ELIXIR > Articles by: Editor

Internet dating: the curse of the mummy’s boy and why you should run from Norman!

Posted on July 21, 2012 by Editor

How to identify them..well the BIG, BIG warning sign is SINGLE and 50 but in reality if he is 30+ it may already too late! And there are lots of these men on the internet dating sites – just don’t be fooled by the word ‘single’ because what it really means is emotionally unavailable for any real relationships.

The good news which should make you feel a whole lot better: a top psychologist tells me that even Angelina Jolie would get the same treatment!

These guys may sometimes be handsome and charming (not always they come in many guises) and they may have respectable jobs such as barristers and accountants – which is why they are so plausible because they can say they are working long hours – when they are really with mummy! They are also very clever at hiding their tracks – and may have their own home which of course they never or rarely live in.

But its a clever subterfuge – because they can tell you they live there and tell mummy that is where they have gone when they visit you on those rare occasions. They can also register there as a voter.

In reality they hate woman because of the resentment of the emotional enmeshment with mummy that they don’t have the guts to break. Many serial killers have been mummy’s boys – Jeffrey Dahmer for one. I know it was a film but Norman lived with Norma’s corpse at Bates Motel…

But these are men who cannot be turned. Mummy has spent years patting their little heads and telling them what wonderful and clever little boys they are, making them their favourite teas and washing and ironing their clothes for them. So they are mummy’s special little boy and no-one else’s.

It’s a kind of emotional incest where mummy has groomed her little boy for years so he can only be happy if he makes her happy.

I recently received a telephone call from a girlfriend about one of my exs from many years ago (I’m too embarrassed to say how long ago). She said that this particular man who is now in his 60s who lived and worked with his mother and never married despite having numerous girlfriends – had recently disappeared without trace along with his mother – and she was worried about them.Their business has gone into liquidation and their landlands are not working. Very scary….

I said his mother who must be in her late 80s had probably died and he was living with the dead body. She got a bit angry with me and said I had been watching too many episodes of the US crime forensic programme Crime Scene Investigation.

Norma in Psycho

But she is very wrong. As a journalist I have sat in several inquests where one half of a couple – and that is what these incestuous relationships are – has died and the husband or wife has refused to accept the death and lived with the decomp body for weeks…so I wait to hear because nobody can trace this bloke and his mother.

Still I am fascinated by this bond. But experts warn that is a very serious mental health condition and not easily broken. I do wonder what mummy’s boy’s and their mummy’s do together for so long…but not enough to buy self-help books and waste my time and money.

And I have this analogy whenever I am even tempted to believe anything these guys say: If I was called to explain my behaviour by a judge in a court of a law and he/she said to me: “Well Miss O’Connor. This is the evidence: “This man is 50 years old and he has never been married or lived with a woman other than his mother. So what is it you thought you could do that other women before you were unable to do?”

I am afraid for once in my life I would be lost for words. I would also look very stupid. So the best advice is don’t even go there you won’t win and may waste months and years of your life! They won’t hang around because they know when they’ve been found out and there is always another gullible woman to lure in and lie to for a few months….

Internet romance – would you date a polecat, a decadent Duke or a drug-raddled poet?

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Editor

Internet dating functions, for those of you who have never done it, by each participant creating a name (nickname) for themselves, plus a strap line – which I assume is meant to embrace some positive and/or interesting component of their character and other stuff about themselves to attract prospective suiters. And also what they would like to see in a mate. Really it’s a personal advert for yourself.

I would like to see a psychologist’s take (more drilled down analysis) on some of these names and profiles to see what they really reveal between-the-lines about personality and mental makeup! That perhaps is the secret to successful internet dating – to interpret what people are really saying about themselves and what they want in relationships?

For instance, a lot of men online seem to think its attractive to use the following strap line: “Mad, bad and dangerous to know” which was used by Lady Caroline Lamb, the British aristocrat, in the 17th century to the poet, Lord Byron with whom she had an affair.

Well that relationship didn’t end well – since Lady Caroline was married and it was a public scandal at the time and secondly she got spurned by Lord Byron whom she went on to stalk – as much as you could by stage coach and snail mail in the 1700s..

She famously sent him a book with “Remember Me!” written on the cover fly and he responded: “Remember thee! Remember thee! Till Dethe quench life’s burning stream; Remorse and shame shall cling to thee, And haunt thee like a feverish dream! Remember thee! Ay, doubt it not. Thy husband too shall think of thee! By neither shalt thou be forgot, Thou false to him, thou fiend to me!”

Now Byron who died aged 36 was ‘celebrated’ for his aristocratic excesses (presumably only by other men) which included huge debts, numerous love affairs, rumours of a scandalous incestuous liaison with his half-sister as well as drugs. Nice man, not.

Lady Caroline also came to a bad end. She separated from her husband and she ended up living…at Brocket Hall (you may recall the last Lord Brocket was jailed for insurance fraud after dumping his luxury cars in a nearby lake and his wife going bananas while she was married to him and that was in this century!) near Welwyn in Hertfordshire.

She – Lady Caroline – became increasingly mentally unstable, complicated by alcohol abuse and the use of the drug laudanum. And eventually died aged only 42!

On Classic FM Romance there are several men with this strap line and even the name Byron – so what are they trying to say about themselves? By the way one of his most famous poems was Don Juan …

So what are these men really thinking of? I suspect what they are really saying is what they want is unadulterated and unfettered sex with whoever passes by on the internet! Ah so it is a numbers game but then but not the kind most women are suspecting.

Or could it be they are ignorant of what Byron did and symbolised?

Well looking more closely at their profiles – one of them is a married man (identified by ‘ask me later’ on the question of relationship status) and the other just wants flings. So it can be all in a name, can’t it? It can’t be that they are hoping for a nice romantic outcome with any of the women they meet can it?

Internet dating also works by the individual trawling through the profiles and spotting others they are interested in and making them favourites – the favourite then receives an email to say someone has made them a fan. Then you can return the compliment and make them a favourite and in theory if you are interested start an email dialogue with them.

But getting a fan is, more often than not, a very big let down. You come home from a fun evening with your girlfriends to look through your emails and see that someone called, of all things “Polecat” has made you a fan. So you think to yourself – or is it just me “Polecat – what sort of name is that? Is it some sort of stinky animal with bad habits?” At least that ‘s my first reaction.

So what is a polecat and why should a woman go out with a male human polecat? Or someone whose imagination leads them to call themselves that? Added to which he did have a picture that looked – like a hairless ..hmm polecat!

Well there was a naval frigate in the 17th century called HMS Polecat but it appears to have been scuppered off the coast of Virginia by the French in 1782.

A real polecat pictured above

The name also applies to several types of carnivorous little animals from the WEASEL family found in Europe and the southern US – Tennessee and South Carolina. The word comes from pole (from the French word hen) and cat. In essence this means in Europe, a fondness for poultry. So then it’s an animal that likes breaking into hen houses and killing all the hens. In the US its the name for a skunk – that’s definitely smelly. There is also a 1980s rock band called the Polecats – they were probably very smelly too!

As a complete aside, I recall being a reporter on a local newspaper and being sent to a pub opposite Welwyn North station (not Welwyn Garden City) in Hertfordshire where there was a ‘ferret legging competition’ – this involved men putting as many live ferrets as possible down their trousers which were strapped at the bottom. The winner was determined by who could keep the most down there for the longest. Are ferrets part of the weasel family – most probably? These days I would be able sue my newspaper for suffering some sort of trauma after watching such an event! There was also the lama…

I see another profile called Foscari – one of the most infamous Dodges (Dukes) of Venice during the 17th century when the Carnival was a six month sex orgy for the European aristocrats who flocked there! More about what is behind this profile in a later blog – but I can tell you what he said in an email shocked me!

But even the most seemingly courteous names can be totally discourteous. Take another example Courtly Love – to a woman this might mean a romantic, chivalrous knight from the days of King Arthur fighting for the love and affection of a lady. But no – what that really means is that a the Knight can take what he pleases when he pleases, from as many as he pleases – read about it here http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/courtly-love.htm.

And someone who called themselves “All the Best Names are Gone” – the least said the better!

I called myself Donna Dolce – which in Italian means Sweet Woman – so even if you have onl
y read Italian menus you would know that Dolce meant sweet or at worst dessert. But most men would message me as the name ‘Donna’ – they thought that was my name and one I have never liked in its plain English translation. So that one went over most of their heads!

Next time: How to identify male singletons, aged 30+ who are ‘married’ to mummy and other commitment-phobes! And why you should run at full speed…in the opposite direction!

Why Vitamin C supplements help lower blood pressure

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Editor

Baltimore: Vitamin C has been revealed as the latest dietary nutrient that can help lower blood pressure in ageing adults, according to scientists.

In a review published online in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers from Johns Hopkins in Baltimore report a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in associated with vitamin C supplementation.

For their analysis, scientific researcher Edgar R. Miller III and his colleagues selected 29 randomized clinical trials conducted between 1996 and 2011 that involved the oral administration of vitamin C for at least two weeks.

Average pretreatment systolic blood pressure ranged from 117 to 175 mmHg, and diastolic from 73 to 97 mmHg. The dose of vitamin C used in the studies varied from 60 to 4000 milligrams per day, with a median dose of 500 milligrams daily.

In a pooled analysis of the trials’ participants, vitamin C supplementation was associated with a 3.84 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure and a 1.48 mmHg reduction in diastolic pressure.

When trials involving patients with hypertension were analyzed, reductions averaged 4.85 mmHg and 1.67 mmHg. Mechanisms posited for vitamin C in reducing blood pressure include an increase in a cofactor for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (which increases the production of nitric oxide), and improvement of endothelial function of brachial and coronary arteries.

Announcing their results the authors commented: “This meta-analysis is the first quantitative review of randomized trials evaluating the effect of vitamin C supplementation on blood pressure.

“In short-term trials, vitamin C supplementation reduced systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Long-term trials on the effects of vitamin C supplementation on blood pressure and clinical events are needed.”

Think More Eat Less – use your mind to change your body by Janet Thomson MSc

Posted on July 13, 2012 by Editor

This is a self-help book with a difference – what is says actually makes sense!

One of the dominant themes of this book is that you mustn’t take any SHIT! And it’s not what you are initially thinking. It stands for thinking any Self Harming Invasive Thoughts – these are the kind of thoughts and thinking that we use without realising that sabotage our efforts to do stuff including loosing weight and getting fit.

This book is designed to help you reprogramme your thoughts surrounding food.

Janet Thomson is a life coach with experience of neuro-linguistic programming, tapping (thought field therapy) and clinical therapy who believes that we (humans) have not yet learned the full power of our thoughts – and that our (individual) negative thoughts, for example, might well collectively get together out there together and have a nasty influence on our lives.

So now I have NO SHIT stickers all over my flat – on the fridge door and on the mirror! And it does work. I have second thoughts all the time about reaching for the chocolate or comfort food. No self-sabotage for me how that I take No Shit! It’s well worth the read.

Think More East Less costs £12.95 and is available in paper ]back.

High dose Vitamin D needed to protect against bone fracture

Posted on July 13, 2012 by Editor

New York: Higher doses of Vitamin D are needed to protect older adults against bone fractures, according to an analysis of several recent clinical trials.

The New England Journal of Medicine which examined 11 such trails reveals a protective effect for high dose vitamin D supplementation against the risk of fracture in older men and women. While 800 international units (IU) or more of the vitamin was associated with reduced fracture risk, lower doses did not appear to be effective.

“Vitamin D supplementation is an efficient intervention for a costly injury that affects thousands of older adults each year,” remarked senior author and Tufts University School of Medicine professor Bess Dawson-Hughes, MD.

“The average recovery is long and painful and deeply impacts quality of life. After a fracture, older patients may only regain partial mobility, resulting in a loss of independence that is personally demoralizing and that can place added stress on family members and caregivers.”

Dr Dawson-Hughes and her colleagues analyzed data from 31,022 individuals age 65 and older who were assigned to receive up to 2,000 IU oral vitamin D or a placebo in one of 11 randomized, controlled trials. Those who received the vitamin had a modest 10 percent lower risk of hip fracture and a 7 percent reduction in nonvertebral fracture overall; however, a stronger effect emerged for higher dose vitamin D when the participants were analyzed according to dosage. Among those whose vitamin D was among the top 25 percent of subjects at a median of 800 IU per day, there was a 30 percent lower adjusted risk of hip fracture and a 14 percent lower risk of nonvertebral fractures in comparison with those whose vitamin D intake was lowest.

“Taking between 800 IUs and 2,000 IUs of vitamin D per day significantly reduced the risk of most fractures, including hip, wrist and forearm in both men and women age 65 and older,” stated Dr Dawson-Hughes, who is the director of the Bone Metabolism Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. “Importantly, we saw there was no benefit to taking vitamin D supplements in doses below 800 IUs per day for fracture prevention.”

“Evaluation of individual-level data is the gold-standard of meta-analysis,” noted lead author Heike Bischoff-Ferrari, MD, DPh, who is the director of the Centre on Aging and Mobility at the University of Zurich and Waid City Hospital, and a visiting scientist at the Bone Metabolism Laboratory.

“Our results make a compelling contribution to the existing data on vitamin D and fracture risk in men and women age 65 and older, whose vulnerability to bone density loss and osteoporosis leave them prone to fractures resulting from thinning bones.”

High dose vitamin D is available at The Vitality Shop UK

Avon launches first wrinkle buster that works on 100% of women!

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Editor

London: Avon is launching a new anti-wrinkle formula that not only prevents collagen breakdown – the main reason for wrinkle formation – but also reverses skin damage including fine lines and wrinkles, in 100% of women who tested it.

The company claims that no other test on any other wrinkle cream currently on the market has produced such positive results. And that the new formula has proven in tests on real woman it works better than any other now on sale in the market – including those containing all the currently scientifically proven collagen boosters such as Alpha Hydroxy Acids, retinol (Vitamin A), vitamin C and skin growth factors.

Now thousands of women – 30,000 in the UK alone – are going online to sign up for the chance to be offered a 28-day free trial of the cream which goes on sale in the UK in September.

The new ingredient is a lab-made amino acid derivative, known as A-F33 which effectively boosts production of a skin enzyme – PLOD2 – which in turn leads to increased collagen production in the skin. The company says that 100% of woman using the cream had improvements in wrinkle depth – including deep wrinkles caused by smoking and sun damage.

Avon has added A-F33 to create the new product – an addition to the ANEW cutting-edge anti-ageing range to create Pro Line Creating Treatment which will sell at £30 for 30ml when it goes on sale through its Avon ‘ladies’ network.

The new product has been brought to market through an alliance with NeoStrata Company, a global leader in topical anti-aging technologies, whose products are sold through private dermatologists and medical practices.

According to the Avon press release: ” ANEW Clinical Pro Line Corrector Treatment leverages the power of A-F33 Aminofill, an innovative molecule that has been found in testing on skin cells to work in a way that other well-known anti-aging ingredients like glycolic acid, retinol, and CoQ10 don’t by deactivating critical collagen blocking in skin cells to help unleash untapped collagen. A-F33 is formulated to help stimulate skin cells to produce skin matrix components. ANEW Clinical Pro Line Corrector Treatment helps begin to reduce the look of deep and fine wrinkles in just seven days.”

Scientists tested the product against a rival product – the company insists it won’t name this product but we can exclusively reveal it was Clinique’s Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector serum (££39.50 for 30ml). The results on real women aged between 35 and 59 years showed that it was 40% more effective at reducing wrinkle depth. Avon also claims that in many cases the results were even better but they have picked the average change – many of the woman had a 94% decrease in fine lines and wrinkles over the 3 months of the lab trial.

Avon’s senior research & development scientist Anthony Gonzalez unveiling the product in London yesterday said they were considering its use in other formulations, including body products. It has also been successful in evening out skin tone and other discolourations caused by ageing and sun damage.

“It’s unknown for a product to have a reduction in fine wrinkles in100% of women,” he said.

If you would like the chance to try out this serum please contact us at readeroffer@elixirnews.com

Exercise boosts benefits of calorie restriction on longevity

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Editor

Exercise boosts the benefits of calorie restriction which is turn kickstarts the human metabolism to extend lifespan.

Scientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging report in the magazine Cell Metabolism the outcome of experiments, that suggest that it may be necessary to be physically active in order to derive maximum benefit from dietary restriction (DR).

Significant restriction of the intake of a particular nutrient or total calories has extended the life span of numerous species in laboratory experiments; however, researchers are still clarifying the mechanisms involved in the techniqueIn research involving fruit flies, Pankaj Kapahi, PhD and colleagues observed that the insects became more physically active when their protein source was restricted. The increased physical activity observed in the dietary-restricted flies was associated with greater fat synthesis and breakdown.

When fat synthesis in muscle tissue was blocked, so was the life-extending benefit of dietary restriction. And in flies whose motion was limited, the extended life span that normally results from a restricted diet did not occur.

“Ours is the first study to suggest that for dietary restriction to enhance lifespan, you need increased fat turnover in the muscle and an associated increase in physical activity,” Dr Kapahi announced. “Furthermore, it also suggests that dietary changes may enhance motivation to exercise and help derive maximal benefits of exercise.”In flies genetically engineered to overexpress the hormone AKH, metabolism and activity levels were enhanced and lifespan was extended, even without dietary restriction.

“Our data suggests that DR may induce changes in muscle similar to those observed under endurance exercise and that molecules like AKH could serve as potential mimetics for DR that enhance activity and healthspan,” remarked lead author and Buck Institute staff scientist Subhash D. Katewa, PhD.

“A better understanding of the dynamics of fat metabolism is needed in order to clarify its role in aging and disease. These current results suggest that enhanced fat metabolism could help slow aging and the onset of age-related disease.

“Dietary restriction is known to enhance spontaneous movement in a variety of species including primates, however this is the first examination of whether enhanced physical activity is necessary for its beneficial effects,” Dr Kapahi added.

“This study establishes a link between DR-mediated metabolic activity in muscle, increased movement and the benefits derived from restricting nutrients. Our work argues that simply restricting nutrients without physical activity may not be beneficial in humans.”

My Classic FM Romance internet dating hell – did I pop into Broadmoor by mistake?

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Editor

Would you ever think of popping into the secure unit of a class A mental hospital for a blind date? No I thought not! Well I recently popped onto the Classic FM Romance internet dating site but unfortunately it appears to be almost the same thing.

I did blind dates years ago – when the only place you could find possible companions was in the classified adverts of quality newspapers like The Times or the satirical magazine Private Eye.

I was very young, beautiful and slim and I was warned about my personal safety by friends who thought anyone doing that sort of thing, especially men were at the very best weird and the worst social misfits.

I discovered then that many were just that – plain misfits and others were sexual preditators with predilections they could not satisfy within normal relationships. The majority also had personality bypasses and plain bad manners.

A few years later I wrote about it for an international newspaper. A colleague did it in Rome, one in Madrid, another in Paris and of course I did it more than all of them put together in London – joining upmarket agencies and dinner dates. I recall one date where a man turned up in El Vinos wine bar not far from my office wearing a crumpled shirt with curled up frayed shirt collars and a dirty carrier bag which he spent most of the time rustling around in. At the dinner dates likewise I attracted the creeps which was most of the men who turned up. The women on the other hand were mostly pretty or attractive, witty and intelligent.

So I now I try and give fate a nudge again in 2012 with friends telling me that it has all changed and that it’s a numbers game now and eventually I will meet someone decent.

But I am still not convinced. Talk about kissing frogs – more like toads. I see very good looking men in their 40s, divorced in good jobs in the City and we have a good two way dialogue unti I ask one why he needs to go online, and why I assume in particular if he is articulate? And surely if its just for easy encounters, one night stands and sex why don’t they just go to a bar or one of those other sites. I get no answer from this particular man so I assume the worst and he couldn’t truthfully answer me.

So by the time you have ruled out players and married men (after sex), sex addicts (more serious), commitment-phobes, men who live with their mothers in their 30s, 40s, and 50s until they die, desperados, mental illness sufferers, general weirdos, boring people, men over 50 who seem to have lost all attention to their personal care, and the hideously ugly toads – there is not a lot left..honestly trust me.

And its not just about looks is it? So you read profiles where the writing is almost illiterate or someone pours out all their dirty washing about divorce and marital disharmony, death and widow-dom…and men looking for Mother Teresa (don’t they realise that she is dead?) ughhhh.

So I will be sharing my experiences here. By the way I put up a photo – that is not photo-shopped – am honest about my weight – but like most woman not about my age – on the grounds that if you met someone in ‘normal’ circumstances they wouldn’t know your age either. Although at one point I did say I was 99 because I couldn’t be older as Classic FM Romance doesn’t seem to allow 100 year-olds – which I pointed out must be age discrimination.

Some of my encounters have been highly amusing. And I have hard funny stories from men too – especially about really big ladies or ladies that have really fibbed about their age with no realistic prospect of being believed! And the Cornish fisherman who got spammed with Viagra ads after he told women he couldn’t see them currently because he was still sharing his home with his ex-wife because he couldn’t sell it.

But I do wonder what happens to the majority of people once they have come out of the womb, and who make it to adulthood but have become totally emotionally dysfunctional on the way?

First of all I chose ClassicFM because I thought (mistakenly) it would attract like-minded people interested in – hmm – yes classical music and opera. But no it’s actually what I would describe as a kind of aggregator for all the sites that appear to be on media outlets – so you actually get people from Saga, Kindred Spirits (Daily Telegraph) et al. Luckily we are spared illicit whats-it-called and fbuddies at least in name but not in spirit?

I hope my stories will amuse. Or should I write a funny paperback after all I would end up in Broadmoor if I took this seriously wouldn’t I? And if you have some to share let me know…

Medik8 launches new science-based anti-ageing serums

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Editor

There are very few anti-ageing products on the market today that are not promoted with all kinds of ridiculous hype – usually a hyped name linked to Botox …something or other “tox” or claims that some ridiculous TOWIE or WAG is using it – presumably on their artificial breasts as they seem to be the only thing that stands out about these people!

On the other hand you get a brand like Medik8 which just uses scientifically proven ingredients such as vitamins A and C in a value-for-money product, adding new ones as they become available.

Perhaps this is also because the driving force behind the brand is a pharmacist and not a marketing team?

Elliot Isaacs is the founder of Medik8 and his interest in cosmeceuticals began when he was working in his father’s chemist shop and saw the rush for Retin-A – probably the first of the new generation skin anti-ageing ingredients. His interest in his sister’s skin condition – a redness that wouldn’t go away – led him to develop the first of his niche products Red Alert in 2004, which incidentally is still a best seller today.

Elliot Isaacs

Medik8 now has a niche portfolio of anti-ageing creams and serums for the face and body.

My particular favourites are the serums such a s the CE Tetra Professional Strength ProCollagen Vitamin C Antioxidant Serum which can be used with their Titanium Skin Needling products – a roller for the face and another tiny one for the eye area – which improve the power of the product to penetrate skin cells.

Recently the company launched two new products – a newer and more potent Vitamin C serum – CE-Thione which as a technology to keep the vitamin C viable for longer than before. Unfortunately Vitamin C tends to biodegrade very quickly and putting old stuff on your face is worse than not putting anything on at all. The new product comes in two 15ml phials and costs £60 for 30ml.

The other product is a biotechnology engineered form of growth factors – this is the white liquid in the blood that fibroblasts (the part of living skin cells that make collagen which is responsible for keeping it plump and wrinkle-free) need to regenerate. This comes in a serum and is also incorporated into a new Hydr8 Day XD, a professional strength moisturiser for extra dry skin – in a 50 ml pump.

Both of these products are used morning and evening below a moisturiser such as the one mentioned above. Costs and sale date to follow. Medik8 Growth Factor Serum small.jpg

In the past skin growth factors were filtered from bovine fetal blood but not surprisingly animal rights and medical experts have expressed concern about cruelty and the risk of transferring disease. The Medik8 growth factor is lab engineered and triple filtered to remove impurities – so its 100% free of animal and human materials but fully compatible with our skin.

I have tried samples of all these products and my skin soaked up the serums and looked all the better after. But to see the full benefits you must weight four to six weeks which is the time it takes for skin renewal to take place.

Saving our bees – we visit the Neal’s Yard Bee Lovely Secret Garden

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Editor

Neal’s Yard Remedies, the organic skincare brand owned by the Kindersley publishing family – Peter Kindersley is chairman – held the relaunch of its “Bee Lovely’ range and campaign to save the decline in bees, in a hidden oasis in the middle of London.There is a beautiful wild flower garden – Pheonix Gardens – behind the Covent Garden end of Shaftesbury Avenue in the West End. This is a public garden where those in the know take their lunch to enjoy the peace and quiet.

The enhanced range now also includes Bee Lovely Busy Bee Balm (£6.50, 15g), Bath & Shower Gel (£14, 295ml), Body Lotion £21, 295ml) and Handwash(£12, 295ml) along with the Bee Lovely Handcream – a family range of products for adults and children aged three years and over. The products contain mandarin oil and smell delicious and easily sink into the skin – so lovely for the whole family to use which saves on buying lots of different products.

All the products are Soil Certified and £1 from every handcream sale is being donated to the Neal’s Yard Support our Bee Lovely Campaign which supports the bee-friendly initiatives of Buglife, Landlife and Pesticide Action Network UK.Why are our bees disappearing? Many causes have been attributed to this decline but the main reason is pesticides which are poisoning bees, while the loss of habitat and wild flowers is starving them to death.

Since World War ll, Britain has lost 3 milliion hectares of wild flowers. This has wrecked the symbiotic relationship between bees and wild plants – habitat and pollinators rely on each other to survive, the loss of one means the loss of the other. Without habitat there is no wildlife. It is that simple! You can also pick up a free booklet Help Save the Bees Book in stores – its has information on how you can help save bees and re-generate the population.

The secret garden at WC2 – just off Shaftesbury Avenue in London’s busy West End

Christmas in July season launches with M & S and Tesco

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Editor

It’s that time of year again when the large stores launch all their Christmas goodies to the press. This is so that those glossy mags that work months in advance can plan their Xmas coverage and gift guides.

Marks & Spencer held their event at No 1 Mayfair, formerly St Mark’s Church in North Audley Street – just across the road from their flagship Marble Arch Store. Given that its only the start of July (despite the vile weather) the Xmas trees outside were a bit of a traffic stopper.

No 1 Mayfair is a sister venue to No 1 Marylebone and the features of the church are still all intact including the stunning stained glass window pictured below.

So here is something on offer in the kitchen: Pinneys small.jpg

Pinneys’ smoked salmon expert explains the difference between the different types of smoking methods and types of salmon

And in the bedroom:

Margalet – a new introduction for Xmas

And then to Tesco who held their event at Washington House, the apartment suite at the Westbury Hotel in Mayfair.

CoQ10 – more benefits

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Editor

CoQ10’s “Other” Health Benefits

By Sherry Kahn, MPH

Published in Life Extension magazine February 2006

Coenzyme Q10 is a mitochondrial energizer that has shown remarkable effects against common heart ailments and neurological disorders. In just the past year, scientists have uncovered specific mechanisms indicating that CoQ10 may have a role in fighting certain cancers. Most surprising, however, are new studies that show how CoQ10 guards against a wide array of common age-related disorders. In this article, we summarize recent discoveries that significantly broaden the clinical utility of CoQ10.

Guarding the Brain After Cardiac Arrest

People who survive cardiac arrest often suffer irreversible brain damage as a result of the disruption of oxygen to the brain. European researchers recently investigated whether combining CoQ10 with mild hypothermia–a technique proven to reduce neuronal damage and increase survival–might enhance the effects of that treatment.1

Forty-nine patients who had suffered cardiac arrest and then received cardiopulmonary resuscitation were randomly selected to receive hypothermia (reduction of body temperature) treatment plus CoQ10 or hypothermia plus placebo. The hypothermia treatment involved the patients being placed on a body-surface-cooling mattress.

The patients were then administered either liquid CoQ10 (250 mg followed by 150 mg three times daily for five days) or a placebo through a nasogastric tube. The remarkable findings showed that three-month survival in the CoQ10 group was 68%, compared to only 29% in the placebo group. Coenzyme Q10 thus helped reduce the death rate from cardiac arrest by an astounding 57%. The researchers also found that 36% of patients in the CoQ10 group had a good neurological outcome at three months, versus only 20% in the placebo group.1

Preventing the Onset of Migraine

Migraine headaches are a debilitating, all-too-common affliction. Because mitochondrial dysfunction may play a role in migraines by limiting oxygen metabolism, researchers recently explored the use of CoQ10 in preventing these headaches. Published in the February 2005 issue of Neurology, the research describes a placebo-controlled trial of 42 patients in Switzerland.2

Patients who had suffered migraines for a year or more, with two to eight attacks per month, were randomly assigned to receive either 100 mg of CoQ10 or placebo, three times daily. At the end of the three-month trial, the CoQ10-treated group had lower attack frequency and fewer headache days and days with nausea than did the placebo group. The mean number of monthly migraine attacks dropped from 4.4 to 3.2 in the CoQ10 group, compared to a negligible decrease from 4.4 to 4.3 in the placebo group.2

In this study, supplemental CoQ10 reduced migraine frequency by 27%.

Slowing Early Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration is the most common cause of vision loss in people over 60.3 With the deterioration of the macula (a tiny cluster of highly specialized cells in the retina) central vision progressively begins to blur. As the disease worsens, central vision loss may increase until it becomes impossible to perform tasks that require detailed vision, such as driving and reading.

In recent years, researchers have focused on how oxidative damage affects age-related macular degeneration. The eye, one of the body’s most metabolically active organs, not only generates an enormous amount of free radicals through normal function, but also incurs additional oxidative damage from ultraviolet radiation and air pollution. In recent trials, the use of antioxidants has been shown to counter age-related macular degeneration. For example, in an 11-center, double-blind clinical trial conducted by the National Eye Institute (a division of the National Institutes of Health), a combination of antioxidants plus zinc slowed macular degeneration progression in people with intermediate or advanced disease by about 25%.4

Hungarian scientists are now exploring a metabolic rather than an antioxidant approach to managing macular degeneration. Citing findings that mitochondrial dysfunction might also play a role in the development of the disease, the researchers designed a clinical trial to evaluate intervention in early age-related macular degeneration with a combination of compounds–including CoQ10–that have demonstrated the ability to improve mitochondrial metabolism. The researchers reported results of their double-blind, placebo-controlled trial last year in the journal Opthalmologica.5 More than 100 patients with early age-related macular degeneration were randomly assigned to receive either two capsules per day containing 200 mg of acetyl-L-carnitine, 780 mg of omega-3 fatty acids, and 20 mg of CoQ10, or capsules containing an equal quantity of soy oil.

At the end of the 12-month treatment period, the researchers found statistically significant improvement in the treatment group as measured by all four parameters of visual function studied. In addition, only one of the 48 patients (2%) in the treatment group showed clinically significant worsening in visual field mean defect (blind spots in the visual field), the primary study endpoint, compared to 9 of 53 patients (17%) in the placebo group. The decrease in drusen–tiny yellow retinal deposits associated with macular degeneration–of the treated eyes was also statistically significant compared to placebo when either the most-affected eyes or the less-affected eyes were considered. In the less-affected eyes, the drusen-covered area decreased by 23% in the treated group, but increased by 13% in the placebo group. These findings suggest that intervention with an appropriate combination of nutrients that affect mitochondrial lipid metabolism may stabilize and even improve visual functions in early age-related macular degeneration.5

New Applications in Fighting Cancer

Research on CoQ10 and cancer has focused on two lines of inquiry: CoQ10’s ability to improve immune response and its ability to decrease the cardiotoxicity caused by a common class of anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

Patients with cancer often exhibit low levels of CoQ10,6,7 and researchers have shown that CoQ10 can increase immune response in humans.8

Based on these findings, Danish researchers investigated CoQ10’s effects alone and in combination with other nutrients as an adjunctive therapy for breast cancer.

In one case report, the researchers describe three breast cancer patients with metastasized cancer. The women underwent conventional cancer treatment and supplemented with a daily dose of 390 mg of CoQ10. All three women demonstrated tumor regression and decreased incidence of metastasis.9

In another study, the same research team investigated 32 high-risk breast cancer patients whose malignancy had spread to the lymph nodes.10 In addition to conventional therapeutic interventions, this group of patients received a daily combination of nutrients (vitamin C: 2850 mg; vitamin E: 2500 IU; beta-carotene: 32.5 IU; selenium: 387 mcg; and secondary vitamins and minerals), essential fatty acids (1.2 grams of gamma linolenic acid and 3.5 grams of omega-3 fatty acids), and 90 mg of CoQ10. At the end of the 18-month trial, six patients showed apparent partial remission, none of the patients showed signs of additional metastases, and their quality of life improved. None of the patients died during the study period, though four deaths were expected based on the patients’ disease stage. In one of the six patients with partial remission, the dose o
f CoQ10 in the nutritional protocol was increased to 390 mg. After two months, that patient’s tumor had disappeared completely, as confirmed by a mammogram.10

While chemotherapy drugs can be highly effective, their use can also be limited by toxic side effects. This has been noted in the case of anthracyclines, a class of drugs widely used in cancer chemotherapy. These drugs have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of leukemia, lymphomas, and solid malignancies, and are often used to treat breast cancer, with higher doses yielding greater clinical responses. These higher doses of anthracyclines, however, can produce toxic effects on heart tissue, possibly leading to cardiomyopathy and heart failure that are not responsive to conventional pharmacological interventions.11 In fact, anthracyclines selectively damage mitochondria in the heart, but not in other organs.11 Since coenzyme Q10 supports both heart tissue and mitochondria, researchers conducted human trials to determine whether CoQ10 might prevent cardiotoxicity during the administration of anthracyclines.12

Two recent review articles addressed CoQ10’s potential as an adjunctive therapy during chemotherapy with anthracyclines. Writing in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, researchers summarized five reviewed studies in which CoQ10 was given along with anthracyclines.12 They report that in three of the studies that measured heart rhythm, patients who received CoQ10 showed favorable changes suggesting that CoQ10 might have a stabilizing effect on the heart. They also note that supplementation did not interfere with anthracycline treatment, and that no adverse effects were reported in any of the trials. The authors concluded that although coenzyme Q10 demonstrates potential for reducing cardiotoxicity, larger and more rigorous investigations are needed.

Slowing Neurodegenerative Disease Progression

Many investigators have conducted preclinical studies examining how oxidative stress and impaired mitochondrial function may contribute to neuronal cell death, a characteristic of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases.13-17 For example, a recent journal article in Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology reported on the effects of the herbicide paraquat on neuronal cell death in the laboratory.17 The researchers found that this toxic chemical damaged mitochondria and increased free radical production, eventually resulting in the death of neuronal cells. Pretreatment of the cell cultures with CoQ10, however, inhibited both mitochondrial dysfunction and free radical generation.17 The researchers postulated that coenzyme Q10 may prove useful in preventing and treating neurodegenerative conditions related to environmental toxins.

While published research on the use of CoQ10 in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease has been limited to preclinical studies, investigations of CoQ10 and Parkinson’s disease have moved into clinical trials, including randomized controlled studies. This work has been led by Clifford Shults, MD, professor of neurosciences at the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine. In Parkinson’s disease, brain cells that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine progressively die. Research in animals has shown that CoQ10 can protect the substantia nigra, the area of the brain where these cells reside. Studies by Dr. Shults and others have shown that mitochondrial dysfunction and diminished mitochondrial CoQ10 levels frequently occur in Parkinson’s sufferers.18

With funding from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders (a division of the National Institutes of Health), Dr. Shults and his colleagues undertook the first double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial of CoQ10 in patients with early untreated Parkinson’s disease. In this phase II, dose-finding study, 80 patients were randomly assigned to receive one of three different CoQ10 doses (300 mg/day, 600 mg/day, or 1200 mg/day) with vitamin E, or a placebo containing vitamin E alone. The patients were followed for 16 months or until the participants required levodopa, a standard drug treatment for managing disease symptoms.19

The results, reported in the Archives of Neurology, showed that patients who received the largest dose of CoQ10 (1200 mg/day) had 44% less decline in mental function, movement, and ability to carry out activities of daily living than those who received the placebo.19 Patients who received CoQ10 doses of 300 mg/day and 600 mg/day also showed some slowing in decline compared to the placebo group, but not as much as those who took the highest dose. The authors concluded that CoQ10 was safe and well tolerated at doses up to 1200 mg/day.

Most recently, Dr. Shults and his team conducted an open label trial in which 17 patients were given an escalating dose of CoQ10 (1200 mg/day, 1800 mg/day, 2400 mg/day, and 3000 mg/day) combined with a stable dose of 1200 IU/day of vitamin E over a two-month period.20 They found that CoQ10 was well tolerated at high doses, but plasma levels of CoQ10 did not continue to rise when the dose was increased from 2400 to 3000 mg/day. There was no significant change in motor abilities in these Parkinson’s disease patients, some of whom were concurrently taking medications for the disease. Based on these findings, the researchers recommended conducting a phase III study to investigate the longer-term effect of high doses on previously untreated patients.

“Our [phase III] study will compare a placebo with 1200 mg/day and 2400 mg/day of CoQ10 and will enroll 200 subjects with early untreated disease in each treatment arm,” Dr. Shults told Life Extension in an exclusive interview. “The study . . . will probably take four years, with the results published a year later,” he added. In addition to that study, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is currently investigating the effects of a 2400-mg/day dose of CoQ10 in patients with early, untreated Parkinson’s disease.18

A clinical trial has also been undertaken in patients with Huntington’s disease, a neurodegenerative genetic disorder. This trial, conducted by the Huntington Study Group, randomly assigned 347 patients with Huntington’s disease to receive CoQ10 at 600 mg/day, remacemide hydrochloride at 600 mg/day, a combination of both, or placebo. Over the 30-month trial, the CoQ10 treated patients showed a 13% decrease in overall functional decline and beneficial trends in some secondary measures. However, the difference between the CoQ10 group and the other groups did not reach statistical significance.21

Other Potential Applications

In recent months, scientists have uncovered a widening array of applications for coenzyme Q10. According to new studies, CoQ10 may:

Protect against hearing loss. Mitochondrial DNA mutation is one cause of sensorineural hearing loss, a condition that causes changes in the inner ear or nerve pathways and is not correctable through medical interventions.23 In individuals with genetically based sensorineural hearing loss, coenzyme Q10 supplementation prevented further loss of hearing, while the control that did not supplement demonstrated continued deterioration of hearing function.

Improve learning. Supplementation with vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 helped a group of older mice to learn tasks more quickly than mice supplemented with only one of the two antioxidants.24 These findings suggest that coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E act in concert and may together help prevent age-related deficits in cognitive function.

Extend life span. In animals fed a diet enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids, supplementing with coenzyme Q10 increased life span and protected against DNA alterations. Scientists recently determined that CoQ10 supplemen
tation may confer these benefits by attenuating the decline in naturally occurring antioxidants that commonly accompanies aging.25

Prevent cachexia. The combination of coenzyme Q10 with vitamins B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin) offers promise in preventing the weight loss and muscle wasting associated with cancer. In cancer, mitochondrial energy production is diminished, which may ultimately lead to the fatigue, weight loss, and muscle loss known as cachexia. In rats with experimentally induced breast cancer, supplementation with the energy-modulating nutrients B2, B3, and CoQ10 helped restore mitochondrial energy production, suggesting that this nutrient combination may help prevent cachexia.26

Assist muscle regeneration. Supplementing with coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E supported muscle regeneration in animals with experimentally induced muscle decay. The investigators noted that CoQ10 exerted a greater influence on muscle regeneration than did vitamin E.27

Protect against surgical stress. Supplementing with 300 mg of CoQ10 daily for two weeks prior to heart surgery boosted measures of heart muscle health, investigators recently noted. When heart muscle samples of the supplemented individuals were analyzed following elective surgery, this tissue exhibited improved energy production, decreased oxidative stress, and enhanced recovery from oxygen depletion compared to tissue samples from unsupplemented patients.28

Promote male fertility. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation for six months improved asthenozoospermia (reduced sperm motility) in infertile men.29 In an earlier study, administering a CoQ10 analog to men led to significant increases in both sperm count and motility.30 These findings suggest that CoQ10 may help improve defective sperm function, a common and difficult-to-treat cause of male infertility.

Protect against senile plaques. A laboratory study demonstrated CoQ10’s ability to destabilize amyloid beta peptides, a hallmark abnormality of Alzheimer’s disease.31 This suggests a further potential neuroprotective mechanism of coenzyme Q10.

Impede diabetic complications. An animal study has shown that CoQ10 displays potential for preventing complications associated with diabetes.32

Lower triglycerides. The results of an Italian preliminary clinical trial suggest that the combination of CoQ10 and fibrate drugs may benefit individuals with exceedingly high levels of triglycerides who fail to respond to fibrates alone.33

Summary

The latest findings suggest that, along with its heart-protective effects, CoQ10 may slow or improve some degenerative diseases, support cancer remission, counteract the toxic effects of chemotherapy, and decrease the incidence of migraine headaches. Additionally, recent findings indicate that coenzyme Q10 may have applications in promoting fertility, protecting auditory function, supporting longevity, boosting learning capability, sustaining muscle health and much more.

CoQ10 investigations are expanding into new areas, and researchers are now calling for larger, well-designed studies to support intriguing findings from small and observational trials. With CoQ10’s pervasiveness in the body and the many essential functions it performs, scientists will no doubt continue to elucidate this vital nutrient’s many potential applications.

DYNAMIC DUO: COQ10 AND VITAMIN E

In addition to its direct scavenging of free radicals, CoQ10 also helps regenerate vitamin E, another important antioxidant. Vitamin E provides antioxidant protection in fat-soluble environments such as cell membranes.18 When coenzyme Q10 levels in cell membranes are diminished, regeneration of vitamin E is slowed as well.22

Buy superior CoQ10 at www.thevitalithshopuk.com

References

1. Damian MS, Ellenberg D, Gildemeister R, et al. Coenzyme Q10 combined with mild hypothermia after cardiac arrest: a preliminary study. Circulation. 2004 Nov 9;110(19):3011-6.

2. Sandor PS, Di CL, Coppola G, et al. Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized controlled trial. Neurology. 2005 Feb 22;64(4):713-5.

3. Available at: www.nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen.armd_facts.asp#1. Accessed November 16, 2005.

4. Anon. A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of high-dose supplementation with vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and zinc for age-related macular degeneration and vision loss: AREDS report no. 8. Arch Ophthalmol. 2001 Oct;119(10):1417-36.

5. Feher J, Kovacs B, Kovacs I, et al. Improvement of visual functions and fundus alterations in early age-related macular degeneration treated with a combination of acetyl-L-carnitine, n-3 fatty acids, and coenzyme Q10. Ophthalmologica. 2005 May;219(3):154-66.

6. Folkers K, Osterborg A, Nylander M, Morita M, Mellstedt H. Activities of vitamin Q10 in animal models and a serious deficiency in patients with cancer. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1997 May 19;234(2):296-9.

7. Portakal O, Ozkaya O, Erden IM, et al. Coenzyme Q10 concentrations and antioxidant status in tissues of breast cancer patients. Clin Biochem. 2000 Jun;33(4):279-84.

8. Folkers K, Morita M, McRee J, Jr. The activities of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin B6 for immune responses. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1993 May 28;193(1):88-92.

9. Lockwood K, Moesgaard S, Yamamoto T, Folkers K. Progress on therapy of breast cancer with vitamin Q10 and the regression of metastases. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1995 Jul 6;212(1):172-7.

10. Lockwood K, Moesgaard S, Hanioka T, Folkers K. Apparent partial remission of breast cancer in ‘high risk’ patients supplemented with nutritional antioxidants, essential fatty acids and coenzyme Q10. Mol Aspects Med. 1994;15 Suppls231-s240.

11. Conklin KA. Coenzyme q10 for prevention of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. Integr Cancer Ther. 2005 Jun;4(2):110-30.

12. Roffe L, Schmidt K, Ernst E. Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 for improved tolerability of cancer treatments: a systematic review. J Clin Oncol. 2004 Nov 1;22(21):4418-24.

13. Somayajulu M, McCarthy S, Hung M, et al. Role of mitochondria in neuronal cell death induced by oxidative stress; neuroprotection by Coenzyme Q10. Neurobiol Dis. 2005 Apr;18(3):618-27.

14. Sohmiya M, Tanaka M, Tak NW, et al. Redox status of plasma coenzyme Q10 indicates elevated systemic oxidative stress in Parkinson’s disease. J Neurol Sci. 2004 Aug 30;223(2):161-6.

15. Menke T, Gille G, Reber F, et al. Coenzyme Q10 reduces the toxicity of rotenone in neuronal cultures by preserving the mitochondrial membrane potential. Biofactors. 2003;18(1-4):65-72.

16. Shavali S, Carlson EC, Swinscoe JC, Ebadi M. 1-Benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, a Parkinsonism-inducing endogenous toxin, increases alpha-synuclein expression and causes nuclear damage in human dopaminergic cells. J Neurosci Res. 2004 May 15;76(4):563-71.

17. McCarthy S, Somayajulu M, Sikorska M, Borowy-Borowski H, Pandey S. Paraquat induces oxidative stress and neuronal cell death; neuroprotection by water-soluble Coenzyme Q10. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2004 Nov 15;201(1):21-31.

18. Shults CW. Therapeutic role of coenzyme Q(10) in Parkinson’s disease. Pharmacol Ther. 2005 Jul;107(1):120-30.

19. Shults CW, Oakes D, Kieburtz K, et al. Effects of coenzyme Q10 in early Parkinson disease: evidence of slowing of the functional decline. Arch Neurol. 2002 Oct;59(10):1541
-50.

20. Shults CW, Flint BM, Song D, Fontaine D. Pilot trial of high dosages of coenzyme Q10 in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Exp Neurol. 2004 Aug;188(2):491-4.

21. Anon. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of coenzyme Q10 and remacemide in Huntington’s disease. Neurology. 2001 Aug 14;57(3):397-404.

22. Crane FL. Biochemical functions of coenzyme Q10. J Am Coll Nutr. 2001 Dec;20(6):591-8.

23. Angeli SI, Liu XZ, Yan D, Balkany T, Telischi F. Coenzyme Q-10 treatment of patients with a 7445A—>G mitochondrial DNA mutation stops the progression of hearing loss. Acta Otolaryngol. 2005 May;125(5):510-2.

24. McDonald SR, Sohal RS, Forster MJ. Concurrent administration of coenzyme Q10 and alpha-tocopherol improves learning in aged mice. Free Radic Biol Med. 2005 Mar 15;38(6):729-36.

25. Bello RI, Gomez-Diaz C, Buron MI, et al. Enhanced anti-oxidant protection of liver membranes in long-lived rats fed on a coenzyme Q10-supplemented diet. Exp Gerontol. 2005 Aug;40(8-9):694-706.

26. Perumal SS, Shanthi P, Sachdanandam P. Energy-modulating vitamins–a new combinatorial therapy prevents cancer cachexia in rat mammary carcinoma. Br J Nutr. 2005 Jun;93(6):901-9.

27. Otrocka-Domagala I, Rotkiewicz T, Karpinska J, et al. The effect of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E on the regeneration of skeletal muscles in pigs. Pol J Vet Sci. 2004;7(4):295-303.

28. Rosenfeldt F, Marasco S, Lyon W, et al. Coenzyme Q10 therapy before cardiac surgery improves mitochondrial function and in vitro contractility of myocardial tissue. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005 Jan;129(1):25-32.

29. Balercia G, Mosca F, Mantero F, et al. Coenzyme Q(10) supplementation in infertile men with idiopathic asthenozoospermia: an open, uncontrolled pilot study. Fertil Steril. 2004 Jan;81(1):93-8.

30. Anon. Coenzyme Q10. Altern Med Rev. 1998 Feb;3(1):58-61.

31. Ono K, Hasegawa K, Naiki H, Yamada M. Preformed beta-amyloid fibrils are destabilized by coenzyme Q10 in vitro. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Apr 29;330(1):111-6.

32. Al-Thakafy HS, Khoja SM, Al-Marzouki ZM, Zailaie MZ, Al-Marzouki KM. Alterations of erythrocyte free radical defense system, heart tissue lipid peroxidation, and lipid concentration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats under coenzyme Q10 supplementation. Saudi Med J. 2004 Dec;25(12):1824-30.

33. Cicero AF, Derosa G, Miconi A, et al. Possible role of ubiquinone in the treatment of massive hypertriglyceridemia resistant to PUFA and fibrates. Biomed Pharmacother. 2005 Jul;59(6):312-7.guog

Vitamin CoQ10 now shown to retard Huntingdon disease

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Editor

Rochester: New research from the US reveals that the anti-oxidant vitamin CoQ10 can slow the progress of the neurodegenerative disease, Huntingdon’s.

Experts at the University of Rochester have found more evidence for the use of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) to retard Huntington disease’s progression. Huntington’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a genetic error that produces abnormal proteins in the brain’s cells. Scientists believe that these protein deposits result in oxidative stress that ultimately kills the cells that contain them.

CoQ10, due to its support of the cells’ mitochondria and its antioxidant effect, has been investigated as a possible agent to treat Huntington’s disease. The current research evaluated 14 Huntington’s disease patients and 6 healthy controls that had been given CoQ10 in a clinical trial known as Pre-2Care. Participants in Pre-2Care received 1200 milligrams CoQ10 daily for eight weeks and 3600 milligrams per day for the remaining 12 weeks of the study.

Stored blood samples obtained at the beginning and end of the treatment period were analyzed for serum 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG), which has been correlated with the presence of oxidative stress in the brain’s cells and has been found to be elevated in those with Huntington’s disease and other neurologic disorders. While the Pre-2Care study had found a reduction in Huntington’s disease symptoms after treatment with CoQ10, the current research uncovered a 20 percent reduction in 8OHdG levels in CoQ10-treated Huntington’s disease patients as well as a nonsignificant reduction in subjects who did not have the disease.

Kevin M. Biglan, MD, MPH a neurologist at the University of Rochester and his colleagues say that “Identifying treatments that slow the progression or delay the onset of Huntington’s disease is a major focus of the medical community.”

He adds: “This study demonstrates that 8OHdG could be an ideal marker to identify the presence oxidative injury and whether or not treatment is having an impact.”

He noted that “While the current data can’t address the use of 8OHdG as a surrogate marker for the clinical effectiveness of antioxidants in Huntington’s disease, we’ve established that 8OHdG can serve as a marker of the pharmacological activity of an intervention.”

“This study supports the hypothesis that CoQ exerts antioxidant effects in patients with Huntington’s disease and therefore is a treatment that warrants further study,” he concluded. “As importantly, it has provided us with a new method to evaluate the efficacy of potential new treatments.”

DHEA – the hormone

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Editor

REDUCES INFLAMMATION, ENHANCES IMMUNITY, PROTECTS ARTERIES AND THE BRAIN – by Ivy Greenwell – extract from Life Extension magazine

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) hormones are the most abundant steroids in the human body. Low levels of DHEA are associated with aging and disease states. Specifically, a deficiency of DHEA has been found to correlate with immune dysfunction, inflammation, greater risk of certain cancers, heart disease in men, and osteoporosis. The special interest in DHEA replacement, however, stems from its function as a prohormone, meaning a precursor to a great variety of beneficial steroids, both in the estrogenic and androgenic family, on an “as-needed” basis.

Perhaps the most exciting new finding relates to the antiatherogenic benefits of DHEA. The dramatic aging-related drop in DHEA levels is accompanied by an equally dramatic rise in cardiovascular disease. We have now come closer to elucidating the cardioprotective mechanism of DHEA. It appears that DHEA is incorporated into both high and low-density cholesterol, protecting it from oxidation. In the aged, however, cholesterol-bound DHEA becomes virtually undetectable, and the cholesterol molecules are much more susceptible to oxidation than in young individuals. But this is not the end of the story. It turns out that DHEA also increases the activity of platelet superoxide dismutase (SOD), one of our most important antioxidant enzymes. Thus, DHEA seems to play an essential role as part of the body’s antioxidant defenses.

Another recent finding involves the anti-inflammatory properties of DHEA. It has been known for a long time that DHEA can lower the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory cytokine (meaning a chemical messenger used by the immune system) that seriously escalates the inflammatory process, recruiting immune cells that often end up destroying healthy tissue as well. Now it has been established that DHEA can lower the production of another inflammatory cytokine as well, one called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). The levels of both IL-6 and TNF-alpha rise with aging, showing an increased inflammatory state and possible immune dysfunction. The role of DHEA in regulating the immune response has been shown to include also the enhanced secretion of interferon-gamma. The decline in DHEA levels is closely tied to immunosenescence.

This is excellent news for those who suffer from chronic inflammatory diseases. However, it could be argued that aging itself is, in a sense, a chronic inflammatory state. The levels of various chemical mediators of inflammation, such as IL-6 and TNF, increase as we age. At the same time, our production of DHEA plummets with aging. Maintaining youthful levels of DHEA means less chronic inflammation. It should be pointed out that chronic inflammation is known to play a critical role in the development of the killer diseases of aging: heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and certain types of cancer.

One surprising finding showed that DHEA can help some infertile patients ovulate and become pregnant, making previously ineffective ovarian stimulation succeed at last.

More good news includes also the finding that DHEA protects brain tissue under conditions simulating stroke and trauma damage, and is likely to be involved in protecting the brain against the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The neuroprotective mechanism of DHEA appears to go beyond its anti-glucocorticoid effect, that is, its ability to antagonize the harmful effects of cortisol; anti-inflammatory action is likely to be involved as well. DHEA has also been shown to lower hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar) in diabetic rats, and protect their kidneys from the damage caused by high blood sugar. In addition, DHEA enhances the immune response and helps us fight infection; several studies have confirmed its usefulness in combating bacterial, parasitic and viral infections, including HIV. DHEA also helps protect the thymus against cortisol-induced atrophy.

Speaking of cortisol, we are beginning to understand that it is the ratio of DHEA to cortisol that is of critical importance in aging and certain diseases such as AIDS. A recent French study done at the Pasteur Institute in Paris found that the minority of patients who do not succumb to the severe side effects of highly aggressive antiretroviral therapy show a normalized DHEA/cortisol ratio. The majority of AIDS patients, however, have an abnormally low DHEA/cortisol ratio and thus suffer from symptoms usually associated with excess cortisol, even though their cortisol levels are within normal. Cardiac patients and the victims of Alzheimer’s disease also show low DHEA/cortisol ratio. The manipulation of this crucial ratio, including DHEA therapy, could prove highly significant both in the treatment of AIDS and in anti-aging medicine in general. In fact, a small pilot study has already indicated that DHEA combined with an anti-inflammatory drug such as indomethacin can moderate or even normalize the various pathological changes of AIDS-related lipodystrophy.

One surprising finding showed that an 80 mg/day dose of DHEA can help some infertile patients ovulate and become pregnant, making previously ineffective ovarian stimulation succeed at last (in one case, the result was twins!). An animal study confirmed that DHEA is important as a steroidogenic substrate (precursor of other hormones) in ovarian production of various sex steroids. Interestingly, immunomodulatory 7-hydroxy metabolites of DHEA have also been discovered in human semen, with possible further implications for fertility. In postmenopausal women, research on DHEA replacement continues to indicate improved well-being and libido, among many other benefits. We are also closer to understanding the mechanism through which DHEA enhances the sense of well-being: it significantly increases the levels of beta-endorphins.

Those readers who are considering following a ketogenic (low-carbohydrate) diet may be interested in a small study done on rheumatoid arthritis patients: the low-calorie ketogenic diet using less than 40 g of carbohydrates per day resulted in a 34% rise in DHEA within a week; the ketogenic diet was as effective as sub-total fast in raising DHEA levels. This study needs to be replicated, however, using a larger number of healthy subjects. In primates, calorie restriction has indeed been found to preserve higher DHEA levels, indicating a slower rate of aging. In humans, fasting is known to raise DHEA levels in both sexes. Anorexic and bulimic women likewise show higher serum DHEA. Exercise can also raise DHEA in some individuals, possibly due to the inverse relationship between DHEA and insulin. Finally, while meditation has long been known to increase DHEA, participation in drum circles has also been shown to increase DHEA and DHEA/cortisol ratio, confirming the hypothesis that stress reduction in general boosts DHEA production, probably through a shift of adrenal steroidogenesis from cortisol to DHEA. High insulin, high cortisol and low DHEA constitute a large part of the pathological endocrine profile of aging. Restoring the correct hormonal ratios should be one of the primary goals of any anti-aging program.

DHEA protects the cardiovascular system

Epidemiological studies continue to confirm the correlation between the levels of DHEA in men with their risk of cardiovascular disease. Most recently, the Massachusetts Male Aging Study followed over 1700 men between the ages of 40 and 70 for nine years. The authors found that men in the lowest quartile of serum DHEA at baseline were 60% more likely to develop ischemic heart disease. Low serum DHEA was also a significant predictor. Likewise, studies continue to confirm lower DHEA values in cardiac patients combined with higher insulin levels, wi
th a “close inverse correlation” between insulin and DHEA. This raises the question as to whether DHEA is the “missing link” in hyperinsulinemia and atherosclerosis.

A very important Canadian study has partly elucidated the way DHEA works to protect blood vessels against atherosclerosis. The authors found that in elderly patients vitamin E is unable to restore the resistance of LDL to oxidation back to the levels found in youth. DHEA, on the other hand, did increase the resistance of LDL to oxidation in a dose-dependent manner. This study found evidence indicating that DHEA is actually incorporated into the molecules of both LDL and HDL cholesterol, and acts as an antioxidant. During aging, however, cholesterol-bound DHEA practically disappears. In the elderly, the levels of cholesterol-bound DHEA are virtually nondetectable, and their LDL cholesterol becomes very susceptible to oxidative damage. (Estrogen esters apparently function in a similar way, protecting LDL against oxidation.)

DHEA has also been shown to reduce the amount of atherosclerotic plaque in rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet. One clue about the cardioprotective mechanism of DHEA comes from a recent Japanese study, which compared animals given DHEA with animals given DHEA together with an aromatase inhibitor, a compound that prevents the conversion of DHEA to estrogens. The amount of the plaque was diminished by 60% in animals receiving DHEA alone, but only by 30% in animals receiving DHEA and an aromatase inhibitor. The authors conclude that approximately half of the antiatherosclerotic effect of DHEA is due to its conversion to estrogens and an increased release of nitric oxide.

Another study using male castrated cholesterol-fed rabbits as an animal model of atherosclerosis compared the effects of oral DHEA against those of testosterone enanthate given by injection, oral synthetic testosterone and placebo. Sham-operated non-castrated rabbits also served as a control group. Aortic atherosclerosis was highest in the placebo group and lowest in the group receiving testosterone injections. The degree of atherosclerosis was intermediate in the DHEA group, which did better than the oral testosterone group, and slightly better than the noncastrated rabbits that had the benefit of their own testosterone. The study showed that both testosterone and DHEA help prevent atherosclerosis. The benefit could be only partly explained in terms of the impact on the serum lipids.

Finally, a study done at the University of Wroclaw, Poland, found that DHEA decreased the levels of serum lipid peroxides in rabbits fed a normal diet, but not in rabbits with induced severe hypercholesterolemia. However, both healthy rabbits and rabbits with extremely high cholesterol showed an increase in the activity of platelet superoxide dismutase (SOD), a crucial antioxidant enzyme. Again, it should be stressed that this increase in SOD activity was observed both in rabbits fed a normal diet and in rabbits fed an atherogenic diet, which usually show decreased SOD activity. Increase in SOD activity may partly explain DHEA’s antioxidant effects.

Overall, there seems to be a consensus that while DHEA may not be cardioprotective in women, men with low levels of DHEA are at a greater risk of a heart attack. For older men, cardiovascular health appears to be yet another excellent reason for taking DHEA supplements.

Brain protection

DHEA is especially abundant in the human brain. Many earlier studies reported a protective effect of DHEA against the deterioration of mental function with aging, and an inverse correlation between DHEA levels and neurodegerative disease such as Alzheimer’s. A recent Canadian study found that rats implanted with a high dose of DHEA showed significantly less hippocampal damage after stroke was induced (60% injured neurons as compared to 88% for placebo).

In another study, DHEA proved to be the most potent of all the steroids tested in its ability to inhibit the formation of excess reactive astroglia in the event of a penetrating wound of the cerebral cortex, thus downregulating the immune response, which otherwise might injure healthy neurons in the vicinity of the wound. It has been demonstrated that DHEA markedly inhibits tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-6 in glial cells. The ability to lower the levels of these inflammatory mediators may be an important part of the neuroprotective mechanism of DHEA.

In addition, DHEA has been shown to protect against the toxicity of the amyloid-beta protein and excess glutamate. Treatment with glutamate produced a copious increase in the neuronal glucocorticoid receptor. Treatment with DHEA reversed this increase, demonstrating again the anti-glucocorticoid action of DHEA.

DHEA is often advertised as a remedy for depression. At this point we know that depression is more than just a shortage of neurotransmitters; it is a whole-body degenerative disease, the most frightening aspect of which is aging-like loss of neural tissue. There has been a steady interest in DHEA as an antidepressant. First, however, it should be established whether depression is indeed associated with low DHEA. A study done in Cambridge, England, compared DHEA and cortisol levels in clinically depressed patients (categorized as “major depressives”) with a matched group of patients in remission from depression and healthy controls. Both morning and evening levels of DHEA were lowest in depressed patients, with inverse correlation between the morning DHEA levels and the severity of the depression. Evening cortisol levels were highest in the depressed group. The low DHEA/cortisol ratio (similar to the shift seen in aging) also characterized the depressed group. The authors point out that DHEA not only antagonizes harmful effects of excess cortisol, but also may have mood improving properties. This may have “significant implications” for the treatment of depression.

Another study on the role of DHEA deficiency in depression focused on recovering alcoholics, a group especially susceptible to depression, and hence to relapse into drinking. The authors found that abstinent alcoholics showed a deficiency of noradrenaline and a low DHEA to cortisol ratio, indicating lower ability to deal with stress. Hypothetically, DHEA might prove a useful adjunct therapy for recovering alcoholics.

There is still some controversy over whether or not DHEA produces cognitive enhancement in humans. Diamond (1999) has suggested that such enhancement may depend on the degree of psychological stress. In his study on rats, DHEA was found to increase hippocampal activity, but only under non-stressful conditions. Stress appears to block the DHEA-induced enhancement.

The ability of DHEA to protect the hippocampus and enhance its activity is important in regard to Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have generally found increased cortisol and lower DHEA in Alzheimer’s disease patients, together with a low DHEA/cortisol ratio. We know that excess cortisol damages the hippocampus and potentiates beta-amyloid toxicity. DHEA is believed to be able to antagonize the destructive effects of excess cortisol. The authors of a recent study have concluded that dementia is correlated with low DHEA more so than with high cortisol. Another study also showed that while the aging process decreases the DHEA/cortisol ratio, victims of dementia have a significantly lower ratio rather the healthy elderly. Based on the opposite effects of cortisol and DHEA on the brain, especially on the
hippocampal region, the authors suggest that it is possible that this pathological imbalance between stress hormones and DHEA accounts for much of the damage.

There has also been some research on the effects of androstenedione, the main metabolite of DHEA, on cognitive enhancement. Androstenedione sulfate has been shown to increase neural activity in certain sections of the rat brain, with implications for memory enhancement and antidepressant action similar to those already found for DHEA.

DHEA’s role in chronic inflammatory diseases

An important overview of the role of DHEA in reducing the damage produced by chronic inflammation was recently published by a team of researchers at the University of Regensburg, Germany. The authors point out that patients with chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis show adrenal dysfunction that manifests itself both in insufficient levels of cortisol in response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and low levels of DHEA. With both cortisol and DHEA being too low, the inflammation progresses and leads to harmful consequences.

The current practice is to use synthetic corticosteroids such as prednisolone in an effort to fight chronic inflammation. DHEA remains neglected, in spite of repeated findings of low DHEA levels in patients suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases. But DHEA also plays an important role in preventing inflammation. It is a potent inhibitor of pro-inflammatory cytokines (hormone-like immune chemicals), which in turn signal the immune system and provoke further cellular destruction.

Of special interest is DHEA’s ability to inhibit interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). These pro-inflammatory cytokines rise with age, and are especially high in patients with inflammatory diseases. IL-6 is known to play a role in promoting bone loss and possibly also joint destruction. In addition, IL-6 promotes the production of certain immune cells which attack the body’s own tissue in autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. High serum IL-6, as seen in rheumatoid arthritis, for instance, is regarded as a reliable biomarker of inflammation. The finding that DHEA supplementation can lower IL-6 makes it a very promising anti-inflammatory agent, especially for chronic disorders which are characterized by significantly elevated IL-6. Besides rheumatoid arthritis, the conditions associated with abnormally high IL-6 include atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease and certain cancers.

The inverse relationship between DHEA and IL-6 has been confirmed through the study of the menstrual cycle. Serum IL-6 showed a marked rise during the luteal (post-ovulation) phase. This pro-inflammatory cytokine was highest when DHEA levels were lowest, and vice versa.

The primary metabolite of DHEA, androstenedione, has also been found to inhibit the production of IL-6. Likewise, pregnenolone and progesterone also inhibit TNF production.

The deficiency of DHEA in inflammatory diseases also implies a deficiency in peripheral tissue of various sex steroids for which DHEA serves as a precursor. These steroids, both estrogenic and androgenic, are known to have beneficial effects on muscle, bone, blood vessels and so forth. The mainstream therapy with corticosteroids is itself known to lower androgen levels. Consequently, the authors argue that hormone replacement for patients with chronic inflammatory diseases should include not only corticosteroids, but also DHEA.

Other studies also found that adrenal hormones, including DHEA, are of special importance in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. There is some evidence pointing to adrenal hypofunction before the onset of rheumatoid arthritis, especially in female patients, who constitute the overwhelming majority of rheumatoid arthritis victims, and whose serum DHEA levels are low (male rheumatoid arthritis patients show low plasma and synovial fluid testosterone). Androgens in general appear to be protective against the development of autoimmune diseases, and DHEA is an important precursor of various androgens. DHEA replacement appears to be especially important for female rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Lupus is another autoimmune inflammatory disease where DHEA (usually in high doses of up to 200 mg) has proven to be a useful adjunct therapy. One author has reviewed the results of all the studies done to date, and concluded that DHEA appears to decrease the requirement for glucocorticoid steroid therapy and somewhat improves symptoms. More important, perhaps, is its protection against bone loss (osteopenia and osteoporosis), as well as improved mental function. Side effects include acne and the lowering of HDL cholesterol (the ratio of HDL to total cholesterol tends to remain the same, however, since LDL cholesterol is also lowered due to DHEA replacement).

Ordinary aches and pains may also be related to low DHEA. When men and women complaining of either lower back pain or neck and shoulder pain were tested, the consistent finding for women was low DHEA and low beta endorphins.

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DHEA may protect men’s hearts from disease, says new study

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Editor

Houston: The steroid hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone, commonly known as DHEA, does protect against the risk of cardiovascular events in men, according to a new Swedish study.

The Endocrine Society’s 94th Annual Meeting held in Houston heard about the protective effect of higher levels DHEA.

The hormone which is produced by the adrenal glands, acts a precursor to the hormones estradiol and testosterone. Previouslysome research findings have suggested an association between increased DHEA levels and a reduction in heart disease, but the majority of the studies involving DHEA have been small and results have not always been conclusive.

In Sweden Åsa Tivesten, MD, PhD of the University of Gothenburg i and colleagues analysed data from 2,416 men between the ages of 69 and 81 years enrolled in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Sweden study, designed to evaluate risk factors for several diseases. Blood samples obtained upon enrollment were analyzed for DHEA and DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S)–the sulfate ester of DHEA which is the form of the hormone that occurs predominantly in the blood.

Over a five year follow-up period, 485 cases of fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular events were documented. Having a higher serum DHEA was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events, as was having a higher level of DHEA-S. Men whose DHEA-S was among the lowest one-fourth participants had a 25 percent higher risk of events compared to the rest of the subjects, and those whose levels of both DHEA and DHEA-S were among the lowest fourth had a 34 percent higher risk of any major cardiovascular event, and a 41 percent higher risk of a cerebrovascular event compared to the remainder of the group.

Dr Tivesten, an associate professor said: “Our findings may be the result of DHEA-S being protective, or that lower DHEA-S level is a marker for poor general health.’

She added that more research is needed to understand underlying mechanisms and to evaluate the potential benefits of hormone replacement.

“We cannot say that DHEA-S is protective because we have only studied an association,” she added. “A potential practical implication is that established cardiovascular risk factors perhaps should be assessed and treated more aggressively in men with lower DHEA-S levels. However, this must be evaluated in future studies; today, DHEA-S level is not part of cardiovascular-risk assessment.”

Want to know more about the health benefits of DHEA click here

The Amazings – appeal for older people to pass on new skills to younger people

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Editor

At the European Parliament office in London I go to a presentation to mark the launch of the The Amazings a new project that aims to turn the skills and hobbies of anyone over 50 into a lucrative sideline.

The objective is to encourage those who are retired or semi-retired to share skills that might be lost with younger generations, via a digital marketplace. The idea is to stay physically and mentally active later into life, meet new friends and make a few quid to help maintain financial independence.

Anyone who wants to be “an Amazing” can advertise themselves on http://www.theamazings.com to find people who want to learn their particular skills.

At the European Parliament event I meet Terry, an expert forager who finds an array of foods in usual places such as Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park; Jeannette who has a great figure for a woman her age – she is a dancer and teaches the Cha Cha and Rumba; Bernadette a knitting pro; Andrew, an expert street photographer and Sharon who teaches drama with an injection of comedy.

The organisers have had a great response to the first phase of the project, so are looking to recruit more Amazings in London and around the UK. They have already ‘recruited’ expert local historians, photographers, hairdressers, urban foragers and numerous others sharing their skills every week.

Micro-working offers a recession busting solution for ‘olderpreneurs’ which operates through The Amazings website, an online platform for retired and retiring people to sell their skills as real life classes. It allows those with the most experience to monetise their hobbies or professional expertise in a fun and social way.

The Amazings is calling on those over 50 to turn their passion into an activity and make some extra money in the process. The Amazings’ business is simple: it enables anybody 50+ with a skill or expertise (that could be dancing, cooking, knitting, laying a brick wall, astronomy – any kind of talent or knowledge) to turn it into an event. The proceeds are split 70/30 with the Amazing in exchange for providing the marketplace and the advertising.

The term ‘start up’ is usually associated with young entrepreneurs. We often perceive ‘youth’ as equal to ‘talent’, as if new ideas are the exclusive preserve of those under 30.

But in reality, more than a quarter of the companies set up in Britain are started by people aged between 50 and 65 – and the failure rate is lower. ONS figures show that those who remain in work live longer than those who retire outright. The Amazings offers a way to turn a passion into a business, meet new friends, and work flexibly long after official ‘retirement’.

Amazings Co-Founder Adil Abrar said: ‘Nothing quite prepares you for life as having lived it. There’s a whole lot of wisdom out there, and we believe that once you retire all that shouldn’t go to waste. So we want to help amazing skills and knowhow get passed on; get that make do and mend spirit back. We’re on a mission to make the world more amazing.’

Anybody wishing to become or nominate an Amazing should go to: www.theamazings.com

The Amazings was conceived and incubated by Sidekick Studios. Sidekick Studios is a social innovation company, passionate about using design and technology to tackle social problems. Sidekick believes in bringing together simple technologies and great design to create startups that matter.

This year is also the European Year of Active Ageing which aims to promote mutually beneficial interactive co-operation between the generations

Mystery weight gain was food intolerance

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Editor

Linda Monk, a 59-year-old accountant from Sussex has always been slim. Then in her mid-50s she started piling on the pounds no matter how hard she exercised. Then suddenly her general health started to decline and she also began suffering a myriad of symptoms like swollen ankles and puffy under eyes.

Then after reading about a simple over the counter test she found out the cause – food intolerence. She amended her diet and she regained her figure and her health.

Here, a beaming with health Linda (pictured) tells Elixir her story:

“I have always been slim and taken pride in maintaining my figure. However, when I hit my mid 50s, I noticed my weight starting to creep up. To counter this, I started to exercise more and eat less, but nothing worked and I continued to put weight on around my hips.

I was soon an extra stone heavier than I had been before – something that was very noticeable on my 5’4″ frame. I also noticed that I was developing cellulite (something I’d never had before), my ankles were swollen and my eyes were puffy and surrounded by dark circles. This, coupled with the fact that my favourite clothes no longer fitted me, really was upsetting me. I just didn’t know what to do next.

It was then that I started to feel ill. Initially I just put this down to the stress I was experiencing at the time and the fact that I was unable to sleep. However, it wasn’t until I felt really sick after eating some chocolate one Mother’s Day, that it started to click that I could be intolerant to something I was eating.

After doing some research online I discovered the YorkTest website. Impressed by the testimonials of former customers, I decided to take the test.

The service the company offered was fantastic; I received my test in the post a couple of days after I initially spoke to the company and my results were sent back within a week – they revealed that I had severe intolerances to soy and dairy.

I found the free consultations with the YorkTest nutritionist very helpful and she was able to advise me on the best ways to remove dairy and wheat from my diet.

Within a short time, the extra weight I had put on had gone. My cellulite and dark circles completely disappeared and I was able to sleep at night. All my other symptoms improved and I started to feel well again.

I can’t describe how much better I feel compared to before and I can eat as much as I want without worrying – it’s like being a teenager again! It is definitely the best money I have ever spent!”

About YorkTest

YorkTest offers nutritionally supported food intolerance programmes from £250, including its unique Food and Drink Intolerance Programme. For anyone wanting to know whether food-specific IgG antibody reactions are present the ‘First Step’ pre-screen is available, currently on offer at £9.99. If the First Step result is positive you can choose to proceed to one of YorkTest’s comprehensive food and drink intolerance programmes. Home-to-laboratory test kits can be purchased from YorkTest by calling 0800 074 6185 or visiting www.yorktest.com.

French Polynesia and the Caribbean come to London

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Editor

The French tourist board in London hosted an exclusive cocktail reception at the St Martins Lane Hotel to promote French foreign territory destinations in the South Pacific and Caribbean to the media.

The lucky journalists who were invited got to sample cocktails inspired by the beautiful islands including Tahiti, Guadeloupe, St Martins, Reunion Island and New Caledonia which are all French departments.Which means as far as food and all the infrastructure you are actually in France ie the European Union when you visit.

Yves Brossard is the managing director of the Primea Hotels group which has venturesin Morocco and the French Caribbean, on the butterfly shaped island of Guadelope.

Yves is is really into Elixirs – – the elixir of life, the elixir of love the elixir….he tells me. What can I say but he is my kind of man!

Primea has both hotels and French-style residences where you can do your own catering if you wish – on Guadeloupe: Residence Torquise, Hotel Residence Golf Village and Residence Le Vallon – read more at www.primeahotels.com.

One of the really interesting totally off the beaten track places – they are all off the beaten track but Nouvelle Caledonie is farthest from anything – the nearest civilisation being New Zealand.

Corinne Juillet is the press officer for New Caledonia based in Paris. This island is huge and parts of it look like Scotland hence the name and the fact it was discovered by a Scotsman.

It’s very rural, a place to get back to nature and relax – somewhere completely different. I hope I get to find out one day.

There is a raffle with a lovely prize – two weeks in Guadeloupe. I don’t win it but M Broussard invites me to Guadeloupe anyway – so all I have to do is get the tanning lotion.

Glass Geishas – every girl has her price!

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Editor

Waterstones – one of my favourite places in Covent Garden with comfy armchairs and quiet spots to sit and browse – was the venue for the launch this week of the paperback Glass Geishas – a novel set in the murky world of hostess bars in Tokyo. Glass Geishas.jpeg

The backdrop for the novel is the red light district of Rappongi where Step arrives to work as a hostess and meet up with an old friend…who it seems has disappeared. Free drinks, lots of money and the chance to work with her old school friends Julia and Annabel. And there is no sex involved honestly!

The author journalist Susanna Quinn hosted the event, A Summer Evening in Japan, with wine and delicious sushi from SeeWoo, the oriental food specialists. The bookshop was packed for the launch.

As well as the high profile murders of a number of European girls in recent years, Susanna brings you bang smack to the reality of what life is like working in these bars – pretty grim – and she should know because she has tried her hand as a hostess, club dancer and party masseuse.

Nowadays her life is more mundane. She lives in Brighton with her partner, baby daughter and the flocks of seagulls.

I have started reading and can’t put it down – so get your copy! It’s £7.99 from Waterstones!

Botox and Bubbles

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Editor

Italian cosmetic dottore Bruno Amendola launched his new venture The Private Cosmetic Clinic at no 10 Harley Street this week.

He hosted a themed party – Bubbles and Botox at the Marylebone eatery, Après, opposite Selfridges in London’s Duke Street.

After working in two of the UK largest cosmetic clinics he has branched out to launch his own cllinic. With our champagne in hand we were given the low down on the pros and cons of Botox in a presentation.

We were also given a complimentary membership to ‘Partner of Champagne for Life’, entitling all guests to a comp glass of Champagne across the world in participating bars

Dr Amendola needless to say is very charming and has been practicing medicine since 1995 and fully registered in the UK since 1997. He has a 4 year International post-degree in aesthetic medicine and has been fully trained in teosyal, juvederm, allergan, obagi and dermaroller. He has seen up to 8000 patients up to date, including many celebrities, making him one the most experienced Botox doctors in London. He is well recognised for his excellent work in jaw shaping using botox and also treating fine lines and wrinkles in the delicate under-eye area through botox injections.

Harley Street Cosmetic surgeon launches innovative skin care range

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Editor

While the Greek economy may be in melt down – the lovely ladies who lunch in London are buying up the whole new skincare range from cosmetic surgeon Yannis Alexandrides (pictured below) – even though it costs far more than gold per once.

So Elixir went along to investigate at a reception held in the private wine tasting room in Harrod’s.

The cute Yannis and his lovely wife Eva hosted with tea and canapes and explained the science behind 111 SKIN – named after his clinic at 111 Harley Street in London at a skin masterclass for his clients;

Well its nicely packaged which helps. But I discover it contains some very special ingredients one of which Yannis ‘discovered’ while working with his cosmetic surgery patients. This is a special sponge that is put on the wound to speed up healing. But the main formulation was developed to help stop the skin of astronauts ageing while in space. So anyone thinking of going on one of those first trips into space any day soon you should be warned that you really may come back older than you thought would would!

There are a total of eight products in the range (pictured);

111 SKIN is the culmination of Dr. Alexandrides’ long standing commitment to helping his patients defy the signs of ageing with the space scientists’ expertise in discovering ingredients that limit the effect of environmental damage on skin – whether in space, high altitude or urban conditions. The main active ingredients were developed by Bulgarian space scientists for their astronauts.As the largest organ of the body and its main protector, skin already has a difficult task. If we add common environmental stresses – UV rays, wind, pollution and free radicals – that job becomes more challenging and the cumulative effect is ageing, lacklustre skin.
Tested in extremes of space and deep sea; proven in extremes of daily life.111 SKIN targets the problem on a cellular level, complementing your body’s defence system by using a patent pending formula, NAC Y2. This formula combines NAC , Vitamin C and Escin. NAC and Vitamin C are the essential building blocks that increase Glutathione, the most vital antioxidant in our cells that is responsible for protecting skin from environmental extremes. Escin, another potent antioxidant, increases blood circulation, promotes stronger collagen production and helps transport NAC Y2 and Vitamin C directly to cells. Together, these powerful ingredients detoxify, hydrate and regenerate skin cells, working from within to strengthen skin and fight damaging environmental elements. When used daily, skin becomes younger looking, more supple and more radiant.
The key product in the range is the Y Theorem Nac Y2 Facial Repair Serum (£190 for 30m) which sinks deep into the skin. It has a powerful combination of the NAC Y2 formula with Aminocaproic Acid, hydrolyzed Collagen and 20 key amino acids which specifically boost collagen production, helping to increase cell generation and skin elasticity.
We also tried the Facelift Day Cream and loved that too (£130 for 50ml).
Although its expensive a little goes a long way with this cream. Its exclusively on sale at Harrods currently and also through 111 Harley Street. We loved it!

Hard-up retirees want to continue work, reveals new Prudential study

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Editor

London: Prudential has revealed that two in five (40 per cent) people planning to

retire this year would be happy to work past 65 if they had the chance.

Prudential’s Class of 2012 study, which looks at the finances and

expectations of those planning to retire this year, shows that 48 per cent

of men and 32 per cent of women would be happy to continue working past the

standard retirement age.

The main motivation for more than two thirds (68 per cent) of this year’s

retirees who want to stay in the workforce past 65, is a desire to remain

physically healthy and mentally active, while 39 per cent do not like the

idea of retiring and just staying at home. More than half (54 per cent)

claim that they enjoy working.

However, despite wanting to stay in work, only 13 per would choose to

continue to work full-time with their current employer. Nearly half (49 per

cent) of those retirees who want to work past 65 years old would prefer to

work part-time, either with their current employer or in a new role, in

order to strike a better work life balance.

More than one in 10 (11 per cent) of entrepreneurial retirees would consider

starting their own business after the age of 65 or earn money from a hobby

in order to keep working. Five per cent would work as charity volunteers.

Recent ONS figures show that average retirement ages are rising, with men

now retiring at an average age of 64.6, compared with 63.8 in 2004, and

women working until 62.3 years compared with 61.2 previously.

Vince Smith-Hughes, retirement expert at Prudential, said: “There is a new

retirement reality taking shape across the UK, with thousands of people

actively choosing to work past the traditional retirement age.

“The fact that so many of this year’s retirees would keep working on a

part-time basis is a strong indication that, for many, working is as much

about staying young at heart as it is about funding retirement.

“Gradual retirement is an increasing trend among pensioners, whether this

means remaining in the same job on a flexible basis or even setting up their

own business. Those retiring at 65 will face an average of nineteen years in

retirement which makes the financial and social benefits of working for

longer an even bigger draw for a new generation of industrious retirees.”

Around the country, those planning to retire this year from the East of

England were the most keen to stay part of the workforce with 54 per cent

saying that they would choose to work past 65 if they had the option. Half

(49 per cent) of Londoners and 45 per cent of people in the South East would

also like to continue to work.

Jogging can add years to your life, says new study

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Editor

Copenhagen: Jogging for as little as an hour a week can put years on your life, new research has shown.

Regular running increases the average life expectancy of men and women by around six years, a study found.

The greatest benefit came from jogging at a “slow or average” pace – enough to cause slight breathlessness – rather than pushing to physical limits.

Danish heart expert Dr Peter Schnohr, who led the study of almost 2,000 male and female joggers, said: “The results of our research allow us to definitively answer the question of whether jogging is good for your health.

“We can say with certainty that regular jogging increases longevity. The good news is that you don’t actually need to do that much to reap the benefits.”

The jogging research is part of the Copenhagen City Heart Study which has been monitoring the health of 20,000 Danish men and women aged 20 to 93 since 1976.

A team led by Dr Schnohr looked at death rates among a sub-group of 1,116 male and 762 female joggers over a period of up to 35 years.

Participants were asked how much time they spent jogging each week, and whether they ran at a slow, average or fast pace.

Compared with non-joggers in the main heart study population, the risk of death for both male and female runners was reduced by 44%.

The data showed that, after taking account of age, jogging increased the lifespan of men by 6.2 years and of women by 5.6 years.

Further analysis of the association between jogging and death rate revealed a “U-shaped curve”.

This meant improvements were seen with increasing levels of exercise until an optimum point was reached, after which they reduced.

Between one hour and two-and-a-half hours of moderately paced jogging a week, undertaken over two to three sessions, was ideal, said the scientists.

“The relationship appears much like alcohol intakes,” said Dr Schnohr, who presented the findings today at a meeting of heart experts in Dublin. “Mortality is lower in people reporting moderate jogging than in non-joggers or those undertaking extreme levels of exercise.

“You should aim to feel a little breathless, but not very breathless.”

He said jogging delivered multiple health benefits, including raised oxygen uptake, increased insulin sensitivity, higher levels of “good” HDL cholesterol, lowered blood pressure, and reduced blood clotting.

Garlic proven to fight common food poisoning

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Editor

Washington: Garlic has the power to fight food-borne bacterial illnesses, according to new research.

The common bacteria Campylobacter jejuni, is a leading cause of intestinal illness caused by eating undercooked poultry or foods that have been contaminated during poultry preparation.

“Campylobacter is simply the most common bacterial cause of food-borne illness in the United States and probably the world,” explained coauthor Michael Konkel of Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in an article recently published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

The researchers compared the effects of diallyl sulfide, a compound that occurs in garlic, and the antibiotics ciprofloxacin and erythromycin on biofilms formed by Campylobacter jejuni. Biofilms are colonies of bacteria protected by a film that renders them a thousand times more resistant to antibiotics than free cells. Cell death following the administration of diallyl sulfide occurred at a concentration of resveratrol that was 100-fold less than that which was effective for either antibiotic, and often took less time to work. The team found that diallyl sulfide combined with a sulfur-containing enzyme, which altered the cells’ function and metabolism.

“This work is very exciting to me because it shows that this compound has the potential to reduce disease-causing bacteria in the environment and in our food supply,” stated lead author and postdoctoral researcher Xiaonan Lu, PhD.

“This is the first step in developing or thinking about new intervention strategies,” added Dr Konkel. “Diallyl sulfide may be useful in reducing the levels of the Campylobacter in the environment and to clean industrial food processing equipment, as the bacterium is found in a biofilm in both settings.”

“Diallyl sulfide could make many foods safer to eat”, noted Barbara Rasco, another co-author of the report. “It can be used to clean food preparation surfaces and as a preservative in packaged foods like potato and pasta salads, coleslaw and deli meats. This would not only extend shelf life but it would also reduce the growth of potentially bad bacteria.”

New scar treatment launches at London clinic

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Editor

London: A new treatment for unwanted scars and surface pigmentations of the skin has been launched by Dermink, a London clinic.

The treatment at the new north London clinic is provided by DermInk’s Medical Director and leading micropigmentation specialist, Dr. Theresa Ward Bush.

“Despite advances in treating pigmented nevi, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, vitligo and striae, such abnormalities can resist treatment. Micropigmentation can be the solution–not curing the condition but providing a good cosmetic result that helps rebuild patients’ confidence.”

The specialist treatment is a sub-division of dermatological and plastic surgery, and is routinely used to conceal a wide spectrum of pigmentation conditions and diseases of cosmetic importance. Scars, burns, and other skin colour imperfections can be minimised or completely hidden by blending custom mixed hypoallergenic flesh coloured medical pigments into the skin, rendering surface imperfections inconspicuous even on close inspection, permanently.

The procedure

Medical micropigmentation involves the use of hypoallergenic dermatological medical grade pigments blended to match the skin tone required, and then applied to the skin using specifically-designed instruments. The medical pigments used are metabolically inert and therefore different to tattooing ink. The pigments are immune to the biological changes in the skin or changes induced by external factors, ensuring that the original shades of the pigment are retained.

Practitioners carefully ‘colour in’ or ‘colour out’ unsightly or unwanted marks, be they lighter or darker than the surrounding skin tone. The procedure is virtually pain-free, with a local aesthetic (topical gel) and healing or down time is minimal with only four to six weeks required between treatments. (The number of treatments required varies according to condition being treated and the individual’s skin type).

Who is the treatment for?

DermInk treats patients with both major and minor issues. Minor issues can be small scars from accidents, stretch marks and cosmetic surgery operations i.e. tummy tuck or face lift scars. Major issues can include post-operative scars caused by the removal of facial skin cancers where patients are seeking a solution which can be considered as biopsychosocial – a combination of physical, psychological and social factors.

All types of skin tone can be treated, and the treatment does not cause skin lightening, unlike laser treatment which can cause unwanted hyper or hypopigmentation in some cases.

The following can be treated using medical micropigmentation:

● Hyperpigmented surface

● Hypopigmented surface

● Mohs surgery

● Areola pigmentation

● Birthmarks

● Vitiligo

● Scars including surgery scars

● Skin grafts

● Stretch marks

● Sun spots

● Age Spots

● Burns

● Cleft lip

● Collagen induction

● Corrective procedures

● Necklace lines

Medical micropigmentation vs. laser therapy

Medical micropigmentation is a highly specialised field dedicated to ‘normalising’ irregular skin colour that has proven otherwise impervious to lasers and ultraviolet treatments. For some patients, laser or ultraviolet therapies may help with the appearance of scars or skin defects by breaking down the scar tissue. However patients suffering from atopic dermatitis, eczema or keloid scaring are not suitable candidates.

Referrals

Individuals can seek referral for medical micropigmentation via their GP, dermatologist or surgeon, or go to DermInk directly where they will be screened for their appropriateness for treatment. NB A referral from a dermatologist or GP may be required before treatment with DermInk can commence.

Biography Theresa Ward Bush

Theresa Ward Bush qualified with a Bachelor of Medicine in Sydney, Australia and at first followed the traditional route of residency with a view to becoming a general physician. After several rotations, she realised that her passion was aesthetic medicine and particularly the treatment of pigmentation disorders. Theresa holds numerous advanced certifications in medical micropigmentation, and works exclusively with pigment restoration and skin abnormality i
ssues alongside leading teaching hospitals, universities, surgeons and dermatologists both within the UK and internationally. She is a member of the European Society for Cosmetic and Aesthetic Dermatology – ESCAD, as well as the American Academy of micropigmentation, amongst other relevant organisations.

Theresa Ward divides her time between London and the USA where she set up her clinic in San Francisco in 2005. In the USA patients are routinely referred through prominent Plastic/Cosmetic Surgeons and Dermatologists nationwide, including the Stanford Derm Surgery Department at Stanford University, PAMF, Sutter and El Camino Hospitals.

www.dermink.com

ELIXIR

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