Author Archives: Editor

Recipe of the day – Lamb chops with Garlic & Rosemary

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Lamb is one of the tastiest, tenderest and nutrient packed meats. Here we have another fantastic recipe from Filippo Berio, the olive oil experts.

Lamb Chops with Garlic and Rosemary

Serves 4
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15-20 minutes

4 tbsp Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2-3 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon wholegrain or Italian-style coarse grain mustard
Grated zest and juice of 1 lime
8 lamb loin chops or thick cutlets
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 extra limes to serve

Method:

1. Blend together the oil, garlic, rosemary, mustard, lime zest and juice and season to taste.
2. Arrange the chops in a dish and coat with the marinade. Cover and leave to marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours, turning occasionally.
3. Place under a moderate grill or on the barbecue and grill for 15-20 minutes, according to taste, basting occasionally with the marinade. If liked, halve the limes and cook on the barbecue for a few minutes: they can be served with the chops and extra juice squeezed over (heating them helps release the juice).

Recipe of the day – Aromatic Salmon and Leek Parcels by Filipo Berio

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This dish takes only a few minutes but its low calorie, delicious and packed with anti-aging nutrients.

Aromatic Salmon and Leek Parcels

These can be served hot, straight from the barbecue, or do as the eastern Mediterraneans do, which is just as delicious, and let them cool in their packages and then serve them cold.

Serves 4

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes

2 medium leeks, trimmed
4 salmon fillets, skinned, about 175g (6oz) each
6 tbsp Filippo Berio Olive Oil
3 tbsp chopped coriander
1 teaspoon medium hot curry powder
2 tbsp lemon juice
Salt, freshly ground black pepper
4 stems of cherry tomatoes on the vine

Method:

1. Thinly slice the leeks, place in a large sieve and rinse under cold water to remove any grit. Drain well.

2. Cut out 4 large squares of heavy-duty foil, grease lightly with a little oil, and
then divide the leeks, placing in the centre of piece of foil. Scatter half of the coriander over. Place a salmon fillet on top of each, season.

3. Mix together the remaining oil, curry powder and lemon juice and pour some over each steak, allowing it to drizzle over the fish onto the bed of leeks. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then fold the foil over and seal the packages.

4. Put the packages on the grilling rack of a preheated barbecue and cook for 15 minutes. Halfway, place the stems of vine tomatoes on the barbecue and cook alongside the salmon (cooking time will depend on the temperature of barbecue and whether the barbecue is used open, which will take slightly longer than with a lid). To cook the salmon parcels in the oven, heat the oven to 200C/400F/gas mark 8. Place the parcels on a baking tray and cook for 15 minutes. Unwrap one parcel and test the fish is cooked using the point of a knife.

5. Remove the packages and either serve immediately, in or out of the foil. Scatter the remaining chopped coriander over the fish and serve with the tomatoes to accompany. Alternatively, allow to cool, then remove the wrappings and serve cold.

Fly to the sun in Gran Canaria and get 5* spa and aesthetic clinic discounts

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Las Palmas: Top spas and clinics on the beautiful island of Gran Canary have joined Elixir’s Makeover Miles loyalty card scheme which offers exclusive discounts throughout the world on anti-ageing services , treatments and products.

These new members to Makeover Miles offer world class treatments in asethetics, eye health, anti-ageing programmes and spa therapies on an island that has the perfect sunshine climate all year round.

New services are being offered by the Clínica San Roque, (aesthetics, anti-ageing programmes, diet and nutrition and much more); the EuroCanarias Oftalmologica Clinic (eye health); and the spa sat the Hotel Cordial Mogan Playa, the Sheraton Salobre Golf Resort, the thalassotherapy centres at the Gloria Palace Amadores and the Gloria Palace San Agustin, the Corrallium Spa and the Costa Meloneras Resort Spa & Casino.

Find out more at Makeover Miles

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Banish wrinkles with radio waves – see the video

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London: The world’s first salon-grade radio-frequency anti-ageing skin device is now on sale in the UK.

This is yet another amazing anti-ageing gadget from those technical innovators in Israel. Priced at just £470 (Euro 490) it is a mini version of the in-salon ReGen treatment – to combat wrinkles and cellulite.

It works by using two kinds of radio (Tripollar Radio Frequency) frequencies to heat up the collagen under the skin. This has an immediate and visable tightening effect. Over the next few weeks it works on the fibroblasts in the epidermis which create new collagen and younger skin.

This new gadget, is plugged into your electricity powerpoint, has a safety feature which cuts out the power when the skin has reached the optimum temperature – and turns on again when it has cooled down. The radio-frequency energy penetrates a mere 1-3mm and feels like a warm massage.

STOP has four metal “poles” which you hold against the skin. It is recommended mainly for facial, neck and decollete use – for lifting sagging jowels and chin, neck lines, facial wrinkles and marionette (nose to mouth) lines. And should be used 2-3 times a week until the desired effect has been achieved.

It seems easy to use and only takes a few minutes for each session. See the video…

Certainly the before and after photos at the London launch this device looked fantastic. The gadget is fairly affordable and would probably achieve optimum results after a few of the more powerful salon treatments.

Click on this link for more information/or to buy STOP

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Make a splash in your swimsuit – style guru reveals all

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London: Top TV stylist Mark Heyes helps you to find the swimwear that’s right for you.

Is looking for that swimsuit a tortuous experience? Do you find the colour and style you like and then find it doesn’t quite fit your body contours? You’re not alone. Three-quarters of women find it difficult to find swimwear that fits properly, according to new research from INVISTA, owner of the LYCRA® fibre brand. The survey also revealed that a staggering 89% of women don’t feel comfortable when they are wearing their swimwear.

Flattering swimwear is the key to any summer wardrobe – the alternative being a selection of sarongs to cover yourself up with if you’re not quite comfortable with your final choice. The survey indicated that if given the option, one third of women would wave a magic wand and conjure up flattering swimwear for their summer wardrobe must have.

In this video feature, stylist Mark Heyes gets in the swimsuit fast lane, helping you find comfortable and stylish swimsuits that adapt to women’s particular body shapes.

So if it’s something to flatter your chest, make the most of your long legs or give your stomach some tone, look no further. In his ‘Costume Clinic’ Mark is on hand to offer his expert advice, including how to address the trouble zones such as tummy control, with different cuts and colours which play to your complexion and body size.

CLICK HERE to watch Mark’s video and you will step out on the beach feeling confident in your costume!

For more information visit www.LYCRA.com

10 tips to avoid swine flu

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Cases of swine flu in the UK have just doubled and the reality is that it will be coming to an office, school or home near you. However, as with any flu, there are some very sensible steps you can take to make sure that you don’t get ill in the first place – or if you do, you don’t get hit too badly.

1. Stay healthy – Eat well, sleep well and stay hydrated. Avoid excessive stress, maintain a healthy lifestyle and exercise.

2. Boost your immune system – Take supplements that are proven immune boosters. Don’t wait to get ill, protect yourself with Immulina – the latest and most powerful natural immune booster on the market with respect to macrophage activation. Available at www.h1n1help.co.uk and by telephone 020 7720 8338.

3. “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” – Maintain cleanliness, carry disinfectant for your hands and remember not to touch your face.

4. A clean environment is as good as a clean person – The H1N1 virus can be passed from person to person by coughing or sneezing but it can also be passed by touching and an object, such as a door handle, which has the virus on it. Clean hard surfaces frequently using a normal cleaning product.

5. Avoid people who are infected – This does not mean you need to get out the gas mask every time somebody sneezes but if somebody you know is infected you can help them without getting yourself ill.

6. Settle down while the virus is at its peak – Avoid excessive exposure to clubs and bars and other places where drinking and/or smoking weaken your immune system and expose you to greater risk of infection.

7. Plan ahead – Stay away from public transport as much as possible and avoid unnecessary travel, especially during rush hours!

8. Keep your office and home well ventilated – This will minimise exposure to airborne viruses that may be coming from workmates/family.

9. Tell them not to be a hero – Persuade ill colleagues to stay at home if they suspect they are infected as coming in could see the whole office out of action.

10.Put social graces aside – Do the dainty ‘air kiss’ greeting instead and make sure you have antibacterial gel nearby if you need to shake hands

Middle-aged smokers at increased risk of dementia

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New York: Smoking in middle age increases the risk of developing dementia by nearly 75%, a new study from the US claims.

IResearchers at Minnesota University found smokers aged between 46 and 70 were at least 70 per cent more likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s in later years than those who had never smoked.

The study, published in the medical magazine, the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, also revealed the links between ‘lifestyle-factor’ diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and dementia.

People with high blood pressure, for example, were 60 per cent more likely to develop dementia while people with diabetes had more than double the risk of the same disease.

Lead research Dr Alvaro Alonso, said: ‘Our results emphasise the importance of early lifestyle modification and risk factor treatment to prevent dementia.’

Join China Trek – get fit and raise money for elderly

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London: Age Concern and Help the Aged is calling on people to get their hiking boots on and experience the challenge of a lifetime with the Charity’s Trek China 2010 fundraising event.

Taking place from 15th-23rd May 2010, Trek China offers adventurous trekkers the perfect opportunity to experience a country steeped in history and culture while raising vital funds to help disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas.

Early bird participants who sign up now will also be able to take advantage of a reduced registration fee of just £199. All funds raised from the Trek will help free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect. The event is open to everyone aged over 18 who’s is keen to get fit for a physical challenge and relishes the great outdoors.

Miranda Harman, Event Fundraiser at Age Concern and Help the Aged commented: “China offers travellers breathtaking scenery, a rich and vibrant culture and a journey across a challenging landscape. The Trek is also a great way for single travellers to experience the holiday of a lifetime and make some great friends while making a difference to the lives of older people at the same time. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity which we hope will be too good to resist and it’s all in a great cause too!”

Age Concern and Help the Aged provides participants with training and fundraising support and tips every step of the way. For more details contact the Events Team on 020 7239 1922, email events@helptheaged.org.uk or visit www.helptheaged.org.uk/events

More Information

Age Concern England and Help the Aged have recently joined together to form a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people

Recipe of the day – Zucchini and Pea Frittata

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High in protein and essential vitamins and minerals this is a perfect light lunch or supper – and it won’t taste the same without good olive oil. And its a healthy fat too!

When fresh peas are available this is a great way to eat them, thawed frozen peas can always be substituted. This frittata also tastes delicious if mint is added instead of tarragon. Note also that courgettes/zucchini are the same thing!

Zucchini and Pea Fritta from the experts at Filippo BerioServe 4-6

Preparation time : 10 minutes

Cooking time : 15-20 minutes

175g (6oz) freshly podded peas (about 450g in pod) or frozen, thawed

4 tbsp Filippo Berio Mild and Light Olive Oil

www.filippoberio.co.uk

1 small onion, finely chopped

3 medium courgettes, trimmed and thinly sliced

8 large eggs, beaten

2 tsp chopped fresh tarragon

2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley

25g (1oz) freshly grated Parmesan cheese

salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:

1. If using freshly podded peas, drop them into a small pan of boiling water and cook 2 minutes then drain.

2. Heat a 23cm (9”) non-stick frying pan and add the oil. Cook the onion for about 3-4 minutes over a medium heat until softened then add the courgettes. Fry the courgettes for 5 minutes or until they begin to soften. Meanwhile preheat the grill.

3. Add the drained peas and herbs to the pan.

4. Beat the eggs and season then pour over the vegetable. Reduce the heat and cook for about 5 minutes or until the eggs are almost set. Carefully lift and edge of the frittata with a palette knife to check the underside which should be golden.

5. Scatter the Parmesan cheese over the frittata and put under the grill for 1-2 minutes or until just set and golden.

6. Cut the frittata into wedges and serve warm or slide onto a plate and serve cold for a picnic with crusty bread.

For more information: www.fillipoberio.co.uk

Over 60s warned to check drug cocktail with pharmacist – new survey

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Older people may be taking a potentially dangerous cocktail of drugs, according to new research from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

The Society said is urging older people to review the medication they are taking. Millions of over 65s in Britain, said the Society, are taking a cocktail of medicines without fully understanding what they are, or the side effects they may be suffering from.

The research shows how nearly half (43%) of over 65s in Britain are currently taking over five medicines at any one time. However, one in five admit to not always taking the medicine as prescribed, and a staggering six out of 10 (61%) over 65s believe they either definitely or possibly have had a side effect from a medicine – yet one in five said that they did not get it checked out.

Other findings of the research revealed that almost one in 10 (9%) admit to not fully understanding what their medications do or how they treat their condition, and one in seven (14%) say they sometimes forget to take a pill at the recommended time.

Older people take more medicines than any other age group and account for about 50% of the NHS Drug Bill (Over £4Billion), mainly via repeat prescriptions (80%). Statistics show that the over 65s are three times more likely to be admitted to hospital because of adverse drug reaction (such as falls, confusion, delirium, gastrointestinal bleeds and other reactions) with up to 17% of hospital admission being due to these conditions – and it’s estimated that 80% of hospital admissions due to adverse reaction to medicines are predictable and preventable.

Watch the Society video on this subject:

Natural born killers – watch the body’s immune cells in action

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London: Scientists at London’s Imperial Colleage have captured the body’s immune cells at work.

The mechanism used by ‘Natural Killer’ immune cells in the human body to distinguish between diseased cells, which they are meant to destroy, and normal cells, which they are meant to leave alone, is revealed in new detail in research published in PLoS Biology.

Understanding how this aspect of the body’s natural defences works could help medical researchers develop new ways of boosting these defences to treat disease.

Natural Killer (NK) cells – a type of white blood cell – are a major component of the human body’s innate immune system. Over 1,000 NK cells are found in every drop of blood. They provide a fast frontline defence against tumours, viruses and bacterial infections, by latching onto and killing cells in the human body that are cancerous or are infected with a virus or a bacterial pathogen.

On their journey round the human body NK cells regularly latch onto normal non-diseased cells too, before moving off, leaving them unharmed. Previously, the process by which NK cells made the right decision to kill or not kill another cell was unclear.

Now, the team of researchers from Imperial College London have used high speed microscopy imaging techniques to observe the NK cell decision making process in action. This has revealed striking differences in the behaviour of NK cells when interacting with healthy or diseased cells.

The outcome of the decision making process is determined by how receptors on the surface of the NK cell interact with proteins on the surface of the captured cell. Every NK cell has two types of surface receptors – activators, which turn the killing mechanism ‘on’ and inhibitors which turn the killing mechanism ‘off’.

Professor Davis and his colleagues discovered that if a captured cell is diseased or cancerous, it interacts with a large number of the NK cell’s activating receptors, which makes the NK cell stop dead in its tracks and spread out over the captured cell. During this spreading process the NK cell continuously reads the ‘on’ and ‘off’ signals from its surface contact with the captured cell. If the ‘on’ signals dominate, the NK cell prolongs contact with the captured cell and eventually kills it.

Conversely if the captured cell is healthy, it interacts with more of the NK cell’s inhibiting receptors – and fewer of its activating receptors – meaning that the ‘off’ signals dominate and the ‘stopping and spreading’ process does not occur, allowing the NK cell to quickly move off in search of a new target.

Principal investigator of the new study, Professor Dan Davis from Imperial College London’s Department of Life Sciences, explains:

“Scientists have known for a long time that the proteins on the surface on Natural Killer cells are involved in answering the ‘to kill or not to kill?’ question, but we’ve not known exactly how these molecular cues are translated into the correct response. Our research has shown that information gleaned from its surface receptors tells the Natural Killer cell whether to stop patrolling and commence killing, or to move off quickly, and harmlessly, in search of another target.”

Dr Fiona Culley, lead author of the study from the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial, says that finding out how NK cells use this process to sift out diseased cells from normal ones paints a very clear picture of how these cells do their vital work:

“Considering that NK cells play such an important part in our immune response to cancer and disease, relatively little is known about their functionality – how exactly they work and how they interact with the cells they encounter inside us. This study adds significantly to our understanding of how Natural Killer cells distinguish between healthy and diseased cells.”

The research was funded primarily by the Lister Institute for Preventative Medicine and the Medical Research Council, with additional support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Royal Society and the Wellcome Trust.

Discover Ben Fogle’s Secret City Retreats

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London: People, people everywhere – so where do you get some peace and me time in Britain’s busy City?

Adventurer and writer Ben Fogle suggests where to spend some well-earned me time:

“You wouldn’t think it but there are thousands of secluded idylls right across the country only a short walk from the hustle and bustle of the inner towns and cities. Parks, squares and heritage sites are dotted around the UK business and shopping districts – places to spend some well-earned ‘me time’, mingle with friends or retreat with a loved one. If you live or work in a busy town or city, and spend lots of time in the thick of it, it’s important to take some time for yourself – kick back, relax, have a lunch break or just savour the moment.

Manchester for example offers 138 parks, gardens and open spaces, 40 allotment sites and an additional 25 nature conservation sites within the city’s Irk, Medlock and Mersey river valleys. Birmingham has more canals than Venice and more trees than Paris, and boasts some wonderful spots like Victoria Square and St Paul’s Square in the city centre.

Old Eldon Square is one of the beautiful areas of green space Newcastle’s City Centre has to boast; an area cherished to those who enjoy relaxing and escaping the hubbub and whirlwind of activity in the city’s shops and businesses. It is a space enjoyed by both young and old alike and has served as a traditional meeting point and a place to slow down and take a break for generations of local city residents.

Situated behind St George’s Hall, St John’s Gardens in Liverpool is a popular refuge from the main City Centre; often dubbed the ‘Peace Garden’ it is indeed a tranquil place to sit undisturbed and yet is only a few minutes’ walk away from the main shopping quarter.

Summer is the ideal time of year to discover these secret spots, and as you start exploring you’ll soon find they take on entirely new characters as we move through the seasons, providing ever-changing places of sanctuary from the hectic pace of modern life.

Here’s a list of secret spots across the UK to get you started:-

· Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow

· Falkner Square, Liverpool

· Christ’s Pieces and New Square Cambridge

· Hinskey Park and Rose Hill Park, Oxford

· St Peter’s Square and Albert Square, Manchester

· Bircham Valley Nature Reserve and Victoria Park, Plymouth
· Prebend Gardens and Spinney Hill Park, Leicester

· Bute Park and Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

To show you how it’s done, in this video feature, Ben Fogle has teamed up with Nature Valley to take us on a journey in and around Holborn in the centre of London to discover the delights of several locations including Coram’s Fields and Russell Square Gardens.

Listen to Ben Fogle’s secret City havens

Women rush to rejuvenate wrinklie knees, says Cynosure

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London: The media obsession with the wrinkly knees of celebrities, such as Elle Macpherson and Demi Moore, has fuelled a huge increase in the latest specialist procedure to rejuvenate them.

Cynosure Smartlipo MPX™ , the name for a procedure in which doctors “disolve” fat and flab using a laser, reports a 100% increase in treatments and enquiries

The increase in demand has occured in both North America and the UK for laser knee sculpting.

Dr Stephen Mulholland, one of the world’s leading plastic surgeons with practices in Toronto and Los Angeles comments, ‘Treatments are up 100% with the number of enquires also increasing.’

Dr Ayham Ayoubi, the first person in the UK to perform this procedure using the Smartlipo MPX™ system has seen a corresponding increase in enquiries about the use of Smartlipo for knees, noting that the increase in enquiries is up 100% since the beginning of the year. He has completed more than 40 laser knee sculpting procedures on clients since the launch of Smartlipo MPX™ in September 2008.

Karen Tipping, Marketing Manager for Cynosure says of the rise in enquiries, “Anecdotal evidence from clinics attributes the rise in enquiries to the increase in newspaper and magazine articles that reference celebrities and their unsightly knobbly knees.”

The popularity of the treatment itself and successfully completed procedures has been attributed to the swift and virtually pain free option that laser lipolysis offers. Downtime is shorter with Smartlipo and most people return to work within a few days. There is less bruising and is minimally invasive, making only a small incision in the skin.

Fast, efficient, with permanent results, Laser Knee Sculpting works by introducing pulsed laser energy through a cannula to liquefy fat, which is then removed from the body. The laser energy also coagulates the tissue, thereby sculpting body contours and tightening the skin. The procedure generally causes less bleeding, swelling and bruising than traditional liposuction, resulting in fewer complications and faster recovery.

Taking around 1 hour for the total process (both knees), the treatment takes place under a local anesthetic which results in minimal downtime for the client. On average, around 100-150 ml of fat is removed from each knee. Many clients are advised to wear a support garment for up to 10 days after the procedure to ensure maximum results. Clients can return to work within a few days, the gym after about a week and swimming – about 10 days. It costs around £1,700

For more info contact Cynosure at T: + 44 (0)1628 522252 or visit www.cynosureuk.com

Before and After pictures below:

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Scientists reveal how L-Arginine cleans arteries

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London: Scientists at Imperial College London have used a new chemical imaging technique to reveal how a simple dietary supplement cleans up arteries.

The new technique could one day help in the fight against atherosclerosis – the disease in which arteries get clogged up with plaque and fats, suggests the research research. (published in the August 2009 edition of the Journal of the Royal Society Interface).

Atherosclerosis is the disease underlying most heart attacks and strokes and it is characterised by lesions in the arteries, made of fats, collagen and cells.

The lesions cause artery walls to harden and thicken, which severely restricts the flow of blood around the body and they can also rupture, leading to heart attacks and strokes. Understanding the precise chemical composition of an individual’s lesions is important because the ones with higher levels of a type of fat, called cholesteryl ester, are more prone to rupture.

The team behind the new imaging technique, which is known as Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging (ATR-FTIR imaging), believe that with further refinement, it could become a useful tool for doctors wanting to assess a patient’s lesions.

For example, by combining fibre optic technology with ATR-FTIR imaging, the researchers believe doctors could carry out real-time inspections of patients with atherosclerosis, in order to assess the progress of the disease and establish which patients are at the greatest risk of complications.

Currently, doctors can use ultrasound to assess the size and location of lesions but they need to take biopsies of lesions in order to determine their chemistry. This is a complex and invasive procedure.

The researchers say the ATR-FTIR imaging could potentially improve current imaging techniques because it could combine imaging and chemical analysis, which would provide a comprehensive and accurate picture of a patient’s lesions in one procedure. In the present study, the researchers demonstrated that ATR-FTIR imaging was able to reveal the precise composition and size of the lesions and the levels of elastin, collagen and cholesteryl ester in them.

The ATR-FTIR imaging technology works by using infrared light to identify different chemical molecules, which are mapped by an array detector to create a ‘chemical photograph’.

The researchers used the technique to study the effects of age and an amino acid called L-arginine on the composition of lesions in cholesterol-fed rabbits. The work appeared to confirm that dietary L-arginine can remove lesions in the arteries of mature rabbits.

The researchers say further studies need to be done before the ATR-FTIR imaging could be used for patient care.

Lead-author, Professor Sergei Kazarian, from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology at Imperial College London, says:

“Atherosclerosis can be a dangerous condition and our hope is that with further work, our approaches could ultimately be used to determine which patients are most at risk of complications. That way, doctors can target treatments at those patients who most need it, in order to prevent strokes and heart attacks.”

This research was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Don’t sizzle this summer – win a beach bag of sun goodies!

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Sun damage it the main cause of skin cancer and wrinkles – so don’t be a silly summer sizzler! Top of skin care list should be sun protection – essential for enjoying safe sun and of course for preventing the embarrassment of red arms and legs which, lets face it is never a good look!!

Elixir has joined with sun skin protection experts The Sun Mouse to offer four lucky readers the chance to win a £50 bag of goodies – everything you need to keep your skin safe.

The Sun Mousse ultimate beach bag packed full of everything you could possibly need for a day in the sun, not forgetting of course the sun mousse sun protection factor(SPF) 30 and the after sun mousse. To get your hands on this fantastic prize worth £50 just answer this question:

Q.1 What does SPF stand for?

Please send your answer to us at readeroffer@elixirnews.com with your name and address and the word “sun” in the email header. The competition closes on 31 July 2009. Please note that no cash equivalent is offered and the Editor’s decision is final.

The Sun Mousse products contain Proderm Technology. Unlike ordinary sunscreens which sit on the surface of the skin, “the sun mousse “is rapidly absorbed into the skin’s epidermal layer where it works with the skin to provide effective and immediate protection from both UVA and UVB radiation. The sun mousse is easy to apply and light in texture, leaving the skin soft and smooth with no greasy or sticky residue.

For find out more about this unique range of sun protection visit www.thesunmousse.co.uk

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Resveratrol can protect against diseases of ageing

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The plant-derived polyphenol resveratrol probably accounts for many of the beneficial effects of the “French Paradox”, in which high-fat diets fail to product devasting effects when red wine is consumed.

Most of resveratrol’s benefits have traditionally been ascribed to its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Emerging research now shows that resveratrol also stimulates cells to behave as if they had been exposed to calorie restriction, the most powerful life-extending approach shown.

Through its action on potent cellular-regulating proteins called sirtuins, resveratrol mimics calorie restriction, stimulating healthy cells to survive and diseased cells to die in an organised fashion.

Resveratrol-mediated sirtuin activation is now understood to be responsible for many of the health benefits associaited with resveratrol supplementation, including protection from age-associated disorders like cardio-vascular disease, metabolic syndrome, neurodegenerative disorders and cancer.

Drug companies are rushing to exploit the new findings about resveratrol by turning it into a drug – but highly active supplements are already available, and the existing findings on the anti-ageing properties of this substance are all based on the use of this natural product.

Find more more at www.vitalityshopuk.com

TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher reveals her hourglass figure secret

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London: TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher reveals why the hour glass figure overtakes the perfect 10 in the body aspiration stakes.

Whether you’re twenty or fifty the hour glass figure remains the body shape the majority of us aspire to. With over two thirds of the nation wishing they had the classic Marilyn curves, it would seem that the boyish body personified by Twiggy in the sixties and Kate Moss in the nineties and noughties is somewhat outdated.

In a landmark study, commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kellogg’s Special K, over 2,000 women across the UK were surveyed to examine the key influences that have impacted on the female body ideal and the things that have boosted and bruised our confidence over the last five decades.

The results showed that real women are resolutely rejecting perfection and demanding more honesty to inspire better ‘shape’ confidence. Key body shape boosters include seeing shapely women on TV rather than size zero models, curvy celebrities with hunky boyfriends (such as Charlotte Church and Gavin Henson), and older actresses such as Helen Mirren ‘baring all’ for nude scenes.

As well as applauding women in the public eye who are honest about their bodies, British women believe influencers like the media could and should do more to inspire real women. Well someone who knows a thing or two about the pressures of staying in shape is TV presenter and mum Kirsty Gallacher. After almost a decade in the spotlight, the recently engaged star talks frankly about her body and how she maintains her classic hour glass shape.

Click here to watch the video: Kirsty video

For more information about shape management visit www.specialk.co.uk

Stretch Marks

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Stretch marks are scars – transparent and white, most usually occuring as a result of pregnancy. It can also be caused by being overweight, puberty and body building. They are notoriously difficult to remove completely but new therapies such as Carboxy have been successful

Vitamin D and curcumin could get rid of Alzheimer plaque

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Los Angeles: Vitamin D and curcumin could help rid the brain of Alzheimer’s plaques, according to scientists at the University of California Riverside and Los Angeles.

They have found that a combination of vitamin D3 and a synthetic form of curcumin could help remove amyloid beta from the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients. The research was published in the July, 2009 issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Amyloid beta accumulates in the brain when the innate immune system fails to clear it. The substance forms the plaques that, along with neurofibrillary tangles, characterize Alzheimer’s disease. For their research, Dr Milan Fiala of UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine and his associates tested the effects vitamin D and curcuminoids, which are synthetic forms of the compound curcumin, on white blood cells known as monocytes derived from nine men and women with Alzheimer’s disease, one man with mild cognitive impairment, and three control subjects. Monocytes are immune system cells that transform into macrophages which travel through the body to consume waste products, including amyloid beta.

The team found that vitamin D3 significantly stimulated phagocytosis and clearance of amyloid beta while protecting against programmed cell death. Specific curcuminoids increased amyloid beta clearance by enhancing its surface binding to macrophages.

Synthetic forms of curcumin were tested in the current experiments due to challenges with natural curcumin’s ability to absorb and remain stable. Nevertheless, previous research conducted by the team found that not all Alzheimer’s disease patients respond to curcuminoids.

“We hope that vitamin D3 and curcumin, both naturally occurring nutrients, may offer new preventive and treatment possibilities for Alzheimer’s disease,” stated Dr Fiala. “Since vitamin D and curcumin work differently with the immune system, we may find that a combination of the two or each used alone may be more effective — depending on the individual patient.”

Try the finest quality vitamin D at www.vitalityshopuk.com

New dental probiotic fights gum disease

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The human mouth is teeming with bacteria. Brushing, flossing, and traditional dental care often aren’t enough to escape the health risks of too much of the wrong kind of bacteria in the human mouth. With oral probiotics, we may be able to prevent or at least control the growth of the dangerous organisms where they originate.

Advanced Oral Hygiene is a new oral probiotic that provides the beneficial bacteria that can help block harmful bacteria that first develop in the mouth. This sophisticated oral probiotic therapy allows the healthy and naturally occurring organisms found in the body to out-compete the harmful bacteria.
Multiple health benefits

Advanced Oral Hygiene contains BLIS K12™ and Bacillus coagulans, a unique blend of two oral probiotics, which aim to triumph over many of the chronic threats to our health caused by oral microbes that may pose harm to the body. BLIS K12™ (Streptococcus salivarius) and Bacillus coagulans (GanedenBC30®) organisms naturally survive in human tissue, maximizing their health-promoting potential and providing help with the regulation of inflammation and cell destruction caused by the dangerous germs that originate in the mouth.

Regular use of Advanced Oral Hygiene could make a significant impact in protecting oral health,1-3 which in turn can strengthen the immune system, ease inflammation, and help the body maintain good health.

Poor oral health is associated with risk factors throughout the entire body

Inflammation in the mouth can translate to poor health in other parts of the body. Traditionally, poor mouth conditions have a tendency to become chronic, producing a steady elevation of inflammation in other parts of the body that receive high blood flow—thereby “seeding” the entire system with circulating “cytokines.” These cytokines, or “chemical messengers,” produce inflammatory responses in tissues far distant from the mouth, and affect cellular behavior critical to the immune system’s defense. When cytokine levels continue to increase—the occurrence of even more acute inflammation can also increase.

Advanced Oral Hygiene can offer relief and modulate the body’s inflammatory response, making these “good” microorganisms found in the K12 and GanedenBC30® strain the ideal candidates for preventing inflammatory conditions in the body.

Live life longer and healthier

In combination with a rigorous oral hygiene regime, Advanced Oral Hygiene provides the body with beneficial bacteria to naturally help protect the immune system and prevent harmful bacteria from colonizing throughout the body.

Buy at www.vitalityshopuk.com

Grapefruit may hold key to anti-obesity pill?

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Toronto: A substance found in grapefuit could become a key ingredient in fighting obesity and diabetes, according to a new study.

Naringenin, a flavonoid found in citrus fruit such as grapefruit which gives it its bitter taste , makes the liver burn fat instead of storing it.

But high concentrations, far more than is available in the fruit, would be needed to achieve fat-busting benefits. The chemical also helps balance insulin and glucose levels.

If it could be made into a tablet then it could help treat patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes, a main cause of heart disease.

Successful tests have already been carried out on mice by researchers at the Robarts Research Institute at the University of Western Ontario, in Canada, and published in the journal Diabetes.

Two groups of mice were both fed the equivalent of a Western diet to speed up their ‘metabolic syndrome’ – the process which leads to Type 2 diabetes in humans.

One of the groups ate food that had been treated with naringenin. The non-naringenin mice became obese, their cholesterol levels rose and their bodies became resistant to insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.
The mice given the chemical did not suffer from these ailments, despite eating identical diets to the others.

Any rise in cholesterol-was corrected by the naringenin which also ‘reprogrammed’ their livers to burn fat rather than store it.

Lead researcher Professor Murray Huff added: ‘Furthermore, the marked obesity that develops in these mice was completely prevented by naringenin.
‘What was unique about the study was that the effects were independent of calorific intake, meaning the mice ate exactly the same amount of food and the same amount of fat.’ The team will now try to develop the chemical into a treatment for humans.

Note: anyone taking medication should be wary of eating grapefruit as it may interfere with the effect of drugs, such as as statins.

Japanese longevity continues to grow

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Tokyo: Japanese people are living longer than ever, with the average life expectancy now 86.05 years for women and 79.29 years for men, the country’s health ministry has revealed.

The life expectancy of Japanese women increased by almost 22 days in 2008 from the previous year, while men added another 37 days, the ministry said.

The longevity of the Japanese is attributed in part to a healthy traditional diet including fish and vegetables and an active lifestyle.

But longevity is causing economic problems for Japan, which has one of the world’s lowest birth rates, leaving a shrinking working population to support a mass of retirees.

Elixir tests the latest anti-aging shampoos

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SCHWARZKOPF BC TIME RESTORE WITH CO-Q10 (pictured above)
www.schwarzkopft.co.uk
Shampoo $16.30 (€12.68, £8.30); Conditioner $18 (€13.50, £9.20)

Packed with anti-ageing antioxidants this is a complet range of products with everything you need to iron out the wrinkles in your hair. 7/10

ALTERNA CAVIAR ANTI-AGEING SEASILK (pictured above right)
For stockists 1-888-4-ALTERNA or visit www.4alterna.com
Shampoo $57 (€35.75, £28.50); Conditioner $61.20 (€38.27, £30.50)

Blonde shampoo, conditioner and leave-in conditioner. The products in this range give amazing results. The hair looks younger because it has a beautiful shine and bounce taking years off ageing hair. Hair is also beautifully soft and moisturised. 9/10

FRÉDÉRIC FEKKAI AGLESS (pictured below left)
www.frederickfekkai.com
Shampoo and Condition each cost $54 (€60, £28)

Frédéric Fekkai Agless from the New York VIP crimper contains a shampoo, conditioner and vitamin serum capsules. The exotic ingredients include moisturising amino acids, orchid extract, pearl protein and keratin. Protects hair from environmental damage. Not so good for coloured hair. Buy at Space NK in the UK. 5/10

ACTIV DR HOTING HAIR RETENTION CARE SYSTEM BY Schwarzkopf (pictured below right)
www.schwarzkopft.co.uk
Shampoo costs $20 (€12.54,£9.99) and tonic $26 (€16.30,£12.99)

This is a new range with a shampoo and tonic for men and women designed to maintain the condition of the hair follicle and encourages hair growth, helping to maintain a healthy scalp and, subsequently, full and strong hair. It contains Carnitintartrate, Echinacea and Taurine, By massaging the product onto the head, the blood flow to the scalp is increased and the ingredients work to stabilise the inner structure of the hair. The resulting healthy scalp helps to maintain full and strong hair and, with pro-longed use, will encourage new growth. Best results are obtained with regular use. Fantastic smell and leaves hair soft and glossy. Consumer advice advisory@uk.henkel.com Buy this product here AMAZON HAIR PRODUCTS 8/10

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Obesity speeds up cartilage loss

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Boston: Obesity, among other factors, is strongly associated with an increased risk of rapid cartilage loss, according to a study published in the August issue of the magazine Radiology.

“We have isolated demographic and MRI-based risk factors for progressive cartilage loss,” said the study’s lead author, Frank W. Roemer, M.D., adjunct associate professor at Boston University and co-director of the Quantitative Imaging Center at the Department of Radiology at Boston University School of Medicine.

“Increased baseline body mass index (BMI) was the only non-MRI-based predictor identified.”

As obesity is one of the few established risk factors for osteoarthritis, it is not surprising that obesity may also precede and predict rapid cartilage loss. Weight loss is probably the most important factor to slow disease progression.
Risk Factors for MRI-detected Rapid Cartilage Loss of the Tibio-femoral Joint over a 30-month Period: the MOST Study.

Tibio-femoral cartilage is a flexible connective tissue that covers and protects the bones of the knee. Cartilage damage can occur due to excessive wear and tear, injury, misalignment of the joint or other factors, including osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting 27 million Americans, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage breaks down and, in severe cases, can completely wear away, leaving the joint without a cushion. The bones rub together, causing further damage, significant pain and loss of mobility.

The best way to prevent or slow cartilage loss and subsequent disability is to identify risk factors early.

“Osteoarthritis is a slowly progressive disorder, but a minority of patients with hardly any osteoarthritis at first diagnosis exhibit fast disease progression,”

Dr. Roemer said. “So we set out to identify baseline risk factors that might predict rapid cartilage loss in patients with early knee osteoarthritis or at high risk for the disease.”

The researchers recruited patients from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis (MOST) Study, a prospective study of 3,026 people, age 50 – 79, at risk for osteoarthritis or with early x-ray evidence of the disease. The study is funded by the National Institute on Aging.

Dr. Roemer’s study consisted of 347 knees in 336 patients. The patient group was comprised of 65.2 percent women, mean age 61.2, with a mean BMI of 29.5, which is classified as overweight. Recommended BMI typically ranges from 18.5 to 25. Only knees with minimal or no baseline cartilage damage were included. Of 347 knees selected for the study, 20.2 percent exhibited slow cartilage loss over the 30-month follow-up period and 5.8 percent showed rapid cartilage loss. Rapid cartilage loss was defined by a whole organ magnetic imaging score of at least 5, indicating a large full thickness loss of 75 percent in any subregion of the knee during the follow-up period.

The results showed that the top risk factors contributing to rapid cartilage loss were baseline cartilage damage, high BMI, tears or other injury to the meniscus (the cartilage cushion at the knee joint) and severe lesions seen on MRI at the initial exam. Other predictors were synovitis (inflammation of the membrane that lines the joints) and effusion (abnormal build-up of joint fluid).

Excess weight was significantly associated with an increased risk of rapid cartilage loss. For a one-unit increase in BMI, the odds of rapid cartilage loss increased by 11 percent. No other demographic factors–including age, sex and ethnicity–were associated with rapid cartilage loss.

“As obesity is one of the few established risk factors for osteoarthritis, it is not surprising that obesity may also precede and predict rapid cartilage loss,” Dr. Roemer said. “Weight loss is probably the most important factor to slow disease progression.”

AT A GLANCE

* Researchers using MRI have identified risk factors for rapid cartilage loss in the knee.
* People with a high body mass index (BMI) may be at increased risk for rapid cartilage loss and osteoarthritis.
* Osteoarthritis affects 27 million Americans.

“Risk Factors for MRI-detected Rapid Cartilage Loss of the Tibio-femoral Joint over a 30-month Period: the MOST Study.” Collaborating with Dr. Roemer were Yuqing Zhang, D.Sc., Jingbo Niu, M.D., John A. Lynch, Ph.D., Michel D. Crema, M.D., Monica D. Marra, M.D., Michael C. Nevitt, Ph.D., David T. Felson, M.D., M.P.H., Laura Hughes, Georges El-Khoury, M.D., Martin Englund, M.D., Ph.D., and Ali Guermazi, M.D., for MOST study investigators.

Radiology is edited by Herbert Y. Kressel, M.D., Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass., and owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (http://radiology.rsnajnls.org/)

RSNA is an association of more than 43,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists committed to excellence in patient care through education and research. www.RSNA.org

For patient-friendly information on MRI, visit www.RadiologyInfo.org

Italian surgeon unveils stem cell facelift pictures

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Dr. Renato Calabria, pioneer of the Stem-Cell Enhanced Facelift has unveiled before and after pictures of the procedure he performed in Florence, Italy earlier this Spring. While it’s still early, the results will only get better over time!

Here Dr Calabria explains the procedure:

For decades plastic surgeons have been looking to restore a more youthful look on the face. Surgical techniques have been improving, newer lasers have been used in order to achieve a goal that seemed unreachable. Comparing the post-operative results with the pictures of the patients when they were younger, it appeared that there was something missing: a younger face had more volume and the skin just looked fresher.

Dr. Calabria always thought that with the advent of stem cell research, plastic surgery could beneficiate from it. Using stem cell as a mean to jump start the regenerative process in our own body was definitely a very attractive proposition.

We knew that the fat in our body contained adult stem cell along with other regenerative cells. Dr. Calabria has been using fat grafting ( therefore containing adult stem cells) on the face with the distinct purpose to rejuvenate the skin and adding volume.

But was not till the develop of a new device, the Celution Device, that facial rejuvenation could taken to the next level and finally create a really amazing result.

Dr.Calabria has called this new way of the future the “cell-enhanced face lift”.

The (stem) cell-enhanced face lift is a new procedure used to volumizing the face and create a more youthful look.

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon Dr. Renato Calabria believes that traditional face lift should be a thing of the past: they caused the so called “wind tunnel “look by pulling tight the skin in the wrong direction. Adding volume to the face has always been Dr. Calabria’s goal. First with the Vertical Face lift, by moving the patient’s own tissues in a vertical direction and therefore repositioning it to the original and more natural position, Dr Calabria has been creating a more youthful look. And now with the (stem) cell-enhanced face lift, Dr. Calabria think he has definitely found the answer.

The (stem) Cell-Enhanced face lift not only restores the volume in the face but also adds regenerative cells which are believed to be beneficial to the rejuvenation process.

Dr. Calabria has developed a technique by which the cells are injected into the SMAS and underneath the facial musculature to create a more youthful volume adding result.

The (stem) cell-enhanced face lift combines soft tissue that is transferred from one part of the body to the face with the patient’s own adipose tissue-derived stem cells and regenerative cells.

The technique first consists of harvesting the cells ( Usually from the lower abdomen). Liposuctioned fat is rich with regenerative cells which include adult stem cells, blood vessel producing cells, growth factor secreting cells. Once the fat is harvested, it is treated through a device to isolate the cells.

Celution® Technology – How it Works
First, adipose tissue is taken from the patient by a low volume tissue collection procedure. Next, the collected tissue is placed in the Celution® Device, which processes each patient’s tissue with a single-use, application-specific consumable set that easily attaches to the Celution® Device.

The Celution® Device liberates the stem and regenerative cells from the adipose matrix; the cells are then separated, washed, and concentrated in the collection container. This real-time processing takes place in a closed environment to minimize the risk of exposure to contaminants and can be completed within the timeframe of a single surgical procedure.

Next, a syringe is used to collect the cells that are to be redelivered to the same patient. The cells may be injected directly into a site or implanted with a delivery matrix or scaffold to improve performance, such as combining the cells with an adipose tissue graft in reconstructive surgery procedures.

Following re-infusion into the body, it is thought that environmental cues from the damaged and surrounding tissue guide the stem and regenerative cells to the area of damage and help facilitate a natural healing response. The cells may respond by a variety of mechanisms, which promote tissue survival, graft retention, and/or differentiation of progenitor cells into the appropriate cell type.

Then, during the face lift, the regenerative cells tissue embedded in fat is then gently placed with a blunt cannula in layers of facial tissues like the SMAS, under the muscles, etc…. Once the fat is placed, symmetry is checked and then the skin is redraped and approximated, the excess skin excised and then anchored in a vertical direction and closed in layers. The key is to place this regenerative tissue in a precise location in order to enhance the volume of the face in areas previously volume deprived.

After the cell-enhanced face lift, the patient exhibits a dramatic improvement not only in the underlying soft tissue contouring of the face but the skin itself. The growth factors contained in these cells induce the skin and the other tissues to produce more cells of their own by basically initiating a signal to the local stem cells as well as the transplanted adult stem cells to restore them self and multiply.

Others techniques of stem cell face lift inject the cells directly in the face,( without surgery) but in Dr. Calabria’s opinion is not as effective in voluminizing the face that the cell-enhanced ( stem cell) face lift and it does not address the laxity of the skin.

Also the cells have not been isolated with the celution device which Dr. Calabria thinks is essential to the final result.

The regenerative cells, by secreting growth hormone and other factors, are also beneficial to create a more youthful look, diminishing the aging process. The procedure restores the youthful contour and shape of the face as well as skin tightness and evens out color irregularities caused by aging and sun damage.

The cell-enhanced (stem cell) face lift is the new frontier of face lifting and Dr. Calabria is definitely writing a new chapter in facial rejuvenation.

The Celution device is not available in the US yet but has been approved for clinical use in Europe and it is available in Dr. Calabria’s Milan and Rome locations and he will bring the technology to the U.S. as soon as next year.

Find more information on Dr Calabria’s website www.drcalabria.com