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Issue 131
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5110 Kali Era, Sarvadhari
Year, Karthika
month
2066
Vikramarka Era, Sarvadhari
Year, Karthika
month
1930
Salivahana
Era, Sarvadhari
Year, Karthika
month
2008
AD, November
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Contents
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Home
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Diet and Exercise
Omega-3 for Prostate
An increased intake of omega-3-rich food may improve prostate cancer survival
by 38 per cent, according to a new study. The earlier study found reported
that higher intake of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) may cut the risk of developing prostate cancer
by 40 per cent.
Turmeric
Reduces Arthritis
The researchers from Johns Hopkins revealed the results of a study they conducted
in which grapes were effective in treating arthritis and curcumin (turmeric
powder) used in Indian curries was effective in easing the symptoms of Parkinson's
disease. These results suggest that curcumin is a potential candidate
for inhibiting the oxidative damage that leads to Parkinson's disease.
Consuming flavonoids through natural products like grapes can be beneficial
to health in general and also specifically for reducing inflammatory pain.
Natural products like grapes and turmeric may also be beneficial in reducing
the amount of medication necessary. The scientists disclosed their
discoveries at the National Neuroscience 2008 Conference in Washington, D.C
Chocolate Addiction
A sedentary lifestyle tends to encourage people to reach for snacks such
a chocolate in order to try and create a more pleasant mood. This is an artificial
mood creating behavior which is easily replaced if a person engages in short
periods of activity that tend to create the same effect. Chocoholics
and other addictive snackers may find relief from a simple 15-minute brisk
walk. Research consistently shows that brief bouts of physical activity
reduce cigarette cravings. Neuroscientists suggest common processes
in the reward centers of the brain between drug and food addictions, and
it may be that exercise effects brain chemicals that help to regulate mood
and cravings. Regular eating of chocolate may lead to stronger cravings
during stress resulting in addiction and ultimately obesity and related diseases.
Vegetable
Juice
A study conducted by the University of California reveals that vegetable
juice provides exceptional health benefits. Although this 'discovery' is
not news to many natural health dieticians and enthusiasts, it is still important
that it is backed up with scientific data. The results of the study
were shown at annual conference of the American Dietetic Association.
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Miscellaneous
Keep Your Hands Clean
A new study found that women have a greater variety of bacteria on their
hands than men do. And everybody has more types of bacteria than the researchers
expected to find. The researchers aren't sure why women harbored a
greater variety of bacteria than men. The vast majority of the bacteria
we have on our body are either harmless or beneficial, while the pathogens
are a small minority. They identified 4,742 species of bacteria overall,
only 5 of which were on every hand, they report online edition of Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences. The average hand harbored 150
species of bacteria. Not only did individuals have few types of bacteria
in common, the left and right hands of the same individual shared only about
17 percent of the same bacteria types, the researchers found. While
the researchers stressed the importance of regular hand washing, they also
noted that washing did not eliminate bacteria.
Yoga Meditation
Keeps You Young
Telomeres cap the end of chromosomes that in turn hold the genes. As the
cell undergoes cell division, the telomeres get shorter every time until
eventually the telomeres are so short that no more cell division is possible
and the cell dies. The more cells that die, so the effect is noticed in the
form of weaker muscles, skin wrinkles, organ and hearing failure and reduced
intellectual abilities. In ordinary language this is called aging.
To slow down this process, the body possesses telomerase enzymes that rebuild
the telomeres, but in ordinary circumstances, the amount of this enzyme reduces
with age.
Stress is an epidemic and one of the effects of it is premature ageing, according
to a recent study. Stress occurs on a physical level due to extreme exertion
in work or sports, for example. The other form of stress is emotional and
it is this emotional or psychological stress that has the worst effects.
Women are currently working over 2 hours more every week than they did in
the 1980's. This increase of hours plus the expectation of employers for
their employees to be contactable at any time even when not actually at work
has led to a high increase in the levels of stress experienced. With women
spending more time at work than anywhere else, the work environment has become
a huge influence on overall health.
The researchers discovered that the stressed women in the study had shorter
telomeres and lower levels of telomerase compared to the women who had healthy
children and less cause for stress. From this the researchers concluded that
chronic stress levels speed up the process of telomerase reductions and thus
telomere length. The result is that stress makes people look older than they
should. The researchers also observed that regular exercise as well
as the practice of meditation and yoga are good stress relievers and in turn
great for remaining young.
Women are currently working over 2 hours more every week than they did in
the 1980's. This increase of hours plus the expectation of employers for
their employees to be contactable at any time even when not actually at work
has led to a high increase in the levels of stress experienced. With women
spending more time at work than anywhere else, the work environment has become
a huge influence on overall health.
Nap
is Good
Interrupting sleep seriously disrupts memory-making, compelling new research
suggests. But on the flip side, taking a nap may boost a sophisticated kind
of memory that helps us see the big picture and get creative. Sleep
deprivation causes not just car crashes, but all sorts of other accidents.
Over time, a chronic lack of sleep can erode the body in ways that leave
us more vulnerable to heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses. But perhaps
more common than insomnia is fragmented sleep, the easy awakening that comes
with aging, or the sleep apnea that afflicts millions, who quit breathing
for 30 seconds or so over and over throughout the night. Avoid "sleep
bulimia," super-late nights followed by sleep-in weekends. And don't feel
guilty for napping.
Green Space and
Health
It has now been scientifically established that people who live near parks
are healthier, according to a study conducted by the University of St Andrews
and Glasgow University published in The Lancet. They further analyzed
the connection between availability of green spaces and fatal illnesses.
Unexpectedly, the biggest difference in causes of death for people living
near green space as opposed to those without green space availability was
not lung disease, but circulatory diseases. On this basis the scientists
are recommending that local authority planning departments include green
space availability in all future development plans. Populations that are
exposed to the greenest environments have the lowest levels of health inequality
related to income deprivation. Evidence suggests that contact with
such environments has independent salutogenic effects, for example, green
spaces independently promote physical activity. Several studies have
shown that contact (either by presence or visual) with green spaces can by
psychologically and physiologically restorative, reducing blood pressure
and stress levels and possibly promoting faster healing in patients after
surgical intervention.
Ecological Bankruptcy
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently published their research calling it
the 'Living Planet Report', in which they detailed the extent of ecological
credit the world is already in and the amount of ecological debt the world
is expected to be in within a few decades. The report, created with
the co-operation of the Global Footprint Network and the Zoological Society
of London reveals that only one quarter of the world is an ecological creditor,
with the rest as debtors. A more fundamental crisis than the credit
crunch looms ahead -- an ecological credit crunch caused by under-valuing
the environmental assets that are the basis of all life and prosperity.
“We are acting ecologically in the same way as financial institutions have
been behaving economically - seeking immediate gratification without due
regard for the consequences."
Risks for
Asians and Indians
Treatment with certain epilepsy drugs may expose some Asian patients to serious
skin reactions, federal health officials warned. The Food and Drug
Administration said it is investigating whether medications like Dilantin,
Phenytek and Cerebyx, which are used to control epileptic seizures, can lead
to severe skin blisters and bleeding for some Asian and Indian patients.
Patients who test positive for a gene known as HLA-B1502 appear to be at
increased risk of developing the skin problems, preliminary data indicate.
About 10 percent to 15 percent of patients from parts of China, Thailand,
Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines may carry the gene, as do 2 percent
to 4 percent of Indians (South Asians). Because of the problem with skin
reactions, the FDA last year recommended genetic testing for Asian and Indian
patients taking another epilepsy drug, carbamazepine, sold under several
brand names including Tegretol and Carbatrol. Doctors should also avoid Dilantin
and the other medications for patients who have already tested positive for
the gene, the FDA said.
Pet Allergy
For those with a true dog allergy, diagnosed by a skin test, it is not recommend
bringing it in. Allergy symptoms include a runny nose, teary eyes,
sneezing and coughing. People with pet allergies can "outgrow" them, though
it takes years.
While some people with dog allergies say some breeds cause them more problems
than others, there isn't any scientific proof to back that up. All
dogs produce proteins that can cause allergies. These proteins are found
in dogs' dander (dead skin cells), saliva and urine.
The allergy academy offers tips for minimizing the problem.
-Clean the house often with vacuums equipped with special filters and double
bags.
-Keep the dog out of the allergic child's bedroom.
-Remove carpeting, where dander also can build up.
-Bathe the animal weekly.
Fast Eating Causes Obesity
Researchers have concluded that eating fast can lead to obesity, according
to a study that was conducted by Japanese scientists at the University of
Osaka in the British Medical Journal. What they found was that men
who ate quickly had an 84% greater chance of being over weight whereas women
who ate quickly had a 50% chance of being over weight. An additional
effect that the scientists witnessed was that people who continued to eat
until they felt full as well as at a fast speed had an even greater chance
of being over weight. Other research has found evidence of this in
childhood, suggesting that it could be inherited or learned at a very early
age.
Obese children as young as 10 have the arteries of someone four and a half
times their age. They also have other heart abnormalities that significantly
increase their risk of heart disease, according to studies presented at the
American Heart Association conference in New Orleans. The studies are further
evidence that childhood obesity is not merely a cosmetic problem.
Some people with normal cholesterol and no other risk factors for heart disease
or stroke might benefit from a statin. A study presented at the American
Heart Association conference in New Orleans suggests that millions more Americans
may consider taking a statin.
Low Density Lipoproteins
Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) inhibit the breakdown of fat in cells of peripheral
deposits, according to a study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska
Institutet, published in the open-access journal PLoS ONE. The discovery
reveals a novel function of LDL as a regulator of fat turnover besides its
well-established detrimental effects in promoting atherosclerosis.
It shows that LDL cholesterol slows the rate of fat breakdown (i.e. lipolysis)
in adipocytes, the peripheral cells responsible for fat storage. Previously,
it has been known that release of free fatty acid from the peripheral fat
to the blood stream increases the synthesis of LDL precursors in the liver.
Alcohold
Reduces Bone Density
Alcohol disrupts genes needed to maintain healthy bones, which can lead to
a decrease in bone mass and bone strength, a new study says. In previous
research, the study authors, from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine
in Chicago, showed that giving rats large amounts of alcohol caused significant
decreases in bone density and bone strength, but the mechanisms responsible
for these effects weren't clear.
In this new study, rats were injected with an amount of alcohol. When
they examined genes responsible for bone health, the researchers found that
alcohol affected the amounts of RNA associated with these genes. RNA acts
as the template for making proteins, the building blocks of bones and other
tissue. Alcohol increased the amount of RNA associated with some genes
and decreased the amount of RNA associated with other genes. These
changes in RNA disrupted two molecular pathways, the Wnt signaling pathway
and the Intergrin signaling pathway -- responsible for normal bone metabolism
and bone mass maintenance, the researchers said. The findings were
published recently in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
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Recipes
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Pumpkin Pesto
Ingredients: 1 cup pumpkin seeds; 1/2 cup olive oil, 4 cloves garlic, 2 tbsp
miso, 2 tbsp nutritional yeast, 1/4 cup lemon juice, one large bunch fresh
basil leaves, 3 sprigs fresh cilantro (optional)
Preparation: Process all ingredients in a food processor until desired consistency
is reached. If you like a "saucier" pesto, you can add a bit more liquid.
I like my pesto a bit thick, so I usually add a bit less olive oil.
Butternut Squash
Soup
Ingredients:2 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp olive oil, 3 large onions, finely chopped,
2 tsp chipotle chili powder, 4 pounds butternut squash, peeled and cut into
chunks (approx. 6 cups), 2 pounds apples, peeled and cut into chunks, about
5-6 apples, 2 cups apple juice, 2 cups vegetable broth, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp
pepper.
Preparation: Heat the oil and butter in a large soup pot and cook the onions
and chili powder until onions are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the squash,
apples, apple juice and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, cover and cook
over low heat until the apples and squash are very soft, about 30 minutes.
Puree the soup with an immersion blender or in a food processor, return to
the pot and adjust the seasonings, thinning with apple juice or water until
it is at the desired consistency. Garnish with fresh diced apples, sour cream
and parsley if desired.
Vegetarian Dishes
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/specialoccasionrecipe1/qt/sidedishes.htm?nl=1
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/specialoccasionrecipe1/qt/maindish.htm?nl=1
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Notice: This material contains only
general descriptions and is not a solicitation
to sell any insurance product or security, nor is it
intended as any financial, tax, medical or health care advice.
For information about specific needs or situations,
contact your financial, tax agent or physician.
Back
to the Top
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Source: The
primary sources cited above,
New York Times (NYT), Washington
Post (WP), Mercury News, Bayarea.com,
Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Intellihealthnews,
Deccan Chronicle (DC),
the Hindu, Hindustan Times, Times
of India, AP, Reuters, AFP, womenfitness.net,
about.com
etc.
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