HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

This New Year,

May Your Life Be Filled

With Lots Of Celebrations

As Well As Happiness;

Wishing You Superb

And Prosperous New Year.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas spells out love, hope and joy.

Pass it on to everyone in your life. Have a great Christmas everyone!

Eating Peanuts While Pregnant is OK

A study suggests that pregnant women who eat peanuts will lessen that likelihood to have children with peanut allergies. The study was released in Monday’s JAMA Pediatrics.

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics were based on a study of more than 8,200 US children. Among those, researchers found 140 cases of children who were allergic to nuts.

In 2000, the American Academy of Pediatrics informed pregnant women to avoid peanuts and tree nuts to avoid exposing infants. They also advised women to keep children away from nuts until the age of 3.

Researchers said that, looking at mother's diet they found that women who ate 5 or more servings per week of peanuts or tree nuts (cashews, almonds and walnuts) were far less likely to have a child with peanut allergy.

Author Michael Young of the Boston Children's Hospital Division of Allergy and Immunology said:

"Our study showed increased peanut consumption by pregnant mothers who weren't nut allergic was associated with lower risk of peanut allergy in their offspring."

"Assuming she isn't allergic to peanuts, there's no reason for a woman to avoid peanuts during pregnancy."

E-cigarettes anyone?

You can see people vaping in malls, in restaurant, in your office, almost everywhere. E-cigarettes has become ubiqutous. E-cigarettes is now a booming $1.7 billion market. However, for non-smokers it has become annoying. Since companies that sell it are telling people that you can use them in places where conventional cigarettes are banned. Which is why New York City is now considering banning e-cigarettes in bars, malls, restaurants, and parks which I think is right since if you are a non-smoker you don't want to enhalte second hand smoke even if it's from e-cigarettes.

Experts are saying that smokers who switch to e-cigarettes can prolong his life, since e-cigarettes are just as effective as nicotine patches in helping people kick the habit according to a report on Lancet

The researchers even said that E-cigarettes are more effective than patches since smokers generally prefer them.

For me, I think we still need more research on the health hazards of E-cigarettes since it's a relatively new product and studies are still limited.

Hawaii Healthiest state in the US

Latest health ranking that is released on Wednesday shows the healthiest state in the country. The United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings for 2013 take into account indicators like obesity, smoking rates, cardiovascular deaths, deaths from substance abuse, dental care, and disparity in health status.

Hawaii got the top spot while Mississippi is last in the list.

Here is the 2013 United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings:

1. Hawaii
2. Vermont
3. Minnesota
4. Massachusetts
5. New Hampshire
6. Utah
7. Connecticut
8. Colorado
9. North Dakota
10. New Jersey
11. Nebraska
12. Idaho
13. Oregon
14. Washington
15. New York
16. Maine
17. Wyoming
18. Iowa
19. Rhode Island
20. Wisconsin
21. California
22. South Dakota
23. Montana
24. Maryland graph
25. Alaska
26. Virginia
27. Kansas
28. Arizona
29. Pennsylvania
30. Illinois
31. Delaware
32. New Mexico
33. Florida
34. Michigan
35. North Carolina
36. Texas
37. Nevada
38. Georgia
39. Missouri
40. Ohio
41. Indiana
42. Tennessee
43. South Carolina
44. Oklahoma
45. Kentucky
46. West Virginia
47. Alabama
48. Louisiana graph
49. Arkansas
50. Mississippi

See more at: http://www.americashealthrankings.org/Rankings

Salt in Medicines May Cause Heart Attacks and Stroke

Soluble painkillers, paracetamol and vitamin C are used by billions of people and this may pose a health risk because of high salt content, researchers warned.

Some formulations taken at maximum dose may put users over the recommended daily sodium intake for an adult and this may cause a potentially dangerous consequences.

The researchers found a link between effervescent tablets and heart attacks and stroke.

Patients who regularly took effervescent or soluble medications increased their risk of having a heart attack, stroke or dying from a vascular disease compared to those patients that took drugs without salt. Patients who took medicines with salts were also seven times more likely to develop high blood pressure and hypertension, which the researchers say is at the root of the problem.

Dr Jacob George who is the lead researcher from Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, England said. "We know that high salt causes hypertension and that hypertension leads to stroke."

The British Heart Foundation gave a statement that it is important to remember that the research applied to people who were taking these medicines every day. It does not mean that occasional use could damage your heart health.

Most effervescent medicines contain salt. This is because in order to fizz and dissolve, they contain a substance called bicarbonate, which is often combined with sodium.

Dr Madina Kara a neuroscientist at the Stroke Association, said: “It’s crucial to be aware of our sodium intake, as it is a component of salt. Excess salt in our diet can lead to high blood pressure, which is the single biggest risk factor for stroke.

“A diet low in saturated salt and fat, regular exercise and blood pressure checks can go a long way to keeping your stroke risk down.”

Batman Son of Suparman Jailed

As weird as it sounds Batman the son of Suparman broke the law and was jailed for it. AFP News reported that he will be jailed for up to three years for theft, housebreaking and drug offenses.

The 23-year-old Batman bin Suparman is an unemployed Singaporean who changed his named to a misspelled super hero name Batman bin Suparman (Batman son of Suparman).

He was arrested on August 19. He was caught on a security CCTV Camera sneaking into a store at night on two separate occasions. The total amount of the things he stole from the store amounted to Sg$500 ($400). He also plead guilty to other charges like stealing an ATM card from his brother to withdraw Sg$650 to buy heroin.

China: 8-year-old Lung-Cancer Patient

Pollution in China is in critical level and pollution related disease and deaths are piling up. Children are now being affected by smog, an 8-year-old has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Health workers in a coastal Jiangsu province hospital points to pollution as the cause of the girl's condition. The girl was not identified for her protection, it was reported that the girl lives near a busy road that is exposed to harmful dust and vehicle emission. she is China's youngest lung-cancer patient.

The World Health Organization has classified air pollution as a cause of cancer, they said that it caused 220,000 cancer deaths in 2010 and most of the deaths from air pollution were in East Asia.

Happy Halloween 2013!

This dark cold night, the grave’s delight, the warlocks, werewolves, vampires, and zombies are at their play; Ye think that without… The wild shivering winds shout, But no, it is they – it is they…. Happy Halloween…

Burn Tons of Calories While Standing

A study shows that you can burn a lot of calories just by standing more in a day that may give you major health benefits instead of sitting.

BBC, Dr John Buckley, and researchers from the University of Chester carry out an experiment by asking ten volunteers who work at an estate agents to stand for at least three hours a day for a week.

The volunteers wore accelerometers which is a movement monitor,  heart rate monitors, and glucose monitors to measure blood sugar levels throughout the day and night.

The researchers noted measurements on when the volunteers are standing, and when they are just sitting. Comparing the two, the data shows striking differences. The blood glucose levels goes down to normal levels after a meal more quickly on the days when they are standing as oppose to when they sit. Also their heart rates remain higher when they are standing, recording about 10 extra beats per minute, that resulted into a bigger calorie burn.

"If we look at the heart rates," Dr. John Buckley said, "we can see they are quite a lot higher actually - on average around 10 beats per minute higher and that makes a difference of about 0.7 of a calorie per minute."

0.7 of a calorie per minute is not that much but if it accumulate, it can get to 42 calories an hour. If you find time to stand everyday for 6 hours, that's 252 calories a day and 1,764 calories a week.

Dr Buckley added that if you consider it as an activity level, "then that would be the equivalent of running about 10 marathons a year. Just by standing up three or four hours in your day at work."

So if you want to burn more, you need to practice doing your work while standing!

New Study to Cure Baldness

A new study shows that it is possible to grow new hair follicles from human skin cells that may cure baldness for both men and women.

Laboratories encountered a lot of difficulties in replicating human hair follicles. But using a new technique shows that it can trigger hair growth in skin tissues.

As an alternative to just transplanting hair follicles from one surface to another which is the norm in hair transplants, the skin tissue of the patient will be used to produce essentially large quantities of follicles for hair-transplant operations, study said.

The researchers believes that the study is a "milestone advance" in stimulating hair growth in people suffering from hair loss.

"This approach has the potential to transform the medical treatment of hair loss," Angela Christiano said. Angela Christiano is a Professor at the Columbia University in New York. She is one of the lead authors of the study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"Current hair-loss medications tend to slow the loss of hair follicles or potentially stimulate the growth of existing hairs, but they do not create new hair follicles. Neither do conventional hair transplants, which relocate a set number of hairs from the back of the scalp to the front. Our method, in contrast, has the potential to actually grow new follicles using a patient's own cells. This could greatly expand the utility of hair-restoration surgery to women and to younger patients - now it is largely restricted to the treatment of male-pattern baldness in patients with stable disease," she added.

The treatment could make hair transplantation available to people with a small number of follicles, which includes patients with female-pattern hair loss, scarring alopecia and hair loss due to burns.

The new study results were published here.

Do you have IBS and want to get rid of it?

IBS or irritable bowel syndrome is a common disorder of the digestive system that causes abdominal pain and cramping, changes in bowel movements, diarrhea, constipation, and other symptoms.

Probiotics are great options for treating IBS.

Our intestines are filled with different kinds of bacteria and they are called collectively as gut flora. They all get along with each other when you are healthy but oftentimes they are disturbed that results to unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms. There are a lot of reasons for it, like stomach flu or side effect of antibiotics.

“The thought is that if you can restore a balanced intestinal flora in somebody with IBS, you may be able to eliminate the symptoms. So a better biome may mean a better life,” explained Cmdr. Patrick E. Young, USN, a gastroenterologist at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Probiotics are “friendly” bacteria because they keep your digestive system healthy and the best studied probiotic in the treatment of IBS is Bifidobacterium infantis. Data shows that it reduces bloating, abdominal pain, and passing of gas, it also ease the bowel movement difficulty and normalize the aberrant peripheral cytokine levels.

Will the new "Satisfries" from Burger King Satisfries you?

Burger King introduces it's new Diet fries they call "Satisfries" that they claim are 20% healthier and with the same taste as regular fries.

The company said that the newly-designed batter means the potato will absorb less oil. The "Diet" fries are being introduced to the menu at Burger King to attract more health-conscious customers.

The new Burger King "Satisfries" have 20% less calories than regular fries. The small portion of a regular Burger King fries have 320 calories the "Satisfries" have only 270 calories in it.

The company also claims that their diet fries have about 40% less fat and 30% less calories than fries sold by McDonald's.

The "Satisfries" are crinkle-cut so that staff can tell the difference when serving them.

The suggested price for a small order of "Satisfries" is $1.89, while the regular fries cost $1.59.

Diet Drinks Declining Sales

A Coke advertisement defends the safety of its diet drinks.

The company is faced with declining sales of its sugary and non-sugary drinks has plans to educate the consumers about its diet drinks products particulary about the safety of artificial sweetener "aspartame." "The safety of aspartame is supported by more than 200 studies over the last 40 years," the ad assures consumers.

Sales of diet soft drinks are falling at a faster rate than regular soft drinks in the U.S., according to Beverage Digest. Last year, for example, sales volume for Coke fell 1%, while Diet Coke fell 3%. Pepsi fell 3.4%, while Diet Pepsi fell 6.2%.

The decline in sales is because of negative news about these artificial sweeteners and that no-calorie sweeteners may not help your diet and instead could boost your risk for diabetes, heart disease and extra pounds.

The Food and Drug Administration approved six non-nutritive sweeteners for use in foods and drinks:

aspartame - NutraSweet, Equal
sucralose - Splenda, Nevella
acesulfame potassium - Sunett, Sweet One
saccharin - Sweet'N Low, Sugar Twin
rebaudioside A (stevia extract) - Truvia, PureVia
neotame - used in commercial food products

Despite being approved by FDA everynow and then a research pop-up about the dangers of these sweeteners. The latest study say that artificially sweetened drinks are associated with weight gain in adults and teens, and raise risk for diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Their reason why artificial sweeteners may trigger weight gain is that if you are given a brownie made with artificial sweetener you are more likely to eat two or three brownies simply because you do not feel they are as bad for you. Sugar-free foods still contain calories in the form of carbohydrates, protein, and or fat. Certain studies have shown that the caloric consumption of foods sweetened with artificial sweetener is similar to that of foods sweetened with sugar, meaning you will not be cutting calories by simply switching to artificial sweetener.

Another thing is compensation, people tend to justify rewarding themself a second slice of pie because you've eliminated hundreds of calories by choosing diet beverages.

Another research says artificial sweeteners flood your taste buds with sweet flavors but don't give your satisfaction centers in your brain the way real sweets do which cause cravings to build.

Artificial sweeteners also may increase your body's response to real sugars and carbohydrates that spike the levels of blood sugar that link them to metabolic syndrome, prediabetes and diabetes. But there are still no slam dunk research that can directly link artificial sweeteners to weight gain, risk for diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Why Avoid Sugar From Your Diet

Robert Lustig MD, UCSF Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology, he explores the damage caused by sugary foods. He argues that too much fructose and not enough fiber appear to be cornerstones of the obesity epidemic through their effects on insulin.

Lustig said that the last 30 years have seen an onslaught of sugar and dwindling of fiber in the food environment which is a deadly combination for consumers who have been duped by the food industry. His 2009 lecture "Sugar: The Bitter Truth," has now been viewed 3,850,000 times on youtube. You can watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM&list=TL8lMbN4dKkvs.

Now he has brought the battle in the supermarket with his new e-book, "Sugar Has 56 Names: A Shopper's Guide." This e-book guide is meant for smartphones or tablets that you can view while shopping your groceries. It provides consumers with a new nutrition label for hundreds of processed foods that concentrate on sugar. From soy milk to sausage, and Sara Lee to supermarket brands, the data delineates the quality and quantity of sugar in products. Why the distinction? Because, as the book's title indicates, sugar goes by varied names - from fructose to fruit juice, and these derivatives differ greatly in how they're processed by the body.

"By paying attention to the sugar portion of the label people can do better in terms of making their own decisions," Lustig says.

Lustig said that it's not just the issue of obesity but the risk of metabolic diseases, which includes diabetes, heart disease, fatty liver disease, cancer and dementia. And sugar, he says, is a big part of the problem.

He gave readers with some interesting directives: don't go to the supermarket hungry; shop along the perimeter of the supermarket where fresh, whole foods abound; if it comes with a logo you've heard of, it's been processed; avoid anything "partially hydrogenated" it will outlive you,"; just because it says "whole grain" doesn't mean it is, but if it doesn't say whole grain it isn't; if sugar is listed among the first three ingredients, it's dessert.

For his part, there's "no such thing as a sugared beverage" in his home. "We have milk, we have water and occasionally we have some alcoholic drinks when we have friends over," he says. "There is no reason to drink your calories." To ensure sufficient fiber, the Lustigs have salad with every meal, which typically consists of a protein and green vegetables and whole-grain bread instead of white rice, pasta and potatoes. For dessert, it's whole fruit, except for weekends, when they treat their daughters, ages 8 and 14, to something "a little more elaborate," he says.

"We have to get back to dessert being once a week, not once a meal," Lustig says. As he writes, "Sugar is reward. Sugar is fun, but if every meal is fun, then no meal is fun. And I promise, you won't be having fun taking your insulin shots while you're on dialysis."

To change the food culture, and the food supply, he encourages consumers to vote with their mouths and wallets. "We, as a society, have to reduce availability, and we cannot do that right now without the food industry helping us do it," he says. "If you won't buy it, they won't sell it."

Amazing Weight Loss Time-Lapse

26-year-old Amanda lost 88 pounds and made a time-lapse GIF that shows her body transformation in just seconds. She began taking photos of herself in 2011 as a way to stay on track her progress in losing weight.

Amanda said on ABC News interview: "I knew that I had to start somewhere. I figured if I did it [took pictures] at least once a month, at the end of however long it took, I would have this really cool end product."

She started it weighing 222 pounds. She started eating a high-protein diet, controlled her food portions and perform moderate exercise. She lost 88 pounds in one year and has kept it off.

"I don't think I was actually prepared for the amount of emotional investment," Amanda said. "People bare their souls when they want to take back their health."

Her gallery of weight-loss photos garnered nearly three million views online and inspired a fellow Reddit user to create the GIF that has everyone buzzing.

"The waist got smaller. The bustline got bigger. The neckline got smaller," Dr. Jen Ashton, ABC News' senior medical contributor, said of Amanda's physical changes.

"But the more significant changes actually occur inside our bodies," she said. "Changes to one's sense of self, to one's physiology [and] to one's internal metabolism."

Study: Short burst of activity effective in shedding pounds

There's no short cut in a healthy weight loss however, a new study finds that short micro-bursts of activity throughout the day can make a big impact in losing weight.

The research was published on September 1 in the American Journal of Health Promotion, University of Utah researchers found that even brief episodes of physical activity of high intensity -- such as carrying a load of laundry or taking a flight of stairs -- worked just as well as longer 10-minute bouts.

"What we learned is that for preventing weight gain, the intensity of the activity matters more than duration," says researcher Jessie X. Fan, professor of family and consumer studies. "Knowing that even short bouts of 'brisk' activity can add up to a positive effect is an encouraging message for promoting better health."

Researchers used data from more than 4,500 men and women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In the survey, participants wore accelerometers for seven days, which captured data on their physical activity. Researchers then compared measurements of physical activity based on length of time and intensity. Four categories were created: higher-intensity bouts (greater than 10 minutes exertion at greater than 2,020 counts per minutes, or CPM), higher-intensity short bouts (less than 10 minutes at greater than 2,020 CPM), lower-intensity long bouts (greater than 10 minutes and less than 2,019 CPM), and lower-intensity short bouts (less than 10 minutes and less than 2,019 CPM).

The study used body mass index, BMI, to measure weight status with results showing that for women, each daily minute spent in higher-intensity short bouts was related to a decrease of .07 BMI (A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered normal weight, whereas a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is overweight; and over 30 is obese.) Looking at it another way, each such minute offset the calorie equivalent of .41 pounds (.18 kilos). Men had similar results, the researchers said.

A separate study announced earlier this year found that short bursts of activity, such as pacing while chatting on the phone, provided they add up to 30 minutes a day, are just as effective as a gym session. In the study, researchers at Oregon State University analyzed data on physical activity and health markers such as cholesterol and blood pressure for more than 6,000 US adults.

Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/when-it-comes-to-weight-loss-every-movement-counts-study-1.1436944#ixzz2doNW0e9y

Man diagnosed with chronic tardiness disease

Jim Dunbar a Scottish man has been diagnosed by doctors with chronic lateness or chronic tardiness disease and this after he showed up for his appointment 20 minutes late, the Evening Telegraph reports. He has been late for everything his entire life from showing up to school at 5 years old to funerals, dinner parties and first dates.

Doctors say that his condition resembles ADHD and affects the part of the brain that measures how long things take. Dunbar hopes his diagnosis can help others who are also afflicted, and hopes to raise awareness about his condition.

“The reason I want it out in the open is that there has got to be other folk out there with it and they don’t realise that it’s not their fault,” he said.

Dunbar has a special clock that keeps perfect time, but it doesn’t help. He sets his watch fast, to no avail. He even gives himself an 11-hour head start to get to the movies on time, and still arrives 20 minutes late.

Guest post: Hannah Taylor of MyClaimSource.com

Filing a health insurance claim is no easy task. Just the amount of work - paperwork, going back and forth with different people, long frustrating hours on the phone - will just about send anyone running for the hills. So why purchase a plan at all? Here's one reason - if you have a medical emergency, your healthcare coverage will pay some of the medical costs. The financial burden an illness or injury brings can be devastating so any help at all paying the bills would mean a lot. Having health insurance will help you lead a healthier life as well. With physicals included in your plan, you will be able to get preventive care and avoid illnesses. Yes, health coverage can be costly but not having one could cost a lot more.

Getting a health plan shouldn't be as confusing and complicated as it needs to be. If you need help finding information, check out MyClaimSource.com. You can compare plans and get free resources on popular insurance providers, their contact information, tips and tricks, and even discounts. The site also aims to be an open forum to connect those looking to file claims with people who already have, and who may be able to offer tips and advice on claim filing with a given provider.

Superfood: Moringa Leaves

Leaves of moringa trees may be the world's most nutritious food since it contains more nutrients and natural remedies than other food. Moringa gives energy, immunity, and metabolism. Moringa fresh leaves has 4 times the calcium of milk and 7 times the vitamin C of oranges. It also contains more vitamin A than carrots, more iron than spinach, and more potassium than bananas.

The tree grows in southern Florida and California and taste a bit more like spinach. You can add the leaves to a salad mix or add it on soup.

Moringa is grown in home gardens and as living fences in Tamil Nadu, Southern India and Thailand, where it is commonly sold in local markets. In the Philippines, it is commonly grown for its leaves which are used in soup, they call it "Malunggay." Moringa is also actively cultivated by the World Vegetable Center in Taiwan, a center for vegetable research with a mission to reduce poverty and malnutrition in developing countries through improved production and consumption of vegetables. Tamil Nadu, Southern India has moringa in its folk stories and use in home gardens.

It is also widely cultivated in Africa, Cambodia, Pakistan, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Central and South America, and Sri Lanka.

Budweiser Is the Drink of Choice for People Who End Up in the ER

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health conducted a pilot study of ER patients who’d been consuming alcohol and they found out that the number one brand ER patients has been drinking was Budweiser.

Budweiser holds 9.1 percent of the national beer market in the U.S., but 15 percent of the questionably desirable demographic of people who drink and then end up in the emergency room. Also a top contender in the ER market is Steel Reserve, which only holds 0.8 percent of the U.S. beer market, but a whopping 14.7 percent of alcohol-inclined ER patients.

Bud Light, Bud Ice malt liquor and Colt 45 malt liquor also made strong showings in the hospital circuit.

The study is limited to a small Baltimore hospital where the 105 patient interviews took place.

Soda tied to behavior problems on kids

Children who drink soda tend to score slightly higher on scales that measure aggressive behavior than kids who don't drink the carbonated beverages, according to a new study.

The study's lead author cautioned, however, that the increase may not be noticeable for individual children and the researchers can't prove soda caused the bad behaviors.

"It's a little hard to interpret it. It's not quite clinically significant," Shakira Suglia, of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health in New York, told Reuters Health.

Previous work by some of the study's authors had found connections between soda drinking and violent behavior, but the link had not been studied in young children.

For the new analysis, the researchers used an existing study of mothers and their 2,929 children from 20 large U.S. cities. The mothers and children were first recruited between 1998 and 2000 to be periodically interviewed and evaluated.

READ MORE

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/16/us-soda-drinking-idUSBRE97F03J20130816

Binge eating linked to breast cancer

London - Researcher said that high calorie intake may increase the risk of breast cancer.

Research based is on around 4,000 women has found that those who had the highest energy intake were 70 percent more likely to develop the cancer, irrespective of weight and rates of physical activity.

The study from the University of California examined 1,775 women diagnosed with breast cancer and 2,529 are not affected by the condition.

The results found that eating a large number of calories increased risk of the condition.

Just why is unclear, although other research has suggested that a diet high in fat and calories increases circulating estrogen in the blood, which may fuel cancer growth. - Daily Mail

Mangoes are good for health

One of my favorite fruit is mango, I love the sweet yellow pulp. Mangoes are not only delicious but also good for the health. Mango boosts our ability to fight cancer, heart disease and eye problems.

The antioxidant compounds in mango fruit have been found to protect against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers. These compounds include quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat, as well as the abundant enzymes.

While Vitamin A and beta-carotene in mango keeps your eyes healthy. About a cup of sliced mangoes supplies 25% of the needed daily value of vitamin A, which promotes good eyesight and prevents night blindness and dry eyes.

vitamin B6 helps control homocysteine in the blood. The soluble fibre in mangoes slows down the release of sugar into your blood. Mango leaves help normalize insulin levels in the blood, you can boil the leaves then drink the filtered decoction. Mango fruit have a relatively low glycemic index (41-60) so moderate quantities will not spike your sugar levels.

The high levels of fiber, pectin and vitamin C in mangoes help to lower serum cholesterol levels, specifically Low-Density Lipoprotein which is the bad cholesterol.

Mangos also clear clogged pores and eliminate pimples. The tartaric acid, malic acid, and a trace of citric acid found in the fruit help to maintain the alkali reserve of the body.

The good amounts of vitamin C and vitamin A in mangoes, plus 25 different kinds of carotenoids keep your immune system healthy and strong.

OUCH! Ingrown toenail hurts

I have very painful ingrown toenail, the pain is throbbing and my toenail is red and tender. I've tried removing it with a nipper and I have managed to remove some of it, but it still hurts. I think it's infected.

I read somewhere from a forum post that I should visit a podiatrist to have it removed. I will try to soak it in epsom salt and see if there are improvements, if none I will probably see a doctor.

I saw this on wisegeek, I hope this really work:

"If you already have an ingrown toenail, the best way to remedy the problem is to soak your foot in warm salted water at least twice a day. This will soften the toenail and reduce swelling. After soaking the nail, swab it with an antiseptic, such iodine, to prevent infection. Next, take a piece of clean cotton and gently place it under the toenail so that it is raised. Apply an antibacterial ointment to the area to prevent infection. Repeat these steps until the toenail has grown out and away from the skin."

On webmd.com, an article  suggest to wedge a small piece of wet cotton under the corner of the nail to cushion the nail, but I have already cut the edges of my toenail.

The cheapest, most nutritious food in human History: McDonald's McDouble

Since the McDonald's McDouble is the cheapest, most nutritious and bountiful food that has ever existed in human history, we can make it our daily staple. I don't think so, everyone know how unhealthy fast food are.

However Kyle Smith of New York Post think otherwise, he lauded the McDouble as the "unsung wonders of modern life" because it's cheap and healthy and available in 14,000 locations in the US and just cost $1.

He also said that people who eat out tend to eat less at home that day in partial compensation; the net gain, according to a 2008 study out of Berkeley and Northwestern, is only about 24 calories a day.

To those who are outrage on McDouble supremacy Smith said, "they are mostly "from the usual coalition of class snobs, locavore foodies and militant anti-corporate types" and against the poor. He is right on this though.

"Junk food costs as little as $1.76 per 1,000 calories, whereas fresh veggies and the like cost more than 10 times as much, found a 2007 University of Washington survey for the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. A 2,000-calorie day of meals would, if you stuck strictly to the good-for-you stuff, cost $36.32, said the study’s lead author, Adam Drewnowski."

Realistically, ordinary family cannot afford to buy organic food and don't have time to prepare home cooked meals. This is the reason the masses consume fast food like McDouble. However, we need to face the facts that it is not healthy. It contains 390 calories, 9 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat and 1 gram of trans fat.

Scary Stomach Bug

About 275 people in six states were affected recently by a mysterious stomach bug, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC reports on its website that at least 275 residents of several states that includes Iowa, Nebraska, Texas, Wisconsin, Georgia, Connecticut and New Jersey, have been diagnosed with a cyclospora infection. At least 10 people have reportedly been hospitalized.

AP reported that the cyclospora infections are most often found in tropical or subtropical countries and have been linked to imported fresh produce (raspberries, basil, and lettuce) in the past.

The illness is usually spread when people ingest food or water contaminated with feces.

Extreme heat: Stay hydrated to avoid heat exhaustion, stroke during hot summer months

Doctors and health experts are warning people about the signs of overexposure to the Sun. Be sure to stay safe as a possible heat wave looms and is expected to bake a large part of the Mid-Atlantic and New England states this week with the heat index rising to as high as 101 degrees.

You need to take steps to hydrate an avoid direct exposure to the sun as much as possible.

Any outdoor activities should be done when the Sun is not at its strongest, generally between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Children or Pets should not be left in a car for even a single minute under these conditions and anyone who sees a pet left in a car should not hesitate to call 911.

Here is the American Red Cross safety tips that you can follow as the temperatures soar:

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
• Avoid extreme temperature changes.
• Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.
• Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
• Postpone outdoor games and activities.
• Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat. Take frequent breaks if working outdoors.
• Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.
• Check on animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat. Make sure they have plenty of shade and cool water.
• If someone doesn’t have air conditioning, they should choose places to go to for relief from the heat during the warmest part of the day (schools, libraries, theaters, malls).

Brazilian Wax Pimples

After waxing the common side effect is pimples. You will notice whiteheads, large, and little pimples on the skin you have treated. Here are some tips to minimize pimple breakouts after waxing:

1. Remove the dead skin cells on your skin by exfoliating it with a cloth and warm water before waxing.

2. Make sure that everything are clean, the hands of person who will perform the wax should be washed thoroughly.

3. After waxing do not touch the skin even it's irresistibly soft. Having the hair follicle remove your skin is more susceptible to infection.

4. Avoid saunas and whirlpool with any type of waxing for the next two days.

5. Avoid doing anything that is going to make you sweat a lot.

6. If you get a pimple do not pop it, it will only spread the bacteria. Treat it with tea tree oil and acne medication.

Leg Stretches After Running

Experts recommend stretching after you are done with your workout since your muscles are already warm and your joints are lubricated.

Hamstrings Stretch:

Just Lie on your back with your legs extended and your back straight. Keep your hips level and your lower back down on the floor. Bend your right knee towards your chest, keeping your left leg extended on the floor.Slowly straighten your right knee, grabbing the back of your leg with both hands. Pull your leg towards your gently while keeping both hips on the floor. Breathe deeply and hold for 10-30 seconds. Repeat on opposite side. To reduce the intensity of this stretch, bend the knee of the stretching leg.

Quadriceps Stretch:

Stand tall, holding onto a chair or wall for balance if necessary. Keep your feet hip-width apart, your back straight and your feet parallel. Reach back and grab your left foot in your left hand, keeping your thighs lined up next to each other and left leg in line with the hip (not pulled back behind you).Breathe deeply and hold for 10-30 seconds. Repeat on opposite side.


Calf Stretch:

Stand facing a wall, about 12 inches away from it. Extend your arms in front of your shoulders to place your hands flat on the wall, keeping the elbows bent. Keeping both feet flat, step or slide your left foot (pictured) back, lengthening your left leg and straightening your arms. You should feel the stretch in the calf of the back (straight) leg. The more your lower your heel to the floor, and the farther you slide your straight leg behind you, the deeper you will feel this stretch. Breathe deeply and hold for 10-30 seconds. Switch sides.

Iliotibial (IT) Band Stretch:
 

With the left side of your body next to a wall, stand tall with your hand on the wall and your body an arm&quots length away from the wall. Cross your right leg (leg farthest from the wall) in front of your left leg (leg closest to the wall) and place your opposite hand on your hip, shoulders relaxed, feet flat on the floor. Breathe slowly and steadily as you push your left hip toward the wall, bending your left elbow. Keep the foot closest to the wall flat on the floor, both legs straight, and your back straight (no leaning forward or back). Hold the stretch for 10-30 seconds. Switch sides.

check here for more leg stretches

Research finds concussions common in teens

A new study has found that one out of five adolescents has probably suffered a traumatic brain injury. It also link a history of traumatic brain injury and poorer grades, underage drinking and use of illicit drugs.

62% of students in grades seven through 12 in Ontario, Canada anonymously completed a computerized questionnaire administered during the school day, which gauged their drug and alcohol consumption patterns and a wide range of health-related behaviors. Among the questions, students were asked if they had ever been knocked unconscious for five minutes or more or had been kept overnight in a hospital following a blow to the head. The survey also asked students to indicate if such an incident had occurred in the last year.

The results, published Tuesday as a "research letter" in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. (JAMA), were startling. A total of 20.2% of respondents reported that at some point in their average 15 years of life, they had either been hospitalized overnight after a blow to the head or had been knocked unconscious for more than five minutes. And 5.6%--more than 1 in 20 students--said they had suffered such an injury within the last year.

Concussions are often diagnosed after blows to the head far milder than those causing loss of consciousness or hospitalization. So this study probably yields a very conservative estimate of brain injury among children. Though it's not known how widespread traumatic brain injuries are among American kids, almost half a million children under 15 are brought to hospital emergency departments each year in the United States to assess signs of such an injury.

For as many as 15% of patients with traumatic brain injury, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, concentration difficulties and mood changes may persist for more than a few days or weeks. But the Canadian researchers found evidence suggesting that a history of such injuries may also suppress academic performance and increase likelihood of drug or alcohol use.

Among students who reported receiving poor grades in school, the likelihood of having a history of traumatic brain injury was almost four times greater than among those who received high grades. Those who reported the most frequent use of alcohol were about twice as likely to have a history of traumatic brain injury as were those who could recall no such history. And those who reported a severe blow to the head in the last year were seven times more likely to report such alcohol use than were those with no history of traumatic brain injury. Frequent cannabis use was more than four times more common among those with a recent history of traumatic brain injury than among those who had never been concussed.

That relationship between traumatic brain injury and poor grades and alcohol and cannabis use "needs further investigation," the researchers wrote. Such findings do not reveal whether a history of concussion puts children at higher risk of drug and alcohol abuse and poor grades, or whether children already at risk for those outcomes might be more prone to head injury.

source: http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-concussions-teens-20130625,0,4331205.story

How to Cure Snoring

There are tons of products, procedures, drugs, and surgeries that promises to treat snoring. But a simeple changes can help stop it.

• Try a different sleeping position, like sleeping on your side. This may help decrease snoring.
• Do not drink alcohol or take medicines that make you drowsy within three hours of bedtime.
• If you're overweight, lose the extra weight.
• Exercise. Exercise can strengthen and tone muscles, including those in the neck.
• Wear a dental device like a mouth guard, that helps keep your airway open while you sleep.
• Use a humidifier if the air in your home is too dry.
• Try to eliminate allergens in the bedroom such as pets, regularly washing your sheets in hot water to remove dust mites, and removing any mold.

Common causes of snoring:

• Age. As we age our throats becomes narrower, and the muscle tone in our throat decreases.
• Males have narrower air passages than women and are more likely to snore.
• Nasal and sinus problems. Blocked airways make inhalation difficult and create a vacuum in the throat, leading to snoring.
• Overweight, the fatty tissue and poor muscle tone contribute to snoring.
• Alcohol, smoking, and medications. Alcohol intake, smoking, and certain medications can increase muscle relaxation leading to more snoring.
• Sleep posture. Sleeping flat on your back causes the flesh of your throat to relax and block the airway.

15 minutes walk helps control diabetes

A study released by Diabetes Care said that a short 15-minute walk at moderate speed and 30 minutes after eating results to a significant control over the high blood sugar of older people and could prevent older people developing type-2 diabetes.

Dr. Loretta DiPietro of the Department of Exercise Science (George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services) said that blood sugar spikes after meals and for young and fit people insulin helps drive that sugar, glucose, into muscle cells and the liver where it's stored for energy. But for old people that system becomes less efficient and if there are too much glucose in the blood it can lead to type 2 diabetes and ardiovascular diseases. So resting after eating is the worst thing one can do.

source: NBC News Health

Weight Loss may lessen Psoriasis

pic from wikipedia

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease that affects the skin. It causes skin redness and irritation. People with psoriasis have thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches called scales.

It is a lifelong condition and there is currently no cure, but various treatments can help to control the symptoms.

New study shows that losing weight may help reduce symptoms of psoriasis. They studied  a group of obese people with psoriasis over 120 days. Half of them had a low-calorie diet. Those who had a low-calorie diet that lost 30 or more pounds had less skin irritation and reported improvement in their overall quality of life.

The study said the link between obesity and psoriasis may be explained in part by a common denominator is inflammation. Obesity is associated with inflammation, and psoriasis, once thought to affect only the skin, is now known to be a reflection of systemic and chronic immune-related inflammation.

You can check the Journal Here: JAMA Dermatology

How to treat Migraine

I. Migraine

Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of moderate to severe headache. A migraine headache has a throbbing or pulsating pain, usually on only one side of the head or unilateral lasting from 2 to 72 hours. Symptoms that are associated with this kind of headache are nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light (photophobia) and sound (phonophobia). Migraine headaches, which are often misdiagnosed as sinus or tension headaches, are severe enough to interfere with sleep, work, and other everyday activities. They may occur as often as several times per week or as rarely as once or twice a year.

Most people with migraine headaches perceive a transient visual, sensory, language, or motor disturbance which signals that the headache will soon occur which is called an aura, but sometimes they feel the aura but won't have a migraine. 

Approximately 30 million people in the US are suffering from migraine. Though it can affect teens and kids, it is most common among people with the age range of 25 to 55. Women are more prevalent to have migraine than men.

My top 3 American Cheese Slices

If you are making cheeseburgers you want the cheese to melt quickly so that the patty will not overcooked. When making cheeseburgers and grilled cheese sandwich I always use American cheese slices instead of fancy stuff like Gruyere which is a hard yellow cheese, slow to melt, and is very expensive. American cheese is cheaper and melt faster, I just love the creamy and and rubbery texture of the American cheese. Here are my top three American Cheese:

1. Land O'Lakes

I like that it melts very fast and there is a strong milky taste.

Ingredients: Cultured Pasteurized Milk And Skim Milk, Buttermilk, Milkfat, Salt, Contains Less Than 2% of Sodium Phosphate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Milk Protein Concentrate, Artificial Color, Enzymes.

2. Kraft Singles

The cheese also melts fast, it also has a strong milk taste, and it is a bit saltier.  

Ingredients:

Ingredients: Milk, Whey, Milkfat, Milk Protein Concentrate, Salt, Calcium Phosphate, Sodium Citrate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Sodium Phosphate, Sorbic Acid as a Preservative, Apocarotenal (Color), Annatto (Color), Enzymes, Vitamin D3, Cheese Culture.

3. Velveeta

It melts like butter, it has a soft, gooey, and sticky texture. I'm pretty certain that it is because it contains gelatin. It is also a bit salty.     

Whey, Milk, Milk Protein Concentrate, Modified Food Starch, Sodium Citrate, Maltodextrin, Gelatin, Salt, Milkfat, Sodium Phosphate, Calcium Phosphate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Sorbic Acid As A Preservative, Cheese Cultures, Oleoresin Paprika (Color), Enzymes, Annatto (Color).

No Time to Cook try McDonalds Healthy Menu Options

Most of the time we are too busy at work and just can't find time to cook home meals so we have no choice but to eat at a quick-service restaurant chain like McDonalds. However, if we eat at McDonalds too often, calories will add up and will make us fat and unhealthy. But you can't also starve yourself to death, don't panic you can eat at McDonalds and keep your healthy figure. McDonalds have been offering healthy food options for quite sometime now. They have even been named one of America's Top 10 Healthiest Fast Food Restaurants. 

Breakfast - McDonalds have a huge selection of breakfast food items like hotcakes and sandwiches. Yes, most of them are high in calories, good thing they also offer lower calorie foods.

Fruit & Maple Oatmeal: Calories 290, Total Fat 4g, Carbs 58g, Protein 5g, and Sodium 160mg

Egg White Delight McMuffin: Calories 250, Total Fat 7g, Carbs 32g, Protein 18g, and Sodium 800mg

*High in protein foods are beneficial for weight loss.

Salads - Most of McDonalds salads contains chicken, choose the grilled chicken over the crispy. Salads with grilled chicken are significantly lower in calories and fat than the salads with crispy chicken. You can opt to remove the chicken, however it will reduce the protein.

Side Salad: Calories 350, Total Fat 18g, Carbs 24g, Protein 23g, and Sodium 740mg

Premium Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken: Calories 190, Total Fat 5g, Carbs 10g, Protein 27g, and Sodium 580mg

Premium Caesar Salad with Crispy Chicken: Calories 350, Total Fat 18g, Carbs 24g, Protein 23g, and Sodium 740mg

Burgers & Sandwiches – these are items that have the highest calorie content in their menu. Most of these burgers contain 2g of trans fat, which is the total recommended daily intake (American Heart Association). Too much trans fat will have an adverse to your cardiovascular health.

If you are really craving for Burgers or Sandwiches go for the wraps they are low in calorie and low in fat.

Chipotle BBQ Snack Wrap (Grilled): Calories 250, Total Fat 8g, Carbs 27g, Protein 16g, and Sodium 670mg

Ranch Snack Wrap (Grilled): Calories 270, Total Fat 12g, Carbs 25g, Protein 16g, and Sodium 700mg

Check out the Angus Bacon & Cheese, you must really hate your body if you try to eat that calorie packed item: Calories 820, Total Fat 41g, Carbs 64g, Protein 48g, and Sodium 2110mg

Desserts - Most of McDonald's desserts like Hot Fudge Sundae or shakes are high in calories and fat, but there are few items that are low in calories and low in fat.

Fruit 'N Yogurt Parfait: Calories 150, Total Fat 2g, Carbs 30g, Protein 4g, and Sodium 70mg

If you are really in a diet then go for the Apple Slices: Calories 15, Total Fat 0g, Carbs 4g, Protein 0g, and Sodium 0mg

As for the drinks, avoid sugary drinks and go for a glass/bottle of water. Also avoid diet Soda it's not good for you as I posted before here.

15 minute Short Core Abs, Obliques, hips, and Lower back workout

Check out this old clip from Coach Nicole of sparkpeople.com, the work out is really easy and you can feel your core tighten after the workout.

The workout is design to strengthen your abs, obliques, lower back (back stretches), and hips. It doesn't need any fancy equipment just a gym mat for cushion. It only takes less than 15 minutes. The type of workout is muscle toning and stretching. It is a low impact exercise that can be done by beginners.

If you want to do just Abdominal Crunch check my old post here.


Now let us tone those Abs!

Rat Meat Ring Arrested in China

In three months Chinese authorities arrested 904 individuals and confiscated more than 21,000 metric tons of products that are into "meat-related" offenses, the official Xinhua News Agency said. It also revealed that RAT yes rat meat, fox, and mink meat are being sold as mutton.

The busted crime ring was operating in Shanghai and neighboring Jiangsu province. Wei, one of the suspect made more than $1 million in over 4 years of selling fox, mink, and rat meat. He adds gelatin and other additives and sell it as mutton at farmers markets in Jiangsu province and Shanghai. Wei's warehouse was raided last February that led to the arrest of 63 people and seized 10 tonnes of illegal meat and additives.

Food safety has been a chronic problem in China and the public are anxious over cases of fake and toxic food.

The Benefits of Running

Running is a great outlet, it reduce stress, relieves depression, and improves your overall health, and did I mention running keeps you fit? Yes, it is a great way to reduce that bulging weight.

It is one of the best form of exercise that burns calories, but always remember for it to be effective you still needs to reduce food intake. Running will also improve cardiovascular fitness and your immune system.

And did you know that running is recommended as therapy for people who suffers clinical depression and people coping with addiction? Yes, running really is a good therapy.

Watch the clip if you want to start running.

How to Treat Hair Loss

A lot of women suffer with hair loss. They either change their hairstyle to hide the thinning hair. If you have a thinning hair the best thing to do is act fast the sooner you treat it the higher the success rate.

Minoxidil 2% is approved by the FDA to treat female-pattern hair loss. The stronger minoxidil 5% is for male-pattern hair loss which is very effective.

If you want to try something natural check this video, the author uses Sweet Almond Oil, Lavender Essential Oil, and Bay Leaf Essential Oil to treat hair loss.

Damn this dyspepsia

Do you feel full all the time or bloated or nauseous, maybe gassy? I do and it makes me crazy! I've been looking for info about it so I thought I'd share. Indigestion or dyspepsia is the difficulty or inability to digest.  Symptoms may include bloating, belching and gas, nausea and vomiting, acidic taste, growling stomach, burning in the stomach or upper abdomen, and abdominal pain. While dyspepsia is common, usually caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or gastritis, it is frequently a sign of an underlying problem, so sudden unexplained occurrence of dyspepsia in people over 55, especially combined with other symptoms (vomiting or blood in vomit, unexpected weight loss, loss of appetite, black tarry stools or visible blood in stools, severe pain) may require attention. Other causes include:

Diseases -

    Ulcers
    Stomach cancer (rare)
    Gastroparesis (a condition where the stomach doesn't empty properly; this often occurs in diabetics)
    Stomach infections
    Irritable bowel syndrome
    Chronic pancreatitis
    Thyroid disease

Medications -

    Aspirin and many other painkillers
    Estrogen and oral contraceptives
    Steroid medications
    Certain antibiotics
    Thyroid medicines

Lifestyle -

    Eating too much, eating too fast, eating high-fat foods, or eating during stressful situations
    Drinking too much alcohol
    Cigarette smoking
    Stress and fatigue

Swallowing excessive air when eating may increase the symptoms of belching and bloating. Sometimes people have persistent indigestion that is not related to any of the factors mentioned above. This type of indigestion is called functional, or nonulcer dyspepsia. During the middle and later parts of pregnancy, many women have indigestion. This is believed to be caused by a number of pregnancy-related factors including hormones, which relax the muscles of the digestive tract, and the pressure of the growing uterus on the stomach.

If you are experiencing these symptoms or if your indigestion symptoms become worse, consult a doctor to rule out a more serious condition.

Here are some tips to relieve indigestion -

   Don't chew with your mouth open, talk while chewing, or eat too fast. Any of these may cause you to swallow too much air, which can aggravate indigestion.
    Drink fluids after rather than during meals.
    Avoid late-night eating.
    Try to relax after meals.
    Avoid spicy foods.
    Stop smoking.
    Avoid alcoholic beverages.

To prevent indigestion -

    Eat small meals so the stomach does not have to work as hard or as long.
    Eat slowly.
    Avoid foods that contain high amounts of acids, such as citrus fruits and tomatoes.
    Reduce or avoid foods and beverages that contain caffeine.
    If stress is a trigger for your indigestion, re-evaluating your lifestyle may help to reduce stress. Learn new methods for managing stress, such as relaxation and     biofeedback techniques.
    Smokers should consider quitting smoking, or at least not smoking right before or after eating, as smoking can irritate the stomach lining.
    Cut back on alcohol consumption because alcohol can irritate the stomach lining.

   Avoid wearing tight-fitting garments because they tend to compress the stomach, which can cause its contents to enter the esophagus.
    Do not exercise with a full stomach. Rather, exercise before a meal or at least one hour after eating a meal.
    Do not lie down right after eating.
    Wait at least 3 hours after your last meal of the day before going to bed.
    Raise the head of your bed so that your head and chest are higher than your feet. 

There you have it folks. Hope it helps!

SOURCE: WebMD