Month: December 2013

Obama launches $100 mn HIV cure initiative

President Barack Obama announced Monday the US will shift $100 million into research efforts in the next three years aimed at curing HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).

Obama launched the HIV Cure Initiative at a White House event to mark the World AIDS Day, which was observed Sunday, Xinhua reported.

“Today I’m pleased to announce a new initiative at the National Institutes of Health to advance research into an HIV cure. We’re going to redirect 100 million dollars into this project to develop a new generation of therapies,” Obama said.

He said the US should be at the forefront of new discoveries into how to put HIV into long-term remission without requiring lifelong therapies or eliminate it completely.

According to a White House statement, although several individuals appear recently to have been cured of HIV through aggressive therapy, these approaches are “too toxic or premature to apply beyond the research setting”.

However, these cases provide clues to explore for possible new treatments and this new investment will catalyse further research into this area, and could lead to a new generation of therapies to improve outcomes for people living with HIV, the statement added.

Source: the pioneer

The Daniel plan—a new diet from the Bible

Some Christian participants say a trimmer waistline is just a side effect of a fast they do for religious reasons, but others follow ‘The Daniel Plan’ or the ‘Daniel fast’ to become healthier so they can better serve God.
Looking to slim down in the new year? Perhaps it’s time you tried the “God diet.”

Christians looking to strengthen their relationship with God and adopt a healthier lifestyle are seeking out diets and fasts inspired by the Biblical prophet Daniel.

In the Old Testament, Daniel, who was being held captive by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, decides not to follow the monarch’s diet of wine and meat. Instead, he and his companions eat nothing but vegetables and drink only water for 10 days.

Daniel 1:15 states that, at the end of the period, the men looked healthier than those who had eaten the king’s food.

“He understood God wanted him to live a healthy lifestyle so he could serve God no matter where he was located,” reads the website for Rick Warren’s official Daniel Plan. “Healthy living requires faith as the foundation, trusting that God’s way is the best way, while following his prescription for your health.”

Warren is the pastor of the Saddleback Church in Southern California. He and his mega-church advocate a long-term version of “The Daniel Plan,” which begins with giving up proceessed foods, sugar, caffeine and alcohol for 40 days, according to The Atlantic.

His version of the Daniel diet, as outlined in his forthcoming book “The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life,” eventually permits followers to eat dairy and meat.
It also has a large online community to help followers remember “the essentials,” namely faith, food, fitness, focus and friends.

Other versions of the Bible-based diet call for a 21-day fast modeled after Daniel 10:3, during which he abstained from bread, wine and meat.
This Daniel fast has been described as “a vegan diet with even more restrictions.” Participants stay away from “pleasant foods” like breads, sugars and sweets, all animal products and alcohol.

“Fasting is for spiritual purposes, and when using the Daniel Fast you will benefit physically along with the benefits to your soul and spirit,” Susan Gregory, the author of “The Daniel Cure: The Daniel Fast Way to Vibrant Health,” writes on her website.
So are these so-called “God diets” work as a way to drop some unwanted pounds?
Sarah Neumann, of Ypsilanti, Mich., told The Atlantic that she followed the diet with her church a few years ago for religious reasons, and the weight loss was a secondary effect.
“Since the experience I’ve lost a lot of weight just from learning how to have more self-control,” she said.
Registered dietician Leslie Bonci told The Atlantic that the faith element makes diets like the Daniel fast more successful.
“Everybody needs their dangling carrot,” she said. “We don’t always do ‘I just want to eat better.’ There has to be some other motivation. If that motivation is a higher power, fine.”

Source: Daily News

 

Enjoy the goodness of Fenugreek this winter

Fenugreek (methi in Hindi) is a popular winter vegetable in India. It is also used as herb and as a spice. Protein, potassium, Vitamins A, B, B3, C, and E, and phytoestrogen are some of the nutrients packed inside this plant.

1. Although women are advised not to consume it during pregnancy as it induces premature labour, it is very useful for them in general as it helps in lactation, breast enlargement, reducing menstrual pain, treating hormonal and reproductive disorders.

2. It helps in treating patients with diabetes and heart disease as it reduces the blood sugar levels and cholesterol.

3. It is also used to treat asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, skin problems, sore throats and gastrointestinal inflammation.

Source: Zee News

 

Top 5 reasons to indulge in a chocolate treat

Are you keeping a distance from indulging in your favourite chocolate treat, only because all that you are worried about is putting on those extra pounds? Surely, you are not aware of the wonders that a piece of chocolate can do to your health.

Hold on; don’t jump on to grab a bar of chocolate yet. Your favourite milk chocolate or white chocolate may not give you the desired benefits. It’s the dark chocolate, that is power packed with health benefits and when taken in moderation can actually help keep your heart healthy, improve brain power and even help maintain a slimmer figure. There are 5 Proven Reasons You Should Be Eating More Dark Chocolate. Here are the top excuses that make when indulging in a chocolate treat:

Keeps heart healthy: Dark chocolate (containing at least 60% cocoa solids) helps protect against cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes.

Flavanols present in cocoa produce a chemical in the body called nitric oxide which helps relax blood vessels making it easier for blood to pass through them. Moderate consumption of dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure, “bad” LDL cholesterol and the risk of heart diseases.
Improves brain power: The antioxidants in dark chocolate help improve blood flow to the brain, thus enhancing your cognitive ability. In a study published in online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, researchers found that drinking hot chocolate did help older people keep their brains healthy and their thinking skills sharp. Helps deal with mood swings: Dealing with terrible mood swings? Bite on a chocolate.

Chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), the same chemical our brain creates when one falls in love. The magnesium content in chocolate aids relaxation; anandamide- a neurotransmitter- helps regulate mood, and phenylethylamine raises endorphin levels making you feel happier.
Helps manage weight: Unlike the popular assumption that eating chocolates can lead to weight gain, consuming dark chocolate in moderation can actually help you keep your BMI (body mass index) in check.

Chocolates boost metabolism, thus balancing out the calorie intake. Rich in fiber, it can actually help keep you full for long, so you’ll eat less. Chocolates may even reduce cravings for sweet, salty and fatty foods. May help fight diabetes: According to a study, eating dark chocolate improves the body’s ability to metabolise sugar.

The team concluded that flavanol was responsible for the effect because it neutralised potentially cell-damaging substances known as oxygen free radicals. However, commercial chocolates don’t have the same effect as they are high in calorie and fat content.

Despite all the health benefits of dark chocolates, researchers warn people to be careful about chocolate consumption. Anything in moderation would do no harm, so dig your way into the favourite dark chocolate treat.

Source: Journey Line

Dr J C Mohan elected as Honorary Fellow of American Society of Echocardiography

Dr J C Mohan, director of cardiology, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh has been elected as Honorary Fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography (FASE).According to a statement by Fortis Hospital, Dr Mohan is the first Indian to be nominated as the honorary fellow of this prestigious society.

While congratulating Dr Mohan, Jasdeep Singh, facility director, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, said, “It is a testimony to Dr Mohan’s commitment, dedication and comprehensive knowledge of echocardiography.”

The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is a professional organisation of physicians, cardiac sonographers, nurses and scientists involved in echocardiography.

Founded in 1975, ASE is the largest international organisation for cardiac imaging. Echocardiography is the use of ultrasound to image the heart and cardiovascular system.

Source: India Medical Times

Lifestyle changes for heart disease prevention

One can conquer heart diseases through lifestyle changes, which will help maintain artery health and prevent further progression of heart diseases.

Smoking, lack of physical activity, drinking and stress are major risk factors for heart diseases. But, adopting a healthy lifestyle can prevent heart diseases.

Sweat it out

About 30 minutes of moderate activity like brisk walking at least five days a week is essential for adults. Children and young adults can exercise for at least 60 minutes every day. Also, 30-60 minutes of moderate exercise every week burns around 600-1200 calories per week. You don’t have to sweat it out in a gym to achieve your exercise goals, rather, slowly increase the duration and intensity of your exercise to achieve bigger goals. Regular exercise also decreases the risk of cardiovascular diseases by almost 40 per cent.

Maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight can put you at risk of developing heart diseases, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. Did you know that after 18 years, every one kilogram of weight gain increases your risk of heart diseases by three per cent. So the best way to calculate your weight is by checking your body mass index (BMI), which takes into account your weight and height to identify whether you have a healthy or unhealthy percentage of body fat. A BMI of 23 or a higher BMI is linked to blood fats, high BP, risk of stroke and heart diseases.

According to a study, it was estimated that, if every person maintained his or her optimal weight, this would lessen cardiovascular disease by 25 per cent and lower strokes or episodes of cardiac failure by 35 per cent. Reducing your weight by just 10 per cent can decrease your blood pressure, lower your blood cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of diabetes.

Stop Smoking

According to a large study done on Tobacco Control, ‘Smoking just one to four cigarettes a day almost triples a smoker’s risk of heart disease and lung cancer.’ Smoking and tobacco are one of the major risk factors for all heart diseases and smoking narrows your arteries leading to Atherosclerosis, which can cause a heart attack. Low nicotine cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and low-tar cigarettes might be promoted as healthy and safe but they are also risky.

Get regular health screenings

If you are suffering from diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure and high cholesterol than you are at a higher risk for other heart diseases. So it is advised to test your blood sugar levels regularly to understand your heart health. One can reduce the risk of heart disease by 60 per cent if he/she can control their blood sugar levels.

Dont worry too much

Make time for de-stressing activities like exercise and meditataion to live a long, healthy disease free life.

Source: Times of India

 

Study shows how brain forms memories

Scientists have discovered how memories are stored in specific brain cells. The new study also pinpoints how these incidents are recalled.

Using a video game in which people navigate through a virtual town delivering objects to specific locations, a team of neuroscientists from the University of Pennsylvania and Freiburg University has discovered how brain cells that encode spatial information form “geotags” for specific memories, and are activated immediately before those memories are recalled.

Their work showed how spatial information is incorporated into memories, and why remembering an experience can quickly bring other events to mind that happened in the same place, reports the Science Daily.

“These findings provide the first direct neural evidence for the idea that the human memory system tags memories with information about where and when they were formed, and that the act of recall involves the reinstatement of these tags,” said Michael Kahana, professor of psychology in Penn’s School of Arts and Sciences.

Source: Daijiworld

 

International Day of People with Disability: Let’s Celebrate ability

The International Day of People with Disability is observed to celebrate people across the world who are living with any kind of disability. The International Day of People with Disability is coordinated by United Nations Enable, which works to support and promote the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities and mobilize support for their well-being. The symbol of Enable is the blue UN symbol and the word “enable”

General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 1981 as the International Year of Disabled People. The theme of the year was “full participation and equality”. After this, they proclaimed 1983 until 1992 as the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons.

Any disability results because of an impairment that may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental, or some combination of these. A disability may be present from birth, or occur during a person’s lifetime.

According to estimates, almost one billion in the world suffer from some or the other kind of disability. Due to this, they have to face social exclusion and prejudices, lack of employment opportunities and the inability to pursue personal fulfilment. These obstacles make their survival very challenging and they often fall into the pit of depression and misery.

In India, the situation is even grimmer where the problem of accessibility and inclusion of disabled persons into the mainstream of society remains a big challenge. Also the problem of unemployment for the disabled, physical abuse and inequality aggravates the situation further.

But let’s not lose hope and try to promote a more accessible world for the disabled people where they live without any stigma and thrive on their abilities.

Source: Zee news

Home remedies for asthma

For effective control and remedy of asthma; one needs to ascertain the allergen or irritant which triggers such an attack. Thus controlling the conditions which account for asthma will indirectly lead to fewer attacks of asthma.

For people susceptible to asthma on account of pollen, dust and pets need to ensure their protection against the causal factors. It is imperative that they go for air conditioning of their rooms and cars to prevent exposure to the sources of irritation.
It is imperative that they stay away from carpets, draperies and toys which accumulate dust. The ones allergic to animal furs need to ensure that pets are not allowed in vicinity of living rooms.
Besides avoiding the likely allergens, certain dietary means have been found beneficial for those prone to asthmatic attacks. For instance powdered turmeric added to milk keeps such attacks away; if consumed daily on empty stomach.
Five to six cloves boiled in half a glass of water with a spoon full of honey serve as an excellent decoction against asthma; if taken twice a day.
Crushed cloves of garlic may be boiled in six tea spoons of milk for regular consumption of the same by an asthma prone person.

Regular exposure to fresh air and sun light free from pollutants contributed by factories and means of transport is also important in order to counter the attacks of asthma.
One of the naturally effective home remedies include a decoction including tea spoon full measures of raw honey, ginger powder and ground black pepper.
Dried grapes soaked in water and then in cold milk may be had on an empty stomach in order to counter asthmatic attacks. Consumption of grapes serves to strengthen lungs and flush the toxic contents of human body.
Dried figs also serve to flush out the phlegm content of the respiratory tract.
Equal measures of honey and olive oil may be added to warm milk. The consumption of the resulting milk along with a few cloves of garlic before breakfast acts as an antidote to asthmatic attacks.
Half a glass measure of boiled fenugreek juice along with tea spoons measure of ginger juice is also an excellent natural remedy. It serves to decongest and detoxify the lungs.
Regular consumption of fennel seeds also has a similar purpose to serve.
Herbal tea with ground ginger and a dash of lime juice is also effective. Patients susceptible to asthmatic attacks may choose the same over milk tea to be consumed twice a day. Herbal tea based on licorice root is extremely beneficial..
Turmeric and honey taken separately early in the morning keeps you away from the painful bouts of asthmatic attacks.
Crushed gooseberry in a table spoon of honey also serves as a natural remedial medicine

Soup made out of radish, honey and lemon juice may be made by blending the mentioned ingredients. Regular consumption of at least ten grams the same mixture is beneficial for asthma patients. Both the medicinally enriched natural ingredients will serve to excrete mucus and detoxify the respiratory tract.
Broth made out of leaves of drumstick is equally helpful for patients afflicted with asthma.
Juice of bitter gourd added to honey and paste of basil also ranks amongst the numerous natural options. Spoon full of the same serves to defend yourself from asthmatic attacks.
Dried pomegranates and raisins boiled in milk also serve to be an effective remedial measure.
Dried and powdered seeds of safflower acts as a natural expectorant if consumed with a spoon full measure of honey.
In case one finds himself in the grip of an attack warm mustard oil with a bit of crushed camphor should be massaged on the victim’s back and chest to make way for ease in breathing.
Inhaling of steam from water boiled in ‘ajwain’ seeds will also prove to be relieving.
Inhaling steam from water enriched with herbal oil of ‘juniper’ may be another relieving option.
Inhaling the smell of honey is also said to be similarly beneficial.
Apart from adopting a dietary regimen insisting on fruits, vegetable and honey; patients susceptible to breathing spasms on account of asthma should be cautious about his weight. Special medical advice and care should be taken as to the use of humidifiers and inhalers if the bouts of attack are frequent.
Source: pro kerala

UN Warns Peru: GDP Growth Is Harming The Environment

According to a report by the United Nations, the country’s economy is growing fast and Peruvians have more money than ever. But they have insufficient health care and low education, and Peru’s environment is suffering from all the development.

According to the U.N. Development Program, the Andean country is highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change, and most of the activities that have generated its recent growth — like mining or construction, both legally and illegally — are deeply harmful to the environment.
Francisco Santa Cruz, who directed the latest report on sustainability, explained that Peru has four of the five factors of vulnerability to climate change: low coastal zones, arid and semi-arid zones, flood zones, drought and desertification and fragile mountain ecosystems. Peru has all of them except drought and desertification.
According to the report, Peru has a high human development index. Between 1980 and 2012, life expectancy grew by 14.2 years, the average schooling increased by 3.2 years, and gross domestic product spiked 60 percent. But Santa Cruz said that such figures hide a different reality: “The growth does not come from education or health, but from predatory activities, like [resource] extraction and mining.”
Therefore, the human development and the increase of wealth are linked to activities that cause deforestation, resource wasting and an increase of vulnerability to natural disasters. The region of Peru that grew the most, Moquegua, is devoted almost exclusively to mining.
The report also notes that half of the provinces that saw a better development are in the jungle region, in the north of the country. “These regions have coca fields, and a high presence of illegal mining,” said Santa Cruz.
Peru is already noticing the effects of climate change. “The rainy season comes later, and when it does, showers are shorter and more intense. Infections like dengue and malaria have increased in the last 10 years, and that is due to humidity and temperature.”
This leads to a pattern change in farming and agriculture. The climate phenomenon of El Nino, which brings strong winds and rains and is responsible for many disastrous harvests, is getting stronger by the year.
The Amazon is also showing signs of environmental damage. “In the last year, the Amazon was a [net] emitter of carbon [dioxide], as opposed to oxygen. This is a dramatic alteration of the ecology of the Amazon and it affects the jungle population enormously,” Santa Cruz said.
Peru is set to host the U.N. climate change summit in 2014. In order to obtain U.N. funds for the event, the country must change its national strategy on climate change, the report read.
Source: International Business Times