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Issue 142
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5111 Kali Era, Virodhi
Year, Aswayuja
month
2066
Vikramarka Era, Virodhi
Year, Aswayuja
month
1930
Salivahana
Era, Virodhi
Year, Aswayuja
month
2009
AD, October
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Contents
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Vedah
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Diet and Exercise
High Protein Diet
One of the many reasons to pick a low-calorie, low-fat diet rich in vegetables,
fruits, and nuts is that a host of epidemiological studies have suggested
that such a diet may delay the onset or slow the progression of Alzheimer's
disease (AD). Now a study published in BioMed Central's open access journal
Molecular Neurodegeneration tests the effects of several diets, head-to-head,
for their effects on AD pathology in a mouse model of the disease. Although
the researchers were focused on triggers for brain plaque formation, they
also found that, unexpectedly, a high protein diet apparently led to a smaller
brain.
A research team from the US, Canada, and the UK tested four differing menus
on transgenic mouse model of AD, which express a mutant form of the human
amyloid precursor protein (APP). APP's role in the brain is not fully understood;
however it is of great interest to AD researchers because the body uses it
to generate the amyloid plaques typical of Alzheimer's. These mice were fed
either
1. a regular diet,
2. a high fat/low carbohydrate custom diet,
3. a high protein/low carb version or
4. a high carbohydrate/low fat option.
The researchers then looked at the brain and body weight of the mice, as
well as plaque build up and differences in the structure of several brain
regions that are involved in the memory defect underlying AD.
Unexpectedly, mice fed a high protein/low carbohydrate diet had brains five
percent lighter that all the others, and regions of their hippocampus were
less developed. This result was a surprise, and, until researchers test this
effect on non-transgenic mice, it is unclear whether the loss of brain mass
is associated with AD-type plaque. But some studies in the published literature
led the authors to put forward a tentative theory that a high protein diet
may leave neurones more vulnerable to AD plaque. Mice on a high fat diet
had raised levels of plaque proteins, but this had no effect on plaque burden.
Molecular Neurodegeneration (in press) http://www.molecularneurodegeneration.com/
Coffee
Coffee has more than a thousand different chemicals. In addition to that
familiar ingredient, caffeine, coffee contains: potassium, magnesium (in
small amounts), and antioxidants. Portion for portion, many other healthful
foods have as much or more antioxidants, and are rich with other nutrients
that coffee doesn't have. For example, strawberries have twice as much antioxidants,
and walnuts have about 13 times as much! If you are looking to maximize the
antioxidants and others nutrients in your diet, don't drink more coffee.
Your antioxidant intake will skyrocket if you include more fruits, nuts,
vegetables and whole grains. http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/EMIHC267/35320/35327/510191.html?d=dmtHMSContent
Drinking three or more cups of coffee daily lowers the risk of liver disease
progression for patients with chronic hepatitis C, researchers say.
Black tea or green tea, however, had no effect on liver disease, the investigators
reported. Those who so indulged had a 53% decreased risk of disease
progression, compared with patients who didn't drink coffee, reported in
the November issue of Hepatology.
Exercise and
Healthy Diet
A landmark study, results of which are published in The Lancet medical journal,
found that people at high risk for diabetes cut their chance of developing
the disease by 34 percent through weight loss, exercising five days a week
and reducing fat intake. People age 60 and older cut their risk by almost
50 percent. The impact of weight loss and exercise was more profound
than the most commonly prescribed drug for diabetics, which reduced the risk
of the disease by 18 percent during the 10-year study. The study also
found that people who lost weight and ate less fat had healthier blood pressure
and triglyceride levels.
The American study included a more diverse group of patients, including races
disproportionately affected by type 2 diabetes -- African-Americans, Latinos
and Native Americans. About 24 million Americans have diabetes, most
of them type 2 -- which is linked to obesity, inactivity and family history.
The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes has more than doubled in the last 30
years. Another group that is predisposed to get diabetes is Indians.
Courtesy of the fitness-extolling efforts of first lady Michelle Obama, plus
the endorsements of various A-listers, this basic, no-frills childhood toy
is making a comeback in the ever-changing world of fitness. Last week
during a White House event promoting healthful living, Obama showed off her
hula hooping skills. "We don't just want our kids to exercise because we
tell them to. We want them to exercise because it's fun and they enjoy it.
And we want them to learn now how to lead good, healthy lifestyles so that
they're not struggling to figure out how to do that when they're older,"
she told parents and kids.
Being fat in middle age may slash women's chances of making it to their golden
years in good health by almost 80 percent, a new study says. American researchers
observed more than 17,000 female nurses with an average age of 50 in the
U.S. All of the women were healthy when the study began in 1976. Researchers
then monitored the women's weight, along with other health changes, every
two years until 2000. For every one-point increase in their Body Mass
Index, women had a 12 percent lower chance of surviving to age 70 in good
health when compared to thin women. Researchers defined "healthy survival"
as not only being free of chronic disease, but having enough mental and physical
ability to perform daily tasks like grocery shopping, vacuuming or walking
up a flight of stairs. Experts consider people with a BMI between 19-25 to
be healthy, while those from 25 to 30 are considered overweight and those
over 30 are obese. For every 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) gained since age 18,
women's odds of surviving past 70 dropped 5 percent, researchers found. Women
who were already overweight at age 18 and then gained more than 10 kilograms
(22 pounds) later in life only had about a 20 percent chance of surviving
to age 70 in good health. The most commonly reported diseases were cancer,
heart disease, and diabetes. The study was published online in the medical
journal, BMJ. While average life spans have increased in recent years (see
below) with scientific advances in treating illness, experts warned the obesity
epidemic could ultimately undo those gains.
To lose weight you need to increase activity and decrease calories. Theoretical
equations sound so easy, don't they? But if losing weight really were this
simple, why does the collective girth of the United States continue to grow?
What's behind this growth? Two societal shifts — one in employment and one
in eating habits — appear to hold the answer. Today, more people than ever
work at sedentary jobs. Rows of office cubicles filled with immobile bodies
have replaced rows of soil with people digging and planting and fertilizing
as they till the fields. Even activity-intense manufacturing jobs, which
once amounted to veritable eight-hour workouts, have largely left our shores.
These employment shifts are great for business, but the downside to performing
mental work rather than physical work is that our national body has turned
flabby. Staying in shape used to be a no-brainer, the happy byproduct of
a working life. Now it requires a commitment to an after-hours exercise program,
one that steals time away from family and leisure. Shift No. 2 is the country's
ever-increasing reliance on fatty convenience foods, which have all but swept
traditional well-balanced meals off the family dinner table. The healthful
shape of the Food Pyramid has been replaced by the unhealthful shapes of
buckets (from take-out chicken), boxes (from Happy Meals) and bags (from
drive-thru windows). Even dinners prepared at home can contain high amounts
of fat when folks rely on prepared packaged foods, such as vegetables in
cheese sauces and meal-in-a-boil-bag entrees.
Less than 10 percent of U.S. high school students are eating the combined
recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables, a finding that the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called "poor" in a report released
in September. The report based on 2007 data found that only 13 percent
of U.S. high school students get at least three servings of vegetables a
day and just 32 percent get two servings of fruit. Less than 1 in 10 get
enough of both combined. Some states -- including Arkansas and North
Carolina -- were significantly below those averages. But some New England
states, particularly Vermont, were notably better. The CDC said the
report was the first to give such detailed information on adolescents' fruit
and vegetable consumption. The information comes from a national survey of
about 100,000 high school students in 2007. CDC officials said the
findings indicate a disheartening gap between how people should be eating
and what they're actually doing in an era of rampant obesity. The CDC
also released data on a survey of adults. It found fruit and vegetable consumption
was basically unchanged from when a similar survey was done in 2005: About
27 percent got at least three servings of vegetables a day, and 33 percent
got two servings of fruit. Federal nutrition goals for 2010 call for
at least 75 percent of Americans to eat two servings of fruit each day and
at least 50 percent to eat three vegetable servings. This is a call
for states, communities, schools and families to support increased fruit
and vegetable consumption.
The risk of life-threatening blood clots increases with obesity, but may
also depend on the location of excess body fat and gender. Women are at higher
risk when they carry extra pounds on their hips, while men are at elevated
risk when fat is around the waist. The results challenge research that has
suggested increased hip circumference is protective against blood clots.
The location of extra pounds appears to affect the risk of blood clots in
middle-aged people, but affects men and women differently, researchers report
in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Thromboembolism,
an important cause of disease and death in adults, results when a clot breaks
free from one blood vessel and blocks another -- typically from the legs
to the lungs. The researchers observed a direct relationship between
VTE and weight distribution in both genders. When adjusted for waist and
hip circumference, hip circumference was positively associated with VTE in
women but not men, while waist circumference was positively associated with
VTE in men but not women. The results, which should help physicians improve
risk evaluation, challenge previous research suggesting that large hip circumference
might be protective against arterial thrombosis.
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Miscellaneous
Living
longer
Despite all the above, most babies born in rich countries this century will
eventually make it to their 100th birthday, new research says. Danish experts
say that since the 20th century, people in developed countries are living
about three decades longer than in the past. Surprisingly, the trend shows
little sign of slowing down. In an article published in the medical
journal Lancet, the researchers write that the process of aging may be "modifiable."
We need a plan to provide pensioners with own-grown tissues and durable implants.
New hips, knees and heart valves are the starting points, but eventually they
envisage most of the body parts that flounder with age could be upgraded.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8314442.stm
Nearly
10% of World's Babies Premature
Nearly 1 out of 10 babies in the world is born too early, according to a
new report released in October. The report is the first attempt to measure
premature births worldwide. The March of Dimes produced the report
with help from the World Health Organization. A baby is considered premature
if born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Nearly 1 million premature babies die
each year. The vast majority of premature births occur in Africa, Asia and
India. Experts said some of the deaths can be prevented in poor countries
using "kangaroo care." This means that the mother carries the baby next to
her skin to preserve body warmth.
Yoga in the US
Rooted in Indian philosophy, yoga is an ancient method of relaxation, regarded
by many as a spiritual experience. However, in the last five years yoga has
become ubiquitous, with independent studios sprouting everywhere and fitness
centers incorporating yoga classes into their group instruction curriculum.
Although some people still view yoga as a practice reserved for spiritual
seekers looking for inner peace, yoga is rapidly being embraced by many Americans
as an alternative or additional way to increase strength, endurance and body
tone.
In fact, today many fitness experts recognize yoga as a valuable part of
functional training. Functional training (also called functional exercise)
has become a buzz word in the fitness industry, used in programs for competitive
athletes as well as recreational exercisers. Functional training focuses
on endurance, strength and coordination to allow individuals to maximize
performance of everyday tasks.
1. Ashtanga and power yoga — Ashtanga is a fast-flowing vinyasa-based (connecting
movement with breath) practice with a set sequence of postures. Depending
on the teacher, Ashtanga can be a rigorous workout, so be prepared to sweat.
Power yoga is a generalized term that emerged in the mid-'90s to make yoga
more accepted by western culture. Like Ashtanga, which is considered a "power
yoga," the focus is on moving energy and creating heat within the body.
2. Jivamukti — Jivamukti originated out of a studio in New York City. A challenging
class with a fast-flowing pace, Jivamukti utilizes the ashtanga-style, but
incorporates chanting, singing, readings and meditation.
3. Iyengar — The Iyengar flow is generally a much slower practice, emphasizing
stillness and form of each posture. Iyengar focuses on the body's imbalances
and promotes physical alignment and mental serenity. Iyengar practice often
incorporates props, such as straps, blocks and bolsters, to help a person
unable to perform a posture independently and obtain the full benefit of
the asana.
4. Bikram — Bikram, also called "hot" yoga, aims to make you sweat profusely.
Bikram classes are held in heated rooms of around 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The goal is to heat the body from the outside in and the inside out. The
Bikram practice is a series of 26 ordered postures.
5. Kundalini — The Kundalini practice consists of rapid breathing, postures,
chanting and meditation. Using slow and deliberate movements, Kundalini focuses
on "moving energy through the body to enhance consciousness." The term Kundalini
is also used to describe an energy of awareness. The theory is that through
yoga and meditation one awakens his or her kundalini to discover inner awareness.
6. Kripalu — Also called "gentle" yoga, Kripalu integrates mind, body and
spirit in three stages — willful practice, willful surrender and meditation
in motion. It claims to promote spiritual healing by evoking awareness of
your physical, mental and emotional experience. The class consists of postures
that tone muscles, improve blood flow and energize the mind and body.
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/EMIHC254/35320/35322/391147.html?d=dmtHMSContent
Priapism
For men coping with painful erections lasting for long periods of time, or
priapism, new research published online in The FASEB Journal offers hope.
Researchers from the United States and China show that the enzyme adenosine
deaminase may prevent priapism from progressing to penile fibrosis, a condition
associated with the build up of scar tissue and eventual impotence. As penile
fibrosis is a complication of priapism, so priapism is a complication of
sickle cell disease. Adenosine deaminase, which breaks down adenosine, is
already used in humans as a treatment for a rare immune disorder.
Pumpkin Skin
Scientists extracted proteins from pumpkin rinds to see if the proteins inhibit
the growth of microbes, including Candida albicans (C. albicans) that causes
vaginal yeast infections, diaper rash in infants, and other health problems.
One protein had powerful effects in inhibiting the growth of C. albicans,
in cell culture experiments, with no obvious toxic effects. The pumpkin protein
could be developed into a natural medicine for fighting yeast infections
in humans, the report suggests in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
The protein also blocked the growth of several fungi that attack important
plant crops and could be useful as an agricultural fungicide.
Air Pollution
A new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) suggests that
air pollution may trigger appendicitis in adults. The study, conducted by
researchers at the University of Calgary, University of Toronto and Health
Canada, looked at 5191 adults admitted to hospital in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Fifty-two per cent of admissions occurred between April and September, the
warmest months of the year in Canada during which people are more likely
to be outside. The dominant theory of the cause of appendicitis has been
obstruction of the appendix opening, but this theory does not explain the
trends of appendicitis in developed and developing countries. Appendicitis
cases increased dramatically in industrialized countries in the 19th and
early 20th centuries, then decreased in the middle and late 20th century,
coinciding with legislation to improve air quality. The incidence of appendicitis
has been growing in developing countries as they become more industrialized.
Your Destiny
Sounds like superstition. However, nowadays, this old superstition
is taking over the scientific community in a new form – genetics. Are
you a criminal? Are you a pathological liar? Are you an abuser? Do you have
cancer? Are you Obese? Are you slim? Are you poor and wretched? Are you a
bad driver? Maybe you can blame it on your genes. In a small study,
researchers found that people with a gene variation performed 20 percent
worse on simulated driving tests and did as poorly a few days later. Almost
one in three Americans have the variation, the team said. These people make
more errors from the get-go, and they forget more of what they learned after
time away. But don't be alarmed if you think you have this gene variation
-- it has it's good side. The researcher say the gene also slows mental decline
for people with conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease
or multiple sclerosis. The study was published recently in the journal
Cerebral Cortex, in a statement. Can you change your destiny? Pharmaceutical
industry thinks so. You may be able to fix your genes in the future.
Now, a collaborative effort at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine to examine
protein-DNA interactions across the whole genome has uncovered more than
300 proteins that appear to control genes, a newly discovered function for
all of these proteins previously known to play other roles in cells. The
results, which appear in the October 30 issue of Cell, provide a partial
explanation for human complexity over yeast but also throw a curve ball in
what we previously understood about protein functions. A central question
in understanding how genes are controlled is hich of the 20,000 proteins
encoded by our genome act on which segments of DNA.
Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have
discovered what leads to two genes fusing together, a phenomenon that has
been shown to cause prostate cancer to develop. By understanding how
gene fusions occur, the researchers suggest that screening tools or prevention
strategies could potentially be developed. The University of Michigan has
filed for a patent on the detection of gene fusions in prostate cancer.
Although the human genome sequence faithfully lists (almost) every single
DNA base of the roughly 3 billion bases that make up a human genome, it doesn't
tell biologists much about how its function is regulated. Now, researchers
at the Salk Institute provide the first detailed map of the human epigenome,
the layer of genetic control beyond the regulation inherent in the sequence
of the genes themselves. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091014130702.htm
Let Gravity Help
The old wives' tale turns out to be true: lying with your feet up after sex
improves your chances of having a baby. How about a headstand for 20
minutes after sex? True, at least, for a specialized kind of sex – that involving
artificial insemination, where the sperm is directly inserted into the womb
using the medical equivalent of a turkey baster. Researchers from the
Netherlands, who followed 400 couples who had the treatment, found that those
who lay on their backs for 15 minutes afterwards were 50 per cent more likely
to conceive than those who got up and walked about immediately. The pregnancy
rate was 27 per cent among those who "lay back and thought of babies" but
only 18 per cent among those who moved around. Lying still after intercourse
was advocated in the US many years ago, but apparently it did not seem to
improve conception rates after sex.
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Recipes
Vegan Pumpkin Risotto
Ingredients: 1 onion. Diced; 1 tbsp olive oil; 2 cups arborio (risotto) rice;
1 cup white wine; 4 cups vegetable broth; 1 cup canned pumpkin; 1 tsp fresh
ginger, grated or minced; 1 tsp nutmeg; 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil; 1 tbsp
margarine; salt and pepper to taste
Preparation: Sautee the onion in olive oil over medium heat for three to
five minutes, or until soft. Add the rice. Allow to cook, stirring, for a
minute or two. Slowly add the wine. Start to add the vegetable broth,
1/2 cup at a time. Allow the moisture to cook off before adding the next
1/2 cup. Stir frequently. Add remaining ingredients, stirring well,
and cook for just a few minutes, until heated through.
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/maindishentreerecipes/r/pumpkinrisotto.htm
Vegan Chocolate
brands:
Chocolove Dark Chocolate and Orange Peel
Newman’s Own Chocolate Bars: Sweet Dark Espresso and Sweet Dark Orange, regular
and organic)
Ritter Sport - Chocolate Mint (the light blue ones) and Marzipan (the red
one)
Green and Blacks Organic Chocolate – Dark Chocolate
Organic Equal Exchange Chocolate All flavors except for milk chocolate
More Vegan Chocolate Brands
Here are a few brands of vegan chocolate that are specifically made to be
vegan and are marketed and labeled as such. Most of these vegan chocolate
brands are organic and fair-trade as well.
Endangered Species Dark Chocolate (most, but not all flavors)
Sunspire and Tropical Source (chocolate chips and chocolate bars)
Whole Foods Brand Chocolate Chips
Whole Foods Brand Dark Chocolate, and Dark Chocolate with Almonds
Dagoba
Plamil Organic Vegan Chocolate (fair trade)
Terra Nostra Rice Milk Vegan Choco Bars
Sjaaks
Bug Bites
Confections (low-calorie
and low glycemic for diabetics too)
If it’s not just chocolate chips and chocolate bars that you love, try some
of these other vegan chocolate treats to satisfy even the most ardent of
vegan chocoholics:
Chocolate Creme flavoured Oreo cookies
Vegan Ice Cream (I like Purely Decadent brand Chocolate Peanut Butter Zig-Zag
and Temptation Brand Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough flavour)
Peanut Chews candy
Wax Orchards brand Fat Free Fudge Sauces (these are seriously good – and
guilt-free!)
Luna Bars (I like the chocolate peppermint flavor-yum!)
Reese's Cereal
Cocoa powder, any brand, as long as its 100% cocoa
Chocolatey Chip and Chocolate flavor Teddy Grahams
Trader Joe’s brand vegan chocolate chip cookies
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/shoppingproducts/f/veganchocolate.htm?nl=1
Vegetarian Bean Soups
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/soupsstewsandchili/tp/bestbeansoups.htm?nl=1
Vegetarian Bean
Salads
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/maindishentreerecipes/tp/bestbeansalads.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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