Issue 130

5110 Kali Era, Sarvadhari Year, Aswayuja month
2066 Vikramarka Era, Sarvadhari Year, Aswayuja month
1930 Salivahana Era, Sarvadhari Year, Aswayuja month
2008 AD, October

Contents

Home

Management
AJIN

TSJ

MS

Vegetarian Links

Disclaimer

Soliciataion

Contact

VPC

More Links

Vedah

Diet and Exercise

Acai Berry
Cranberry Protein
Vitamin D
Fructose

Miscellaneous

Flu
Hearing Loss due to MP3

Recipes

Vegan Cauliflower and Potato Soup
Vegetable Veggie Burgers
Lentil Soup

Diet and Exercise

Acai Berry
The Acai berry has been shown to possess antioxidants that are easily absorbed by humans. Acai berries are found naturally in Brazil and have been eaten by the locals for a long time. Very little research has been conducted on the Acai until recently when results of a study conducted by the ‘Texas AgriLife Research scientists' were published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
The fruit is about the size of a blackberry and grows on palms in the Amazon forest that can reach 60 feet in height. Acai is a popular health food in the US where it is marketed as being able to boost the metabolism, reduce weight and provide people with all round health. You will find the words, energy, health, organic and wellness regularly used to promote the Acai.

Cranberry Protein
An international ingredient company is offering a cranberry derived protein powder to food manufacturers as an alternative to the standard ingredient that AHD International has been using which is made from soy and milk. The cranberry powder known as Luravida-brand is created out of American cranberry seeds. The cranberry seed derived powder contains between 23 and 30 percent protein. Other nutrients contained in the cranberry powder are iron, potassium, calcium, up to one percent of omega-9, omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids as well as a large percentage of soluble fiber.

Vitamin D
The nation's leading pediatricians group says children from newborns to teens should get double the usually recommended amount of vitamin D because of evidence that it may help prevent serious diseases. To meet the new recommendation of 400 units daily, millions of children will need to take daily vitamin D supplements, the American Academy of Pediatrics said. That includes breast-fed infants -- even those who get some formula, too, and many teens who drink little or no milk. Baby formula contains vitamin D, so infants on formula only generally don't need supplements. However, the academy recommends breast-feeding for at least the first year of life and breast milk is sometimes deficient. The new advice is based on mounting research about potential benefits from vitamin D besides keeping bones strong, including suggestions that it might reduce risks for cancer, diabetes and heart disease. But the evidence isn't conclusive and there's no consensus on how much of the vitamin would be needed for disease prevention.
While it is believed that 10 to 15 minutes in the sun without sunscreen a few times weekly is sufficient for many, while people with dark skin and those in northern, less sunny climates need more. Because of sunlight causes skin cancer, "vitamin D supplements during infancy, childhood and adolescence are necessary," the academy's report says.

Fructose
The rise in obesity may be linked to common sweeteners found in many foods. Experiments shown that eating too much fructose increases the risk of leptin resistance, a condition that can lead to obesity when paired with a high-fat, high-calorie diet. The latest findings have been published in the American Journal of Physiology. Leptin is a hormone that plays a role in helping the body to balance food intake with energy expenditure, and leptin resistance as a condition when the body stops responding to it. Though fructose is found in fruit, the researchers say that the normal consumption of fruit is not problematic.

Miscellaneous

Flu
Flu is caused by a virus and that most patients recover without specific therapy. However, thousands of Americans die from the flu each year and millions are sick enough to miss work or school. Influenza is a serious infection but it can be prevented and treated.
Influenza is a worldwide problem. Because new strains of the virus crop up every year, new outbreaks occur annually. In most years, the new strains turn up first in Asia and then spread around the world to the U.S. That gives scientists a chance to identify epidemic strains and produce new vaccines before the flu bugs hit home.

The flu season in the United States runs from about Thanksgiving to Easter, with most cases occurring in the dead of winter. In a typical year, up to 10% of us get the flu, over 200,000 people are sick enough to require hospitalization and over 20,000 Americans die from the infection. And the toll can double during epidemics, which occur every 10 to 15 years.
Some viruses and bacteria can live from 20 minutes up to 2 hours or more on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. (Ansari, 1988; Scott and Bloomfield, 1989)
Nearly 22 million school days are lost annually due to the common cold alone. (CDC, 1996)
Approximately 1/5 of the U.S. population attends or works in schools. (U.S. Dept of Ed, 1999).
Addressing the spread of germs in schools is essential to the health of our youth, our schools, and our nation.
Students need to get plenty of sleep and physical activity, drink water, and eat good food to help them stay healthy in the winter and all year.
The main way that illnesses like colds and flu are spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. This is called "droplet spread."
This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air and are deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Sometimes germs also can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches his or her own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands. We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks.
The most serious complication is pneumonia. Seniors, people with chronic illnesses and young children are at greatest risk. They need flu vaccinations and medical treatments the most.
In some cases, pneumonia is caused by the flu virus itself. It's a particularly deadly problem that begins early in the infection and progresses rapidly, with a severe dry cough and shortness of breath. Bacterial pneumonia is more common but more treatable. It starts later, after patients seem to be on the mend. The fever returns, the cough increases and patients produce or bring up or cough up thick, pussy sputum (phlegm).
Other flu complications can include asthma attacks, ear infections, bronchitis, sinusitis, inflammation of the heart or other muscles and inflammation of the nervous system.
Wash your hands. Alcohol-based hand rubs and gels are best. Look for one containing 60% to 95% isopropanol or ethanol. Ordinary soap and water will also help, but it's not necessary to use very hot water or "antibacterial" soaps. Antimicrobial towelettes may be useful when you're on the move. Wash carefully after any contact with folks who have flulike symptoms.
Keep your distance. The flu is most contagious within three feet of a patient. If your community is hard-hit this winter, try to minimize the time you spend in crowded places.

Federal health officials are recommending that all smokers under 65 years old receive the pneumococcal vaccine to protect against the bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis, among other illnesses. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices made the recommendation this week, based on studies showing that smokers are four times more likely than nonsmokers to suffer pneumococcal disease, and the risk rises with the number of cigarettes smoked each day. Scientists theorize that damage caused by smoking makes it easier for bacteria to attach to the lungs and windpipe.

The British government has officially licensed for production and distribution a cold combating herb. The herb is one that the Zulu tribes in South Africa have been using for centuries to keep colds and flu at bay. In the UK, the herb is marketed under the name 'Kaloba' and is available in tablet form and as oral drops. As an herbal remedy, Kaloba is one of the first non-drug treatments for a common condition that the British government has officially recognized. According to a recent published article in the highly regarded Cochrane Review, the herb is "effective in resolving all symptoms including headaches and nasal discharge" that is commonly associated with flu and colds. One of the chief reasons for the UK governments backing of the herb is due to the financial savings that are expected as over prescribing costs over £200 million per year. Additionally, over prescribing antibiotics that don’t cure flu is one of the causes of antibiotic resistant bacterium developing and becoming a major problem in hospitals. The active ingredient is called Umckaloabo and is extracted from the flowers of the geranium Pelargonium sidoides. Kaloba, under a different brand name has been available in Germany for over 25 years.

Hearing Loss due to MP3
The European Union told music lovers to turn down the volume of MP3 players, saying they risk permanent hearing loss from listening too long at maximum levels. EU scientists reported that between 2.5 million and 10 million Europeans could suffer hearing loss from listening to MP3 players at unsafe volumes -- over 89 decibels -- for more an hour daily for at least five years. EU spokeswoman Helen Kearns said the EU executive was asking people, especially children and young people, "to turn it down" now because they may be damaging their hearing without noticing it. "It's damage that may come back and haunt you later in life. EU regulators would look next year at lowering the EU legal limit of 100 decibels for MP3 players. Apple was forced to pull its iPod player from store shelves in France and upgrade software on the device to limit sound to 100 decibels. EU noise rules are meant to limit noise levels in the workplace, construction sites, factories and even orchestras.

Recipes

Vegan Cauliflower and Potato Soup
Ingredients: tbsp vegan margarine; 2 cloves garlic, minced1 onion, diced; 1 potato, diced; 1 head cauliflower, chopped; 3 cups vegetable broth; 2 bay leaves; salt and pepper to taste; dash nutmeg; grated soy cheese (optional)
Preparation: In a large soup or stock pot, sautee the onion and garlic in the vegan margarine for 3 to 5 minutes, or until onions are soft. Add the potato and cauliflower and cook for a few more minutes, stirring frequently. Add the vegetable broth and bay leaves and bring to a simmer. Cover and allow to cook for 25 - 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaves, then transfer soup to a blender and puree. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg and re-heat if needed. Top with grated vegan cheese, if desired.

Vegetable Veggie Burgers
Ingredients: tbsp olive oil; 1/2 cup corn kernels; 7 mushrooms, diced; 3 scallions (green onions) diced; 1/2 red bell pepper, diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tsp cumin; 1 carrot, grated; 1 small potato, grated; 1/4 cup silken (soft) tofu; salt and pepper to taste; 1/2 cup bread crumbs.
Preparation: In a blender or food processor, process tofu until creamy and set aside. Sautee the corn, mushrooms, scallions and bell pepper in one tablespoon of oil for 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cumin and cook for one more minute. Remove from heat and add the carrot, potato, tofu, salt and pepper. Add bread crumbs until the mixture holds together. You may need a little bit more or less than a half a cup. Shape the mixture into patties and refrigerate for at least one hour. Heat remaining two tablespoons of olive oil and cook each patty until the veggie burgers are done, about 3 minutes on each side.

Lentil Soup
Ingredients: 1 tsp vegetable oil; 1 onion, diced; 1 carrot sliced; 4 cups vegetable broth; 1 cup dry lentils; 1/4 tsp pepper; 1/4 tsp dried thyme; 2 bay leaves; dash salt; 1 tbsp lemon juice.
Preparation: In a large pot, sautee the onions and carrot in the vegetable oil for 3-5 minutes until onions turn clear. Add the vegetable broth, lentils, pepper, thyme, bay leaves and salt. Reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook until lentils are soft, about 45 minutes. Remove bay leaves before serving. Makes 4 servings.

Health and Nutrition

Issue 130