Folic acid 'can help prevent heart disease'

Sufficient scientific evidence exists to encourage people at risk of heart disease to increase their folic acid intakes, a London cardiologist believes.

David Wald, a senior lecturer at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, conducted an analysis of separate studies of folic acid's unproven link to homocysteine, an amino acid linked to the development of arterial disease.

He found that together the studies showed that where lower levels of homocysteine were present, the risk of heart disease was substantially reduced. As folic acid has been proven to lower homocysteine levels, it follows that folic acid can be good for an individual's health.

"The conclusion that homocysteine is a cause of cardiovascular disease explains the observations from all the different types of study, even if the results from one type of study are, on their own, insufficient to reach that conclusion," Dr Wald writes in the British Medical Journal.

"Since folic acid reduces homocysteine concentrations, to an extent dependent on background folate levels, it follows that increasing folic acid consumption will reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by an amount related to the homocysteine reduction achieved."

He concluded: "We therefore take the view that the evidence is now sufficient to justify action on lowering homocysteine concentrations, although the position should be reviewed as evidence from ongoing clinical trials emerges."

Folic acid helps new cells develop and so is especially important during periods of growth, including infancy and pregnancy.

Source;NetDoctor

Tne New Alphabet

A is for apple, and B is for Boat,
That used to be right, but now it won't float.
Age before Beauty is what we once said,
But let's be a bit more realistic instead.

Now, A's for arthritis; B's the bad back,
C is for chest pains, perhaps cardiac.
D is for dental decay and decline;
E is for eyesight, can't read that top line.

F is for fissures and fluid retention,
G is for gas, which I'd rather not mention.
H is high blood pressure--I'd rather it low;
I for incisions with scars you can show.

J is for joints, out of socket, won't mend.
K is for knees that crack when they bend.
L for libido, what happened to sex?
M is for memory, I forget! What comes next?

N is neuralgia, in nerves way down low;
O is for osteo, the bones that don't grow!
P for prescriptions, I have quite a few,
Just give me a pill and I'll be good as new.

Q is for queasy, is it fatal or flu?
R for reflux, one meal turns to two.
S for sleepless nights, counting my fears.
T for tinnitus; there's bells in my ears.

U is for urinary; big troubles with flow;
V is for vertigo, that's "dizzy" you know.
W is for worry, NOW what's going round?
X is for X-ray, and what might be found.

Y is another year I'm left here behind,
Z is for zest that I still have--in my mind.

I've survived all the symptoms, my body's deployed,
And I've kept twenty-six doctors fully employed!!
May your troubles be less, your blessings more and nothing but
Happiness come through your door.

Bite of chocolate 'combats heart disease'

Small amounts of dark chocolate have been proven to reduce the risk of cardiac arrest for the first time, scientists claim.

While it has been medical knowledge for more than two decades that flavonoid-rich dark chocolate lowers blood pressure, researchers from the John Hopkins University now believe that two spoonfuls a day is enough for people to benefit from its properties.

The research team arrived at their findings after studying the data of 139 people disqualified from a study involving the effect of aspirin upon platelets for eating outlawed foods such as chocolate.

Professor Diane Becker and her fellow study authors write that they were then able to directly compare the concentration of platelets between people who had given up chocolate and those that had succumbed to the temptation.

They discovered that people eating small amounts of the chocolate had slowed the rate at which platelets clot in narrow blood vessels by about seven per cent, thus lowering the risk of heart attacks.

"What these chocolate 'offenders' taught us is that the chemical in cocoa beans has a biochemical effect similar to aspirin in reducing platelet clumping, which can be fatal if a clot forms and blocks a blood vessel, causing a heart attack," she writes.

"Eating a little bit of chocolate or having a drink of hot cocoa as part of a regular diet is probably good for personal health, so long as people don't eat too much of it, and too much of the kind with lots of butter and sugar," added Professor Becker, who will present the study's findings to the American Heart Association's annual scientific sessions in Chicago.

Source:Netdoctor

Health benefits of fish 'outweigh risks'

The health benefits that can be reaped from eating fish overshadow any potential health risks from pollutants, according to a new study from the Harvard School of Public Health.

Eating two portions of fish per week is beneficial and can cut the risk of heart disease by up to a third, the study found.

This amounts to three ounces of farmed salmon or six ounces of mackerel per week.The lead author of the study, Dariush Mozaffarian, said: "Overall, for major health outcomes among adults, the benefits of eating fish greatly outweigh the risks. "

Somehow this evidence has been lost on the public."

However young children and nursing mothers should not eat as much fish, the study reminded.

Recently there have been concerns raised about the levels of harmful toxins such as mercury present in fish.

In Perth

Visited the medical school I attended (1987-1992) and the hospital I worked for 2 years (1993-1994) on October 12, 2006.

What has a medical education meant to me?

Well, when I first graduated, it was all about the prestige of being a doctor, and which high-security, bank-rolling profession I should venture into. But with more wisdom over the years I guess my perspective has changed.

I guess now is to have a considered view of future goals, an ethical attitude towards fiancial rewards and a balanced perspective of the financial interest of those whom which we deal with.

Reflection

Many of the modern medicine and anatomical science as we know it originated from Greece in the likes of Hippocrates and Galen.

Willaim Harvey in 1616 demonstrated how blood flowed in one direction. He was highly criticised as it was against conventional wisdom then.

Antoine Lavoisier in the late 1700's published the concepts of metabolism, nutrition and exercise physiology. He supplied basic truths: only oxygen participates in animal respiration, and the "caloric" liberated during respiration is itself the source of combustion. He also proved that respiration produced carbon dioxide and water. However, his findings fundmental to our understanding of energy balance and metabolism, were not only rejected but cost him his life. The Jacobean tribunal beheaded him in 1974.

We are fortunate to have all the insight of those before us.

As Payne who wrote in 1896:

"No kind of knowledge has ever sprung into being without an antecedent, but is inseperably connected with what was known before... We are led back to Aristotle and Galen as the real predecessors of Harvey in his work concerning the heart. It was the labors of the great school of Greek anatomists... that the problem though unsolved, was put into shape that the genius of Harvey was enabled to solve it....The moral is, I think that the influence of the past on the present is even more potent than we commonly suppose. In common and trivial things, we may ingnore this connection; in what is of enduring worth we cannot."

Herbal Viagra

Be careful if you are taking any herbal viagra that gives you an instant effect. ie. within 30 minutes.

It is most likely to have been adulterated with Viagra, Cialis, Levitra etc.

Herbs, fruits and plants products are not meant to work instantaneously. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but not after the first apple. I keep telling people this but somehow the message does not get through in Malaysia. In other countries the consumers are less gullible.

The other day I was given a bottle of P____n registered with the Malaysian DCA. It contains Saw Palmetto, Pumpkin seed and Ginkgo and imported from the USA. After 20 minutes I began to see blue and felt funny (these are the symptoms of Viagra). I am sure there are more such products out in the market. Imported from USA does not mean anything. The manufacurers don't sell any of the products there locally and just export. Usually they are Asian immigrants from Taiwan.

I remember a friend's Singapore company that imported something similar in Singapore from taiwan. I won't name the product. The first few batches were negative for adulterants, but once the commercial lots came in, the adulteration came in.

Manufacturers these days are also being smarter. They add in the adulterants into the soft or hard capsule. This is because most laboratories only test the inside content and not the capsule.

Some manufactuers adulterate say 50% of a certain batch. Thus some may feel some effect, some won't. But those that finds it effective will spread its effectiveness, while those that take the unadulterated batch are those non-responders (even Viagra only work in 70% of cases) or labelled to have something wrong with them (i.e gone case).

COLLAGEN

I remember a few years ago a collagen product was launched by a MLM company. All the old ladies with joint pains and aches were buying it as it gave them pain relief. Collagen does not give you an instant effect, "if at all". Only antiinflammatory drugs and steroids do.

COLOSTRUM MILK

Another MLM company in the last few years has been selling colostrum in sachet nicely packed in a box. Be careful as users says it gives them much extra energy and fell very alert and filled with vigor instantaneously.

They call it IgG milk and in the nutritional facts state the amount of IgG it contains. If you check with the Food Labelling Division, you cannot state the IgG levels on the nutritonal facts. This misleads the public as IgG or any other antibodies can never be absorbed by the gut as it is too big. An IgG antibody comprises of more than 2,000 aminoacids long. It is digested into aminoacids and peptides. The intestinal tract can only absorb peptides of 15-30 amino acids long.

In medical school, we were taught the only useful antibody in milk is IgA, a mucosal antibody that protects the lining of the gastrointestinal tract.


Problem

Most of the companies that promote these kind of products are in for short term financial gain. They may get caught, but they have made their millions. So they will lie low for a few years, and then start a new company and do something similar again.

Got a tenage girl?

All girls aged 11 to 12 should be vaccinated against the virus which is responsible for nearly three-quarters of cervical cancers, the Lancet medical journal has advised.

Gardasil was last week given a licence by the European Commission for use in children aged between nine and 15 and women between 16 and 26.

It offers protection against the human papilloma-virus (HPV) types 16 and 18, which are responsible for 70 per cent of all cervical cancers, and types six and 11, which cause roughly 90 per cent of cases of genital warts.

The Department of Health is currently considering whether the vaccine should be offered on the NHS.

Although concerns have been expressed that 11 may be too young an age to vaccinate girls as it could encourage underage sex, an editorial in the Lancet argues: "EU member states should lead by making the vaccinations mandatory for all girls aged 11-12 years." Such a decision would be following in the wake of the US state of Michigan, which last month passed a bill ruling that all girls aged 11 to 12 should be immunised with Gardasil.

The Lancet editorial adds that if HPV is to be eradicated in the long-term, then both boys and girls should be vaccinated. "

Data from the vaccine trials in boys are urgently needed…modelling studies have shown that a female-specific approach would be only 60 – 75 per cent as effective at reducing HPV prevalence in women as strategies that target both sexes," it argues.

5 FOODS WOMEN NEED MOST

1 Papaya – This fruit packs about twice the vitamin C of an orange. Add it to your arsenal against gallbladder disease, which afflicts twice as many women as men. After analysing the blood of over 13,000 people, scientists from the University of California, San Francisco, found that women who had lower levels of vitamin C were more likely to have gallbladder illnesses. One medium papaya (about 280 grams), with 188 milligrams of C and a mere 500 kilo-joules, is a refreshing source of the vitamin. Best of all it’s probably growing in your garden.

2 Flaxseed – Bakers use this nutty-flavoured seed mainly to add flavour and fibre. But scientists see the tiny reddish-brown seed, rich in oestrogen-like compounds called lignans, as a potential weapon against breast cancer. An exciting report at last year’s San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium showed that adding flaxseed to the diet of women with breast cancer effectively slowed tumour growth. You can flavour your muffins with flaxseed, but the easiest way to get the beneficial lignans is to sprinkle a few tablespoons of ground flaxseed on your morning cereal. Look for the seeds in health food shops. They’re easy to grind in a blender or coffee grinder. But get seeds – there are no lignans in the oil.

3 Tofu – Foods high in soya protein can lower cholesterol and may minimise menopausal hot flushes and strengthen bone. Isoflavones, plant chemicals in soyabeans that have a structure similar to oestrogen, may be the reason. Though animal studies form the bulk of evidence, a human study found that 90 milligrams of isoflavones was beneficial to bone (specifically the spine). And two other studies suggest that 50 to 76 milligrams of isoflavones a day may offer some relief from hot flushes. Half a cup of tofu contains about 25 to 35 milligrams of isoflavones.

4 Pork – Due largely to menstruation, women tend to be more anaemic than men. And low iron levels in blood can cause severe fatigue. To get a good dose of iron, try pork. It has what every diet-conscious women wants – lots of iron and fat that can be easily removed, compared to most cuts of meat. According to the Asian Food Information Centre in Singapore, a palm-sized pork steak has about 1.4 milligrams of iron. Best of all, says Dr Mark Wahlqvist, president of the International Union of Nutrition Sciences, eating a small amount of pork with a meal increases the absorption of iron from accompanying vegetables and cereals.

5 Cabbage – This humble vegetable may help fight osteoporosis, which affects many women late in life. In addition to getting adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D, some studies suggest that vitamin K may have a bone-protective effect as well. Based on data from one of the largest studies of women, the Nurses’ Health Study, researchers discovered that women who ate enough vitamin K-rich foods (at least 109 micrograms of the vitamin daily) were 30 per cent less likely to suffer a hip fracture during ten years of follow-up than women who ate less. Researchers point out that dark-green leafy vegetables – brussels sprouts, spinach, broccoli – are all good sources of the vitamin. But cabbage is among the best.

There you have it: five great foods for women that can keep both of you well fed and healthy at the same time.

5 FOODS MEN NEED MOST

1 Tomato Sauce – Men who eat a lot of tomatoes, tomato sauce, or pizza smothered with the stuff may be giving themselves a hedge against prostate cancer. So say researchers at Harvard University, who studied the eating habits of more than 47,000 male health professionals. They found that men who ate tomato sauce two to four times per week had a 35 per cent lower risk of developing prostate cancer than men who ate none. A carotenoid called lycopene, which tomatoes contain in abundance, appeared to be responsible. But scientists were puzzled: tomato juice didn’t seem to have a protective effect. Other research show why. For best absorption, lycopene should be cooked with some kind of fat. So pizza may be just what the doctor ordered.

2 Oysters – Myth has it that oysters are the food of love. Science may agree. Just two to three oyster deliver a full day’s supply of zinc, a mineral critical for normal functioning of the male reproductive system. Scientists are divided over reports that sperm counts have declined over the last 50 years and that environmental factors are to blame. Nutritional deficiencies do seem to be the cause of certain cases of low testosterone. Getting adequate zinc is sometimes the answer (up to 15 milligrams per day is recommended for men; more than 40 milligrams can pose risk). In one trial, 22 men with low testosterone level and sperm counts were given zinc every day for 45 to 50 days. Testosterone levels and sperm counts rose.

3 Broccoli – A recent Harvard study finds that cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, may protect against bladder cancer which is common among Asian men. Scientists analysed the diets of nearly 50,000 men and discovered that those who ate five servings or more per week of cruciferous veggies were half as likely to develop bladder cancer over a ten-year period as men who rarely ate them. And broccoli and cabbage were singled out as the most protective foods.

4 Peanut butter – If you want a healthy heart, spread your morning toast with peanut butter. Heart disease is the leading killer of men and women, but men fall victim at an earlier age. Researchers from Pennsylvania State University compared the cholesterol-lowering effect of the step II Diet of the America Heart Association (AHA) with a higher-fat diet based on peanuts. The AHA plan included more carbohydrates. The peanut regimen was 36 per cent fat. After 24 days both diets lowered “bad” LDL cholesterol. But the peanut plan also caused a drop in blood fats called triglycerides and did not decrease HDL, the “good” cholesterol. The AHA diet raised levels of triglycerides and lowered levels of HDL. “Peanut butter is a little higher in fat,” says Penny Kris-Etherton, the lead author of the study. “But it’s the type that’s good for you – monounsaturated fat.” Researchers have predicted that the peanut diet could reduce heart-disease risk even more than the AHA diet could. Just don’t go nutty plastering on the tasty spread, since it is high in kilojoules.

5 Watermelon – Until the age of 55, more men suffer from high blood pressure than do women. Research suggests that foods rich in potassium can reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. The evidence is so convincing that the US Food and Drug Administration recently allowed food labels to bear a health claim about the connection between potassium-rich foods and high blood pressure. “A good goal for potassium is about 2000 milligrams or more a day,” says Antigone Blazos, a lecturer at Asia Pacific Health and Nutrition Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Watermelon is a rich source of this mineral and has more potassium – 664 milligrams – in just one large slice than the amount found in banana or a glass of orange juice. So cut yourself another slice and enjoy its cool taste.

There you have it: five great foods for men that can keep both of you well fed and healthy at the same time.

The Different Bee Products

Propolis is a bit out of vogue but someone asked me whether it was the same as bee pollen, The answer is NO.

Royal Jelly

Royal jelly is the thick, creamy milky-white nutritionally rich substance produced in the glands of the worker honey bee and fed to the queen bee. It is believed to be the key food that enhanced the queen bee’s growth. When used in our diet it is believed to be a natural stress buffer, antimicrobial and vitality booster.

Bee pollen

Bee pollen is made from the bee’s choice pollens – generally those containing the highest amounts of protein and other nutrients – and mixed with the bees’ own secretions. Nutritionists believe that its rich nutritional content supports body functioning, increases alertness, helps circulation, improves skin and enhances energy and stamina.


Honey

Honey is the basic nectar of the hive. This sweet viscous fluid is manufactured by bees from nectar collected from flowers and stored for food. Honey has little nutritional value but it has greater sweetening power than sucrose (table sugar), so far less is needed. Honey is known to be soothing to the skin and throat.

Propolis

As you can see the above three (3) produce have no medicinal value but mainly nutritional benefits.

Propolis has very little direct nutritive value apart from the small amount of amino acids, minerals, certain vitamins and sugars. It use in humans is almost solely as a therapeutic, and hence it is normally classified as a “traditional medicine”.

During the last part of their lives, worker bees stop gathering nectar and pollen, and their job changes to gathering tree saps and mixing them with their own secretions. The resulting mixture, called propolis, is used to coat every inch of their internal walls of the hive to sterilize the comb and keep their hives free from bacteria. The hive is an enclosed unit, it is hot and moist, the perfect breeding ground for microorganisms. Because of the propolis, the hive is virtually free of bacteria, mold and mildew.

Breakfast and heart attacks

For those who always skip breakfast, drink at least a glass of orange juice.stay healthy! :) You've heard many times that "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." Now, recent research confirms that one of the worst practices you can develop may be avoiding breakfast. Why?

Because the frequency of heart attack, sudden death, and stroke peaks between 6:00 a.m.and noon,with the highest incidence being between 8:00 a.m.and 10:00 a.m.

What mechanism within the body could account for this significant jump in sudden death in the early morning hours? We may have an answer. Platelets, tiny elements in the blood that keep us from bleeding to death if we get a cut, can clump together inside our arteries due to cholesterol or plaque buildup in the artery lining. It is in the morning hours that platelets become the most activated and tend to form these internal blood clots at the greatest frequency.

However, eating even a very light breakfast prevents the morning platelet activation that is associated with heart attacks and strokes.

Studies performed at MemorialUniversity in St.Johns,Newfoundland found that
eating a light, very low-fat breakfast was critical in modifying the morning platelet activation. Subjects in the study consumed either low-fat or fat-free yogurt, orange juice, fruit, and a source of protein coming from yogurt or fat-free milk).

So if you skip breakfast, it's important that you change this practice immediately in light of this research. Develop a simple plan to eat cereal, such as oatmeal or Bran Flakes, along with six ounces of grape juice or six ounces of orange juice, and perhaps a piece of fruit.

This simple plan will keep your platelets from sticking together, keep blood
clots from forming, and perhaps head off a potential heart attack or stroke.

Senna Leaf

If any of you are taking any weight loss preparation that gives you intense bowel cramps and pain beware. It most likely contains senna leaf, a herbal laxative.

I was offered a product to market and upon finding that it contains senna leaf (though not listed on the label), I turned it down. It has the same trade names as an existing preparation in the market -TC Plus and Maxlim which also contains senna.

Review
Senna is an ingredient that is primarily used to help with constipation.

Extended use of this product has been linked to colon weakness and it has not been recommended for those who have certain abdominal or digestive ailments.

With continued and prolonged use, the bowels get sluggish. You see there are certain receptors that senna stimulate and once it is sensitised to senna, without senna the bowels do not empty, become sluggish. This is called the "lazy gut syndrome".

Curry offers colon cancer treatment

An ingredient of turmeric has been found to block the activity of a hormone that is a cause of bowel cancer.

A team from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) found that, by using cell cultures, curcumin (the active ingredient of turmeric) blocks the production of a protein by the hormone neurotensin that speeds up the growth and spread of cancer cells.

UTMB surgery professor B Mark Evers said: "We found that in colon cancer cells, neurotensin increases not just the rate of growth but also other critical things, including cell migration and metastasis."

The fact that all that can be turned off by this natural product, curcumin, was really remarkable."

The study, published in the current issue of Clinical Cancer Research, shows curcumin works by dampening signals to the neurotensin, so making it less effective.

Professor Evers added: "Our findings suggest that curcumin may be useful for colon cancer treatment, as well as potential colon cancer suppression, in cells that respond to this gastrointestinal hormone, neurotensin."

Short intense exercise as good as endurance training

For all you busy souls out there:

Short bursts of exercise can bring the same results as traditional endurance training, a new study has found.

Researchers from McMaster University monitored two groups of students, one cycling up to two hours a day continuously at a moderate rate and one riding a series of 30 second bursts at to speed.

Over two weeks one group exercised for a total of 10.5 hours and the other just 2.5 hours, but both groups showed similar improvements in exercise performance.

Martin Gibala, an associate professor of kinesiology at McMaster University, said: "The most striking finding from our study was the remarkably similar improvements in muscle health and performance induced by two such diverse training strategies."

He added: "Short bursts of intense exercise may be an effective option for individuals who cite 'lack of time' as a major impediment to fitness."

However, the study published in the Journal of Physiology warns this type of training is very demanding and requires a high level of motivation.

Weightlifting 'could cause eyesight loss'

Just as well i don't do heavy weights, just light ones for toning.

Regular weightlifting could result in the loss of eyesight as a result of developing glaucoma, researchers have warned. In a study published in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology, researchers from the Institute of Specialised Ophthalmology in Brazil suggest that holding your breath whilst lifting heavy weights temporarily increases the pressure within the eye (Intraocular pressure).

Normal-tension glaucoma, where damage to the optic nerve results in loss of eyesight, is known to occur as a result of frequent changes in intraocular pressure.

In the study, weightlifters aged between 18 and 40 were asked to perform repetitive weightlifting exercises while their eyeball pressures were measured.

It was found that when these exercises were performed and the subjects held their breath, and increase in pressure of 25 per cent was recorded in almost all of them.

A smaller pressure increase was also noted even when subjects did not hold their breath.

Doctors have advised that weightlifters should try continuous breathing throughout to minimise the pressure changes and prevent eye damage.

Health benefits of mandarin oranges revealed

Eating mandarin oranges could significantly reduce the risk of developing serious conditions including liver cancer, heart disease or suffering a stroke, Japanese researchers have claimed. In two separate studies, a high consumption of mandarin oranges or their juice seemed to be associated with lower rates of certain serious conditions.

In the first study carried out by Kyoto's University of Medicine, drinking mandarin orange juice was found to reduce rates of liver cancer in patients with chronic viral hepatitis, who are usually prone to the disease.

Of 30 patients drinking the juice every day, not one was found to have developed the cancer after a year, compared with nearly nine per cent of those patients who did not receive the juice.

In another study by Japan's National Institute of Fruit Tree Science, an investigation found that those who reported consuming large numbers of mandarin oranges tended to have chemical markers in the blood associated with a lower risk of liver disease, insulin resistance and atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) can lead to heart disease and blood clots that can cause stokes.

Source:NetDoctor

GoldXlim

I personally lost 6kg in 6 weeks (4kg in the first 4 weeks) taking GoldXlim.

Available at:

KL/Selangor:

Good Health Pharmacy (Pusat Bandar Puchong); AA Pharmacy (Bangsar); Farmasi Apple Green (Shah Alam); Brightcare Pharmacy (Damansar Utama); Eenaat Pharmacy (Sri Gombak); Farmasi O’Care (Pandan Jaya); Farmasi Segar (Taman Segar); Farmasi Sri Petaling (Sri Petaling); Farmasi Sri Mulia (Tmn Mulia, Tmn Midah); Sihat Pharmacy (Bandar Sri Permaisuri); Green Park Pharmacy (Desa Aman Puri, Saujana Utama II); Unipharm Pharmacy (Subang Jaya); Gerak Utusan Pharmacy (Jln Ipoh); Notss Pharmacy (Kota Kemuning); Farmasi Dinamik (Banting); OUG Pharmacy (OUG); Kok Lian Pharmacy (Tmn Kok Lian); Vycan Pharmacy (Sri Rampai); Healthlane Family Pharmacy (Sentul, Kepong Baru, Tmn Melati, Tmn Melawati, Segambut, Sungai Buloh, Majlis India, Desa Jaya, Shah Alam, Jinjiang, Indah Perdana, Desa Petaling); be pharmacy (Puchong); Farmasi Balakong (Balakong); Life Spring Pharmacy (Klang); Daily Care (Setapak); Farmasi Serdang (Seri Kembangan)

Penang/Perlis/Kedah

Megakulim Pharmacy (Kulim); Sri Rambai Pharmacy (Bkt.Mertajam); Healthcare Pharmacy (Komtar); YW Cheah Pharmacy (Pulau Tikus); Vision Pharmacy (Parit Buntar); Vcare Pharmacy (Butterworth); VeCare Pharmacy )Sungai Dua, Prai);

Perak

Unicare Pharmacy (Ipoh); Farmasi Menglembu (Menglembu); E Pharmacy (Pasir Putih); Metta-care Pharmacy (Taiping)

High protein diet linked with weight loss

Researchers have produced evidence supporting the view that high protein diets reduce hunger and so help people lose weight.

According to a study conducted by nutrition experts at University College London, increased amounts of protein in the diet have the effect of boosting levels of a hormone in the intestine involved in the regulation of hunger.

The hormone, known as PYY, appears to signal fullness to the brain, resulting in a lessening of appetite.

The study conducted tests on both humans and mice, linking protein intake with PYY levels, and PYY to feelings of hunger. It was also found that when low levels of PYY were artificially induced in mice, this tended to lead to obesity.

Although the research provides an explanation for why high protein diets such as the Atkins diet can be effective in reducing weight, the researchers instead suggest that smaller increases in the amount of protein consumed might be a healthier alternative.

Currently, it is estimated that around 16 per cent of the average diet is protein, with the researchers suggesting that increasing this to 20 per cent could aid weight management.

Antioxidants in fruits

An Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) score is a test tube analysis that measures the antioxidant levels of food and other chemical substances. If a food has a high ORAC score, then it means the food is high in antioxidants. The antioxidant’s strength is its ability to eliminate oxygen free radicals. With the ORAC score, a higher score means the food is better at helping us fight diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Foods with a high ORAC score may be able to protect cells and their components from oxidative damage. Oxygen radicals are chemicals that form naturally inside the body through the process of oxidation. Everyday functions such as digestion and physical activity produce oxygen radicals. Daily exposure to polluted air, rancid food and oxidizing radiation from the sun and electrical appliances also contribute.

Orange juice 'effective for kidney stones'

Orange juice is more effective as a treatment for kidney stones than other citrus drinks, researchers have claimed.

Previous research has shown drinks such as orange juice and lemonade, which contain sour-tasting citric acid, are effective in reducing the rate at which new stones develop in patients suffering recurrent kidney stones.

However, a new study, published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, suggests that orange juice is significantly more effective than other drinks.

Orange juice was found to increase levels of citrate in the urine, preventing the crystallization of uric acid and calcium oxalate, which are common ingredients in kidney stones.

However, lemonade was not found to have the same citrate-boosting effect despite containing citric acid.

The researchers suggest that other constituents of the drinks could have an impact of the effectiveness of citric acid.

Kidney stones develop as a result of over-concentrated urine, which is filtered through the kidneys, depositing minerals. Over a long period of time, these minerals may bind together to create stones which cause great discomfort.

Losing weight

Bananas

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!! This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again. Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.

It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so
helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief. Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at wor k leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature. Seasonal

Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

Interesting

What is all the fuss with placenta injections?

Dr.Paul Niehan, who discovered the benefits of live cell therapy quite by accident, propagated modern day live cell therapy. In 1931, Niehans was consulted by a medical colleague who had accidentally removed a patient’s parathyroid glands during the course of thyroid surgery. So vital are the parathyroid glands to life that the woman was unlikely to survive the day without them. A successful transplant was the only chance the surgeon had of saving her. So Niehans, who had a reputation for therapeutically transplanting organs and glands, was called in.

On his way to the hospital, Niehans stopped off at the abattoir, where animals he used in his revitalization experiments was slaughtered. He obtained fresh parathyroid glands from a steer and proceeded to the hospital, fully intending to perform a parathyroid transplant.

However, when Niehans arrived, one look at the patients – who was violently convulsing – told him that there was simply not enough time to perform the operation. The woman would not survive long enough.

But Niehan had an idea. He sliced up the parathyroid glands and suspended it in a saline solution and injected it into the fatally ill woman. Immediately, her convulsions ceased. Her condition improved and recovered to live another 30 years, well into her 90’s.

Many years later Niehan wrote, “I thought the effect would be short-lived, just like the effect of an injection of hormones, and that I should have to repeat the injection. But to my great surprise, the injection of fresh cells not only failed to provoke a reaction but the effect lasted, and longer than any synthetic hormone, any implant or any surgical graft.”

Thus cell therapy was born and thousands have received live cell injections at his Clinic La Prairie in Montreaux, Switzerland.

Eating yellow vegetables 'protects eye sight'

Yellow and green vegetables rich in certain compounds could be beneficial in preventing blindness in later life, new research suggests.

In a study published in the Journal of Ophthalmology, researchers report that women who ate diets rich in vegetables containing the yellow plant pigments lutein and zeaxanthin had a reduced risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness.

The compounds are found in various vegetables, including peas, sweetcorn and broccoli, and are thought to offer protection to retina from the damage that causes AMD.

A consistently high intake over a 15-year period was found to be necessary to significantly reduce the risk.

"This exploratory observation is consistent with a broad body of evidence from observational and experimental studies that suggests that these carotenoids may protect against AMD," the researchers, lead by Dr Suzen Moeller wrote.

"More conclusive evidence from long-term prospective studies and clinical trials is needed to determine whether the intake of macular carotenoids themselves, or as markers of broader dietary patterns, can protect against intermediate AMD or delay progression in individuals who have early stages of the disease."

Scientists link testosterone shortage to early death

Thought this was interesting as just bought a bottle of testosterone for dad - it is topical - nanotechnology so it can be absorbed via the skin supposedly. First pass metabolism (liver) is high with hormones so oral testosterone is virtually useless.

US scientists believe they have identified a connection between low levels of testosterone with cases of premature death in men.

Research published today in the Archives of Internal Medicine performed jointly by the VA Puget Sound Health Care System and the University of Washington shows that men with low testosterone levels could be up to 88 per cent more likely to die in their middle-age compared to counterparts with normal amounts of the sex hormone.

In a study involving 858 men aged over 40-years-old between 1994 and 1999, scientists found that 19 per cent of males had low levels of testosterone, 28 displayed equivocal levels (both low and normal signs), while 53 per cent showed normal amounts of the sex hormone.

During the test period, which culminated in 2002, the research team discovered that one-fifth of the men who displayed normal levels of the hormone had died, compared to 24.6 per cent of males with equivocal amounts and 34.9 per cent of those with low levels of testosterone.

The scientists explained that the results were consistent even when other factors such as age, other illnesses and body mass index (BMI) were taken into consideration.

"The persistence of elevated mortality risk after excluding early deaths suggests that the association between low testosterone and mortality is not simply due to acute illness. Large prospective studies are needed to clarify the association between low testosterone levels and mortality," they write.

Testosterone levels decrease by about 1.5 per cent annually once a man reaches 30, with lower concentrations of the hormone indicated by decreased muscle and bone density, a faltering sex drive and higher levels of depression and irritability.

Qi Gong

Qi Gong balances the body’s Qi with an inner force via mental and breathing exercises. Qi Gong is claimed to be beneficial in a wide variety of disease such as allergy, asthma, cancer, circulatory problems, deafness, headache, hypertension, injuries, kidney, liver disease, lung problems and stroke.

There are two ways qigong is practised. The patient can try to balance his own Qi through deep breathing and relaxation. Alternatively, a qigong master does it for them by transferring his or her Qi to the patient after having developed it within his own system.


THE BREATH OF LIFE
“The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being1. ” There is a very close connection between breath and spirit. Both breath and spirit comes from one word in the Greek as well as Hebrew. When our breath is gone from our bodies, so is our spirit. “Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath2. ” So let’s be careful to breathe in the breath of God, rather than the contaminated spirit of the world. God is the Great Physician as it was He who created all the bones, tissues and organs in your body.

1. Genesis 2:7
2. Psalms 62:9

The Tao in Taoism

Lao Zi

According to Taoism, the Tao is the “way of the universe “and is the first cause or cosmic force behind nature’s order. It implies an impersonal force rather than a personal Creator.

A careful look at the “Tao Te Jing” or “Book of the Way” in English, believed to be written by Lao Zi, has this confession: “I do not know His name. Name Him ‘ Tao’ possibly. For the lack of a better word, I call Him the Almighty”1. Lao Zi clearly refers the Tao as a person. Although Lao Zi is regarded as the founder of Taoism, he really had nothing to do with many of its religious doctrines and practices. He has even been misrepresented as being the Tao himself. But clearly he acted only as the messenger of the Tao1.

What is this Tao? The book states that the Tao is the “very progenitor of all things in the world”2. In the opening chapter, Lao Zi wrote that the “Tao can be told but is not the ordinary Tao. The name [of the Tao] can also be given, but that is not the ordinary name as well1.” Thus the Tao is not an ordinary Tao way or wisdom.

Does the Tao foreshadow Christ? In chapter 4, verse 4 Lao Zi writes that the Tao looks like Someone’s Son. He said, “I do not know whose son He is, He was before any king [born into the world] 1. ” “I am the Way (Tao), the truth and the life”3 is similarly found in another classical book.

The Tao has two faces, yin and yang, which oppose each other, but yet are one. The book On I-Ching reads, “In the I-Ching, there is Grand Terminus, which produced the two elementary Forms. One is Yin, and one is Yang. ” In I-Ching, Yin means the Earth, dark; and Yang means the Heaven, bright. Genesis 1:2 reads, “And God saw the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. ”

1. Wang, S & Nelson, E. God and the Ancient Chinese. Published by Sinim Bible Institute 1998; page 61-65
2. Laozi. Revised and Annotated by Fu Huisheng. Translated into English by Arthur Wesley. Hunan People’s Publishing House 1999; Chapter 4 verse 4: page 9.
3. John 14:6

TCM- accupuncture

There are many forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) available these days such as acupuncture and acupressure. The principles that underlie TCM take their roots from Taoism which originated around 300 B.C.

ACUPUNCTURE is just one treatment in the broader system of TCM and is based on the concept of an energy flow called Qi through the body. According to Taoism, the Qi flows between man and the universe. The Qi is believed to be the life force that pervades the body and regulates most physiological functions to maintain health and vitality. It circulates around the body along pathways known as meridians.

It is believed that if the flow of Qi is blocked, imbalances occur leading to health problems. Acupuncturists then use needles to unblock the flow at specific points along the meridians. These points correspond to the various organs in the body. When needles are applied to the points, organ function is stimulated.

CONDITIONS TREATED BY ACUPUNCTURISTS
Headaches, migraine and dizziness
Anxiety and depression
Addictions such as smoking
Insomnia
High/low blood pressure, poor circulation
Digestive problems
Kidney and bladder problems
Liver and gallbladder problems
Hormonal problems
Respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis
Skin conditions such as acne and eczema
Arthritis

Types of Acupuncture
Other than using needles, treatment techniques can include moxibustion, cupping, electro-acupuncture and laser acupuncture which are beyond the scope of this book.

ACUPRESSURE is based on the same concepts as acupuncture but instead of needles, pressure is applied to meridian points with fingertips, knuckles or even the elbows and feet. The process begins as apply pressure-then release, apply pressure-then release and develops to a deep and constant pressure. In other cases only one kind of pressure is used.

Obesity 'due to processed food'

The ever increasing rate of obesity among children in developed nations is due to a hormone imbalance caused by processed food, a health expert has claimed.

According to Dr Robert Lustig, a paediatrician at the University of California, processed food now commonly contains added sugar and has fibre removed from it, which can result in an imbalance in the hormones insulin and leptin. This is important for weight management as the hormones involved play a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels and food intake, causing people to eat more but take less exercise.

"Our current western food environment has become highly insulinogenic, as demonstrated by its increased energy density, high-fat content, high glycaemic index, increased fructose composition, decreased fibre, and decreased dairy content," stated Dr Lustig, writing in the journal Nature Clinical Practice Endocrinology and Metabolism.

It is now widely accepted that children are getting fatter, with around a quarter of children in the UK now classified as clinically obese, making them more likely to suffer from heart problems and diabetes in later life.

Third-hand smoke

Parents who choose to protect their baby's health by only smoking outdoors are still causing them harm through 'third-hand smoke', a new study has found.

According researchers from San Diego State University, harmful chemicals contained in cigarette smoke are capable of sticking to carpets, soft furnishings and walls, where they can be absorbed through the skin of children.

These chemicals can have the same harmful effects as passive smoking, although lack of awareness about third-hand smoke means that this could pose a greater risk, particularly to children forced to live with smoker parents.

The research found unusually high traces of cotinine, a nicotine by-product, in the urine and hair cells of children living with smoker parents, despite their efforts to smoke away from the child.

The study looked at a total of 49 babies under 13 months old, comparing the children of smokers with those of non-smokers.

Children's charities have expressed concern over the findings, saying that they represent yet another reason for parents to kick the habit.

Meats ( excerpts from Staying Healthy, Staying Vital)

From Staying Healthy, Staying Vital (available in MPH & Popular)

Our ancestors ate meat from wild animals which contained 4% fat. Today, commercial meats like beef and pork contain around 30% fat as they are fed grains to beef them up. Worse still these days they are treated with antibiotics, growth hormones, or growth enhancers.

The main problem is not the fat in the meat but the fat which we can skin off or cut out, such as the pork belly. This we should cut out from our diet.

Humans were designed to eat more plant than animal foods6. For instance, we have 20 molar teeth for grinding plant foods, 8 frontal incisors for biting fruits and vegetables and only 4 canine teeth for eating meat. A true carnivore like the tiger has predominantly canine teeth and its jaws only move vertically unlike the human jaw which also moves horizontally. The tiger’s intestinal tract is 3 times shorter than the humans for a rapid transit of rancid meat and a much bigger kidney to flush out the uric acid.

No doubt meats provide a good source of protein, but many beans and plant produce are also a good source of protein. Bear in mind, two of the strongest animals in the world are herbivores (plant eaters) – the elephant and the gorilla.

Unclean meats

Seafood Restaurants are very popular throughout the country. Essentially there are two types of seafood: those with fins and scales, and those without.

If you ever watch National Geographic on Astro, you realize that fishes swim across all levels of the sea as they have fins and scales. Imagine the ceiling of your house as the sea-level while the floor is the sea-bed. Rubbish will settle at the sea-bed as the specific gravity is higher than water. Those without fins and scales such as shellfish, crabs, lobster, prawns, oysters, clams and mussels are usually on the sea-bed and become nature’ s vacuum cleaners to keep the sea-bed clean. In the ecology of the sea, they are designed to clean up all the rubbish, toxins, bacteria, viruses and parasites on the floor of the sea. Crabs are even known to eat dead things. These meats should be avoided for healthy living. Little wonder these foods are associated with gout, high cholesterol and allergies (contain many toxins). If you simply can’t resist these foods, then limit them to once a week and in small quantities.


Pork consumption is high among the Chinese. It is one of the fattiest meats, rich in saturated fats. The organs of any animals are high in cholesterol, but the Chinese seems to spare no part of a pig, not even the intestines. A swine if left on its own will eat itself to death. Firstly, pigs eat a lot of rubbish. Secondly, even commercial pigs are full of toxins as by eating a lot, the hydrochloric acid in the pig’s stomach is diluted and bacteria and parasites can thrive. If you don’t believe this, just visit a farm where they are bred. It is best to minimize or avoid this unclean meat.

Pork

Email from a friend:

No more 'zhu zha tang' or yummy 'bak kut teh'...
The following is from Dr. Lee Say Fatt, I believe you should read this.
Pork Awareness (read this carefully)!

IT'S WORTH SPENDING 3 MINUTES READING THIS

Try this and see whether the pork you bought has worms. There goes with your "Bak Kut Teh" for those who love it. Most men love to eat this so watch out before it's too late. If you pour Coke (yes, the soda) on a slab of pork, wait a little while, you will SEE WORMS crawl out of it.

A message from the Health Corporation of Singapore about the bad effects of pork consumption. Pig's bodies contains MANY TOXINS, WORMS and LATENT DISEASES.

Although some of these infestation are harboured in other animals, modern veterinarians say that pigs are far MORE PREDISPOSED to these illnesses than other animals. This could be because PIGS like to SCAVENGE and will eat ANY kind of food, INCLUDING dead insects, worms, rotting carcasses, excreta including their own, garbage, and other pigs.

INFLUENZA (flu) is one of the MOST famous illnesses which pigs share with humans. This illness is haboured in the LUNGS of pigs during the summer months and tends to affect pigs and human in the cooler months. Sausage contains bits of pigs' lungs, so those who EAT pork sausage tend to SUFFER MORE during EPIDEMICS of INFLUENZA.

Pig meat contains EXCESSIVE quantities of HISTAMINE and IMIDAZOLE compounds, which can lead to ITCHING and INFLAMMATION; GROWTH HORMONE which PROMOTES INFLAMMATION and growth; sulphur containing mesenchymal mucus which leads to SWELLING and deposits of MUCUS in tendons and cartilage, resulting in ATHRITIS, RHEUMATISM, etc. Sulphur helps cause FIRM human tendons and ligaments to be replaced by the pig's soft mesenchymal tissues, and degeneration of human cartiliage. Eating pork can also lead to GALLSTONES and OBESITY, probably due to its HIGH CHOLESTEROL and SATURATED FAT content.

The pig is the MAIN CARRIER of the TAENIE SOLIUM WORM, which is found in it flesh.

These tapeworms are found in human intestines with greater frequency in nations where pigs are eaten. This type of tapeworm can pass through the intestines and affect many other organs, and is incurable once it reaches beyond a certain stage. One in six people in the US and Canada has RICHINOSIS from eating trichina worms, which are found in pork. Many people have NO SYMPTOMS after having pork. When they do have any sickness in long term, they resemble symptoms of many other illnesses. These worms are NOT noticed during meat inspections.

Vegetables & Cancer

BROCCOLI
How it combats cancer: Research has revealed that a chemical component called indole-3-carbinol can combat breast cancer by converting a cancer-promoting estrogen into a more protective riety. The phytochemical sulforaphane raises the levels of certain cancer-fighting enzymes that defend the body from cigarette smoke, fumes, pesticides & other known carcinogens.


Diet tips: Broccoli leaves actually contain more beta-carotene (i.e. pre-Vitamin A) than the florets - use leaves in purees, soups, stir-fries. To preserve broccoli’s valuable nutrients, steam or microwave, being careful not to overcook. Avoid garnishing broccoli with fatty cheeses and creams instead,squeeze on some lemon juice or sprinkle with toasted bread crumbs.

PAPAYA
How it combats cancer: Its plentiful store of vitamin C works as an antioxidant and may also reduce absorption of cancer-causing nitrosamines from the soil or processed foods. Papaya contains folacin (also known as folic acid), which has been shown to minimize cervical ysplasia and certain cancers.

Diet tips: Choose papayas that are at least half yellow in the store - fully green ones were probably picked too soon and won’t ripen properly. You can serve papaya in fruit salad, add it to a garlic-and-spinach pasta mixture, or just eat it on its own, letting the juice dribble down your arm.

GARLIC
How it combats cancer: Garlic’s immune-enhancing allium compounds block carcinogens from entering cells and slow tumor development. Diallyl sulfide, a component of garlic oil, has also been shown to render carcinogens in the liver inactive. Studies have linked garlic - as well as onions, leeks, and chives - to lower risk of stomach and colon cancer.

Diet tips: Add raw garlic to salads, use it fresh in marinades and sauces;
rub freshly cut garlic around the insides of salad bowls and over chicken
and fish fillets. Avoid dried or powdered garlic, which is less
concentrated - and less effective

KALE
How it combats cancer: Research has shown that indoles, nitrogen compounds found in kale and other leafy greens, may help stop the conversion of certain lesions to cancerous cells in estrogen-sensitive tissues. In addition, isothiocyanates, phytochemicals found in kale, are thought to suppress tumor growth and block cancer-causing substances from reaching their targets.

Diet tips: A cruciferous vegetable, kale requires quick cooking - blanching or steaming - to preserve its nutrients. When you’re done, save the nutrient-rich cooking liquid for soups or sauces. You can also use whole large leaves to wrap fillings or to layer in lasagna.

SWEET POTATO
How it combats cancer: This nutrient-dense food contains many anticancer properties. It’s loaded with beta-carotene, which may protect DNA in the cell nucleus from cancer-causing chemicals outside the nuclear membrane.

Diet tips: Go for freshness when picking potatoes - canned varieties contain less beta-carotene and vitamins C and B. Naturally sweet and creamy, mashed sweet potatoes can be enhanced with a little apple juice. Or whip the cooked tubers with orange zest or orange juice and season with cinnamon,nutmeg, and ginger.

GRAPEFRUIT
How it combats cancer: Grapefruits, like oranges and other citrus fruits,contain monoterpenes, believed to help prevent cancer by sweeping carcinogens out of the body. Some studies show that grapefruit can inhibit the proliferation of breast-cancer cells in vitro. It also contains vitamin C, beta-carotene, and folic acid.

Diet tips: Grapefruit can be sweetened with brown sugar or a drizzle of maple syrup or honey; vanilla extract, fresh mint, and almonds also accent the fruit’s flavor. Grapefruit juice will give you the antioxidants and phytochemicals that fight cancer, but it’s missing the fiber that fresh,whole grapefruit offers.

AVOCADO
How it combats cancer: Avocados are rich in glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that attacks free radicals in the body by blocking intestinal absorption of certain fats. Ounce for ounce, avocados also supply 60 percent more potassium than bananas and are a strong source of beta-carotene.

Diet tips: Store avocados at room temperature until they soften. If you don’t eat the fruit immediately after cutting, sprinkle on some lemon or lime juice to keep it from darkening. Add chunks or slices to salads and sandwiches or spread mashed avocado on bread.

SEAWEED
How they combat cancer: Seaweed and other sea vegetables contain beta-carotene, protein, vitamin B12, fiber, and chlorophyll, as well as chlorophylones - important fatty acids that may help in the fight against breast cancer. Also, many sea vegetables have high concentrations of the minerals potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and iodine.

Diet tips: Sea vegetables come fresh, dried, or powdered. Both the Japanese & the Irish regularly use them as flavorings for broths & soups,stir-fried over rice, or as a wrap for fish and other seafood. Varieties such as dulce, wakame, kombu, and hijiki even appear in pancakes,salads,puddings, and sandwiches.

TOFU
How it combats cancer: Soy contains several types of phytoestrogens -weak, nonsteroidal estrogens that could help prevent both breast and prostate cancer by blocking and suppressing cancerous changes. Genistein,one type of phytoestrogen, also lowers breast-cancer risk by inhibiting the growth of epithelial cells & new blood vessels that tumors require to flourish.

Diet tips: Tofu is made by coagulating the protein in soybeans - much the way cheese is produced. While bland on its own, tofu absorbs other flavors when cooked, making it perfect for stir-fries, dips, spreads,shakes, even cheesecake. It’s also a good high-protein substitute for meat, whole milk & mayonnaise.

Fruits

Kiwi : Tiny but mighty
This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E & fibre. It’s Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

Apple : An apple a day keeps the doctor away?
Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

Strawberry : Protective Fruit
Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer causing, blood vessels clogging free radicals.

Orange : Sweetest medicine
Taking 2 –4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.

Watermelon : Coolest Thirst Quencher
Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene – the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are Vitamin C & Potassium.

Guava & Papaya : Top awards for Vitamin C
They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fibre which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, this is good for your eyes.

Miracle Cures

Illness - Food Effect
Headaches - Fish Eat plenty of fish - fish oil helps prevent headaches. So does ginger, which reduces inflammation and pain.

Hay Fever Yogurt - Eat lots of yogurt before pollen season

Stroke - Tea - Prevent buildup of fatty deposits on artery wall with regular doses of tea.

Insomnia - Honey - Use honey as a tranquilizer and sedative.

Asthma - Onions - Eating onions helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes.

Arthritis - Fish - Salmon, tuna, mackeral and sardines actually prevent arthritis.

Upset Stomach - Bananas, Ginger - Bananas will settle an upset stomach. Ginger will cure morning sickness and nausea.

Bladder Infections - Cranberry Juice - High-acid cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria.

Bone Problems - Pineapple - Bone fractures and osteoporosis can be prevented by the manganese in pineapple.

Memory Problems - Oysters - Oysters help improve your mental functioning by supplying much-needed zinc.

Colds - Garlic - Clear up that stuffy head with garlic.

Cough - Red Pepper - A substance similar to that found in the cough syrups is found in hot red pepper.

Breast Cancer - Wheat, Bran, Cabbage - Wheat, bran and cabbage help maintain estrogen at healthy levels.

Lung Cancer - Orange & Green Veggies - A good antidote is beta carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in dark green and orange vegetables.

Ulcers - Cabbage - Cabbage contains chemicals that help heal both gastic and duodenal ulcers.

Diarrhea - Apples - Grate an apple with its skin, let it turn brown and eat it to cure this condition.

Clogged Arteries - Avocados - Monounsaturated fat in avocados lowers cholesterol.

High Blood Pressure - Olive Oil, Celery- Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure. Celery contains a chemical that lowers pressure, too.

Blood Sugar Imbalance - Broccoli, Peanuts -The chromium in broccoli and peanuts helps regulate insulin and blood sugar.

Curry and herbal tea 'aid weight loss'

Eating spicy curry and drinking plenty of herbal tea could be an effective way to lose weight, a recent study has found. Researchers based at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands found that the spice and herbs commonly used in herbal teas and Indian cooking have natural properties that increase the rate at which the body burns fat.

They tested the effects of various ingredients on the weight loss and food intake of rats, with certain foods found to be especially conducive to weight loss.

Ingredients such as ginger, turmeric, cumin and red chilli were found to be particularly effective, with combinations better than consuming them individually.

Curry is also thought to be a useful addition to the diet of those hoping to lose weight because it makes people feel full sooner, as well as being an aid to digestion.

Herbal teas were also found to decrease the food intake in the rats, as well as causing some loss of weight.

However, Writing in the journal Physiology and Behaviour the researchers warn that increasing intake of herbs and spices is only likely to aid weight loss as part of an over all healthy lifestyle, including plenty of exercise as well as diet changes.

Cancer Info sent to me via email

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumours.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation, while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation, the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soya milk cancer cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts)and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat, it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence,Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

New impotence treatment promised

A drugs company is beginning clinical trials for a rub-on gel that could become the world's first over-the-counter treatment for impotence.

The new product, being developed by Futura Medical in conjunction with GlaxoSmithKline, contains a chemical known to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow, potentially helping the thousands of men suffering from impotence in the UK.

The chemical – called glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) – is known to be an effective treatment of angina, with no adverse side effects reported, making it suitable for use without prescription.

Currently, only pill-form anti-impotence treatments are available, including Pfizer's lucrative Viagra drug. However, doctors and pharmaceutical companies believe that the need for a face-to-face consultation and prescription is putting many men off requesting the drug, making an over-the-counter treatment a more attractive option.

It is estimated that less than 20 per cent of men suffering some form of sexual dysfunction will consult a doctor about the problem.

However, extensive trials of the treatment will first be required before the gel can go on sale, with around 1,500 men already recruited.

Pomegranates 'effective against prostate cancer

Pomegranate juice could help slow down the development of prostate cancer, extending the life expectancy of many cancer sufferers, new research suggests.

In a study conducted by scientists at the University of California in Los Angeles, drinking pomegranate juice was found to affect the blood levels of PSA – a protein produced by prostate cancer growth.

Consuming one glass of pomegranate juice a day was found to significantly slow the rate at which PSA levels increased, with the doubling time extended from an average of 15 months to 54 months. As an indicator of a rapidly growing tumour, short PSA doubling times are known to be linked with high mortality rates among prostate cancer sufferers, leading researchers to suggest that drinking the juice could prolong life expectancy.

A much larger study is now underway in order to confirm the effectiveness of pomegranate juice as a cancer-fighting agent, with lead researcher Dr Allan Pantuck admitting that it was too early to start recommending the juice, although no adverse side effects were reported in the study.

Source;Net Doctor

Just as well I love cashew nuts!

Jun 16 (Reuters Health) - Eating a diet rich in cashew nuts improves the sensitivity of a key reflex for maintaining healthy blood pressure known as the baroreflex, South African researchers report.

However, Dr. Aletta E. Schutte of North-West University, Potchefstroom and colleagues found that eating a diet rich in walnuts actually impaired baroreflex sensitivity. They call for more research into the effects of eating large quantities of nuts on heart health.

The baroreflex becomes less sensitive as heart disease develops. People with metabolic syndrome, a constellation of symptoms including obesity, high cholesterol and high blood sugar, have an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes, and also have impaired baroreflex sensitivity.

Cashews are high in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), while walnuts contain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). To investigate the effect of the nuts in people with the metabolic syndrome, Schutte and her colleagues divided 62 people with the syndrome into three groups. One followed a normal diet, the second ate a diet with 20% of calories from walnuts, and the third got 20% of their calories from unsalted cashews.

After eight weeks, there was no change in baroreflex sensitivity among people on the control diet. Those on the walnut-rich diet showed significant impairment in baroreflex sensitivity, while baroreflex sensitivity improved among those eating the cashew-heavy diet. No other significant changes were seen in other components of the metabolic syndrome, and neither diet produced changes in levels of cholesterol and other blood fats. However, the people on the cashew diet showed higher blood sugar levels.

The most obvious interpretation of the findings is to attribute them to differing effects of MUFA and PUFA on baroreflex sensitivity, Schutte and her team note. However, the nuts also contain a wide variety of other ingredients that can benefit blood vessel function such as fiber and folic acid, they add.

"An overwhelming body of evidence has demonstrated the beneficial effects of nuts, but this study suggests that intake of large quantities of walnuts and cashews may have detrimental effects on the baroreflex sensitivity and glycemia, respectively, at least in individuals with metabolic syndrome," the researchers write.

"Further research defining the potential benefits and harmful effects of nuts, especially when consumed in large quantities, is therefore needed," they conclude.

SOURCE: American Journal of Hypertension, June 2006.

Oxygen Problem:

There are many ways people become oxygen deficient, and over time, each way can lead directly to illness and disease. The effects of oxygen deficiency on the body are well known to astronauts and submariners. The ongoing oxygen depletion of the atmosphere is by no means the only cause of oxygen deficiency in the human body. Diet is also an important factor. Few people realize that “junk food” is low in oxygen content and high in toxic preservatives. Eating junk foods ends up forcing the body to use up more of its precious oxygen than usual in order to oxidize the chemical preservatives and metabolize what few nutrients that may be left. Dense compounds like fat and proteins are not only low in oxygen themselves but also require extra oxygen from the body to convert them into energy.

Other oxygen-robbing foods include processed sugar, white flour, alcohol, and caffeine-loaded drinks such as coffee and colas. These foods require tremendous amounts of oxygen in order to be metabolized. Since they are so low in oxygen content and so high in caloric content, the body has to divert needed oxygen from primary metabolic functions (like proper heartbeat, blood flow, brain function, immune response and the like) just to oxidative metabolize them! This is one reason why so many people get tired after eating. Both physical and emotional stress robs the body of huge amount of much-needed oxygen. Any form of stress can cause oxygen deficiency. This researcher in the 1970’s, by altering the partial pressure of oxygen (quantity of oxygen per volume breathed), was able to induce a transient glucose intolerance (diabetes) in anesthetize humans and dogs. A residual hemoconcentration occurred and a greater intolerance to toxic or noxious substances was noted for periods of time up to six months. This should sound familiar in today’s world.

Researchers have now discovered that a chronically acidic system, which is practically a “given” for most people in today’s society, also causes the body to deplete its precious oxygen supplies. This often leads to a vicious cycle of toxin accumulation and oxygen depletion, which eventually results in serious illness and disease. This explains the explosion of diabetes diagnoses. Here’s why: One way in which the body combats excess acidity is by trying to neutralize it with oxygen. To do so, it must continually divert oxygen away from its primary metabolic functions and direct it to the acidic cells and acidic tissues throughout the body, instead. In essence, this depletes the body’s ability to dispose of excess wastes and toxins.

This results in a growing accumulation of poisons. The body then begins to oxidize them also by diverting even more oxygen from primary metabolic functions to the toxins accumulating throughout the body’s fluids, cells and tissues. This even further slows the body’s metabolism, resulting in a never-ending repetition of the above cycle. Finally, fatigue, chronic illness and disease take hold as the metabolism goes into a nosedive due to the “triple assault” of excess acidity, toxic overload and cellular oxygen starvation. With half the world running around complaining of chronic “acid stomach” it’s no wonder that doctors are finding so many patients to be severely oxygen-deficient.


Oxygen At The Cellular Level:
Optimal health begins at the cellular level. The reactions required to produce these astonishing cellular materials cause increases (improvements) when in the presence of, and reaction with, hydrogen. When more hydrogen is present, the surface tension of water (or any other liquid or solution) is reduced. When ingesting and absorbing any liquid with a reduced surface tension of the water molecule itself, the result is a reduction in the surface tension of our cellular walls. This allows a greater influx of oxygen, which disperses carbon dioxide trapped within the cells.

This is particularly true among those who have followed the pioneering research of Nobel Prize winning German biochemist, Dr. Otto Warburg. Dr. Warburg, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for his research into the cause of cancer, was convinced that cancer cells can only begin to proliferate in the human body when the cells become oxygen deficient. Furthermore, his research showed that cancer cells cannot proliferate at all when exposed to an oxygen-rich environment or induced enhanced partial pressure of oxygen.

Oxidation occurs at the cellular level of the body. It is part of that vital and complex process by which the body chemically converts nutrients into energy, and by which the body rids itself of toxins and other harmful materials. Without sufficiently high levels of oxygen oxidation cannot take place. And without oxidation, metabolic function – and therefore life itself – ceases.

Oxidation is the key to proper metabolic function, correct circulation, assimilation, digestion and elimination. It helps purify the blood, keeping it free from cellular waste build-up. Sufficient oxygen gives the body the ability to rebuild itself and strengthen its immune system, our natural defense against disease. It also has a calming and stabilizing effect on the function of the nervous system.

Cord Blood Banking

Currently there are 2 companies in Malaysia offering cord blood banking services - StemLife & Chirocord.

Article from Netdoctor.co.uk

"Parents hoping to preserve their newborn baby's stem cells in case of future illness have been warned of the possible dangers associated with collecting the cells by health experts.

It is possible to collect stem cells from the umbilical cord blood immediately after birth, and these cells can then be stored with the possibility of being used in life-saving blood transplants in conditions such as leukaemia in later life.

Although the NHS will store the cord blood of those children known to be at a high genetic risk of developing certain illnesses, private companies are now offering the service to all parents, charging fees of up to £1,500.

This has drawn criticism from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), who argue that the benefits of stem cell storage are minimal in the vast majority of cases, and the process of cell collection – usually done immediately after birth – potentially dangerous.

A RCOG report released this week claimed that there was "insufficient evidence" to recommend the practice to parents at a low risk of passing on blood disorders like leukaemia.

It also pointed out that cells were collected immediately after birth, "where there is a risk of post-partum haemorrhage", putting both mother and baby at risk."

Mirena IUS

Ideal contraceptive for women who have completed their family. No systemic hormonal side effects compared to oral contraceptives. Fertility is restored upon removal. Better than normal IUD as has less infections and less bleeding problems.

A Woman's Beauty

Slide I got from an O&G Professor

Unwanted Pregnancies

Male Contraceptive

Who is going to take the Pill? You or your husband/wife?

Trials already underway

Contraceptive Methods

Efficacy of contraceptive methods is reflected in the Pearl Index, which is the number of pregnancies per 100 woman years of usage (the lower the better the contraceptive).

4000 Years of Female Contraception

G.Pincus







Instructions from Egyptianpapyri (1850 B.C.)
- Vaginal application of crocodile dung aspessary or paste.....
- Cotton tampons or sponges filled with honey,
sodium bicarbonate, fluid from pomegranate


384-322 B.C.
The Greek philosopher Aristotle is thought to be the first person to propose using natural chemicals such as cedar oil, lead ointment or frankincense oil as spermicides.

1901
Physiologist Haberlandt showed that menstruation is regulated by hormones produced centrally in the brain and in a woman’s ovaries.

1923
Haberlandt discovers principle of the pill – injects placenta extracts in fertile animals and makes them temporarily sterile.

1950
Margaret Sanger, founder of the American Planned Parenthood Federation meets biochemist Gregory Pincus on the necessity of hormonal contraceptives, collects $50,000 and funds his research.

1956
Pincus and colleagues conduct trials successfully in US, Peurto Rico and Haiti.

1960
First Pill launched


"Few contributions to medical knowledge have done so much to bring to women everywhere a sense of worth and dignity"
D. E. Cameron, N. Y. T.

Use of abortion pills doubled last year

Actually it is 90-95% effective. Just take 2 oral contraceptives in the morning and two 12 hours later.

The number of women treated with the abortion pill in the UK last year doubled to around 10,000, new figures show. Data from BPAS (the British Pregnancy Advisory Service) reveals that demand for the pill, also known as early medical abortion (EMA), rose from 56 per cent to 65 per cent of the service's caseload in 2005.

BPAS provided 32,000 terminations last year during the first nine weeks of pregnancy, almost a third of which involved the abortion pill, which is taken under supervision, though the abortion occurs at home. The pill, or 'medical abortion', blocks pregnancy hormones and makes the uterus contract and can be used in the first nine weeks of pregnancy, after which time only a surgical abortion is permitted.

Ann Furedi, BPAS chief executive, suggested that earlier access to abortion is benefiting women and reducing the number of surgical terminations that are carried out.

Around 77 per cent of the total BPAS caseload of 50,000 was on behalf of the National Health Service in 2005. In 2003, 3,500 women were treated by BPAS with the abortion pill, rising to 5,000 in 2004 and 10,000 last year.

However, anti-abortion groups have criticised BPAS for welcoming the figures, as the UK should be working to reduce overall abortion rates.

NetDoctor

Regular alcohol intake 'lowers' heart disease in men

Regular alcohol consumption could lower the chances of men contracting coronary diseases, while frequent alcohol drinking has less effect upon women in terms of heart disease, a new study claims. Research published in the British Medical Journal today suggests that there are significant differences between men and women when it comes to the effect of alcohol drinking patterns upon heart disease.

The Centre for Alcohol Research at the National Institute for Public Health in Denmark believes that while moderate drinking has long been known to slightly reduce the risk of heart disease, this new study highlights that male regular drinkers could be lowering the chance of coronary complications, although they stress that the research should not be interpreted as an excuse to justify excessive alcohol consumption.

Medical researchers from the institute found that in a study involving over 50,000 men and women aged between 50 and 65 over a period of years, the average woman drinks 5.5 alcoholic units during a week and a man 11.3.

They discovered that women who drank alcohol on average once per week had a significantly lower risk of heart disease than females who consumed alcoholic drinks less than once every seven days.

Women who drank alcohol everyday during a week, however, only had a marginally lower risk of suffering from coronary disease, suggesting that for women the quantity of alcohol consumed is more important a deciding factor in reducing the risk of heart problems than the frequency. In direct comparison, men who drank every day were six times less likely to develop heart conditions than men who only drank once per week on average. The researchers stressed, however, that the harmful effects of alcohol far exceed its benefits in reducing the risk of heart disease.

Source:NetDoctor