Here's another reason to go vegetarian or at least eat more vegetarian meals:
According to a report from the Food and Agriculture Organization, farmed animals are a top contributor to today’s serious environmental problems. The report found that livestock produced 35 percent to 40 percent of all methane emissions (which have 23 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide), 65 percent of nitrous oxide (which is 320 times as warming as carbon dioxide), and 64 percent of ammonia, which contributes to acid rain. In addition to climate changes, the growth of global meat production adds immensely to water pollution and the reduction of forests for livestock grazing. Nearly 30 percent of the Earth’s entire land surface is used for grazing animals, and that amount is expected to grow because the global livestock sector is growing faster than any other agricultural sub-sector.
Steinfeld H, De Haan C, Blackburn H. Livestock-Environment interactions: Issues and options. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United States Agency for International Development and the World Bank. 2006. Available at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5305e/x5305e00.htm# Accessed: Dec. 4, 2006.
Source: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Monday, January 21, 2008
vegetarian glucoamine and chondroitin?
I received this email this morning from a potential customer:
I have been recommended by my physio to take Glucosamine and Chondroitin(?). Your site was recommended by a friend but on looking cannot find Chondroitin. Can you please advise me. It needs to be vegetarian too.
Here's my reply:
you are quite right we don't sell chondroitin on the site.
As far as I know it's never vegetarian ( extracted from cow, pig, shark, fish and bird cartilage) so for that reason we don't sell it. Not all glucosamine is Ok either as often it comes from shellfish but ours is OK for us veggies. I have been a veggie (apart from a minor lapse of about two weeks) for about 30 years and am a member of the Vegetarian Society so I look very carefully at anything I'm thinking of selling.
I have been recommended by my physio to take Glucosamine and Chondroitin(?). Your site was recommended by a friend but on looking cannot find Chondroitin. Can you please advise me. It needs to be vegetarian too.
Here's my reply:
you are quite right we don't sell chondroitin on the site.
As far as I know it's never vegetarian ( extracted from cow, pig, shark, fish and bird cartilage) so for that reason we don't sell it. Not all glucosamine is Ok either as often it comes from shellfish but ours is OK for us veggies. I have been a veggie (apart from a minor lapse of about two weeks) for about 30 years and am a member of the Vegetarian Society so I look very carefully at anything I'm thinking of selling.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Help With New Year's Resolutions
Are your new year’s resolutions running out of steam? Did you start off optimistic that this year you would do it, but now those resolutions are an embarrassment? You may want to lose weight or to give up smoking, to be prettier or nicer, to learn a new language or forget old habits. The big problem, of course, is not making the resolutions but in keeping them. But don’t give up. Even though it’s no longer new year’s day, think about the energy and determination you had at that time to succeed, to get yourself sorted.
So how can you increase your chance of sticking to your resolutions? Remember the carrot-and-stick of traditional thinking? It still has relevance today. Think about the past: what has motivated you to do things you didn’t want to do or that were difficult? These don’t have to be major goals, just tasks that you managed to complete in spite of yourself. Did you decide to give yourself a reward when you completed the task? Did you think about the satisfaction you would feel when you achieved your goal? If these or similar approaches got you going, you are motivated by the carrot. If, however, you kept reminding yourself of the disapproval you would experience if you didn’t complete your task, or if you decided to deny yourself something until you completed your goal, you are motivated by the stick.
Is it sometimes the carrot and sometimes the stick? Can you see a pattern to this? Are work goals usually motivated by the stick, and home goals by the carrot? Do you ever use both at the same time?
Whatever pattern emerges, apply this to your new year’s resolutions. Add the carrot and/or stick to help you achieve what you want.
Also remember that there may be professionals who can help you. Hypnotherapists, for example, can help people who want to lose weight or give up smoking. Life Coaches are an excellent resource if you feel you are stuck in a rut, playing and replaying old behaviour that doesn’t work. To find a suitable professional ask around, visit one of the local natural health centres, check out our therapist listing, or check out Yellow Pages. Don’t be frightened of phoning several therapists to find the one you feel is best for you. Most therapists are quite happy to talk to prospective clients who are unsure about making an appointment, (and if they're not don't make an appointment!)
If you don't fancy seeing a therapist, self-hypnosis CDs can be very helpful too. There's a huge range to help you with all sorts of new year's resolutions.
So how can you increase your chance of sticking to your resolutions? Remember the carrot-and-stick of traditional thinking? It still has relevance today. Think about the past: what has motivated you to do things you didn’t want to do or that were difficult? These don’t have to be major goals, just tasks that you managed to complete in spite of yourself. Did you decide to give yourself a reward when you completed the task? Did you think about the satisfaction you would feel when you achieved your goal? If these or similar approaches got you going, you are motivated by the carrot. If, however, you kept reminding yourself of the disapproval you would experience if you didn’t complete your task, or if you decided to deny yourself something until you completed your goal, you are motivated by the stick.
Is it sometimes the carrot and sometimes the stick? Can you see a pattern to this? Are work goals usually motivated by the stick, and home goals by the carrot? Do you ever use both at the same time?
Whatever pattern emerges, apply this to your new year’s resolutions. Add the carrot and/or stick to help you achieve what you want.
Also remember that there may be professionals who can help you. Hypnotherapists, for example, can help people who want to lose weight or give up smoking. Life Coaches are an excellent resource if you feel you are stuck in a rut, playing and replaying old behaviour that doesn’t work. To find a suitable professional ask around, visit one of the local natural health centres, check out our therapist listing, or check out Yellow Pages. Don’t be frightened of phoning several therapists to find the one you feel is best for you. Most therapists are quite happy to talk to prospective clients who are unsure about making an appointment, (and if they're not don't make an appointment!)
If you don't fancy seeing a therapist, self-hypnosis CDs can be very helpful too. There's a huge range to help you with all sorts of new year's resolutions.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
On the weekend of the 26-27 January 2008, the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch takes place. It's the world's biggest bird survey and the RSPB's biggest event of the year!
Last year over 400,000 people took part by counting the birds in their garden for an hour. It's really simple to do so you don't have to be an expert and it gives the RSPB a vital snapshot of the UK's birds each winter. Over a period of just one hour, participants are asked to record the highest number of each bird species seen in their garden (not flying over) at any one time. Then all you do is note them on the counting sheet provided and send it in to us. Our scientists can then use the information and patterns in bird numbers to help prioritise our bird conservation work.
Find out more on the RSPB web site.
Last year over 400,000 people took part by counting the birds in their garden for an hour. It's really simple to do so you don't have to be an expert and it gives the RSPB a vital snapshot of the UK's birds each winter. Over a period of just one hour, participants are asked to record the highest number of each bird species seen in their garden (not flying over) at any one time. Then all you do is note them on the counting sheet provided and send it in to us. Our scientists can then use the information and patterns in bird numbers to help prioritise our bird conservation work.
Find out more on the RSPB web site.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Organic Skin Care Range
For the last two months I’ve been using Beyond Organics skin care range – made by Marianne Tregoning near Helston in Cornwall. At the risk of sounding like one of those adverts I’d like to really recommend it to you all.
My skin is softer and more luminescent. I love the smell. The range is completely organic and suitable for vegetarians. Do give it a try.
You can see more about it at the Beyond Skincare web site.
(I have no financial or other incentive to let you know about this - I just love the stuff!)
My skin is softer and more luminescent. I love the smell. The range is completely organic and suitable for vegetarians. Do give it a try.
You can see more about it at the Beyond Skincare web site.
(I have no financial or other incentive to let you know about this - I just love the stuff!)
Friday, January 11, 2008
Breast cancer
One in nine women in the UK will get breast cancer during their lives - a truly startling statistic. This is more than double the amount that were affected 30 years ago.
Risk factors include HRT, increasing alcohol consumption, meat consumption, delayed childbirth and less breastfeeding.
Source: www.vegetarian.org.uk
Risk factors include HRT, increasing alcohol consumption, meat consumption, delayed childbirth and less breastfeeding.
Source: www.vegetarian.org.uk
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Many of you know our online shop as a place to buy effective nutritional supplements, but I thought I’d remind you that we also have great products for pregnant women:
*** Multivitamin & Mineral supplement for women trying to get pregnant, who are pregnant or breastfeeding
*** A self-hypnosis pregnancy CD helping you to be relaxed and calm through your pregnancy
*** A maternity TENS machine for a more pain-free birth
*** A homeopathic childbirth kit - I’ve had several mums buy this as a great gift for a pregnant daughter or daughter-in-law
And we also sell two organic cotton gift sets for newborn babies – it’s difficult for the online image to do justice for these, but everyone goes ‘aah!’ when they see them.
For more information on all our products check out the shop
And remember everything – including the supplements – comes with a 60-day money back guarantee.
*** Multivitamin & Mineral supplement for women trying to get pregnant, who are pregnant or breastfeeding
*** A self-hypnosis pregnancy CD helping you to be relaxed and calm through your pregnancy
*** A maternity TENS machine for a more pain-free birth
*** A homeopathic childbirth kit - I’ve had several mums buy this as a great gift for a pregnant daughter or daughter-in-law
And we also sell two organic cotton gift sets for newborn babies – it’s difficult for the online image to do justice for these, but everyone goes ‘aah!’ when they see them.
For more information on all our products check out the shop
And remember everything – including the supplements – comes with a 60-day money back guarantee.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Low-Fat and Fat-Free Milk Linked to Prostate Cancer
Here's some interesting information on low fat milk:
Two new studies published in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed a positive correlation between low-fat and nonfat milk consumption and the risk of prostate cancer.
One study looked at questionnaires by 82,483 men in the Multiethnic Cohort Study, 4,404 of whom developed prostate cancer over a mean follow-up of eight years. Whether in the form of food or supplements, there was no association between calcium and vitamin D intake and prostate cancer risk. However, consuming 1 cup or more per day of low-fat or nonfat milk showed a positive association for developing prostate cancer, while whole milk consumption showed a decreased risk for total prostate cancer (includes nonadvanced, advanced, and fatal cases).
The other study assessed food frequency questionnaires among 293,888 participants of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-AARP Diet and Health Study, 10,180 of whom were total prostate cancer cases. Skim milk consumption at two or more servings per day was positively associated with an increased risk of advanced prostate cancer.
Park S, Murphy SP, Wilkens LR, et al. Calcium, vitamin D, and dairy product intake and prostate cancer risk: the Multiethnic Cohort Study. Am J Epid. 2007;166:1259-1269.
Park Y, Mitrou PN, Kipnis V, et al. Calcium, dairy foods, and risk of incident and fatal prostate cancer: the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. Am J Epid. 2007;166:1270-1279.
Source: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Two new studies published in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed a positive correlation between low-fat and nonfat milk consumption and the risk of prostate cancer.
One study looked at questionnaires by 82,483 men in the Multiethnic Cohort Study, 4,404 of whom developed prostate cancer over a mean follow-up of eight years. Whether in the form of food or supplements, there was no association between calcium and vitamin D intake and prostate cancer risk. However, consuming 1 cup or more per day of low-fat or nonfat milk showed a positive association for developing prostate cancer, while whole milk consumption showed a decreased risk for total prostate cancer (includes nonadvanced, advanced, and fatal cases).
The other study assessed food frequency questionnaires among 293,888 participants of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-AARP Diet and Health Study, 10,180 of whom were total prostate cancer cases. Skim milk consumption at two or more servings per day was positively associated with an increased risk of advanced prostate cancer.
Park S, Murphy SP, Wilkens LR, et al. Calcium, vitamin D, and dairy product intake and prostate cancer risk: the Multiethnic Cohort Study. Am J Epid. 2007;166:1259-1269.
Park Y, Mitrou PN, Kipnis V, et al. Calcium, dairy foods, and risk of incident and fatal prostate cancer: the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. Am J Epid. 2007;166:1270-1279.
Source: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Reducing Cravings
I was listening yesterday to a radio interview with the author of a book on food cravings. She stated categorically that, after eating, insulin is produced which stops fat-burning for 3 hours. She repeated this ‘fact’ several times, and from this had drawn various conclusions about what and how we should eat.
One of the conclusions was that we should only eat three times a day – if we ate, more frequently, then the insulin would stop our body burning fat. This information flies in the face of much research that suggests that eating frequent smaller meals containing some protein is the best way to reduce cravings and give satisfactory long-term weight loss.
This does not mean it is wrong – even scientific ‘facts’ do get regularly overturned, but this does not make sense on a lot of different levels. It is a very simple model of the body – hormones such as insulin interact with each other – and anyway there are huge differences between individuals.
Anyway is the body really that precise? She didn't say ‘about 3 hours’. What happens if the person does something that demands a lot of calories in those three hours?
I think this was real nonsense and felt sad that BBC Radio 2 had given air-time to the promotion of a book with half-baked theories in it like this.
One of the conclusions was that we should only eat three times a day – if we ate, more frequently, then the insulin would stop our body burning fat. This information flies in the face of much research that suggests that eating frequent smaller meals containing some protein is the best way to reduce cravings and give satisfactory long-term weight loss.
This does not mean it is wrong – even scientific ‘facts’ do get regularly overturned, but this does not make sense on a lot of different levels. It is a very simple model of the body – hormones such as insulin interact with each other – and anyway there are huge differences between individuals.
Anyway is the body really that precise? She didn't say ‘about 3 hours’. What happens if the person does something that demands a lot of calories in those three hours?
I think this was real nonsense and felt sad that BBC Radio 2 had given air-time to the promotion of a book with half-baked theories in it like this.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Adverse Drug Reactions
If you are in the UK and have had an adverse reaction to a drug, you can report it using the yellow card scheme. Many drugs have side effects - if you;ve exoerienced any, help to make drugs safer by feeding this information back to the authorities.
5 Fitness and Nutrition Tips That Will Refocus Your Life and Career!
Lynn VanDyke always writes high energy articles that get you going. Here's an example:
5 Fitness and Nutrition Tips That Will Refocus Your Life and Career!
By Lynn VanDyke, Master Trainer and Creator of http://www.Melt-The-Fat.com
Your career is probably one of your greatest stressors. You want to earn more income. You want to receive more recognition for your hard work. You want more of a challenge. You want to be more dedicated. You want to thrive and succeed.
Many clients come to me burned out from working day in and day out. They have low energy and trouble sleeping. They lack passion for life. They are searching for that drive and focus that they used to have.
All of my successful clients shared certain traits. Perhaps the most important trait was trust. They trusted themselves and they trusted me. Their body was screaming for activity and nutrients. Their body craved healthy and vibrant foods. My successful clients trusted their body’s enough to become a willing participant in their own fitness and health program.
These successful clients trusted me. They knew that my 5 tips to fat loss was the absolute best, common sense, direct, no fluff route to health. They also know that overall health and fitness leads to a more positive outlook on life. Are you seeing the path to a better career yet?
Start by focusing on you. Get your nutrition and fitness program in gear. Get healthy and centered. This will result in a glowing, radiant, positive attitude. Your life will enhance. Colleagues will notice. Bosses will notice. Your career will improve. Your marriage will improve. Your life will improve!
Follow these 5 tips to fat loss and watch as your body, attitude and life make dramatic changes.
1) Eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day. The first meal should be eaten within an hour after waking and each meal thereafter should be 2-3 hours apart. Each meal should contain a protein and a carb.
Sample protein and carb meals include: salad with mandarin oranges and raspberry vinaigrette dressing topped with chicken slices, cottage cheese and blueberries, whole wheat wrap with black bean spread and chicken slices, sweet potato and turkey, oatmeal and egg whites, or veggie medley and tofu.
2) Drink a cup of water at each meal. It’s also healthy to drink herbal teas or a bit of green/white/red/black teas. It’s best to avoid soda, lemonade, coffee, energy drinks, juices and other processed, high sugar beverages.
3) Get your rest! Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night. It’s also best to take at least 48 hours of rest between strength training the same muscles and taking 1-2 days off from exercising per week.
Resting is not a sign of laziness. It is a sign of a competent and educated exerciser. Overtraining is a serious concern that everyone must be cautious of. Rest your muscles and your mind. You’ll reap more rewards!
4) Cardio should be done at different intensity levels and different session lengths. Consider doing a low intensity/long session, a high intensity/short session and a few medium intensity/medium length sessions. Always start your cardio routine with a warm up and gradually work into higher intensities.
Look into interval training. Interval training has been very effective at burning fat and it helps diminish the boredom factor.
5) Strength train each muscle 1-3 times per week. You should lift a proper weight and perform the proper amount of sets/reps for your strength training method. Always focus on lifter a lighter weight when first starting out. Focus on form and posture. As your confidence increases, begin to work with heavier weights.
Women should also lift heavier weights. It is very hard for women to bulk up and gain massive muscle. To be lean and toned, lifting heavier weights is one of the secrets to success.
Combining these 5 fitness and nutrition tips will yield a healthier and happier individual. Whether you’re a model walking down the runway or an accountant sitting behind a desk, the success of your career and your life starts with your health. Become an active participant sooner than later!
About the Author:
Lynn VanDyke is the creator of the wildly popular ebook, Melt the Fat. It comes complete with over 100 exercises, 160 daily menus, 63 ways to stick with it, 100 strength training routines, 800 healthy meal suggestions and loads more. Learn more by visiting: http://www.Melt-the-Fat.com
5 Fitness and Nutrition Tips That Will Refocus Your Life and Career!
By Lynn VanDyke, Master Trainer and Creator of http://www.Melt-The-Fat.com
Your career is probably one of your greatest stressors. You want to earn more income. You want to receive more recognition for your hard work. You want more of a challenge. You want to be more dedicated. You want to thrive and succeed.
Many clients come to me burned out from working day in and day out. They have low energy and trouble sleeping. They lack passion for life. They are searching for that drive and focus that they used to have.
All of my successful clients shared certain traits. Perhaps the most important trait was trust. They trusted themselves and they trusted me. Their body was screaming for activity and nutrients. Their body craved healthy and vibrant foods. My successful clients trusted their body’s enough to become a willing participant in their own fitness and health program.
These successful clients trusted me. They knew that my 5 tips to fat loss was the absolute best, common sense, direct, no fluff route to health. They also know that overall health and fitness leads to a more positive outlook on life. Are you seeing the path to a better career yet?
Start by focusing on you. Get your nutrition and fitness program in gear. Get healthy and centered. This will result in a glowing, radiant, positive attitude. Your life will enhance. Colleagues will notice. Bosses will notice. Your career will improve. Your marriage will improve. Your life will improve!
Follow these 5 tips to fat loss and watch as your body, attitude and life make dramatic changes.
1) Eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day. The first meal should be eaten within an hour after waking and each meal thereafter should be 2-3 hours apart. Each meal should contain a protein and a carb.
Sample protein and carb meals include: salad with mandarin oranges and raspberry vinaigrette dressing topped with chicken slices, cottage cheese and blueberries, whole wheat wrap with black bean spread and chicken slices, sweet potato and turkey, oatmeal and egg whites, or veggie medley and tofu.
2) Drink a cup of water at each meal. It’s also healthy to drink herbal teas or a bit of green/white/red/black teas. It’s best to avoid soda, lemonade, coffee, energy drinks, juices and other processed, high sugar beverages.
3) Get your rest! Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night. It’s also best to take at least 48 hours of rest between strength training the same muscles and taking 1-2 days off from exercising per week.
Resting is not a sign of laziness. It is a sign of a competent and educated exerciser. Overtraining is a serious concern that everyone must be cautious of. Rest your muscles and your mind. You’ll reap more rewards!
4) Cardio should be done at different intensity levels and different session lengths. Consider doing a low intensity/long session, a high intensity/short session and a few medium intensity/medium length sessions. Always start your cardio routine with a warm up and gradually work into higher intensities.
Look into interval training. Interval training has been very effective at burning fat and it helps diminish the boredom factor.
5) Strength train each muscle 1-3 times per week. You should lift a proper weight and perform the proper amount of sets/reps for your strength training method. Always focus on lifter a lighter weight when first starting out. Focus on form and posture. As your confidence increases, begin to work with heavier weights.
Women should also lift heavier weights. It is very hard for women to bulk up and gain massive muscle. To be lean and toned, lifting heavier weights is one of the secrets to success.
Combining these 5 fitness and nutrition tips will yield a healthier and happier individual. Whether you’re a model walking down the runway or an accountant sitting behind a desk, the success of your career and your life starts with your health. Become an active participant sooner than later!
About the Author:
Lynn VanDyke is the creator of the wildly popular ebook, Melt the Fat. It comes complete with over 100 exercises, 160 daily menus, 63 ways to stick with it, 100 strength training routines, 800 healthy meal suggestions and loads more. Learn more by visiting: http://www.Melt-the-Fat.com
Friday, January 04, 2008
Weight Loss Pills That Work
One of the great things about having an internet shop is when people give you positive feedback. Even though I know the stuff we sell works, I'm always pleased when customers have the experience and let me know.
Today I had an email from Tracy Williams in Hampshire (UK) she has been trying the WeightLess weight loss supplement and she told me this:
"I now constantly feel like I have just eaten the largest roast dinner!"
She's only been taking them a few days and is delighted. This really must be one of the best weight loss supplements around.
I also had a very positive comment today about the TENS machine we sell too.
Today I had an email from Tracy Williams in Hampshire (UK) she has been trying the WeightLess weight loss supplement and she told me this:
"I now constantly feel like I have just eaten the largest roast dinner!"
She's only been taking them a few days and is delighted. This really must be one of the best weight loss supplements around.
I also had a very positive comment today about the TENS machine we sell too.
Protest About Broiler Chickens
I don't know if anyone is interested in joining a campaign to help end the suffering of broiler chickens, but River Cottage on channel 4 have started a petition on the following website www.chickenout.tv, to end it, and they need as many supporters as they can find. Hope you can help and give the chickens a brighter new year.
Ginger And Infection
More proof of the efficacy of ginger:
Ginger extract inhibits LPS induced macrophage activation and function
Sudipta Tripathi , David Bruch and Dilip S Kittur
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2008, 8:1doi:10.1186/1472-6882-8-1
Published:
3 January 2008
Abstract (provisional)
Background
Macrophages play a dual role in host defence. They act as the first line of defence by mounting an inflammatory response to antigen exposure and also act as antigen presenting cells and initiate the adaptive immune response. They are also the primary infiltrating cells at the site of inflammation. Inhibition of macrophage activation is one of the possible approaches towards modulating inflammation. Both conventional and alternative approaches are being studied in this regard. Ginger, an herbal product with broad anti inflammatory actions, is used as an alternative medicine in a number of inflammatory conditions like rheumatic disorders. In the present study we examined the effect of ginger extract on macrophage activation in the presence of LPS stimulation.
Methods
Murine peritoneal macrophages were stimulated by LPS in presence or absence of ginger extract and production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were observed. We also studied the effect of ginger extract on the LPS induced expression of MHC II, B7.1, B7.2 and CD40 molecules. We also studied the antigen presenting function of ginger extract treated macrophages by primary mixed lymphocyte reaction.
Results
We observed that ginger extract inhibited IL-12, TNF-alpha, IL-1 (pro inflammatory cytokines) and RANTES, MCP-1 (pro inflammatory chemokines) production in LPS stimulated macrophages. Ginger extract also down regulated the expression of B7.1, B7.2 and MHC class II molecules. In addition ginger extract negatively affected the antigen presenting function of macrophages and we observed a significant reduction in T cell proliferation in response to allostimulation, when ginger extract treated macrophages were used as APCs. A significant decrease in IFN-gamma and IL-2 production by T cells in response to allostimulation was also observed.
Conclusions
In conclusion ginger extract inhibits macrophage activation and APC function and indirectly inhibits T cell activation.
Ginger extract inhibits LPS induced macrophage activation and function
Sudipta Tripathi , David Bruch and Dilip S Kittur
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2008, 8:1doi:10.1186/1472-6882-8-1
Published:
3 January 2008
Abstract (provisional)
Background
Macrophages play a dual role in host defence. They act as the first line of defence by mounting an inflammatory response to antigen exposure and also act as antigen presenting cells and initiate the adaptive immune response. They are also the primary infiltrating cells at the site of inflammation. Inhibition of macrophage activation is one of the possible approaches towards modulating inflammation. Both conventional and alternative approaches are being studied in this regard. Ginger, an herbal product with broad anti inflammatory actions, is used as an alternative medicine in a number of inflammatory conditions like rheumatic disorders. In the present study we examined the effect of ginger extract on macrophage activation in the presence of LPS stimulation.
Methods
Murine peritoneal macrophages were stimulated by LPS in presence or absence of ginger extract and production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were observed. We also studied the effect of ginger extract on the LPS induced expression of MHC II, B7.1, B7.2 and CD40 molecules. We also studied the antigen presenting function of ginger extract treated macrophages by primary mixed lymphocyte reaction.
Results
We observed that ginger extract inhibited IL-12, TNF-alpha, IL-1 (pro inflammatory cytokines) and RANTES, MCP-1 (pro inflammatory chemokines) production in LPS stimulated macrophages. Ginger extract also down regulated the expression of B7.1, B7.2 and MHC class II molecules. In addition ginger extract negatively affected the antigen presenting function of macrophages and we observed a significant reduction in T cell proliferation in response to allostimulation, when ginger extract treated macrophages were used as APCs. A significant decrease in IFN-gamma and IL-2 production by T cells in response to allostimulation was also observed.
Conclusions
In conclusion ginger extract inhibits macrophage activation and APC function and indirectly inhibits T cell activation.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Healthy Easy Recipe - Black Bean Dip
Another great recipe from the Cancer project:
Black Bean Dip
This simple bean dip is versatile and virtually fat-free. Keeping your fat intake low is crucial for keeping hormone levels within healthy limits to lower breast and prostate cancer risk. Add cumin to this recipe for added flavor and antioxidants.
Enjoy this dip on crackers, raw vegetables, or as a sandwich spread.
Directions
Makes 6 servings
1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed, or 1 1/2 cups of cooked beans
1 cup salsa
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
Combine beans and salsa in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Add cumin, if using.
Nutrition Information
Per serving (1/6 of recipe):
81 calories
0.4 g fat
0.1 g saturated fat
4.2% calories from fat
0 mg cholesterol
4.7 g protein
15.4 g carbohydrate
2.7 g sugar
3.8 g fiber
280 mg sodium
47 mg calcium
1.6 mg iron
6.4 mg vitamin C
172 mcg beta-carotene
0.6 mg vitamin E
This recipe is a preview from the upcoming NEW EDITION of The Survivor's Handbook: Eating Right for Cancer Survival.
View The Cancer Project Recipe of the Week Archive.
Black Bean Dip
This simple bean dip is versatile and virtually fat-free. Keeping your fat intake low is crucial for keeping hormone levels within healthy limits to lower breast and prostate cancer risk. Add cumin to this recipe for added flavor and antioxidants.
Enjoy this dip on crackers, raw vegetables, or as a sandwich spread.
Directions
Makes 6 servings
1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed, or 1 1/2 cups of cooked beans
1 cup salsa
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
Combine beans and salsa in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Add cumin, if using.
Nutrition Information
Per serving (1/6 of recipe):
81 calories
0.4 g fat
0.1 g saturated fat
4.2% calories from fat
0 mg cholesterol
4.7 g protein
15.4 g carbohydrate
2.7 g sugar
3.8 g fiber
280 mg sodium
47 mg calcium
1.6 mg iron
6.4 mg vitamin C
172 mcg beta-carotene
0.6 mg vitamin E
This recipe is a preview from the upcoming NEW EDITION of The Survivor's Handbook: Eating Right for Cancer Survival.
View The Cancer Project Recipe of the Week Archive.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Herbal Liver Detox
It's that time of the year when many of us look back at the excesses of the holiday season and decide we need to do something to get in shape. I've just posted an article on liver detox on our health site.
We also have a great herbal liver detox formula in our online health shop. Like everything we sell it comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you can buy with complete confidence. I'm confident it's one of the best herbal formula around.
If you're worried about internet card scams, the online orders are processed by Protx so that means we don't get to see the card details - not that we'd do anything bad with them if we did!!
We also have a great herbal liver detox formula in our online health shop. Like everything we sell it comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you can buy with complete confidence. I'm confident it's one of the best herbal formula around.
If you're worried about internet card scams, the online orders are processed by Protx so that means we don't get to see the card details - not that we'd do anything bad with them if we did!!
Friday, December 28, 2007
New year inspiration
Robert Middleton sent this out to his ezine list and I thought I'd pass it on - do take time to watch and listen:
Successful businesses, large or small, are built on a foundation of
great service. But what is great service, really?
After you watch this little online video you'll understand what
service is in a whole new way. It's only 3 minutes long and once
you see it, I promise you, you'll never forget it.
http://tinyurl.com/2zesmp
Successful businesses, large or small, are built on a foundation of
great service. But what is great service, really?
After you watch this little online video you'll understand what
service is in a whole new way. It's only 3 minutes long and once
you see it, I promise you, you'll never forget it.
http://tinyurl.com/2zesmp
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Red Meat And Cancer
I'm a vegetarian so I'm always pleased to see research like this which confirms that meat eating is not the great option that many people thik it is:
(Editors' Summary of A Prospective Study of Red and Processed Meat Intake in Relation to Cancer Risk by Amanda J. Cross, Michael F. Leitzmann, Mitchell H. Gail, Albert R. Hollenbeck, Arthur Schatzkin, and Rashmi Sinha Read the full article
Background.
Every year, there are more than 10 million new cases of cancer around the world. These cases are not spread evenly across the globe. The annual incidence of cancer (the number of new cases divided by the population size) and the type of cancer most commonly diagnosed varies widely among countries. Much of the global variation in cancer incidence and type is thought to be due to environmental influences. These include exposure to agents in the air or water that cause cancer, and lifestyle factors such as smoking and diet.
Researchers identify environmental factors that affect cancer risk by measuring the exposure of a large number of individuals to a specific environmental factor and then monitoring these people for several years to see who develops cancer. The hope is that by identifying the environmental factors that cause or prevent cancer, the global burden of cancer can be reduced.
Why Was This Study Done?
Diet is thought to influence the incidence of several cancers but it is very difficult to unravel which aspects of diet are important. Being overweight, for example, is strongly associated with an increased risk of developing several types of cancer, but the evidence that the intake of red meat (beef, pork, and lamb) and of processed meat (for example, bacon, ham, and sausages) is linked to cancer risk is much weaker. Although several studies have linked a high intake of red meat and processed meat to an increased risk of colorectal cancer (the colon is the large bowel; the rectum is the final few inches of the large bowel before the anus), whether this aspect of diet affects the risk of other types of cancer is unclear. In this prospective study, the researchers have examined the association between meat intake and the incidence of a wide range of cancers.
What Did the Researchers Do and Find?
In 1995–1996, nearly half a million US men and women aged 50–71 y joined the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. The participants in this study—none of whom had had cancer previously—completed a questionnaire about their dietary habits over the previous year and provided other personal information such as their age, weight, and smoking history.
The researchers used these data and information from state cancer registries to look for associations between the intake of red and processed meat and the incidence of various cancers. They found that people whose red meat intake was in the top fifth of the range of intakes recorded in the study (the highest quintile of consumption) had an increased risk of developing colorectal, liver, lung, and esophageal cancer when compared with people in the lowest quintile of consumption. People in the highest quintile of processed meat intake had an increased risk of developing colorectal and lung cancer. The incidences of other cancers were largely unaffected by meat intake.
What Do These Findings Mean?
These findings provide strong evidence that people who eat a lot of red and processed meats have greater risk of developing colorectal and lung cancer than do people who eat small quantities. They also indicate that a high red meat intake is associated with an increased risk of esophageal and liver cancer, and that one in ten colorectal and one in ten lung cancers could be avoided if people reduced their red and processed meat intake to the lowest quintile.
However, although the researchers allowed for factors such as smoking history that might have affected cancer incidences, some of the effects they ascribe to meat intake might be caused by other lifestyle factors. Furthermore, because the study's definitions of red meat and processed meat overlapped—bacon and ham, for example, were included in both categories—exactly which type of meat is related to cancer remains unclear.
Finally, most of the study participants were non-Hispanic white, so these findings may not apply to people with different genetic backgrounds. Nevertheless, they add to the evidence that suggests that decreased consumption of red and processed meats could reduce the incidence of several types of cancer. (Read the full article)
Additional Information.
Please access these Web sites via the online version of this summary at http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0040325.
The American Cancer Society provides answers to common questions about diet and cancer
Information is available from the charity Cancer Research UK about diet, healthy eating, and cancer
The American Institute for Cancer Research also provides information on diet and cancer.
The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study presents information on the impact of diet and lifestyle factors on risk of cancer
The US National Cancer Institute provides information about the kind of food questionnaire used in this study
Read the full article
(Editors' Summary of A Prospective Study of Red and Processed Meat Intake in Relation to Cancer Risk by Amanda J. Cross, Michael F. Leitzmann, Mitchell H. Gail, Albert R. Hollenbeck, Arthur Schatzkin, and Rashmi Sinha Read the full article
Background.
Every year, there are more than 10 million new cases of cancer around the world. These cases are not spread evenly across the globe. The annual incidence of cancer (the number of new cases divided by the population size) and the type of cancer most commonly diagnosed varies widely among countries. Much of the global variation in cancer incidence and type is thought to be due to environmental influences. These include exposure to agents in the air or water that cause cancer, and lifestyle factors such as smoking and diet.
Researchers identify environmental factors that affect cancer risk by measuring the exposure of a large number of individuals to a specific environmental factor and then monitoring these people for several years to see who develops cancer. The hope is that by identifying the environmental factors that cause or prevent cancer, the global burden of cancer can be reduced.
Why Was This Study Done?
Diet is thought to influence the incidence of several cancers but it is very difficult to unravel which aspects of diet are important. Being overweight, for example, is strongly associated with an increased risk of developing several types of cancer, but the evidence that the intake of red meat (beef, pork, and lamb) and of processed meat (for example, bacon, ham, and sausages) is linked to cancer risk is much weaker. Although several studies have linked a high intake of red meat and processed meat to an increased risk of colorectal cancer (the colon is the large bowel; the rectum is the final few inches of the large bowel before the anus), whether this aspect of diet affects the risk of other types of cancer is unclear. In this prospective study, the researchers have examined the association between meat intake and the incidence of a wide range of cancers.
What Did the Researchers Do and Find?
In 1995–1996, nearly half a million US men and women aged 50–71 y joined the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. The participants in this study—none of whom had had cancer previously—completed a questionnaire about their dietary habits over the previous year and provided other personal information such as their age, weight, and smoking history.
The researchers used these data and information from state cancer registries to look for associations between the intake of red and processed meat and the incidence of various cancers. They found that people whose red meat intake was in the top fifth of the range of intakes recorded in the study (the highest quintile of consumption) had an increased risk of developing colorectal, liver, lung, and esophageal cancer when compared with people in the lowest quintile of consumption. People in the highest quintile of processed meat intake had an increased risk of developing colorectal and lung cancer. The incidences of other cancers were largely unaffected by meat intake.
What Do These Findings Mean?
These findings provide strong evidence that people who eat a lot of red and processed meats have greater risk of developing colorectal and lung cancer than do people who eat small quantities. They also indicate that a high red meat intake is associated with an increased risk of esophageal and liver cancer, and that one in ten colorectal and one in ten lung cancers could be avoided if people reduced their red and processed meat intake to the lowest quintile.
However, although the researchers allowed for factors such as smoking history that might have affected cancer incidences, some of the effects they ascribe to meat intake might be caused by other lifestyle factors. Furthermore, because the study's definitions of red meat and processed meat overlapped—bacon and ham, for example, were included in both categories—exactly which type of meat is related to cancer remains unclear.
Finally, most of the study participants were non-Hispanic white, so these findings may not apply to people with different genetic backgrounds. Nevertheless, they add to the evidence that suggests that decreased consumption of red and processed meats could reduce the incidence of several types of cancer. (Read the full article)
Additional Information.
Please access these Web sites via the online version of this summary at http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0040325.
The American Cancer Society provides answers to common questions about diet and cancer
Information is available from the charity Cancer Research UK about diet, healthy eating, and cancer
The American Institute for Cancer Research also provides information on diet and cancer.
The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study presents information on the impact of diet and lifestyle factors on risk of cancer
The US National Cancer Institute provides information about the kind of food questionnaire used in this study
Read the full article
TENS machines
I received this qiestion from a visitor to our online health shop:
Please tell me what is the difference between TENS used in pregnancy, and
other TENS available.
The answer is in fact very simple: the pregnancy TENS uses bigger pads and has a boost function for when you experience the pains associated with contractions. Most pregnancy TENS machines can also be used after childbirth as a regular TENS machine for sciatica, back pian, etc.
Please tell me what is the difference between TENS used in pregnancy, and
other TENS available.
The answer is in fact very simple: the pregnancy TENS uses bigger pads and has a boost function for when you experience the pains associated with contractions. Most pregnancy TENS machines can also be used after childbirth as a regular TENS machine for sciatica, back pian, etc.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Recycle Your Old Mobile Phone
WaterAid's mobile phone recycling scheme has been highly successful so far raising over £40,000! Why not donate your old mobile and benefit both the environment and those in the developing world?
Please send your old mobiles directly to:
WaterAid
FREEPOST LON16281
London
WC1N 3BR
Or if you have 20 or more phones you can arrange a free courier collection by calling 0800 298 9069.
It costs WaterAid just £15 to provide one person with a lasting supply of clean water, sanitation and hygiene education. That's the equivalent on average of just three phones sent in to be recycled!
An average of £5 will be donated to WaterAid for every working handset sent to be recycled.
Please send your old mobiles directly to:
WaterAid
FREEPOST LON16281
London
WC1N 3BR
Or if you have 20 or more phones you can arrange a free courier collection by calling 0800 298 9069.
It costs WaterAid just £15 to provide one person with a lasting supply of clean water, sanitation and hygiene education. That's the equivalent on average of just three phones sent in to be recycled!
An average of £5 will be donated to WaterAid for every working handset sent to be recycled.
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