Nutrition And The Immune System

A realy interesting article about how the body compensates when food is short -

Prof. Michael Hoch from the LIMES Institute who carried out the study explain: "What is fascinating about this is that a function of the immune system directly depends on how much and what we eat." In situations of hunger which mean stress for the body cells, the body releases antimicrobial peptides as a precaution in order to protect itself. The professor said: "The barrier between body and outside world is apparently fortified in a potentially dangerous situation in which we have too little energy."

Our bodies are so clever and work for us .. it's easy to see your body as the enemy when you are ill or tired, but in reality it is doing its best in often difficult circumstances.

Let's Give Parents More Information

Most parents want to make the right chocies for their children's health and wee-being. In a new study from the Seattle Children's the amount of calories selected by parents for their child’s hypothetical meal at McDonald’s restaurants were reduced by an average of over 100 calories when the menus clearly showed the calories for each item.

At a pediatric practice in Seattle, 99 parents of 3- to 6-year-olds who sometimes eat in fast food restaurants with their children were surveyed about their fast food dining habits. They were presented with sample McDonald’s restaurant menus which included current prices and pictures of items, and asked what they would select for themselves and also for their children as a typical meal. Half of the parents were given menus that also clearly showed calorie information for each item. Choices included most of the items sold at McDonald’s, including a variety of burgers, sandwiches, salads, dressings, side items, beverages, desserts and children’s “Happy Meals.” Parents who were given the calorie information chose 102 fewer calories on average for their children, compared with the group who did not have access to calorie information on their menus. This reflects a calorie reduction of approximately 20%.

Sadly knowing calorie content didn't influence parents' chocies for their own meals.

How To Resist That Cake Or Cookie

Many people's best intentions come undone in the face of cake or chocolate or Pringles or a cookie. Research suggests that one way of dealing with this is to exaggerate the threat.

According to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research Authors Ying Zhang, Szu-Chi Huang and Susan M. Broniarczyk (all University of Texas at Austin), your ability to resist that tempting cookie depends on how a big a threat you perceive it to be. “Four experiments show that when consumers encounter temptations that conflict with their long-term goals, one self-control mechanism is to exaggerate the negativity of the temptation as a way to resist, a process we call counteractive construal,” the researchers write.

If you wnat to resist temptation repeatedly exaggerate the powerof that food to your health and well-being. For example, exaggerate in your mind the amount of calries in it or the amount of transfats or salt or the effect it will have on your hips or your skin. Doing this could just help you resist temptation next time and the next time.

Mid Life Crisis

Four tips to avoid a mid-life crisis from Professor Carlo Strenger of Tel Aviv University's Department of Psychology

"First, and most important," Prof. Strenger suggests, "invest some sincere thought in the fact that you have more high-quality adult years ahead of you than behind you. Realize what that means in planning for the future."

Second, he says, think about what you've learned about yourself so far. Consider what you've found to be your strongest abilities and about the things that most please you, not what your parents or society expected of you when you were young.

Read the rest here >>

I really like these new year resolutions from the Keefe Clinic newsletter:

TAKE MORE WALKS. If you haven't taken a walk for awhile, go for a 15-minute stroll during a work break or after dinner; we bet you'll immediately feel more refreshed and less stressed about the world. The simple act of walking - away from the relative confines of your office or home - allows you to enjoy nature and exercise all at once. 

WATCH LESS TV. We're not suggesting you eliminate TV altogether, particularly if it's news- or education-based, but a few less hours a week of reality TV and late-night B movies wouldn't hurt. Substantial evidence links TV viewing to negative health outcomes, not the least of which is obesity. So turn off the boob tube now and then.

TRY NEW FOODS. Most adults are fairly locked in to their food preferences, which can be dangerous on several levels: If your preferences aren't healthy ones, you're in trouble; and if you don't mix things up occasionally, you risk getting bored. The solution? Try at least one new food a week, preferably the healthy variety.

MAKE TIME TO PLAY. Games, that is; games with your kids, your significant other or yourself that keep your mind sharp and take you away from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind. Whether it's a board game, a crossword puzzle or even a sport that keeps you on your toes (literally and figuratively), make more time to play. 

SPOIL YOURSELF. Your last New Year's resolution is perhaps the most important one, because you can't be healthy, at least not over the long haul, if you don't spoil yourself occasionally. Schedule a vacation, plan a date night, or just commit to taking an hour or so at least once a week and relaxing all by yourself. You're worth it.

Supplements For The Over 50's

Many people in their 50's and olders take normal supplements that everyone esle takes. We don't encourage that and on our site have a special Multivit for the over 50's.

Recent research suggests that if you're over 50 and want to take a multivit, you need one tailored to your age:

With scientific evidence linking high levels of copper and iron to Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and other age-related disorders, a new report in ACS’ Chemical Research in Toxicology: “Risks of Copper and Iron Toxicity during Aging in Humans” suggests specific steps that older consumers can take to avoid build up of unhealthy amounts of these metals in their bodies. “This story of copper and iron toxicity, which I think is reaching the level of public health significance, is virtually unknown to the general medical community, to say nothing of complete unawareness of the public,” George J. Brewer states in the report.

The article points out that copper and iron are essential nutrients for life, with high levels actually beneficial to the reproductive health of younger people. After age 50, however, high levels of these metals can damage cells in ways that may contribute to a range of age-related diseases.

“It seems clear that large segments of the population are at risk for toxicities from free copper and free iron, and to me, it seems clear that preventive steps should begin now.” The article details those steps for people over age 50, including avoiding vitamin and mineral pills that contain cooper and iron; lowering meat intake: avoiding drinking water from copper pipes; donating blood regularly to reduce iron levels; and taking zinc supplements to lower copper levels.

Diabetes And Glucose Levels

Diabetics may soon be able to wear contact lenses that continuously alert them to variations in their glucose levels by changing colours – replacing the need to routinely draw blood throughout the day.

The non-invasive technology, developed by Chemical and Biochemical Engineering professor Jin Zhang at The University of Western Ontario, uses extremely small nanoparticles embedded into the hydrogel lenses.  These engineered nanoparticles react with glucose molecules found in tears, causing a chemical reaction that changes their colour.

Zhang received $216,342 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) this morning to further develop technologies using multifunctional nanocomposites.

These technologies have vast potential applications beyond biomedical devices, including for food packaging. For example, nanocomposite films can prevent food spoilage by preventing oxygen, carbon dioxide and moisture from reaching fresh meats and other foods, or by measuring pathogenic contamination; others can make packaging increasingly biodegradable.

Overall, Western was awarded $2,659,595 for 12 projects from the CFI’s Leaders Opportunity Fund today.

More information >>

Another Reason To eat Your Veggies

Increased intakes of antioxidant-rich vegetables may reduce the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma by about 30 per cent, says a new study.

Increased dietary intakes of specific antioxidant nutrients, like vitamin C, alpha-carotene, and proanthocyanidins were also individually associated with significant reductions in risks for the cancer, according to results published from the Iowa Women's Health Study in the International Journal of Cancer. Read more >>

If you can't bear to eat your veggies, taking a good quality antioxidant supplement may help. If you wnat some more ideas for veggie recipes check out our free vegetarian and vegan recipes.

A Healthy Vegetarian Diet

The UK Vegetarian Society has put together a week's healthy eating plan with detailed recipes. You can do the whole week or just try what you fancy. Read more >>

Vaccination Results Are Not All Beneficial

 The discussion on the benefits or otherwise of vaccination can get heated, so this study from the UC Davis researchers is particuarly interesting:

 A comprehensive US national study  has found that the introduction of an early childhood vaccine for bacterial pneumonia nearly a decade ago has decreased the incidence of pneumonia, but the drop was accompanied by a dramatic increase in the incidence of a serious and sometimes life-threatening complication.

The researchers conjecture that the doubling of the incidence of the complication, which causes pockets of purulence, or pus, around the lungs, may partly be the result of the vaccine eliminating certain types of pneumococcus, creating the opportunity for other bacteria to take its place.

Despite a 50 percent drop in hospitalizations from pneumonia due to pneumococcus since the introduction of the vaccine in 2000, and an overall decrease in all bacterial pneumonias, the empyema rate jumped 70 percent.

Homeopathy And The Placebo Effect

There's a lot of negative publicity around for homeopathy at the moment, which I find really sad. I know from my own experience and from bringing up 2 boys just how effective homeopathy can be.

There's a web site called Homeopathy Heals which has been established to put forward  positive information on homeopathy. I particularly like this article about  a afremer and his experiencing of using homeopathy for his herd of cows. Difficult to see how this is down to the placebo effect.

Buy Clothes And Donate Money To Charity

Many of us like to buy new clothes but we also care about the world and other people. Oxfam's second hand store is a great place to buy new clothes while supporting a very worth while cause. They've got vintage stuff, quirky stuff, very cheap clothes and they've also got lots of new clothes.

You can search by condition. For new clothes there are several options:

New
BNWOT – brand new without tags
BNWT – brand new with tags
Factory seconds

Under "condition" you have to keep expanding it to see all the options.

This is particularly true for women’s clothes but also for men’s. I bought one of my grown-up sons a sleep bundle (new and donated by Marks and Spencers):

One pair crisp checked cotton short with drawstring waistband and side slit pockets
Two pairs stretchy cotton shorts with drawstring waist, one dark blue, one grey,
One white t shirt top with three button front
One multi stripe t shirt
One plain white t shirt.

Great value for £19.99, particularly for M&S quality.

I also bought myself a Nike top - not brand new but excellent condition - great for my spinning class at the gym - a beautiful lime (my favourite colour) blouse, two really nice skirts. I had a really great shopping spree.

You can also search by brand and by size.

You’d need to keep a regular eye on it to see good things but a nice way to donate to Oxfam!

They don't charge postage, although they encourage you to make a donation. You can also return things you don't like. Do have a look and see if there is anything you want to buy.

Exercise Goals For A Fitter You

Is your goal to be fitter and healthier this year? Then use these tips to help you on your way:

Make a goal with a friend to achieve the new Physical Activity Guidelines! Visit CDC's Physical Activity for Everyone for details.

Regular physical helps with weight control, reduces the risk for many diseases, and strengthens muscles, bones and joints. 

Sign up for a 5K walk or run to keep your mind focused on physical activity goals.

Find fun, creative ways your friends and family can spend time being active instead of eating.

No Matter How Old You Are - Give Up Smoking

Just in time for New Year's resolutions, a UCLA study finds that even after age 80, smoking continues to increase one's risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in Americans over 65.

The American Journal of Ophthalmology publishes the findings in its January edition.

"The take-home message is that it's never too late to quit smoking," said lead author Dr. Anne Coleman, professor of ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA. "We found that even older people's eyes will benefit from kicking the habit."

Read more>>