a disease to beat when you have it.

You want to avoid this disease for sure, and the BEST way to "treat" it is to lead a lifestyle that will prevent it in the first place. And I can confidently assure you that this is possible.

I have absolutely no doubt that I will successfully avoid this disease as my lifestyle prevents it.

It is important to understand that dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, is NOT a normal part of aging, which makes the steady rise in dementia cases all that more frustrating.

Clearly, determining the underlying causes of these brain disorders is imperative if we're going to slow down or reverse this troubling trend.

In this latest PLoS study, extremely high doses of B vitamins were successful in limiting brain shrinkage, which is a common precursor of Alzheimer's disease.

According to one of the co-authors:

"This is a very dramatic and striking result. It's much more than we could have predicted… It is our hope that this simple and safe treatment will delay development of Alzheimer's in many people who suffer from mild memory problems."

This is good news, but there are certain factors that must be considered here, and I believe there are other, more effective strategies to combat Alzheimer's, which I'll review at the end of this article.

source: foodconsumer.org

FDA Warning: 600,000 Avandia Users in the US Risk Heart Attacks, Stroke or Heart Failure About 600,000 users of the controversial diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitazone) are exposing themselves to possible heart attacks, strokes or heart failures. The US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has issued severe restrictions on the use of the drug manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) because of the heart health risks.

Rosiglitazone is currently being taken by patients with Type 2 diabetes. Avandia is taken as a stand-alone medication or in combination with metformin (Avandamet) or with glimepiride (Avandaryl). It was the research of Cleveland cardiologist Dr. Steven Nissen which established a strong linkage between heart ailments and the use of the drug.

The US FDA’s restrictions on Avandia are as follows:

* GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK), the drug’s manufacturer, is restricted from promoting the drug. Individuals currently taking the drug will be advised to transfer to another similar medication
* Doctors cannot prescribe the diabetes drug to new patients without giving them detailed explanation on the risks involved.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) was also advised by the US FDA to to convene an independent group of scientists to re-check data on the drug’s clinical trials, USA Today reported earlier.

While Avandia is still available in the US, the European Union’s European Medicines Agency has altogether banned the sale of the GSK diabetes drug because of its record in clinical trials.

It is estimated that in the US more than 47,000 Avandia users suffered from a heart attack, stroke or heart failure during the period 1999 to 2009. Dr. Nissen said the FDA’s decision brought an end to “one of the worst drug safety tragedies in our lifetime.” He added that it was “essential to fully investigate what went wrong with the regulatory process to prevent this type of tragedy from endangering patients in the future.”

Avandia was once the best selling diabetes drug in the market. In 2009 its sales went down to $1.2 billion from $3.2 billion in 2006 because of its risks to heart attacks and other heart ailments.

source: all247news

Healthy Habits To Keep Our Blood Pressure Down

If we have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, our doctor may recommend that we adopt a few healthier lifestyle habits to help get it under control. Studies have shown that making certain changes in the way we live can significantly lower our blood pressure. Most of these lifestyle changes can also help prevent high blood pressure if we do not already have it — the guidelines for hypertension prevention and management are often one and the same.

Here are some healthier lifestyle habits we should adopt.

* Eat healthily.

There is evidence that people who consume a healthy diet can prevent high blood pressure or lower blood pressure if they already have hypertension. We should aim for a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, nuts and seeds and lean protein sources, such as skinless poultry and fish. It should also be low in saturated fat, total fat, cholesterol and added sugars — and skip the trans fat altogether.

* Reduce Salt Intake

. Limiting the amount of sodium (salt) in our diet can also help control high blood pressure. As a general rule, we should consume less than 2,400 milligrams of sodium(less than a teaspoon) per day, but if we already have high blood pressure, that amount will be lower. The target is between 500mg and 1000mg (quarter to half teaspoon). The lower our sodium intake, the better it is for our blood pressure. We must remember to count the amount of sodium in packaged foods as well as any table salt used, when we are calculating how much we are eating. Ingredients like baking soda, soda, brine, mono sodium glutamate (MSG) and baking powder have high sodium content.

* Maintain a healthy weight

If we are overweight, losing as few as 10 pounds can lower our high blood pressure. Carrying extra weight not only increases our risk of high blood pressure, it also makes us more likely to develop cholesterol problems and diabetes, which are two more risk factors for heart disease. Talk with your doctor about our weight. If we are overweight, our doctor can recommend a safe weight loss program of healthy eating and increased physical activity.

* Keep active

An active lifestyle is one of the best ways to prevent or control high blood pressure. In addition to its effects on hypertension, regular exercise can also help you maintain a healthy weight and reduce stress. As long as our doctor says that exercise is safe for us, aim to get at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity on most days of the week and incorporate flexibility (stretches) and strengthening exercises into our weekly routine.

* Limit alcohol or stop drinking all together.

Drinking alcohol in moderation is generally not harmful and may even have some heart health benefits, but drinking too much has been shown to lead to high blood pressure and other serious health problems. We must limit our alcohol intake to one drink per day females or two drinks per day for males. One drink is 12 ounces of beer or 4ounces of wine or one and a half ounces of 80-proof liquor, or 1 ounce of 100-proof liquor.

* Stop smoking to limit artery damage

Smoking is not considered to be a cause of high blood pressure, but it can damage the walls of our blood vessels and harden our arteries, making it especially dangerous for us who have high blood pressure. If we don't smoke, don’t start and if we do smoke, make quitting a top priority. Studies have shown that our risk of having a heart attack is reduced just one year after we quit smoking.

* Monitor our blood pressure at home.

There are often no warning signs that we have high blood pressure before it damages our body. That is why it is important to keep track of our blood pressure, to make sure it is under control and being managed properly. Since our blood pressure can fluctuate between doctor visits, we should consider investing in a home monitoring kit and then regularly record our blood pressure readings so our doctor can have a clearer picture of our blood pressure over time.

* Manage stress to manage hypertension

Stress can cause temporary increases in high blood pressure, but scientists are still not sure how stress affects blood pressure over the long term. However, there is evidence that stress can lead to overeating, smoking, drinking and other blood pressure-raising activities. So, we should pay attention to our stress levels and avoid unnecessarily stressful activities and events. We must remember that regular exercise reduces stress as it improves heart health.

* Practice relaxation

Taking time out to unwind each day may help us control our high blood pressure. Find some relaxation techniques that we enjoy and practice them regularly. Examples of relaxation practices include meditating in a peaceful place for 15 to 20 minutes, expressing our gratitude for the positive things in our life and engaging in soothing physical activities such as yoga.

Remember, High blood pressure is the greatest risk factor for death in the Caribbean and in the world. We may not know we have high blood pressure unless we get it checked.

Don’t be a Statistic in the Vitamin D Deficiency Epidemic Currently, an estimated one billion people world-wide are deficient in Vitamin D. Vitamin D has over 600 receptor sites in the body, including the brain and the heart. Since Vitamin D receptor sites are so prevalent in the body, new studies and research continue to emerge, touting the health benefits of Vitamin D consumption. I am sure you know that Vitamin D is important for bone health, as it is essential for absorbing calcium, but did you know that this essential Vitamin D nutrient is critical for immune, cellular, brain and cardiovascular health?

Vitamin D Supports Health in the following areas:

• Healthy Bones & Joints
• Healthy Colon & Digestion
• Memory & Concentration
• Breast & Prostate Health
• Proper Cell Replication
• Immune System

Healthy Bones & Calcium Absorption:

The attention and focus paid to the importance of Vitamin D have increased recently as Vitamin D deficiencies become more prevalent. Most of us familiar with Vitamin D understand that this nutrient is essential to skeletal system health. Along with calcium, vitamin D is considered vital for maintaining healthy bones. Vitamin D actually regulates the use of calcium in the body by dramatically increasing its absorption and utilization.

Vitamin D for Cardiovascular Health:

Low blood levels of Vitamin D can increase coronary artery calcification which means that Vitamin D deficiencies can elevate the risk of strokes and congestive heart failure. Higher levels of Vitamin D support normal levels of inflammation which is extremely important for cardiovascular health.

Vitamin D for Immune Health:

Vitamin D is important to immune system health because it no only supports a health immune response but also inhibits negative autoimmune responses. It does this by modulating T-cell responses. Auto-immune health disorders occur when Th1 cells attack the body instead of fighting off unwanted invaders.

Vitamin D for Brain Health:

The brain has a wide distribution of Vitamin D receptors which can directly and positively affect cognitive brain function. Sufficient levels of Vitamin D have been shown to enhance memory and concentration. Vitamin D supports brain health, while a deficiency can result in brain dysfunction.

Vitamin D for Colon, Prostate and Breast Health:

Vitamin D supports healthy digestion, since receptor sites are found from the mouth all the way through the intestines Healthy Vitamin D levels support two increasing areas of concern — breast health for women and prostate health for men.

Vitamin D inhibits unwanted cell proliferation and stimulates healthy cell differentiation. Lung, skin, colon, bone and breast sites have been studied for Vitamin D’s positive effects on cell differentiation and proliferation, causing them to act as normal mature cells. Dr. Cedric Garland, a 20 year veteran Vitamin D researcher believes that Vitamin D can prevent unwanted cell proliferation by 75% with optimal Vitamin D blood levels.

Sunshine?

Many folks think that getting more sunshine is the answer. This is only partially true. As we age, the skin does not synthesize Vitamin D as efficiently as when we were younger, especially true with people over 50 years of age. Other studies indicate that breastfed infants, dark-skinned individuals and those with mal-absorption problems are especially vulnerable. Those that live in the northern latitudes or that work inside or are house-bound have a higher risk of Vitamin D deficiencies.

So how much Vitamin D is enough?

Due to recent studies and research on the importance of Vitamin D for health, the minimum recommended requirements for Vitamin D continue to increase. The American Academy of Pediatrics (our nation’s leading pediatrician group) now recommends children increase their Vitamin D intake to 400 IU daily, which is twice a much as 2003 recommendations. Due to emerging Vitamin D research, old recommendations of 400 IU to 600 IU daily for adults is now being increased to 800 to 1,000 IU for adults by many experts. Some experts are now recommending as much as 2,000 IU of Vitamin D daily for maximum health benefits.

Sources of Vitamin D

For human health there are two forms of Vitamin D: Vitamin D2 from plants (ergocalciferol) and Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is made when cholesterol in our skin cells reacts with sunlight. Unless you are a nude sun-bather, it is difficult to absorb and synthesize the necessary amount of Vitamin D3 for optimal health. Both forms of Vitamin D have been shown to raise Vitamin D levels in the blood, but Vitamin D3 is the preferred form because it is metabolized better in our bodies and is the form that comes from the most natural sources – our food and the sun. Excellent food sources of Vitamin D3 include cod liver oil, pink salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna.

Supplementing with Vitamin D3

As a Nutritionist, I am often asked by clients what I recommend for Vitamin D supplementation. With supplementation, I prefer the most natural, whole-food sources of dietary supplementation. In addition to the whole food sources of Vitamin D3 mentioned above, I also recommend a raw, whole-food source of Vitamin D3 called Vitamin Code Raw D3 by Garden of Life. In my opinion, Vitamin Code Raw D3 stands out above the other Vitamin D3 dietary supplements because it contains 2,000 IU of Vitamin D3, is the only raw, vegetarian, whole food vitamin D complex that is formulated with raw food-created nutrients and cultivated with live probiotics, antioxidants, enzymes and nutrient-specific peptides for maximum delivery and absorption. Vitamin Code D3 is also gluten and dairy free and contains no soy allergens, binders or fillers.

In closing, I strongly suggest that you pay attention to your daily Vitamin D intake levels. If your goal is optimal health, then I am sure you are doing what you can preventatively through your diet, nutrition and lifestyle, to reach and maintain your goal. As part of your health plan goal, make sure that your diet includes enough Vitamin D3 daily for optimal health.

Christine Dreher is a Nutritionist, Herbalist, Author of The “Cleanse Cookbook” & President / Founder of Christine’s Cleanse Corner, Inc. — a whole-food nutritional company that specializes in Nutrition & Health education & Whole Food Vitamins & Supplements, Internal Cleansing & Healthy Weight Loss. Christine is the Editor & Publisher of the free, online “Transform Your Health” Nutrition & Health E-Newsletter. She is also an inspirational Speaker, Teacher, & a Nutritional Health Consultant. Vitamin Code,Vitamin D,Garden of Life.

source: lonad

Delicious Low Fat Healthy Salad Recipes

Mention being on a diet and straight away people think of eating salads, but so often a salad can be just as unhealthy, even more so, than other meals because of the amount of dressings etc that people put on them.

In my opinion salads do gets a very bad press!
Too often many people think of salad as being some limp lettuce, a slice of tomato and an onion ring.

But there are so many salads and dressings that can make our food a lot more interesting but still remain healthy and low fat.

I think that it is important that you experiment with different vegetables and fruits in your salad – for example try young spinach leaves as an alternative or in addition to lettuce, you well get more flavours in this way; also lots of different textures in a salad make a big difference – include crispy foods like celery and nuts (in moderation if you are watching your weight) and more chewy foods like raisins and softer, you also want to get a good variety of colour in the salad, don’t be afraid to add fruit to a salad – grapes, apple, melon, pineapple and orange slices are all delicious in a salad and all add taste, colour and texture.

This salad is a firm favourite of mine and makes a delicious lunch recipe.

ORIENTAL SPINACH, EGG AND BACON SALAD

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

1 bag baby spinach leaves, washed and drained
2 large eggs, hard-boiled and chopped
4 rashers lean bacon, grilled until crispy and chopped into small pieces
3 large spring onions , sliced
100g white mushrooms, washed and sliced
1 orange cut into segments ( take some zest from the orange before segmenting and keep to one side)

DRESSINGS

100ml lemon juice
100ml cider vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 clove garlic, crushed

METHOD

1. In a large salad bowl combine the spinach, eggs, bacon bits, orange segments, onions and mushrooms.

2. In a small bowl or measuring jug, combine all the dressing ingredients and leave in the refrigerator for five minutes.

3. Add the salad dressing to the spinach mixture.

4. Toss well to combine and serve immediately.

This salad recipe is different, low fat and very tasty – I do hope that you enjoy it.

source: helium

Michelle Obama treats first wives to a healthy meal on farm trip Michelle Obama gave a global showcase to her healthy eating initiative when she welcomed spouses of world leaders to tour a farm north of New York City.

The first lady then treated them to a seasonal lunch, which included fresh harvests from the farm and the White House garden.

The spouses included Chantal Biya, First Lady of Cameroon, Haiti's First Lady Elisabeth Preval and their counterparts from countries around the world, such as Mongolia, Swaziland and Latvia. he group toured the Stone Barns Center, about 25 miles north of New York City, which is both a farm and an educational centre working on sustainable farming and is a brainchild of the First Lady.

The farm shares the premises with one of the most renowned restaurants in the New York area, Blue Hill at Stone Barns, where the women lunched on tomatoes from the White House kitchen garden, eggs harvested minutes earlier from the farm's chickens and chicken with ratatouille.

Mrs. Obama emphasised the importance of children learning directly about the food they eat while addressing the spouses.Many kids may never learn that ketchup comes from a tomato and French fries from a potato, because they're disconnected from the food they eat," the Telegraph quoted the healthy lady as saying.

The restaurant's top chef and co-owner, Dan Barber in collaboration with White House chefs, prepared the day's menu.

SOURCE: sify

Facts About The Glycemic Index And Diabetes Since the gold standard symptom of diabetes is having a blood sugar level higher than established "normal" values, diabetics have long been hung up on sugar, and thus carbohydrates. However, as you will see, obsessing on one aspect of the diet is seldom a healthy course of action.

At first blush, a low carb diet would seem to be indicated, and these have been popular (at least short-term) with some diabetics. As it happens, such a diet will lower blood glucose, but creates other problems. For one thing, after the desired weight loss (if any) is achieved, the calories from those lost carbs are going to have be made up with fat and protein.

But, diabetics are only too aware that their kidneys and heart are at risk with this disease. High protein is hard on your kidneys, and high fat is bad for your heart. And this just scratches the surface with what's wrong with low carb. There is plenty of literature suggesting that the ability of insulin to lower blood sugar is improved by eating carbohydrates, including an oft-cited classic paper on diabetes from 1936. Likewise, many authorities believe that fats promote insulin resistance, thus elevating blood sugar.

Notably, the many studies extant that demonstrate how a low carb diet will lower blood sugar are virtually all short-term. That's because most people can't stay on a low carb diet for very long, for a host of reasons. Moreover, the low carb craze deliberately ignores that some of the world's healthiest populations—in terms of frequency of the major "killer" diseases including diabetes—exist on high carb diets.

Perhaps we should consider the quality of the carbs we consume. Fair enough, which brings us to the Glycemic Index.

The glycemic index (GI) is a ranking of carbohydrates on a scale from 0 to 100 according to the extent to which they raise blood sugar levels after eating. Foods with a high GI are those which are rapidly digested and absorbed and result in marked fluctuations in blood sugar levels.

Measured portions of individual foods are fed to ten non-diabetic participants who have fasted overnight, and their blood glucose levels are logged for two hours. The averaged data is plotted on a curve, and the area under the curve (AUC) for the test food is divided by the AUC for the reference food (glucose). This ratio (multiplied by 100) becomes the GI. The implication is that the lower the GI, the better, and that a low GI diet is a healthy diet. A GI database is available online. [http://fmx01dhs.ucc.usyd.edu.au/Sugirs/index.php]

Low GI is 0-55 ; Moderate GI is 56-69; High GI is 70 or more. Let's look at the database to see if low glycemic is always healthier.

Numerous chocolate candies show up in the 20's. Ice cream and chocolate cake are in the 30's. Compare this to brown rice at 66 or 87 (both values are shown, and reflect data from different labs). Anyone think candy and ice cream are healthier than brown rice?

Those lower GI numbers simply reflect the fat content. Fat and protein slow down gastric emptying, and thus slow down digestion of carbohydrates. Likewise, the lowest GI for a baked potato (skin on) is 69, compared to 54 for the lowest French fries, and 55 for potato chips. Ironically, GI diet proponents condemn low carb/no carb diets because they add too much fat!

Beyond this, GI is affected by the ripeness of the food item, as well as its storage temperature, and how it is cooked.

But the biggest fallacy is that testing foods in isolation bears no resemblance to real life. In real life, foods are mixed during a meal, and there will likely be some fat mixed in with that bite of a carbohydrate food, thus lowering its GI. For this reason alone, any attempt at maintaining a low GI diet using the standard data is little more than a fool's errand.

Finally, since the GI numbers for many simple sugars—including fructose at 23—are quite low, you could construct a low GI diet that was actually very high in sugar content. What diabetic (or anyone interested in good health) would do that?

Certainly, there are healthy foods with a low GI—for example, most fruits, vegetables, and legumes—but so what? You already knew about them.

My best advice, whether you are diabetic or not, is to avoid fad diets.

Michael D. Shaw
Exec VP
Interscan Corporation

source: healthnewsdigest

Major Risk Factor Affecting Heart Health

What are the major risk factors?
Contributing factors

* Cigarette smoking -Nicotine from cigarette smoking makes me work harder by temporarily increasing blood pressure and heart rate. Furthermore, the carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke gets into your blood stream and reduces the amount of oxygen delivered to me (the heart) and other parts of the body. Cigarette smoking also causes platelets in the blood to become sticky and cluster, shortens their survival, reduces the clotting time and makes blood thicker. All of these factors are harmful to the cardiovascular system and put you at higher risk for a heart attack.

Giving up smoking is the only way to decrease this risk factor. For those that have given up the habit, the risk of heart attack eventually declines almost to the same level as that of people who have never smoked. There are many over-the-counter medications to help a person quit smoking. However, you should always check with your physician before starting these, since many can contain nicotine and have some of the same effects on the heart as smoking can. Your hysician, nurse and exercise physiologist can help you develop an individual plan to help kick the habit.

* Cocaine abuse -Cocaine causes constriction of the coronary arteries, which decreases the flow of blood, and hence oxygen, to the heart muscle. At the same time, it increases the heart rate, which increases the heart's need for oxygen. These combined reactions can result in angina, heart attacks and sudden death. These effects can happen in individuals who use cocaine for the first time or repeatedly.

* Diabetes -People with diabetes have a higher risk of heart disease than those who are not diabetic. Diabetes is a condition that occurs when the pancreas is unable to make enough insulin or when the body is unable to use its own insulin. It is often associated with a fatty buildup in the arteries. If you are diabetic and also suffer from heart disease, it is doubly important that you follow your doctor's advice in managing your controllable risk factors. Regular checkups, a balanced diet and exercise are important in treating diabetes as well as in treating heart disease.

* High blood pressure -High blood pressure (hypertension) places a greater-than-normal demand on the heart muscle. It is generally agreed that blood pressures consistently greater than 140/90 should be treated. In most cases, the cause of hypertension is unknown. A person with mild elevation of blood pressure often begins treatment with a program of:

o weight reduction, if needed
o salt reduction
o exercise
o elimination of cigarette smoking
o modification of stressful habits
o medication

The left ventricle is the chamber of the heart that is responsible for pumping blood to every part of the body, from your toes to your head. Untreated high blood pressure can cause this part of the heart to enlarge (hypertrophy), resulting in increased risk of heart failure and heart rhythm disturbances. Fortunately, treating high blood pressure treats this problem as well.

* Behavioral characteristics -Having a "Type A" personality is thought by some experts to be a risk factor for heart disease. This personality type is characterized by an intense time pressure, chronic impatience and hostility or anger. Hard work and long hours are not necessarily features of this type of behavior. All human beings feel stress; life without it would be dull, indeed. Each of us reacts to stress differently. Excessive stress over a long period may create health problems in some people. Ask your cardiac rehab specialist for stress management techniques and programs available.

* Blood cholesterol levels -Cholesterol is a blood fat or lipid. Our bodies make cholesterol, and it is found in some foods. Cholesterol is essential to health. It enables the body to build cells, repair tissues and make sex hormones and vitamin D. Unfortunately, too much cholesterol can build up in the arteries, reducing blood flow and leading to heart disease. Cholesterol is carried in the blood by proteins. The blood fat and protein together are called lipoproteins. High-density lipoprotein (HDL), the so-called "good" cholesterol, is the part of cholesterol that leaves the body and does not build up deposits.

a. HDLs help transport cholesterol from the body's cells to the liver where it is broken down. HDLs also may keep LDLs from entering cells. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the so-called "bad" cholesterol, is the type of cholesterol that can damage your health.

b. LDLs are mostly fat and tend to break down as they move through the blood. They leave behind deposits of cholesterol, which builds up in the arteries.

c. Both HDL and LDL components are considered in the evaluation of a person's risk for heart disease. If LDL elevation is the only risk factor present, a person should try to keep the LDL level under 160. If additional risk factors are present, the target LDL level should be less than 130. If a person has already developed symptoms of heart disease, the target LDL level should be 100.

d. Attempts should be made to bring the HDL and triglyceride levels into the desirable range. Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists. HDL levels in men should be greater than 35, and in women, greater than 45. Triglyceride levels should be less than 200. Smoking cessation, exercise, diet and weight loss can help increase the number of HDLs and decrease the LDLs in your blood. Sometimes, though, medication may be needed to help you achieve your target cholesterol level.

e. In addition to HDLs, LDLs and triglycerides, Lipoprotein(a) or "Lp little a," a specific form of LDL cholesterol, has begun getting more attention from physicians. Many studies have shown that higher levels of Lp(a) are associated with an increased frequency of coronary heart disease. Doctors are increasingly looking at Lp(a) levels when evaluating a person's risk for heart disease.

* Obesity -Extra weight puts extra strain on your heart. In most cases, being verweight simply results from eating too much and exercising too little. Excess body fat (20 percent overweight) makes the heart work harder and increases the risk of hypertension, diabetes and elevated cholesterol levels. In addition to weight itself, it appears that weight distribution is associated with cardiac risk. When weight is mostly in the abdominal area, the so-called "apple distribution," the risk for heart disease is increased. When the weight is mostly in the hips and buttock area, the "pear distribution," the risk does not appear to

* Lack of exercise -Exercise and diet are the best ways to lose body fat and weight. For every 3,500 calories you either don't eat or you burn up with increased activity, you lose one pound. If you cut 425 calories out of your daily diet and use up an extra 450 calories in exercise, it would take four days to lose one pound. A balanced diet containing the number of calories needed to maintain an ideal weight will help reduce the risk of heart attack. Weigh yourself weekly and follow your physician's advice for weight reduction. A hospital dietitian can help you.

Also, some other factors are….

* Heredity -Heart disease often runs in families. The genes that carry the blueprints for our bodies may carry heart disease from parents to children. Habits and customs practiced by a family also may increase a person's risk. Although you cannot control this factor, you can be aware of your family's history of heart disease. If your family has a history of heart disease, you may be more likely to develop it as well.

* Gender -Men are more likely than women to develop heart disease and are more predisposed to getting into trouble at an earlier age. This is probably related to the protective effect of female hormones. This is supported by the fact that heart disease in women increases dramatically after menopause when women's bodies stop producing the hormone estrogen. However, this does not mean that women are immune to heart disease.

* Race -The risk of heart attacks in African-Americans is higher than in any other race. The reason may be that African-Americans are twice as likely to have high blood pressure as others.

* Age -Recent studies suggest that men 45 years of age or older are at a higher risk of heart disease. Women age 55 or older (post- menopausal) are at a higher risk for coronary artery disease, unless they are taking estrogen supplements.

These major factors can't be controlled or changed; that is why it is important to treat and control contributing risk factors so they don't add to your already high risk for coronary heart disease.

READ MORE ON - HEART HEALTH

source: heartattackelaxim

Talking to yourself is good: Scientists

Normally talking to yourself may be dubbed as an indication of madness but a new research shows it might be good for you.

The study revealed that people who chat to themselves are good at exercising self-control in stressful situations, reports express.co.uk.

Using your 'inner voice' plays an important role in controlling impulsive behaviour, according to scientists.

Psychologists from Toronto University in Canada gave volunteers self-control tasks in which they were asked to talk to themselves or keep their mind blank.

ThinkingWhen participants saw a particular symbol on the screen, they were told to press a button. If they saw another symbol, they had to refrain from pushing the button.

The test measures self-control because there are more "press" than "don't press" trials.

The researchers then included measures to block participants from using their "inner voice". This stopped them talking to themselves while doing the test.

Researcher Michael Inzlicht said: "We found people acted more impulsively when they couldn't use their inner voice through the tasks."

"Without being able to verbalise messages to themselves, they were not able to exercise the same amount of self control as when they could talk themselves. This study shows that talking to ourselves helps us exercise self control and prevents impulsive decisions," he added.

source: hindistantimes

Antioxidants minimize risk for cancer, heart and eye disease

The term "antioxidant" is tossed around a lot these days, but many of you still are not sure exactly what antioxidants are or why they’re important. The facts are that antioxidants are found in plant-based foods, and research has credited them with helping to minimize risk for many diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and eye disease, and to improve overall health. Read on to find out more about antioxidants.

What is “oxidative stress”? Why does it occur? And what is an antioxidant?
Believe it or not, oxygen -- the very thing you need to survive can actually harm you. Think of how the flesh of an apple browns when it's exposed to air. That's the effect of oxygen -- called oxidation. An antioxidant prevents oxidation. Dipping the cut apple in lemon juice prevents the browning. The lemon juice is an antioxidant. Oxidative stress occurs when someone has too many free radicals in his or her body and not enough antioxidants to combat them.

A free radical is a molecule that contains an oxygen atom that is missing an electron. In its effort to replace the missing electron, the free radical steals from another molecule, which then becomes a free radical itself. It’s a vicious cycle. Antioxidants provide the free radical with its missing electron so that it doesn’t have to steal one from another molecule, thus stopping the cycle.

Your body produces free radicals as byproducts of the many functions it performs, such as when you digest foods, when you exercise, or when you're exposed to tobacco and other environmental pollutants.

If there are too many free radicals and not enough antioxidants, the balance is off – there are not enough antioxidants to go around, and the damaged cells then become more susceptible to diseases such as cancer, heart disease, etc.

Is there a certain limit to how many free radicals a person should have?
"This is not known. However, some free radicals are needed because they are involved with normal cell signaling," says Victoria J. Drake, Ph.D., a researcher at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. And just as not all free radicals are bad, some antioxidants might not be good: A recent study conducted at Kansas State University found that certain antioxidants can actually suppress key signaling mechanisms necessary for muscles to function effectively. But too many free radicals will cause cellular dysfunction, thereby leading to disease states, Drake adds.

What are some examples of antioxidants?
Antioxidants are found in plants -- they protect the plant from ultraviolet light and act as its immune system. Here are a few names you might have read or heard: beta carotene, flavonoids, lycopene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium.

Can we get antioxidants from a pill?
We’re still learning what, if any, differences our bodies recognize when we take supplements instead of getting our antioxidants from foods. “Often there’s no distinction between the form of antioxidant in a supplement and the form in a food,” says Karen Collins, M.S., R.D., nutrition adviser to the American Institute for Cancer Research. “But sometimes the chemical form may change slightly. One concern about the use of supplements is the issue of synergy how nutrients and phytochemicals work together differently from the way each one works on its own. (i.e., 1 + 1 = 3 instead of just 2.)”

There is something about the way nature packages fruits and vegetables -- the combination of chemicals in plants -- that causes them to fight off disease. "High intakes of fruits and vegetables have been associated with a reduced risk for several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and even eye-related disorders such as macular degeneration. Obtaining antioxidants from food is important because foods high in antioxidants also contain other micronutrients and phytochemicals that are important in preventing chronic disease," says Drake.

In addition, antioxidant supplements are often synthetic (man-made), and some of these synthetic forms may not have the same effects on the body as antioxidants that occur naturally in foods. But even if they are not synthetic, some beneficial properties may be lost when antioxidants are extracted from foods to manufacture supplements.

The other issue concerning supplements is the fact that there’s still scientific ambiguity about what the correct dosage is for optimal effect – and whether or not that dosage changes for specific individuals. Some doctors, for example, have suggested that cancer patients who are following a course of treatment designed to increase the level of free radicals in their bodies may want to avoid antioxidants to help reduce cancer cells. “Correct dosage can be a problem with supplements, because it's easy to exceed healthy amounts and set the normal balance off,” says Collins. “On the other hand, supplements might turn out to be helpful if it is found that larger amounts of particular phytochemicals do produce benefits. For now, consuming the large amounts possible with some supplements is a risky gamble.”

According to National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, "Large, long-term studies (randomized, controlled trials) funded primarily by NIH have generally found that antioxidant supplements have no beneficial effects. For example:

* The Physicians' Health Study II, which included more than 14,000 healthy male physicians 50 or older, found that neither vitamin E nor vitamin C supplements reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events (e.g., heart attack, stroke or death) or cancer.
* The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) a study of more than 35,000 healthy men 50 or older found that selenium and vitamin E taken alone or together did not prevent prostate cancer. (Two earlier reviews suggested that preliminary evidence for selenium appeared promising.)
* The Women's Health Study, which included almost 40,000 healthy women at least 45 years of age, found that, overall, vitamin E did not reduce the risk of death, major cardiovascular events (e.g., heart attack, stroke or death) or cancer. However, it was associated with reduced deaths from cardiovascular causes and also reduced major cardiovascular events in a subgroup of women 65 or older.
* The Women's Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study found no beneficial effects of vitamin C, vitamin E or beta carotene on cardiovascular events (e.g., heart attack, stroke or death) in more than 8,000 female health professionals 40 years or older who were at high risk for cardiovascular disease."

source: kpic

How to stop your ageing process?

Olive oil contains a high content of vitamin E and phenols which helps to stop the ageing process. The main cause of the degeneration of cells is the build up of free radicals, which are produced by the oxidization of the fatty tissues of the body.

Phenols and Vitamin E, and other anti-oxidizing substances protect the body from the negative effects of free radicals. During the ancient times women used the golden liquid as a beauty aid to soften their hair and skin. They combined the rich and nutritious olive oil with wild hillside herbs to anoint and beautify the skin.

The natural olive oil based beauty products are environmentally safe, contain no animal fats or chemical preservatives, are pH balanced and are suited to even the most sensitive of skins. Administration rules for cosmetic and skin care products. The unique olive oil formula nourishes the skin leaving it soft, rejuvenated and moisturized, without looking or feeling greasy or oily.

Olive Oil Cream is a luxuriously rich moisturising facial cream that firms and deeply hydrates the skin leaving it feeling silky soft. Enriched with antioxidant and anti-ageing properties of Cretan olive oil this facial cream will help your skin feel nourished, firm and soft to the touch without feeling greasy. It also soothes, calms, relieves and tones the eye area leaving it brighter, smoother, firmer and less lined.

This wonderful and lavishly rich Olive Oil creams helps the skin in reviving its natural beauty, while you sleep. You will have a radiant, fresh and youthful looking skin when you wake up in the mornig. It is rich in nutritious and hydrating compounds, this special creams combined with the remarkable effects of olive oil protects, soothes and moisturizes even damaged or irritated skin.

source: mdinfo

Great tips to transform a hectic routine into a healthy lifestyle

We want to go to the gym regularly to maintain/improve our health and fitness. However, sometimes we feel tired because of busy job and house life. In this situation, what should we do? go as usual or go but do less, or not go at all? If we push too hard, we get rundown/too tired or sick.

Our body has fabulous feedback mechanisms: It is constantly telling us what it needs more or less of. Listening to our body is a great way to live a healthier lifestyle. Regular physical exercise, when done properly, will certainly improve our fitness. It will build our stamina and strength, and hence generally improves our ability to face the many challenges that life throws at us.

Sometimes we misinterpret "not in the mood for exercise" as tiredness; other times it may actually be a genuine tired feeling or other similar symptoms such as sudden unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, waking up feeling lethargic or irritability.

A good way to start is to evaluate how well you rested the night before, how well you have eaten on the day (in terms of nutrition), how many days in a row you have worked out, and how physically or mentally draining were the challenges you met that day.

If you feel genuinely tired, having a day or even a week off training could be the way to go. However, if you think it is just a mood issue, then it's better to give the workout a go. You may find you feel better for it.

There are several things you can do to fit in your fitness routine despite a rather hectic lifestyle.

Establish a regular sleeping pattern and a fixed amount of resting time. You can do this by working out the amount of sleep you feel is optimum for you, then set the time at which you would like to wake up and count backwards until you find the time for bed.

Try to keep to this new habit; although it may take a full 30 consecutive days to finally call it a habit, the actual process may only take one week to get used to.

Understand that going all out in every workout session is great, but that "all out" can change. Understand that what is "all out" when you are at your best may not be at the same level as all out at your regular pace.

It is also important to note that the number of occasions we actually go all out at a regular pace is far greater than the number of occasions we meet or improve our personal best.

Increase your intake of vegetables and fruit, and take a multivitamin regularly.

Vegetables are the main sources of vitamins, antioxidants, fiber and many natural and health-boosting substances. Fruit is rich in enzymes, bioflavonoids and antioxidants, which can provide added protection against stress and free radicals. A good multivitamin may just give you the nutritional buffer you need. Pick one that is high in stress-reducing B vitamins, as well as antioxidants such as Vitamin A, C, E, and Zinc.

Go easy on the caffeine and quit the cigarettes. Caffeine is generally found in beverages such as coffee and tea. While it is great for an instant pickup once in a while, too much of it may overstress your central nervous system and potentially cause overstimulation. If you smoke, it is always a great idea to quit it.

Hope you find success with these tips. Let me know how you go.

Delicious Diet Friendly Healthy Desserts To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

These low calorie dessert options will satisfy your sweet cravings without ruining your diet.

Dieting can be tough, especially when the craving for something sweet hits. Instead of letting your sweet tooth can get the best of you, try these treats that are guilt-free. It's not too good to be true. With a little research we've found some healthy desserts that can satisfy your cravings without undoing all your hard work!

Low calorie desserts

* Sara Lee Frozen Strawberry Cheesecake Bites With only 20 calories per bite, you’re sure to love these yummy little bundles of joy. They taste just like strawberry cheesecake with built in portion control and a fraction of the calories. For around $4 a tub, it's easy on your stomach and your wallet! Get the satisfaction of cheesecake and ice cream at the same time! Just make sure you don’t eat the whole tub in one serving.

* Apples and Almond Butter Apples and peanut butter are a timeless classic that no one can deny. Childhood memories flood your mind every time you think about it, then the drooling starts. No need to miss the good ol' days. All you need is to downsize and upgrade. Eat just half of the apple to avoid overdoing it and trade out peanut butter for natural almond butter for less sugar and more healthy fats.

* Yoplait Yogurt Yoplait Light has come a long way. You've probably seen the commercials boasting of all the amazing dessert flavors. Guess what? They're pretty good! There are way too many flavors to choose from to list here, but to name a few: Apple Turnover, Banana Cream Pie, Pineapple Upside-down Cake, Red Velvet Cake, and Triple Berry Torte! We know, it sounds like sin but it's okay! With only 100 calories, 19g of carbs, and no fat, you are definitely in the clear with this one! Mid-day, late night, anytime, satisfy your cravings the safe way!

These delicious and diet-friendly snacks can be found at your local grocery store. Sometimes you need to indulge, so go ahead! Every now and then reward yourself for your discipline and hard work. You deserve it. With these delectable desserts, you can get the taste without the guilt.

source: americanhealthandbeauty

Heart Valve Provides Life-Saving Alternative to Open-Heart Surgery VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - According to recent study result published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), a new aortic heart valve replacement procedure, called trans-catheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI) has shown to be a viable life-saving option for patients who are unable to undergo open heart surgery.

The study, which is part of the Partner Trial (Placement of AoRTic TraNscathetER Valve), compared the health outcomes of patients who underwent TAVI using the investigational Edwards SAPIEN trans catheter valve to those who received standard therapy. All patients in the study had severe aortic stenosis and were considered not to be suitable candidates for surgery. The conclusions stated that TAVI, as compared with standard therapy, significantly reduced the rates of death for these patients.

Severe aortic steno-sis is a progressive and life-threatening disease, and patients who do not undergo surgical valve replacement of their diseased aortic valve have no effective treatment option to prevent or delay their disease progression. Without treatment, previous studies indicate 50 per cent of patients will not survive more than two to three years.

Heart valve replacement surgery usually requires a long incision in the center of the chest to enable surgeons to expose the heart, which is temporarily stopped while the valve is replaced and sutured in place. A heart-lung bypass machine is used to keep the patient's blood circulating until the heart function is restored. Using the TAVI procedure, the Edwards SAPIEN valve (a collapsible aortic heart valve) can be inserted in two ways: through a small incision in the ribs (trans-apical) or threaded up to the patient's heart through the circulatory system using a catheter inserted in the patient's groin (trans-femoral). The NEJM study focused on the trans-femoral procedure.

In 2005 a team of specialists at the Heart Centre in St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC (one of the partner sites in the trial) and University of British Columbia, were the first world's first to successfully perform trans arterial procedures (pioneered by the St. Paul's Heart Center team) and the world's first to successfully perform a trans apical aortic valve replacement. The Heart Center began with 17 procedures in 2005 and have now done over 200 trans femoral procedures and over 150 trans apical. The team has also trained over 50 other programs around the world, with over 10,000 procedures now done worldwide.

"The world-renowned research and clinical innovation in the Heart Centre at St. Paul's Hospital continue to position British Columbia as a leader in cardiac sciences," says Hon. Kevin Falcon, Minister of Health Services.

"The research and cardiac services at St. Paul's have a rich 50-year history of excellence, and I'm confident this tradition – and breakthrough improvements to patient care -- will continue through St. Paul's Hospital's leading contributions and collaborations with BC's health authorities, Cardiac Services BC, universities and other research partners."

St. Paul's world-renowned interventional cardiologist, Dr. John Webb is co-author of the study and a member of the executive committee for the trial's design. He was also the first interventional cardiologist in North America to perform a successful per cutaneous aortic valve replacement.

"The results from the trial to date are very encouraging," says Dr. Webb, McLeod Family Professor in Valvular Heart Disease Intervention at the University of British Columbia. "We hope that this will eventually become a standard treatment option. Not only is it less invasive than traditional open-heart surgery, but this procedure provides patients who are not candidates for surgery with an option that has so far proven to have better health outcomes than standard treatment."

At St. Paul's Hospital, the procedure is currently provided on compassionate grounds for patients who are too frail to survive open-heart valve replacement surgery.

These findings were presented at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2010 scientific symposium held in Washington, DC, this week.

source: marketwire

Poor hygiene habits are causing dental problems in children as young as four

Children as young as four are having all of their baby teeth removed because of poor oral health, dentists say.

Hundreds of youngsters - some yet to attend school - are forced to undergo surgery to have rotting teeth removed or root canal.

In the worst cases, children are put on intravenous antibiotics to save their lives.

Yesterday, an Ipswich woman was jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to child cruelty.

Her nine-year-old daughter had 12 teeth extracted because she had given the girl only cordial to drink and had failed to take her to a dentist for more than three years.

Ipswich District Court was told the girl had had a gum abscess that was draining pus and found eating painful.

The Australian Dental Association says 5 per cent of Australian children have extensive early childhood caries (decay or crumbling of a tooth).

Brisbane pediatric dentist Dr Vivienne Linnett sees many of the worst cases.

"I've had children who've needed to have most of their baby teeth removed and children with fat faces because of dental abscesses," Dr Linnett said.

"That can make the children very unwell, worse case scenario [is it is] life threatening.

Dr Livett said she had put pre-preschoolers who needed numerous rotting teeth removed under general anesthetic because the trauma was too much for them to handle.

"It makes me feel sad for the children," she said.

"After a day of operating on little 3- and 4-year-olds, I feel sorry for the children."

Dr Philippa Sawyer, who chairs a national Australian Dental Association oral health committee, said there could be more children in the community with disease-ridden teeth that authorities did not know about.

"We don't really know if [the 5 per cent figure] is the full extent of things because if you never see children, you never know what's really going on," Dr Sawyer said.

"You ask any public health service, they've seen really decayed [children's] teeth. It's not unusual that they have to take out all 24 baby teeth."

To add to a child's embarrassment, most of those who have teeth removed are left with gaping holes in their mouth until their adult teeth come through.

"In a mouth that's badly looked after, to put dentures in there, that's going to cause more problems than were in there before," Dr Sawyer said.

The situation was worse in non-fluoridated areas and among children from low socio-economic backgrounds.

However, Dr Sawyer said there were children represented across all groups.

"People overlook dental neglect every day," she said.

"[They think] it's just teeth and what does it matter, they're only baby teeth, they're going to fall out.

"That's a shocking attitude."

Dr Linnett, who works at Brisbane Pediatric Dentistry in Eight Mile Plains, said parents were usually to blame because they fed their children the wrong food and drink and failed to properly brush their kids' teeth.

However, she said a lack of education meant many parents did not know they were causing so much damage.

"It's often due to inappropriate feeding, for example, children who are bottle-fed with sugar solutions ... or breastfed through the night time," Dr Linnett said.

"A lot of parents [who give their] children juice, think it's healthy, it's actually just another sugary drink."

Dr Linnett recommends children:

- Brush their teeth twice a day (with parents' assistance)
- Use toothpaste with fluoride
- Decrease processed carbohydrates from their diet
- Reduce fruit intake
- Eat no more than five times a day
- Have regular dental check-ups

source: brisbanetimes

Top Six Herbs For Mental Health

When it comes to brain health and mental acuity, few people think of herbs. While Mother Nature’s herbal medicines humbly lay upon the earth in her rainforests, wilderness, and jungles devoid of any slick advertising campaigns, they show tremendous promise in the prevention of brain disease and in maintaining great brain health.

Remember: herbs are potent medicine so it is important to consult with your doctor before you start taking any herbs to prevent drug-herb interactions.

1. A Wise Sage
More than just seasoning for stuffing a turkey, recent research shows that sage is great brain food. A British research team conducted a study of sage’s therapeutic properties on a group of forty-four adults between the ages of eighteen and thirty-seven. Some participants were given capsules of sage oil while others were given a placebo of sunflower oil. Results showed that those who took the sage oil performed significantly better at memory tests than those who took the placebo. The people who were given sage as part of the study had improvements in both immediate and delayed word recall scores, as well as mood improvements. Additional research by the same scientific team led them to conclude that sage may also be helpful for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Fresh sage is an excellent addition to soups, stews, and chicken dishes.

2. The Curry Factor
Here’s another reason to enjoy your favorite Indian curry dishes: they typically contain the spice turmeric, a powerful food that helps protect your brain from disease. Research conducted by Greg Cole, PhD, associate director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the University of California in Los Angeles, showed that, curcumin, the yellow pigment in turmeric, is a potent weapon against inflammation and plaque build up in the brain. Inflammation and plaque have been linked to serious brain diseases like Alzheimer’s. Additional studies are having similar positive results. The easiest way to enjoy the benefits of curcumin is by adding turmeric to your favorite curry dish.

3. Ginger—Nature’s Anti-Inflammatory
Not just great in stir-fries, ginger is one herb that can do more than add flavor and spice to just about any dish, it also exhibits antioxidant effects and the ability to lessen the formation of inflammation in the brain. Ginger contains potent anti-inflammatory compounds called “gingerols” that are responsible for the herb’s magic. A study in the November 2003 issue of Life Sciences found that ginger offers protection against free radicals, which have the potential to be a serious threat to brain health.

The easiest way to enjoy the benefits of ginger is to grate 2 tablespoons of fresh ginger and add to a cup of boiling water. Steep and strain. Enjoy a cup of this warming ginger tea with a touch of honey or a few drops of the naturally-sweet herb, stevia. You can also add freshly grated ginger to soups, stir-fries, vegetables, or other dishes to pack extra brain health into your meals.

4. Ginkgo Biloba to Boost Brain Power
Ginkgo biloba has developed a reputation as the brain herb thanks to its many beneficial effects on the brain, including: increasing blood flow to the brain, assisting with memory and in the treatment of dementia, as well as positive effects on depression. Ginkgo also helps improve the availability of energy to brain cells, which may improve feelings of mental alertness.

In Germany, ginkgo is approved as a treatment for Alzheimer’s. A study of forty patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, showed that 240 milligrams of ginkgo biloba extract taken daily for three months produced noticeable improvements in memory, mood, and attention. Since then numerous other studies have shown similar positive effects on early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

Opt for ginkgo biloba standardized extract that contains twenty-four percent ginkgoflavonglycosides, also called “flavone glycosides,” the active ingredient which has the capacity to increase blood flow to the brain and lessen symptoms like depression, memory loss, and dizziness, all of which can be the result of reduced blood flow to the brain. For ginkgo’s preventive effects, forty milligrams three times a day is ideal.

5. Periwinkle: The Blue Flower for Grey Matter
Not just for English gardens anymore, the lovely blue flowering plant, periwinkle may help boost memory. Research shows that vinpocetine, a natural compound in periwinkle, helps transport oxygen and glucose to the brain. Since the brain needs both to function optimally, periwinkle may be beneficial for assisting to ease brain disease.

With around one hundred studies conducted on vinpocetine’s effects on humans, mostly in Hungary, it is not surprising that it has been used by Hungarian doctors to treat senility and blood vessel disorders in the brain for twenty-five years. In these studies it appears to boost memory and cognition in healthy people and in those with mild to moderate forms of dementia.

A double-blind study in 1985 in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, researchers tested vinpocetine’s effect on the short-term memory of twelve healthy women. The women who took forty milligrams of vinpocetine three times per day for two days scored thirty percent higher on short-term memory tests than the women in the placebo group.

Vinpocetine also thins blood, boosts circulation to the brain, and improves the brain’s ability to absorb nutrients, all of which improve brain function. Experts typically suggest dosages of two milligrams daily, taken with food. Vinpocetine appears to be safe for short- or long-term use. Check with your doctor if you are taking blood-thinning medications.

6. Rosemary to Increase Brain Circulation
This pine-like herb does more than just spice up a roast of beef, it offers anti-inflammatory protection to the delicate human brain. Research proves rosemary’s ability to increase blood flow to the head and brain, thereby improving concentration.

Historically, herbalists have used rosemary to strengthen memory. In England, rosemary’s memory strengthening ability was translated to mean that it would improve fidelity. As a result it was often given as a gift for the bride or groom as part of their wedding ceremony. Perhaps the gift-giver thought the herb would help the newlywed remember his or her vows.

Add rosemary to meat dishes or chop finely and add to bread, buns, or savory baked goods. There’s nothing as yummy as a still warm, freshly baked rosemary scone with tea.

Boosting your mental acuity and brain power can be as easy as eating Indian curries, rosemary biscuits, and drinking fresh ginger tea. Or supplement with ginkgo and vinpocetine to improve your brain health.

Michelle Schoffro Cook, BSc, RNCP, ROHP, DNM, is an international best-selling and seven-time book author and doctor of natural medicine.

source: care2

Negative effects of cancer treatment on heart Washington, An international group of experts takes an in-depth look at the ways in which cancer treatment profoundly impacts patients' cardiovascular function and can become a major detriment of overall survival.

The study appears in September/October issue of Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Guest Editors of this issue, Douglas L. Mann, MD, and Ronald J. Krone, MD, both of the Division of Cardiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, put the situation into perspective.

"The management of heart disease in all its forms in patients with cancer in all its forms presents special challenges to the cardiologist. In the war on cancer, the cardiologist is not in the front lines, directly confronting the enemy, but in the role of support and supply, providing the oncologist the ability to keep the warrior strong enough to defeat the enemy.

"In fighting the war on cancer, there is, like in any war, unwanted 'collateral damage.' There is no 'silver bullet' but, in many ways, a refined shotgun, blasting the tumor while pellets hit other vital organs.

"The bone marrow, liver, and nervous system get their share of hits; but the heart and vascular system are certainly at risk depending on the weapon used, particularly because the vascular system and blood supply are intimately involved in any treatment delivery.

"Just as in a war, not only must the enemy be destroyed; but the damage must be contained to permit the rebuilding of the homeland."

"The recent recognition of the frequent collateral damage of the heart from many of the newer chemotherapeutic agents, as well as the classic anthracyclines, and the importance of this to management of the cancer, should spur the acquisition of cardiac outcomes data and ultimately trigger the development of specific evidence-based practice guidelines to keep the heart from interfering with the war on cancer," commented Dr. Mann and Dr. Krone.

source: news.oneindia.in

Herbs, Turmeric & Fish Efficient In Preventing Alzheimer’s?

India’s herbs may have the solution to preventing Alzheimer’s disease. Australian researchers are working in tandem with doctors from Chennai and Kerala to come up with the ultimate wonder drug that can arrest or delay the cruellest diseases of the elderly — dementia.

“We have discovered the benefits of dietary and lifestyle changes in reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” says Dr Ralph Martins, an Indian-origin researcher in ageing and Alzheimer’s, based in Australia. “Foods rich in antioxidants — green tea, fish, fish oil, turmeric and even red wine — can soon be used in combination to combat neuro-degenerative diseases,” says Prof Martins, who was recently in Chennai to meet neurologists. Even though south Indians consume turmeric in curries it does not get absorbed sufficiently in the gut, calling for a pill, he adds.

Neurologists, Dr E.S. Krishnamoorthy from Chennai, Dr Benny John from Kerala, and experts from Nimhans, Bengaluru, are working for a formula that can help treat the disease.

While India does not have any comprehensive studies on these conditions, the official estimates are that 3 to 7 million old people may have dementia. “It is now proven that the brain cells in patients with dementia are affected due to toxic proteins called amyloids. The only way to treat Alzheimer’s is to get rid of these substances, and we found that foods with antioxidants can achieve this,” says Dr Martins. Exercise, 30 minutes of walking every day, has been proven to reduce the risk of the disease, and weight training, along with aerobic exercises, promises to alleviate the symptoms in older people.

Australian scientists have also devised equipment that can predict Alzheimer’s disease 20 years before the first symptoms appear. The device analyses images of the person’s brain to look for markers that precede the disease. “However, the machine costs $20,000 to make and it is not a practical option in Indian hospitals. We are now trying to develop a blood cholesterol test that will predict the disease in Indians, but it is a slow process as there are no studies pertaining to Indians,” says Dr Martins.

“The closest we have to an Indian population study is the 50-odd Sikhs from Australia’s west coast who have come forward to be subjects for a pilot study,” he says.

source: deccanchronicle

$55 Giveaway for Health Berth Fans - by CSN Stores!

As most of you know, I did a review for CSN stores a couple of weeks ago. I got another e-mail the other day asking if I'd like to review another product or host a giveaway. My first thought was "Share with my fans & subscribers," so I'm hosting the giveaway.

What can you get? A $55 gift certificate!¹

CSN stores have a ton of items, from modern bedding to home appliances, health fitness equipments to Outdoor Furniture and more.... Honestly, they have 200+ stores ... I could go on forever! You just need to go and check it out for yourself.

Giveaway: Entering for this is simple! One, you have to be a subscriber of this blog. Once you're a subscriber, fill out the form below and click, "Submit." You're officially entered to win!

If you have not yet subscribed, kindly sbscribe below:

This contest will end on Thrusday, September 30, 2010 and is open to US, UK & Canada entrants only. Sorry! All entries must be in by then. The winner will be contact through email.

Good luck, guys!

* Gift certificate does not include shipping costs. However, a lot of items in stores do offer free shipping.

Best Exercise For Heart Patients To Keep Fit

Exercise is important to keep your condition under control. But you should always consider what type of exercise program will fit to your physical condition. Your doctor's approval must be followed before starting the exercise program for your condition.

Here are some safe exercises preferably for heart patient:

* Walking or marching in place

* Light jogging on a treadmill

* Low-impact aerobics, water aerobics

* Calisthenics

* Stretches with elastic devices

* Light weight-lifting

* Yoga, Pilates, Tai chi

Remember that choosing the right activity or exercise program is important to match your level of fitness or condition.

source: mdinfo

Consume calcium supplements only on doctor's advice Taking large amounts of calcium supplements can increase the risk of a heart attack by 30%, according to the Germany Society for Internal Medicine (DGIM).

As a precaution, the society recommends patients take supplements only after consulting their general practitioner. The DGIM came to its conclusion after examining results of a study involving 12,000 people.

But to keep bones healthy, it's very important to have enough calcium in your diet. Calcium deficiency can lead to osteoporosis in elderly people and fractured bones, warns the DGIM.

The recommended daily dose of calcium for an adult is between 450 and 1,000 milligrams. Healthy people can normally absorb enough of the element in their diet. Among the calcium-rich foods are cheese, milk, parsley, almonds and green cabbage.

source: thesundaily

Key Facts If You Are Not Getting Pregnant

If a young and healthy couple has been trying for a baby for 12 months without success, they must investigate the cause, preferably with the help of an infertility specialist. Some of the reasons that hinder conception are as follows.

Incorrect intercourse

Assess for yourself if you are performing 'peno-vaginal' intercourse in the correct fashion. A marriage may remain unconsummated due to:

• Lack of knowledge about how to perform peno-vaginal intercourse

• Lack of sexual attraction

• Mismatch in sexual orientation

• Difficulties in men such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, an abnormal tightness of the foreskin, Peyronie's disease etc.

• Difficulties in women such as vaginismus, pain during intercourse, tight and unbroken hymen, narrow introitus etc.

If peno-vaginal intercourse is not the problem, have the man’s semen tested for sperm count and motility.

Low Frequency

Conception happens only when sperm meets ovum (egg). Each month one ovum is released by one of the two ovaries. This ovum remains available for about 24 to 48 hours. Ovulation occurs around 14 days before the first day of the next menstrual cycle. About five days before and after this day, including the day of ovulation is when there’s a higher possibility of pregnancy. If the frequency is low, a couple might miss the day of ovulation. It needs only one single intercourse for a woman to get pregnant; however it needs to happen on the day of ovulation or immediately around it.

Artificial lubricant

Artificial lubricants tend to trap sperms and do not allow them to swim towards ovum. Many are also spermicidal in their composition.

You are not ovulating

In some women ovulation either does not occur at all or occur irregularly. This can be found out by a sonography. If ovulation is not occurring, there are several medical reasons and a gynecologist should be consulted for treatment.

Uterine lining is damaged

Endometrium (inner lining of uterus) needs to be healthy for the implantation of the fertilized ovum (zygote) to occur. If endometrium is damaged, pregnancy does not occur. The common causes of endometrial damage are infections including STDs, tuberculosis etc.

Blocked fallopian tubes

Ovum gets transported from ovary to uterus through fallopian tubes. If they are blocked, the possibility of ovum meeting the sperm is hampered. Infections and tuberculosis are common reasons for blocked tubes.

Unable to 'hold on'

There are times, when sperm meets ovum and conception takes place, however uterus is unable to hold on to the pregnancy due to loose/lax mouth of the uterus (cervix) and a miscarriage occurs. There are women who suffer from repeated miscarriages and are unable to continue the pregnancy for nine months.

Combined infertility

In some cases each partner is independently fertile but as a combination the couple cannot conceive together without medical assistance. The cause in such cases is often suspected to be either immunological or genetic in nature.

Unexplained infertility

There are instances when the above mentioned problems don't exist, yet the couple is unable to have a baby. Up to 26 per cent of infertile couples have unexplained infertility. In these cases, abnormalities are likely to be present but cannot be detected by available methods. Even the most experienced infertility specialist is unable to ascertain the reason and the adoption is suggested.

Up to 26 per cent of infertile couples have unexplained infertility

source: Ahmedabad Mirror

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