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.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Thursday, October 12, 2006
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."
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
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.
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.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
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.
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.
Friday, October 06, 2006
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
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.
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.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
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.
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.
Monday, September 25, 2006
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".
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".
Thursday, September 21, 2006
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."
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."
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
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.
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
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
Monday, September 11, 2006
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)
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)
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Thursday, September 07, 2006
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.
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.
Friday, September 01, 2006
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
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!"
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!"
Monday, August 28, 2006
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.
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.
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