Drinking water before meals good

Have you tried out every trick in the book to lose weight – crash diets, gyms, or simply starving yourself?

Now, try a simple trick – drink a glass or two of water before meals, as that’s the best way to curb appetite and shed those pounds – says a new research.

Scientists have reported that just two 8-ounce glasses of water taken before meals, can lead to weight loss.

“In this recent study, we found that over the course of 12 weeks, dieters who drank water before meals, three times per day, lost about 5 pounds more than dieters who did not increase their water intake,” said Brenda Davy of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.

The simple reason is that it fills up the stomach with a substance that has zero calories. People feel fuller as a result, and eat less calorie-containing food during the meal.

And it gets even better if you replace sweetened calorie-containing beverages with it.

Although there’s no exact amount of water one should drink, experts advise that most healthy people can simply let thirst be their guide.

The general recommendations for women are about 9 cups of fluids — from all beverages including water — each day, and men at about 13 cups of fluids.

5 foods every woman must eat

Leafy vegetables
It is not possible to meet your nutritional needs without having leafy vegetables in your diet. Spinach, legumes, asparagus, lettuce, fenugreek leaves, broccoli are available in abundance and are huge sources of fibre, Vitamin C and K, folic acid. It is also a vision protector and provides four essential minerals, i.e. calcium, magnesium, iron and potassium. Try to have it daily in your diet and darker the better.

Whole grains
Whole grains have up to 96 per cent more fibre and essential nutrients and vitamins than refined grains. Advises diet expert Honey Shah, “I advise my clients to have whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, and brown rice as they are high in essential nutrients and do not contribute to weight gain. You can start your day with whole wheat cereal or a whole wheat bread toast.”

Nuts
Make nuts an essential ingredient in your diet. Sprinkle it on salads or breakfast cereals or stir them into yoghurt because they are an excellent source of protein, magnesium and B & E vitamins. They are useful in fighting heart disease and cancer. Nuts are high in fat calories, but their fat is the heart-healthy kind. You can also eat them as an evening snack. But make sure you don’t overdo them. About a quarter cup or about 15-20 almonds, cashews, walnuts are good enough a week.

Yoghurt
Low fat or plain yoghurt is a great source of vitamins, protein and calcium. It also has healthy bacteria which can fight diseases. “Three to four cups a week is good enough for your diet. But make sure you don’t add sugar to it. Instead choose plain yoghurt and add fruits or berries to it,” suggests dietician Pinky.

Berries
Ever wondered why most of the diet fibre products have berries in them? Reason being berries are high in fill-you-up fibre and also helps curb weight. Berries have more protective plant antioxidants than almost any other food. These antioxidants not only lower your disease risks, but also help prevent memory loss. You can have a bowl full of them thrice a week. It could be fresh or frozen, benefits stay!

Foods that help sleep better

 The meal you choose tonight could mean the difference between counting sheep and getting some serious shut-eye. So order the salmon.

There are certain nutrients in salmon, as well as in beans, yogurt, and spinach that help you sleep better.

Salmon
The healthy fats in this fish (namely docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA for short) may boost levels of the sleep-regulating hormone melatonin.

Beans
Beans and other legumes provide a nice sampling of B vitamins, including B6, B12, and folic acid, all of which help the body regulate sleep cycles and produce relaxing serotonin. In fact, studies have shown that boosting B vitamins may help people with insomnia.

Low-fat yogurt
Yogurt is a good source of calcium and magnesium – two important sleep-supporting minerals that together help you fall asleep faster and ratchet up your deep-sleep time. And skimping on both may lead to muscle cramps, higher stress levels, and worse sleep.

Spinach
Dark leafy greens are a great source of iron – a nutrient that may help protect against the sleep robber known as restless legs syndrome.

Suffering from sleep disorder?

The boss seems to be hell-bent on giving you a taste of ever-shortening deadlines, your spouse is complaining more than usual and the neighbours are waking up to the sounds of your snoring rather than the alarm clock. Take solace, for you’re not alone. Leading doctors in the city believe that sleep disorders are among the fastest rising ailments seen among the young, upwardly mobile, working professionals of today. So much so, that experts say that such problems have assumed a life-threatening dimension.

With office goers working late to meet impossible deadlines and super-moms juggling career, kids and home, people these days are compromising on the essential hours of sleep required on a daily basis. As a result, they are on the receiving end of sleep disorders. Dr N Rama Krishnan, who practices at an institute specialising in sleep sciences in the city, says, “Many a time, sleep-related ailments go undiagnosed. A lack of awareness adds to the plight. Sleep deprivation could lead to ‘apnoea’ which is slowing down of breathing during sleep.”

He explains, “As the oxygen level in the brain goes down or gets constrained and the person wakes up abruptly. And when an individual wakes up with sore eyes and an aching body, tiredness and irritability are expected.” Studies have shown that sleep deprivation could lead to lack of concentration in children and even impotency in adults.

Who are vulnerable:

Men are generally prone to sleep disorders, but for the last few years, the number of women affected by sleep disorders, has seen an upward trajectory.

Caffeine addicts and those who haven’t yet gotten rid of their fixation with cigarettes, also form a part of the high risk group affected by sleep-related ailments.

Snoring is the usual symptom of sleep apnoea. Those affected show signs of depression, anxiety and low social interaction.

Recent studies have shown an alarming number of young men and women are getting prone to sleep disorders which are primary being attributed to lifestyle choices — like long and stressful hours at work and unhealthy eating habits.

Tips to follow:

Sleep and get up on time. Not just making but adhering to a schedule would go a long way.

Go for morning walks and get enough sunshine.

Avoid coffee and aerated drinks.

Avoid going to bed directly after meals.

Do not go to sleep, watching the telly.

Unwind yourselves post-dinner for at least an hour. Listen to music, pick up a novel or indulge in a pastime.

Get seven hours of undisturbed sleep every day.

For night-shift workers:

Use eye shades while sleeping.

Keep cellphones away.

Have a heavy breakfast, so that you do not have to get up for lunch thereby breaking your continuous spell of sleep.

Best brain foods for everyone

As you age, your memory goes for a toss. Eating right will help those grey cells in working condition and you in tip-top shape!
Can’t find your keys … again? Whether your momentary memory loss is linked to doing too many things at once or just a bad case of menopausal brain fog, you don’t have to put up with it.
Studies suggest that natural chemicals in these foods, spices, and drinks combat cognitive decline.
Here is a list of some of the foods that help us keep our memory active and sharp.
- Asparagus
- Blueberries
- Cocoa
- Coffee
- Egg yolks
- Rosemary
- Salmon
- Tomato sauce
- Walnuts

Is losing curves good for you?

While actress Kareena Kapoor, who sparked off the size-zero trend with her perfect bikini body in the movie Tashan has moved on to a fuller frame, the drive for skinniness has not relented. Women’s bodies are getting increasingly androgynous—thin, narrow hips with flat chests.

The fad for sleeker frame is typified by Bollywood’s leading ladies Priyanka Chopra, the waifish Sonam Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha whose punishing fitness regimes are well-documented. For most women this is only possible with a genetically blessed bone structure along with surgery – something which women India are pursuing with a vengeance.

According to designer Deepti Sudhindra, “women have been losing the curves for some time now. The fixation with thinness began with English model Twiggy whose body was like a clothes hanger. In India, actresses such as Sri Devi were panned for buxom figures. After Kareena lost her Punjabi kuddi image, it is all about as skinny as it can get, 24-inch waist sizes, stretched skin and flat chests.”

However, the trend is not entirely Bollywood driven, shares fashion expert Deepika Govind. High fashion and society plays a big role in propagating waifish looks. “We are living in a very physical society, where people want to hold on to youth. They want to look 25 at the age of 50. Age doesn’t age as it used to before, people want to undergo cosmetic surgeries for that chiseled nose and sharper cheekbones,” she said.

The trend to look like a model also has an adverse impact on women. “In the beauty business such as modeling, looking good is de rigueur. One has to be fit to sell the product,” says Govind. Senior model Sonalika Sahay observes, “I know a lot of girls who aspire to look a like a model. But they don’t know that models are genetically blessed with tall, lean frames and most models work hard to keep it that way”.

Undoubtedly, there is a flip side to this hot but worrisome trend. “If you are severely conscious about your body, you will obviously have health issues later, especially after the age of 35 when women become more susceptible to knee injuries,” warns fitness expert Steve Dave.

Even the fashion world has bucked the trend of size zero model, saying that they send signals of anorexia. Sudhindra uses fuller bodied models for her campaigns while in the West, designers such as Mark Fast have used fiercely plus sized models on the catwalk.

Some fat can do one a lot of good.

Yoga: for a good sex life!

To beat fatigue in the bedroom, yoga is the way ahead for sexual wellbeing.

In yoga studios of suburban Delhi, there’s a new asana for sexuality, which is bringing a revolution in the lives of men and women. Delhi-based yoga expert Mini Shastri advises Surya Namaskar every morning for a scared sexual connection.

”Surya Namaskar is a combination of 12 different poses, back bends, forward bends. While doing the namaskar you contract and expand your nerves to the pelvic girdle, which is your sexual core. This stimulates your sexual hormones and helps you achieve a new sexual equilibrium. While kundalini yoga is also beneficial for a better sex life. For instance, vrkasana or the scorpio pose helps your reproductive organs.”

Awake your sensual being
Ellen Barrett’s book Sexy Yoga, is designed to open up seven chakras (energy centers) that involve sexuality: root, sacral and heart. “Yoga means union or yoke in Sanskrit, and it focuses on bringing the body into harmony with the mind and spirit. The awareness of sexuality through yoga is deeper and more intimate. Yoga is about discovering the joys of elegant sexuality,” says Barrett.

Why are more people rediscovering the yogic position on sexuality? “Yoga helps you in creating a balance. Kundalini yoga helps you create bio-energy, It activates your sex hormones. There’s a spiritual connection between yoga, sex and celibacy on the other. Yoga helps you achieve your needs, you can be celibate or satisfied sexually through yoga, it helps you supress or express sexual desire. Kundalini yoga is a bio-science of sexuality and psychology. It can rejuvenate through breathing exercises, which enhance consciousness, with bio-magnetic awareness, you can use your charms sexually. We have higher forms of prayananam ,” says Kundalini yoga expert, Meena Nanda, who teaches dynamic life management for well-being.

Do we really need nude yoga?
Perhaps, some people are taking yoga for sensuality a bit too far. Like New York-based ashtanga yoga teacher Aaron Star is the founder of Hot Nude Yoga, which combines ashtanga and vinyasa yoga session. “The students discover breathing techniques that will help you to relax and bliss out. The practice involves the classic stretching postures and breathing exercises, coordinated with chanting and meditation to stimulate the release of so-called kundalini energy. It uses the energy of sex to raise the kundalini energy to the higher chakras. It is a good idea to be a regular practitioner of ordinary yoga before you embark on yoga for sex,” says Star.

Mudras for sexual healing
Sexologist Dr Prakash Kothari believes, yoga is the perfect for emotional, sexual and spiritual well-being. “There are certain asanas that enhance physical intimacy — bhramari prayanam , chanting of Om with eyes and ears closed reduces anxiety, helps in contracting and expanding sexual nerves. While vajrasana helps in erectile dysfunctions, vajroli and ashwini mudra can help pregnant women pursue a healthy sex life after delivery. These mudras help the pelvic muscles. I also advise surya namaskar to those who have endrocrine imbalance. If you follow these excercises, yoga can really improve your sex life.”

Marriage can save you from cancer death

A study has found that marriage boosts the survival odds for both men and women with colon cancer at every stage of the disease.

Researchers at Penn State’s College of Medicine and Brigham Young University analysed records of 127,753 patients and found that those married had a 14 per cent lower risk of death.

Similar to studies of other types of cancers, the researchers did find that married people were diagnosed at earlier stages of colon cancer and sought more aggressive treatment.

The researchers took those and other factors into account before calculating the benefit of marriage on survival odds.

“Controlling for the stage that the cancer was detected is key. Without that, it’s hard to know whether the analysis is just picking up a diagnosis effect,” Sven Wilson, a study co-author and professor at Brigham Young University, said.

Colon cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in the United States for both men and women. Curiously, the marriage benefit seen in the new study was nearly identical for both men and women.

Marriage is a self-selected group, and Wilson is careful to note that the selection process makes it difficult to sort out the root cause.

One intuitive idea is that spouses serve as an important informal caregiver during a critical time, and that extra support may translate into better disease management and, hence, better outcomes.

The study has been published online in the journal Cancer Epidemiology .

Source: Agencies

8 Wonder ways for a flat tummy

Blame it on SRK’s six-pack-magic, Aamir’s eight-pack-charisma or Priyanka’s hot bikini bod, but flaunting the flattest tummy and a set of well toned abs is the latest dream for many youngsters.
But, they usually tend to forget that it takes more than just basic crunches and crash dieting to carve a drool worthy, flat stomach. Explains fitness trainer, Deanne Pandey, “Ab exercises + cardio exercises + right diet – this is the most effective formula to achieve well-toned abdominal muscles. Missing upon any one of these will take away the real impact of an abs-workout.”
“An ideal diet and workout for every individual depends upon his/her weight loss requirement, body type and body shape,” suggests Pandey. For instance, a pear shaped person may indulge in a less strenuous workout and minimal diet modifications to get the desired tummy in comparison to an apple shaped body, who is usually heavy in the tummy area.
Here are a set of workout and physical activities, which when combined with an ideal eating plan and cardio workouts can assure you of the killer abs that you always dreamt of…
1. Naukasana- A common yoga posture that works wonders on your abs.
Method: Lie flat on the ground, with your back on the floor. Raise your upper body and legs to an angle of 30 degrees and hold the posture for 30-40 seconds, then relax. Repeat this asana for 10 times to begin with, graduating to 30 times. Breathe normally all through the work out.
“Holding onto the posture tightens and contracts your upper and lower abs while repeating the movement tones them up,” tells yoga expert Usha Chegappa of Bharat Thankur’s Artistic Yoga.
2. Ushtrasana : It is the counter pose to naukasana .
Method: Stand on your knees, with heels facing upwards. Arch your back, placing your hands on your knees one by one. Hold your head behind pushing your belly outwards. Hold this posture for 30 seconds and repeat 30 times.
“During naukasana , the ab muscles contract building up tension in the area, while ushtrasana releases the tension by giving your tummy a good stretch. It is important to practice ushtrasana after naukasana to save one’s back from injury,” explains Usha.
3. Basic crunch : The good old crunch still remains the best exercise to bag the perfect abs.
Method: Lie on the floor with your legs off the floor in a right angle. Keep your shoulders just above the floor. Breathe in and bring your knees in towards your chest, while lifting your upper body to an angle of 30 degrees and breathe out while you relax. Repeat this exercise 15-20 times to begin with.
“Don’t arch your back. The crunches will help you contract your abdomninal muscles giving them an effective workout,” suggests Deanne.

4. Bridging: Stretch till you feel the burn!
Method: Lie flat on the floor with your hands resting by your sides, feet flat on the floor, shoulder width apart and knees bent. Now, contract your abdominals, lower back and gluts and slowly lift your midsection to form a bridge from your knees, through your hips to your shoulders. Hold this position for a few seconds, and then slowly lower. Fitness expert Kiran Swahney suggests, “Avoid this exercise in case you are suffering from lower back problems.”

Keeping eyes healthy

How long has it been since you had your eyes tested? Well, if you can read this page okay, everything must be fine, right? Not necessarily!
We demand a lot from our eyes and, when they become tired, sore or bloodshot, we tend to put it down to the stresses and strains of everyday life. But these symptoms could also indicate a more serious problem, which is why it’s vital to have regular check-ups. Read on for our focus on eye health.

What to look for

Eyes are amazingly resilient and generally quick to heal from minor injuries, infections, abrasions and other irritations. But it’s really important to have a full eye check every two years – which is covered by Medicare – or annually, if you’re over 50, to spot problems before they become too serious. And as well as regular check-ups, if your eyes begin to bother you or your vision suddenly changes, don’t delay seeking help. Here are a few problems to look for.
Symptom: Dry, sore, tired eyes.
It could be: Lack of sleep, air-conditioned or smoky environments, or eye strain. If you work on a computer, take regular breaks from the screen and get some fresh air. Eye drops may help, but consult your pharmacist or GP to make sure there’s no underlying condition.
Symptom: Scratchy, gritty or itchy eyes.
It could be: Lack of lubrication can cause eyes to feel dry and scratchy. This could be caused by medications, hormonal changes, recovery from eye surgery, seasonal allergies or reactions to products such as make-up, cleansers or detergents. If problems persist, see your doctor.
Symptom: Red, swollen eye rims, crusty build-up on lids, itching, burning.
It could be: Blepharitis (eyelid inflammation), a bacterial infection, seborrhoeic dermatitis or allergies. See your GP as soon as problems occur to determine the best course of action.
Symptom: Pimple-like sores on eyelids.
It could be: A sty, generally caused by bacteria, a blocked pore or oil gland. It usually resolves itself, but may need antibiotic drops. Whatever you do, don’t try to pop it!
Symptom: Bloodshot, gunky, weeping eyes.
It could be: Conjunctivitis (pinkeye) – a contagious condition caused by a viral or bacterial infection, which may require antibiotic treatment by your doctor.
Symptom: Sudden flashes of light or floaters (tiny spots that seem to swim in front of you), or a sense that a shadow is falling across your eye from the top or side.
It could be: Warning signs of a detached retina, a serious condition that needs immediate attention as it can lead to vision loss and blindness. It can happen as a result of eye trauma but, often, it occurs for no known reason. It’s not painful, so heed the symptoms – it’s better to be overcautious than risk your sight.

EAT THIS!

Once upon a time, it was all about carrots, but the latest research shows that foods
rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and other essential vitamins and minerals also play an important role in keeping eyes healthy. Munch on leafy greens such as spinach, kale and broccoli, Brazil nuts, oysters, salmon, avocados, garlic, tomatoes, blueberries, egg yolks, wholegrains and sunflower seeds.

Tips for better eye health

Follow this advice to help keep your eyes in top shape:

• Get enough sleep.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Maintain a healthy diet.
• Keep your weight within a healthy range.
• Get regular exercise.
• Avoid transferring bacteria to your eyes by washing your hands frequently.
• Don’t smoke.
• Never share make-up tools or products as they can harbour bacteria.
• Replace your eye make-up every four to six months. If you get an eye infection, such as conjunctivitis, toss eye make-up immediately.
• Remove eye make-up before going to bed.
• Wear good-quality sunglasses with an eye protection factor of 10, all year round.
• Wear eye protection if working or playing sport in an environment that could pose a threat to your eyes.
• Exercise your eye muscles by switching focus every so often. Look away from your screen or other close work and out into the distance. Scrunch your eyes tightly for a few seconds, then open wide, look up, down, and from side to side.
• If you have contact lenses, use, clean and dispose of them as directed.
• Get regular check-ups by an eye-care professional.

These serious eye conditions require immediate attention.

Macular degeneration (MD)
MD is the leading cause of blindness in Australia. The macula is the central part of the retina – the part of the eye that processes visual images. Symptoms include difficulties focusing and seeing at night, empty spaces in your central vision and light sensitivity.
Most at risk: People over 50, smokers and those with a family history of MD. Prevention: Have yearly eye check-ups after 50, and request your optometrist examine your macula. If you’re a smoker, stop.
Glaucoma
This is a disease in which the optic nerve is slowly destroyed, usually due to a build-up of pressure in the eye. It has no initial obvious symptoms and leads to irreversible blindness.
Most at risk: Those with a family history of glaucoma, or if you have high blood pressure, short- or long-sightedness, diabetes, migraines, an eye injury or overuse steroid medications.
Prevention: If you’re over 35, and at risk, have annual eye checks. Early treatment can prevent vision loss.

Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetics are at risk of this condition, in which blood vessels inside the retina are damaged, leading to vision problems and blindness.
Most at risk: Long-time diabetics, and those with poorly managed diabetes who also have high blood pressure or kidney disease.
Prevention: Keep blood glucose levels in the normal range, eat a healthy diet, take prescribed medications as directed, don’t smoke and have regular eye check-ups.
Cataracts
Affecting one or both eyes, cataracts can cause blurred and distorted vision, light sensitivity, double vision and distortion. They can be treated with surgery.
Most at risk: Those with a family history, diabetics, smokers, anyone who has had long-term, unprotected exposure to strong sunlight.
Prevention: Stop smoking, wear sunglasses, manage diabetes, have eye check-ups

source: au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/health/

Get rid of your belly fat!

Whether you have a major paunch or a tiny roundness and want to slim down, we have just the answers for you  .
Looking for the simplest way to get rid of fat around your tummy? Go for this creative 20-minute fat-blasting workout and you’ll begin to see a toned tummy in just three weeks. Do them four times a week, with a day of rest in between.
Work out
Your legs are your scissors: Lie on your back with arms by your sides, legs raised, and toes pointing toward the sky. Flatten your lower back, engaging lower tummy muscles.
Inhale while lowering your right leg, so your toes are in line with your nose. Exhale, switching your legs scissor-like, so your right leg lifts back up and your left comes down. (Don’t touch the ground with your foot.) Do 3 sets of 8–10 reps.
Lie flat in front: Get on your knees and forearms with your elbows directly under your shoulders, fingers interlaced. Stretch your legs long, and come up on your toes into plank position. Exhale while twisting slightly to the left from your waist only. Inhale, returning to the starting position, then repeat on the opposite side. Do three sets of 10-12 reps.
A ball-game: Look up at the ceiling, lie down on a stability ball, and drape your abs and hips over it. Place your hands on the ground in front of you, and walk them out until the ball rolls beneath your shins; contract your lower abs and lift your hips slightly, then slowly lower them down. Do three sets of 10-12 reps.
Sleeping Buddha-pose: Lie on your left side with your legs straight and stacked on top of one another and your feet flexed. Rest your head on your straight left arm. Inhale while lifting both legs off the ground, then exhale while slowly lowering them until they’re about 1 inch off the ground. Do 10-12 reps, then switch sides and repeat to complete 1 set; do three sets.
Major paunch: Do 3 sets of 15 bicycle crunches 2-3 times a week, plus 30-45 minutes’ worth of run-walk intervals (2 minutes each) 4-5 times a week. You’ll notice the result in 4 weeks.

Tiny roundness: Do 3 sets of 12-15 crunches on a stability ball 2-3 times a week to sculpt your tummy in 3 weeks.
Eat this
Major paunch: Cut or burn 500 calories and drink 2 cups of green tea daily, as green tea alone helped exercisers drop ab fat in 12 weeks.
Tiny roundness: Eat snacks with belly-busting monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) daily: 23 almonds, 6 olives, or 2 squares dark chocolate. MUFAs can reduce ab fat in a month.
Fake it
Major paunch: Dress in a way that your belly fat is kept hidden. Go for lacy camisoles to pull in and shape your middle, plus give your chest a lift.

Tiny roundness: Get a belt that’s at least 3 inches wide and made of a stiff material or leather. A belt that won’t bend like a corset helps to hide your tummy.
Source: Website

An apple a day keeps cholesterol away

An apple a day can really keep the doctor away — by reducing bad cholesterol levels in women, according to a new study.

“Apples are truly a miracle fruit that convey benefits beyond fiber content,” said Bahram H. Arjmandi, Margaret A. Sitton Professor and Chair, Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences at The Florida State University, who led the study.

Animal studies have shown that apple pectin and polyphenols in apple improve lipid metabolism and lower the production of pro-inflammatory molecules.

Arjmandi’s research is the first to evaluate the long-term cardio-protective effects of daily consumption of apple in postmenopausal women.

The study randomly assigned 160 women ages 45-65 to one of two dietary intervention groups: one received dried apples daily (75g/day for 1 year) and the other group ate dried prunes every day for a year.

Blood samples were taken at 3, 6 and 12-months.

The results surprised Arjmandi, who stated that incredible changes in the apple-eating women happened by 6 months – they experienced a 23 per cent decrease in LDL cholesterol.

The daily apple consumption also led to a lowering of lipid hydroperoxide levels and C-reactive protein in those women.

“I never expected apple consumption to reduce bad cholesterol to this extent while increasing HDL cholesterol or good cholesterol by about 4 per cent,” said Arjmandi.

Yet another advantage is that the extra 240 calories per day consumed from the dried apple did not lead to weight gain in the women; in fact, they lost on average 3.3 lbs.

“Reducing body weight is an added benefit to daily apple intake” he said.

Part of the reason for the weight loss could be the fruit’s pectin, which is known to have a satiety effect.

The results were presented at Experimental Biology 2011 in Washington, DC.

Source: Website

Waist fat ‘increases heart risk’

People with coronary artery disease have an increased risk of death if they have fat around the waist, according to researchers in the US.

The Mayo Clinic team, which analysed data from five studies involving 15,923 patients, found this even affected people with a normal Body Mass Index.

In the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, they said people with waist fat should try to lose weight.

The British Heart Foundation said those with heart disease should be vigilant.

The researchers at the Mayo Clinic looked at the distance around the hips and waist to measure the fat around the belly, and BMI which is a measure comparing height and weight.

There was a 75% increased risk of death for patients with high levels of fat around the waist compared with those with thin waists.

Even patients with a normal weight, a BMI between 20 and 25, had this increased risk of death if they were carrying fat around the waist.

‘Major risk’

Dr Thais Coutinho, from the Mayo Clinic, said: “BMI is just a measure of weight in proportion to height. What seems to be more important is how the fat is distributed on the body.”

The researchers argue that doctors should take waist and hip measurements for all patients with coronary artery disease in order to give patients advice on how to reduce their risk.

Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This study shows that abdominal obesity is the major risk factor for patients with coronary heart disease even if they have a normal BMI and are a healthy weight.

“The study only looked at patients with coronary heart disease, but it confirms the idea that abdominal fat is ‘toxic’ and is associated with a number of other risk factors for the disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

“It can be confusing to hear that raised BMI is bad for you and then to hear that waist circumference is the important measure, rather than BMI. I would advise that your BMI should generally be between 20 and 25 and if you have heart disease you need to be extra vigilant if you are carrying excess weight on your waist.”

Type 2 diabetes in newly diagnosed ‘can be reversed’

An extreme eight-week diet of 600 calories a day can reverse Type 2 diabetes in people newly diagnosed with the disease, says a Diabetologia study.

Newcastle University researchers found the low-calorie diet reduced fat levels in the pancreas and liver, which helped insulin production return to normal.

Seven out of 11 people studied were free of diabetes three months later, say findings published in the journal.

More research is needed to see whether the reversal is permanent, say experts.

Type 2 diabetes affects 2.5m people in the UK. It develops when not enough insulin is produced in the body or the insulin that is made by the body doesn’t work properly.

When this happens, glucose – a type of sugar – builds up in the blood instead of being broken down into energy or fuel which the body needs.

The 11 participants in the study were all diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes within the previous four years.

They cut their food intake drastically for two months, eating only liquid diet drinks and non-starchy vegetables.

Fat loss

After one week of the diet, researchers found that the pre-breakfast blood sugar levels of all participants had returned to normal.

MRI scans of their pancreases also revealed that the fat levels in the organ had decreased from around 8% – an elevated level – to a more normal 6%.

Three months after the end of the diet, when participants had returned to eating normally and received advice on healthy eating and portion size, most no longer suffered from the condition.

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Professor Roy Taylor, director of Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre at Newcastle University and lead study author, said he was not suggesting that people should follow the diet.

“This diet was only used to test the hypothesis that if people lose substantial weight they will lose their diabetes.

Dr Ee Lin Lim, also from Newcastle University’s research team, said that although dietary factors were already known to have an impact on Type 2 diabetes, the research showed that the disease did not have to be a life sentence.

“It’s easy to take a pill, but harder to change lifestyle for good. Asking people to shift weight does actually work,” she said.

However, not everyone in the study managed to stay free of diabetes.

“It all depends on how much individuals are susceptible to diabetes. We need to find out why some people are more susceptible than others, then target these obese people. We can’t know the reasons for that in this study,” Dr Lim said.

Professor Edwin Gale, a diabetes expert from the University of Bristol, said the study did not reveal anything new.

“We have known that starvation is a good cure for diabetes. If we introduced rationing tomorrow, then we could get rid of diabetes in this country.

“If you can catch people with diabetes in the early stages while beta cells are still functioning, then you can delay its onset for years, but you will get it sooner or later because it’s in the system.”

But Keith Frayn, professor of human metabolism at the University of Oxford, said the Newcastle study was important.

“People who lose large amounts of weight following surgery to alter their stomach size or the plumbing of their intestines often lose their diabetes and no longer need treatment.

“This study shows that a period of marked weight loss can produce the same reversal of Type 2 diabetes.

“It offers great hope for many people with diabetes, although it must be said that not everyone will find it possible to stick to the extremely low-calorie diet used in this study.”

Dr Iain Frame, director of research at Diabetes UK, which funded the study, said the diet was not an easy fix.

“Such a drastic diet should only be undertaken under medical supervision. Despite being a very small trial, we look forward to future results particularly to see whether the reversal would remain in the long term.”

HIV-related deaths fall in China

Efforts to improve access to HIV drugs in China have cut deaths by more than 60% in seven years, researchers say.

China introduced free anti-retroviral drugs in 2003, reaching more than 60% of patients by 2009.

But experts say more needs to be done to speed up diagnosis and improve access to treatment in certain groups.

They include men, the elderly, migrants and ethnic minority groups, injecting drug users and people who have caught HIV through sexual contact.

The findings are published online in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal.

Lead author Professor Fujie Zhang, from the National Centre for Aids/STD Control and Prevention, in Beijing, said: “Given the size of the country, and the geographical spread of individuals with HIV… China’s treatment coverage is remarkable… but it is far from the goal of complete coverage of people who meet the treatment criteria.”

Commenting on the study, Terrence Higgins Trust clinical director Jason Warriner said: “We know that access to testing and treatment, in the form of anti-retrovirals, is vital both in preventing deaths from HIV and stopping more people becoming infected.

“The earlier people are diagnosed with HIV the greater chance they have of being able to lead a long and healthier life.

“But there also needs to be ongoing education and awareness of HIV to help prevent more people becoming infected in the future.”

Gonorrhoea strain found to be ‘resistant to antibiotics’

A new strain of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhoea has become resistant to antibiotics, international research shows.

Analysis of the bacterium that causes gonorrhoea found a new variant which is very effective at mutating.

Scientists from the Swedish Reference Laboratory warn that the infection could now become a global threat to public health.

New drugs to delay the spread of the infection are needed, experts say.

The first case of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea was found in Japan.

By analysing this new strain of neisseria gonorrhoea, called H041, researchers identified the genetic mutations responsible for the new strain’s extreme resistance to all cephalosporin-class antibiotics.

Cephalosporins are used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections. They are also closely related to the penicillins.

A team of researchers will present its findings at a conference run by the International Society for Sexually Transmitted Disease Research in Canada.

Dr Magnus Unemo, from the Swedish Research Laboratory for Pathogenic Neisseria, said it was an alarming and predictable discovery.

“Since antibiotics became the standard treatment for gonorrhoea in the 1940s, this bacterium has shown a remarkable capacity to develop resistance mechanisms to all drugs introduced to control it.

“While it is still too early to assess if this new strain has become widespread, the history of newly emergent resistance in the bacterium suggests that it may spread rapidly unless new drugs and effective treatment programs are developed.”

Prevention not cure

Rebecca Findlay, from the Family Planning Association, said it was a worrying sign.

“Prevention becomes more important because we know antibiotics won’t always work. Gonorrhoea can affect people of all ages and everyone should be now focusing on looking after their sexual health.”

Dr David Livermore, director of the antibiotic resistance monitoring laboratory at the Health Protection Agency, said that the cephalosporin antibiotics used in the UK are still effective for treating gonorrhoea.

“But our lab tests show that the bacteria are becoming less sensitive to these cephalosporins, with a few treatment failures reported. This means that we are having to change the type of cephalosporin that is used and to increase the dosage.

“The worry is that we will see gonorrhoea becoming a much more difficult-to-treat infection to treat over the next five years.

“Prevention is better than cure, especially as cure becomes harder, and the most reliable way to protect against STIs – including resistant gonorrhoea – is to use a condom with all new and casual partners.”

Gonorrhoea is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world.

Some 50% of women infected with gonorrhoea have no symptoms. The same is true of 2-5% of men.

When symptomatic, gonorrhoea is characterised by a burning sensation when urinating and can cause discharge from the genitals.

If left untreated, gonorrhoea can lead to serious and irreversible health complications in both women and men.

Presenting a breast enhancing diet

Getting bigger breasts is a wish that many women have throughout the world. And unfortunately, the only popular way has been to get expensive and risky surgery.

This is a big problem, leaving many women lacking in self confidence, but it’s actually quite easy to solve.

There are millions of women throughout the world who would like to get bigger breasts, and to do it, you just need to be able to do one thing well – you need to be able to get a lot of estrogen into your body. Estrogen is the “female hormone”, which is responsible for making your body more curvy and your breasts bigger. It’s also the reason why so many women have breasts that they’d rather grow.

The problem with estrogen is simple. You see, during puberty, this hormone is pumped through your body to make it change from that of a girl into a woman. Estrogen kick-starts your menstrual cycle, makes you more curvy and starts to grow the breasts. It’s very important, and the reason why so many women don’t have the breasts they’d want, is because they come out of puberty too early, preventing their breasts from developing properly.

From the ages of 12-16, women’s bodies are full of estrogen. This is puberty and now is the time when most changes happen. However, when puberty stops, the levels of estrogen in your body are dramatically reduced, leaving your breasts to remain at that size throughout your adult life. This means that to make your breasts grow bigger naturally, you just need to be able to consume more estrogen, and luckily, it’s a naturally occurring substance which you can get from many different plants and herbs.

Estrogen is present in plants, where it is called “Phyto-Estrogen” (literally translated as “plant estrogen”). Because estrogen is available from nature, you can actually consume it from the food such as flax seeds, soy beans and even Tofu. There is a wide variety of estrogen-rich foods, which you can eat to make your breasts grow by up to one-two cup sizes. However, you need to be careful because there’s a certain level of estrogen that is effective… otherwise, it can leave unwanted side effects on your body.

So now having bigger breasts is not a fantasy. Chomp your way into these foods and watch heads turn!

Source: Website

HIV medicines ‘boost prevention’

HIV drugs can be used to boost protection against HIV as well as treating symptoms after infection, research suggests.

Two studies in Africa add weight to previous data showing drugs used to treat HIV can reduce infection risk when taken daily.

The World Health Organization said the studies could have “enormous impact” in preventing HIV transmission.

The findings were revealed in the run-up to an AIDS conference in Rome.

“This is a major scientific breakthrough which re-confirms the essential role that antiretroviral medicine has to play in the AIDS response,” said Michel Sidibé, executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

“These studies could help us to reach the tipping point in the HIV epidemic.”
Future hopes

One trial, carried out by the University of Washington, US, followed almost 5,000 couples in Kenya and Uganda, where one person had HIV infection and the other did not.

The uninfected person took a daily HIV medicine (tenofovir), a combination of two HIV drugs (tenofovir and emtricitabine), or a placebo pill.

There were 62% fewer HIV infections in the group on the single drug and 73% fewer HIV infections in the group that took the combination, compared with those given a dummy pill.

The other trial, conducted by the United States Centers for Disease Control, followed 1,200 HIV-negative heterosexual men and women in Botswana. They received either a once-daily combination tablet or a placebo. The HIV medication reduced the risk of getting HIV by about 63% overall.

A previous trial found the combination of two HIV drugs reduced the risk of infection in gay and bisexual men by 44%. But a similar study in women at risk of HIV infection in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa produced disappointing results.
New tools

The HIV charity, the Terrence Higgins Trust, described the latest findings as “genuinely exciting”.

Head of Policy Lisa Power told the BBC: “Pre-exposure prophylaxis is not going to be available overnight but we are exploring whether it is one of a range of things that can drive down onward transmission of HIV.”

But she stressed that the findings needed to be properly tested and trialled.

“If you’re currently trying to stay HIV negative don’t give up on the condoms yet.”

The WHO and UNAIDS recommend that people make evidence-informed decisions on HIV prevention options.

They say no single method is fully protective against HIV and antiretroviral drugs for prevention need to be combined with other HIV prevention methods such as condoms.

“Effective new HIV prevention tools are urgently needed, and these studies could have enormous impact in preventing heterosexual transmission,” said Dr Margaret Chan, the WHO’s Director-General.

“WHO will be working with countries to use the new findings to protect more men and women from HIV infection.”

Full details of the studies will be presented at the meeting in Rome.

Source: BBC

How to get pregnant

A new book shows that for many, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Author Firuza Parikh busts myths about IVF and pregnancy
About 10-12 percent of Indians have trouble conceiving a child. But several myths about Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) keep couples from seeking help. India’s top fertility specialist and gynaecologist Dr Firuza Parekh, who has recently published The Complete Guide to Becoming Pregnant, clears up some misunderstandings. An excerpt:

Myth
Eating spicy food causes ovulation, low sperm count, miscarriage, and premature delivery.
Fact
Eating spicy food only occasionally disturbs the gastrointestinal system and sometimes causes heartburn.
Myth
Seven to eight days of abstinence are required before a semen analysis, or before giving a sample for IVF/ ICSI/ sperm freezing.
Fact
Increased days of abstinence can, in fact, decrease the sperm motility. Two or four days of abstinence are adequate for a good semen sample.
Myth
Masturbation causes impotency and low sperm count.
Fact
Masturbation should not be associated with guilt. It does not impact fertility.
Myth
The chances of pregnancy are reduced if the ejaculated semen comes out of the vagina after intercourse.
Fact
Ejaculated semen liquefies after a few minutes in the vagina. Some seminal fluid is bound to come out. This does not decrease the chances of pregnancy.
Myth
The sexual position determines the gender of the baby.
Fact
No sexual position has any effect on the gender of the baby. There may be other compelling reasons though, for some sexual variation.
Myth
Having sex daily increases the chances of pregnancy.
Fact
Daily sex does not increase the chances of pregnancy and may, in fact, decrease the sperm count on the day of ovulation. In men with low sperm counts, this may be detrimental to the odds of pregnancy.
Myth
PCOS (polycystic ovary syn drome) goes away after having a baby.
Fact
PCOS is a condition that has a genetic basis. It does not go away by itself. Treatment needs to be continued.
Myth
A retroverted uterus causes infertility.
Fact
A retroverted uterus is present in about 30 percent of women. As long as it is not fixed in the retroverted position, it does not impact fertility.
Myth
IVF is completely unnatural.
Fact
IVF mimics nature and the seven steps of fertilisation. The culture medium, incubator, and processes are made as close to nature as possible.
Myth
IVF results only in girls.
Fact
There is no process of sex selection during the procedure. IVF doesn’t change the demography or percentage of girls over boys.
Myth
IVF makes you put on weight.
Fact
The hormones may cause water retention but do not lead to weight gain by accumulation of fat. Of course, if pregnancy occurs, weight gain ensues.
Myth
IVF increases the risk of cancer, particularly of the breast and ovaries.
Fact
There are several scientific studies that have shown no increased risk of cancer after IVF.
Myth
Complete bed rest is required for all patients following IVF.
Fact
Women can and should live a normal life after doing IVF. A study done four years ago showed no increase in pregnancy rates in the group who took bed rest after IVF as compared to those who did not.
Myth
Housework and cooking are prohibited after IVF.
Fact
Housework, cooking, bending, sleeping on the stomach, and mild exercise such as walking, are all permitted after IVF.
Myth
Taking progesterone injections after IVF is better than vaginal pessaries (tablets inserted into the vagina) of progesterone.
Fact
Progesterone injections are painful. They do not have any advantage over vaginal pessaries of progesterone.

A complex breakfast can keep kids mentally healthy

Parents, please note, just by adding a piece of an apple or a glass of hot milk to your child’s breakfast you could protect them from depression, anxiety and disobedience, a new study has claimed. A team at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Perth has carried out a study of more than 800 students and found that a complex breakfast is directly linked to better mental health in kids.

According to lead researcher Therese O’Zullivan, this may be because mental functioning is actually affected by the absorption of a variety of nutrients. Cereal and milk in particular supply calcium iron and B vitamins that assist neurotransmitters, chemicals needed to transfer information in the nervous systems that are directly responsible for behavior and mood. For their study, the researchers enlisted over 800 14 year old girls and boys and analyzed their breakfast intake over three days. They found that just one in four teens ate a high quality breakfast containing three or more of the five food groups, cereals, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, and meats and alternative like beans, nuts and eggs. Those who ate from more food groups for their morning meals scored higher on a child behavior checklist, with an improvement in mood seen for every extra food type added the study revealed.

It didn’t matter what they added, just that they added something different like a banana to their cereal to make that meal more complete with vitamins and minerals. From what we found, that makes a huge difference. “For every additional food group added the mental health status improved markedly across the sample, ”the Age quoted O’Zullivan as saying.