Apr 29
Scientists have been telling you to avoid sunbathing and protect ourselves from skin cancer. On the other hand, we should go out more for our body to produce vital Vitamin D. So how much sun is healhty? The healthcare messages are confusing, to say the least. One thing is clear: too little sun exposure can lead to a lack of vitamin D, which is known as the sunshine vitamin because up to 90 per cent of what we need comes from being exposed to sunlight. For a light-skinned person, 30 minutes of full-body exposure to summer sun at noon triggers the release of 20,000 IU of vitamin D into the circulation. That’s the equivalent of 500 micrograms of vitamin D, considerably more than the 25micrograms in high-dose supplements. The rule of thumb among doctors seems to be that you should expose a fifth of your body to the sun for 20 minutes, three or four times a week, without suncream.
Apr 29
We all acknowledge that smoking is bad for your health and can ultimately be fatal. Smoking during pregnancy not only poses a risk for the mother but also for the unborn child. The children of women who smoked while pregnant are more likely to be obese in their teenage years, a study has revealed. Researchers found that those who were exposed to cigarette smoke while in the womb had significantly higher quantities of fat than their non-exposed peers later in life. The exposed teenagers had a third more fat around their internal organs and 26 per cent more fat directly under the skin, according to the international team that carried out the study.
Apr 28
Numerous studies have suggested that breast milk helps keep babies healthy. But could it also be a cure for cancer, diabetes or arthritis? That’s the suggestion from a number of studies on its use as a treatment for conditions as varied as cancer, diarrhoea and diabetes. In the latest research published last week, a Swedish team reported that the sizes of bladder tumours were reduced just five days after patients were injected with a breast milk compound. The team at Gothenburg University had been looking at the antibiotic properties of breast milk when a researcher noticed that cancerous lung cells in a test tube died on contact with breast milk. They then isolated the key compound - a protein called alpha-lactalbumin.
Apr 21
How would like to eat anything you want, except for thursdays? What sounds too good to be true, has taken France by storm. Today, more than 1.5 million French women swear by its dramatic - and long-lasting - slimming results. Politicians, film stars and high-profile models, including Gisele Bundchen and Jennifer Lopez, live the Dukan life, all of them seduced by its promise of the ultimate dieters dream - permanent slenderness while eating what you like. Now this great French dietary secret is coming to Britain, with the launch next month of an English version of the Dukan Diet. The Dukan Diet is, in fact, four very different eating programmes that each follow on from the other. It starts with a dramatic and rapid weight loss, and leads on into a structured, but simple long-term, real-food regime that ensures you never regain the weight you’ve lost. The crucial element that links the four stages is the days spent eating nothing but protein. It may sound similar to Atkins, but the Dukan Diet is very different. Protein days are used for crucial strategic effect at each stage of the diet, and dieters are urged to stay clear of butter and oil that forms one of the mainstays of the Atkins regime. Have you tried it?
Apr 21
Researchers have, for the first time, tested an acid found in breastmilk on humans. The results are promising, , the substance - known as Hamlet - has been given to patients suffering from bladder cancer. They managed to expel dead cancer cells through their urine after each treatment. Hamlet has shown to kill 40 types of cancer cell whilst leaving cells undamaged.
Apr 20
Adam Mead, dietitian at Kingston Hospital in London, says: ‘The mantra“five a day” refers to variety as much as quantity — in particular you need to buy as varied colours as possible, each colour representing different health-boosting antioxidants and nutrients that work in synergy with each other. ‘For instance, vitamin C in fruit boosts the absorption of iron from any green leafy vegetables such as spinach, or even red meat. ‘Make sure you’re getting the full spectrum of colours in your basket — think of traffic lights: something green, something orange and something red’
Apr 14
According to a new study, dieters who don’t exercise shouldn’t expect to lose a great amount of weight. Scientists from Oregon Health and Science University said this appeared to be due to a natural compensatory mechanism that reduces a person’s physical activity in response to a reduction in calories.
Apr 13
Eating nuts may help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. According to a study based on 30,000 teenagers, eating nuts lowers the risk of proliferative benign breast disease (BBD), a marker of breast cancer risk. Reseachers at Harvard University asked the women to fill in a questionnaire about their diet - then looked at how many developed the condition four years later. Results showed that intake of two or more servings (around two ounces) of any type of nut a week lowered the risk by 36 per cent compared to those who had less than one serving a month. They also found that women who had the highest levels of fibre - more than 25 grams - had a 25 per cent lower risk of BBD. It’s thought the omega-3 fatty acids in nuts have anti-cancer effects. High-fibre foods are also rich in vitamins, zinc and anti-oxidants known to protect against cancer.
Nov 23
Fibre is important for protecting your body from cancers and heart disease. Fibre is also a magical substance that will help you regulate your blood sugar levels, preventing a rapid release of sugar into the bloodstream and therefore could help you shift the weight.
The daily recommended fibre intake is 25-30 grams. Drink at least six to eight 8-ounces glasses of water daily to avoid constipation.
