vendredi 28 septembre 2012

Premature aging


This section shows a full list of all the diseases and conditions listed as a possible cause of Premature aging .


  • Acrogeria
  • Cockayne syndrome
  • De Barsy syndrome
  • Down syndrome - premature aging
  • Geroderma osteodysplastica
  • Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Lison syndrome

  • Lower limb anomaly -- ureteral obstruction - premature aging
  • Metegeria
  • Patina hard-skin syndrome
  • Premature aging, Okamoto type - premature aging
  • Progeria - premature aging
  • Rajab-Spranger syndrome - premature aging
  • Seckel syndrome
  • See also causes of thick skin, balding, or wrinkles
  • Smoking
  • Stiff skin syndrome
  • Sun exposure
  • Tight skin contracture syndrome
  • Tropical sprue - premature aging
  • Werner syndrome
  • Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch syndrome
  • Xeroderma pigmentosum
  • Xylosylprotein 4-beta-galactosyltransferase deficiency

jeudi 27 septembre 2012

Avoid Cardiac Arrest Through Keeping in Mind These Very Simple Tips


   Cardiac arrest could certainly hit anybody without notice and may be fatal. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients are especially susceptible to stroke and cardiovascular problems. Being overweight, poor diet, low quality slumber and lack of physical exercise all contribute to the chance of getting a heart attack.
   Thankfully, cardiac arrest may be avoided. One can find four important matters to remember if one really wants to steer clear of the chance of heart failure.
1. Engage in physical activity
   Experts say, being seated the entire day is equally as unhealthy as smoking cigarettes. Exercise is needed to maintain the body’s metabolic process and cardiovascular function under control. The ideal is to be capable of working up a sweat for about half an hour every day. Yet people seem to have the many excuses including lack of time but mostly sheer idleness. Folks lack the drive and even self-motivation to be able to control their selves to exercise daily. However, experts say that even a 10-minute workout is certainly adequate to help keep the body from going into cardiac arrest. ten mins is actually a really short time frame and everyone must be able to do any kind of type of physical exercise they want even at the conveniences of their very own residence.

2. Feed on happiness
   Many individuals will likely be cynical but the truth is, a lot of great things can come about from contentment. The body has a natural capacity to produce happy hormones that is excellent for a person’s well being. It is important for people to stay joyful, smile frequently and also laugh a good deal. According to a study at Wayne State University, happy people live longer compared to those who often experience emotional anxiety. One must always avoid stress, anxiety, hopelessness and violence as a way to decrease the chance of acquiring heart ailments.

3. Learn to love vegetables
   As per Amparo Villablanca, a Cardiologist from the University of California, people need to learn to think about their own bodies as a possible engine. Anything bad that you put within it can cause the engine to corrode and not perform at its maximum. Experts have been highlighting the need for people to eat more vegetables because of its nutritional value. However, food markets are generally full of inexpensive highly processed food which appears suitable for people who are constantly on a hurry and don’t have plenty of time to prepare vegetables on a daily basis. Yet health aficionados will certainly argue that healthful eating is about the correct perspective, the right knowledge of foods and personal time management. Nutritious eating means giving more hours for food preparation yet the little extra effort will certainly help a lot.

4. Have a good night’s slumber
   Nowadays, most people give little significance to sleep. Sleep truly performs an important role in a person’s overall wellness, particularly one’s cardiovascular system wellness. It isn’t sufficient that the person gets 8 hours of slumber every night. What’s more important is how deeply the person is able to slumber with as little or no disruptions as much as possible.
   These kinds of reminders may not be something you haven’t heard of before yet this is really to emphasize the significance of each factor. Experts help remind individuals of such simple things but people find it difficult to comply. Lots of people end up feeling fatigued and having a heart attack at such an early age because of the sedentary type of lifestyle modern society provides people. Keeping balance in life is essential to avoid cardiac arrest. Pursuing these 4 simple reminders day-to-day will help anybody live a wonderfully balanced life.

vendredi 21 septembre 2012

Nail polish leads to diabetes


   Chemicals found in cosmetics, fragrances and plastic packaging could be fueling the dramatic rise in diabetes rates, according to a new study.

   Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found an association between increased concentrations of phthalates - chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system - and an increased risk of diabetes in women. Phthalates are found in moisturizers, nail polishes, soaps, hair sprays and perfumes, and they are also used in adhesives, electronics and toys.

   The team, led by epidemiologist Tamarra James-Todd, analyzed urine samples of 2,350 women ages 20 to 80 who took part in the study between 2001 and 2008. They found that women with higher concentrations of the chemicals were more likely to have diabetes.

   Of the participants, who made up a representative sample of American women controlled for socio-demographic, dietary and behavioral factors, 217 self-reported diabetes. Women who had the highest levels of two chemicals - mono-benzyl phthalate and mono-isobutyl phthalate - had nearly twice the risk of diabetes compared to those with the lowest levels of these chemicals.

   A 70 percent increase in risk was found in women who had moderately high levels of the chemicals mono-n-butyl phthalate and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate. It's possible that phthalates indirectly increase the risk of diabetes by interfering with the metabolism of fat tissue, which can lead to insulin resistance, the researchers said, according to Fox News.

   "This is an important first step in exploring the connection between phthalates and diabetes," said James-Todd. "We know that in addition to being present in personal care products, phthalates also exist in certain types of medical devices and medication that is used to treat diabetes and this could also explain the higher level of phthalates in diabetic women. So overall, more research is needed."

   The researchers also cautioned that the women in the study "self-reported" their diabetes, a less than ideal method of conducting research. And while the study found a potential connection between phthalates and diabetes in women, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship, according to U.S. News & World Report.

   "What we really need to do now is to start exploring phthalate levels over time," James-Todd told The Boston Globe, "to determine whether high levels actually lead to a greater risk of becoming obese and developing diabetes down the line."

   Because of the common usage of phthalates, it could be difficult to avoid the chemicals. "A moisturizer can say it's phthalate-free, but it's packaging can still contain the chemical, which can leech into the cream," she said, according to The Boston Globe. "The bigger issue is whether the government should take steps to limit the use of phthalates in products."

jeudi 20 septembre 2012

Foods stimulate happiness


   Serotonin, sometimes referred to as the ‚Äúfeel-good hormone,‚Äù is essential to promote happy moods, improve feelings of well-being and stabilize your emotions. Although youcould resort to prescription medications to promote serotonin production, drugs come with their own problems and side effects. Instead, it makes more sense to look for natural solutions. Fortunately, a number of foods help up the production of serotonin and help improve your mood.



Foods Rich in B Vitamins
   Often labeled as the ‚Äúanti-stress vitamins,‚Äù B vitamins help stabilize your moods and ease anxiety. When your stress levels go up, it becomes more difficult for your body to keep up with the production of serotonin. Adding foods rich in B vitamins can help you fight stress and improve your mood. Foods rich in B vitamins include nuts, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, brown rice, dried apricots, asparagus and beans.

Foods Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids
   According to cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, omega-3 fatty acids are brain-boosting and effective as an anti-anger supplement. They also help boost good moods and fight depression. Fatty fish such as salmon are the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, but you can also find them in flaxseed, walnuts and soybean oil.

Foods That Contain Tryptophan
   The amino acid tryptophan can help stabilize mood and promote healthy, restful sleep, according to MedLine Plus. Tryptophan is also necessary for the body to produce serotonin. Although tryptophan is sold as a supplement, you can also get it directly from foods such as eggs, nuts, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, tofu and fish.

Foods Rich in Vitamin D
   Vitamin D regulates your body‚Äôs usage and production of serotonin, dopamine and other mood hormones. The best way to get your daily dosage of vitamin D is through a combination of food and sun exposure. Dr. Oz recommends looking for vitamin D-fortified mushrooms. Other foods rich in vitamin D include fortified orange juice, fortified milk, sardines and Swiss cheese.

mardi 4 septembre 2012

How to avoid dry skin


Causes of Dry Skin

   Dry skin is very common and can be very irritating and painful. Dry skin may tend to look very dull, tight and flaky and also feel itchy.
   There are many causes of dry skin and you may only treat it and hydrate it if you know whats causing the dryness.

  • Constantly exposing your skin to environmental and indoor factors can cause your skin to become dry. Regular exposure to the sun and strong winds can aggravate dryness in the skin. You may notice that your skin is at its peak of dryness during the climate changes especially during winter. Indoor factors such as the heater or air conditioner may also effect your skin.
  • Using soap to wash your face does its job by absorbing the oils from your skin, leaving it tight, dry with a shine and  making it very uncomfortable for you.
  • Exposure to water and long hot baths and showers results in skin dryness and the heat takes away the natural oils from your skin.
  • Aging causes the skin to become more and more dehydrated with time.
  • Caffeine and alcohol can cause dryness in the skin as it draw water from your body.
  • Overuse of skin care products and cosmetics can result in damaging the skin hence causing dryness. When purchasing your make-up or skin moisturisers, do some research about the product and its ingredients and invest in quality rather than buying cheap brand make-up as the quality may be poor.
  • Taking drugs and medications may have side effects which cause dryness or patches of dry skin. If you have medical conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, these can also cause your skin to become dry and itchy.
  • Hormonal changes like while you are menstruating or when you are pregnant can cause changes in your skin type.


Treatments for Dry Skin
   Once you know what has caused the dryness in your skin it is easy to avoid some factors and a good idea to start curing the dryness.

  • Exfoliating using a facial scrub two to three times a week will help keep clear the skin and remove dead skin resulting in smoother skin. Always apply good quality moisturiser after washing your face and preferably straight away as the pores in your face will absorb the moisture from the moisturiser.
  • Always apply quality sunscreen or face cream containing SPF protection before leaving the house to protect your skin from the sun. Sunscreen should be applied all through the year even if there is no sun.
  • Use skin care products that are for sensitive skin and are fragrance free, alcohol free and do not contain soap as these ingredients draw away moisture, oils and damage the skin.
  • Avoid long hot baths and showers and use water that is luke warm not very hot when washng your face or just enough warm water when having a shower to avoid dryness in the skin.
  • Give your self a facial treatment once a week by scrubbing your skin with a scrub and then with a facial mask. This will give additional moisture to the skin.



Study with music for better grades or just improve your memory and concentration


   For years there have been studies, books, and discussions on the effects of music on the brain, brain waves, concentration and memory. Broadly speaking, the overall consensus
is that listening to classical music has specific and measurable neurologic effects on the brain, and that these effects are positive. PET and CAT scans have proven that music stimulates areas of the brain responsible for memory, language, motor control, emotional responses, and timing.

   Why classical music? It has to do with the beat (rhythm) and tones. Music such as Mozart stimulates the memory part of the brain and increases the amount of information that is retained. In studies comparing the various types of music, from classical to heavy metal, it was found that certain types of music may be more enjoyable to an individual (i.e. you make 'like' R&B or country or Rap) which makes the study time more enjoyable, but taking a test later, you will score better if you listened to Mozart.

The Mozart Effect
   The term "Mozart Effect" was first used by the French researcher Dr. Alfred A. Tomatis in 1991. Subsequent studies in 1993 published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature, showed listing to a sonata by Mozart resulted in temporary enhancement of spatial-temporal reasoning. The concepts, experiments, and popular books that followed were all over the place in terms of claims - but the basis was real - the brain IS affected in a positive way by listening to Mozart. Overall, no one argues with the positive affects - they just argue over the methodologies, time frames, etc.

   That said, my personal experience is that it works. It REALLY works well for me. But the proof to me was how well it worked for my daughter. We home schooled, which meant we had to use the big standardized tests once a year to prove she was actually learning something. We used Mozart with her test preparation activities. Great results. Now the fact that she graduated with a college degree at 16 leads me to believe there were other, longer term positive results.

Top 10 Ways to Fall Asleep Faster and Easier


    I'm not sure about you, but sleep is something I enjoy occassionally. Let's face it, we all have to sleep to rejuvenate our body and keep it working at the best of its abili
ty. Not everyone can fall asleep quickly, so if you have troubles when your head hits the pillow at night, take a look at these steps and see if they can help!
  1. Kick the Caffeine. It's not rocket science that caffeine keeps your body awake. It's a stimulant, which is why a lot of us use it to keep functioning throughout the day! In reality, it can stay in your body for up to 14 hours, so keep that in mind when you dive into your cup of coffee or can of Coke before hitting the sack. Try to take your last caffeinated drink at least 4 to 6 hours before bedtime.
   2. Don't Drink Alcohol. At first, it might seem like an easy way for you to knock yourself out at night, but it actually causes disturbances in your sleep, therefore leading to a restless sleep which will leave you feeling tired the next morning.
   3. Try to Relax! Stress is part of everyday life, but it can make you miserable and leave you up at night. Try to develop a "system" to break the connection between the day's stresses and bedtime. It can be as short as 10 minutes, or as long as an hour to disconnect from your day. Read a book, meditate, take a hot bath!
   4. Exercise! Regular exercise is not only good for you physcially, but studies have shown that people that exercise on a regular basis sleep better at night. Don't exercise in the evening though if you have trouble sleeping, it can make you more alert so for those of us that can't sleep, it's best to do it in the morning.
   5. Keep your bedroom quiet and dark. For a lot of people, even the slightest noises can keep them up at night. Use earplugs, dark windows and curtains, or even a fishtank for "relaxing" noise. Don't use the overhead light if you can help it, and keep the temperature at a comfortable level for you.
   6. Eat right. Try not to go to bed when you're hungry. But, don't eat a heavy meal before bed either! Milk contains "tryptophan" which is a sleep-promoting substance. Other foods that you might want to snack on before bed would also be avocados, eggs, peaches, potatoes or bananas.
   7. Don't smoke before bed! Even though that last "butt" of the night might make you more relaxed, nicotine has similar effects as caffeine. It will release a stimulant in your body, which will cause you to lie awake at night! 
   8. Don't Nap! If you have trouble sleeping at night, try not to nap during the day. If you do, keep it short! A brief power nap can be rejuvenating, but keep it to just 15 or 20 minutes.
   9. Keep Fido off the bed. If your pet sleeps with you, this might cause some sleeping problems as well. If your pet moves around at night, it can disturb your sleep - not to mention if you have allergies, it won't help those either!
   10. Don't Watch TV, Eat or Argue in bed. Try to get in the habit of keeping your bed for sleep only. It's not a place to watch tv, eat or argue with your spouse. All of these will make it difficult for you to fall asleep.
   It can be hard to make lifestyle changes, so just try one idea at a time and add them on slowly. Eventually, you should be able to fall asleep easeir and faster at night. If trying all of these tips do not work, it might be time to consult a doctor; as there are sometimes medical issues that can prevent someone from getting a restful night's sleep.

lundi 3 septembre 2012

Relaxation Techniques for Stress Relief


   For many of us, relaxation means zoning out in front of the TV at the end of a stressful day. But this does little to reduce the damaging effects of stress. To effectively combat stress, we need to activate the body’s natural relaxation response. You can do this by practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, rhythmic exercise, and yoga. Fitting these activities into your life can help reduce everyday stress and boost your energy and mood.

  Stress is necessary for life. You need stress for creativity, learning, and your very survival. Stress is only harmful when it becomes overwhelming and interrupts the healthy state of equilibrium that your nervous system needs to remain in balance. Unfortunately, overwhelming stress has become an increasingly common characteristic of contemporary life. When stressors throw your nervous system out of balance, relaxation techniques can bring it back into a balanced state by producing the relaxation response, a state of deep calmness that is the polar opposite of the stress response.

   When stress overwhelms your nervous system your body is flooded with chemicals that prepare you for “fight or flight”. While the stress response can be lifesaving in emergency situations where you need to act quickly, it wears your body down when constantly activated by the stresses of everyday life. The relaxation response puts the brakes on this heightened state of readiness and brings your body and mind back into a state of equilibrium.
   A variety of different relaxation techniques can help you bring your nervous system back into balance by producing the relaxation response. The relaxation response is not lying on the couch or sleeping but a mentally active process that leaves the body relaxed, calm, and focused.

   Learning the basics of these relaxation techniques isn’t difficult, but it does take practice. Most stress experts recommend setting aside at least 10 to 20 minutes a day for your relaxation practice. If you’d like to get even more stress relief, aim for 30 minutes to an hour. If that sounds like a daunting commitment, remember that many of these techniques can be incorporated into your existing daily schedule-practiced at your desk over lunch or on the bus during your morning commute.

   There is no single relaxation technique that is best for everyone. When choosing a relaxation technique, consider your specific needs, preferences, fitness level, and the way you tend to react to stress. The right relaxation technique is the one that resonates with you, fits your lifestyle, and is able to focus your mind and interrupt your everyday thoughts in order to elicit the relaxation response. In many cases, you may find that alternating or combining different techniques will keep you motivated and provide you with the best results.


The importance of drinking water


   The health benefits of drinking water have been known for millennia. But doctors are discovering more and more about the precise reasons for its health-giving power. Here’s a brief guide to some of the reasonswhy we now know a glass of water - or eight - is good for you each day. 
  • around  66 %  of  our  body  is  made  of water so we need it for our bodies  to  operate efficiently. The body’s supply of blood,muscles , brain and bones are all created with it so we need to keep the stuff circulating if we are going to function properly.
  • dehydration is dangerous because it means blood will have trouble flowing through the body. As a result of this your brain will function less well and you are more likely to suffer from tiredness.
  • if you don’t drink enough you leave yourself open to developing a range of kidney infections and even kidney stones.
  • water is good for your complexion - and your body because it eliminates toxins. It’s little wonder many women say that water is their best defence against aging. 
  •  water can benefit weight loss because as  the water flushes out toxins and keeps the body functioning properly, you will experience faster weight loss results. Water also fills you up which will stop you from snacking so often. 

   According to experts, to get the benefits of this we should be drinking about eight glass a day. But a lot of this can come from fruit, which contains a lot of water - and even a small amount of tea and coffee. Four or five glasses a day will give you a great health ,

Gastronomy



   Upon telling friends, family, and strangers alike that one is pursuing a graduate degree in Gastronomy, students are often faced with an incredulous look accompanied by a query along the lines of, “so, you’re in culinary school?” or even, “so, you’re studying stomachs?” An understandable response certainly, as Gastronomy is one of those nebulous terms that is part of the vernacular of a very small, but rapidly expanding group of people. While both the culinary arts and the stomach are essential facets of Gastronomy as a whole, there is much more to the field.

   Jean Anthelme Brillat Savarin, the famed 18th-century French lawyer and epicure best known for the axiom, “tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are,” is also credited with having been the first to really define Gastronomy in his tome, The Physiology of Taste (La Physiologie du goût). Savarin described Gastronomy as, “the knowledge and understanding of all that relates to man as he eats. Its purpose is to ensure the conservation of men, using the best food possible.”

   While the first part of his definition is arguably the best way to define Gastronomy in one sentence, the second half is one worthy of heated debate. Defining the concept of “best food” or even “good food” is one that Gastronomy students are consistently challenged with and can rarely, if ever come to a consensus on. Famed 20th century French anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss stated, “food is good think,” and this sentiment could not be more applicable when considering Savarin’s notion of “best food possible,” as every person, community, and country has a unique understanding of what “food”, “good food”, or the “best food” means to them.

   Gastronomy, as its students study, practice, and progress it today, wholly revolves around Savarin’s idea that it is an all-encompassing field, both interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary by its very nature. Ranging from the study of agriculture in urban environments to international commodity trade, from what role our senses play in shaping our individual and cultural notions of food to the various roles pots and pans have played in crafting culinary traditions across the world, Gastronomy can be defined as nothing short of holistic. It utilizes historical, anthropological, economic, socio-cultural, and scientific theories and methodologies, while embracing the sensual, experiential, and hands-on aspects that makes food and eating worth studying, and ultimately, worth living and dying for.

   While there is a wide range of foci and career goals amongst Gastronomy students, from food writing to policy advocacy, sustainable entrepreneurship to urban farming, all Gastronomy students recognize that each of these are an essential piece of the puzzle moving forward. That, in order to achieve global, national, regional, and community-based food systems providing equitable access to sustainably produced foods imbued with taste, texture, and cultural significance, these seemingly disparate, yet entirely connected roles must continue to be filled, and flourish.

   Policy cannot be influenced without the support of the widely read food writer; sustainable food businesses cannot thrive without the sustainable farmer; equitable urban food access cannot be achieved without the cultural anthropologist’s research on unique traditions that define every city; and stifling the diet-related disease epidemics currently plaguing virtually every single country in the world will never, ever be fully achieved without significant sociological, anthropological, and cultural comprehension of what food means to each and every one of us, and the roles it plays in all of our lives.

Electronic nose app soon in smartphones



  Could any one think of a electronic nose which can diagnose an illness by analysing a person’s breath.This application is going to be invented in London which  can easily detect any communicable diseases.It is easy to carry and doctors need not carry any type of instruments with them to detect disease.This is is just made for the smartphones and it is affordable.

  A scientist team  at the California Institute of Technology, led by professor Nate Lewis, is trialling the technology what they call “sensory vapour technology” which could detect odours like the human nose. The scientist are positively thinking that there will be no technical problems in the working  of the app to detect any type of odours.

   Team member Heather McCaig said: “A doctor could carry around their smartphone and have patients breathe into a little attachment and be able to tell they have a communicable disease like tuberculosis.If this app is released then the doctors can breath easy as the difficulty of taking the samples and sending it in to the labs for the research will be ended.This is a good news for the patients as the disease can be detected accurately, in a second  and the treatment can be started.

   The detection of the disease will go through a process which contains pushing a stream of air through a liquid, such as butanol, which results in bubbles that come up as a saturated vapour. This is then diluted and fed to a sensor chamber where the vapour is analysed and turned into raw data.

dimanche 2 septembre 2012

Breastfeeding: Getting started


  The first time you hold your newborn in the delivery room is a great time to start breastfeeding. At the beginning, your body will produce small amounts of a special milk called colostrum that will help protect your baby from infection. (Your baby's tummy is very tiny, so she only needs these small amounts to fill up. As her tummy grows, your milk will change and you'll produce more of it.)

  Turn your baby's whole body toward you, chest to chest. Touch her upper lip with your nipple, and, when she opens her mouth wide, pull her onto your breast, holding your breast for support. Her mouth should cover not just the nipple but as much of the areola (the darker part surrounding it) as possible.
  
   Don't panic if your newborn seems to have trouble finding or staying on your nipple. Breastfeeding requires patience and lots of practice. Don't hesitate to ask a nurse to show you what to do, and request visits from a lactation consultant while you're in the hospital (many hospitals have them on staff).


   If you have a premature baby, you may not be able to nurse right away, but you should start pumping your milk. Your baby will receive this milk through a tube or a bottle until she's strong enough to nurse.

   Once you get started, remember that nursing shouldn't be painful. Pay attention to how your breasts feel when your baby latches on. Her mouth should cover a big part of the areola below the nipple, and your nipple should be far back in your baby's mouth.

   If latch-on hurts, break the suction (by inserting your little finger between your baby's gums and your breast) and try again. Once your baby latches 

Bottled water is harmful to children's teeth


  
   Drinking bottled water may not actually be more beneficial than drinking tap water.
  The problems stem from the lack of fluoride intake children receive when exclusively drinking bottled water. There are some studies that indicate one out of 10 2-year-olds, 20 percent of 3-year olds, one out of three 4-year-olds and 50 percent of 5-year-olds havesome kind of tooth decay.

  Also, according to a 2009 Eastern Virginia Medical School study, about 70 percent of parents gave their children bottled water because of fears about tap water. The problem is about two-thirds of those parents had no knowledge about whether or not the bottled water contained fluoride.

  The quandary for consumers is that it's extremely difficult to find out how much fluoride is in a product. There are no Food and Drug Administration requirements regarding placing fluoride parts per million on the label of bottled water.

  Still, there are no current studies that demonstrate that a greater intake of bottled water will lead to tooth decay. Conversely, there are some studies that show that consuming fluoridated tap water on a regular basis lowers tooth decay risk.

  Not surprisingly, earlier this year the International Bottled Water Association said there's no correlation between bottled-water consumption and higher tooth decay risk. More research is necessary to determine the long-term positive and negative effects of consuming bottled water versus tap water.

High Heels: Worth The Health Risk?


   A study released in the Journal of Applied Physiology revealed that women who habitually wear high heels are at risk for permanent physiological damage to their knees, hips, back and tendons -- and damage can be seen in women as young as 25 years old. That's because high heels force the wearer to place all of her body weight on the ball of the foot, compromising stability. This, in turn, makes her compensate for the instability by pushing her knees and hips forward and arching her back -- an unnatural posture. What's more, that changed gait remains even when the heel wearer removes her shoes. Reported the New York Times: The scientists found that heel wearers moved with shorter, more forceful strides than the control group, their feet perpetually in a flexed, toes-pointed position. This movement pattern continued even when the women kicked off their heels and walked barefoot. As a result, the fibers in their calf muscles had shortened and they put much greater mechanical strain on their calf muscles than the control group did.

   "This is very familiar, it's nothing new -- we learned about it in medical school," says Dr. Jacqueline Sutera, a doctor of podiatric medicine and surgery in Manhattan and New Jersey who sometimes wears heels. She adds that heels can also permanently shorten tendons and ligaments, including the all important Achilles' tendon, which connects the heel to the calf. "It happens rather quickly -- you might not be symptomatic, but I will say that with every step, you're causing damage."

    So what's a shoe-lover to do? While no heel is safe, there are some strategies for mitigating the ill effects of a love affair with stilettos:
1. Alternate Heights: If your tendon doesn't get acclimated to the same height every day, it won't shorten to a specific height, according to Sutera.
2. Stretch: Every day you wear heels (or, alternatively, every day -- why not?), sit in a chair and use a yoga band or twisted sheet slung around your foot. Pull the band towards you as you stretch your toes forward.
3. Use Commuter Shoes: Especially city commuters walk a great deal on their routes to work. Use a supportive flat shoe on the unforgiving concrete of the sidewalk and save those four-inch show-stoppers for the absorbant carpets and cork floors of the office.
4. Choose A Wedge: Any heel that offers more surface area is putting less stress on the ball of the foot, so go with a chunky heel, wedge or even a platform.
5. Add Orthotics: Even an over-the-counter shoe insole can make a tottering heel more stable -- and that can help its owner walk better.

samedi 1 septembre 2012

Raisins ideal source of energy


   A raisin is a dried grape which can be consumed raw or used in cooking or brewing. In Canada, UK, Ireland, and Australasia, a sultana is a large dried white grape while a rai
sin is the dark one. In those countries a currant is the small dried Black Corinth grape.

   By weight, raisins consist of about 67%-72% fructose and glucose (sugars), 3.5% dietary fiber, and 3% protein. Although high in certain antioxidants, raisins have less vitamin C than fresh grapes. Raisins contain no cholesterol and are low in sodium (salt).

   Some studies have shown that regular raisin consumption can help control blood pressure in people with mild hypertension.
   Eating raisins could provide the same workout boost as sports chews, according to an article in the Journal of The International Society of Sports Nutrition. Researchers from California-Davis University discovered that raisins are a cheap, natural source that provide an alternative to energy bars.

  In order to evaluate the impact of natural supplements compared with carbohydrate supplements on endurance running performance, the researchers performed three randomized trials on runners, with a 7-day break between trials.

   The participants were assigned to consume raisins, chews or water as a supplement. In the first trial, they depleted their glycogen stores in an 80-minute (75%VO2max) run followed by a 5k time-trial. The trial was repeated twice with a 7-day interval in between trials.

   The results revealed that those who consumed raisins or sports chews were on average 1 minute faster in the 5k run compared with those who drank just water. Researchers also found that raisins and sports chews promoted higher carbohydrate oxidation than water.

Cherries And Insomnia


   The various medical studies about the properties of cherries have shown significant proof that cherries could be one key to curing insomnia. Usually reserved as a pie filling or the topper for an ice cream sundae, cherries offer so much more for insomnia sufferers. Research has proven a very beneficial link between cherries and insomnia. In particular, a certain hormone in cherries, called melatonin, is the critical link for treating insomnia


What is Melatonin?
   Melatonin is a hormone that makes you feel tired. Melatonin is naturally made in the body by the pineal gland. It is produced by the body during sleep and around the night hours to induce sleep. The body produces less of it as we age, though, which is thought to be directly related to age related insomnia.

   Melatonin is a natural way to fight insomnia because it does not have side effects and is all natural and safe. Y
et, when the body does not produce enough melatonin a person may start to exhibit symptoms of insomnia. That is where the link between cherries and insomnia come in.

Cherries and Insomnia
   When a person's body is not producing enough melatonin, they may start to experience insomnia. Not knowing the cause, some people typically reach for medications and other sleep aids to get rid of the insomnia. Sleep aids can cause side effects and many medications have been known to cause dependency, which can be dangerous. 

   Cherries are packed with melatonin. The high concentration of melatonin in cherries makes them very potent against insomnia. In particular, it is the skin of the cherries that contains the most benefit. Consequently, eating cherries is a natural way to boost melatonin in the body and is a natural way to get relief from insomnia. Instead of using pills, a person can simply eat a few cherries and reap the same benefits without the risks.

The Cherries and Insomnia Cure
   Specifically, the best way to use cherries to fight insomnia is to eat them right before going to sleep. Though there is no definitive evidence to suggest the proper amount of cherries to eat, researchers believe that a handful of cherries before bedtime should be adequate to gain the benefits of the melatonin.

   Though cherries as a cure for insomnia may have never crossed your mind, the research has shown that the high levels of melatonin in cherries is more than enough to help people suffering from insomnia. So, the next time you have a bit of trouble sleeping, give cherries a try.

Smile ! It's Good For Your Heart






  Need a reason to smile? Here’s one: Researchers at the University of Kansas found that smiling can help lower your heart rate and keep you calm in stressful situations—get this—even if the smile’s completely fake. That’s right, you don’t even have to mean it and your heart reaps the rewards. The research team stumbled on to this little discovery through a (somewhat bizarre) study which involved 169 college students who were taught to hold chopsticks in their mouths in certain ways. Part of the group held the chopsticks such that the resulting facial expression looked like what’s called a Duchenne smile, a genuine smile using muscles in the eyes and mouth; some of those subjects were specifically told they looked like they were smiling. Then, while continuing to hold the chopsticks in their mouths, the subjects were told to do all kinds of activities, intended to stress them out. (I know, weird, right?) Reports CBS Dallas

   During and after, the subject’s heart rates were recorded. Those who held the chopsticks in a smile position, particularly those who held a Duchenne smile, had lower heart rates after a recovery period than those who had neutral expressions. Those that were told they were supposed to be smiling had a slightly higher increase in decreased heart rate compared to the group that didn’t know they were smiling.

Vegetables kills the gene responsible for cancer


   Melbourne In a breakthrough study, researchers have uncovered how green vegetables fight diseases.

  Numerous studies have found cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts and cabbage contain cancer-fighting nutrients.

   In the new study, researchers found that a key component of broccoli sprouts - sulforaphane - helps suppress breast cancer proliferation and growth, particularly by working through a mechanism called DNA methylation.

   Linus Pauling Institute associate professor Emily Ho said this process “turns off genes” and helps control what DNA material gets read as part of genetic communication within cells. This process gets mixed up in cancer sufferers.

   “It appears that DNA methylation and HDAC inhibition, both of which can be influenced by sulforaphane, work in concert with each other to maintain proper cell function,” News.com.au quoted nutritionist Teresa Boyce as saying.

   “They sort of work as partners and talk to each other,” she said. But it''s not just green veg that can fight disease. Ginger could have the power to help manage high blood sugar levels which create complications for long-term diabetic patients.

   “Eating more vegetables helps reduce the risk of disease in general because it prevents cells from going wrong, and that''s what cancer is,” she said.

   “Minimal cooking is best because lots of vitamins, such as Vitamin C and folate, are destroyed by heat,” she added.
   The study has been published in the Clinical Epigenetics journal.