Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Walking six miles a week is good for both body and mind...
Image via WikipediaThe findings of a new study suggest walking six miles a week is good for both
body and mind...Healthy people who walk at least six miles (9.7km) a week have bigger brains, better memories and improved mental function compared with couch potatoes, a study has found.
Among older people showing signs of forgetfulness, walking even five miles a week - a daily 20-minute trip to the shops - slowed the progression of their condition.
The findings suggest that walking is the best way of preserving both mental and physical health in old age. Research has shown that it is an ideal form of exercise for maintaining physical fitness and warding off heart disease.
Now scientists have found that it can maintain mental fitness and ward off Alzheimer's disease as well.
A 10-year study of more than 400 elderly people found that greater amounts of physical activity were associated with greater brain volume.
Dr Cyrus Raji, of the department of radiology at Pittsburgh University, who led the study, said: "Volume is a vital sign for the brain. When it decreases that means brain cells are dying. But when it remains higher brain health is being maintained."
Dr Raji added: "We found that walking five miles a week protects the brain structure over 10 years in people with Alzheimer's and mild cognitive impairment."
Healthy adults needed to walk at least six miles a week to maintain brain volume and reduce their risk of mental decline.
The results are due to be presented to the Radiological Society of North America today.
Acknowledgements: Jeremy Laurance - INDEPENDENT
Monday, November 8, 2010
Research has not established the effect of Kiwifruit on breast cancer...
Image by Roger Smith via Flickr Studies have not established the effect of kiwifruit on breast cancer
Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa or Actinidia chinensis deliciosa), also know as kiwi fruit, kiwi, and Chinese gooseberry, is a native of Asia rich in vitamin C, fiber and potassium, and also contains significant vitamin A and vitamin E. In addition, kiwifruit has other biologically active components, including lutein, β-carotene, fisetin, caffeic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, actinidin, coumarin, kiwellin, actinidin, quercitrin, kaempferol, and some other flavones and flavonols. Kiwifruit has been shown to improve the cholesterol profile of human subjects. Kiwifruit has also been shown to have antioxidant, laxative, antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, and cardiovascular protective effects.Cancer-related effects of eating kiwifruit
Kiwifruit consumption has been found to enhance markers of immune response in laboratory mice. Regular kiwifruit consumption has also been shown in several studies to significantly increase the ability of the body to repair DNA breakage by free radicals. Fisetin, a component of kiwifruit, has been found to induce apoptosis of human colon cancer cells. Various extracts of kiwifruit have been found to have selective cytotoxic activity against human oral cancer cells.Additional comments
Kiwifruit sold in the U.S. normally has green flesh when ripe. However, there exist some cultivars with red pigments in the flesh, and these are likely to contain more cancer-fighting anthocyanins and carotenoids than regular kiwifruit.Kiwi should not be consumed with warfarin (Coumadin) or other blood thinners since it contains a natural blood thinner.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
The grapefruit diet is alive and well and works...
THE GRAPEFRUIT DIET IS ALIVE AND WELL AND WORKS...
I don't know about you folks, but I carry a bit of middle age weight that is difficult to get rid of. I was listening to a talkback radio program just last night, and a caller there praised the virtues of the humble grapefruit. It brought back memories of a popular diet of a quarter of a century ago - the grapefruit diet. So off to Google I went!
A new study by Nutrition and Metabolic Research Centre researchers at Scripps Clinic has confirmed that a simple act of adding grapefruit to your diet can result in real weight loss.
The grapefruit diet is not a myth. No, it is actually something an older generation knew 25 years or so ago. Grapefruit has a high fibre content and low glycemic load, and is a not so secret weight loss weapon. I didn't have a weight problem back then; I was a smoker and that was responsible for controlling my weight. Since then I have successfully given up smoking...and suffered the major side affect of giving up smoking - weight gain. Its all to do with a change in your metabolism.
The advice given last night has me seriously considering adding grapefruit to my diet - basically eating half a grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice with every meal.It apparently takes a couple of weeks before weight loss becomes evident.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Diet tips for men only...
Image via Wikipedia 
Related articles
When we say that men and women are different, we're not telling you anything you didn't know already.
But what many of us don't realise is that men and women are different when it comes to losing weight, as well as in more obvious ways.
Our bodies have different needs and our minds have different motivations. Which means that if you want to lose weight sensibly, you can't just piggyback onto your girlfriend's diet plan and expect it to work.
"Men and women are totally different when it comes to weight loss — different body issues, different hormonal issues, different psychological issues," says nutrition consultant Kate Arnold.
"And the image of dieting — that it's all down to cottage cheese and a lettuce leaf - is really quite girly and not attractive to men."
With that in mind, we've gathered together a few handy hints on how to diet like a man, so you can lose the love handles without losing the will to live.
The basics
In some ways, of course, we're exactly the same as women. Like them, most of us should be aiming for a Body Mass Index (BMI) of between 18.5 and 24.9.
But it's not quite that simple. Men tend to have a higher percentage of muscle than women, and if you're very well built the BMI number may describe you as overweight mistakenly.
So it's worth measuring your waist circumference too. Over 37 inches and you start to become more at risk of health problems; over 40 inches puts you in the high-risk category.
Get help
If you have a wife or girlfriend, make sure she knows you're looking to eat more healthily. Women can be very good weight loss companions.
"I've seen men's health turn around purely because the cooking was done by the female in the house and they had no options as to what to eat," says Arnold.
But she adds a proviso. This requires a strong, supportive and respectful relationship. If we feel bullied or henpecked most men will simply stop taking orders and march straight back to the beer and greasy food diet.
Mate weight
It's worth telling your mates that you want to lose weight, too, if only to hear some uncomfortable truths. Because when a woman announces her intention to diet her friends fall over themselves to tell her how little she needs to diet.
And when a man announces his intention to diet his friends fall over themselves to tell him how much he needs to diet — and spend the next hour laughing at his insipient moobs.
Which is both cruel and kind. It tells it how it is. And if, in the coming weeks and months, the man fails to present a leaner, trimmer figure, his mates will make sure he knows about that, too.
The beer and kebab diet
But mates who drag you to the pub can also be trouble. To lose weight, men need to reign in their weekend excesses to an extent few women do.
The hard truth is that beers are packed with more calories than the shorter drinks women prefer. Kate Arnold suggests you offer to be the Saturday night driver for a few months and stick to lime and soda.
If you must drink alcohol, single measures of spirits with low calorie mixers are the best choice.
The same advice goes for the post-pub takeaway. The healthiest option is not to have one at all, but if that's occasionally out of the question, go for a chicken skewer rather than kebab meat, a tomato-based dish rather than a creamy option, and boiled rice rather than fried.
Don't diet
But weekends aside, perhaps the most crucial diet tip for men is to, well, stop dieting. "Diets aren't sustainable long term," says Arnold. Evidence suggests men fall off diets more easily than women.
And don't be fooled into thinking that low-carb meat-fest diets like the Atkins are exactly what men need. Men are already at higher risk of heart disease than women, and diets packed with red meat, eggs, cheese, butter and fried food will be high in artery-clogging saturated fat.
Eat like a man
So what should you eat — day-to-day — to lose weight? Some of the advice crosses genders, of course. Eat more fruit and veg, less fried and processed foods, and watch your portion size.
After that, Kate Arnold believes that sensible eating is not the nightmare of self-sacrifice some men think it will be, and that men simply need to change their perception.
"For instance, fat is seen as bad, but tell men they can have a scrape of butter and grilled bacon on wholemeal toast and breakfast becomes a completely different ballgame," she says.
More generally, men should eat protein when hungry, rather than carbohydrates and sugar. Protein fills you up, especially on top of small portions of wholegrain carbs like whole-wheat pasta, brown rice and wholemeal bread.
Kate Arnold suggests an ordinary day's eating for men might include scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast, a jacket potato and tuna salad for lunch and salmon or grilled chicken with sauteed potatoes and steamed vegetables for supper. Nuts and fruit make great snacks.
Repeat that sort of regime often enough and you'll lose weight, feel healthier and gain energy. Given those benefits, it really doesn't seem like such a great sacrifice at al
But what many of us don't realise is that men and women are different when it comes to losing weight, as well as in more obvious ways.
Our bodies have different needs and our minds have different motivations. Which means that if you want to lose weight sensibly, you can't just piggyback onto your girlfriend's diet plan and expect it to work.
"Men and women are totally different when it comes to weight loss — different body issues, different hormonal issues, different psychological issues," says nutrition consultant Kate Arnold.
"And the image of dieting — that it's all down to cottage cheese and a lettuce leaf - is really quite girly and not attractive to men."
With that in mind, we've gathered together a few handy hints on how to diet like a man, so you can lose the love handles without losing the will to live.
The basics
In some ways, of course, we're exactly the same as women. Like them, most of us should be aiming for a Body Mass Index (BMI) of between 18.5 and 24.9.
But it's not quite that simple. Men tend to have a higher percentage of muscle than women, and if you're very well built the BMI number may describe you as overweight mistakenly.
So it's worth measuring your waist circumference too. Over 37 inches and you start to become more at risk of health problems; over 40 inches puts you in the high-risk category.
Get help
If you have a wife or girlfriend, make sure she knows you're looking to eat more healthily. Women can be very good weight loss companions.
"I've seen men's health turn around purely because the cooking was done by the female in the house and they had no options as to what to eat," says Arnold.
But she adds a proviso. This requires a strong, supportive and respectful relationship. If we feel bullied or henpecked most men will simply stop taking orders and march straight back to the beer and greasy food diet.
Mate weight
It's worth telling your mates that you want to lose weight, too, if only to hear some uncomfortable truths. Because when a woman announces her intention to diet her friends fall over themselves to tell her how little she needs to diet.
And when a man announces his intention to diet his friends fall over themselves to tell him how much he needs to diet — and spend the next hour laughing at his insipient moobs.
Which is both cruel and kind. It tells it how it is. And if, in the coming weeks and months, the man fails to present a leaner, trimmer figure, his mates will make sure he knows about that, too.
The beer and kebab diet
But mates who drag you to the pub can also be trouble. To lose weight, men need to reign in their weekend excesses to an extent few women do.
The hard truth is that beers are packed with more calories than the shorter drinks women prefer. Kate Arnold suggests you offer to be the Saturday night driver for a few months and stick to lime and soda.
If you must drink alcohol, single measures of spirits with low calorie mixers are the best choice.
The same advice goes for the post-pub takeaway. The healthiest option is not to have one at all, but if that's occasionally out of the question, go for a chicken skewer rather than kebab meat, a tomato-based dish rather than a creamy option, and boiled rice rather than fried.
Don't diet
But weekends aside, perhaps the most crucial diet tip for men is to, well, stop dieting. "Diets aren't sustainable long term," says Arnold. Evidence suggests men fall off diets more easily than women.
And don't be fooled into thinking that low-carb meat-fest diets like the Atkins are exactly what men need. Men are already at higher risk of heart disease than women, and diets packed with red meat, eggs, cheese, butter and fried food will be high in artery-clogging saturated fat.
Eat like a man
So what should you eat — day-to-day — to lose weight? Some of the advice crosses genders, of course. Eat more fruit and veg, less fried and processed foods, and watch your portion size.
After that, Kate Arnold believes that sensible eating is not the nightmare of self-sacrifice some men think it will be, and that men simply need to change their perception.
"For instance, fat is seen as bad, but tell men they can have a scrape of butter and grilled bacon on wholemeal toast and breakfast becomes a completely different ballgame," she says.
More generally, men should eat protein when hungry, rather than carbohydrates and sugar. Protein fills you up, especially on top of small portions of wholegrain carbs like whole-wheat pasta, brown rice and wholemeal bread.
Kate Arnold suggests an ordinary day's eating for men might include scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast, a jacket potato and tuna salad for lunch and salmon or grilled chicken with sauteed potatoes and steamed vegetables for supper. Nuts and fruit make great snacks.
Repeat that sort of regime often enough and you'll lose weight, feel healthier and gain energy. Given those benefits, it really doesn't seem like such a great sacrifice at al
Monday, November 1, 2010
Research shows smoking doubles the risk of getting dementia in old age...
Image via WikipediaResearch shows smoking doubles the risk of getting dementia in old age...
Research from the US shows that smoking in middle age more than doubles the risk of alzheimers disease and other dementia later in life, according to one of the first long-term studies that have examined this issue.
Smoking definately has a clear effect on heart and lungs, but whether it also damaged the brain has been controversial. After looking at other factors that can contribute to dementia - such as race, age, diabetes, heart disease and substance abuse, the study published in the ARCHIVES OF INTERNAL MEDICINE recently found a significant link with heavy smoking at middle age.
Compared with non-smokers, those who smoked two packs a day or more had a 114 % increased risk of dementia (more than double), while those who smoked a half pack to one pack had a 37% increased risk. Middle aged former smokers did not appear to have an increased risk of later dementia
.
Researchers in Finland and Sweden followed 21,123 middle-aged members of a health plan who took part in a survey between 1978 and 1985
.
The subjects were then followed for an average of 23 years. Giving up smoking appeared to improve chances of avoiding increased chances of getting dementia in old age.
Acknowledgements: Los Angeles Time
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Schizophrenia linked to infection in pregnancy...
Image via WikipediaSchizophrenia linked to infection in pregnancy...
A new study of the brain mechanisms behind schizophrenia has found the illness could be triggered by an infection during the early stages of pregnancy.
The study, by researchers from University of Otago ’s Department of Psychology, found a one-off infection in a pregnant rat could result in long-range neural problems in her offspring.
PhD candidate and lead author Desiree Dickerson said the study, believed to be the first of its kind, was an exciting step toward understanding the brain mechanisms that underpinned schizophrenia.
“There is a considerable body of evidence suggesting that changes in neural synchronisation may underlie a range of symptoms seen in schizophrenia,” she said.
“At the same time many studies have found that infection during early-to-mid pregnancy slightly increases the overall risk of children developing this illness as adults, with recent research implicating the mother’s immune response.”
Ms Dickerson said the study helped “connect the dots” between maternal infection and the synchrony research.
“We show that a single activation of an immune response during pregnancy can lead to adult offspring showing disrupted communication between two key brain regions implicated in schizophrenia,” she said.
“Moreover, these offspring also displayed hallmark schizophrenia-like changes in their behaviour as they became adults, such as an abnormal startle response.”
Ms Dickerson said effective communication between brain regions required synchronised firing of groups of cells within the brain.
“This can be compared to a crowd performing a Mexican wave. Brain cells in individuals with schizophrenia are like people trying to produce the Mexican wave independently and with poor timing -- the wave doesn’t form cohesively and the message is distorted.”
Until now, there had not been a good model for investigating how and why the desynchronisation occurred, she said.
“Importantly, this study has provided a chance to examine what happens in schizophrenia at a biological level that would otherwise be inaccessible. This will ultimately lead to better understanding and treatment of this severe mental illness.”
Acknowledgements: Elaine Winchester - Atareira/Hutt Valley Mental Health
Friday, October 15, 2010
Mental health unit failed Kiwi teen....
Image via WikipediaThe coroner has found that care was deficient on several occasions before 17-year-old Toran Henry committed suicide. Photo / SuppliedA coroner has strongly criticised the care provided by a specialist youth mental health unit leading up to the suicide of 17-year-old Toran Henry.
Auckland Coroner Murray Jamieson said Marinoto Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services' care of the teenager "was deficient on occasion and in particular on the day of his death".
His remarks were included in the findings of the inquest into Toran's death on March 20, 2008. The report was issued yesterday.
Dr Jamieson was critical that, in the face of escalating developments on the day of Toran's death, the Waitemata District Health Board's service left his care in the hands of a relatively inexperienced "key worker" who spoke to Toran by phone.
"Toran stated, that day, that he lost faith in one of his key workers, feeling that she had abused his trust," said the coroner.
He said the situation would have been better dealt with by immediate consultation with a specialist psychiatrist, who could have taken direct action "such as arranging an urgent home visit together with immediate admission to a secure facility if required.
There was criticism, too, of the way Toran had been prescribed the anti-depressant drug fluoxetine, better known as Prozac, which is not approved for treating major depressive disorders in children and adolescents in New Zealand. But it can be given to that age group by what is known as "off label" prescribing, which requires informed consent from the patient.
Dr Jamieson said the information given to Toran about the drug was not satisfactory. It was not a single comprehensive document, not up to date, not designed for a person of Toran's age and did not include clear advice about taking the drug in combination with alcohol or other drugs.
He recommended that Marinoto should review the information provided to adolescents, especially the importance of taking the medication as prescribed.
The coroner was also critical of the last occasion Toran was prescribed fluoxetine, at a cafe near Marinoto early in March 2008, by a registrar in psychiatry who had not met Toran or his mother, Maria Bradshaw, before.
The coroner said the consultation should have been carried out by a specialist psychiatrist "fully apprised of the history and clinical picture at a venue appropriate for such an important clinical encounter".
Dr Jamieson did not make any finding on whether taking the drug contributed to Toran's death.
Although the question came up during the inquest, the coroner has not addressed concerns that the drug packets in New Zealand do not carry a "Black Box" warning as required by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. The warning explicitly states that "anti-depressants increased the risk compared to placebo of suicidal thinking and behaviour in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies of major depressive disorder and other psychiatric disorders".
Malaga a le Pasifika, the cultural support service of Marinoto, was also criticised for the way it attempted, but failed, to organise a meeting between Toran and his father, Geoffrey Henry, a Cook Islander, whom Toran had not seen since he was 14 months old.
The coroner concluded that the circumstances relevant to Toran's death were:
* The career plan that Toran had set his heart on in early 2008 had proved impractical.
* Toran had been reminded of the absence and apparent rejection of him by his father.
* His relationship with his mother had been tense.
* His relationship with his girlfriend had recently been unhappy.
* The day before his death he had been humiliated in front of many peers when he was involved in a brief fight with a younger Takapuna Grammar School student.
* His abuse of alcohol clouded his judgment.
Clinical director of Mental Health and Addiction Services at Waitemata Murray Patton said a new fluoxetine information sheet had been developed for adolescents and children.
Marinoto clinical staff have also undertaken training to ensure all service users and families have knowledge of common and serious side-effects of psychiatric medicine and how to monitor for them.
Tragic toll
About 540 people a year take their own lives - many more than last year's road toll. More than 2500 New Zealanders are admitted to hospital each year through intentional self-harm.
Age range for 2009/2010:
* 10-14....7
* 15-19....53
* 20-24....189
* 25-29....136
Where to get help:
* Lifeline: 0800 543 354 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0800 543 354 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (www.lifeline.co.nz)
* Youthline: 0800 376 633 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0800 376 633 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (www.youthline.co.nz)
* Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0800 111 757 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
* In an emergency (if you feel you or others are at risk of harm) phone 111
* Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand www.spinz.org.nz.
Acknowledgements: NZ Herald/ Chris Barton
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Lose love handles by feeling the freeze instead of the burn...
Image via Wikipedia HEALTH AND WELLBEING: Lose love handles by feeling the freeze instead of the buLose those lovehandles by feeling the freeze instead of the burn - Coolsculpting removes fat cells through targeted cooling...
Stem Cell Therapy Germany - www.XCell-Center.com/StemCells/
Europe's leading treatment center Fully licensed, government approved
Stem Cells - NZ - http://www.cordbank.co.nz/
China Stem Cell News - http://www.stemcelltreatmentnow.co/
Medical device company ZELTIQ has developed a safe procedure that could potentially say goodbye to “love handles." Developed at the Wellman Center of Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Coolsculpting is a method that freezes unwanted fat cells and removes them permanently without invasive surgery. After a series of clinical trials and evidence from ultrasound and histological results, Coolsculpting has recently been approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is targeted for those who are not considered to be clinically overweight but may carry pockets of unwanted fat in areas of their body which have not responded to diet or exercise.
The procedure involves placing a specifically designed cooling applicator over the area desired for fat reduction, which then extracts energy from the underlying fat cells (i.e: cools them) without damaging skin or surrounding tissue. The procedure is designed to deliver controlled and precise cooling conditions to the targeted area, causing the cooled fat cells begin a process called apoptosis (natural cell death), reduce in size, and then be naturally removed through the body’s normal metabolic processes.
The procedure lasts between one to two hours and on average will reduce fat cells by 20 percent. There is no required recovery time after the procedure, so patients can resume normal activities immediately and should start to see results after three weeks.
Coolsculpting procedures are now available through a network of medical centers throughout the United States
Acknowledgements: Bridget Borgobello
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Image via WikipediaThose with rheumatoid arthritis have a built-in defence against alzheimers disease...
First published at Qondio:
By Peter Petterson
The latest from the newsroom is that those suffering with rheumatoid arthritis, itself a painful condition, appear to have a built-in protection against the effects of the mind-crippling alzheimers disease.
The memory loss associated with alzheimers could actually be reversed in many cases; scientists discovered that rheumatoid arthritis produced a chemical in the body that works on the condition.
Researchers found a protein triggered by rheumatoid arthritis could undo the 'tangles' in the brain that are believed to cause alzheimers disease.
Memory loss associated with alheimers disease was partially reversed by the protein GM-CSF, which also lowered the risk of getting the condition. Scientists at the University of South florida even found in some cases the memory impairment was completely reversed after treatment.
The fantastic news is the protein known as 'Leukine' is commercially available. The treatment completely reversed cognitive impairment in only 20 days!
It has to be remembered that these tests were with mice; this has to be transfered to the field of human health.
The swollen joints of rheumatoid arhtritis sufferers produce the protein that stimulates scavenger cells in the body. In the tests on laboratory mice, the cells removed deposits left by alzheimers disease.
The study can be read in the 'Journal of Alzheimers Disease'.
Acknowledgements: Telegraph Group
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Cannabis and Depression Study Proves Need for Drug Law Reform...
A study suggesting a link between early cannabis use and depression provides further evidence in support of reforming the Misuse of Drugs Act, said NORML President Phil Saxby today.
Mr Saxby's statement comes in response to a new study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, which suggests that children and teenagers who smoke cannabis may have a somewhat heightened risk of developing depression.
"Researchers cannot conclude whether or not the drug itself is to blame", Mr Saxby pointed out. "But that doesn't alter outcomes linking early cannabis use before the age of 17 with a 50 percent increase in the risk of developing a depression 'spell' later on in life."
"This is significant because the rate of early cannabis use in New Zealand has been growing at an alarming rate. Between 1998 and 2001, the number of young people aged 15 to 17 years who used cannabis 10 or more times a month increased by a staggering 300 percent." *
New Zealand now has the highest rate of teenage cannabis use in the world.
"NORML is concerned by any data linking early onset of cannabis use with later consequences for mental health, and has a strong adults-only policy for cannabis use. We certainly don't want children using it and we call for cannabis to be regulated in such a way that it's difficult, not easy, for them to buy," Mr Saxby said.
"Current policy - prohibition - only encourages the growth of 'tinny shops' and as everyone knows: those places don't ID their customers. Most Kiwi 15-year olds find it easier to buy cannabis than beer."
"For adults, cannabis is a low-risk drug which needs regulating: control its production; license outlets; tax sales and make it R18, consistent with alcohol. As 400,000 Kiwi adults currently use cannabis, we desperately need a system which a) stops criminalising them and b) restricts access by young people."
"Why does the Government continue allowing organised criminal gangs to decide where, when, to whom, and at what price illegal drugs get sold in New Zealand?" he asks. "What other local industry worth many millions of dollars each year is left in the hands of organised criminals rather than being taxed and properly controlled?"
(*NZ Health Select Committee, Inquiry into the Public Health Strategies Related to Cannabis and the Most Appropriate Legal Status, 2003; p.12)
http://voxy.co.nz/
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Her weight loss was all in the mind...
Image via WikipediaA UK woman has lost 25 kg in only six months after being hypnotised into believing she had received gastric band surgery.
Emma Eveleigh-Anderston, 36, saw her weight shoot up after developing a love of fattening curries to help her cope with work stress, the Daily Mail reported.
But the company director claims she dropped five dress sizes after receiving weight loss hypnosis.
Mrs Eveleigh-Anderston was hypnotised into believing she had received gastric band surgery, a procedure that dramatically reduces a patient's stomach size.
Convinced she had received the surgery during four hypnosis sessions, Mrs Eveleigh-Anderston was forced to drastically reduce the size of her meals, causing her to lose weight.
"It was as if I was having the operation, except I was in an office rather than a theatre," she said.
"I has actually re-educated my mind — I was starting to feel fuller quicker and I was eating much less."
Mrs Eveleigh-Anderston said she resorted to hypnosis only after diets had failed.
Her weight loss was all in the mind.
Acknowledgements: MSN Health Hub
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Iridology : The eyes to the soul...
Iridology: It's long been said that the eyes are a window to the soul. Some people also believe that our eyes are actually a window to our physical health. Studying someone's eyes to find out about their well-being is called iridology and reporter Michael Slater sets out to see how effective it is.
Iridologists believe markings in the iris reveal inherited conditions that may lead to physical and emotional disorders.
Over many years, iridologists have "mapped" segments of the iris to correspond with various internal organs, and their ailments.
According to iridologist Anthony Middlemiss, it's about uncovering health history; not diagnosing the present.
"I find it a useful starting point in consultation," he says. "It helps jog their memory about things that have happened in their past or their parents' past and it helps to give us a holistic approach in assessing a patient's health."
Sarah Bebb swears by iridology. She first saw an iridologist four years ago, who examined her eyes, and made health and lifestyle suggestions based on what he saw.
"He actually said that I had a lot more stress lines than I should have for a normal person," recalls Sarah. "My liver needed some help. I also needed to change my diet."
Sarah made the changes and is now a convert.
"My whole outlook — my vibrancy, energy levels, everything — were the highest, I'd say, that they've ever been," she says.
The test
Our reporter Michael Slater is going to put iridology to the test by asking Anthony to find ailments in him, and two other people he's never met.
Anthony examines a sceptical Michael's eyes.
Anthony asks Michael if there's a history of lung problems in his family. There's not that Michael knows of, and Anthony adds that these "areas of loose fibres" in his eyes aren't greatly significant.
What else can Anthony come up with?
"One of the most significant things in your eyes, Michael, is you've got a white overlay," says Anthony. "A lot of iridologists believe that's a uric acid eye. And that gives you a predisposition to arthritis and rheumatoid conditions.
Anthony's on the money with that one. "About three years ago I had a bout of reactive arthritis, which ended up finishing my cricket," confirms Michael.
Anthony also picks up a couple of other family conditions in Michael's history.
Michael's medical history is somewhat of an open book, however, thanks to his cricketing days, so to really put iridology to the test, we've got two more candidates for Anthony to examine.
Brienne Czeref is 22 years old and she's just finished her degree in Food Technology. Jordan Maloney's 24 and he's studying medical science.
Both Jordan and Brienne have health issues that Anthony knows nothing about.
"When I was born I had a urinary reflux," says Brienne. "Basically, my urine would flush back up into my kidneys."
"I suffered a back injury years ago," says Anthony. "I do have some persisting symptoms from that."
Dr David Cockburn would say that Jordan and Brienne are wasting their time with iridology. He's a retired academic who's published research on its usefulness in diagnosing medical conditions.
"In my view iridology is a total nonsense, but it's pretty harmless, provided it's not taken too seriously," he says. "It's a bit like reading tealeaves in teacups, reading palms of hands or chicken's entrails."
The results
Anthony examines Jordan's eyes and says that a family history of anxiety may be indicated, which Jordan says he's not a hundred percent certain of. Not a great start.
Anthony then picks up on a significant spot right in the middle of the lungs. It turns out that Jordan had pleurisy around the age of 14, which took him out of school for three weeks.
"You've also a large mark in the back area," observes Anthony. "Have you ever suffered a back injury or have a family history of back injury?"
"At about the age of 13, I did injure my back, rollerblading," confirms Jordan.
Two out three isn't bad, but Dr Cockburn is not convinced.
"If you make enough diagnoses you'll get one of them right down the track," he says. "If you tell a patient they've got 30 things wrong with them, one of them is bound to be right."
Anthony examines Brienne. He finds a dark outline around the outside of her eye.
"The term for that is termed a scurf rim," he says. "And that's associated with poor circulation; not sweating a lot — they're the most common things people say."
Brienne says that she does have poor circulation and doesn't sweat much
Anthony then asks about discolourations pertaining to the adrenal and kidney area, groin and pelvis. Brienne confirms that she had urinary reflux as a child.
Our two guinea pigs have given their iridology experience the thumbs up.
"Actually he was really, really spot on. I can't believe how well it went, actually," says Brienne.
"It was really quite interesting," says Jordan. "He outlined a lot of my predispositions, particularly in my situation, I was quite impressed. Especially mentioning my back."
Michael's more convinced that iridology might be useful as a sort of medical memory jogger; things to watch out for, so to speak.
Opponents like Dr David Cockburn still disagree. He says the only way patients can fix their medical problems is with a proper diagnosis — not iridology.
"Not only does it waste people's time and money, but it can delay a proper diagnosis of whatever it is that they're seeking help for," he says.
Conclusion
Make up your own mind, but one thing's for sure; the human eye is a pretty wonderful piece of equipment. It's how we see the world outside us and, if you believe the iridologists, the world within as well.
Regardless of whether you believe in iridology or not, it's only ever intended as a starting point in health care. As always, if you're concerned about a problem, go see your GP.
Fast facts
Eye colour is determined by melanin, the same chemical that colours your hair and skin. More melanin means brown eyes; less and they get lighter, like blue. If one parent has brown eyes and the other blue, generally the child will have brown eyes because that gene is dominant. It doesn't always happen that way however, and geneticists are yet to work out why.
It's not uncommon for people, particularly couples, to share their glasses, but using someone else's glasses is not a great idea because everyone's prescription lens is different. A short time in the wrong glasses isn't a major problem, but it can lead to temporary eye strain. Prolonged use might cause damage, as your eyes try to adjust to the inappropriate lens.
Acknowledgements: MSN Health
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Scientists discover Jet lag pill...
Image via WikipediaTired travellers around the world may soon have smoother landings as scientists discover a miracle formula to combat jet lag.
It's one of the most irksome side effects of travelling, but jet lag could well be a thing of the past, if the scientists at Max Planck Institute in Germany have their way. The researchers revealed to the journal Neuron that they have found a substance that manipulates the body clock so that the usual effects of jet lag, like insomnia, weariness and in extreme cases, depression, can be avoided.
It all comes down to hormones in the end — the hormone cortisol to be precise. The scientists found that cortisol levels peak at 8am, and trough from midnight to 4am, so a pill containing cortisol could actually eliminate the pesky problems of jet lag if taken around the day before travelling. The tests are still in preliminary stages, so it's not certain yet whether the pill would be better or worse for your health, but it's an important step indeed.
How do you cope with jet lag? Is it better to sleep it off or stay awake?
Sunday, June 13, 2010
NZ Men's Health Week starting June 14 2010...
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Guys are being encouraged to take greater control of their physical and mental wellbeing this week.
Men’s Health Week 2010 will launch in Auckland at a breakfast hosted by Men’s Health Trust New Zealand at Eden Park on Monday, June 14.
The campaign is designed to coincide with International Men’s Health Week, which runs from June 14 until June 20.
Men’s Health Trust chairman Colleen Thurston said the week needed to be supported and promoted, especially with New Zealand men dying daily of preventable illnesses and with death rates for Maori men double that of non-Maori.
"It's time for men to stop, take time out — think about their health and visit their GP more regularly," she said.
General Practice New Zealand (GPNZ) executive chair, Dr Bev O‘Keefe, said "statistics show that New Zealand men live on average four years less than women, and yet still remain much less likely to talk to a GP or nurse about their health".
He recommended a yearly checkup with a family doctor.
More information can be found at www.menshealthweek.co.nz
Aussie breakthrough animal cancer drug to be trialled on humans...
Image via WikipediaA breakthrough Queensland drug that has cured cancer tumours in pet dogs, cats and horses is to be trialled on humans.
Queensland life science company QBiotics Limited's chief executive Dr Victoria Gordon says it will fast track human trials for their cancer drug EBC-46.
She said EBC-46 would be the first drug discovered from Australia's unique rainforests to enter human clinical trials.
Dr Gordon said the drug had successfully reduced or eliminated inoperable solid tumours in more than 100 pet dogs, cats and horses.
She said the drug could help treat human skin cancer, head and neck cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer.
"Many pet owners involved in veterinary trials of EBC-46 have ... literally watched the deadly tumours on their pets disintegrate within five to seven days of being treated," she said in a statement.
"It is absolutely amazing to see this drug in action.
"The tumours almost shrink before your eyes."
The drug was developed over six years of research into the seed of a Queensland rainforest plant.
"The drug, which is a previously unknown molecule, works differently to most current chemotherapy agents, in that it is not highly toxic to cells," Dr Gordon said.
The company QBiotics, established in 2004, is raising $10 million to fund human trials which will be run in Australia.
The capital raising is being managed by corporate finance manager Reuben Buchanan.
QBiotics has a target of making EBC-46 commercially available for veterinary markets in Australia this year with human clinical trials commencing in early 2011.
However, it will be some time before it is commercially available for humans.
Acknowledgements - AAP
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