ELIXIR > Articles by: Editor

Weight-loss surgery reduces diabetes in obese patients by 50%

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Editor

They discovered that the average patient sheds nearly 60% of their body weight in the year following surgery, from an analysis of data from more than 8,700 operations carried out in the NHS and private sector.

It found two thirds of severely obese patients had three or more associated diseases by the time they reach surgery. A third have high blood pressure, over a quarter have diabetes and nearly a fifth have high cholesterol.

Patients who had a 12-month follow-up examination following surgery had lost some 58 per cent of excess weight, while cases of type 2 diabetes fell by 50 per cent.

After two years, 86 per cent of those affected by diabetes prior to surgery showed no signs of the disease. There was also improvement on all associated diseases.

The study which looked at operations including gastric bypasses and gastric bands – said the costs were recouped within three years as obesity-associated costs are eliminated.

Shopping adds years to lifespan – new study

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Editor

Washington: If you want to live longer you should spend more time shopping, ccording to a study that was recently published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

A low-impact physical activity like shopping improves heart health as well as balance and coordination in the elderly, says Kelly D. Horton, a research and policy specialist at the Centre for Healthy Aging in Washington DC. She told HealthDay:

“Shopping provides an enjoyable activity and helps older adults feel included in their community. In addition to physical activity, frequent shopping among older adults has also been related to improved nutrition intake.”

And men seemed to benefit more than women, said the study, with the men who went shopping once a day being less likely to die by 28 percent. Compared to formal exercise, researchers said that shopping is an easy way for elderly people to get leisurely physical activity.

Tangerines protect from heart disease

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Editor

New York: Eating tangerines may help protect against heart attacks, diabetes, and obesity, according to new US research.

This is because it contains a substance called Nobiletin, a pigment found in tangerine peel, is ten times more potent than a similar one derived from grapefruit which protects from obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Researchers from the University of Western Ontario, in Canada, fed two groups of mice a diet high in fats and simple sugars, reports the journal Diabetes.

One group had symptoms of illness such as elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, high blood levels of insulin and glucose and a fatty liver – all of which increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease. But a second group on the same diet but who were fed Nobiletin showed no similar rise. The substance also protected them from atherosclerosis, the build-up of plaque in arteries, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Eating tangerines could protect against heart attacks, diabetes and stroke as well as staving off obesity

New safer drug for stroke preventation

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Editor

London: A new drug costing only £2.50 a day may soon be available in Europe to prevent strokes in the over 50s.

Pradaxa, is said to be a safer than warfarin, the blood-thinner also used as a rat poison.

Warfarin has been prescribed to prevent strokes for more than 50 years but patients need to take regular blood tests in case they overdose. In addition some foods – spinach and broccoli stop it working properly and other such as cranberry make it more potent.Many patients refuse the drug because of the risks.

Pradaxa, on the other hand, taken twice daily, do not affect the diet as much and can be up to 39 per cent better at preventing strokes, the American College of Cardiology was told.

The drug is due to be approved next week by the European drugs regulator for use in atrial fibrillation next week.

The drug was trialled by more than 18,000 men and women suffering from atrial fibrillation, an extremely common heart rhythm disorder that raises the risk of stroke up to five-fold

Pradaxa, also known as dabigatran etexilate, could improve their health – as well as boost the quality of life for many of those who don’t want to take warfarin.

The drug is already licensed to prevent clots after hip, knee and other types of orthopaedic surgery.

Foxglove drug may cut prostate cancer risk for men

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Editor

Baltimore: A drug made from foxgloves could help prevent prostate cancer, US researchers have found.

Called digoxin is already used to treat congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. But scientists from the John Hopkins University in Baltimore have found that it lowered the risk of prostate cancer by 24 per cent by stopping the growth of the disease.

The team looked at the medical reports of 47,000 men, aged 40 to 75 who were monitored from 1986 to 2006. Men who regularly took the drug – 2% – reduced their risk by 24%. But the scientists emphasised that there was no proof that it prevents the disease, they said in the Cancer Discovery Journal.

Giving it to healthy people as a preventative measure would not be an option since it does have serious side-effects including nausea, headaches and male breast enlargement.

Scientists began by screening more than 3,000 compounds already approved for medical use to see if any inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells.

A team of epidemiologists then looked for evidence of the drug combating prostate cancer in the patient health study. Among the group, around 5,000 new cases of prostate cancer were reported.

Using digoxin for more than 10 years cut the risk of prostate cancer by half. Work will continue to discover the mechanism of digoxin’s effect and see whether the drug or others like it should be tested as prostate cancer treatments.

Digoxin alters biological pathways for sodium and potassium in heart cells. Scientists believe it may act on similar pathways in prostate cancer cells

Weightgain in middle-age increases risk of blindness in men

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Editor

Melbourne:
Putting on weight in later life increases the risk of men developing age-related
macular degeneration (AMD), researchers in Australia have discovered.

Even
small increases in waist size seem to raise the risk of AMD by up to 75 per
cent. But women do not appear to be affected.

The
reason may be the hormone oestrogen which woman have in higher levels all their
lives. In men abdominal fat releases
oestrogen which causes inflammation in the blood vessels behind the eyes.

In
the Australian study, researchers at the University of Melbourne examined changes
in the waistlines of more than 21,000 men and women, aged between 40 and 69,
over several years and tracked how many went on to develop AMD.

They
concluded that the chronic inflammation caused by obesity was involved in AMD.

But
the Australian team found that for each increase of 0.1 in the waist/hip ratio,
a man’s chances of developing AMD increased by 75 per cent.

AMD
affects older people, usually after the age of 50. The numbers affected are
likely to increase as the ageing populations increase in developed nations. The
report suggests that healthy eating earlier in life helps prevent the disease.

Nine
in ten cases involve ‘dry AMD’, which develops over several years. The rest
involve ‘wet AMD’, which can cause blindness in a matter of months.

It
is caused by the growth of new blood vessels over the macula, a small
oval-shaped area at the back of the eye that helps us pick out visual details
clearly.

Treatment
involves monthly injections into the back of the eye of drugs designed to curb
the growth of abnormal blood vessels. Given early enough, it can help to
prevent complete loss of vision.

Walnuts – No1 for health nuts

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Editor

New York: The crinkly walnut is full of potent and abundant antioxidants – more than any other nut, according to new research.

They contain healthy amounts of fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals and other trace elements necessary for a healthy diet.

Eating nuts regularly helps reduce the risk of a number of serious illnesses including heart disease, certain cancers, and type-2 diabetes.

Scientists recently analysed the antioxidant content of nine different types of nut: walnuts, almonds, peanuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamias and pecans.

Lead researcher, Dr Joe Vinson, from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, US, said that Walnuts were healthier than all the other nuts.

He said that around seven walnuts a day was the right amount to obtain maximum health benefits.

Dr Vinson’s team found that walnuts not only had more antioxidants than other nuts, but more powerful antioxidants.

Those in walnuts were between two and 15 times more potent than vitamin E, renowned for its antioxidant properties. And unlike other nuts which are generally roasted and loose nutrients as a result, walnuts are generally eaten in their raw state.

Nuts account for just eight per cent of the daily antioxidant consumption in an average person’s diet.

Dr Vinson said many people were put off nuts because they were thought to be fattening. But he pointed out that nuts generally contain healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats rather than artery-clogging saturated fat.

Eating nuts did not appear to cause weight gain and might even reduce over-eating by making people feel full.

The Miracle of Lemons by Dr Penny Stanway

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Editor

Paperback £6.99

Lemons have been hailed as a superfood, an effective natural remedy and an invaluable multi-purpose household cleanser and freshener. Dr Penny Stanway’s well-researched and authoritative little book debunks the myths and reveals which health claims are backed by evidence based research and which are not, whether lemons deserve their cult status as a panacea and just how much they can improve your diet and well-being.

As well as expounding the health-giving and practical properties of lemons, the author provides an A-Z section of ailments that can respond to lemons – each entry outlines possible causes of the ailment, discusses how lemons can help, and suggests how to use them as a remedy.

She gives lemon-containing recipes that will help care for, beautify and scent your skin and hair, and room-by-room ideas for using lemons to keep your home fresh, clean, fragrant and sparkling.

There are also inspiring and delicious recipes for using lemons – they add a touch of magic to the simplest snack and to sweet or savoury dishes.

There are also instructions on how to grow lemons indoors in a greenhouse, and outside in a warm climate; how to choose which variety of lemons to grow; and how best to store them.

Dr Penny Stanway practiced as a GP and a child-health doctor. She has written over 20 books on health, food, and the connection between the two.

Win tickets to the Vitality Show

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Editor

Elixir has joined up with the Vitality Show to give you the opportunity to win one of five pairs of tickets to this unique event at London’s Earls Court.

To win one of a pair of the tickets please answer the following question and email us with your name and address at readeroffer@elixirnews.com

Where is the Vitality Show held:

(a) Dubai

(b) London

(c) Kuala Lumpur

Your answer will be put into a draw. Please note that this competition closes on 15 March 2011 so that the tickets can be mailed to you. Also that no money equivalent is offered. The Editor’s decision is final and winners will be informed on 16 March 20111.

More about the Vitality Show:

THE ULTIMATE GIRLS DAY OUT IS BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER!

The Vitality Show 2011 offers a perfect line-up for a healthier, happier, fitter and more gorgeous you!

The wait for new and inspiring ways to look good and feel great is over as tickets for the Vitality Show 2011; the UK’s largest health, beauty, fitness and wellbeing event for women, go on sale. Whether it’s a well deserved day out with the girls or some much needed ‘me-time’, you’ll be sure to leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

The show offers four fun-packed days of pampering, shopping, healthy eating, dancing, socialising and essential know-how gathering, from 24-27 March at Earl’s Court London. Celebrity guests – from top TV chefs to dance professionals, athletes and some of life’s most inspirational people – will join the hottest health & beauty experts and over 300 absolute must-have fitness, food and lifestyle brands.

As the UK’s most eagerly anticipated girls’ day out, tickets are always in high demand so it’s advisable to book early to avoid missing out. Highlights of this year’s show include:

Everyone’s Favourite – The VIP Pamper Experience

Back by popular demand, the hugely successful VIP Pamper Package makes you the star of the show! For just £69, you can sit back and enjoy a luxury celebrity-inspired treatment from our Return to Glory beauty team whilst enjoying a glass of chilled champagne. Your ticket gives you fast-track entry to the show, as well as the exclusive Pamper Lounge and the VIP cloakroom, and you’ll leave with your own bag of beauty goodies worth over £50!

Yoga-Studio [400x300].jpg

New! The VIP Taste Experience

Calling all foodies! Have your own ‘Saturday Kitchen’ style experience and enjoy a two course taster menu cooked for you by one of the hottest TV chefs in the country in the POM Wonderful Gourmet Kitchen. Then tantalise your taste-buds with a cocktail in the exclusive POM Wonderful Cocktail Lounge. Your ticket gives you access to the show and the exclusive VIP cloakroom, and you’ll leave with a goody bag worth over £50!

New! Dance Theatre

Strictly amazing! The new Dance Theatre will thrill and entertain – showcasing some of the UK’s hottest dance talent from street dance to salsa, ballet to ballroom, bangra to breakdancing. Each high energy performance will have you heading for the dancefloor!

One Life Theatre and Vitality Workshops

If you’re looking for a new direction, want a career change or simply need to get some balance in your life, the One Life Theatre is for you. With inspirational talks, tips and Vitality Workshops offering 1-2-1 time with top life-coaches and careers experts, you’re sure to leave confident and positive about the future. Entrance to all workshops must be booked and paid for in advance.

New! Make a Difference Makeovers – The Travel Pavilion

Discover a world of inspirational adventures, relaxing retreats and feel good opportunities that help make a difference to far-flung communities around the globe. Speak to the experts who can make any travel dream a reality.

New! Food Lovers Fair

FoodLoversBritain.com brings the finest food market straight to you. Feast your eyes on the freshest, tastiest morsels then sample the delights of seasonal, regional produce including all the essentials for the modern chef’s health-conscious kitchen!

New! The Wardrobe

And because we understand how much girls love bags and shoes, we’ve created a wardrobe just for you with everything from fabulous accessories to must-have shoes, the latest bags and vintage bargains so you can shop until you drop.

New! Interactive Show Site

Fans of the show say how they love its social atmosphere so this year, start the party early with the great new interactive features on www.vitalitylive.co.uk. Get all the latest health, beauty and fitness news and tips from our resident expert blogs, become a fan on Facebook or follow the show on Twitter to receive the latest announcements direct to you. Why wait for the fun to begin?

Treat yourself to the perfect day out and book your place now at the hottest health, beauty, fitness and well-being event of the year by visiting www.vitalitylive.co.uk.

British women are fattest in Europe

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Editor

Women in the UK are the fatest in Europe, according to the findings of three major global studies on obesity.

Researchers compared statistics on three major health indicators – Body Mass Index (BMI), choleserol and blood pressure over the past 28 years.

While British females are now the most obese in Europe, American woman are even fatter.

According to the World Health Organisation, a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is healthy; 25 to 29.9 is overweight and 30+ is clinically obese.

The average BMI, for a British woman, which measures height and weight, was 26.9 in 2008 – which is up from 24.2 in 1980.

Other high scoring countries were Russia (27.2), Israel 27.3 and Malta (27),

For British men, the average BMI was 27.4 – the same as in Cyprus and Luxembourg. This is up from 24.7 in 1980. They also were found to have the the joint fourth highest fat levels, behind Ireland in top place, according to the report published in The Lancet.

Britain’s got bad posture

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Editor

Many of us have a ‘posture age’ much older than our actual age.

An online posture evaluation tool has been launched by the footwear company MBT to tell us what posture sins we commit regularly (www.postureage.com). The results from 4,000 people using the site over the summer and autumn were analysed to highlight our worst posture habits.

It was found that only a small proportion of people (14%) had a posture age which matched their real age. Most people had a posture age of at least 8 years older than their real age. A significant number of respondents (15%) had experienced some form of back problem.

The habits which age our backs the most are carrying heavy bags on one shoulder only, sitting slouched at a computer or using a laptop in front of the TV and walking with our heads down.

According to Joshua Wies of the MBT Academy, “Our changing, and increasingly sedentary, lifestyles are bad news for our backs. Hours spent slouched in front of a computer, dragging a laptop bag to and from work, and a general lack of exercise, are giving us posture ages far older than they should be.

“There are a number of easy steps that over time will help you take years off your posture age. These include sitting on chairs that support your back rather than being slouched over a sofa with a laptop, getting up to walk at regular intervals if you have a desk job, and taking care not to cross your legs when sitting down – instead sit evenly.”

Bad posture can significantly add to the age of your body over time. To keep a young and healthy body, we should always be aware of our weight distribution while walking, standing still and sitting. Some simple corrections and a little exercise will go a long way to keeping our backs healthy and pain free.

About back pain:

Back pain is a very common condition and can affect adults of all ages.

One in five of us visit our GP every year because of back pain.

In England, chronic back pain is the second most common cause of long-term disability (after arthritis). A recent study found that one in every 10 people reported having some degree of chronic back pain.

About MBT:

MBT produced the original, innovative physiological shoe in the mid 1990s.
MBT was the first company to develop the rounded, unstable sole construction, which today has been copied or interpreted by many brands many times over.

Please visit the website at www.uk.mbt.com for additional information.

www.vitalityshopuk.com

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Editor

http://www.vitalityshopuk.com

Friendships are as important for your health as exercise

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Editor

A survey of 300,000 revealed that quality friendships can do as much for your health as quitting smoking or eating a healthy diet.

We all know that laughter and fun is meant to be very good for our health and stress levels, so maybe this new ‘revelation’ won’t be all that surprising to most.

Quality, not quantity, is the important word here (we aren’t referring to how many friends you have on social networks!). These are the kind of friends you can confess your darkest secrets to and spend hours with, not those you want to strangle by the end of the day.

The survey also revealed that not having good friendships is as bad for your health as becoming obese.

So, take good care of the friends you already have and try to make new ones wherever possible. As we get older and a bit more set in our ways we seem to find it a bit harder to let our guard down and get to know someone new.

We get the feeling that this is one healthy living tip we will all find it easy to follow.

Over the counter painkillers linked to heart problems

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Editor

Painkillers such as Ibruprofen, which is commonly used to reduce pain caused by inflammation, have been linked to increased risk of heart disease.

NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are recommended to patients suffering from Osteoarthritis and other painful conditions associated with inflammation, but new research has now linked these to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The researchers have now warned GPs to take cardiovascular risk into account with each individual patient before recommending the use of NSAIDs.

In 2004, a new generation anti-inflammatory drug, the COX-2 inhibitor rofecoxib was withdrawn from the market after a trial found that it was linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This sparked a wide debate over the safety of such anti-inflammatory drugs, especially in those patients already at increased risk of developing heart disease.

The ongoing debate led researchers in Switzerland to perform a full analysis of all trials comparing NSAIDs with non NSAIDs or placebos – a total of 31 trials and 116,429 people taking 7 different drugs.

However, the researchers found that although the number of cardiovascular events occurring during the trials were low, they do not consider this to be proof of the drugs being safe to take when already at increased risk of heart problems or stroke – which applies to many patients suffering from musculoskeletal problems.

When compared with placebo, rofecoxib and lumiracoxib were associated with more than twice the risk of heart attack, while ibubrofen was associated with more than three times the risk of stroke. Etoricoxib and diclofenac were associated with the highest risk of cardiovascular death – around four times the risk when compared with the placebo results.

Naproxen appeared the least harmful of the 7 drugs involved in the analysis.

The results of this research indicate that more research needs to be done on this issue, given the risks involved and the regular recommendation of these drugs. It is clear that alternatives to the traditional anti-imflammatory drugs need to be evaluated and promoted.

Perhaps a worrying outcome of this study is its links to aspirin – also an NSAID – which is recommended to people attempting to keep their heart healthy. A clear guide to the NSAIDs would benefit the public and enable people suffering from Osteoarthritis and joint pain to have more say in their treatment.

If you want to find out more about all the NSAIDs, please visit the NHS link below;

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Anti-inflammatories-non-steroidal/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Would a pay-as-you-visit scheme tempt you to the gym?

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Editor

Would we visit the gym more if we could pay for it visit by visit?

Heart Research UK’s health tip for the week is to visit the gym and maybe more importantly, find a gym which suits the way we want to exercise and how often.

Picking the right gym and reducing the amount of pressure on ourselves is key to getting ourselves healthy.

Whether we all admit it or not, the pressure we put on ourselves to get fit (and lose weight) just creates an extra barrier for us to get through. We spend money on gym memberships and equipment that we won’t really use and then spend the year flagellating ourselves about not using them.

How many of us have already signed up for a new gym membership this January, a membership that we will probably use once or twice a week until February? A healthy decision, for both you and your wallet, may be to register for ‘payasUgym’.

The scheme may not be for you if you love your local gym or already have a tried and tested routine for fitting exercise into your daily life but if not, payasUgym may be worth a try.

Over 100 gyms in London and the southeast have become part of this scheme, in which you register for an ‘ePass’ and no longer have to worry about joining fees, membership or not getting to the gym enough.

Registering and paying for your gym visits using an ‘ePass’ can even be done by loading an app onto your iPhone.

The service is fast expanding, with new gyms and health clubs joining all the time, ranging from the practical quick visit gyms to the more luxurious end of the scale.

The service launches on January 21st, so register for more information by visiting their website (www.payasUgym.com)

If you are a gym owner you can also register for information by visiting their website.

Avoid the usual diet mistakes – Podcast

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Editor

According to research undertaken by M & S, 14 million of us started a new year diet this week. However, for most of us this will end by mid-february.

Each time we start a diet, we are resolving to be healthier but still can’t resist those treats. How do we find the willpower to be successful? It seems to be just that little more difficult if you’ve had a baby and want to lose weight, or you’ve just gone through the menopause.

In this podcast, exclusively recorded for Elixir, Nutritionist Claire Hughes gives us the lowdown on why our diets fail, what women and older people can do to lose weight and how we can make a difference to our way of thinking about food in 2011.

Plea from health professionals on behalf of post-menopausal women

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Editor

Within the last week, a group of health professionals sent an open letter to their fellow specialists about the plight of those post-menopausal women reporting bleeding.

Post-menopausal bleeding indicates a gynaecological abnormality, usually a cancer growth within the womb.

The letter (BMJ 2010; 341:c7407) contains details about how many women reporting bleeding actually get referred for secondary care. Referral rates for patients with postmenopausal bleeding ranged from 66.4% in 55-64 year old patients to 40.1% in those over 85.

Last year the Eve Appeal highlighted the low profile from which gynaecological cancers suffer. Their campaign (with contributions from cancer sufferers and oncology nurses and specialists) focused on the low number of post menopausal women reporting bleeding to their GPs.

Gynaecological cancers are the world’s fourth largest cancer killer of women, with over 1 million women worldwide being diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer every year. Of the gynaecological cancers, womb cancer is now the UK’s most common, with 7,500 cases diagnosed nationwide.

The Eve Appeal, in conjunction with the National Forum for Gynecological Oncology Nurses (NFGON), are focused on improving the chances of women everywhere in beating these killers, by work in improving prediction, diagnosis and timely treatment.

The latest plea by health professionals highlights how much work has to be done – not only in getting more women to see their GPs in such circumstances but also in making sure those women are getting the treatment they need to beat gynaecological cancer.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley recently promised an improvement to the care framework within the NHS, which, if implemented properly, would improve detection and survival rates for womb cancer sufferers. It remains to be seen whether the financial pressure on the NHS, as with other public organisations, will be conducive to improving even the most vital of services.

To get more information about any of the gynaecological cancers, please visit the Eve Appeal at www.eveappeal.org.uk.

The real detox

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Editor

Don’t spend loads of money on detox packs or string yourself out on a disgusting syrup, juice and pepper concoction – commit to something which actually works…

Every year we say we will stop eating when we feel full, or have one or two fewer glasses of wine but it never works.Well now the forced excess is all over and it’s time for punishing ourselves with the latest detox and weight loss fad. Or is it?

Losing that bloated sinking feeling and getting yourself back on track for 2011 could be much simpler than you realise.

We know the celebrities all endorse various detox/weight loss plans and we understand why. They are under a great amount of pressure to look good and above all, be the slimmest they can be, which prompts drastic measures in even the least neurotic and anxious of people. For those of us living our mundane (cough) everyday lives, such drastic action is not required: a few little tweaks can make all the difference.

Here are six quick tips to banish that ‘jabba the hutt’ feeling:

1. Make sure you get enough sleep. When you are tired your body wants the high energy, quick fix food which is very bad news for your blood sugar level and waistline. Tired people are also less likely to have the energy to exercise. Tired people always look older: perhaps the most effective inducement to get enough shut-eye. Need any more reasons?!

2. As above, high energy/sugar food is very bad news for you (unless you are a super-duper fit athlete who burns a gazillion calories a day). Eating high sugar foods sends you up into the stratosphere for about 20 minutes until you crash back down to earth and into the biscuit cupboard. We don’t need to give it up completely, just reduce portion size and be careful not to eat your treat after dinner as those calories will be going nowhere fast.

3. Raise your heart rate for at least 15 minutes a day. We all have some lonely exercise equipment or one of the many computer console exercise programs to hand for a quick endorphin boost, so requires no extra spenditure. It gives you a little extra energy to go about your business and you don’t have to trek to the gym to spend time with other sweaty people. Yuck.

4. Alcohol. We’re sorry to have to say this but if you want to feel better within a week, any delicious alcohol-based beverage is out. Alcohol is full of sugar. Wine is quite probably the healthiest of all the marketed beverages but still, as above, we know it is hard to restrict ourselves to just the one glass. So we advocate cutting it out for just a little while. Your liver will give thanks and you will very soon notice you are much less sluggish with better skin.

5. Fruit and veg. You may have heard the news, you may not have done, but here it is; we do not have to eat 5 portions of fruit or veg a day. Of course it is advisable to eat as much as you can without stressing or obsessing if for no other reason that by eating something green, you are not eating a big cake or pork pie. Fruit is nice as well. You may have forgotten how nice it is with all those sugar laden treats out there but if you manage to cut back your sugar intake you will rediscover just how naturally beautiful many fruits are. Try to eat the actual fruits instead of getting juice – the fibre helps slow the flow of sugar into your bloodstream.

6. Supplements. The most important are fish oil/omega 3 capsules which come with a side helping of Vitamin D – perfect for sharpening the old brain functions and making us feel less depressed about being mid-winter. There is no Vitamin D RDA and although we probably get enough help from the sun during summer, we need to supplement like crazy in winter. If you are over 50 you should be taking a Vitamin D supplement all year round. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to all the old life threatening bad pennies of heart disease, diabetes and cancer and more research needs to be done to see exactly what deficient people are missing out on. As far as other vitamins are concerned: if you can manage a small daily dose of vitamin C, this will also help to reduce your chances of getting a bad cold.

See, not a massive change, but will help you start to feel loads better and you might be inspired to effect a bigger change in your lifestyle. It doesn’t take much to get your body back on track – our organs, especially our main detox organ – the marvellous liver – are very resilient and do their very best job with just a little help from us.

Sleep is important, for both beauty and health

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Editor

We have all heard the cliché ‘beauty sleep’ but it does seem that the easiest way to look attractive and healthy is to get a good night’s sleep.

However, it is clear that lack of sleep affects more than our attractiveness. It also affects our ability to make coherent decisions, operate machinery and complete everyday tasks.

Evidence for sleep’s aesthetic bonus (taken from a recent research project in Sweden) has been published in the Christmas issue on bmj.com. The study, led by John Axelsson from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, investigated the relationship between sleep and perceptions of attractiveness and health.

Twenty-three people between the ages of 18 to 31 took part in the study. They were photographed between 2pm and 3pm on two occasions, once after normal sleep (8 hours) and once after being deprived of sleep (31 hours of wakefulness after a night of reduced sleep). No alcohol was allowed for two days before the experiment.

The photographs were taken in a well-lit room and the distance to the camera was fixed. During both photography sessions participants wore no make-up, had their hair loose (combed back if they had long hair) and were asked to have a relaxed, neutral facial expression for both photos.

Sixty-five observers, who were blinded to the sleep status of the subjects, rated the photographs for attractiveness and whether the individuals looked healthy/unhealthy or tired/not tired.

The observers judged the faces of sleep-deprived participants as less healthy, less attractive and more tired.

Are we just stating the obvious about the importance of sleep? It is easy to tell by sight alone when someone is tired or not well, which this study is said to prove. The implications for our health are not as easy to see as under eye shadows and droopy eyelids and are far more worrying.

The authors believe their topic of research is becoming ever more important considering the rise in stress, disturbed sleep and the ongoing trend of ours to try and wring every last possible moment of usefulness from each day. Sleep disorders are also on the rise.

If you would like to read the paper associated with this story please visit http://www.bmj.com/cgi/doi/10.1136/bmj.c6614

Your Christmas diet may not be as bad as you think

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Editor

We all know the importance of a balanced diet and try very hard to be good (most days anyway!) so it adds to the occasion to indulge yourself a little at Christmas.

Despite best intentions, the indulgence gradually accumulates; starting with Christmas parties, canapés and quick present handover lunches with your friends, reaching its peak on Christmas day.

However, after a day or so of goose fat enveloped golden roast potatoes, syrup soaked sponge puddings and continued exposure to the Roses tin, we are all feeling the effects of these goodies and are seriously considering a drastic detox diet.

But wait, you may not have been as naughty as you think; many people eat much more fruit and veg at Christmas then any other time of year.

If you have a peek at other people’s shopping while patiently (!) waiting in line at the supermarket, you will notice many items which are missing the rest of the year. Family packs of mixed nuts jostle for space with dried fruit, satsumas, dates and the crimbo veggie favourites – the dreaded sprouts, the not so dreaded parsnips and good old carrots. There may even be some melon for a continentally inspired starter, or Iceberg lettuce for a seventies legend. Last but not least, there is the carton of orange juice for the obligatory bucks fizz on Christmas morning.

So, with a little more effort we can all up our fruit and veg quota and assuage our consciences just enough to put off the obligatory guilt until the New Year at least. Even if you just substitute a couple of bad things, or add one extra fruit to your diet you will be reducing your risk of heart disease and cancer.

Heart Research UK has come up with the following tips to help you in this quest

Choose from the wide variety of different colours and textures available in the fruit and veg aisle at Christmas
Make your own cranberry and apple sauces so you can control the sugar content; cranberries are packed full of vitamins.
Start the day with a smoothie made from exotic fruits.
Serve vegetable crudités with dips, made by adding chopped onions, chives, or herbs to crème fraîche: a refreshing change from crisps.
Try some dried ‘superberries’ as an alternative snack. Acai and goji berries are nutrient dense fruits that carry many health benefits.
Don’t just stick to cheese and sausages for cocktail sticks, try pineapple pieces, satsuma segments, dates, grapes and cherry tomatoes or you could make some mini dried fruit kebabs.
Mix red wine with orange juice or cranberry juice and add cinnamon and spices or a mulled wine sachet then heat gently. This will result in a healthier mulled wine and fill your house with a delicious Christmassy aroma.

We will definitely be trying at least one or two of these – already a big fan of the homemade mulled wine on Christmas Eve! Enjoy…

Happy and healthy homes

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Editor

Some of the ingredients in cleaning products can be as harmful to your family as the little bacterial beasties you are trying to banish.

Research has proven that high levels of toxins found in breast milk and blood can clearly be traced back to home cleaning products. If you have ever experienced your eyes, nose, head, skin or lungs feeling the effect of harsh chemical while you clean, it is definitely time to change to a safer and healthier alternative.

Two ranges of environmentally and family friendly household products have recently caught our attention;

Organic at heart

All Organic at Heart cleaning products are:

* made from 100% biodegradable formulas
* effective cleaning products
* 100% recyclable and/or decompostable
* full of gorgeous aromas to leave your home smelling great
* made with traditional ingredients eg vinegar and lemon
* free from toxic residues
* 100% safe with essential oils for family wellbeing
* environmentally aware and supporting ethical trade

Check out their new BUBBLY KITCHEN POWDER with sparkly organic orange. Containing absolutely no nasties and packed in a 100% decompostable waterproof bag, it’s a must for all healthy kitchens. Use it for washing up, surface cleaning, carpet freshening, deodorising and much more.

www.organicatheart.co.uk

Method

Like Organic at Heart, Method use plant ingredients for their cleaning products. They have a full range of cleaning products for every eventuality and are passionate about the environment. Their philosophy means they are completely committed to happy and healthy lifestyles and sustainability. Their range includes;

* all purpose products
* speciality products for granite, wood, glass, steel and leather – the wood wipes and sprays are especially yummy and make your rooms smell of almond
* a full bathroom range including the super handy all-surface wipes which are flushable * There is also a full range for your clothes, body and precious items (your kids!)

Method products are available in most supermarkets, even B&Q (!); for more info check out their website

www.methodproducts.co.uk

When will you be taking your sick days?

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Editor

A survey conducted by a nutritional supplement company found that 71% were most likely to take a sicky in January. I doubt any of us are surprised by that revelation.

January is traditionally the most depressing month of the year; at least two more months of being cold and miserable. Gone are the nightly parties and good cheer and we are left with weakened immune systems/credit cards to add to our SAD.

January is not the only month to inspire the odd sicky. The unpredicted warm day/football tournament/random hangover (delete as appropriate) have long been traditional reasons for an unplanned day off.

There are quite a few reasons for working days to be lost at the moment. Maybe you have been trapped by the great billows of early snow, or the treacherous ice sheets left behind. Maybe you are one of the unlucky people succumbing to the Norovirus or an annoying little cold.

Someone very wise once told me that it was a complete waste to have a day off when you actually felt sick and that you should save them for when you really couldn’t face the world.

We think that sick days have a very necessary place in our busy and stressful ‘modern’ lives. We spend most of our time rushing about, not getting enough sleep and probably not eating very well. So when a bad cold or the need to have a duvet day rears its head, it is our duty to make sure we slow down for a few hours at least.

Being stressed affects your mind and body; people suffering from stress are much more likely to become unwell so it makes sense to stop when your body tells you to.

So when January rolls around after the hectic mess of Christmas will you be among those putting on your best sick voice to call the boss?

You never know, the predicted arrival of more snow might provide a timely excuse for some quality duvet time.

Elemis 20th anniversary offer – save 50% on key product set!

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Editor

Leading skincare and spa beauty brand, Elemis, is offering five of its key items, or only £48 (a saving of at least 50%)in a special offer starting on Sunday.

The five-piece Exotic Nourishing Face and Body Skincare Collection contains: Exotic Frangipani Bath and Shower Cream (200ml); a new product – Melting Cleansing Gel (125ml); Supersize Skin Nourishing Hand & Body Lotion (300ml); the No 1 best seller – Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (30ml ) and an Exotic Frangipani Monoi Moisture Melt (35ml). All the items come in a lovely silver make-up bag.

This special offer is being launched on QVC TV live from Sunday, 5 December and will continue until stocks run out. The whole price of this offer is less than you would have to pay for the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream alone – and the inclusion of the Melting Cleansing Gel is three months before the official market product launch. As well as on QVC (Sky Digital channel 640, Freestat channel 800, Freeview channel 16, and Virgin channel 740) the offer is also available online at http://www.qvcuk.com/elemisusing order code 223066. http://www.elemis.com

Pellevé ‘party-ready’ skin tightening treatment launched in UK

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Editor

A new non-invasive treatment claims to give you smoother and tighter skin without injections and anaesthetic.

PellevéTM is being promoted as a way to make yourself look younger and refreshed instantly.

How does it work?

PellevéTM heats the top layers of your skin using advanced radiowave technology without damaging the epidermis. The heat causes the collagen in your skin to contract and tighten, giving an immediate improvement to your skin: it also promotes the production of new collagen. This means you will notice the improvement in your skin quality and firmness over a number of weeks, or even months. The pictures above show the before and after of an eye and mouth treatment.

PellevéTM can be used on a number of areas, including:

– Skin under the chin
– Wrinkles around the mouth
– Lines on the forehead, including those in and around the eyebrows
– Crows feet
– Excess skin on upper eyelid

The best thing about PellevéTM is the immediate improvement to your skin, without the usual pain and irritations. We watched a treatment being done and then had an opportunity to experience it ourselves – on one hand! Your skin is heated to around 40°C and then cooled, which is repeated several times for maximum effect. It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling at all!

The cost of the treatment starts from about £600.

We will be featuring a full review of this new treatment soon, so be sure to check back to learn more.

In the meantime, why not have a look at www.pelleve.com?

Internet based interpreting service saved a man’s life

Posted on November 25, 2010 by Editor

If we needed any further proof of how important the internet has become, this is it…

Deaf patient Bartholomew Kelley usually asked his daughter to interpret on any visits to the Doctors. But he suddenly became ill while his daughter was away on holiday and he knew he couldn’t put off going to see his GP. He was suffering from chest pains.

When he turned up at his surgery without an appointment, Dr Shaikh of the Peel Precinct Surgery in Carlton Vale London used an online sign language service to diagnose a serious heart condition.

Bartholomew is profoundly deaf and his first language is British Sign Language [BSL]. Luckily for Bartholomew, Dr Shaikh had very recently set up his surgery to use an on-line interpreting service, SignTranslate, which uses a simple webcam to link with a live qualified BSL interpreter. The Doctor speaks to the interpreter on the phone, and the interpreter and Deaf patient sign the conversation.

Dr Shaikh said “It was brilliant. As soon as Bartholomew started telling me through the interpreter about his symptoms I realised that his chest pains were serious. I called an ambulance and got him into hospital”. The whole process took less than 10 minutes.

The translation service, SignTranslate, is owned by healthcare charity for the Deaf, SignHealth. SignHealth is a UK charity focused on improving the mental and physical health of Deaf people.

Chief Executive of SignHealth, Steve Powell, said that Bartholomew’s situation was not a unique one;

“Every day a Deaf person will attend a health consultation with no interpreter, often relying on family or friends to communicate a diagnosis or treatment. We know that inadequate communication presents a risk to a Deaf patient and we also know that interpreters are rarely available for same day or urgent appointments. Bartholomew was lucky that his GP had an on-line solution to hand.”

All surgeries in the country already have access to the service, free of charge; they just pay a small charge for the online minutes used.

The only technology needed to use the service is broadband internet and a webcam, so it is extremely accessible for anyone with a computer.

If you would like to find out more about SignHealth or their brilliant translation service SignTranslate, please visit www.signhealth.org.uk or www.signtranslate.com

ELIXIR

THE WORLD'S NUMBER 1 HEALTHY AGEING MAGAZINE

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