Saturday, July 30, 2011

A 'Nutty' Solution To Type 2 Diabetes Management



Eating nuts daily could help control type 2 diabetes and prevent complications

Eating nuts every day could help control Type 2 diabetes and prevent its complications, according to new research from St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto.

In the research, published online by the journal Diabetes Care, a team of researchers led by Dr. David Jenkins (University of Toronto Department of Nutritional Sciences; St. Michael's Hospital Risk Factor Modification Centre) reports that consuming two ounces of nuts daily as a replacement for carbohydrates proved effective at glycemic and serum lipid control for people with Type 2 diabetes. The article, entitled "Nuts as a Replacement for Carbohydrates in the Diabetic Diet," is available here: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2011/06/02/dc11-0338.abstract

"Mixed, unsalted, raw, or dry-roasted nuts have benefits for both blood glucose control and blood lipids and may be used as part of a strategy to improve diabetes control without weight gain," said Dr. Jenkins, who also has appointments with St. Michael's Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism and the U of T's Department of Medicine. He also serves as Canada Research Chair in Nutrition and Metabolism.

Jenkins and his colleagues provided three different diet supplements to subjects with Type 2 diabetes. One group was given muffins, one was provided with a mixture of nuts including raw almonds, pistachios, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, peanuts, cashews, and macadamias, and one group was given a mixture of muffins and nuts.

Subjects receiving the nut-only supplement reported the greatest improvement in blood glucose control using the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test. The nut diet subjects also experienced a reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (known as LDL, or "bad cholesterol"). The subjects provided the muffin supplement or mixed muffin-and-nut supplement experienced no significant improvement in gylcemic control but those receiving the muffin-nut mixture also significantly lowered their serum LDL levels.

"Those receiving the full dose of nuts reduced their HbA1c [the long-term marker of glycemic control] by two-thirds of what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recognizes as being clinically meaningful for therapeutic agents. Furthermore, neither in the current study nor in previous reports has nut consumption been associated with weight gain. If anything, nuts appear to be well suited as part of weight-reducing diets," Dr. Jenkins said.

"The study indicates that nuts can provide a specific food option for people with Type 2 diabetes wishing to reduce their carbohydrate intake."

Source: The St Michael Hospital news release

Picture by
www.geekologie.com is not connected with St Michael

Laurel’s 5 Surprising Pimple Remedies

Adult Acne Is More Common Than You Think!

Skin problems afflict almost everyone growing up, but some never outgrow it.

Laurel House of Planet Green offers the following simple emergency remedies :

Toothpaste
Use the non-gel kind. Squeeze a little dab of it onto a clean finger and apply to the pimple. Since toothpaste dries overnight, it reduces inflammation in your pimple, allowing the swelling to go down. It also pulls pus out from the pimple.

Baking Soda
A paste made of baking soda and water offers the same benefits of toothpaste and is a great alternative if you just don’t feel look putting something sticky and minty on your skin. Allow the baking soda paste to stay on your skin overnight to fully dry out the pimple.

White Vinegar

There is a reason many face wash products smell so bitter—acid. The acidity of white vinegar can actually dissolve pus within a zit. Since it’s the pus that causes the pimple to be swollen, the pimple will reduce in size once the pus is pulled out. Put a little bit onto a cotton swap and pat it on the pimple.

Ice
You put an icepack on an injury to reduce inflammation. Well, consider that pimple an injury. And it is one to your ego, right? Rub an ice cube over any puffy or red areas of your skin to reduce inflammation.

Visine
Really any product meant to reduce redness in your eyes will work. These products restrict blood vessels, pulling blood away from the surface and taking away color. Eye-drop products can do the same for a pimple.

Planet Green is the multi-platform media destination devoted to the environment and dedicated to helping people understand how humans impact the planet and how to live a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle. Its two robust websites, planetgreen.com and TreeHugger.com, offer original, inspiring, and entertaining content related to how we can evolve to live a better, brighter future. Planet Green is a division of Discovery Communications.


GET REAL! If you don’t want a pimple be an unwanted accessory to that hair and makeup you’ve worked so hard on, we suggest you talk to our pharmacist today about targeted treatment from the T3 range of prescription acne products.

No, not this....





T3 Mycin is a calming gel containing an antiacne antibiotic, clindamycin phosphate

Clindamycin phosphate prevents the bacteria of acne Propionebacterium from forming cell walls which destabalises it and kills it off. This super acne fighter also prevents the spread of the infection. It also kills the bacteria that feeds on sebum that causes acne, preventing the spread of existing spots.

Other acne care products in the T3 range include a bactericidal Body Spray, Body Wash, Acne Scar Serum and an Acne Whitening Facial Foam.

Prostate Cancer - Factors That May Contribute To It


Picture credit: http://www.ifindoubt.info

A List From The American Cancer Society

Only about 5 percent to 10 percent of prostate cancer cases can be attributed to cell changes that men inherit from their parents, the American Cancer Society says.

The remaining cases can be traced to cell changes that occur during a man's lifetime.

What increases a man's chances of undergoing those cell changes and developing prostate cancer? The ACS offers this list of risk factors:

  • The primary risk factor is being older than age 65; about two of every three cases of prostate cancer occur in men of this age group.
  • Being of African-American descent, although the reasons for this risk factor aren't understood.
  • Also for reasons that aren't clear, living in North America or northwestern Europe.
  • Having a family history of prostate cancer.
  • Eating a diet rich in red meat and high-fat dairy products. Men who eat this way also tend to eat fewer fruits and vegetables.
  • Being obese.
  • Not getting enough exercise.
  • Being a smoker.


See our recent posts of the prostate:

Zestzfulness: Cancer-Targeting Ability of Nutrient in Broccoli ...

Jun 19, 2011 - Previous studies conducted with mouse models showed prostate tumor growth was slowed by a diet containing sulforaphane. Ho said it is well documented that sulforaphane can target cancer cells through multiple ...

Zestzfulness: Coffee, Exercise Help Prevent the Most Dangerous ...

Mar 07, 2010 - The case for coffee and physical activity as prostate cancer preventatives is far from proven, according to the research reported at an American Association for Cancer Research meeting in Houston. ...

Zestzfulness: Omega-3 Fatty Acids Cut Risk of Advanced Prostate Cancer

Dec 18, 2009 - Omega-3 fatty acids appear protective against advanced prostate cancer, and even in men who carry a particular variant in the COX-2 inflammatory gene that is known to raise the risk of the disease. ...

Zestzfulness: Periodontal Disease and Prostatitis

May 03, 2010 - Prostatitis is a disease that affects one's prostate gland and that can result in pain during urination, significant groin discomfort, abdominal pain, lower back pain, discomfort in the perineum, and penile and ...

Zestzfulness: Saw Palmetto Extract : Pharmacological Effects in ...

Jan 22, 2010 - 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, including the prescription drug Proscar, interfere with the effect of certain male hormones (androgens) on the prostate. This slows the growth of the prostate and can even cause it to become ...

Zestzfulness: Tomato Lycopene - Health Benefits

Jun 16, 2010 - Among processed tomato products, tomato paste ranked the highest in lycopene content and canned tomato juice the lowest. For example, 120ml of tomato juice contains 26.4mg of lycopene while the same amount of lycopene ...


Zestz TEASING

Picture credit: http://www.shyfaq.com


JOHN NG, OF 1967 VINTAGE, REQUESTS US TO PUBLISH THIS TO ALL YOU INTELLIGENT FOLKS:

See if you can figure out what these seven words all have in common?

1. Banana

2. Dresser

3. Grammar

4. Potato

5. Revive

6. Uneven

7. Assess

Are you peeking or have you already given up?

Give it another try...

Look at each word carefully. You'll kick yourself when you discover the answer. This is so cool....

No, it is not that they all have at least 2 double letters....

Let me know if you found the answer - I didn't!

Answer is below!


Answer:

In all of the words listed, if you take the first letter, place it at the end of the word, and then spell the word backwards, it will be the same word. Did you figure it out? No? Then send this to more people and stump them as well. Then, you'll feel better too.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Advertorial - Why You Never Eat The Egg Shell?


Picture credit: http://media.photobucket.com


Think about it. You never eat the egg shell. Not throughout history. Not in any culture. In fact, even animals that consume the egg do not eat the shell.

After all, there is more calcium in the egg shell than there is in the egg yolk and white.

Makes you wonder doesn’t it?

After all, the egg shell does have more calcium than the yolk and egg white. It is even harder – an indication of the calcium content. However, the egg shell is between 94 to 97% calcium carbonate. In reality, this is “non living” calcium. The calcium in the shell is merely mineralized calcium. Indeed, if you really analyze it, the egg shell is largely calcium carbonate.

An important study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in May 2007 strongly suggests that calcium from food sources (called “food state” calcium) like the egg yolk may be far more effective than calcium from egg shell.

The study concluded that women who get most of their daily calcium from food sources have healthier bones and greater bone density, even though those who took more supplements tended to have higher average levels of calcium.

Yes, “food state” calcium was superior to calcium carbonate!

Effective Dose

Researchers asked 183 postmenopausal women to document their diet over the course of a week. After this, their bone mineral density and estrogen were tested. Women who got at least 70 percent of their daily calcium from “food state” sources instead of calcium supplements took in the least calcium (830 milligrams per day, on average), but higher spine and hip bone density than women consuming 1,030 milligrams of calcium per day primarily from supplement sources.

Women who got calcium in relatively even amounts from both food and supplemental sources had both the highest bone mineral density and the highest calcium intake (1,620 milligrams per day).

Calcium from dietary sources is usually more completely absorbed than calcium from supplements, which could explain the difference. Women who got getting calcium from foods also had higher estrogen levels; estrogen is needed to maintain bone mineral density.

Those who got calcium from food sources might have also taken in more vitamin D as “food state” calcium always comes “locked” with this vitamin. Vitamin D would aid in calcium absorption.


Quality Calcium

As often happens when it comes to food, quality is more important than quantity. Even though the women taking supplements had higher average levels of calcium, the women who got their calcium from food had stronger bones.

The simple fact that grandma knew but now proven by science is this: calcium from food is simply better absorbed and used by your body than synthetic calcium from a pill.

Intuitively, we know “food state” calcium is better than “non living” calcium. That is why we never eat the egg shell.


The best source of calcium out there is that from milk and other dairy products. After all, milk built my bones. When from your mother, a cow or goat, it was milk that built your bones too.

Milk Problems

However, as we grow older milk often becomes problematic due to:

  • Lactose

    Lactose is a sugar that is found most notably in milk. It makes milk “sweet” to the tongue. Lactose makes up around 2~8% of milk by weight although the amount varies among species and individuals. The name comes from lacte, the Latin word for milk, plus the -ose ending used to name sugars.

    As babies, we were very adept at digesting it as we produce plentiful amounts of lactase – any enzyme that makes digestion of lactose to simpler sugars like glucose and galactose possible.

    However, as we age, our production of lactase drops to almost zero make digestion of lactose difficult up to point that many of become lactose intolerant.

  • Fat and undue calories

    Milk is rich in fats including saturated fat which also includes saturated fats which is what butter is. So many people now take skimmed milk as a way of avoiding this fat.

  • Allergies

    Milk allergy is a food allergy, an adverse immune reaction to one or more of the proteins in cow milk or the milk of other animals—proteins that are normally harmless to the non-allergic individual. In the worse case scenario, milk allergy can cause anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition. Milk allergy is a separate and distinct condition from lactose intolerance.

    The principal symptoms are gastrointestinal, dermatological and respiratory. These can translate to: skin rash, hives, vomiting, and gastric distress such as diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain or flatulence.

Milk Minerals

Dutch scientists have been able to extract milk minerals by ultra filtering all the other parts of milk – fats, sugars and proteins. What is left over is milk minerals – possibly the best part of milk - as far as bone building is concerned.

Milk minerals have the ratio of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus in ratios almost identical to that of living bone. Indeed, all calcium found in living systems – bones, flesh, milk, plants and eggs is in this similar ratio.

Milk minerals are also rich in trace amounts of boron and other rare minerals vital to bone formation and growth. Milk minerals have trace levels of natural vitamin D and K that we now know are vital in the bone formation process.

“Liquid Bone”

Look at the chart that compares the mineral contents of bones to that what is found in milk. You will be amazed at how identical they are in terms of percentage content and ratios. That is why milk is sometimes called “liquid bone” in nutritional circles.

A major Swiss study by J.P Bonjour that was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation Volume 99, Number 6, March 1997, 1287–1294 showed that supplementation with milk minerals enriched foods enhanced bone mass and growth in pre-pubertal girls by an average of 38%.

Most calcium supplements are just “non living” minerals like calcium carbonate which is the chemical name for chalk. The balance of magnesium and phosphorus is missing. There are very rare minerals like boron are missing too. Of course, supplements with various calcium salts are normally enriched vitamin D to enhance absorption.

Synthetic calcium are easy and cheap to make as calcium is the fifth most abundant mineral in the earth’s crust normally found as calcium carbonate (limestone), oxide, chloride and hydroxide.

Milk minerals have become available in Malaysian pharmacies as an easy to take tablet. Ask your pharmacist for “food state” calcium from the best known source of calcium – the one that built our bones – milk.

Source: www.moomilkcalcium.com

Advertorial : Osteoporosis



Location: K H Hoe Pharmacal, 107 Persiaran Raja Muda Musa, 42000 Pelabuhan Klang

Tel: 3168 8469


Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Advertorial : Beyond Collagen



While some signs of aging skin are inevitable, there’s a lot you can do to look your best at any age. Taking good care of yourself is the most important step in your anti-aging skin care program.

Lifestyle Choices Contribute To Aging Skin

Here are 7 habits (1) that contribute to aging skin, making you look older than your years:

  1. Cigarette smoke
  2. Sun exposure
  3. Lack of exercise
  4. Exposure to cold weather/temperature
  5. Alcohol use
  6. Stress:
  7. Lack of sleep

Collagen and Your Skin

Collagen is a protein present in all the body’s organs and tissues. It is also an essential element in skin.

Collagen provides the matrix that sustains the body’s structure. Its main function is to sustain tendons, skin and cartilage. It provides integrity, firmness and elasticity to their structures.

Maximizing collagen levels in your body may help

Improve skin smoothness

Prevent the formation of deep-wrinkles

Retain skin moisture level

Maximize skin suppleness

It would seem logical for consumption of foods high in collagen to be potentially helpful in collagen support. Studies indicate that the body's natural collagen production increases when fish collagen supplement is added to your diet. Fish Collagen is reputed to be better absorbed that collagen from porcine or bovine sources

Thus, fortified fish collagen supplement may help boost your body's natural collagen production.

You may consider Dermaglow Collagen with its high concentration of fish collagen, and fortified with L-glutamine and calcium d-pantothenate. It is usually taken once daily before food. Dermaglow is currently available at our pharmacies at a very SPECIAL introductory price.



Vitamin C and Collagen


Vitamin C does a lot of good things for the body. It prevents diseases like scurvy, can lower the risk of certain forms of heart disease, and it’s beneficial to people with anemia and iron deficiency. But perhaps one of its most important functions is its role in the production of collagen.

Collagen is a protein that works like glue to bind cells together. It’s the most abundant of fibers in our connective tissue, which gives our bodies form and support. Collagen is found in the connective tissue of our skin, teeth, bones, organs, and cartilage. Collagen keeps our skin firm and resilient, protecting it from wrinkling.

The role of vitamin C in the production of collagen is to interact with amino acids within collagen cells. It adds hydrogen and oxygen to those amino acids, so that they may do their part in collagen production. If you don’t get the proper amount of vitamin C, collagen production will slow. A decline in collagen production will not only make skin more susceptible to wrinkles, but it might also make it more susceptible to bruising.

Source: A Moment of Science, produced at Indiana University, Bloomington, in cooperation with IU’s scientific community, and scientists around the world.


Foods That Promote Collagen

CLICK HERE for other foods that promote collagen


(1) Sharon O'Brien. Aging Skin: 7 HabitsThat Make Skin Age Faster. About.com Guide http://seniorliving.about.com/od/healthnutrition/a/7agingskincause.htm

Nasihat Minum Lapan Gelas Air Sehari 'Tidak Masuk Akal'


"Minum lapan gelas air setiap hari adalah satu idea yang hebat, jika anda berpejabat dalam bilik mandi"



Orang yang sihat tidak memerlukan lapan gelas air sehari

"Anda perlu minum 8-10 gelas air setiap hari untuk menjadi sihat" adalah salah satu tip asas kesihatan yang kita ketahui dengan meluas. Tetapi adakah kita benar-benar perlu untuk minum air yang banyak setiap hari?

Saranan untuk minum 6-8 gelas air sehari untuk mengelakkan dehidrasi "bukan sahaja tidak masuk akal, tetapi terbukti palsu dan karut," hujah Margaret McCartney dalam
British Medical Journal, edisi dalam talian 12 Julai 2011.

"Buat masa ini tiada bukti yang berkualiti tinggi diterbitkan bagi manfaat dari meminum sejumlah air yang banyak."

Laman web Pilihan Perkhidmatan Kesihatan Kebangsaan British (NHS) menyatakan: "Cuba minum 6-8 gelas air (atau cecair lain) sehari untuk mengelakkan dehidrasi," manakala sekolah-sekolah banyak juga merasakan sesuai untuk menggalakkan murid-murid membawa botol air ke sekolah.

Organisasi lain, selalunya dengan kepentingan sendiri, mengukuhkan mesej ini, katanya. Sebagai contoh, Hidrasi untuk Kesihatan (dicipta oleh Danone, gergasi makanan Perancis - pembuat air botol termasuk Volvic dan Evian) mengesyorkan 1.5 hingga 2 liter air setiap hari sebagai "nasihat hidrasi yang mudah dan sihat yang boleh anda berikan." Ia juga mendakwa bahawa "bahkan dehidrasi ringan memainkan peranan dalam pembentukan pelbagai penyakit."

Dia merujuk kepada beberapa kajian yang menunjukkan tiada bukti yang jelas manfaat dari meminum sejumlah air yang banyak dan mencadangkan mungkin terdapat kemudaratan yang tidak diingini yang dilampirkan dengan penguatkuasaan untuk minum lebih banyak air.

"Oleh itu, air bukanlah satu penyelesaian yang mudah kepada pelbagai masalah kesihatan," dia menulis.

Sebagai contoh, laporan yang menyatakan pengambilan air yang banyak di kalangan kanak-kanak boleh meningkatkan tumpuan dan prestasi mental yang tidak disahkan oleh kajian penyelidikan, manakala data yang berkaitan dengan pengurangan jumlah air yang diminum di kalangan kanak-kanak yang berat badan berlebihan cenderung untuk berat sebelah.

Walaupun terdapat beberapa keadaan yang mendapat manfaat daripada peningkatan air minuman, seperti orang yang mempunyai batu karang yang berulang-ulang, bukti yang lain untuk mencegah penyakit adalah bercanggah, tambah McCartney. Dalam erti kata lain, ini adalah suatu situasi kompleks yang tidak mudah diperbaiki dengan memberitahu semua orang untuk minum lebih banyak air.

Untuk tidak merumitkan bukti yang dibentangkan oleh Danone "keputusan pemilihan bukti yang lemah dan berat sebelah ," beliau berhujah. Danone mengatakan kita perlu "memilih berdasarkan maklumat," tetapi terbukti mereka sendiri tidak menyahut seruan untuk bertindak.

Beliau membuat kesimpulan: "Terdapat banyak organisasi yang berkepentingan yang ingin untuk memberitahu doktor dan pesakit apa yang perlu dilakukan Kita hanya perlu mengatakan tidak."

Jurnal Rujukan:
M. McCartney. Waterlogged? BMJ, 2011; 343 (jul12 2): d4280 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.d4280



Jadi berapa banyak air yang anda perlukan?

Selagi anda sihat dan dilengkapi dengan barometer dahaga yang tidak terjejas oleh usia tua atau ubat pengawal minda, ikuti nasihat Yusuf Verbalis, "minum apabila anda dahaga. Ia adalah penunjuk yang terbaik."

Joseph G. Verbalis, MD ialah Profesor Perubatan dan Fisiologi dan Ketua Bahagian Endokrinologi dan Metabolisma di Universiti Georgetown.

Minum terlalu banyak air boleh menbunuh

"Dalam budaya obses hidrasi, mereka boleh dan mereka sendiri minum sehingga maut," Coco Ballantyne, menulis dalam Saintifik Amercian, 21 June 2007. KLIK DISINI untuk maklumat lanjut.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Dental Treatment May Lower Blood Sugar Levels in Type 2 Diabetes


Picture credit: http://www.mtperio.com


Treating serious gum disease can help diabetics to control their condition by lowering their blood sugar levels, a study has shown.

By far the most important aspect of diabetes management is the use of insulin, drugs, exercise and diet to control blood sugar levels – but maintaining good dental health is something patients and healthcare professionals should also recognise.

Researchers have found that reducing inflammation of the gums in people with diabetes can help lower the risk of serious complications associated with the condition, such as eye problems and heart disease.

It is thought that when bacteria infect the mouth and cause inflammation, the resulting chemical changes reduce the effectiveness of insulin and raise the levels of blood sugar.

Dental treatment to reduce this inflammation may therefore help to reduce blood sugar levels.

The team – including researchers from the University of Edinburgh, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, Peninsula Dental School and the University of Ottawa – say their findings highlight the need for doctors and dentists to work together in the treatment of people with diabetes.

The research team – including researchers from the University of Edinburgh, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, Peninsula Dental School and the University of Ottawa – analysed 690 papers and included seven randomised controlled trials of people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes who had also been diagnosed with periodontal disease.

They recommend that an oral health assessment should become part of the routine diabetes management.

Source

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 May 12;(5):CD004714. Treatment of periodontal disease for glycaemic control in people with diabetes. Simpson TC, Needleman I, Wild SH, Moles DR, Mills EJ. CLICK HERE for the full report.


Our recent posts on gum disease

Zestzfulness: Periodontal Disease and Prostatitis May 03, 2010 - Periodontitis or gum disease is caused by plaque accumulation on the teeth and around the gums. This plaque build-up will eventually harden, in as little as two to three days time, and remain on the teeth and around ...

Zestzfulness: Periodontitis - Do You Know It If You Have It? May 22, 2011 - Periodontitis produces high inflammation levels and has been linked to Heart Disease, Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Prostatitis. Periodontitis or gum disease is caused by plaque accumulation on the teeth and around ...

Brushing Teeth Less Than Twice a Day Nearly Triples Heart Disease Risk Jun 02, 2010 - In the last twenty years there has been increased interest in links between heart problems and gum disease. While it has been established that inflammation in the body (including mouth and gums) plays an important role in the build up ...

The Zestzfulness Team suggests that we, diabetic or not, should visit the dentist at least once a year.

Teens Think Better On Folate


Picture credit: http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com

HIGHER folate intake has been linked, for the first time, to better academic performance in adolescents, independent of socioeconomic status and homocysteine levels.

Pregnant women aren’t the only people who need plenty of folate.

Swedish teenagers who are deficient in folate have poorer grades than teens who have a high folate intake.

Teens often have high levels of the blood protein homocysteine, an amino acid linked to heart disease, and low levels of folic acid. In previous studies, low folic acid levels status and an elevated homocysteine level correlates with cognitive decline, but academic achievement by adolescents has not been studied in this respect.

Among 386 Swedish 15-year-olds, the lower the concentration of this B vitamin in the blood, the more poorly teens tended to perform in school.

The researchers at Swedish universities, led by Dr. Torbjorn K. Nilsson, correlated the students' grades in 10 subjects with a range of nutritional and lifestyle factors and taking into consideration any possible effects of socioeconomic status and genetics.

Low income was related to lower academic achievement, the data showed.

But grades for teens scoring in the lowest third for folate levels scored worse than kids consuming more folate, and this association proved independent of family income.

Swedish teenagers who are deficient in folate have poorer grades than teens who have a high folate intake.

Researchers in Sweden took blood samples from 386 adolescents aged 15 years and gave them a questionnaire to enable assessment of health-related lifestyle activities and their parents’ education levels.

The teenagers’ folate intake was estimated from dietary assessment, and their final semester academic grades from the final year of compulsory schooling were measured.

“We found evidence that high folate intake is positively associated with academic achievement as assessed by school grades in Swedish adolescents,” the authors said.

The association was more pronounced in low-income families.

“These results provide new information that points to the importance of keeping a closer watch on folate status in childhood and adolescence,” the authors said.

Folate intake in adolescents was a public health nutrition concern, they said.

Sweden has no folate fortification of food products.

Source

Nilsson TK, Yngve A, Böttiger AK, Hurtig-Wennlöf A, Sjöström M. High Folate Intake Is Related to Better Academic Achievement in Swedish Adolescents. Pediatrics. 2011 Jul 11. [Epub ahead of print]

Homocysteine is an amino acid formed from the metabolism of the essential amino acid, methionine. High dietary consumption of methionine, which can be found in meats and dairy products, can result in the overproduction of homocysteine. Failure to metabolize homocysteine with folic acid, vitamin B-6 and vitamin B-12 leads to unhealthy elevated blood plasma levels.

High blood plasma levels of homocysteine have been linked to many major disease conditions. Cardiovascular disease, hearing loss, Alzheimer’s disease, and certain cancers and have all been shown to be powerfully affected, if not caused by high homocysteine levels.


Folate Fortification Of Food Products

In the local scene, proposals were made in July 2007 for mandatory folic acid fortification of wheat flour, at the rate of 150 μg /100g flour for the prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs), one of the most common birth defects.

It appears that further discussion is needed between relevant government ministries on the policy, and how fortification will be funded, before the proposal can be finalized and submitted to Cabinet.

Even with breads, cereals and other grain products enriched with folic acid, there is no guarantee that we can attain our daily requirement of folic acid. The 2003 Malaysian Adult Nutrition Survey estimated that only 36.2% of adults are wheat-based food; it is not known if this is also a reflection of the wheat-based food intake of adolescents.

Folic acid is found in leafy green vegetables, fruits, dried beans, peas and nuts. Include a balance of these natural foods in your daily diet. Folic acid tablets or multivitamin tablets may be used as supplements.

Source

Developing the Proposal for Mandatory Fortification of Iron & Folic Acid in Wheat Flour: The Malaysian Experience - February 2009 by Zalma Abdul Razak, Nutrition Division, Public Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia. CLICK HERE for Zalma's slide presentation.


"Why are wives more dangerous than the Mafia?" and more


Picture credit: http://www.pmcaregivers.com

Another Anthonian, of the same 1967 mob but this time a peripatetic retired electrical engineer, in a moment of madness, poured his heart out on the subject of wives. We do not know if the missus is included but he has requested anonymity and we wish him good luck.


Why are wives more dangerous than the Mafia? The mafia wants either ur
money or life... The wives want both!

====

Marriage is like a public toilet Those waiting outside are desperate to
get in & Those inside are desperate to come out.

====

No Man Can Ever Be Satisfied
with 4 things in life.


(1) Mobile
(2) A utomobile
(3) TV
(4) Wife


Because there is always a better model in neighborhood.

===

Searching these keywords on Google `How to tackle wife?`
Google search result, `Good day sir, Even we are searching`.

===

Compromising does not mean you are wrong and your wife is right. It
only means that the safety of your head is much more important than
your ego!

===

Imagine living with 3 wives in one compound and never leaving the house
for 5 years. Osama Bin Laden must have called the US Navy Seals himself!

===

Whisky is a brilliant invention. One double and you start feeling
single again.

===


A friend recently explained why he refuses to get married.
He says the wedding rings look like miniature handcuffs.


===

It takes thousand workers 2 build a castle, Million soldiers to protect
a country, but just One woman 2 make a Happy Home ---------
A Good Maid!

===

Funny quote on a husband`s T-Shirt:

All girls are devils,
but my wife is the queen
--
--
--
--
--
--
of them




Saturday, July 23, 2011

Lifestyle Changes Can Reduce Risk of Alzheimer's

Picture credit: http://photos.demandstudios.com

Study says that even a 25% drop in factors like obesity, smoking could cut 500,000 U.S. cases.

At present, about 33·9 million people worldwide have Alzheimer's disease (AD), and prevalence is expected to triple over the next 40 years.

New research by Deborah Barnes and Kristine Yaffe suggests that more than half of AD cases globally could be prevented if modifiable risk factors were eliminated, either with lifestyle changes or treatment of underlying conditions.

Some factors appeared to have a greater impact on AD risk than others.

Diabetes – 2.4%

Midlife Hypertension – 5%

Midlife Obesity – 2%

Smoking – 14%

Depression – 10%

Cognitive Inactivity or low educational attainment – 19%

Physical Inactivity – 13%

Taking care of your body just might save your mind

With no cure or treatment to reverse the mind-robbing disease, preventing new cases is crucial. Even reducing the level of risk factors by a modest amount could prevent millions of cases of the memory-robbing illness, the researchers said.

For example, a 25 percent reduction in these seven common risk factors could prevent up to 3 million AD cases around the world and up to half a million in the United States alone, the study found.

YOU can do something to prevent AD!

Reference:

Barnes DE, Yaffe K. The projected effect of risk factor reduction on Alzheimer's disease prevalence. The Lancet Neurology, Early Online Publication, 19 July 2011

Even if you start late in life, physical activity can help preserve mental ability.

And it’s not just jogging, swimming or biking, but maybe just moving around the house, doing chores, walking outside, may also be important for protection against cognitive impairment.

Reference:

Middleton LE et al. Activity Energy Expenditure and Incident Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults. Arch Intern Med. Published online July 19, 2011. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2011.277. Read the complete paper HERE.

Senaman & Berat Badan: Mekanisma


Kesan senaman ke atas isyarat hormon usus berkaitan hidangan


Penyelidikan yang akan dibentangkan pada mesyuarat tahunan Persatuan Pengkajian Kelakuan Pengambilan Makanan (PPKPM), persatuan yang penting untuk penyelidikan dalam semua aspek tingkah laku makan dan minum, mendapati bahawa perubahan isyarat hormon usus berkaitan hidangan boleh menyumbang kepada kesan keseluruhan latihan untuk membantu mengawal berat badan.

Senaman yang kerap adalah penting dalam mengekalkan berat badan yang rendah dan untuk memudahkan penurunan berat badan pada individu yang obes. Bersenam diketahui meningkatkan kepekaan terhadap leptin, hormon yang dikeluarkan dari sel-sel lemak yang menghalang pengambilan makanan. Kajian terbaru penulis mendedahkan mekanisma tambahan yang menyumbang kepada kesan yang menguntungkan dari senaman.

Hormon usus dikeluarkan sebelum dan selepas makan untuk memulakan dan menamatkan pengambilan makanan. Penulis mengukur hormon usus yang dilepaskan selepas mengambil makanan yang lazat, sebelum dan selepas tikus berjalan dalam roda berputar. Tikus yang banyak berjalan dalam roda berputar, mengambil makanan lazat menunjukkan peningkatan tahap hormon penghalang penyusuan dalam darah, amylin. Selepas makan, tikus-tikus yang sama menunjukkan pemulihan yang lebih pesat dalam hormon penggalak penyusuan, ghrelin. Penulis juga menunjukkan bahawa berbanding dengan tikus kawalan yang tidak bersenam, tikus yang bersenam kurang pengambilan makanan mereka lebih kukuh selepas rawatan dengan CCK, hormon usus yang menghadkan saiz hidangan.

Dr. Nu-Chu Liang melaporkan, "keputusan terbaru kami menunjukkan bahawa kesan menguntungkan dari bersenam untuk mengawal berat badan mungkin berlaku dengan mengubah cara di mana makanan melepaskan hormon usus yang mengawal pengambilan makanan, dan juga dengan menukar sensitiviti individu tersebut terhadap isyarat hormon usus. Di samping itu, penemuan ini juga menunjukkan bahawa kedua-dua mekanisma badan dan otak terlibat dalam kesan senaman untuk memodulasi pengambilan makanan. "


SUMBER: News release oleh Persatuan Pengkajian Kelakuan Pengambilan Makanan

Federal Government Changing National Logo


“The government today announced that it is changing its emblem from an Eagle* to a Condom because it more accurately reflects the government's political stance.

A condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of dicks, and gives you a sense of security while you're actually being screwed!

Damn, it just doesn't get any more accurate than that!"


The above is found in Rich & Cheri Vail's blog.



* The eagle is the supporter of the shield in the Great Seal of the United States which is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States federal government.

The picture of the condom has been downloaded from www.signnetwork.com, a one-stop shop offering easy, ready to apply computer cut vinyl lettering and signs. You can customise the condom with stars and stripes and your choice of colours from red, yellow, blue, white... but the risk is yours if the end result looks anything like that One Malaysia logo that is being bandied around our country.

Advice to Drink Eight Glasses of Water a Day 'Nonsense'


Healthy people do not need eight 8oz glasses of water a day

"You need to drink eight to ten glasses of water per day to be healthy" is one of our more widely-known basic health tips.

But do we really need to drink that much water on a daily basis?

The recommendation to drink six to eight glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration "is not only nonsense, but is thoroughly debunked nonsense," argues Margaret McCartney in in the July 12, 2011 online edition of the British Medical Journal, argued

“There is currently no high quality published evidence of benefit from drinking increased amounts of water.”

The British National Health Service (NHS) Choices website states: "Try to drink about six to eight glasses of water (or other fluids) a day to prevent dehydration," while many schools also feel it appropriate to insist that pupils are accompanied to school by a water bottle.

Other organisations, often with vested interests, reinforce this message, she says. For example, Hydration for Health (created by French food giant Danone -- makers of bottled waters including Volvic and Evian) recommends 1.5 to 2 litres of water daily as "the simplest and healthiest hydration advice you can give." It also claims that "even mild dehydration plays a role in the development of various diseases."

She points to several studies showing no clear evidence of benefit from drinking increased amounts of water and suggesting there may be unintended harms attached to an enforcement to drink more water.

"It would seem, therefore, that water is not a simple solution to multiple health problems," she writes.

For instance, reports that increased water intake in children can improve concentration and mental performance have not been confirmed by research studies, while data relating water drinking to a reduction in children being overweight are prone to bias.

While there are some conditions that do benefit from drinking increased water, such as in people with recurrent kidney stones, other evidence for preventing disease is conflicting, adds McCartney. In other words, this is a complex situation not easily remedied by telling everyone to drink more.

Untangling the evidence presented by Danone "results in weak and biased selection of evidence," she argues. Danone says we need "informed choices," but their own evidence does not support their call to action.

She concludes: "There are many organisations with vested interests who would like to tell doctors and patients what to do. We should just say no."

Journal Reference:

M. McCartney. Waterlogged? BMJ, 2011; 343 (jul12 2): d4280 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.d4280


So how much water do you need?

As long as you are healthy and equipped with a thirst barometer unimpaired by old age or mind-altering drugs, follow Joseph Verbalis's advice, "drink to your thirst. It's the best indicator."

Joseph G. Verbalis, MD is Professor of Medicine and Physiology and Chief of the Division on Endocrinology and Metabolism at Georgetown University.


Drinking Too Much Water Can Kill

“In a hydration-obsessed culture, people can and do drink themselves to death,” Coco Ballantyne, wrote in Scientific Amercian, June 21, 2007. CLICK HERE for details.