Health A-Z

Top 5 health benefits of mango juice

The king of fruits, Mango not only tastes good that but also offers a number of health benefits for your body. The tropical fruit is sweet in taste and is available in a wide variety. It is widely used in various cuisines like chutney, pickles, amras, lassi etc.

Mango juice contains vitamins and minerals essential for good health.

Here are five health benefits why you should indulge in this juicy fruit:

  • -Mango juice helps reduce the development of cancer cells within the body.
  • -It contains fiber which aids in digestion and elimination of acids.
  • -Mangoes are a rich source Vitamin A and flavonoids which help promote good eyesight and prevents night blindness and dry eyes.
  • -Mango juice helps regulate blood pressure as it contains potassium that assists your muscles, heart and nerves’ functions.
  • -In case of pregnancy, mango juice is very much beneficial to help increase the speed of the child’s physical and mental development as it is low in calories and rich in other essential nutrients.

Source: Zee news

Malaria ‘spreading to new altitudes’

Malaria (1)

Warmer temperatures are causing malaria to spread to higher altitudes, a study suggests.

Researchers have found that people living in the highlands of Africa and South America are at an increased risk of catching the mosquito-borne disease during hotter years.

They believe that temperature rises in the future could result in millions of additional cases in some areas. The research is published in the journal Science. Prof Mercedes Pascual, from the University of Michigan in the US, who carried out the research, said: “The impact in terms of increasing the risk of exposure to disease is very large.”

Vulnerable to disease

Areas at higher altitudes have traditionally provided a haven from this devastating disease. Both the malaria parasite and the mosquito that carries it struggle to cope with the cooler air.

Prof Pascual said: “The risk of the disease decreases with altitude and this is why historically people have settled in these higher regions.” But the scientists say the disease is entering new regions that had previously been malaria-free.

To investigate, scientists looked at densely populated areas in the highlands of Colombia and Ethiopia, where there are detailed records of both temperature and malaria cases from the 1990s to 2005.

They found that in warmer years, malaria shifted higher into the mountains, while in cooler years it was limited to lower elevations.

“This expansion could in a sense account for a substantial part of the increase of cases we have already observed in these areas,” said Prof Pascual.

The team believes that rising temperatures could cause a further spread.

In Ethiopia, where nearly half of the population live at an altitude of between 1,600m (5,250ft) and 2,400m, the scientists believe there could be many more cases.

“We have estimated that, based on the distribution of malaria with altitude, a 1C rise in temperature could lead to an additional three million cases in under-15-year-olds per year,” said Prof Pascual.

The team believes that because people living in areas that have never been exposed to malaria are particularly vulnerable to the disease, attempts to stop the spread should be focused on areas at the edge of the spread. The disease is easier to control there than at lower altitudes where it has already established.

According to the latest estimates from the World Health Organization, there were about 207 million cases of malaria in 2012 and an estimated 627,000 deaths. Most deaths occur among children living in Africa.

Source: BBC news

Girl with Multiple Sclerosis among fastest young runners in US

Kayla Montgomery is an 18-year-old distance runner who won the North Carolina state title last month and whose time (10 minutes, 43 seconds to run the 3,200 meters) ranks her among the nation’s elite in her age group

Kayla has accomplished all that despite a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis three years ago. The reason is In fact, the disease may have actually helped her as a runner.

Because MS “blocks nerve signals from Montgomery’s legs to her brain, particularly as her body temperature increases, she can move at steady speeds that cause other runners pain she cannot sense…” Kayla can continue running even as her legs go numb, but the flip side is that she will stumble and fall once she loses momentum or stops, explains the Winston-Salem Journal in an earlier profile.

Which is why teammates or a coach are always there to catch her at the finish line. “When I finish, it feels like there’s nothing underneath me,” says Kayla, who has accepted a scholarship to Tennessee’s Lipscomb University in the fall.

Unfair advantage? Maybe, but “it’s beautiful to watch her run,” says her coach a doctor who suggests it might be dangerous for a runner to be oblivious to pain.

Source: fox news

Meat and cheese may be as bad as smoking

Researchers have found that eating a diet rich in animal proteins during middle age makes you four times more likely to die of cancer than someone with a low-protein diet — a mortality risk factor comparable to smoking.

“There’s a misconception that because we all eat, understanding nutrition is simple. But the question is not whether a certain diet allows you to do well for three days, but can it help you survive to be 100?” said corresponding author Valter Longo, Edna M. Jones Professor of Biogerontology at the USC Davis School of Gerontology and director of the USC Longevity Institute.

Not only is excessive protein consumption linked to a dramatic rise in cancer mortality, but middle-aged people who eat lots of proteins from animal sources — including meat, milk and cheese — are also more susceptible to early death in general, revealed the study published today in Cell Metabolism. Protein-lovers were 74 percent more likely to die of any cause within the study period than their more low-protein counterparts. They were also several times more likely to die of diabetes.

But how much protein one should eat has long been a controversial topic — muddled by the popularity of protein-heavy diets such as Paleo and Atkins. Before this study, researchers had never shown a definitive correlation between high-protein consumption and mortality risk.

Rather than look at adulthood as one monolithic phase of life, as other researchers have done, the latest study considers how biology changes as we age and how decisions in middle life may play out across the human life span.

In other words, what’s good for you at one age may be damaging at another. Protein controls the growth hormone IGF-I, which helps our bodies grow but has been linked to cancer susceptibility. Levels of IGF-I drop off dramatically after age 65, leading to potential frailty and muscle loss. The study shows that while high-protein intake during middle age is very harmful, it is protective for older adults: those over 65 who ate a moderate- or high-protein diet were less susceptible to disease.

The latest paper draws from Longo’s past research on IGF-I, including on an Ecuadorian cohort that seemed to have little cancer or diabetes susceptibility because of a genetic mutation that lowered levels of IGF-I; the members of the cohort were all less than 5-feet tall.

“The research shows that a low-protein diet in middle age is useful for preventing cancer and overall mortality, through a process that involves regulating IGF-I and possibly insulin levels,” said co-author Eileen Crimmins, holder of the AARP Chair in Gerontology at USC. “However, we also propose that at older ages, it may be important to avoid a low-protein diet to allow the maintenance of healthy weight and protection from frailty.”

Crucially, the researchers found that plant-based proteins, such as those from beans, did not seem to have the same mortality effects as animal proteins. Rates of cancer and death also did not seem to be affected by controlling for carbohydrate or fat consumption, suggesting that animal protein is the main culprit.

“The majority of Americans are eating about twice as much proteins as they should, and it seems that the best change would be to lower the daily intake of all proteins but especially animal-derived proteins,” Longo said. “But don’t get extreme in cutting out protein; you can go from protected to malnourished very quickly.”

Source: USC news

 

10 Foods That Detox Your Body and Cleanse Your Liver

Here are 10 foods that detox your body and cleanse your liver. Think of your liver as an air filter. All the toxins we eat, drink and breathe in get clogged up in this hard-working organ. Even though our body has it’s own natural detoxification system, there is a lot we can do to give it a helping hand, largely by eating the right kinds of foods.

Most of the foods in the gallery contain a special protein called glutathione. Glutathione handcuffs toxins and drags them out of our body…quite effectively. Here’s the catch: this handcuffing process works best when foods are eaten raw. In fact, all of the foods listed here go from being a great source of glutathione to not containing any at all when they’re cooked.

If your body needs to get the yuck out, add Brussels sprouts to your diet today. Brussels sprouts are high in sulfur, which helps to remove toxins from the blood. Eating a serving or two of Brussels sprouts daily will help sponge out toxins – whether they’re environmental or dietary.These little sprouts also boost glucosinolate, an antioxidant that forces the liver to release enzymes that block damage.

Garlic:
A fresh bulb of garlic. Don’t have any in your kitchen right now? You should. Here’s why…garlic is loaded with sulfur, a mineral that helps rid the body of toxins. Garlic has also been shown to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Garlic has been used in the treatment of high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and bacteria-related illnesses. Keep in mind, heating destroys many of the beneficial properties of garlic. If you can’t stomach raw garlic, you can find it in capsule form in most grocery of health food stores.

Dandelion

Yes, that’s a dandelion. While I don’t recommend pesticide, fertilizer-covered weeds to anyone, store-bought varieties are perfectly safe. If you can’t find dandelion leaves in your grocery store, opt for dandelion root tea instead. Dandelion root tea has been shown to rid the liver of toxins. Since our liver is responsible for breaking down fats, producing amino acids and generally filtering the gunk out – we need to take care of it. Dandelion root tea has a fairly bitter taste. I often brew a few cups of it, let it steep for a while, add lemon juice and sip on it all day.

carrots
Carrots are another food rich in glutathione, a protein that helps detoxify the liver. In addition to the detox properties, carrots contain good amounts of vitamin C, B6 and potassium. They also loaded with vitamin A and K, too! It’s best to eat these raw. Try with a side of guacamole, hummus or even mustard!

Raw tomatoes:
Raw tomatoes do a great job detoxifying the liver, containing 169 milligrams of glutathione per serving. The benefits don’t stop there. Tomatoes are famous for their lycopene content, which has been shown to protect against breast, skin and lung cancer. Eat tomatoes when they’re fresh. Try with a little balsamic vinegar and sea salt.

Grapefruit
Grapefruit contains just over 70 milligrams of liver cleansing glutathione. Grapefruits also contain a special kind of pectin that has been shown to lower cholesterol like no other pectin-containing food. One whole grapefruit is about 80 calories, so enjoy with a cup of cottage cheese or plain yogurt sprinkled with cinnamon and you’ve got a great breakfast.

Spinach
Popeye’s favorite, spinach, contains a whopping 166 milligrams of glutathione per serving when eaten raw. Cook it, and it all goes away. Spinach also contains twice as much energy-boosting iron as other leafy greens. Spinach has also gained a lot of attention as a cancer-fighter, too. Try a spinach salad today with a little olive oil and sea salt drizzled on top.

Walnuts
Walnuts detox the liver and feed the brain! A good source of glutathione and a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, a little bit of walnuts goes a long way. Why not sprinkle a few on your next spinach salad?

Avocados
Avocados are another fruit rich in glutathione. This green goddess is also a good source of monounsaturated fats and has been shown to lower cholesterol levels when eaten regularly.

Asparagus
In addition to being great for the liver, asparagus is a great vegetable to eat raw when you’re feeling bloated. Asparagus is a natural diuretic.

Source: chicagonow

Antibiotic Misuse in Hospitals Raises Patient Infection Risk

More than half of hospitalized patients receive antibiotics, but these prescriptions may often be inappropriate — for example, giving patients the wrong medicine or leaving them on a drug for too long, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

These prescriptions can put patients at risk for serious complications, including developing the deadly bacterial infection Clostridium difficile, according to the report.

In 2010, nearly 56 percent of hospitalized patients were prescribed antibiotics at some point during their stay, according to the report, which reviewed information from more than 300 U.S. hospitals.

But for about one-third of prescriptions for urinary tract infection (UTI), the researchers found evidence of prescribing errors: antibiotics were given without proper testing or evaluation for a UTI, or given for too long, the report found. (UTI is one of the most common conditions for which antibiotics are prescribed

In addition, an analysis of medical-surgical wards at selected hospitals showed that antibiotic use at some of these hospitals was three times higher than at other hospitals, a finding that suggests hospital prescribing practices can be improved, the CDC said.

The report found that patients who received powerful antibiotics (so-called board spectrum antibiotics) were three times more likely to get the notoriously difficult to treat diarrheal disease Clostridium difficile compared to patients who did not receive antibiotics.

The CDC estimates that reducing use of broad-spectrum antibiotics by 30 percent would lead to a 26 percent decrease in C. difficile infections. There are about 250,000 C. diff infections in hospitalized patients each year, and about 14,000 people in the U.S. die yearly from C. diff infections, CDC statistics show.

Inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics also contributes to other antibiotic-resistant infections, a growing problem in U.S. hospitals, the CDC said.

“Antibiotics are often lifesaving; we have to protect them before our medicine chests run empty,” Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the CDC, told reporters today (March 4). “The drugs we have today are endangered, and any new drugs we get could be lost just as quickly if we don’t improve the way we prescribe and use them,” Frieden said.

The CDC recommends that every hospital implement a program to help improve antibiotic prescribing.

Such programs would include a way to monitor prescribing practices and antibiotic-resistant infections. The CDC also recommends that physicians who prescribe antibiotics reassess their patients after 48 hours to see whether the dose, duration or type of drug should be changed, Frieden said.

The CDC estimates that implementing these programs could reduce the rate of C. difficile infection by half over a five-year period, Frieden said.

The report will be published on Friday (March 7) in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Source: Live science

 

Intake of fish can boost good cholesterol levels

Increasing the intake of fatty fish increases the number of large HDL particles, according to a recent study completed at the University of Eastern Finland. People who increased their intake of fish to a minimum of 3-4 weekly meals had more large HDL particles in their blood than people who are less frequent eaters of fish. Large HDL particles are believed to protect against cardiovascular diseases.

The consumption of fish has long been known to be beneficial for health; however, the mechanisms by which fats and other useful nutrients found in fish work in the human body are not fully known. This new study carried out at the UEF provides new information on how the consumption of fish affects the size and lipid concentrations of lipoproteins which transport lipids in the blood. The study participants increased their intake of fatty fish in particular.

It was observed that a higher intake of fish increased the number of large HDL particles and lipids contained in them. Population-based studies have shown that HDL cholesterol — also known as good cholesterol — and large HDL particles are efficient in sweeping extra cholesterol off artery walls. Large HDL particles have been associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, whereas small HDL particles may even have opposite effects.
Positive changes in lipid metabolism were observed in persons who increased their intake of fish most, i.e. in persons who ate at least 3-4 fish meals per week.

The study participants ate fatty fish such as salmon, rainbow trout, herring and vendace. No added butter or cream was used in the preparation of fish. The study doesn’t give answers to whether a similar effect would have been observed had the study participants mainly eaten low-fat fish such as zander and perch. Low-fat fish may have other health benefits such as lowering of blood pressure, which was observed in an earlier study carried out at the UEF.

State-of-the-art metabolomics was used in the study, enabling for instance a very detailed analysis of lipoprotein particles. The analyses were carried out by the university’s NMR Metabolomics Laboratory. Traditionally, cholesterol is divided into “bad” LDL cholesterol and “good” HDL cholesterol, but this method allows the investigation of a total of 14 different particle classes. “People shouldn’t fool themselves into thinking that if their standard lipid levels are OK, there’s no need to think about the diet, as things are a lot more complicated than that. Soft vegetable fats and fish are something to prefer in any case,” Postdoctoral Researcher Maria Lankinen says.

However, the researchers emphasize that a dietary approach to the treatment of increased overall and LDL cholesterol levels is important. The findings are well in line with the Finnish nutrition recommendations encouraging people to reduce the consumption of red meat and to increase the consumption of fish and other sea foods. Further information on the health effects of fish will become available in the near future as results from the Alfakala project carried out at the UEF Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition become available. The study takes a more detailed approach into the health effects of fish- and plant-derived omega-3 fatty acids, and it studies the health effects of fatty and low-fat fish.

Source; Science daily

 

6 Ways Mushrooms Can Improve Your Health

Button mushrooms provide vitamin D
If dried and grown in the right way, mushrooms are one of the few foods that can provide you with this elusive vitamin, which your body generally makes from sunlight. Consuming dried white button mushroom extract was found to be as effective as taking supplemental vitamin D2 or D3 for increasing vitamin D levels.

Shitake mushrooms protect your liver
Shitake mushrooms contain lentinan, which has been isolated and used to treat stomach and other cancers due to its anti-tumor properties. It has also been found to protect your liver, relieve other stomach ailments (hyperacidity, gallstones, ulcers), anemia, ascites, and pleural effusion

Reishi mushrooms can help treat lung cancer and leukemia
In China, the reishi mushroom has been called the “mushroom of immortality” because of all of its perceived health benefits. One of its more useful compounds is ganoderic acid (a triterpenoid), which is being used to treat lung cancer, leukemia and other cancers.

Turkey tail mushrooms may help treat breast cancer
A seven-year, $2 million NIH-funded clinical study in 2011 found that turkey tail mycelium improves immune function when dosed daily to women with stage I–III breast cancer. PSP, a polysaccharide complex in turkey tail, has been shown to significantly enhance immune status in 70 to 97 percent of cancer patients. Turkey tail may also be useful in treating chronic fatigue syndrome.

Himematsutake mushrooms

Himematsutake mushrooms may help decrease insulin resistance Also called the Royal Sun Agaricus, the Himematsutake mushroom is a relative of the common button mushroom. This mushroom is very popular in Japan because of its medicinal properties of decreasing insulin resistance in diabetics, normalizing cholesterol and improving skin and hair. –

How do you get all the health benefits of mushrooms?
Eat them raw or take a whole food mushroom (powdered pill) product if you’re reasonably healthy and just looking to maintain good health. If you eat them raw, it’s best to make sure they’re certified organic, since the flesh of mushrooms easily absorbs air and soil contaminants.

Source: Health Central

Food Allergies Have Doubled Among Black Children

Over the past two decades, reports of food allergies have nearly doubled among black children, a new study reveals.

Although childhood food allergies are on the rise overall, the spike in these allergies among black children is alarming, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. It remains unclear if this sharp increase is the result of better detection or some trigger in the environment.

The study, published in the March issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, involved more than 450,000 children. The researchers found that between 1988 and 2011, food allergies increased among black children at a rate of 2.1 percent every 10 years. Meanwhile, food allergies increased at a rate of just 1.2 percent each decade among Hispanics and 1 percent every 10 years among white children, the findings showed.

“Our research found a striking food allergy trend that needs to be further evaluated to discover the cause,” study author Dr. Corinne Keet, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins, said in a journal news release.
“Although African Americans generally have higher levels of IgE — the antibody the immune system creates more of when one has an allergy — it is only recently that they have reported food allergy more frequently than white children,” Keet explained.

“It is important to note this increase was in self-reported allergy,” added Keet. “Many of these children did not receive a proper food allergy diagnosis from an allergist. Other conditions such as food intolerance can often be mistaken for an allergy, because not all symptoms associated with foods are caused by food allergy.”

A separate study also published in the same journal pointed out that many doctors who specialize in allergies can predict whether a child will be more likely to outgrow their food allergy or if it will remain a lifelong condition.

“Those allergic to milk, egg, soy and wheat are more likely to tolerate these allergens over time than those allergic to peanuts and tree nuts,” study author Dr. Wesley Burks, an allergist and American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology fellow, said in the news release. “No single test alone can predict eventual food tolerance, but when patients are under the regular care of a board-certified allergist they can be re-evaluated and tested in different ways.”

Source: web md

 

Eating eggs may halt memory loss and lower the risk of dementia

EGGPLATEScientists are investigating whether eating eggs may prevent memory loss and lower the risk of dementia.

In the six-month U.S. study, half of the participants will have two eggs a day, and will be compared with a control group who won’t have eggs.

Both groups will be tested for memory, reasoning, verbal fluency and attention span – a decline in these is a major risk factor for the development of dementia later in life.
Eggs are one of the best sources of two antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin, which previous research suggests can improve cognitive function.

The researchers, from Tufts University in the U.S., expect there will be ‘a significant increase’ in the mental functioning in the group given eggs.

Super-laser targets ugly caesarean scars
Laser therapy is being tested as a way to reduce caesarean scarring. One in four births in this country is now by caesarean and the surgery can leave a prominent, raised or even painful scar across the abdomen.

Now, a clinical trial is looking at laser therapy to tackle this. The light is thought to trigger chemical reactions in the skin, which stimulates the growth of new tissue, as well as ‘remodelling’ the scar tissue.

The device being tested is six times more powerful than other types of lasers, and is said to penetrate four times deeper into the abdominal tissue, up to 4mm.
Women on the Danish trial at Aarhus University Hospital will have three treatments – scar thickness will be measured before and after.

Cabbage patch to soothe sore joints

Could covering your knee with cabbage ease sore joints?
Cabbage, which is shredded and mixed with warm water to form a poultice, has been used as a traditional remedy for joint pain and skin complaints.

Now, doctors are comparing the benefits of a cabbage poultice with diclofenac gel, an anti-inflammatory commonly used to ease joint pain.

Around 80 people with osteoarthritis of the knee will be given the cabbage dressing, the gel or their usual care, in the trial at Universitat Duisburg-Essen, Germany.

Just how cabbage might help is not clear, but it contains glutamine, a constituent of glucosamine – this compound occurs naturally in the body and plays a role in building cartilage.

Source: Daily Mail