The town that's banned salt: Shakers taken off chip-shop counters and put out of sight

By Jaya Narain


-Council hope 'out of sight, out of mind' scheme will reduce northern town's salt intake
-'British people don't like being ordered around. If you actually want people to use more salt, then tell them not to'

Halt: Anne Wallace of Taylors Chippy has agreed to remove salt cellars from the counter in a council-backed drive to stop customers over-salting their food


It began with the food police reducing the number of holes in salt shakers.

Now they have gone a step further and removed the shakers altogether to hide them from view.

Fish-and-chip shops, cafes, restaurants, takeaways and curry houses will take salt containers off their counters and table tops under the latest push by a council to cut its residents’ salt consumption.


Customers will have to ask staff specifically to hand over the shakers if they want to add salt to their meals.

Stockport council is one of the first councils in Greater Manchester to adopt the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ health initiative.

The scheme, called ASK, is voluntary and if it proves successful it could be expanded nationwide.

It follows a series of initiatives to reduce the salt added to food by diners.

In 2008 town halls reduced the number of holes in salt shakers from the traditional 17 to five after research suggested this could cut the amount people sprinkle on their food by more than half.

Councils ordered thousands of five-hole shakers – at taxpayers’ expense – and gave them away to chip shops and takeaways in their areas.

The ASK campaign aims to cut excessive salt consumption, which has been linked to high blood pressure, stomach cancer and asthma.

Businesses that sign up will display an ASK symbol in their windows. Among those participating is Taylor’s Fish and Chips in Woodley, Stockport, whose manager Anne Wallace is concerned that her customers often ask for salt without thinking of the health factors.

She said: ‘We just wanted people to stop and think. Don’t just shake it for the sake of it.’

The scheme has been welcomed by health professionals and celebrity chefs including Paul Heathcote.

But Les Jones, Conservative group leader at Liberal-Democrat-controlled Stockport council, said the move was creating a ‘nanny town’.

He said: ‘British people don’t like being ordered around. If you actually want people to use more salt, then tell them not to. It’s a foolish thing to do.’

It could proved to be counterproductive because people did not want to be treated like children, he added.

Diner Paul Edwards, 36, said: ‘It is preposterous. We should all be responsible for our own health – anything less means they’re treating us like idiots. They will be confiscating chocolate bars next.’

The removal of the salt shakers comes just months before supermarkets are to be expected to remove cigarette displays under a new Government-enforced ban – while newsagents and smaller stores will have to remove tobacco from sight by 2013.


source:dailymail

Tips For Lowering Cholesterol Naturally

There are many tools for lowering cholesterol naturally that you may want to consider if you have high cholesterol. Many people go on crash diets or change all sorts of things about their lives, taking drastic measures to lower their cholesterol.

You do not need to do any of these things to lower your cholesterol, however. Using natural products, changing your lifestyle gradually and introducing healthier foods are some of the best ways of lowering cholesterol naturally.

Cholesterol is a type of fat made by your liver. Some of that fat comes from the food you eat, while some of it is already in your body. All of the foods that come from animals have some form of cholesterol in them, whereas plant foods do not have cholesterol in them. Foods that are high in saturated fats can raise your cholesterol level considerably, so having a balanced diet is really the best way to approach the cholesterol situation.

Not all cholesterol is bad for you, however. Some cholesterol is necessary for good health, but too much of it can raise your blood pressure and make medical problems such as heart attacks or strokes more common. When you have extra cholesterol in your blood, it causes your arteries to narrow as they become clogged. This may even lead to the artery becoming completely blocked with cholesterol.

Using Natural Products to Lower Cholesterol
Lowering cholesterol naturally using natural products is one of the best ways to accomplish your goal. Remember that herbal treatments and other natural remedies have been around a lot longer than the conventional pharmaceutical treatments you are likely to find at your drug store.

Herbal treatments come from trees, plants and other natural sources, meaning that you must be careful about what you are taking. Herbal treatments typically are not regulated, so it really is a “use at your own risk” situation.

Many natural products seem to reduce cholesterol. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates natural herbal products, but much of the investigation into the products is not completed to the same high level as conventional medicines. Therefore, it is important to be careful when you are considering herbal treatments of any kind. Always consult your doctor before trying anything new when lowering cholesterol naturally.

The following products have been recognized for their effectiveness in lowering cholesterol:

- Garlic
- B vitamins
- Soy
- Fiber
- Chromium
- Grape seed extract
- Vitamin C
- Pantothine

There are many other natural products and herbal remedies that may assist in lowering cholesterol, so consult your doctor or locate a good herbalist for more information. You want to be careful when it comes to combining cholesterol medication and natural remedies, as some of the side effects may clash.

Making Lifestyle Changes
There are many things you can do to help lower cholesterol naturally and changing the way you choose to live your life is one of them. You may have to make lifestyle changes to lower your cholesterol levels and start putting yourself back on the road to health, but do not despair. Making some minor lifestyle changes is not very difficult and, in fact, many of the changes you make will benefit you in other areas of your life. With lower cholesterol, you will start feeling more energetic and you will have more vitality.

Exercise – this is probably the most important thing you can do to lower your cholesterol levels and keep them down. Try getting moderate exercise a few times a week (about 30 minutes a day for a few days a week). Ease yourself into a program and get your body moving, but take it easy. You don't need to run for miles or do thousands of weight lifting exercising in order to stave off the effects of high cholesterol. You just need to get active and start introducing your body to other forms of exercise beyond reaching for the remote control.

Quit smoking – this is arguably the second most important thing you can do. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you do, quit. Smoking actually lowers the level of good cholesterol in your blood, making it a lot harder to fight off the bad cholesterol. It also creates a higher risk of heart disease and can really zap the energy in your lungs. You can bring down your cholesterol and drastically lower your risk of heart disease if you quit smoking now, so what's stopping you?

Watch what you eat – eating a proper diet is not that complicated, especially when it comes to lowering your cholesterol. You will want to maintain a healthy balance in your diet, but you should also integrate a lot more fruits and vegetables. Remember that fruits and vegetables are low in calories and fat, so that will help out a great deal with your goal. Also cut down on your consumption of saturated fats, as these typically are not good for your diet. Use whole grains as much as possible and eat plenty of natural fiber products.

Keep your stress down – keep a lid on your anger and other emotions that you feel physically. You will want to try to find time in your day to de-stress from work properly without turning to destructive devices like drinking or smoking. Getting proper exercise is a great way to blow off steam, so try going for a quick run next time you feel angry. Part of lowering cholesterol in a natural way includes keeping your body away from harmful reactions such as stress because stress puts a strain on your system and can contribute to heart problems.

Dietary Changes
As we touched upon briefly, making some dietary changes is a good idea when it comes to lowering cholesterol naturally. You will want to achieve the balance of lowering high cholesterol foods and increasing the level of low cholesterol foods you eat. High fiber products and foods low in saturated fats are important in a low cholesterol diet, of course, but you will also want to integrate fruits and vegetables.

There are a number of dietary options for low cholesterol out there and several hundred diet books and websites that promise to lower your cholesterol. The truth is that there is no one single plan that can help you lower your cholesterol. Instead, you will need to work with your family and your doctor to find a dietary plan that best works with your lifestyle. Here are a few pointers:

-Eat more fruits and vegetables

-Avoid trans fats and saturated fats

-Use whole grains and whole wheat products instead of standard white products, such as flour or rice

-Stay away from high levels of carbohydrates

-Use low-fat dairy products, especially skim milk, instead of conventional dairy products

-Use lean meats, such as turkey, chicken or fish, instead of red meat

-Use olive and canola oils when cooking

-Attempt to use low-fat alternatives for dips and sauces

There are a number of other dietary secrets that you can use, but these are some basics. Try to find your own way to eat healthy and keep your cholesterol levels down. If you work with your diet, you will start to find that some of the solutions to your problems are right in front of you. Making a dietary change is not that difficult, after all.

Lowering cholesterol naturally can seem like a daunting and complicated task that will transform your whole life and have you eating unbuttered whole wheat bread and water for every meal while you run laps around your block. The truth is that there are some lifestyle changes you can make to help lower your cholesterol, but the effort is worth it. Try using some natural products, make some subtle lifestyle changes and try adding some healthy foods to your diet. You will find that lowering your cholesterol does not have to be an impossible goal and that it really isn't all that hard to do!

Always Consult Your Physician First
Although it is helpful to get health information by reading and talking with friends, make sure you consult your doctor first before trying any new treatment or changing your diet. Remember that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate the strength, purity or safety of herbs and supplements. Be sure to always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, speak with your doctor before taking medical action or changing your health routine. This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. LifeScript disclaims any liability for the decisions made by its readers based on the information provided.


source:news.peacefmonline

11 Worst Plants that Causes Allergy

US Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service National Institutes of Health found that millions of American are suffering from cough, sneezing, running nose and watery eyes when pollen start flying in the air. Every spring tiny particles are released from the trees. These tiny particles are known as pollen. Their task is to fertilize other plants but most of the time they do not reach their destination rather they cause irritation in human noses and throats which eventually causes pollen allergy also called hay fever or rose fever. Following are the few worst plants that cause severe form of allergies among masses:

1. Pollen
The allergic rhinitis is also known as hay fever. Pollen is found on the plants and trees and it causes the watery eyes, stuffy nose. The fever caused due to pollen grains is known as hay fever because it was discovered in the haying season. AAFA (American Association for Asthma and Allergy) is trying to reduce the plants and trees that cause allergies in the different cities.

2. Ragweed
Ragweed is found in the fields, at the river banks, roadsides and rural areas. Mild west and the Mississippi River Basin have more than average of Ragweed. The peak time of Ragweed is summer and fall. Dr Filley says that it is the most allergenic plant. It is not very common in the England so the amount of pollen is also less in England. AAFA says that 75% of Americans are allergic to Ragweed.

3. Mountain Cedar
Cedar seeds are found in mountainous areas. It is found in tons in Arkansas, Missouri, Texas and Mexico. The peak time of Cedar is the spring season. Texas is a hilly area and many severe allergies are caused due to Cedar trees in this city.

4. Ryegrass
Ryegrass is seen in dry, cool lawns, meadows and in pastures. It is mostly found in Northern parts of United States. The peak time of Ryegrass is the spring and the summer season.

There are no allergy free grasses almost all the grasses are problematic and the common grass allergens are Orchard grass and the Timothy.

5. Maple
Maple trees are found along the streams and in the woods. It is mostly seen in Eastern United States and Canada. The peak time of Maple plants is spring season. There are different kinds of Maple plants like red silver, sugar maple. Ash- leaf maple plants produce allergens that are found in throughout the United States. Other types of Maple also produce allergens that enhance the allergies in the human body.

6. Elm
Elm exits on the cultivated land and in the wetland habitats. It is mostly found in the Eastern and the Midwestern places of United States. The peak season of American Dutch Elm is spring and the Lace bark elm in fall. 100 million trees of Dutch elm were killed between 1930 and 1980 but the trees came back in the1990s.

7. Mulberry
Mulberry trees are seen in Woods and the river valleys. Mulberry trees exist in Eastern United States. The peak season for Mulberry trees is winter to summer. Flowering plants usually do not produce pollen. Cherry and crab apple also does not produce pollen but the Mulberry plants produce strong pollens that contribute to the hay fever.

8. Pecan
Pecan is seen in woods and in the Orchard gardens. It is found in western edge of Southeastern United States, Florida, Indiana and Ohio cities. The peak time of Pecan plants is spring. Pecans taste is good. Potent allergens are found in the region where Pecan trees are more in number.

9. Oak
Oak is seen in the woods and it is found in the coastal plain of Texas, Virginia and in Florida. The peak time of oak trees is spring.

The pollen produced by oak are less effective but exist in large quantity. It produces pollen for the longest season.

10. Pigweed
Pigweed is seen in lawns and roadsides and it is found in the western and the northern United States. The peak season of pigweed is spring to fall. Weed allergens that are found in the west may also include Russian thistle and the green molly.

11. Arizona cypress
Arizona cypress is seen in the cultivated soil and is found in Southwestern United States.

The peak season of Arizona cypress is spring. This tree causes pollen in the hot climates for six to seven months in a year.

The allergies caused due to pollen are not incurable. Taking proper care and if treated well pollen allergies can be reduced to a large extent. If you feel symptoms of pollen allergy consult a doctor as soon as possible as it will be helpful to diagnose one’s disease at an initial level.

source:coolhealthtips

The 34st man who is so fat that doctors can't find his heart

By Daily Mail Reporter


Mr Belmont vowed to lose weight after describing himself as a 'dead man walking'


Obese: Alan Belmont claims he piled on the pounds after suffering from asthma as a child

A man who weighs 34 stone has finally decided to lose weight after doctors were unable to detect his heart beat - because he was so FAT.

Alan Belmont, 24, was shocked when doctors told him they could not find his pulse despite using a stethoscope and even an ultra-sound machine.

Doctors told him the hospital's machines were not powerful enough to penetrate his thick layer of blubber.


Medics eventually found a weak pulse under his arm and were able to give him a reading.

But the experience shocked Mr Belmont, who wears a staggering XXXXXL clothing, into losing weight.

Mr Belmont, from Worcester, has set himself the incredible target of losing 20 STONE - nearly half his body weight.

He said: 'I went to the hospital recently and they told me they couldn't find my heart and I thought to myself "I'm a dead man walking."

'They could not even find it using an ultra sound, which is what they use on pregnant women.

'I was quite embarrassed when the doctors said they couldn't find my pulse. It suddenly hit me that I had to make a drastic change to my life and lose weight.

'When I get in cars I can't get the seatbelt on so I would like to get myself fit. I would just like to be a normal person again.'

Mr Belmont is unemployed and currently gets £267-a-month Disability Living Allowance. He claims he piled on the pounds after suffering from asthma as a child.

He was told doctors were unable detect his pulse after he went to the Royal Worcestershire Hospital last month for an annual check-up.

He said: 'I've had health problems all my life and had bad asthma since I was six.

'I believe the chemicals in the inhalers are partly to blame for my size because I was 20 stone in my teens.'

Mr Belmont, who admits he has become a partial recluse in recent years, has now started a rigorous exercise routine in a bid to shift the weight.

He said: 'I want to get back to 15 stone so I can play rugby again. I know I've got a lot to lose but I'm determined to do it.

'I keep thinking back to the look on the doctors faces when they couldn't find a pulse and I think I never want that to happen again.'

He has enlisted the help of his old school friend Lloyd Bond, a fitness instructor, to give him daily get fit routines.

Mr Bond said: 'We want to look at the bigger picture and get him training and eating properly so he knows what he's doing for the rest of his life.

'Alan had a shock when he went to the hospital and now wants to change his life. He's dedicated and that's an important step.'


source:dailymail

X Factor judge's birth agony: After 20 hours of labour, Dannii Minogue realised her dream of a home birth was over

By Dannii Minogue


No place like home: But Dannii Minogue's plans to give birth at home were dashed after discovering baby Ethan was in the back-to-back position


At 6.39pm on July 5 last year, our little boy, Ethan Edward Minogue Smith, came into the world weighing 8lb 3oz.

My partner Kris and I were now, officially, Mummy and Daddy, and we were overjoyed.

But typically for me, nothing about the birth went according to plan.


For a start, Ethan arrived ten days early, and then we discovered he wasn't in the correct position for a smooth delivery.

So, after 20 hours of excruciating labour, my plans for a home birth went out of the window and I ended up having Ethan in hospital.

Contrary to reports of me being rushed to hospital in an emergency, my amazing home-birth midwives, Nicola and Helen, helped us carry out a smooth transfer to the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne.

The staff at the hospital were great, and worked with our midwives to make my little boy's birth the wonderful and happy experience I'd hoped it would be, even though I wasn't at home.

I'd had my heart set on having Ethan at home after talking to my friends Jasper and Lynne, from the UK, who were really positive about the idea and had done lots of research.

Lynne had given birth to my goddaughter, Amelie, at home, and her second baby, Theo, and she had loved the experience.

I really believe that a woman should have the right to have her baby at home if that's what she decides and medically it's safe for her to do so.

There's no right or wrong, for me it's about choice. But it's a constant battle for mothers and professional midwives alike to get that point across.

Another major factor in choosing a home birth was my residual anxiety about hospitals, as my recent memories of them had not been particularly pleasant.
There had been my sister Kylie's cancer treatment, and then I'd watched my best friend Laura go into hospital, again with cancer, and never come out.

I just wanted some comfort and privacy and, for me, that meant giving birth in my own home.

When my contractions started I was fairly serene - it was everyone else who seemed to get into a flap.

As I said, Ethan decided to join us early, so when my waters broke after I'd ambitiously tried to cram myself into a pair of jeans, I called Kris, who was playing golf.

He, in turn, called my mum, Carol, who happened to be on her way over anyway. I was quite calm, but I worried that Kris might drive too fast or miss a red light in all the excitement while dashing back to the house.


Centre of Attention: Dannii with partner Kris and baby Ethan (left) and Auntie Kylie gets to grips with the new arrival


My friend Ben Pauley, who was visiting from Los Angeles, was also at the house, and he and Mum made a hysterical double act during my labour, running around my kitchen, bumping into one another, repeating: 'Right, what do we do? What do we need?'

But several hours into my labour my initial serenity had evaporated. Because Ethan was in a posterior position, meaning his back was in line with my back and his arms and legs were moving freely across my tummy, I was in absolute agony.

Nicola and Helen have since told me how brave I was during those long hours of labour, but not having had a baby before I had no idea at the time whether it was bravery or delirium that saw me through.

I do remember walking up and down the stairs, holding on to Kris, and being told to lift my legs as high as I could. This was not something I was especially in the mood for at that stage, but as it can help to turn the baby to the correct position I wanted to give it a go.

Then the midwives showed Kris some acupressure points in my back he could press on to alleviate some of the pain and told him not to be afraid to press as hard as he could.

After several hours of this, at every contraction Kris asked Nicola if he should stop. 'Only if she's got quite a deep dent in her back,' came the reply. 'Keep going, you can't press too hard.'

Following in mum's footsteps: By the time he was born, Ethan had swum with a dolphin, walked the red carpet, been photographed for magazines, sat on the judging panel of TV talent shows, flown in a private jet and launched a clothing range


I didn't feel a thing at the time, as there was too much happening on the inside of my back, but I had bruises afterwards.

By the time I was transferred to hospital the following morning I'd been in pain, without any numbing medication, for a long time, so an epidural was very welcome.

When Laura was dying in hospital, I would rub her feet and when I was in hospital having Ethan, one of the nurses came to the end of my bed and did the same to me. I burst out crying. I felt Laura was there. I wanted her so much to be there with me and meet my little baby.

But when I held Ethan for the first time, the pain and worry melted away. Kris and I couldn't believe that we'd made another person together.

When you are first handed your baby, you try to take in every feature, every finger, toe and eyelash. I remember thinking: 'Who are you? How did you get here? I can't believe you've been in my tummy all this time and I'm finally meeting you.' It was wonderful.

By the time he was born, Ethan had swum with a dolphin, walked the red carpet, been photographed for magazine covers, sat on the judging panel of two TV talent shows, flown in a private jet and launched a clothing range. I guess pre-school will have a lot to live up to.


Mothers have the right to choose, but those at risk need to be in a hospital
By Clive Spence-Jones, Obstertricdian and gynaecologist

Dannii is not the first celebrity mum to opt for a home birth. Demi Moore had her three children at home, and model Gisele Bundchen, Davina McCall, and Charlotte Church chose to do the same.

None of these successful women were shy to advocate the benefits of delivering at home.

But Dannii's honesty is to be admired, admitting that her dreams were shattered by the unpredictable nature of birth.

Are there lessons to be learned from her story?

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommends that all women should be offered options about where to give birth.

But home is still an unusual choice. Last year, 18,000 women in the UK gave birth at home (2.7 per cent of the total) without medical intervention.

Numbers have declined dramatically in the past 50 years. In 1960, one in three births in England and Wales was at home, but the figure has hovered around three per cent for the past 15 years.

Yet in the Netherlands a third of women have home births. Campaigners say this is the model we should aspire to. And it is not hard to see why. At home the mother is surrounded by familiarity, and there is no risk of a hospital-acquired infection.

Working together, midwives and obstetricians have developed guidelines to identify mothers we would not advise to choose home birth. It is not safe, for example, for mothers with high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia), a history of heavy bleeding after previous birth, and women whose babies are in the wrong position in the womb, to deliver at home.

But, even for women who should be eligible, the reality for those reliant on the NHS is different. Two midwives are needed to supervise a home birth, one for the mother and one for the baby.

Dire staff shortages in some areas mean this is not possible. Indeed, some Primary Care Trusts ask women to visit their hospital to see a midwife.

Unfortunately, it's not just staffing levels that make home delivery potentially unsafe.

Research in the U.S. has shown that the average mortality rate of babies born in hospital was 0.3 per 1,000 births, but one in 1,000 births for those born at home.

In the UK, even with careful selection of low-risk mothers for home delivery, a third of women who plan a home birth end up being transferred to hospital due to complications.

Dannii's labour failed to progress because the baby was in the occipito-posterior position (back-to-back) - the most common cause of delay in first labours.

Do try this at home: Demi Moore (left) gave birth to her children at home, as did Davina McCall. But while every woman should have the right to choose how she gives birth, it's important to consider the health risks


It is very difficult for the baby to move through the birth canal in this position, which can be excruciatingly painful for the mother.

Birth is a dynamic process, and how it progresses depends on the baby ' s size, the strength of the muscular contractions of the womb and the mother's weight.

Ten per cent of babies turn back round by themselves, but in the other cases we have to intervene or the baby will not come out.

Sometimes we give drugs that make the contractions strong, and this is enough. In other cases an epidural - an anaesthetic injection into the spine that numbs the lower half of the body - helps the mother's pelvic floor muscles relax so that the baby rotates naturally.

If labour has progressed to the stage where the cervix is fully open, and the mother is pushing but the baby won't deliver, options include manual rotation of the head or help with a ventouse suction device or forceps. In some cases, none of these approaches work so we have to deliver the baby by caesarean section.

The biggest problem, even with the most carefully planned home birth, are the complications which need medical interventions within minutes but can not be predicted.

Shoulder dystocia (when the baby's head has delivered but the shoulders are stuck in the birth canal) and babies who fail to breathe because of the cord round the neck which tightens just before birth, are examples.

It is mandatory that all health professionals involved in maternity care work together to provide for a happy and saf e birth.

And all mothers should be aware of the potential risks and benefits of the choices they make.



source:dailymail

Deadliest Food Allergies

Food Allergies

More than 54 percent of Americans have allergies and most of the allergies have uncomfortable symptoms like watery eyes, runny nose but for more than 40 million people an allergen can cause life threatening reaction. According to the study in Archives of International Medicine, 15% of U.S people are at risk of deadliest allergies.

Some life threatening allergies can be caused by:

a. Food allergy
b. Insect sting
c. Drugs
d. Latex
e. Exercise etc.

a. Food allergy
From peanuts to antibiotics, many substances can cause food allergy that can be life threatening. Peanuts and wheat are present in many of foods and these two ingredients can cause severe food allergy. The people who are allergic to peanuts, wheat or other any other ingredients they should read the food labels before going for any food item. Food and drug Administration says that the top eight food allergens should be mentioned on the food labels. These food allergens include peanuts, eggs, milk, selfish, wheat, soy, fish and tree nuts.

If you eat anything outside home like in the neighbors or cafeteria etc let the server know that you cannot eat these ingredients.


1. Peanuts
Peanut allergy is one of the most deadly food allergies. Peanut cookies are the main source of peanuts. A research says that peanut allergies give a serious reaction. Severe peanut allergy can cause inflammation in the whole body and it the body goes to shock and then the patient needs an Epinephrine injection. It is an injection that is used to reduce to the harmful effects of peanut allergy.

2. Shellfish
Shellfish can also cause deadly allergy. The attack of the Shellfish allergy can be in the form of asthma attack which can be very serious. It also causes Angioedema. It is the effect that can cause swelling on the face and the tongue. If any such symptoms appear consult an emergency health care to check whether you are suffering from allergy caused by shellfish or not.

3. Fish
An allergy caused by fish is different from shell fish allergy and if someone has one it is not necessary that he/she will have another. Parents should also know that allergy due to fish is not only caused by eating fish but it can also be caused by eating other food items cooked in the pan or oil used to prepare fish. Reaction caused due to fish allergy includes hives, asthma or even Anaphylaxis- a life threatening allergy.

4. Milk
Mostly children who are younger than three year are allergic to milk. The allergic children can take milk in other forms of dairy products like yogurt, cheese, ice cream, butter etc. The allergy can appear in the form of vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps or sometimes it can also result in Anaphylaxis.

5. Soy
One of the most common allergies is caused by soy. It is mostly found in children. Soy is found in soy bean oil and many other fast foods. Patients who are allergic to soy should see the labels before buying food items. Soy can cause reactions like hives, abdominal pain and it can also cause Anaphylaxis.

6. Wheat
Wheat is a staple diet but it can be harmful for some people. Mostly who has wheat allergy they also have the other allergies. The reaction can cause hives. It can also cause Anaphylaxis.

7. Eggs
Egg allergies are mostly seen in kids. Eggs are also used in many food items and the reaction can be caused within minutes or in hours after eating eggs. Reaction can cause asthma; diarrhea or it can also lead to Anaphylaxis.

b. Insect Sting
Allergy can also be caused by insect sting. The part of the body where the sting effects, that part becomes red, warm and swollen. Insect sting can also lead to Anaphylaxis.

1. Yellow Jackets
Yellow jackets are the stinging creatures that often sting at your foot. Always try to wear shoes or avoid using fragrances at the feet as it attracts the insects.

2. Fire Ants
Fire ants are found mostly at hot places but now they are seen more often as the weather has become hot. Their sting can lead to Anaphylaxis in most of the cases.

3. Wasps and Hornets
Stings of wasps and hornets start with the itching, hives and it progresses to swelling of throat, tongue, difficult breathing and it can also cause Anaphylaxis to the sensitive people.

c. Drugs
Drugs can also develop many allergies. Some are as follows:

1. Ceclor
Almost all drugs can cause allergy. Ceclor is an antibiotic that is used for sinus infections, pneumonia and ear infections etc. Many allergic reactions seem to look like reaction to ceclor but it is such that ceclor turn on all the responses that develop in the allergic reactions.

People allergic to ceclor develop hives; it ranges from moderate to dangerous. The allergy can also take form of the Erythema multiforme. It is a severe kind of hives. Erythema multiforme affects the linings of vagina, mouth, eyes etc.

2. Penicillin
Penicillin is an antibiotic that is used to fight against bacterial infections. It is a most common drug allergy. About 400 people die every year due to penicillin allergy. The symptoms of this allergy can be rashes or it can even lead to Anaphylaxis.

d. Latex
This is a new kind of allergy but it is getting popular with the passage of time.

Latex can be found in rubber gloves, condoms, and tires etc. 40, 000 people are likely to be affected by Latex. 6% of people have a latex allergy while 17% of people have latex in the medical sector. Latex starts from skin allergy and it can lead to Anaphylaxis.

e. Exercise
You must have heard people saying that “I am allergic to exercise” this is true that some people are allergic to exercise that can lead to exercise- induced Anaphylaxis.

Food allergies are becoming popular day by day. Sometimes these food allergies can be very dangerous as it can result in life taking. So when anybody is caught by any allergy, just get it checked by a doctor whether it is caused by any food and if yes then one should avoid that food item in future.

source:coolhealthtips

Tips for Caring Obesity in Children

Out of 3 children are overweight and many children are affected by childhood obesity.

This obesity can cause serious diseases the children including diabetes, asthma, and heart diseases etc. people mocked at the obese children and they themselves feel depressed about their obesity problem.

If you are the parents of such children you may also feel worried about it but with the support, encouragement and care your children can also maintain good weight.

Here are the few tips to care for obesity in the children

•Healthy eating habits
The main cause of obesity in the children is the unhealthy eating habits. One should make major changes in their eating style like encourage a balanced diet consisting of all required basic components of food, make breakfast as your priority and control your number of meals etc.


•Make good choice of snacks and sweets
Most of the food is supplied from the kitchen to the children so the kitchen should contain healthy foods. Obese children should be restricted for the excessive intake of juices. They should go for fruits when they have craving for having something sweet.

•Watch meal size of children

One should carefully check the size of meal children are taking, read food labels to know the number of calories in the eatables and also try to serve food to obese child the kitchen to avoid the more temptation of food.

•Encourage the habit of exercise at your place
Exercise is very important to keep an individual healthy and smart. If your children are not habitual of doing the risk of obesity increases in them so encourage the children for regular exercise.

•Keep children moving
Parents should involve their children in their work at home or they should assign them some work from daily routine work to keep them moving. It will help to keep the children healthy and it also reduces the chances of being overweight.


•Encourage children to play outdoor games

Overweight children mostly go for indoor games. They prefer to watch T.V, play video games etc but such children should be encouraged to play outdoor games like foot ball, cricket, base ball etc. in this way children will run and it will help to burn the calories.

Obese children are likely to be the obese adults. Bad health can be prevented if childhood obesity is controlled. Parents should visit their doctor to get information about the ways of losing weight.


source:coolhealthtips

55 Ways to Burn 100 Calories

The calories of the body can be burnt all the daylong by keeping body in function and active all the time. Calories are even burnt while reading and if you are standing and reading even more calories are burnt in this way.

An individual is burning calories whether they are trying or not but the rate of burnt calories depend on the work they are doing. The amount of muscle mass determines the number of calories burnt. The more muscle mass in involved more calories are burnt.

Research says that the activity is the weight bearing, it helps in the losing calories. It is found that riding a stationary bike burns more calories than walking on a tread mill because the tread mill forces you to manage the weight against gravity while you are putting force to support the bike, so if you like to ride a bike its good than you can burn calories by riding for a little more time than you walk on tread mill.

More calories can be burnt if an individual increases movements in daily life and movements can be increased by using stairs in place of elevators and escalators, if you have something to communicate with your colleague go yourself and talk rather than calling him or her.


Following are the 50 ways to burn 100 calories of the human body

1.Chop wood for 4 minutes, 22 seconds.
2.Ride a bike at a speed of 20 mph for 4 minutes, 52 seconds.
3.Run for 5 minute. It will burn your 100 calories.
4.Skip the rope for 9 minutes, 30 seconds.
5.Play racquetball for 7 minutes, 17 seconds.
6.Hike with backpack for 9 minutes, 15 seconds.
7.Swim for 8 minutes.
8.Swim under water for 7 minutes, 11 seconds.
9.Play tennis for 9 minutes.
10.Walk up hill for 13 minutes.
11.Do aerobics for 11 minutes, 8 seconds.
12.Hit the weights for 13 minutes.
13.Do slow dance for at least 26 minutes.
14.Move the body for 33 minutes on the melody of piano.
15.Give body massage to your partner for
16.Give your partner 9,240 kisses.
17.Carry your partner and walk for some time.
18.Make love with your partner for an hour.
19.Make breakfast for 20 minutes for your partner and serve him/ her in the bed.
20.Wash dishes for 15 minutes.
21.Carry your partner to the bedroom.
22.Clean the house for 16 minutes.
23.Gather leaves for 20 minutes.
24.Wash the car foe 18 minutes.
25.Clean the snow for 12 minutes.
26.Organize the pots in the lawn for 17 minutes.
27.Reorganize the boxes for 10 minutes.
28.Level the grass in the lawn for 14 minutes.
29.Push a pencil for 45 minutes.
30.Do typing on computer for 48 minutes.
31.Talk to anyone for 52 minutes.
32.Do work while for about 26 minutes.
33.Run scissors for 9 minutes, 30 seconds.
34.Jump up and down the bed 1,336 times.
35.Do wrestling with your brother for about 7 minutes.
36.Do pushups for 97 times.
37.Put 156 golf balls.
38.Hit the road for 32 minutes.
39.Stand in front of mirror and say “are you talking to me?” for 519 times.
40.Chase your kid for 16 minutes.
41.Push the child stroller for 30 minutes.
42.Play dodgeball with kids for about 20 minutes.
43.Change the diapers of your children for 52 times.
44.Iron 7 shirts.
45.Do ice skating for 12 minutes.
46.Greet people for 20 minutes.
47.Do boating for 26 minutes.
48.Fly your private plane for 38 minutes, 30 seconds.
49.Plant two trees.
50.March for 10 minutes.
51.Pick up garbage along a road for 19 minutes, 30 seconds.
52.Gather 623 cans for recycling.
53.Roast food on open fire for 31 minutes.
54.Help the kids in their work for 26 minutes.
55.Walk fast in the shopping mall while holding things in hands for more than 19 minutes.

Above mentioned points are the 55 ways that can surely help you to lose 100 calories.




source:coolhealthtips

One in five are too hard up to see the dentist

By Jenny Hope



Hard to swallow: Many patients would opt to have a tooth removed rather than get it treated


A visit to the dentist’s chair isn’t usually considered a treat.

But our check-ups are becoming less frequent as the recession makes them a luxury we can’t afford.

One in five of us has put off vital dental check-ups and treatment because the cost is too high, a survey has revealed.


And more than a quarter say that when they do make it to the surgery, the expense affects their choice of treatment – with some opting to have teeth removed rather than paying for costlier preservation methods such as root canals and bridgework.

The results of the Adult Dental Health Survey come as patients prepare for the cost of seeing an NHS dentist to rise again next month.

Patients will pay £204 for the most complex treatments and £17 for a check-up – compared with just £6 in 2005.

In the survey of 11,000 participants, commissioned by the NHS Information Centre and the Office for National Statistics, 26 per cent of adults said the dental treatment they opted for was influenced by cost, and 19 per cent had delayed treatment for the same reason.

More than half had tried to make an NHS dental appointment recently, but almost one in ten said they had not been able to.


Research for the British Dental Association published last month showed the economic climate had led to a surge in cancelled or deferred appointments and a rise in emergency treatment.

Dr John Milne, chairman of the BDA’s general dental practice committee, said: ‘While it’s understandable that patients’ financial anxieties are leading them to defer appointments and treatment, achieving short-term money savings at the expense of longer-term health problems really isn’t wise.’

A Department of Health spokesman said more ‘can and should be done to tackle persistent inequalities’ in dental care.


source:dailymail

12 Foods to Enhance Sexual Mood

Enhance Sexual Mood

Sex is an essential part of everyone’s life. The importance of sex in one’s life is only judged by that individual. Some men and women consider it the great source of connection. Sex is not just something physical; sex is an emotional and the mental link that brings the partners closer to each other. So if you are not satisfied with your sexual life or you want to increase your sexual feelings you must try these foods which are described below. They will surely wok.

1. Chili Peppers
Chili peppers spice things up, they just not spice everything in the mouth but they also spice the emotions of people. Chili contains capsaicin, a chemical that releases hormones that creates a feeling of excitement. So chili pepper enhances the hot sex.

2. Avocados
Avocados contain minerals, monounsaturated fats (protects the heart lowers the cholesterol), vitamin B6, all these things are full of energy and it activates the sex cells. It also contains omega-3 fats which enhances the mood and makes one ready for sex.

3. Chocolate
Sweet has a connection with love and sex due to many reasons. It contains tryptophan which helps to enhance the sexual arousal. Chocolate also helps to generate the feelings of love.

4. Licorice
It is candy sold in the market it affects the estrogen and the progesterone hormones that are important for reproductive function and sexual response. Eating a small amount of licorice will help to make your mood for love making. Always buy licorice candy that contains real licorice extracts in it.

5. Bananas
Banana contains bromelain enzyme in it which reduces the chance of impotence in men. It also contains potassium and vitamin B it increases the energy of the body.

6. Almonds
Almonds are the source of fatty acids. They enhance the hormonal production in men. The fragrance of almonds arouses the feelings in the women. It also helps to store energy in the body.

7. Fruits
Fruits are a main source of energy for human being. It provides a fresh feeling to the human body by balancing the vitamins and minerals in the body. So try to eat some fruits like mangoes, peaches and strawberries before and after having sex it will make you fresh and energetic for love making and for doing sex.

8. Eggs
All fish and bird eggs contain vitamin B6 and B5 in it. These vitamins help to balance the hormones level in the human body it also helps to fight against stress. Eating eggs before sex is believed to increase the sexual desire in the human body. Eggs also help in fertility and reproduction.

9. Figs
Figs contain amino acids which increases the sexual desire in human body. It also helps to improve the sexual stamina. Fresh sweet figs are highly pleasant for the human taste sense.

10. Garlic
Garlic contains allicin in it. Allicin is an ingredient which increases the blood flow to the sexual organs and also increases the sexual arousal. The smell of garlic is not pleasant so you cannot eat it easily. Men and women should eat garlic capsules to increase their libido and enjoy the moments of sex.

11. Liver
Liver contains glutamine in it. Glutamine is a cellular food for strengthening the immune system. It also helps in increasing the slowed libido. Add liver in to your basic diet, it will increase the pleasure of your moments of sex.

12. Strawberries
Strawberries are said to be symbol of Mythological Goddess of Love Venus. They are red, juicy and have power to create the ambience romantic and are food for sexual appetite. Strawberry varies remarkably in size, color, flavor, and shape and has a taste that varies by cultivar, and ranges from quite sweet to rather tart.

A nice candle light dinner, soft music, nice place and you and your man, such an ambience will really turn you up. Healthy food has the quality to enhance hormone levels, energy, increasing arousal and sex drive. Now you know which food your body needs to increase your sexual arousal, stamina and prolong the pleasure of moments of sex, so not to wait any more try these foods to make your sex more enjoyable.


source:coolhealthtips

5 “Bad” Foods: Myth vs. Reality

Some foods are rich in protein, some in vitamins, but each food has its own specialty and importance. For some people coffee is an addiction but for others it’s a way of relaxing or getting some mental relief or having some break after a long work. However it’s still believed that having excessive joe is not quite good for health. Similarly for nuts some things that it can increase your body weight, and for some it is a good brain food. In this article we are going to list 5 food who are quite often consider as bad food with numbers of odd factors, but its not the reality, these food contains some vitamins which is good for health, lets have a look on 5 Bad Foods with some facts, can say myth vs reality.

1. Nuts
Nuts are known as a fatty ingredient; however it’s found to be quite heart friendly unsaturated types. These nuts are also a rich supplier of various other valuable nutrients, like pistachios are an excellent supplier of lutein as well as zeaxanthin, antioxidants which support your eyes to stay healthy. You can find a good amount of vitamin E in almonds & heart friendly omega-3 in walnuts. You just need to monitor the serving portions.

2. Coffee
In some present studies some types of coffee is considered fine with breastfeeding as well as pregnant women. Though caffeine is one of the main compounds of coffee, but it’s not restricted within it. Some other compounds are able to lower the possibility of diabetes, dementia, liver cancer etc. As per Joyce Hendley’s Eating well magazine’s march/april issue, betterments are connected with having 2-4 cups daily.

3. Corn
Corn is also considered not quite healthy because of its HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) ethanol. However according to Carolyn Malcoun a contributing food editor, it’s not the sweet variety of corn that we commonly get which has the high contents of HFCS and ethanol. The sweet variety has about 4 gms of fibre per cup. However like some other vegetables (green) zeaxanthin as well as lutetin is also present in the corn.

4. Cheese
Cheese is a source of high quantity saturated fat, which could contribute to your cholesterol problem, blood pressure, heart ailments etc. However it’s also a rich source of calcium & protein. So adding a little portion of cheese in your diet could contribute to your healthy living. If you want you can also consult with your dietician.

5. Bread
People nurture a misconception that eating bread is not healthy; however this is not really true. Having excessive refined grains is bad, because of that people are advising to switch to whole grain breads. A recent study has also exposed that people who are having more whole grains live quite longer than others.


source:coolhealthtips

Oral Contraceptive Pills and Future Generation

Family planning is the biggest concern of couples. Majority of couples avoid surgical procedures for permanent birth control and rely on temporary methods. It is estimated that 40% couples prefer to use contraceptive pills.

Norwegian study (2011) revealed that oral contraceptive pills cause sinus problem in children. According to Dana B, “Given that progesterone is a key hormone in pregnancy, the use of progestin containing oral contraceptive pills before pregnancy could influence fetal respiratory and immune development”.

Norwegian study was organized to analyze the relationship between oral contraceptive pills used by mothers and respiratory infection in infants. Dana B and his contemporaries correlate the different types of oral contraceptive pills and sinus problems in infants. The study revealed that round about, 60,225 children aging from 6months and above suffer from lower respiratory tract infection, 42,520 suffer from wheezing aging from 18 months and above and 24,472 suffer from asthma aging from 36 months and above.

Pills that composed of both estrogen and progestin proved less harmful for next generation kids. Use of such pills did not cause lower respiratory tract infection.

Stephanie, J London, who is serving the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) said, “We found that used of combined pills, taken by most women who use OCPs, was not associated with adverse respiratory outcomes in the offspring.
This should provide reassurance to the vast majority of women using OCPs during their child bearing years. The small association with the much less commonly used progestin-only pill may not reflect cause and effect but does suggest that researchers look at these two types of pills separately in the future”.


Source:coolhealthtips

NHS spending just £1 on each meal it serves up - less than half that spent on PRISONERS

By Jenny Hope


-Cases of malnourished patients have doubled
-Patient Concern warns over health budget cuts

Patients in NHS hospitals are being fed cheaper food than prison inmates, it was revealed yesterday.

Spending on hospital food has been slashed by up to two-thirds over the last five years, according to official figures.

In some hospitals in England budgets have fallen by 62 per cent – with meals costing little more than £1. That's just half the £2.10 spent on the average meal in jail.

The NHS spends £500million on catering every year, but there has been a wave of complaints about poor quality and malnutrition, especially from the elderly.

The numbers of hospital patients becoming malnourished have doubled in three years to a record 13,500.

Around one in five trusts has reduced spending on food since 2004-05 – 36 out of 191 – according to figures analysed from NHS Information Centre data.

At least 20 trusts spend less than £5 a day feeding each patient.

The figures show St George’s Hospital, South London, spent least – just £1.04 on each meal or £3.11 a day – when it used to spend £6.67 a day.

But a spokesman disputed the 53 per cent drop, saying the figure covered only the costs to the catering department. When snacks, drinks, dietary supplements and late meal requests are included the figure is £6.80 a day, he said.

The biggest percentage drop in spending was 62 per cent over five years at the Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in West Sussex. The amount spent per day went down from £10.97 in 2004-05 to £4.11 last year. A spokesman said the cash only covered the cost of three main meals and a drink.

There was a 61 per cent cut at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospital, down from £23.67 to £9.06 per patient per day and at Ealing Hospital, London, down from £10.37 to £4.

At the Royal Brompton and Harefield Trust, covering hospitals in London and Hertfordshire, there was a 58 per cent cut in spending, from £16.56 a day to £6.89.

Even less is spent at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, down from £13.85 in 2004-05 to £6.

Roger Goss, co-director of Patient Concern, said the problem would only get worse as hospitals struggle to make efficiency savings.

He said ‘Hospital food is a disaster. Each hospital is allowed to decide how much it spends but the Department of Health should set a minimum amount.’

A spokesman for the hospital nutrition charity, the British Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, said it was outrageous that food was not a major priority.

‘Nutrition care in hospitals is about more than just the food quality, and not enough is being spent on it,’ she said.

‘Patients need to be treated as individuals and given help to eat the food put in front of them. We’re wasting money because of a failure to get these policies right.’

Food specialist Loyd Grossman, who led a £40million revamp of NHS menus in 2000 that was shelved after he quit five years later, revealed last month that he was blocked by a ‘chronic lack of common sense’.

The former presenter of BBC’s Masterchef, who was not paid for his involvement, said he was frustrated in his efforts to introduce healthy and tasty recipes.

The Daily Mail’s Dignity for the Elderly campaign has repeatedly highlighted abuses caused by underfeeding and poor nursing practice in hospitals and homes.

A Department of Health spokesman said: ‘Hospitals make their own decisions about their food and, over time, the amount spent will differ between hospitals.’

A 2007 report from consumer organisation Which? found hospital food was so bad that one in four patients had to buy their own or get relatives to bring in meals.

Two out of three Britons are satisfied with the NHS — a record figure, says a survey.

The British Social Attitudes survey found 64 per cent are either very or quite satisfied with the NHS. Satisfaction with GPs is now 80 per cent — three per cent lower than in the early 1990s.

Satisfaction with hospital inpatient services fell by one percentage point but outpatient and A&E services rated highly.


Source:dailymail

The 76st family that's cost the NHS £1.2m: (but say that going on a diet isn't an option)

By Vanessa Allen


Supersized family: Zaneta, Stanleigh and David Jones weighed more than 76stone at their heaviest and insist they feel bad about the cost of their treatment


An obese family of three has cost the Health Service more than £1.2million in slimming treatments and weight-loss surgery.

Zaneta Jones, 46, and husband David have both had gastric bypasses and their 17stone son Stanleigh, 15, is due to have his stomach stapled later this year.

At their heaviest, the trio had a combined weight of 76st 10lb.


The £1,235,000 cost of their treatments so far would be enough to fund around 1,000 lumpectomies for suspected breast cancer, or a year’s supply of medication for 1,235 Alzheimer’s patients.

The Government has called for a new approach to tackling obesity, which costs the NHS around £4.2billion a year, including £49million in gastric operations.

But the Jones family claim dieting was not a ‘realistic option’, and believe their obesity is a genetic problem. Their adopted son Liam, 11, is a healthy size.

Jobless Mrs Jones told Closer magazine: ‘I understand people’s anger because they’re paying for us, but obesity is an illness.

‘We’re not villains – we need NHS support, just like other people who are ill.’
Mr and Mrs Jones, who live near Truro in Cornwall, admit their diet and lifestyle led to their weight gain.

They ate up to 10,000 calories a day in fat-laden fry-ups and super-sized McDonald’s meals, and passed their eating habits on to son Stanleigh.

By the age of four he was eating five Weetabix for breakfast and wearing clothes meant for a 12-year-old. By 13 he weighed 19stone and was diagnosed with borderline diabetes and now takes daily medication.

Big eaters: At her heaviest Mrs Jones weighed 36st 10lbs but has since lost half that, while her son Stanleigh at one stage was 20st before losing 3st when he began exercising


He suffered from sleep apnoea – a weight-related breathing disorder – since he was four, which required regular treatment costing some £5,000.

At his heaviest, Stanleigh was 20stone, although he has since lost three through exercise. He requested a £14,000 stomach staple to restrict the amount he can eat, and the operation is scheduled for this summer.

Mrs Jones said Stanleigh’s problems started when he was a toddler.

‘I hate myself for letting him eat so much but I couldn’t bear him crying,’ she said. ‘Dieting isn’t a realistic option. I’m scared about him having the op but if he carries on he’ll kill himself.’

Mrs Jones said her own weight problems began as a teenager, and she was a size 22 by the time she was 18. The problems continued after her 1985 wedding to car worker David.

She said: ‘For lunch we’d have egg, sausage and bacon and for dinner we’d eat a large roast and baked apples with lots of sugar.

‘By 8pm we’d be eating a fried egg sandwich. We’d snack on super-sized McDonald’s meals.’

By the time she gave birth to Stanleigh, Mrs Jones weighed 23stone and she was diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney failure. She was prescribed up to 29 tablets a day for her weight-related health problems, at a cost of £5,000 a month. She says she took them for 15 years, leaving taxpayers a £900,000 bill.

At her heaviest, the 5ft 3ins woman weighed 36st 10lbs and she struggled to breathe and needed sticks to walk. She said: ‘I tried every diet – I even had my jaw wired twice and lost 10stone.

But I’d start eating again. I feel guilty and embarrassed. I’d love to see every penny spent on me go to treat cancer, but once I got to a certain weight I couldn’t help myself.’

Mrs Jones’ £18,000 gastric bypass helped her drop to 18stone. But this has left her with five stone of excess skin, and she is due to have a £22,000 operation to remove it.

She and her husband have both been treated for sleep apnoea, which has cost the NHS another £5,000 each. Mr Jones, 58, also had high blood pressure and cholesterol after his weight rose to 20stone.

Medication for his weight-related health problems has cost around £290,000. He had a £14,000 gastric bypass last November and is now 14stone.

Mrs Jones added: ‘I accept responsibility for putting on weight, but I couldn’t lose it alone. After Stanleigh has his op we can live a normal life.

‘I can see why people resent the money spent on it, especially if they have an ill relative the NHS is struggling to fund treatment for.’

She added: ‘Perhaps we should pay extra for our health care – but then people who drink or take drugs should too. Obesity is a mental illness and an addiction.’

Emma Boon of the Taxpayers’ Alliance said: ‘Patients are being denied life-saving treatments so it’s staggering that cheaper alternatives aren’t being explored for obesity, like diet and exercise.’

The full interview appears in this week’s Closer magazine, out now.


Source:dailymail

Interesting Milk Facts

There are various beliefs lingering in our society surrounding the fact whether milk is good for health or not that good enough. Milk is an important part of diet, especially a breakfast is incomplete without it, either it is coffee or tea, shakes or corn flakes, everything requires milk. So in nutshell without milk, nothing can taste good. Children don’t like to drink milk, reason are various, it could be lack of good taste, presence of cream, sometimes it is not of good quality or is not pure, apart from all likes and dislikes, one fact is certain that milk is good for health, however the following points will help you to get some ideas about its benefits.

•Sometimes people believe that raw milk is better than pasteurized milk. They even nurture a conception that, it could help to cure IBS, eczema & several other ailments. However science doesn’t find it to be quite positive, unless of course you want to get some food poisoning experience. They believe in purchasing milk that has already gone through pasteurization, it leaves the nutrients while finishing the injurious bacteria.

•Usually we believe that for cow’s milk almond milk could be a great option, however it’s not true when it’s all about protein. A single cup of milk contains 8 grams, which is even more than a large sized egg (hard boiled). However it’s just 1 gm in a single cup of almond milk. Nuts are really a good source of protein, even so the very primary ingredient for almond milk happens to be filtered water, but not almonds.•Whole milk contains more calcium than the fat free milk. Basically a single cup of milk (whole milk) has little lower (276 mg) than non fat (299 mg). However you can figure out from the carton that a full cup carries 30 % of the regular value of your calcium needs. That is established by the straightforward digit of 300 mg.

•There is a popular belief that regular milk contains most of the vitamin D. But FDA restricts the quantity to 100 IU in a cup of cow’s milk. Hence its supply is quite lower (around 25%) than your regular need. It is even lower than the soy milk, which is around 30 %. However both are equally great sources of vitamin.


Source:coolhealthtips

10 Foods that Cut Cholesterol not Taste

Food that Cut Cholesterol
There are few things that if you make them part of your food it can help to fight against cholesterol.


Cutting cholesterol does not mean to eat tasteless food.
Here are some substitutions that one can make to the food they already eat which will help them to lower their cholesterol level.

1. Use walnuts not croutons
Croutons contain carbohydrates. Carbohydrates can enhance the low density lipoprotein a source of bad cholesterol. For healthy life one should replace the croutons with the walnuts. Walnuts are rich in unsaturated fats. It is an efficient fat that lowers the level of LDL which ultimately reduces the cholesterol level in the human body.

2. Drink red wine not cocktails
Researchers say that reasonable intake of red wine produces a little bit rise in the HDL that is good cholesterol. But the excessive use of fruit juices, cocktails can boost up the cholesterol level in the human body because the fruit juices are rich in carbohydrates. Red wine has 10th of the margarita’s carbohydrates. Red wine also contains flavonoids that lowers the LDL and enhances the HDL. American Heart Association restricts to one glass for women and two glasses for women.


3. Eat nuts, soyabeans and avoid cheese and crackers
For a snack before dinner go for almonds and baby soybeans rather than going for cheese and crackers because cheese and crackers are believed to have high saturated fats this is a main reason behind high cholesterol. Almonds and soy beans help in lowering the LDL.

4. Topping salad with vinegar and lemon juice
Topping salad in high fat salad dressing is like smoking a cigarette while jogging. So it is just useless. A low fat salad can be made by dipping the salad with vinegar or lemon juice that helps in lowering the cholesterol level.

5. Try to avoid butter
A table spoon of butter contains more than 7 grams of saturated fat and 10 percent of daily value for cholesterol. 7 grams of saturated fats is more than third of recommended daily value of fats. Butter is an important source of butter, so one should try to go for olive oil instead of butter where as olive oil is a source of good fats.

6. Use turkey meat not beef
Turkey meat contains 85 percent of fats in it so red meat is a source of saturated fat and cholesterol. Both are the main source of blood cholesterol. Try to substitute the turkey meat with the beef.

7. Chicken is good but fish is better
Chicken has less saturated fats then red meat but chicken is not without cholesterol. Fish has less cholesterol in it. it is best for reducing cholesterol through diet. Fish is low in fats and it contains omega 3 fatty acids in it.

8. Replace quinoa with rice
Quinoa is a South American seeds that just taste like rice. One cup of quinoa has 15 percent less carbohydrates, 60 percent more proteins and 25 percent more fibers as compare to rice. Quinoa can help in lowering blood cholesterol where as rice is highly rich in carbohydrates.

9. Replace popcorns with chips
Tortilla Chips are healthier than potato chips but popcorns are better snack then the chips because chips contain carbohydrates in it. Popcorns have 80 percent less saturated fats and double fiber in it.

10. Try to use fat free yogurt instead of cream
Whether it’s used as a garnish or in a sauce, sour cream adds a shot of saturated fat to otherwise heart-healthy meals. To cut out that excess fat without sacrificing taste or texture, swap the sour cream with no-fat Greek yogurt—one of the world’s healthiest foods. Just about any recipe that calls for sour cream can be made with Greek yogurt instead of using butter to grease the pan while cooking, try olive oil or white wine vinegar.


Source:coolhealthtips

How losing just a few hours of sleep can take YEARS off your life

By John Naish


As doctors warn one in eight of us is sleep-deprived, our reporter conducts an exhausting experiment to show its terrible toll on our health...

Waking nightmare: Those who sleep fewer than five hours each night are three times more likely than normal sleepers to become psychologically distressed, according to an Australian study

---

How do you feel this morning? Well-rested? Looking forward to the weekend? Or did you wake, as I did half-way through last week, feeling even more exhausted than when you fell asleep?

The tiredness was just the start of it. I was also achy, cold and bewildered. My skin — normally perfectly healthy — was greasy and gritty. Though I’d had nothing to drink the night before, it felt like I had a thumping hangover.

These things, I half expected. But the mood swings I didn’t see coming. Normally, I am a resolutely chin-up sort of guy. When faced with life’s miseries, I am resilient to the point of shallowness.


Not now. I was suddenly gripped by the fact that my pet cat was at the end of his middle years and one day he wouldn’t be with us at all.

I was overtaken by despair, an intense desolation that quite destabilised my temperament. I felt utterly inconsolable.

It was the first of a series of powerful undertows of depression that swept over me unexpectedly in the days that followed. Everyday upsets could send my morale plummeting: the story of a vandalised bus shelter in my local paper or finding that all the pens on my desk had dried up.

Sometimes it took nothing at all to set me off, just the sudden sense that a yawning dark chasm had opened beneath me, echoing with the question: ‘What’s the point of anything?’

And the worst part of it was, I had actually volunteered for all this. As an experiment, I had agreed to reduce my normal sleeping routine from my regular eight hours per night to five hours.

With the support of close physical monitoring by health experts, I’d see what effects a week’s sudden lack of slumber can have on body and mind. In so doing, I’d join, temporarily, the rapidly growing ranks of sleepless Britain.

Good health — including mental wellbeing — is a fragile, precious gift and last week I discovered how rapidly and profoundly you can upset it. Within just seven days, I began to develop physical and psychological symptoms, including raised stress hormones and even gout.

Furthermore, changes in my body meant I was on the road to heart disease and diabetes.

I’d been turned into a psychological jelly. Oh, and I’d also started eating spoonfuls of jam and peanut butter straight from the jar.

For many thousands of Britons, such sleeplessness is not merely a journalistic test but a grinding fact of life. Our rushed, stressed, work-ridden lifestyles mean that one in eight of us now sleeps for less than six hours a night, according to figures released this month by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

More than a third of us suffer insomnia while another quarter have some other form of sleep problem. The nation’s problem is so bad that the Mental Health Foundation has launched a campaign to raise awareness of insomnia and how it can be prevented or tackled.

In Scotland this week, plans were launched to teach teenagers the importance of getting sufficient rest, as part of their school curriculum.

For some people, most famously Lady Thatcher, such sleeplessness is not a problem. A few hours each night is all they need.

While I knew I wasn’t a Lady T, I could never possibly have imagined that just a few days’ deprivation would leave me so unwell.

The problem is that chronic sleeplessness often creeps steadily into people’s lives — its mounting mental and physical toll accrues by stealth.

Before embarking on the experiment, I underwent a complete physical check-up at a Bupa screening clinic. This included a battery of blood tests to monitor, among other things, my heart rate, blood pressure, hormone levels, kidney and liver function and cholesterol levels. I was given a clean bill of health — there were no signs of any abnormality.

It was time to embark on Operation Wakefulness — leaving it three hours later to go to bed each night than my normal 11pm.

As someone who finds it easy to nod off, I knew that in order to stay up to 2am I’d need help — so I recruited a gang of hard-drinking, hard-swearing Seventies cops, in the shape of a DVD box set of all four series of The Sweeney. It wasn’t only the car chases and rough justice that helped to keep me awake, though.

By watching the films quietly on my laptop (so as not to disturb anyone), I had unwittingly enlisted one of the most powerful modern causes of sleeplessness — the electronic screen.

Typical sleep-wreckers include stress, anxiety, depression, ill health, hormone problems and drug or alcohol abuse, but to that list we must now add hi-tech gadgets.

Indeed, in the same week as my experiment, an American study revealed that exposure to artificial light in the form of computer screens before going to bed suppresses the release of melatonin, a sleep-promoting hormone, so increasing alertness.

(Computer screens are often worse than TV because you sit so close to them.)

It didn’t take long to feel the effects. By the second day of my experiment, my long hours of wakefulness were starting to become more deranged and dreamlike.

Extreme tiredness would come and go in cycles through the day. For an hour or so, I would feel like I was somewhere near normal (or at least, what I figured to be normal), then suddenly I would get completely sledgehammered by exhaustion.

For minutes, I would be dreaming with my eyes open, then my head would nod heavily, jerking me back into a wakeful state.

I did manage to work a little, but much of it was on autopilot. Bizarrely, my reaction times improved; so did my guitar playing — my conscious brain was switching off and my instinctive brain was kicking in.

But anything that required close, sustained concentration was impossible. I decided not to drive.

Caffeine hit: Countless refills of coffee to counteract the feeling of sleep may not be the healthiest way forward

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Then, bizarrely, on day four of my experiment, the little toe on my right foot began inexplicably to swell. And it kept on swelling, doubling its size, until it was the size of a Brazil nut.

In my emotionally charged state, I became rather obsessed with its growth, constantly comparing the engorged digit with my normal toe on the other foot.

Was I hallucinating this problem? Surely toes didn’t grow suddenly that way. That night I did not even get my planned five hours’ sleep — the mere weight of the bedclothes on my toe made it throb so badly that I kept waking. The next day, I could barely wear loose socks, let alone outdoor shoes. I had to slather the toe — now purple — in anti-inflammatory pain-killing gel.

It was as if my foot was acting like an angry downstairs neighbour, furiously banging on the ceiling with a broom demanding to know what the hell was going on. I could not be sure what the problem was — the toe didn’t seem infected.

So it was back to the doctor to see what was wrong. The results were unmistakable: my levels of uric acid, a waste product in the blood that results from the body breaking down foods, had gone up — from 409 µmol/l (micromoles per litre) to 417 µmol/l and rising.

Uric acid is associated with diabetes — and gout. For the first time in my life, it seems I had gout in my little toe, according to the doctor.

But there was a longer term worry. Gout is a common form of inflammation.

Inflammation is linked to sleeplessness — scientists at the American Heart Association have found that when we sleep fewer than six hours a night, the levels of inflammatory substances in our blood can jump by a quarter.

The problem is, inflammation can be lethal. Chronically high levels harden our arteries and damage our hearts, as well as our immune systems.

So not only did I seem to have gout but, if I kept this up, I was at much greater risk of dying young.

And if the inflammation didn’t kill me, obesity would. I have been a muesli-munching vegetarian for three decades, which has helped to keep me on the dietary straight and narrow.

But within just a few days of sleeplessness I was overwhelmed by strange, powerful cravings and I found myself urgently spooning peanut butter and jam straight from the jars and into my mouth.

What was going on?

In fact, it’s well known that your appetite hormones get knocked out of kilter by tiredness, wakeful nights and poor-quality sleep.

One study found that cutting sleep down to just four hours increased people’s levels of ghrelin, a hormone that increases appetite, by 28 per cent after only two days.

At the same time, their levels of leptin, a hormone which tells the brain that the belly is full, dropped by 18 per cent.

Any more of this sleeplessness and I could see myself rapidly becoming a middle-aged Billy Bunter.

And then there was the coffee. Normally, I drink only one cup a day. Any more and I get jittery. In my sleepless week, the percolator hardly got time to cool down between refills — six, eight, nine, ten, the number of cups a day increased with the experiment. I needed all the help I could get to counteract the tiredness — and damn the jitters.

But it was the effect on my mental wellbeing that was the most alarming. In fact, such depressiveness is apparently a common experience; an Australian study that followed 20,000 people for a year found those who sleep fewer than five hours each night are three times more likely than normal sleepers to become psychologically distressed.

They are more at risk of bipolar disorder, anxiety and panic disorder.

Even a single night without sleep can deeply affect our functioning. Brain scans have shown that after a sleepless night, the centre of emotion in the brain — the amygdala — over-reacts when people are shown disturbing news pictures.

We really do get tired and emotional, it seems.

My wife reports that, to her surprise, I was uncharacteristically cooperative during the insomniac week — but I blame that on being too dog-tired to argue with her.

At the end of the seven days, I went back to Bupa to check whether there were any other measurable differences. The good news was that there was not a marked difference in my heart rate or blood pressure. My body fat levels, cholesterol readings, lung function and kidney and liver results showed no change, either.

But as well as the gout, there was further evidence of the strain my body had taken in my levels of the stress hormone, cortisol — which had risen from 251 nmol/l (nanomoles per litre) to 304 nmol/l.

The increases were not great — certainly not life-threatening. But they were indicative of what would likely happen had I carried on my sleepless lifestyle.

My Bupa doctor explained that it would take several months for other physiological readings to register, but he was in no doubt as to the long-term risks that sleeping five hours a night would have on me in the longer term, putting me at greater risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, in particular.

He had made a special study of such problems at medical school.

Just to cheer me up, he pointed out a study newly reported in the British Medical Journal which even suggests that lack of sleep is a risk factor for colorectal cancer.

To say that I was glad to end the test would be an understatement.

The first night after my experiment, I was careful to return to normal life as briskly as possible — bed at 11pm, up at 7am.

Amazingly, after two nights of sleep normality, my little toe promptly shrank back to a normal size, with nearly all the redness and pain gone.

And I am happy to report that my emotions had returned safely to planet sanity. No more raging mood slumps, food cravings or any other insomniac craziness. My wife reports that I have also returned to my usual argumentative self. At least it shows I am paying her attention again.

I’d probably need to repeat the insomnia test a few times in order to see if this was just coincidence.

But do you know what? For the sake of my sanity, health — and my beloved slumber — I won’t be repeating the experiment any day (or night) soon.



Source:dailymail