A PILL FOR MANY ILLS : ASPIRIN

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Treated meat ups childhood leukaemia risk

Vegetables Help Nullify Affect

New York: Children who regularly eat cured meats like bacon and hot dogs may have a heightened risk of leukemia, while vegetables and soy products may help protect against cancer, a new study suggests.
    Researchers found that among 515 Taiwanese children and teenagers with and without acute leukaemia, those who ate cured meats and fish more than once a week had a 74% higher risk of leukaemia than those who rarely ate these foods.
    On the other hand, kids who often ate vegetables and soy products, like tofu, had about half the leukaemia risk of their peers who shunned vegetables and soy. The findings, reported in the online journal BMC Cancer, point to an association between these foods and leukaemia risk — but do not prove cause-and-effect.
    Long-term human studies, as well as animal studies, are still needed to see what role, if any, dietary factors have in leukaemia development, explained David Christiani of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, one of the researchers of the group. However, Christiani said, based on this and previous studies, he and his colleagues recommend that children not eat high amounts of cured meats and fish.
    During the curing process, foods are preserved and flavoured by the addition of salt, sugar and chemicals called nitrites; the foods are often smoked as well. Nitrites are precursors to compounds known as nitrosamines, which are potentially cancer-promoting.
    In contrast, vegetables and soy contain antioxidants that may help neutralize those same compounds. Christiani and his colleagues found that among children who regularly ate cured meats and fish, those who also ate vegetables or soy products had a substantially lower leukaemia risk. Cured meats included foods like bacon, ham and hot dogs, as well as Chinese staples like dried salted duck, salted fish and Chinese-style sausage. REUTERS

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Healthy hair secrets

Toss those tresses and you're giving away the state of your health.Your hair is a surefire indicator of just how healthy you are. And chances are, if you're facing a hair problem, you also have a health problem.
    Abnormal hair fall, or growth, or excessive dryness of your hair and scalp and dandruff that refuses to clear, then you need to get professional help. Your condition may be more than just a bad hair day! Here are simple rules to get that gorgeous crown:
CLEAN HAIR:
Basic hair care starts with clean hair. Too much cleansing, however, can be damaging.The scalp produces an oily substance called sebum which coats each hair and keeps it looking shiny and soft. Shampoos are designed to remove excess oil, grease and dirt and to exfoliate the skin cells which clog and suffocate the hair follicles. It is important to choose a shampoo according to your hair type.
    Daily shampooing is not a problem as long as the shampoo is formulated for daily use. If your hair simply feels sweaty it is okay to simply rinse out the sweat too. Shampooing does not cause hair loss, nor does excess sebum clog the hair follicles.
BRUSHING AND COMBING THE HAIR:
Never comb or brush wet hair, as it is more susceptible to stretching and breaking when wet. Finger comb it in gentle massage-like movements.Wait until it is damp before styling. A two minute brushing, stroking and combing routine is sufficient massage exercise for the scalp.This will help distribute natural hair oils and improve blood circulation. More than this will over-stimulate the sebaceous glands and cause oiliness. Never use force while brushing, always brush with gentle outward strokes.
HAIR OIL:
Hair oil is the only hair & scalp conditioner in the world. Contrary to the myth that hair oil does nothing but attract grime and which a lot of specialists endorse, regular oiling is a must. One should apply oil and leave it for a minimum of 4 hours and maximum 24 hours. One should also avoid going out with hair oil on, as oil along with dust particles may clog the pores. Condition your hair by oiling it at least twice a week.
REGULAR HAIR CHECK UP:
It is a must to get a regular hair check up done as it is the body's barometer indicating good health or the lack of it. It can be an early indicator of many diseases such as: l Thyroid problems l Parathyroid problem l Addisons disease l Cushing's syndrome l Anemia l Dietary and mineral deficiency l Hormonal imbalance l Ovarian cyst disease l Tooth problems (Inputs from Mumbai-based Trichologist Dr Apurva Shah)

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Holistic Healing Of Mind And Body

Disease will never be cured or eradicated by only the present materialistic methods, for the simple reason that disease in its origin is not material. What we know as disease is an ultimate result produced in the body, the end product of deep and longacting forces. Even if material treatment alone is apparently successful, it is a temporary relief unless the real cause has been removed.
    Misinterpreting the true nature of disease and perceiving it in materialistic terms in the physical body is not healing. It distracts your thoughts from your true origin and hence from the effective method of treatment and, secondly, localising treatment to the body obscures true hope of recovery and raises a mighty disease complex of fear, which never should have existed.
    Disease is in essence the result of conflict between Soul and Mind, and will never be eradicated except by spiritual and mental effort. Such efforts can cure and prevent disease by removing those basic factors which are its primary cause. No effort directed to the body alone can do more than superficially repair damage, and in this there is no cure, since the cause is still operative and may at any moment again demonstrate its presence in another form.
    In many cases, apparent recovery is harmful, since it hides from the patient the true cause of his trouble, and in the satisfaction of apparently renewed health the real factor, being unnoticed, may gain in strength. The patient who knows, or who is by some wise physician instructed in, the nature of the adverse spiritual or mental forces at work, if that patient directly attempts to neutralise those forces, health improves as soon as this is successfully begun, and when it is completed the disease will disappear. This is true healing.
    Five hundred years before Christ, some physicians of ancient India, working under the influence of Lord Buddha, advanced the art of healing to so perfect a state that they were able to abolish surgery, although the surgery of their time was possibly as efficient, or more so, than that of the present day. Such men as Hippocrates with his mighty ideals of healing, Paracelsus with his certainty of the divinity in man, and Hahnemann who realised that disease originated in a plane above the physical —all these knew much of the real nature and remedy of suffering.
    What untold misery would have been spared during the last 20 centuries had the teaching of these great masters of their art been followed! But, as in other things, materialism has appealed too strongly to the western world, and for so long a time, that the voices of the practical obstructors have risen above the advice of those who knew the truth.
    Disease, though apparently so cruel, is in itself beneficent and for our good and, if rightly interpreted, it will guide us to our essential faults. If properly treated, it will be the cause of the removal of those faults and leave us better and greater than before. Suffering is a corrective to point out a lesson which by other means we have failed to grasp, and never can it be eradicated until that lesson is learnt.
    Disease may be prevented before its onset — or aborted in its earlier stages — if proper corrective spiritual and mental efforts be undertaken. Nor need anyone despair in any case, however severe, for the fact that the individual is still granted physical life indicates that the Soul who rules is not without hope.
    Excerpted from the writer's book, Heal Thyself.

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Space tours make bones brittle

Washington: Astronauts who spend months in space tend to lose bone strength, making them increasingly vulnerable to fractures in later life.
    Universities of California (UC) Irvine and San Francisco evaluated 13 astronauts who spent four to six months on the International Space Station and found that, on average, their hipbone strength decreased by 14%.
    Three astronauts experienced losses of 20% to 30%, rates comparable to those seen in older women with osteoporosis.
    These results alarmed researchers because they revealed a greater rate of bone deterioration than previously measured using less powerful technologies.
    Orthopaedic researchers looking into the effects of long-duration spaceflight usually study the hipbone or spine. The hip experiences the greatest rate of bone loss in space, and a hip fracture almost always requires hospitalisation and major surgery.
    It can impair a person's ability to walk unassisted and may cause prolonged or permanent disability or even death. Fractures of the vertebra also have serious consequences, including loss of height, severe back pain and deformity.
    "If preventive measures are not taken, some of our astronauts may be at increased risk for age-related fractures decades after their missions," said Joyce Keyak of UC Irvine, biomedical engineering professor, who led the study.
    For as long as there have been astronauts, researchers have studied why the microgravitational environment of space makes bones more fragile. While previous studies looked at bone mineral density, this study is the first to specifically evaluate bone strength.
    Keyak and her colleagues used a novel computer programme she developed over the past 20 years to identify hipbone fracture risk in people with osteoporosis. The study team used this programme to analyse structurally the hipbone CT scans of one female and 12 male International Space Centre crewmembers, said an UCI release.
    To lessen the effects, space station astronauts must exercise at least two hours every day and undergo weeks of rehabilitation after their return to Earth. IANS
HEALTH HAZARDS
Long periods in space make astronauts vulnerable to a wide range of health risks

    Exposure to weightlessness affects the body upon return to gravity's pull. Muscles, heart function, blood flow, red blood cell production and the immune system are weakened when astronauts first step back onto Earth

    The common ailments are nausea, anaemia, lethargy, headaches, disorientation, fatigue, depression, motion sickness, heart palpitations, weakened defences against infectious disease and losses of blood volume, muscle mass and bone density

    In space, the loss of bone mineral is alarming. It occurs at the rate of 1% to 1.5% a month, especially from the hip and lower spine. This sharply reduces bone strength, leading to fractures in later life

    Some astronauts experience losses of 20 to 30%, rates comparable to those seen in older women with osteoporosis

    Atrip to Mars, a year or two each way, carries the risk of leaving an astronaut crippled upon return to Earth

    The best way to keep healthy is to go for strenuous exercises for at least two hours a day to build muscles during the space odyssey, and to undergo weeks of rehabilitation on return, say experts

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BACTERIA flowing in the BLADDER and the Urinary tract.

This document must be read by everybody to understand the implication of BACTERIA flowing in the BLADDER and the Urinary tract. You must keep a vigil on such occurrences as discomfort and burning sensation.......and run to have yourself examined by a Doctor before things become serious.

 

 

 

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Home Remedies: White Teeth

• Brush your teeth with salt; put the salt on the toothbrush instead of regular toothpaste.
• Mix baking soda into your regular toothpaste and brush your teeth with this mixture. You should see results within weeks.
• Use lemon juice to brush your teeth.
• Hydrogen peroxide is an effective chemical used to whiten teeth. Brushing your teeth daily for one minute will give quick results.
• Take some foil and fold it to form to your teeth. Take a little toothpaste and baking soda and mix together really well. Put some of the mixture into the foil and place on your teeth. Leave on for one-hour everyday. Brush teeth normally afterwards. You will notice whiter teeth in just a few days.

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Your Doc Will Be Able To See Your ECG Results On His Phone

A HEART-WARMING MMS

Malathy Iyer I TNN

Mumbai: Residents of areas between Vikhroli and Chunabhatti can take heart. Any resident, at the slightest hint of chest pain, can dial a number, and a medical worker will rush to her or his home in an ambulance or a motorcycle, track the patient's electrocardiogram (ECG) and immediately send it via MMS to a cardiologist's mobile phone. Diagnosis of a heart attack has never been so "assisted'', claim the bunch of IITians and cardiologists who will unveil their 'Saving Lives' project on Republic Day.
    For the six cardiologists who will oversee the project, it is an academic challenge. "Worldwide, the door-to-balloon time (time for angioplasty) is 90 minutes after diagnosis. We aim to reduce it to 60 minutes with this technology,'' says Dr Sandip Rane from Chembur.
    Tweaking the telemedicine idea a wee bit, the IIT team, led by Dr Uday Desai of the electrical engineering department cell, has worked out a way of compressing heavy, medical diagnostic files into easyto-transfer MMS. "It's the synthesis of wireless technology, digital signal processing and biomedical engineering,'' said Dr Srikant Parikh, an ex-IBM employee who is a part of the venture. To avail of the ECG-on-an-MMS facility, families of persons experiencing chest pain only have to dial 25277000 or 25277001. "Our doctor will take the specially designed ECG machine in an ambulance or a motorbike to the patient's home,'' explained cardiologists Nitin Burkule and Rajiv Karnik. Once the ECG—a recording of the heart's electrical activity—is taken, the on-site doctor can immediately MMS to the mobile phone of the heart specialist whose location is closest to the patient. "If the reading is irregular, we will immediately convey that the patient needs to be hospitalised for a primary angioplasty or be given thrombolytic treatment immediately,'' said Dr Bhaskar Shah. The phone diagnosis will ensure earlier treatment to patient, thereby reducing the severity of damage due to any delay, said the doctors, most of whom work at Thane's Jupiter Hospital. "We plan to extend the project to Thane within three months and cover the entire city within a year,'' said Dr Rane. Incidentally, the idea for an ECG-on-MMS machine was born three years ago in Dr Desai's IIT laboratory to further the cause of social medicine. At the monthly meetings of the M u m b a i chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), he discussed the idea with his friend Srikant Parikh, who roped in another friend Dr Sunil Lakdawala, to set up A3 Remote Monitoring Technologies. "That stands for anywhere, anytime access,'' says Parikh. The engineering trio states that unlike telemedicine projects that involve huge infrastructural expenses, their technology uses cellular internet facility to transfer data. "It is not only more econ o m i c, but also done in real time unlike the present-day telemedicine services that send reports long after the patient has been put t h ro u g h the test,'' said Dr Desai. Dubbing it an altruistic effort more than a business venture, Parikh said that the idea was to take this technology to the remote parts of the country. "A worker in a village not wanting to miss his day's wages will never travel to towns for a diagnosis. With this machine, a diagnosis can be done in a jiffy even if the patient is in Srinagar or Nigeria,'' said Parikh.
ARE YOU READY FOR A MOBILE ECG?
    Anyone experiencing chest pain can call members of the 'Saving Lives' project on 25277000 or 25277001. A doctor will rush to the patient's home immediately in an ambulance or a motorbike (if the patient's residence is at a congested area).
    The medical personnel will carry a specially designed, portable ECG monitor to the patient's home.
    The ECG carried out within a few minutes will, in real time, be MMSed to the cardiologist's mobile phone
If the 12-lead ECG report indicates a heart attack or any other problem, then the patient will be taken to hospital immediately for surgical or medical treatment as needed.
THE MMS-ECG'S USP
The ECG report will be transferred, using cellular internet facility, in less than a minute to the cardiologist's mobile phone. Treatment can thus begin at the patient's home itself or the patient can be taken to hospital immediately.
SUBURBS COVERED
Chunabhatti, Kurla, Chembur, Vidyavihar, Ghatkopar and Vikhroli

SAVING LIVES: (From left) Dr Srikant Parikh, Dr Sunil Lakdawala and Dr Uday Desai have set up A3 Remote Monitoring Technologies that will help heart patients locate a cardiologist in times of emergency

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Hearty news for patients with acute cardiac trouble

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: Mention aortic aneurysm and the challenging heart condition was considered a silent killer, till recently. Two Mumbaikars, who were diagnosed with it and saved from the brink of medical emergencies, signify the progress the city's heartcare hospitals have made.
    Aortic aneurysm occurs when the artery wall of the aorta, the largest artery in the body, weakens and could be lifethreatening as it could rupture causing internal bleeding.
WHEN AN ANEURYSM BURST....
    When Deonar resident Kamlakar Vaity (62) started complaining of severe back pain on December 5, his family didn't have the foggiest idea that something was wrong with his heart. Vaitya's heart had an aneurysm that had, like a stretched balloon, suddenly burst and was leaking blood.
    "Around 70% of such patients never make it to hospital,'' said Dr Hemant Deshmukh, who heads KEM Hospital's interventional radiology department. But Vaity not only made it to Sion Hospital but was subsequently operated by Dr Deshmukh at KEM Hospital.
    What makes Vaity's recovery remarkable is the bleakness associated with aneurysms, mainly seen among senior citizens and smokers. It isn't easily diagnosed in India because of the lack of awareness. The relatively new alternative of 'stenting'—or surgery and stents in combination—is now making aneurysm more manageable, said Dr Deshmukh.
    Vaity's blood pressure had dropped to dangerous levels and his kidney's function was impaired. For 20 days, Sion
doctors kept him afloat before transferring him to KEM. There, doctors operated him in a minimally-invasive manner—inserting a catherer and reaching the ruptured aorta to place the special cylindrical stent measuring a few mm—on December 26.
    The treatment cost is high. Though Vaity was operated in KEM, a public hospital, the family had to pay Rs 3.5 lakh for the stent alone. Vaidya's wife Sarika, who worked as a welder, was happy that family and friends had pitched in.
A HYBRID PROCEDURE
    Mulund resident B G Rao (72) was a singer but is barely able to speak today. He is recuperating from a complicated surgery at Asian Heart Institute (AHI), Bandra.
    When Rao suffered lower back pain in 2005, he was advised an MRI. "Doctors detected an aneurysm,'' said son S G Rao. They couldn't have guessed that Rao wo-uld set a medical record of sorts—becoming one of first Mumbaikars to undergo a hybrid heart procedure—a bypass and stenting at one go, after he was diagnosed with a triple aortic aneurysm.
    The family first ignored the aneurysm, "as he had no symptoms''. Only when he began to lose his voice that family panicked. Doctors even discouraged an operation at his age.
    It was on meeting cardiothoracic surgeon Ramakant Panda, the PM's doctor, in December that they decided to go ahead with the surgery. Explaining that the aneurysm was so located that only one procedure wouldn't have been possible, Dr Sudhir Vaishnav of AHI said they did a bypass and stenting.

Kamlakar Vaity

B G Rao

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Stem cell therapy set for first human trial

US Nod To Use Of Embryonic Cells For Treating Spinal Injuries Raises Hope For Accident Victims

Andrew Pollack

In a research milestone, the US federal government will allow the world's first test in people of a therapy derived from human embryonic stem cells.
    Federal drug regulators said that political considerations had no role in the decision. Nevertheless, the move coincided with the inauguration of President Barack Obama, who has pledged to remove some of the financing restrictions placed on the field by former president George Bush.
    The clearance of the clinical trial — of a treatment for spinal cord injury — is to be announced on Friday by Geron, the biotechnology company that first applied to the Food and Drug Administration to conduct the trial last March. The FDA had first said no, asking for more data.
    Thomas Okarma, Geron's chief executive, said on Thursday that he did not think that the Bush administration's objections to embryonic stem cell research played a role in the FDA's delaying approval. "We really have no evidence," Okarma said, "that there was any political overhang."
    Robert Klein, the chairman of California's $3 billion stem cell research program, called the approval of the first human trial of this sort "an extraordinary benchmark."
    Stem cells derived from adults and fetuses are already being used in some clinical trials, but they generally have less versatility than embryonic stem cells in terms of what tissue types they can form. The FDA approval comes a little more than 10 years after the first human embryonic stem cells were isolated at the University of Wisconsin, in work financed by Geron.
    Because the cells can turn into any type of cell in the body, the theory is they may one day be able to provide tissues to replace worn-out organs or nonfunctioning cells to treat diabetes, heart attacks and other diseases. The field is known as regenerative medicine.
    Geron's trial will involve 8 to 10 people with severe spinal cord injuries. The cells will be injected into the spinal cord at the injury site 7 to 14 days after the injury occurs, because there is evidence the therapy will not work for much older injuries.
    The study is a so-called Phase I trial, aimed mainly at testing the safety of the therapy. There would still be years of testing and many hurdles to overcome before the treatment would become routinely available to patients.
    Geron, which is based in Menlo Park, California, said that it had identified up to seven medical centers for the trial but that those sites must first get permission from their own internal review boards to participate.
    Even as some researchers hailed the onset of clinical trials, others expressed trepidation that if the therapy proves unsafe — or even if it is safe but does not work — it could cause a backlash that would set the field back for years. "It would be a disaster, a nightmare, if we ran into these kinds of problems in this very first trial," said John Kessler, the chairman of neurology and director of the stem cell institute at Northwestern University. NYT NEWS SERVICE

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THE TRAVEL HEALTH KIT

Travel sickness, sunburn or jetlag. If you're off for a holiday, make sure to pack items from ROUGE's health suitcase

BYAINDRILA MITRA

Problem: Insect bites Pack: Baking soda
Bugs and bees always jeopardise an adventurous holiday. But fret not, all you need to do is pack some baking soda. Says Dr. Apratim Goel, cosmetic surgeon, "With an insect sting, there's an acid release in the skin. Just mix the soda with water and apply the same on the place you've been bitten. For white puss formation, apply Fucidin ointment." Also carry anti-allergic tablets, she recommends.
Problem: Sunburn Pack: Aloe vera gel and cooling talcum powder
If you're a beach babe, a sunscreen with minimum SPF 15 is a must-have. However, if you suffer from sunburn on an especially sunny day, apply some aloe vera gel to soothe your skin. A mixture of aloe vera, menthol, calamine and peppermint like Calosoft or Sarna can work wonders according to Dr. Goel. She adds that carrying a cooling talcum powder in your travel kit is a good idea.
Problem: Stomach cramps Pack: Mestal/ Ponstan and camomile tea
Dr. Bharati Desai, family physician, prescribes Mestal or Ponstan tablets for menstrual cramps. She says, "You can take up to three tablets a day, depending on the extent of pain." Besides, camomile tea also helps in relieving stomach spasms.
Problem: Hangover Pack: Lemon
Excessive drinking and partying can leave you with a disastrous hangover. Dr. Goel suggests carrying lemon with you. "Lots of water with a dash of lime is a perfect solution to battle an after-party hangover," she explains. Further she adds, "You could actually drink beer to flush out the toxins." So make merry all the way!
Problem: Damaged hair
Pack: Sun-protective hair balm/ serum
Whether you're on a luxury holiday or a backpacking adventure, your hair is inevitably exposed to the sun. Dr. Goel advises to carry hair balm or serum with sunscreen that are available in the market from most cosmetic brands. Also, condition your hair for 20 minutes with a conditioning mask, she points out.
Problem: Heatstroke Pack: Crocin/ Paracetamol and salt
If you're off to a tropical, humid destination, and likely to spend hours under the sun, it's sensible to carry some salt with you. Dr. Desai explains, "Drinking lots of salt water or even nimbu paani is the perfect solution to a mild heatstroke. It helps to hydrate your body and replenish yourself. Also, a crocin or paracetamol helps in case you have a throbbing headache." And do not forget your umbrellas and sunglasses when you're out in the sun for a long time.
Problem: Diarrhoea Pack: Imodium/Redol
Dr. Desai says, "Taking Imodium or Redol, which contain loperamide, orally is an instant reliever." However, she cautions, if you have diarrhoea, make sure to only drink mineral water and opt for boiled food. Also, avoid dairy products like cottage cheese and raw food. It's better to go for canned foods at this time.
Problem: Jetlag
Pack: Melatonin tablets
It's imperative to adjust your body clock according to the time zone you are travelling to, in order to avoid severe jetlag. In addition, Dr. Goel claims that Melatonin tablets also help to fight jetlag. "Eat more carbohydrate foods," she recommends.

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How to Improve Your Memory & Exercise Your Brain

Everyone can take steps to improve their memory, and with time and practice most people can gain the ability to memorize seemingly impossible amounts of information. Whether you want to win the World Memory Championships, ace your history test, or simply remember where you put your keys, this article can get you started. Scientists believe that exercising your brain can create a 'cognitive reserve' that will help you stay sharp as you age.

 

1. Convince yourself that you do have a good memory that will improve. Too many people get stuck here and convince themselves that their memory is bad, that they are just not good with names, that numbers just slip out of their minds for some reason. Erase those thoughts and vow to improve your memory. Commit yourself to the task and bask in your achievements — it's hard to keep motivated if you beat yourself down every time you make a little bit of progress.

 

2. Keep your brain active. The brain is not a muscle, but regularly "exercising" the brain actually does keep it growing and spurs the development of new nerve connections that can help improve memory. By developing new mental skills—especially complex ones such as learning a new language or learning to play a new musical instrument—and challenging your brain with puzzles and games you can keep your brain active and improve its physiological functioning.

3. Exercise daily. Regular aerobic exercise improves circulation and efficiency throughout the body, including in the brain, and can help ward off the memory loss that comes with aging. Exercise also makes you more alert and relaxed, and can thereby improve your memory uptake, allowing you to take better mental "pictures."

4. Reduce stress. Chronic stress, although it does not physically damage the brain, can make remembering much more difficult. Even temporary stresses can make it more difficult to effectively focus on concepts and observe things. Try to relax, regularly practice yoga or other stretching exercises, and see a doctor if you have severe chronic stress.

5. Eat well and eat right. There are a lot of herbal supplements on the market that claim to improve memory, but none have yet been shown to be effective in clinical tests (although small studies have shown some promising results for ginkgo biloba and phosphatidylserine). A healthy diet, however, contributes to a healthy brain, and foods containing antioxidants—broccoli, blueberries, spinach, and berries, for example—and Omega-3 fatty acids appear to promote healthy brain functioning. Feed your brain with such supplements as Thiamine, Vitamin E, Niacin and Vitamin B-6. Grazing, eating 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day instead of 3 large meals, also seems to improve mental functioning (including memory) by limiting dips in blood sugar, which may negatively affect the brain.

 

6. Take better pictures. Often we forget things not because our memory is bad, but rather because our observational skills need work. One common situation where this occurs (and which almost everyone can relate to) is meeting new people. Often we don't really learn people's names at first because we aren't really concentrating on remembering them. You'll find that if you make a conscious effort to remember such things, you'll do much better. One way to train yourself to be more observant is to look at an unfamiliar photograph for a few seconds and then turn the photograph over and describe or write down as many details as you can about the photograph. Try closing your eyes and picturing the photo in your mind. Use a new photograph each time you try this exercise, and with regular practice you will find you're able to remember more details with even shorter glimpses of the photos.

7. Give yourself time to form a memory. Memories are very fragile in the short-term, and distractions can make you quickly forget something as simple as a phone number. The key to avoid losing memories before you can even form them is to be able to focus on the thing to be remembered for a while without thinking about other things, so when you're trying to remember something, avoid distractions and complicated tasks for a few minutes.

 

8. Create vivid, memorable images. You remember information more easily if you can visualize it. If you want to associate a child with a book, try not to visualize the child reading the book – that's too simple and forgettable. Instead, come up with something more jarring, something that sticks, like the book chasing the child, or the child eating the book. It's your mind – make the images as shocking and emotional as possible to keep the associations strong.

 

9. Repeat things you need to learn. The more times you hear, see, or think about something, the more surely you'll remember it, right? It's a no-brainer. When you want to remember something, be it your new coworker's name or your best friend's birthday, repeat it, either out loud or silently. Try writing it down; think about it.

 

10. Group things you need to remember. Random lists of things (a shopping list, for example) can be especially difficult to remember. To make it easier, try categorizing the individual things from the list. If you can remember that, among other things, you wanted to buy four different kinds of vegetables, you'll find it easier to remember all four.

 

11. Organize your life. Keep items that you frequently need, such as keys and eyeglasses, in the same place every time. Use an electronic organizer or daily planner to keep track of appointments, due dates for bills, and other tasks. Keep phone numbers and addresses in an address book or enter them into your computer or cell phone. Improved organization can help free up your powers of concentration so that you can remember less routine things. Even if being organized doesn't improve your memory, you'll receive a lot of the same benefits (i.e. you won't have to search for your keys anymore).

 

12. Try meditation. Research now suggests that people who regularly practice "mindfulness" meditation are able to focus better and may have better memories. Mindfulness (also known as awareness or insight meditation) is the type commonly practiced in Western countries and is easy to learn. Studies at Massachusetts General Hospital show that regular meditation thickens the cerebral cortex in the brain by increasing the blood flow to that region. Some researchers believe this can enhance attention span, focus, and memory.

 

13. Sleep well. The amount of sleep we get affects the brain's ability to recall recently learned information. Getting a good night's sleep – a minimum of seven hours a night – may improve your short-term memory and long-term relational memory, according to recent studies conducted at the Harvard Medical School.

 

14. Build your memorization arsenal. Learn pegs, memory palaces, and the Dominic System. These techniques form the foundation for mnemonic techniques, and will visibly improve your memory.

 

15. Venture out and learn from your mistakes. Go ahead and take a stab at memorizing the first one hundred digits of pi, or, if you've done that already, the first one thousand. Memorize the monarchs of England through your memory palaces, or your grocery list through visualization. Through diligent effort you will eventually master the art of memorization.

 

 

 

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TOAST TO YOUR HEALTH

Dietician Neesha Bukht teaches Kiran Mehta the art of mixing drinks to make happy hour healthy!

— N e e s h a M a r i a B u k h t i s a d i e t i c i a n a n d I S S A t r a i n e r

MINTY MOJITO
What is it: 30 ml vodka infused with peppermint tea and green tea for six hours (simply drop a peppermint tea bag and a green tea bag into hot water. Allow it to cool and add the mix to the vodka). Add a few drops of lemon juice. To create an anti-sugar mojito, add 10 ml honey. Top up with mineral water if you like.
What it does: Green tea is loaded with anti-oxidants and has properties that fire up your metabolism. So drink up without worrying about your weight!
    Peppermint melts away the stress and also soothes gastric and digestive disorders, fights allergies, asthma and even cancer.
    Honey heals with its anti-bacterial properties while helping the kidneys and intestines function better.
MASALA MAI TAI
What is it: 45 ml garam masala rum, 50 ml lime juice, 45 ml orange curaçao, 45 ml orange syrup, garnish with a mint sprig. Garam masala rum: 7 gm whole cloves, 2 gm black peppercorns, 2 gm whole green cardamom (muddled slightly to release the seeds), 2 gm coriander seeds, 2 gm cumin seeds, 2 gm mace/ nutmeg (not powdered), a sprig of curry leaves
    Roast the spices on a hot tava and pour in a litre of rum. Add a sprig of fresh green curry leaves and let sit in an airtight container for 36 hours before straining off the solids.
Orange syrup: Boil water and add three teaspoons of sugar. Add oranges without the skin. Boil till mixture reaches a thick consistency such that it coats the spoon.
What it does: Clove has anti-inflammatory properties that relieve muscle aches as well as arthritis and rheumatism pain. The aromatic spice also has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Curry leaves help reduce blood cholesterol levels and positively affect heart muscle contraction. Cumin seeds are an excellent source of iron, an integral component of haemoglobin, which transports oxygen from the lungs to all the other cells. Cumin also stimulates the secretion of pancreatic enzymes thereby aiding in digestion and assimilation of nutrients. And lastly mace is a natural aphrodisiac.
TALISMAN
What is it: 30 ml scotch, 20 ml honey water, a shot of espresso coffee and cayenne pepper.
What it does: The cayenne pepper enhances cardiovascular performance while lowering blood pressure. It has an energising effect on the entire system. It is traditionally used to overcome fatigue and restore stamina and vigour.
GINGER SNAP
MARTINI
What is it: 1 part vodka, 1/2 part amaretto, 1/2 part sugar syrup, 1/2 part honey, 2 1/4 part thick slices of fresh ginger, a pinch of cinnamon, a pinch of clove, a pinch of allspice and crystallised ginger for garnish. Mix all the ingredients together into a shaker. Strain and serve.
What it does: Cinnamon regulates blood sugar levels and also helps lower cholesterol levels. Ginger regulates the digestive system. When added to foods that are difficult to digest, such as proteins or fats that may cause bloating and flatulence, (think cauliflower, cabbage and beans), allspice can relieve any discomfort that is associated with indigestion.
    It is also beneficial in the treatment of arthritic and rheumatic pains and other muscular and joint problems. The spice has a calming effect on the nervous system and helps fight stress and anxiety.
BEAUTY ON THE ROCKS
What it is: 4 strawberries, 4 tulsi leaves (torn in half), cracked black pepper, 5 ml honey, 15 ml rum, 15 ml peach liqueur, 90 ml pineapple juice, 5 ml lemon juice.
What it does: Loaded with vitamin C thanks to the strawberries and lime, this drink keeps your skin healthy and glowing, and also beats the sniffles.
    Black pepper contains powerful antioxidants and is great at beating oxidative stress or the damage caused by freeradicals, which is one of the major factors of ageing. Several of its compounds enhance the action of other antioxidants. This makes black pepper is valuable in minimising the damage caused by a diet rich in saturated fats.
    Tulsi leaves are a tonic for the nerves and also help sharpen memory. The herb also strengthens the kidney and can help in cases of a kidney stone. It provides significant protection against stress.

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Common Blood Pressure Drugs should not be combined

Thousands of Canadians with high blood pressure are taking a combination of drugs that increases their risk of sudden cardiac death, kidney disease and other complications, the Heart and Stroke Foundation warned Friday.

Under new Canadian guidelines, patients taking a combination of ACE inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) should not stop taking the medications on their own, but should see their family doctor as soon as possible to discuss whether to change treatment.

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme or ACE inhibitors such as Ramipril are a type of blood pressure medication that helps widens blood vessels, making it easier for blood to flow through.

Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) block the action of a peptide called angiotensin, which causes blood vessels to narrow, helping to relax the blood vessels and lower blood pressure.

Combination stresses kidneys

"There is a synergy that happens when you use this particular drug combination but, unfortunately, it is not a synergy that benefits patients," said Toronto nephrologist Dr. Sheldon Tobe, a spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and an executive member of the committee that drafted the new guidelines.

Commonly used blood pressure medications in Canada ACE Inhibitors

Benazepril (Lotensin®)

Captopril (Capoten®)

Cilazapril (Inhibace®)

Enalapril (Vasotec®)

Fosinopril (Monopril®)

Lisinopril (Prinvil®, Zestril®)

Perindopril (Coversyl®)

Ramipril (Altace®)

Trandolapril (Mavik®)

Angiotension Receptor Antagonist (ARB)

Candesartan (Atacand®)

Eprosartan (Teveten®)

Irbesartan (Avapro®)

Losartan (Cozaar®)

Telmisartan (Micardis®)

Valsartan (Diovan®)

Source: Canadian Hypertension Education Program

"When you put the two drugs together, you don't get any additional protection against heart attacks and strokes and you get more negative side-effects," he added.

The drug combination is a major source of stress on the kidneys, said Margaret Moy Lum-Kwong, a spokersperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario who leads the group's high blood pressure strategy.

The side-effects may include fainting, diarrhea and elevated levels of potassium that could result in the need for dialysis, or death.

"The good news is that for patients who are on this particular combination treatment, that once you stop the combination, the risk is eliminated," Lum-Kwong said.

She added that people should know what medications they are on and why..

As many as 175,000 Canadians with high blood pressure may be currently treated with this combination of medications.

Most people with hypertension need to take two or more drugs and adopt a healthier lifestyle, according to the committee that draws up guidelines, the Canadian Hypertension Education Program.

But a Canadian-led trial, called On Target, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in April 2008 found the drug combination was only marginally better at lowering blood pressure than either drug alone, and patients taking both experienced more side-effects such as kidney problems.

The trial included 25,620 people who were age 55 or older with vascular disease or high-risk diabetes.

In updating the guidelines, the committee also considered other studies to understand the scope of the potential problem, Lum-Kwong said.

High blood pressure affects one in five Canadians, according to the foundation.

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Artificial good cholesterol to clean arteries using Gold

Will Help Body Excrete LDL

Chicago: US researchers have developed a synthetic form of good cholesterol known as HDL they hope will be able to keep levels of bad cholesterol in check.
    The compound, which has a tiny core of gold, is manufactured using nanotechnology, and its developers think it has the potential to rid the body of excess bad cholesterol. "The idea is you take this and effectively just urinate it out," said Chad Mirkin of Northwestern University in Chicago, whose study was published on Monday in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
    Mirkin, director of Northwestern's International Institute for Nanotechnology, said the molecule mirrors the size and structure of high-density lipoprotein, or HDL.
    It is comprised of a carefully sized gold particle swathed in fat molecules known as lipids and capped off with a protein layer. It is designed to attract and trap low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, the bad kind of cholesterol that can build up in arteries and cause heart attacks and strokes.
    Powerful drugs known as statins can help lower LDL levels, but they do little to raise levels of protective HDL cholesterol. "The hope is this will be a material that doesn't have side effects, that allows you to do what the statins don't do. That is raise the HDL level, which might be able reverse a lot of the damage and plaques that are already there," Mirkin said.
    Current drugs that raise levels of HDL, such as niacin, cause unpleasant side effects like flushing. And while many drug companies are working to develop better HDL-raising drugs, few have succeeded. "HDL is a natural nanoparticle, and we've successfully mimicked it," Mirkin said. REUTERS

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WALK THE ‘GREEN’ TALK...

Architect Niteen Parulekar speaks about conserving energy

 It is clear that human activity has caused most of the past century's environmental problems. Amidst melting ice caps, dwindling forests and rising sea levels, both humans and wildlife are trying to sustain and survive. According to scientists, human activities are contributing to global warming by adding large amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. They argue that a narrow ten-year window of opportunity remains to set these things right. If this window is missed, temperature rise of above two degrees celsius could see the disappearance of the Himalayan glaciers that provides water and food for over two billion people. A report warns of clear and present danger of some islands disappearing and the annual damage costs of up to seven per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) of small island states like Fiji.
    Our patterns of consumption have a direct impact on our environment. On a daily basis and at an individual level, these patterns include factors that define our lifestyle which includes our choices of food, the transportation we use, the home we live in, the energy we consume and the commodities we choose. The solution to the problem lies in our determined choices and every little step we take everyday. Most of these obligations can be fulfiled right at home. Traditionally, practices such as like switching off lights, turning off taps and recycling of plastic milk bags and newspaper help. These basic patterns embodied in the Indian culture might have arisen out of the need for conservation and lack of resources of a developing country. With the current global climatic crisis, we have to consciously practice these indigenous ideologies; be it at home, work or on the streets. It has required to remain sustainable be it energy or lifestyle.
    A report states that 1.6 billion poor people across the world still rely on wood and animal dung for fuel and 930 million of them live in East and South Asia. While they are left in the dark, rich countries are running up the energy bills. If every poor person on the planet had the same energy-rich lifestyle as the Western nations, nine planets would be needed to safely cope with the pollution. While there is so much to learn from the West, we have sometimes been blind imitators or selective to choose the shortcoming of the western style consumerism which is far from sustainable. Developing countries are getting shortchanged and the worst impact of environmental destruction is getting passed onto the poor and the most vulnerable populace of the world.
    Consuming organic food and buying indigenous products is an excellent example of a sustainable lifestyle. Ancient Indian gurus have preached for thousands of years with a message to live in harmony with the environment and have respect for all living creatures. Environmentalists today are giving the same message. It is important to encourage individuals who make an effort to incorporate solar panels in their homes, invest in energybased appliances or double glazing for homes, use fuelefficient vehicles and alternative transportation options, commit to home composting and recycling of daily waste. The encouragement could be in the form of incentives such as tax breaks and discounts for similar green techniques or products.
    One of the definitions of sustainability is development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The obligations arising from this mean that all humans have the right to an environment that is adequate for their health and well being. The world is moving ahead at an unprecedented pace driven by new emerging economies like India and China. In this context there is no precedent in the history of our world to decisively affect the global environmental problems. The responsibility also does lie with architects. Niteen Parulekar Architects Pvt. Ltd. actively pursues green design and encourages sustainable design professionals in their enterprise. They also conduct inhouse green awareness and educational workshops. Architect Niteen Parulekar is the Managing Director of NPAPL. Phone number: Tel: 66660777. E-mail at: niteen.parulekar@npapl.com or log on to: www.npapl.com.

Niteen Parulekar

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Getting detoxed!

Eesha Koppikhar shares her eight-day experience with BT

— GLACXY FERRAO

What is Detox?
    Detox, short for detoxification, is the removal of potentially toxic substances from the body. The term is used to refer to diets, herbs, and other methods of removing environmental and dietary toxins from the body for general health. However, it is also primarily thought of as a treatment for alcohol or drug dependence. Detox is a sample two-week detox diet plan to support detoxification by increasing elimination from the body, cleansing the body, enhancing circulation to clear toxic substances, eliminating foods from the diet that require detoxification or are allergenic, etc.
Eesha Koppikhar's Detox Programme
    Recently Eesha was in no mood to celebrate the New Year after the Mumbai terror attacks. So she decided to herald it in a unique way by undergoing a detox programme at a place in Andheri for eight days. The actress kept her energy levels high by playing basketball, doing martial arts training, and also indulging in core strengthening exercises. "Chef Maxie designed a special menu for me full of healthy foods like vegetable juices, salads, etc," she tells us. She underwent functional training, too, over there. "I indulged myself in the different types of massages. It was a rejuvenating and relaxing experience and I'm feeling healthier than ever."

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NATURE’S SEEDS FOR HEALTHY TEETH

BT tells you about the smart fruits that are good for your whites

DR SHANTANU JARADI

 The bite that's better for you. We have only been thinking that fruits are nutritious for healthy living. Who would have thought that they not only help in living healthy but also give you long-lasting healthy teeth. Eating five portions of fruits a day helps us to keep our teeth healthy.
    So, what fruits could be good for your teeth and help you to keep your teeth healthy?
Apples:
An apple a day not only keeps doctor away but can also serve to give you long-lasting teeth. Eating apples rather than drinking juice does your teeth and gums a great favour. By doing this, you are actually stimulating, cleaning and strengthening your teeth while reducing the amount of sugar you are consuming.
    Good and healthy teeth are necessary for oral health and having good teeth makes you look younger. That is why you should visit a dentist regularly to help prevent problems before they get out of hand.
    Avoid misery from tooth decay and gulp in nature's free gifts that will imbibe in you not only a hale and hearty lifestyle but also healthy, long-lasting teeth.

Watermelon: C for yourself
A hefty 25 per cent of the daily value for Vitamin C could be found in two cups of watermelon. An essential vitamin healthy for your teeth and gums, Vitamin C helps in the absorption of iron. It also has antioxidant properties, helping to prevent cell damage by neutralising "free radicals" — molecules believed to be associated with dental aging. Studies have shown that people who eat foods high in vitamin C such as watermelon have lower rates of suffering from gum disease. A growing body of evidence suggests that people who eat enough fruit and vegetables to meet the daily requirements for vitamin C have healthier teeth than those who don't eat enough of these important foods.

Strawberry:
Strawberry is very effective in making teeth strong and clean. Strawberries have many properties such as bleaching and cleansing the teeth. These are very useful to remove tea and coffee stains from the teeth. So, don't forget to gulp in some strawberries between your meals. Strawberries packed with Vitamin C, iodine and pectin are not just delicious but also kind on your teeth as they are less acidic.

Bananas:
Go bananas! Have a banana rather than a handful of sweets and always aim to eat five pieces of fruit or vegetable a day.

Oranges:
Eat plenty of oranges for the Vitamin C which promotes healthy teeth and gums and aids the absorption of iron. Interestingly, chewable Vitamin C can cause enamel loss from teeth.

STRONG BITES: Eating apples rather than drinking juice does your teeth and gums a great favour

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Vicks VapoRub harmful to toddlers, says study

New Delhi: Vicks VapoRub—India's most trusted over-thecounter remedy against cough and cold for over half a century—can cause harm if used on toddlers. American researchers on Tuesday warned parents against using the popular remedy on children under two years of age saying it could cause "serious respiratory distress''.
    Researchers from Wake Forest University reported in Chest, the journal of the American College of Chest Physicians, that the mentholbased ointment causes a young child's airways to swell and fill with mucus, triggering severe breathing problems because of the small size of their nasal airways.
    Officials from P&G told TOI that the product's label already advises against its use in children below two years. It also clearly states that the ointment should not be used inside the nostrils. 'Most parents unaware of risk as they don't see label'
New Delhi: US researchers have warned of the adverse effects of Vicks VapoRub on toddlers. Lead author of the Wake Forest University study Bruce Rubin said, "The ingredients in Vicks can be irritants, causing the body to produce more mucus. Infants have airways that are much narrower than those of adults, so any increase in mucus or inflammation can narrow them more severely.'' According to Rubin's study, in which he used ferrets which have airways similar to humans, exposure to Vicks increased mucus secretion in both normal and inflamed airways.
    During the study, the researchers added a high dose of VapoRub to windpipes that had been removed from ferrets killed for other research. "Those windpipes secreted 63% more mucus than windpipe specimens that had not been incubated with VapoRub,'' Rubin reported.
    Although the product label warns against use on toddlers, many parents continue to use it on their sick children below two years. Rubin said, "Most parents aren't aware of the risks as most people don't read the warning label.''
    Sumeet Vohra, marketing director, P&G India, said, "Vicks VapoRub has a long-standing history of being safe and effective when used according to package directions. Its safety and efficacy has been demonstrated in multiple human clinical trials, including more than a thousand children between one month to 12 years." He added that a survey showed that seven out of 10 doctors trusted Vicks when they had a cold. About 60% of Indian families also took Vicks. VapoRub has about 5% of the Indian respiratory health market. TNN

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A bitter fruit for better weight loss

lose weight temporarily, but most gain it all back in the long run.

Could grapefruit — touted for years as a weight loss wonder — actually work? Possibly. In one 12-week study, obese people who ate half a grapefruit before each of three daily meals shed more pounds.
    Show Me the Grapefruit: In the study, whole grapefruit also took a bite out of insulin resistance in folks with metabolic syndrome — a constellation of conditions that can raise the risk for several serious health problems.
    Go Whole: Although grapefruit juice and grapefruit capsules also may have pound-shedding potential, whole fruit was clearly the winner in the study — because the whole fruit has appetite-controlling fibre.
Combine Your Efforts:
Exercise and a calorie-controlled diet remain the true cornerstones of weight loss, but if grapefruit helps, great! However, if you're taking medications of any kind, talk to your doctor before adding grapefruit to the mix. Try these other tips: Walking has the highest stick-to-it rate of any exercise. Be sane. Fad diets may help some people

WONDER FOOD: Grapefruit has appetite-controlling fibre

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Top-selling mouthwash brands linked to oral cancer

Melbourne: Australian health experts have warned that top-selling mouthwashes can cause oral cancer and should be pulled from supermarket shelves immediately. The experts issued the warning after investigating latest scientific evidence linking alcohol-containing mouthwashes to the deadly disease.
    The investigation concludes that there is now 'sufficient evidence' that "alcohol-containing mouthwashes contribute to the increased risk of development of oral cancer".
    The mouthwash contains ethanol, which is believed to allow cancer-causing substances to permeate the lining of the mouth more easily and cause harm. Acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct of alcohol that may accumulate in the oral cavity when swished around the mouth, is also believed to be carcinogenic. Listerine, the nation's biggestselling mouthwash and a brand endorsed by the Australian Dental Association (ADA), contains as much as 26% alcohol.
    Lead review author Michael McCullough said alcohol-containing mouthwash should be reclassified as prescription-only and carry written health warnings. McCullough, who's also chair of the ADA's therapeutics committee, is calling on the ADA to reassess its approval on mouthwashes containing alcohol. ANI

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Smoking ban improves a city’s health

 Does banning smoking in public places improve public health? Yes, a new study finds, and the effects are large and long-lasting.
    A municipal smoke-free ordinance took effect in Pueblo, Colorado, in 2003, and researchers tracked the incidence of heart attacks, comparing rates in the city with those in its surrounding county and a neighbouring county where there were no smoking bans.
    In the 18 months preceding the ban, rates in the city and surrounding areas were identical and declining slowly. But in the year and a half after the new law took effect, hospitalizations for heart attack decreased 27% in the city, while remaining unchanged in the other two districts. After 18 more months, through June 2006, rates in the city were 41% lower than before the ordinance was passed.
    Dr Christine Nevin-Woods, the executive director of the local health department, said, "We're finding that, surprisingly, smoking ordinances are bringing down heart attack rates significantly." NYT NEWS SERVICE

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Hormone Therapy Linked to Brain Atrophy in Older Women

 

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Getty Images

By Anne Harding

MONDAY, Jan. 12, 2008 (Health.com) — Not too long ago, millions of postmenopausal women were taking estrogen as part of hormone therapy to protect their hearts, prevent cancer, and keep their brains sharp.

But two new studies in the journal Neurology show that not only does hormone replacement therapy increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer in women over the age of 65, but it also shrinks their brains.

"This is extra-double-triple reason not to go on estrogen after 65," says Constantine Lyketsos, MD, of the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in East Baltimore, Md. Dr. Lyketsos, an expert on dementia treatment, was not involved in the research.

Experts say the findings should not be cause for alarm among younger women who are taking estrogen according to the current guidelines. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that women who take hormones to treat hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms start doing so as early as possible, at the lowest effective dose, for the shortest time possible. (Women who haven't had a hysterectomy need to take a combination of estrogen and progestin, because estrogen alone increases the risk of cancer of the lining of the uterus; women who've had their uterus removed can take estrogen alone.)

There is good evidence that for younger women, estrogen can actually help defog the brain, improve mental function, and possibly even protect against Alzheimer's disease decades later, says Pauline Maki, PhD, who runs a research program on steroid hormones' effect on cognitive function at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She was not involved with the new studies.

One of the most plausible explanations for this paradox is the "healthy cell bias of estrogen." In other words, estrogen is good for healthy cells, and bad for unhealthy cells, she explains. In her own research, Maki has shown that women who experience an unusually high number of hot flashes during menopause have worse verbal memory.

"What I think happens is that women's brains during hot flashes, while they're not sleeping as well, the brain material is still fine," Maki says. "When you introduce estrogen to these women, you're introducing it into a healthy cell, and the results cognitively are generally beneficial."

Older women's brain cells are likely to be in worse shape than younger women's, especially if their mental faculties are already fading. "The scenario that seems to arise is one where [hormone therapy] at the dose of this trial is harmful to the frailest brains, but perhaps not to the strongest ones," Giovanni Frisoni, of the National Center for Research and Care of Alzheimer's Disease in Brescia, Italy, says. Dr. Frisoni has studied estrogen's effects on brain volumes, but was not involved in the new research.

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2008 collection d'auteur Seadweller pour la vente

De belles heures pour la lady, ou le cadeau pour lui-meme de
- Submariners,
- Daytonas
- Presidents, Pearlmasters
- Cartiers
- Patek Philippes
- Breitlings

Achete cela nous! Tes amis et les collegues ne remarqueront pas la difference......

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Go Bananas

Bananas . Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and  glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression : According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS : Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure : This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure.
So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke

Brain Power : 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation : High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help
restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers : One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels,while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn : Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness : Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites : Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves : Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two
hours to keep levels steady

Ulcers : The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal
disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal = Affective Disorder (SAD) : Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6,B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress : Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the
heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be balanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes : According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine,"eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

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