ELIXIR > diet

Free tickets to the Spirit of Summer Fair London

Posted on April 10, 2010 by Editor

London: Make a date in your diary for the Spirit of Summer Fair at London’s Olympia, 13-16 May 2010.

Get ready for summer by visiting the stylish boutique shopping event to find inspiration for summer living. With an array of carefully selected exhibitors, this event brings together a collection of the season’s ‘must-haves’, from accessories, fashion and alfresco living to gifts, gourmet food and wine.

We are giving 5 lucky readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to the Fair. To enter please give the correct answer to the following – in which UK town is the Spirit of Summer Fair being held:

(a) Birmingham
(b) Manchester
(c) London

Send your answer by email to readeroffer@elixirnews.com. This competition closes on 6 May 2010. No cash equivalent is offered and the Editor’s decision is final.

For more info visit www.spiritofsummerfair.co.uk
T: +44 (0)844 412 4623* (*Calls cost 10 pence per minute from BT landlines. Calls from mobiles and other networks may vary. Booking fee applies. Advance box office closes May 12, 2010.)

Get back into those skinny jeans – top tips

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Editor

London: Still got a pair of jeans in the back of the cupboard you cant wait to get back into? Youre not alone….

A nice pair of jeans ticks both the boxes when it comes to fashion and comfort, and as the years have gone by theyve remained an enduring style staple in many a closet.

Over a third of women (35%) admit to owning trophy jeans, a pair they used to fit into and aspire to fit into again in the future. These jeans held on to as physical reminder of when they felt they looked their best are frequently used as an inspiration to women to lose weight.

There are close to 130m pairs of jeans across the UK, with each woman owning an average of five different pairs. But these perfect jeans have been with many of us for so long that we have celebrated a crystal anniversary with them! One in ten women aged 55+ say theyve held onto their jeans more than 10-15 years, according to new research.

These trophy jeans are also seen as offering the promise of more happiness than many of lifes seminal moments. One in five women say the elation of fitting into their goal pair could evoke more euphoria than attending their best friends wedding (21%) or even winning the lottery (20%). In fact, around one sixth of those women (16%) would forego more than £10,000 just to fit into their slim jeans! 2.3m women said achieving that jean dream would be better than a £25k lottery win.

As fashion is cyclical, chances are many womens goal jeans will be back in fashion in 2010! On average women have held on to their goal jeans for 3 years with one in six women holding onto their trophy jeans for the length of time theyve been at their job (18%), and a further one in ten women admitting their perfect jeans have outlasted their longest relationship, according to the research by Kelloggs Special K as part of their Love Your Jeans Again campaign.

Psychotherapist Elisabeth Wilson said, For many women having a motivational milestone is absolutely vital to their success and moreover their sense of achievement. 70% of the women surveyed said they would consider fitting back into their goal jeans a considerable achievement theyd be very proud of and it’s well documented that visualising themselves wearing their goal jeans is the kind of positive imaging that will help them achieve great results. This combined with the power of positive thinking, support from others and a plan to kick-start a healthy lifestyle leads to real results.

Find out more here Fit into those jeans

For more information visit www.myspecialk.co.uk

Avoid déjà vu dieting – watch this video

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Editor

London: This coming year more and more of us are likely to make dieting our New Years resolution. However for many of us, this will be a ritual we are all too familiar with. Having tried dieting the year before and been unsuccessful, the process of losing weight and then gaining it is something us women struggle with on a regular basis.

Losing weight and keeping the weight off can give you a better quality of life, not only will you look fabulous in that dress, but the health benefits are astounding, reducing the risk of life threatening diseases such as type-2 diabetes and heart disease, two of the leading causes of death worldwide1.

With all the weight loss programmes and diets that Britons are attempting this New Year, its important to know what food and exercise combinations can help you lose weight consequently reducing visceral fat. Visceral fat which surrounds vital organs in the abdomen cant be seen or felt, but the metabolically active fat in unhealthy amounts can add to serious health problems.

Show date: Monday 4th January
Show time: 2:30pm

In this live WebTV show, David Haslam, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, and Terry Maguire, Pharmacist of Maguire Pharmacy, Belfast, explain what you can do to avoid the yo-yo dieting pattern and how to get rid of dangerous hidden fat. We also have Paula Keogh talking about her weight loss experiences with alli*. Submit your questions before hand or ask them live.

David Haslam, Terry Maguire and Paula Keogh join us live online at Live Web TV
on Monday 4th January at 2:30pm to discuss visceral fat and weight loss.

*alli is a weight loss aid for overweight adults with a BMI of 28 or over, designed to be used with a comprehensive support programme.

References:

1. World Health Organisation. Fact Sheet – The top ten causes of death. FACT SHEET

Fibre link to immune disease, reveals new research

Posted on October 31, 2009 by Editor

Sydney: Australian scientists have found a “direct link” between what we eat and how well our immune system operates – a breakthrough that could explain rising rates of autoimmune disease across the western world.

Professor Charles Mackay, of Sydney’s Garvan Institute of Medical Research, has identified how fibre in the diet plays a major role in ensuring a person’s immune cells function properly.

His results published in the prestigious journal Nature, also reaffirm the shift of what was once had a fringe concept into the scientific mainstream.

“This potentially explains all the previous data that no one had taken that seriously,” Prof Mackay said.

“I think it’s fair to say the broader immunological research community has never really believed that diet affects immune responses.

“This does provide a direct link for the way immune cells work with the sort of things we eat.”

Working along with PhD student Kendle Maslowski, Prof Mackay investigated the operation of an immune cell receptor known to bind with “short chain fatty acids” – the end product of fibre after being processed by gut bacteria.

This broken-down fibre was found to “profoundly affect immune cell function”, Prof Mackay said, and without it the immune cells appeared more likely to go awry.

Autoimmune disease refers to disorders in which a person’s immune system mistakenly attacks part of the body, causing inflammation.

“When (immune cells) go bad they cause inflammatory diseases, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis …” Prof Mackay said.

“We think one of the mechanisms for their normal control is short chain fatty acids binding to this receptor.

“And if we were to speculate on the real significance of this, we believe firmly that the best explanation for the increase in inflammatory diseases in western countries … is our changes in diet.”

A lack of dietary fibre could also be behind the rise in type 1 diabetes, Prof Mackay said.

The research suggests that having a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds would reduce a person’s risk of autoimmune disease.

It also helped to explain why food supplements that affect the balance of gut bacteria were known to reduce the symptoms of some inflammatory conditions.

Prof Mackay said dietary fibre, or roughage, was otherwise known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers plus it ensures you will be regular.

“The role of nutrition … is an exciting new topic in immunology,” he said.

Commenting on the study, Helen Yates, of the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre Chief Executive said, This is a very important finding in the field of diet and immune systems. It has long been believed by many people in the MS community that diet has a role to play in the disease and this research represents a first step towards greater investigation of how the food we eat can influence the immune system diseases we develop

Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) – the latest research

Posted on June 22, 2009 by Editor

AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD)

What is AMD?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows a person to see fine detail. AMD gradually destroys the sharp, central vision, which is needed for seeing objects clearly, and for common daily tasks such as reading and driving.

AMD causes no pain and, in some cases, advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a rapid loss of vision in both eyes. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in the western world for individuals over the age of 60, and is thought to affect over three million people in the UK alone. AMD occurs in two forms: wet and dry.

Where is the macula?

The macula is located in the centre of the retina – the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. The retina instantly converts light into electrical impulses, known as nerve signals, and sends them on to the brain for image interpretation.

What is dry AMD?

Dry AMD occurs when the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down, gradually blurring central vision in the affected eye. As dry AMD gets worse, a person may see a blurred spot in the centre of his or her vision. Over time, central vision is gradually lost in the affected eye.

The most common symptom of dry AMD is slightly blurred vision. A person may have difficulty recognising faces and may need more light for reading and other tasks. Dry AMD generally affects both eyes, but vision can be lost in one eye while the other eye seems unaffected. One of the most common early signs of dry AMD is drusen in the eye, possibly combined with pigment abnormalities.

What is drusen?

Drusen are yellow deposits under the retina often found in people over age 60, and in isolation do not normally cause vision loss. In fact, scientists are unclear about the connection between drusen and AMD, but have found that an increase in the size or number of drusen raises a person’s risk of developing either advanced dry AMD or wet AMD.

An eye care professional can detect drusen during a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

What is wet AMD?

Wet AMD is another advanced stage of AMD and is generally preceded by early or intermediate dry AMD. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels behind the retina start to grow under the macula. These new blood vessels tend to be very fragile and often leak blood and fluid. The blood and fluid raise the macula from its normal place at the back of the eye, and damage to the macula occurs rapidly.

With wet AMD, loss of central vision can occur quickly.

What are the stages of AMD?

AMD has three stages, all of which may occur in one or both eyes:

1. Early AMD – people with early AMD have either several small, or a few medium-sized drusen. At this stage, there are no other symptoms and no vision loss.

2. Intermediate AMD – people with intermediate AMD have either many medium-sized or one or more large drusen. Some people see a blurred spot in the centre of their vision. More light may be needed for reading and other tasks.

3. Advanced AMD – in addition to drusen, people with advanced dry AMD or advanced wet AMD have a breakdown of light-sensitive cells and supporting tissue in the central retinal area. This breakdown can cause a blurred spot in the centre of the vision. Over time, the blurred spot may get bigger and darker, taking more of the central vision. Individuals may have difficulty reading or recognising faces until they are very close.

If a person has vision loss from dry AMD in one eye only, he or she may not notice any changes in overall vision. With the other eye seeing clearly, the individual can still drive, read and see fine details, and may notice changes in vision only if AMD affects both eyes.

Which is more common – the dry form or the wet form?

The dry form is much more common, although scientists are still not sure what causes it. More than 85 per cent of all people with intermediate and advanced AMD combined have the dry form.

However, if only advanced AMD is considered, about two-thirds of patients have the wet form. Because almost all vision loss comes from advanced AMD, the wet form leads to significantly more vision loss than the dry form.

Can the dry form turn into the wet form?

Yes. All people who have the wet form of AMD had the dry form first. Dry AMD can advance and cause vision loss without turning into the wet form of the disease. The dry form also can suddenly turn into the wet form, even during early stage AMD. There is no way to tell if or when dry will turn into wet AMD.

The dry form has early and intermediate stages. Does the wet form have similar stages?
No. The wet form is considered advanced AMD.

Can advanced AMD be either the dry form or the wet form?

Yes. Both the wet form and the advanced dry form are considered advanced AMD, and vision loss can occur with either form, although in most cases, only advanced AMD can cause vision loss. People who have advanced AMD in one eye are at especially high risk of developing advanced AMD in the other eye.

Causes and Risk Factors

Who is at risk of developing AMD?

The greatest risk factor is age. Although AMD may occur during middle age, studies show that people over age 60 are clearly at greater risk than other age groups. For instance, a large study found that middle-aged people have about a two per cent risk of developing AMD, but this risk increased to nearly 30 per cent in those over age 75.

Other risk factors include:

Smoking – smokers have an increased risk of developing AMD

Family History – individuals with immediate family members who have AMD are at a higher risk of developing the disease

Obesity – research studies suggest a link between obesity and the progression of early and intermediate stage AMD to advanced AMD

Poor nutrition lacking in lutein /zeaxanthin rich diet (nutrients found in green leafy vegetables such as curly kale and egg yolk)

Race – Caucasians seem to be more likely to lose vision from AMD than those with darker skin

Gender – women appear to be at greater risk than men

Can a person’s lifestyle make a difference?

A person’s lifestyle can play a role in reducing the risk of developing AMD. So it’s important to remember to:

Eat a healthy diet that’s high in fruit, fish and vegetables, specifically green leafy vegetables

Avoid smoking

Maintain a normal blood pressure

Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly

Symptoms and Detection

What are the symptoms of AMD?

Dry AMD: The most common early sign for dry AMD is blurred vision. As fewer cells in the macula are able to function, people will see details such as faces or words in a book less clearly.

Often this blurred vision disappears in brighter light. If the loss of these light-sensing cells becomes great, people may see a small but growing blind spot in the middle of their field of vision.

Wet AMD: The classic early symptom for wet AMD is that straight lines appear crooked. This results when fluid from the leaking blood vessels gathers and lifts the macula, distorting vision. A small blind spot may also appear in wet AMD, resulting in loss of one’s central vision.

Neither dry nor wet AMD cause pain.

How is AMD detected?

An eye care professional may suspect AMD if the person is over age 60 and has had recent changes in central vision. AMD is detected during a comprehensive eye exam that includes a visual acuity test, dilated eye exam, and tonometry (a measurement of intraocular pressure).

An eye care professional also may perform other tests to learn more about the structure and health of the eye. For example during an eye exam, the patient may be asked to look at an Amsler grid a grid of straight lines with a black dot in the centre. The patient will be asked to cover one eye and stare at the black dot. While staring at the dot, they may notice that the straight lines in the pattern appear wavy, and that some of the lines are missing. These may be signs of AMD.

If an eye care professional believes the patient needs treatment for wet AMD, he or she will suggest a fluorescein and/or indocyanin green angiogram to identify any leaking blood vessels and recommend treatment.

What does AMD mean for the patient?

For many, AMD is a shock which can be compounded by lack of information, empathy and support available. Patients are frequently told that little can be done to treat the condition, leaving them feeling both angry and depressed.

People with AMD are more likely to become depressed than the general population, and depression can increase the difficulty of adjusting to the disease (Quality of life in age-related macular degeneration Royal Holloway University of London, 2006). Indeed, a US cross-sectional study of 151 patients living with AMD reported that the rate of depressive disorder was twice that generally found among elderly people living in the community.

Those living with AMD may lose their independence, requiring help with personal and household tasks and other aspects of daily life. Shopping, cooking and general mobility are also more difficult for people with AMD than those of a similar age with no visual impairment. An additional prospective study of AMD patients with recent (within six weeks) loss of vision to their second eye found that of the 51 participants, 33% met the criteria for clinical depression (a higher rate than 16% found in the wider community), of whom only one was receiving treatment for depression, suggesting low levels of pre-existing depression (Source: Rovner, Casten and Tasman Effect of depression on vision function in age-related macular degeneration (Journals of Ophthalmology, 2002).

Other health problems associated with age such as arthritis and osteoporosis serve to impair quality of life still further.

Visual hallucinations, known as Charles Bonnet Syndrome, and common in those with visual impairments, can also occur with AMD. While benign and frequently short-lived, research suggests that few are warned that AMD can cause hallucinations and may not report them, featuring dementia. Such unnecessary worry may further damage quality of life.

Rehabilitation, including the provision of low vision aids and training in their use, has been proven to benefit those with AMD, improving visual function and assisting quality of life. Psycho-social interventions, such as peer support groups, also help sufferers adjust to the disease.

Treatment

How is wet AMD treated?

Wet AMD can be treated with laser surgery, photodynamic therapy, and injections into the eye. None of these treatments are a cure for wet AMD, and the disease and loss of vision may progress despite treatment.

1. Laser surgery – this procedure, which is performed in a doctor’s office or eye clinic, uses a laser to destroy the fragile, leaky blood vessels. A high-energy beam of light is aimed directly onto the new blood vessels and destroys them, preventing further loss of vision.

However, laser treatment may also destroy some surrounding healthy tissue and some vision. Only a small percentage of people with wet AMD can be treated with laser surgery. It is more effective if the leaky blood vessels have developed away from the fovea, the central part of the macula.

The risk of new blood vessels developing after laser treatment is high. Repeated treatments may be necessary, and in some cases, vision loss may progress despite repeated treatments.

2. Photodynamic therapy – a drug called verteporfin is injected into the arm. It travels through the body, including the new blood vessels in the eye, and tends to “stick” to the surface of the new vessels.

Next, a light which activates the drug is beamed into the eye for around 90 seconds, which destroys the new blood vessels and leads to a slower rate of vision decline. Unlike laser surgery, this drug does not destroy surrounding healthy tissue. Because the drug is activated by light, the patient must avoid exposing skin or eyes to direct sunlight or bright indoor light for five days after treatment.

Photodynamic therapy slows the rate of vision loss, but does not stop it or restore vision in eyes already damaged by advanced AMD. Treatment results often are temporary and a person may need to be treated again. Photodynamic therapy is relatively painless, takes about 20 minutes and is normally performed in a dedicated hospital clinic.

3. Injections – wet AMD can now be treated with new drugs that are injected into the eye (anti-VEGF or anti-angiogenic therapy). Abnormally high levels of a specific growth factor occur in eyes with wet AMD and promote the growth of abnormal new blood vessels. This drug treatment blocks the effects of the growth factor.

A person will need multiple injections that may be given as often as every month. The eye is numbed before each injection, and the patient may need to remain in hospital for a period of time after each session for monitoring. This drug treatment can help slow down vision loss from AMD and in some cases improve sight.

How is dry AMD treated?

Once dry AMD reaches the advanced stage, no form of treatment can prevent vision loss. However, intake of certain antioxidant vitamins and zinc can delay and possibly prevent intermediate AMD from progressing to the advanced stage, in which vision loss occurs.

The US National Eye Institute’s Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) found that taking Bausch & Lomb’s PreserVision, a high-potency nutritional supplement containing antioxidants and zinc, significantly reduces the risk of advanced AMD and its associated vision loss. Slowing AMD’s progression from the intermediate stage to the advanced stage will save the vision of many people.

Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS)

What is the dosage of the AREDS formulation?

The specific quantities of antioxidants and zinc used by the AREDS researchers were 500 milligrams of vitamin C; 400 International Units of vitamin E; 15 milligrams of beta-carotene (often labelled as equivalent to 25,000 International Units of vitamin A); 80 milligrams of zinc as zinc oxide; and two milligrams of copper as cupric oxide. Copper was added to the AREDS formulation containing zinc to prevent copper deficiency anaemia, a condition associated with high levels of zinc intake.

Bausch & Lomb’s PreserVision Original formulation, which was proven safe and effective by the AREDS study, is available in soft gel and tablet forms. The new PreserVision Lutein soft gels replace beta-carotene with lutein and are suitable for smokers.

Who should take the AREDS formulation?

People who are at high risk for developing advanced AMD should consider taking the formulation in consultations with their health care provider or personal physician. A person is at high risk of developing advanced AMD if he or she has either:

1. Intermediate AMD in one or both eyes.
-OR-
2. Advanced AMD (dry or wet) in one eye, but not the other.

The AREDS formulation is not a cure for AMD, nor will it restore vision already lost from the disease. However, it may delay the onset of advanced AMD. It may also help people who are at high risk of developing advanced AMD keep their vision.

Can diet alone provide the same high levels of antioxidants and zinc as the AREDS formulation?

No. High levels of vitamins and minerals are difficult to achieve from diet alone. However, previous studies have suggested that people who have diets rich in fruit, fish and vegetables, specifically, green leafy vegetables, have a lower risk of developing AMD.

Can a daily multi-vitamin alone provide the same high levels of antioxidants and zinc as the AREDS formulation?

No. The formulation’s levels of antioxidants and zinc are considerably higher than the amounts in any daily multi-vitamin. If a person is already taking daily multi-vitamins and his or her doctor suggests taking the high-dose AREDS formulation, it is recommended that the individual review all vitamin supplements with his or her doctor prior to taking the AREDS formulation.

Because multi-vitamins contain many important vitamins not found in the AREDS formulation, a person may wish to take a multi-vitamin along with the AREDS formulation. For example, people with osteoporosis need to be particularly concerned about taking vitamin D, which is not in the AREDS formulation.

How can a person take care of his or her vision once diagnosed with AMD?
If a person has dry AMD, he or she should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. An eye care professional can monitor his or her condition and check for other eye diseases. Also, if a person has intermediate AMD in one or both eyes, or advanced AMD in one eye only, the doctor may suggest that the individual take the AREDS formulation containing the high levels of antioxidants and zinc.

Because dry AMD can turn into wet AMD at any time, a person should obtain an Amsler grid from their eye care professional. It is recommended that the individual use the grid every day to evaluate his or her vision for signs of wet AMD. This quick test works best for people who still have good central vision. If a person detects any changes in the appearance of this grid or in his or her everyday vision while reading the newspaper or watching television, he or she needs a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

If a person has wet AMD, a doctor would normally advise immediate treatment. After laser surgery or photodynamic therapy or anti-VEGF anti-angiogenic therapy, a person will need frequent eye exams to detect any recurrence of leaking blood vessels.

Studies show that people who smoke have a greater risk of recurrence than those who don’t. In addition, a person should check his or her vision daily at home using the Amsler grid and will need to schedule an eye exam immediately if any changes are detected.

What can a person do if he or she has already lost some vision from AMD?
If a person has lost some sight from AMD, he or she should not be afraid to use his or her eyes for reading, watching TV, and other routine activities. Normal eye use will not cause further vision damage. These individuals should also ask their eye care professional about low-vision services and devices that may help make the most of their remaining vision.

Many community organisations and agencies offer information about low-vision counselling, training, and other special services for people with visual impairments. Macular Disease Society is of particular value to many existing AMD sufferers. The Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) also provides support and services for those experiencing vision difficulties and loss.

Current Research

What AMD research is currently being conducted?
Research is conducted globally to help provide better ways to detect, treat, and prevent vision loss through AMD. Currently, scientists are:

Studying the possibility of transplanting healthy cells into a diseased retina – a London-based project to cure AMD has recently been launched, following £4 million donation from an anonymous American donor. This will involve a study where patients will be treated for dry AMD with injections of Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) into the eye. The RPE itself has been developed under laboratory conditions from embryonic stem cells. The study is likely to take at least five years to complete, and will be undertaken by Moorfields Eye Hospital in conjunction with the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London and the University of Sheffield

Evaluating families with a history of AMD to understand genetic and hereditary factors that may cause the disease

Looking at certain anti-inflammatory treatments for the wet form of AMD
AREDS II further examining the role of vitamins, lutein, omega-3 fatty acids and zinc

Get emergency snack attack advice here

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Editor

London: Leading TV nutritionist Nigel Denby shows you how you CAN have a nibble and manage your body shape.

Women are always being told that the key to staying trim is to avoid the snack trap. However, evidence supports the fact that snacking isn’t inherently bad for you – the issue is in fact choosing the right snacks that can become part of a balanced diet and help you on your way to longer term weight management.

Shocking as it sounds to many dedicated dieters, well timed and planned out nibbling can actually be good for you because it can help keep your metabolism working at a consistent rate throughout the day and help fill the hunger gap so you don’t over-indulge at meal times.

One of the first and most important things to identify is what type of a snacking personality type you are; when you find yourself snacking and the reasons why you snack. Once you’ve identified this, it’s easy to plan out your steps to avoid any ‘bad’ snack pitfalls. It could be that you’re a mum, who can’t help picking at food whilst making your kids’ tea or perhaps you get home from work exhausted, and slump in front of the TV with anything you can find to pick at from the fridge.

The truth is that it can be very hard not to have a little nibble as most women crave snacks throughout the day and the denial of these cravings can often lead to us reaching for the biscuit tin. A massive 97% of women said they felt guilty after snacking alone, with 43% concerned about the weight gain potential of snacking.

Lucky for us though we have expert advice on hand from leading TV nutritionist Nigel Denby who talks us through the best route to successful
nibbling, so that the sweet doughnuts and cakes stay in the box. Click on the link below to find out what type you are and get some nibbling know how:
Nibble Know How from Nigel Denby
For more information visit
www.kelloggs.co.uk

Diet pills no substitute for healthy lifestyle

Posted on April 19, 2009 by Editor

London: Pharmaceutical diet pills which go on sale in the UK for the first time later this week are no substitute for a healthy lifestyle, according to medical experts.

One of the drugs, Alli, can help those to take it lose 3lb a week, according to its manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline. This is more than three stones over four months.

The drug, is a milder version of prescription-only Xenical, works by reducing the body’s ability to process fat by about 25 per cent. The fat passes straight through the body, creating a need to go to the toilet frequently.

Professor Gareth Williams, professor of medicine at the University of Bristol and the author of Obesity: Science To Practice, said in the British Medical Journal that the side-effects are so severe that “possibly few users will even finish their first pack of Alli, let alone buy a second”.

More seriously, he said: “The drug may cause only a small and transient downward blip in the otherwise inexorable climb in weight.

“Selling anti-obesity drugs over the counter will perpetuate the myth that obesity can be fixed simply by popping a pill and could further undermine efforts to promote healthy living, which is the only long-term escape from obesity.”

He said that real-life weight loss may not be as dramatic as in clinical trials.

“Dieters in these trials are highly motivated and under medical supervision,” he said. “People … taking it without medical supervision may achieve an average daily energy deficit of only 100kcal – equivalent to leaving a few French fries on a plate, eating an apple instead of ice cream, or (depending on enthusiasm and fitness) having 10 to 20 minutes of sex.”

The second drug is Appesat, which claims to cause weight loss of just under 2lb per week. It is a seaweed extract, which swells in the stomach and tricks the user into feeling that they are full.

Its long-term benefits were even questioned by Dr Jason Halford, the director of the Study of Human Ingestive Behaviour University of Liverpool, who is paid to advise the drug’s manufacturer.

“The cure for obesity and being overweight will never be found in a pill, packet or a wonder drug,” Dr Halford said. “That can only come from enormous changes to our food and physical environment, which are going to take a long time to achieve.

“Drugs don’t necessarily deal with reasons why people become obese, which are largely psychological.”

About two-thirds of adults and a third of children are obese, according to the Health Survey for England. Last year the number of prescriptions for “fat pills” rose 16 per cent to 1.23 million.

Last week a BBC television investigation by Professor Lesley Regan of St Mary’s Hospital in London found that women taking a placebo starch pill, who thought they were taking a diet pill, lost up to half a stone in six weeks.

Extreme grapefruit diet may interfere with the pill

Posted on April 4, 2009 by Editor

New York: A woman who went on an intense grapefruit-based diet developed a blood clot in her leg and risked losing the limb, US doctors have reported.

The unusual case, written up in the Lancet medical journal, occurred in Washington state in November last year.

Medics concluded grapefruit had affected the way the 42-year-old’s body processed her contraceptive pill.

In November 2008, the woman came to the casualty department of the Providence St Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington state.

The day before, she had gone on a long car journey, after which she felt pain radiating from her lower back down to her left ankle.

When she arrived at the hospital she was experiencing difficulty walking, shortness of breath, and light-headedness.By the next day her left leg had turned purple.

The woman was generally in good health but was slightly overweight and had decided to diet.

Three days before falling ill, she had begun a crash diet which included eating 225g of grapefruit each morning, after rarely eating the fruit in the past.

When doctors examined her, an ultrasound scan confirmed the woman had a large blood clot within the veins of her left leg, which stretched from her hip down to her calf and she was deemed to be at risk of losing her leg because of gangrene.

The woman was given clot-busting treatment and had a stent, a kind of tube, fitted in order to widen her vein.

The doctors treating her said a number of risk factors had contributed to the woman developing the clot.

She had an inherited disorder which increased her risk, as did being on the combined Pill. Being immobile in a car probably also contributed to the clot forming.

Writing in the Lancet, the authors led by Dr Lucinda Grande, called it a “constellation of potential risk factors”.

But they added: “The increased [oestrogen] serum concentration due to her three days of grapefruit for breakfast may well have tipped the balance.”

They suggest the fruit blocked the action of a key enzyme that normally breaks down the form of oestrogen in her contraceptive.

A spokesman for the Florida Department of Citrus – an executive agency of Florida government which markets, researches and regulates the state’s citrus industry, said: “The Lancet report looks to be inconsistent with published scientific studies which indicate grapefruit does not cause a clinically significant interaction with oral contraceptives.

“We are aware of no validated evidence that grapefruit affects oral contraceptives, and they are generally considered to be safe to consume with grapefruit.”

How diet and exercise cut cancer risk – new statistics

Posted on March 1, 2009 by Editor

Positive changes to diet, physical activity and body weight can substantially decrease your risk for most types of cancer, according to the latest information from the World Cancer Research Fund.

Commenting on the research the British Nutrition Foundation says:
“This research shows the value of focussing on cancer prevention – over a third of cancers can be prevented by improving diet, physical activity and weight management.

“As so many of us are affected by cancer, we hope that these statistics will motivate people to make changes to their lifestyle to allow them to live free from the burden of cancer. It is notoriously difficult to change peoples diets and activity levels, but these figures show that lifestyle really can make a measurable difference, so improving diet and physical activity habits is certainly worth the effort.”
Lisa Miles, Senior Nutrition Scientist

Press release from World Cancer Research Fund:

Landmark report: many cancers could be prevented across the globe

Over 40 per cent of bowel and breast cancer cases in the UK are preventable through healthy patterns of diet, physical activity and weight maintenance, according to estimates in a landmark report that has set out recommendations for policies and actions to reduce the global number of cancer cases.

The report, Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention, published today by World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), has estimated that about 43 per cent of bowel cancer cases and 42 per cent of breast cancer cases in the UK could be prevented in this way.

The overall message of the report is that all sections of society from governments to households should make public health, and cancer prevention in particular, a higher priority. And it includes estimates on the proportion of cancer cases that could be prevented through diet, physical activity and weight that demonstrate how important the issue is.

The estimates for the US are that 45 per cent of bowel cancer cases and 38 per cent of breast cancer cases are preventable by these means. The report has also estimated the preventability of cancer in China and Brazil, which represent low and middle-income countries, respectively.

The overall estimate is that about a third of the most common cancers in high-income countries and a quarter in lower-income countries could be prevented. These figures do not include smoking, which alone accounts for about a third of cancers.

As well as breast and colon cancers, across the world many cases of other cancers, such as those of the kidney and stomach, are preventable (see table below).

As part of the evidence-based report, thought to be the most comprehensive ever published on the subject, two independent teams of scientists systematically looked at the evidence for how policy changes and interventions influence the behaviours that affect cancer risk.

Following this, a panel of 23 world-renowned experts made 48 recommendations spread across different groups in society to follow. These groups are: multinational bodies; civil society organisations; government; industry; media; schools; workplaces and institutions; health and other professionals; and people. The recommendations include:

* Schools should actively encourage physical activity and provide healthy food for children.
* Schools, workplaces and institutions should not have unhealthy foods available in vending machines.
* Governments should require widespread walking and cycling routes to encourage physical activity.
* Governments should incorporate UN recommendations on breastfeeding into law.
* The food and drinks industry should make public health an explicit priority at all stages of production.
* Industry should give a higher priority for goods and services that encourage people to be active, particularly young people.
* Health professionals should take a lead in giving the public information about public health, including cancer prevention.
* People should use independent nutrition guides and food labels to make sure the food they buy for their family is healthy.

Professor Sir Michael Marmot, Chair of the WCRF Panel, said: This report shows that by making relatively straightforward changes, we could significantly reduce the number of cancer cases around the world.

When people think of policy reports, they often think they are only relevant to governments. But while governments are important in this, the evidence shows that when it comes to cancer prevention, all groups in society have a role to play. This report is relevant to everyone from heads of government to the people who do the weekly food shopping for their family.

We have been fairly specific about what different groups need to do. But the Reports overall message is that everyone needs to make public health in general, and cancer prevention in particular, more of a priority.

Professor Martin Wiseman, Project Director of the Report, said: Making estimates on the proportion of cancer cases that are preventable is complex and challenging.

The figures in this report have been agreed by the most eminent of scientists and they are as accurate as they can be with the available data.

On a global level every year, there are millions of cancer cases that could have been prevented and this is why we need to act now before the situation gets even worse.

We are expecting a substantial increase in cancer rates with the ageing population, obesity rates soaring, and with people becoming less active and increasingly consuming highly processed and energy dense foods and drinks. The good news is that this is not inevitable and we still have the chance to avert a crisis before it is too late.

Professor Mike Richards, National Clinical Director for Cancer, has welcomed the report. He said: “The evidence linking diet, physical activity, obesity and cancer has become stronger over the last decade and this report can play a part in people adopting healthier lifestyles.

“I welcome this report, which has been produced by leading scientists in the field. After not smoking, it is clear that diet, physical activity and weight are the most important things people can do to reduce their cancer risk.”

ESTIMATED PERCENTAGE OF CANCERS THAT COULD BE PREVENTED

US UK Brazil China

Mouth, pharynx & larynx 63 67 63 44
Oesophagus 69 75 60 44
Lung 36 33 36 38
Stomach 47 45 41 33
Pancreas 39 41 34 14
Gallbladder 21 16 10 6
Bowel 45 43 37 17
Liver 15 17 6 6
Breast 38 42 28 20
Endometrium (womb) 70 56 52 34
Prostate 11 20 n/a n/a
Kidney 24 19 13 8
12 cancers combined 34 39 30 27

The report is available for download at www.dietandcancerreport.org
More Information

The preventability estimates are about a third of the most common cancers in high-income countries and about a quarter in lower income countries.
Because of the way that different lifestyle factors are inter-linked, it is not possible to simply add the preventability estimates from smoking and other lifestyle factors together to get a total.

The British Nutrition Foundation is a registered charity. It promotes the wellbeing of society through the impartial interpretation and effective dissemination of scientifically based knowledge and advice on the relationship between diet, physical activity and health. Web: www.nutrition.org.uk

Get beauty from the inside out with free diet booklet from the experts at Yakult

Posted on February 18, 2009 by Editor

London: A survey conducted by probiotic experts Yakult reveals that 15.5 million Brits are struggling to keep to their New Year resolutions at the start of the year with 5 million admitting to failing altogether.

The research by Yakult showed 52% of people ate and drunk substantially more over the Christmas period with 30% likely to have experienced some form of digestive complaint.

Dr Simon Gabe says: Digestive problems over Christmas are very common and can occur for a variety of reasons such as dietary changes, stress and gastroenteritis. Infections such as salmonella can and do occur from undercooked turkey, but it is more likely that symptoms suffered are due to a combination of dietary changes and stress.

Irritable bowel symptoms have a seasonal variation and this may relate to the diet and stress during this time of the year.

Making changes to your diet during this period before youve recovered could increase the likelihood of breaking your resolution. Starting a few weeks later will not only be better for you physically but also ease the mental struggle of trying to keep to your resolution.

This is a view of psychologist Donna Dawson who says: Two weeks into the New Year is the best time to start your New Year resolution. The reason for this is two-fold: firstly people forget that Christmas can be a very stressful period in many ways; secondly, combining the after-effects of the holiday period with returning to work puts people under a great deal of emotional and physical strain. As a result, the majority of people are not mentally ready to begin their resolutions on New Years Day.

Keeping to a successful resolution is a physical and mental battle. However, going back to work after the festive period also adds to the strain. 46% of those surveyed said going back to work after the festive period was a physical and mental shock to the system. When it comes to citing reasons for failure, 18% of people blamed the stress of going back to work, whilst 17% said it was a case of January blues which led them to fail. 38% would delay starting their resolutions if they thought it would mean keeping them longer.

Donna Dawson continues: By January 14th you should be recovered from Christmas and adjusted to being back at work making it the perfect time to focus on improvements to your life. You have had time to think clearly about what you really want for yourself, and you are physically and mentally more able to work towards achieving it. If you have already broken your resolution, dont despair as now is the time to start afresh to increase your chance of success.

The Inside Out Diet is a lifestyle plan, devised by independent experts Dr Tony Leeds, nutritionist Fiona Hunter and also fitness expert Nicki Waterman. As well as providing tips, recipes and exercises, the website has recently launched a new blog in which users can share tips and advice and offer motivation for those looking to lead a health lifestyle and get in to shape. Users can also register for their own free copy of the Inside Out Diet book on the website, www.insideoutdiet.co.uk

Five Tips for Successful New Years Resolutions from Psychologist Donna Dawson:

1) Choose a Realistic Resolution and a Realistic Target Date: First, choose a resolution that can be achieved realistically within your present life-style. Then choose a date for reaching your goal that is neither so soon that you will fail (for example, a month), or so far away that you will give up before you reach it (say, six months). Any New Years resolution should be considered an ongoing process, so give yourself a target date that reflects that.

2) Brainstorm: Write down every idea and activity that will help you to meet your goal – this may mean adding or subtracting something from your present lifestyle. Also, consider what or whom may be holding you back? You may have to avoid doing certain things, or even stop doing certain things for others

3) Prioritise: A big goal can always be broken down into smaller steps to make it more manageable. Find the smaller steps that make up the whole, and then work out a time-span for working out each smaller step into your life (for example, immediately, a few days, a week, a month).

4) Reinforcement; Human beings are creatures of habit; the trick is to unlearn bad habits and to replace them with good habits. If you are dieting, then reward any success with non-food rewards. If you are getting fit, plan at least two exercise sessions a week within your present routine (write them into your diary as firm dates, and then keep them). By reward and persistence, the good habits will soon become automatic, thereby ousting the bad habits.

5) Forgive Yourself: If you lapse from your goal, dont berate yourself and give up in disgust. To err is human, and you must take the longer view. Cultivate the difference between willpower (an all-or-nothing approach which brooks no failure), and self-control (which can be learned, and which allows for some compromise). Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start again, always accentuating the positive!

2,025 people were surveyed by YouGov

Yakult

Yakult is the original probiotic. It was developed in 1935 by Dr Shirota, at Kyoto University in Japan.

Dr Shirota was a powerful advocate of preventative medicine. He believed healthy intestines helped give good health and a long life. His philosophy Working on a healthy society aims to improve physical, mental and social health.

Yakult has nearly 75 years in bacteriological research and has achieved global recognition in the use of friendly bacteria in foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Research continues at the Yakult Central Institute in Japan and the company also works closely with scientific and medical communities to increase understanding of the role of friendly bacteria in health.

Today Yakult is consumed by 25 million people in 31 countries world-wide.

Sheraton Salobre Golf Resort & Spa, Gran Canaria

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Editor

Sheraton Salobre Golf Resort & Spa
Aloe Spa
Urbanizacion Salobre Golf SN
Maspalomas, Gran Canaria
Canary Islands 35100, Spain
T:34 928 943 030
T:34 928 943 000 Spa
www.sheraton.com
15% off spa treatments

Find all the comforts of home and so much more at the Sheraton Salobre Golf Resort & Spa.

Overlooking the breathtaking greens of the 27-hole Salobre Golf Course, fairways, and splendid surrounding mountains, our resort is the perfect place to catch up with the people who matter.

Treat yourself to some well-deserved you-time and discover a new world of well-being in a relaxing oasis at our Aloe Spa. After a busy day of sightseeing or business, let us show you how to find your internal beauty and balance with our soothing treatments.

Spend the day at Maspalomas Beach. Our free shuttle service can drive you directly to our private beach house, offering a bar, changing room, showers, and swimming pool.

Enticing guest rooms, a wealth of recreational facilities, and a range of exceptional dining venues make the Sheraton Salobre Golf Resort & Spa an unforgettable resort experience.

Plus, all-day, everyday sun, with an average annual temperature of 23C (73F). So theres none of that anxious staring-up-at-the-heavens and saying, Surely in five minutes that cloud will have blown away, sod it, wheres the beer. . .?

The spa treatments include Swedish massage and hot-stone therapy and cost from 20 to 120 (£14.40 to £86.50). The aloe vera wrap is the signature dish, but the spas age-defying treatment and lymphatic drainage is another productive way to spend your time.

This spa also uses the high quality Espa products and is the place for fashionable Spanish yummy mummies

Clínica San Roque, S.A. Gran Canaria

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Editor

Clínica San Roque, S.A.
C/ Dolores de la Rocha, 5.
CP: 35001, Las Palmas de G. C.
CIF: A-35064658
www.clinicasanroque.com
T: +34 928 012 600 –
10% discount on aesthetic treatments

Anti-ageing programme: Complete investigation and treatments to meet the needs of the patient including: diet, exercise training programmes, peeling,
autohemotherapy-ozonetherapy, facial anti-ageing technques (mesolifting, hyaluronic acid, vitamins, mesoplasty etc), body mesotherapy, lymphatic drainage etc.
Chemical peels for acne, acne scars, brown spots (sun and hormonal), facial anti-ageing, psoriasis, warts, solar keratosis, seborrheic dermatitis and stretch marks
Wrinkle treatments including Botox and fillers, gold threading etc.
Volumising treatments – for lips, cheeks etc
Vein treatments including sclerosis and laser
Surgery for the removal of benign growths
Hair treatments including mesotherapy and hair grafting
Cellulite and firming treatments – endermology, vibration therapy, lymphatic drainage and mesotherapy
Nutrition and diet for weightloss, fertilty
Psoriasis treatments – peeling, light and ozone therapies
Skin treatments – dermatitis, eczema, herpes, skin fungus, acne
Face and body mesotherapy including use of growth factors (plasma rich in platelets)
Radiofrequency, iontophoresis and ultrasound therapies and treatments

Top fitness tips from celebrity beauty guru Dr Neish Joshi

Posted on January 15, 2009 by Editor

London: Celebrity health guru Neish Joshi has devised easy and simple New Year resolutions for great skin, which anyone can follow and youll also notice the benefits within a few weeks.

1. Easy food swaps

Making healthy food choices doesnt mean you have to exist on lettuce alone. Try these simple food swaps which will to give your health a boost, without compromising on taste:
– Swap potato for sweet potato when making wedges
– Snack on wasabi peas instead of dry roasted peanuts
– Use GOOD OIL on your salad instead of heavy dressing
– On pasta, ditch cheese sauce and use fresh tomato instead
– Use spices instead of salt when seasoning food
– Swap sweets for dried fruit (dried mangoes are the sweetest)
– Ditch crisps for salted popcorn
– Desperate for dessert? Try chopping up a banana, dipping the chunks in melted 70% coca chocolate and pop in the freezer until the chocolate hardens. Delicious!
– Carry figs around with you for an emergency on-the-go sugar fix. A great substitute for chocolate bars
– Swap a drizzle of cream in tomato soup for a drizzle of GOOD OIL
– Swap regular milk for semi skimmed or skimmed. Or for the more adventurous, try soya milk
– Add extra vegetables whenever you can. A few sautéed pieces of celery to Bolognese sauce or try adding mushrooms and peas to your favourite curry
– Swap butter in chocolate cake for beetroot yes really, this works! Beetroot also gives the sponge a rich red hue
– Swap bar snacks for your own roasted soya nuts

2. Aim for as much as you can a day
We all know we should aim for 5 portions of fruit and veg a day, but unfortunately this isnt always possible. Instead aim for as much as you can and dont throw in the towel if you have a bad day and give up altogether. Just remember tomorrow is another day and a fresh start.

3. Dont avoid oil
When people go on a health kick, they immediately think about foods they should eliminate from their diet, which often includes oils. In fact you should include oil in your diet on a daily basis, just make sure its the right kind. GOOD OIL is a good source of essential omega-3 and omega-6, which the body needs to maintain a healthy heart. Research shows that reducing saturated fat intake and swapping it for oils rich in EFAs contributes to an improvement in cholesterol.

4. Sip sip and sip again
The thought of drinking the recommended 2 liters of water can be pretty daunting. Dont panic and try to gulp it down in one go. Make sure you have a bottle to hand and sip throughout the day, youll reach your target before you know it.

5. Juice it up
Not everyone is happy to eat through piles of vegetables and fruit every day, so make life simpler and start juicing. Its easy to replace one portion of fruit and veg a day with a juice, here are some of our favourites:

– Carrot, ginger and celery for breakfast
– Mango, mint and lime for a lunch treat
– A tasty blackberry and cranberry smoothie with a drop of GOOD OIL for a healthy afternoon drink

6. Swap coffee for herbal tea
We know youve heard it before and that despite previous attempts to switch to green tea your body still craves a caffeine-laden pick-me-up in the morning. However, consider this: herbal teas have a multitude of benefits and they dont over-stimulate, as coffee tends to do, helping you to maintain a sharper concentration and have more energy.

Try swapping a least one cup of coffee a day for a herbal tea and gradually reduce your intake of coffee. Green tea also has the added benefits of antioxidents

7. Get green fingered the new way to workout
Grow your own is becoming more popular than ever. But whats more, a gardening session burns an impressive 350 calories. So ditch that gym class and get digging in your back garden or join a local community gardening project.

8. Cheat exercise
Dont like the thought of spending hours in front of the latest WAG workout DVD. Neither do we. Incorporating exercise into your daily routine is easier than you think and we have a few suggestions to get you started. Start with taking the stairs, try getting off the bus a stop earlier and walking, carry your bags home from the supermarket and do a few squats or sit ups in front of TV when no one is looking.

9. Reward yourself the smart way
Youve had a promotion or its your birthday, no matter how big the celebration, dont use it as an excuse to binge on unhealthy food and drink. Instead reward yourself with a holistic treat such as a massage or shopping trip for a new yoga outfit. The result? Youll feel great inside and out.

10. Eat in the right environment
With busier than ever lives, many of us dont sit down for our three meals a day. Eating on the go or not eating at all has become common practice. Having ad hoc eating patterns can result in poor digestion and eating on the go makes it difficult to choose healthier foods. Make a conscious effort to eat at least one of your meals a day sat down at a table. You only need to set aside 30 minutes and you can invite work colleagues, friends or family to join you.

11. Have a sin day
Going on a New Year health kick often involves cutting out the foods you love and when it comes to chocolate, cherish. Keep yourself motivated and sane by having a sin day every week, where you can treat yourself to your craving of choice. A week long of deprivation would fail to inspire the most enthusiastic of us; by having a sin day youll have something to look forward too, which will keep you motivated.

And above all remember to take one step at a time. Each day at a time. If you fall of the track, start again! Dont think of this new you as What do I need to eliminate from my diet? Think more as what can you increase in your diet and What can you have instead of

About GOOD OIL

– Produced in Devon, GOOD OIL is a pure natural oil made from 100% cold pressed hemp seed
– GOOD OIL is a perfect blend of delicious taste, health benefits and stylish packaging
– The GOOD OIL founders, Glynis Murray & Henry Braham, spent ten years perfecting the processes to ensure the taste was just right and the nutritional value optimized. This involved finding the best varieties to grow for the right taste, developing growing and harvesting methods, and mastering the cold pressing technique
– GOOD OIL is a delicious, versatile culinary oil. Use it as you would an olive oil: drizzle it on salads and vegetables, pour on pasta or baked potatoes. Add to soup, smoothies, use to roast potatoes or just eat with crusty bread, on its own or with Balsamic
The GOOD Taste:
 GOOD OIL Original has a delicious fresh and nutty taste
 GOOD OIL Mild & Light has a milder flavour, but still contains the same level of hemp seed goodness
 Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is a fan; “GOOD OIL is the most interesting culinary oil to come my way for a long time. It has a unique nutty flavour, with a pleasing, lingering aftertaste. As a gourmet oil, it stacks up with the best extra virgin olive oils, having plenty of character for trickling on toast, over soups and salads, and making all kinds of dressings. And – perhaps the ultimate test – it makes terrific roast potatoes.”

The Health Benefits of GOOD OIL:
 With zero trans fats and approximately half the Saturated Fat of olive oil, GOOD OIL is one of the healthiest (and tastiest) culinary oils on the market

Good Heart
GOOD OIL is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, including essential omega-3 and omega-6
o GOOD OIL is rich in omega-3 and 6, which the body needs to maintain a healthy heart. Research shows that reducing saturated fat intake and swapping it for oils rich in EFAs contributes to an improvement in cholesterol
o The ideal ratio for humans to absorb omega-3 and 6 is between 2:1 4:1. GOOD OIL is at 3:1 so the ideal balance to complement the bodys needs
o GOOD OIL has a higher omega quantity than most other culinary oils and provides an easy, versatile and delicious way to ensure the body is supplied with EFAs everyday just 10ml of GOOD OIL per day will make a substantial contribution to the intake of essential fatty acids required for good health (Source: The Kings Report available upon request)
Good Skin
 GOOD OIL contains GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid – a fat in the omega-6 family), the active ingredient in Evening Primrose Oil and considered to be a powerful key to vibrant health and radiant beauty
o Research shows GLA is good maintaining healthy skin, as well as having a beneficial impact on the effects of PMS
o 10ml of GOOD OIL contains as much GLA as 6 average Evening Primrose capsules

Keeping the Goodness in
 To maximize the health benefits, it is recommended to take 10ml of GOOD OIL per day in cold format e.g. drizzled on salads and vegetables, added to smoothies and soups, as a dip, or used in cold recipes such as salsa or guacamole to name a few
 As a food oil, GOOD OIL can be used for roasting, baking and cooking and doesn’t need to be treated any differently to other oils. GOOD OIL can be used for a wide variety of every day uses for food preparation but is not suitable for deep-frying (deep-fried food is generally not a healthy way to prepare food). Heating above 150C reduces the beneficial properties of GOOD OIL.

The GOOD OIL Crop:
 Hemp is a very sustainable crop and beneficial to the environment
o Hemp crops require little water to grow
o When the remaining crop is left to rot on the ground following bailing, it imparts essential nutrients back into the ground, these nutrients are great for earth worms
o Hemp provides an excellent habitat for wildlife. The fields are left to fallow in winter, the birds are attracted to the earth worm rich ground
o Hemp is planted late in spring and requires no mechanical or chemical weed control during the growing period, thereby reducing fuel consumption on the farm
o Hemps long tap root is excellent for soil structure and conditioning
o The fast growing Hemp crop is a very efficient carbon sequester
 Every aspect of the plant is used – absolutely nothing is wasted

GOOD OIL Stockists:
 GOOD OIL is currently stocked at most branches of Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons, Sainsburys and Co-Op, as well as leading department stores Harvey Nichols and Selfridges
 RRSP £5.99

The GOOD WEBSITE:
 For more info on the GOOD OIL farm in North Devon, delicious recipes, articles on nutrition and to sign up for the newsletter please visit www. Goodwebsite.co.uk

Scientists discover new weightloss properties in African nut

Posted on December 20, 2008 by Editor

Scientists have discovered that an African seed can help weightloss in older adults even if they don’t diet.

Irvingia gabonensis has demonstrated an average weight loss of 28 pounds in 10 weeks in human clinical trials. It also lowers bad (LDL) cholesterol and levels of blood fats.

The herb works on four causes of weightgain by reducing carbohydrate absorption, shrinks fat cells, reduces the amount of sugar in the blood and increases levels of the hormone leptin which helps the brain shut off appetite.

The herb has been made into a vegetarian supplement which encourages weightloss by taking just two tablets a day.

It works by:

1. Inhibiting amylase, the digestive enzyme that coverts starch to sugar in the body – thereby reducing the amount of carbohydrate absorbed.

2. It increases secretion of adiponection, which shrinks fat cells

3. It suppresses the fat-converting enzyme, glylcerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase – this converts sugar to fat in the body.

4. It lowers levels of a substance called C-reactive protein (CRP) in fat cells which encourages levels of the appeite suppressant hormone Leptin.

Find out more about this breakthrough product at www.vitalityshopuk.com

Life begins at 69!

Posted on December 14, 2008 by Editor

Las Vegas: A 69-year-old doctor has become a pin-up after following a diet and exercise regime that has given him the body of a 30-year-old.

Dr Jeffrey Life, the chief medical officer of the Cenegentics Medical Institute, went from flab to fab on his regime which also included injections of the controversial anti-ageing injection, Human Growth Hormone (Hgh), which helps produce lean muscle.

Hgh, like most of our hormones begins to decrease from about the age of 30. It has been shown in experiments to turn-back-the-clock but may also be associated with an increased risk of cancer.

Dr Life said: “Within the next ten years, maybe less, this is going to be thought of as mainstream medicine prevening disease, slowing the ageing process, preventing people from loosing their ability of take care of themselves when they get older, and ending up in nursing homes.”

Diet pill Acomplia banned in EU

Posted on October 26, 2008 by Editor

London: The controversial diet pill Acomplia has been banned by European safety chiefs, over concerns that it may be linked to suicide in vulnerable individuals.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has ordered doctors to stop prescribing Acomplia now following several deaths, including a suicide and reports of other adverse reactions. It is already banned in the US.

The UK’s, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence approved the drug four months ago. At that time there were warnings on the packet about the increased risk of depression, anxiety and other ‘serious’ side effects. The EMA also warned that Acomplia should not be taken by patients with major depression or on antidepressants.

Now the EMA has suspended the medicine’s licence because the ‘benefits no longer outweigh its risks’.

It said: “New data from post-marketing experience and ongoing clinical trials indicated that serious psychiatric disorders may be more common than in the clinical trials.”

Patients taking Acomplia are advised to see their doctor or pharmacist

Acomplia, also known as rimonabant, was licensed for the treatment of obesity and overweight patients with type 2 diabetes.

In medical trials. the drug demonstrated that it was helpful to two out five patients in loosing up to 10 per cent of their body body weight.

But a scientific review in The Lancet medical journal found a 40 per cent higher chance of being harmed by ‘adverse events or serious adverse events’.

The pill, made by the French firm Sanofi-Aventis, works by interfering with a system in the body which controls energy levels, reducing the cravings for food and helping to prevent fat from being deposited.

Acomplia costs £44 a month in the UK, and is marketed in 18 European countries.

Western diet cause of most heart attacks

Posted on October 22, 2008 by Editor

New York: A Western diet rich in fried foods, salt and meat accounts for 35 per cent of heart attacks worldwide, researchers say.

They said their findings support evidence that animal fat and junk food can lead to heart attacks.

“This study indicates that the same relationships that are observed in Western countries exist in different regions of the world,” says the study’s senior author, Salim Yusuf, a professor of medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton.

The study published in the current issue of the journal Circulation, examined 16,000 people in 52 countries, and analysed 5,761 cases of heart attack.

Participants gave blood samples and filled in detailed diaries on what they ate between February 1999 and March 2003. Depending on what participants reported, they were divided into three dietary groups.

The report found that:

* People who consumed the “prudent” diet of more fruits and vegetables had a 30 per cent lower risk of heart attack compared with people who ate few or no fruits and vegetables.
* People who consumed the “Western” diet had a 35 per cent greater risk of having a heart attack compared with people who consumed few fried foods and little meat.
* The “Oriental” diet, which is loaded with tofu but also high in salty soy sauce, showed no relationship with heart attack risk.

The results clarify that it’s the eating of Western food that drives up the risk of heart attacks, rather than other lifestyle factors such as lack of exercise, Yusuf and his colleagues say.

“Diet is serious for the individual, but also if we can make population-level changes, we can prevent a lot of heart attacks, using, you know, relatively simple measures,” said study author Dr. Sonia Anand, a medical professor at McMaster.

Also on Monday, a series of reports published in the medical journal the Lancet concluded that worsening diets and unhealthy habits in China are contributing to a looming health crisis in the increasingly wealthy country.

“The pace and spread of behavioural changes including changing diets, decreased physical activity, high rates of male smoking and other high-risk behaviours has accelerated to an unprecedented degree,” one report says.

The journal said 177 million Chinese adults suffer from hypertension, which it blamed in part on high salt consumption.

“People don’t want to eat boring when they eat healthy,” says Julie Lau of the B.C. Heart and Stroke Foundation in Vancouver. Lau consults with large restaurant chains to help them offer healthier choices.

“They want to have lots of flavour, so we tried to recreate the flavour without using a lot of salt, without using a lot of fat.”

Yusuf’s study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario; the International Clinical Epidemiology Network; and unrestricted grants from several pharmaceutical companies.

Healthy lifestyle boosts anti-ageing enzyme

Posted on September 16, 2008 by Editor

Los Angeles: A healthy diet, taking regular exercise and relaxing can boost levels of a longevity enzyme, say scientists.

In a new study scientists measured levels of the telomerase enzyme in men who were required to make positive lifestyle changes. The men were suffering from low-risk prostate cancer.

The patients ate a diet low in sugar and fats and rich in whole foods, fruits and vegetables. They were also required to walk at least 30 minutes daily and take part in anti-stress exercises.

The researchers, whose report has appeared in the medical journal, The Lancet Oncology, measured the amount of the enzyme after three months. The results revealed that levels in the blood has increased by 29 per cent , along with a drop in LDL(bad) cholesterol.
The bottom line is that the enzyme helps support the length of telomeres – these are tiny protectors of the DNA and keep inflammation and other ageing activity away from them. The length of telomeres is an indicator of biological ageing.

As people age, their telomeres get shorter and they become more susceptible to certain illnesses which are associated with ageing.

Experts believe this process is at the heart of many age-related diseases, and may even place a final limit on human lifespan.

Professor Dean Ornish, of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute, Sausalito, California, who led the study, said increases in telomerase levels were beneficial and could be quickly changed.

He said: “To our knowledge, we have reported here the first longitudinal study showing that comprehensive lifestyle changes – or any intervention – are significantly associated with increases in cellular telomerase activity levels.

“The implications of this study are not limited to men with prostate cancer.Comprehensive lifestyle changes may cause improvements in telomerase and telomeres that may be beneficial to the general population as well.Larger studies are needed.”

INFLAMMATION & AGEING

Posted on September 12, 2008 by Editor

Can nutraceuticals prevent diabetes?

Posted on August 21, 2008 by Editor

Lexington: People at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes might be able to delay or prevent the disease by taking certain food supplements and making lifestyle changes, according to a new book.

Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic, and it is growing at an alarming rate. In 2006, the United Nations declared it an international health threat comparable to HIV/AIDS. However, emerging evidence suggests that risk of diabetes can be reduced by a combination of weight loss, exercise, dietary changes and the use of supplements called “nutraceuticals,” extracts of certain foods purported to have a physiological benefit or provide protection from disease.

The book, “Nutraceuticals, Glycemic Health and Type 2 Diabetes,” by Dr James Anderson, an international authority on metabolic diseases, and professor emeritus of medicine and clinical nutrition, provides an overview of glycemic health and highlights the use of nutraceuticals in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. Anderson identifies dietary fiber from whole grains as one of the strongest preventive measures for type 2 diabetes. The book also offers an in-depth discussion on certain minerals and herbs that assist in achieving tighter glycemic control.

Anderson collaborated with Vijai K.Pasupuleti, founder of SAI International a firm engaged in research, consulting and marketing for nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and biotechnolgy companies to summarize cutting-edge research from all over the world and assemble the outcomes. Thirty-five scientists from nine countries contributed 18 chapters presenting the latest findings on the role of nutrition in diabetes.

This emerging evidence will allow health care providers to offer the latest in nutrition guidance to patients with diabetes. It will encourage producers of foods and supplements to make active ingredients more widely available to consumers, and will enable self-directed individuals to make intelligent choices about nutrition supplements to prevent diabetes.

In the closing chapter Anderson provides practical guidelines based on his clinical experience, his research and the research presented in the book. He gives recommendations for specific amounts of minerals to slow progression of diabetes or reverse diabetes in its early stages. Over 100 herbal supplements are evaluated and 11 are assessed to be of potential value for treatment of early diabetes.

Anderson and his colleagues have been doing research on nutrition and diabetes for 35 years at UK and he has published over 100 research papers on this topic.

Red Bull stroke and heart attack risk

Posted on August 17, 2008 by Editor

Sydney: Australian scientis have found that just one can of the energy drink Red Bull, can raise the risk of stroke or heart attack.

In a study of university students it was found that drinking one can of the sugar-free version of the energy drink made blood “sticky” – similar to that of a patient with cardiovascular disease.

Researcher Dr Scott Willoughby, of the Cardiovascular Research Centre at the Royal Adelaide Hospital,said the the blood become abnormal about one hour of drinking Red Bull.

He warned that for people at risk of cardiovascular disease – stress or high blood pressure – this could be potentially deadly.’

Dr Willoughby, said he was ‘alarmed’ at the results and would not drink Red Bull himself.

Those with underlying heart or circulatory problems should think twice before buying the caffeine-loaded drink, he said.

Red Bull is already banned in Norway, Uruguay and Denmark because of health fears, but the company last year sold 3.5 billion cans and bottles in 143 countries.

Dr Willoughby said drinking Red Bull caused the blood ‘to become sticky’
The Australian researchers said that two of the drink’s ingredients – caffeine and the amino acid taurine – may have dangerous consequences for the heart when taken together.

Dr Willoughby said: ‘Caffeine and taurine – both of these individually point towards being beneficial but maybe there’s something quirky about the effect of the combination of the two that is causing this reaction, that is what we need to look at next.’

Formulated by the marketing director of an Austrian toothpaste company in the 1980s, one can contains 80 mg of caffeine, around the same as a cup of filter coffee, or two cups of instant.

The warning on the cans advises people not to drink more than two a day.

Red Bull Australia spokeswoman Linda Rychter said: ‘The study does not show effects which would go beyond drinking a normal cup of coffee.”

Watchdog slams “Skinny Water” claims

Posted on August 10, 2008 by Editor

London: UK health watchdogs have criticised the claims for a bottle of water which claims to help weightloss.

Skinny Water, a flavoured spring water, sold in Tesco, WH Smith and Superdrug, contains a cocktail of nutrients which the manufacturer claims to suppress hunger and fight fat.

Makers Bio Synergy admit their claims are not based on clinical studies and the name is on a par with jeans called “skinny jeans” and coffee called “skinny latte.”

UK Food Standards Agency say that the claims for the drink are groundless and that steps are being the results of proven medical trials.

iSkinny Water, which costs 99p, contains hunger-suppressing nutrients such as L-Carnitine and Chromium, which the labelling says reduces sugar cravings and improves the body’s ability to burn fat. The eye-catching label says the drink is a “slimming aid”, words printed suggestively under a measuring tape.

It states Skinny Water “has been enhanced with a unique combination of ingredients to help you lose weight… suppress appetite, block carbohydrates from converting into fat and increase fat burning”.

Can alpha lipoic acid help weightloss and longevity?

Posted on August 7, 2008 by Editor

London: The antioxidant Alpha Lipoic Acid can help prevent weightgain, according to a UK company which is planning to turn it into a new “diet pill”.

Dr Malcolm Goyns, director of Immorgene Concepts, a scientific research company in Stockton-on-Tees, who led the initital successful research on rats, said he had tried out AHA himself.

He said that evidence from the tropical Okinawan islands in Japan’s extreme south-west, which has the highest proportion of centenarians in the world, demonstrated the life-prolonging effects of calorie restriction.

Their traditional diet is high in vegetables and fish and low in fat, but they also have a cultural habit known as hara hachi bu or “eat until you are 80 per cent full”.

This is because it takes the human stomach at least 20 minutes to tell the brain how full it really is, which is how the people of Okinawa preventing overeating and are among the leanest and fittest people in Japan as a result.

Dr Goyns said: “While calorie restriction diets are followed as a matter of course in communities like Okinawa, the diet can be difficult to follow for most people. Our discovery indicates that by following a calorie restriction diet for six months and then taking alpha-lipoic acid while eating normally, the same life extension effects will be experienced.”

He added: “Simply adding the supplement to the diet has no effect. It seems that alpha-lipoic acid fools the body into behaving as if it was still on whatever diet it was following before the supplement was added. We found there was an anti-obesity effect as well. Although weight does rise when you come off the restricted diet, if you take alpha-lipoic acid, even though you are eating normally again you still have a reduced weight.”

The study, published in Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, was carried out by Dr Goyns with colleagues from the University of Liverpool. The researchers investigated the effect of alpha-lipoic acid when given to rats on normal and low calorie diets.

Experiments have shown that curbing the amount of food rats eat can extend their lives by 25 to 40 per cent. However, anti-ageing benefits are lost when the rats return to a normal diet. In the study, researchers found the benefits of the low calorie diet were extended by giving the rats the supplement when they returned to normal eating.

Brian Merry of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Liverpool, who carried out the study, said: “If you put the animals on to a restricted diet they would normally go on to an extended survival trajectory. When they were switched to a normal diet, this compound seemed to lock them into the benefits of their pre-existing diet.”

“It is an unusual and interesting finding and it needs repeating in further research. That was as far as I was prepared to go, but Malcolm [Goyns] wanted to apply it to humans. I said I didn’t agree with his interpretation and we had to wait for further studies.”

He added: “People have been buying this stuff and taking it for years as a dietary supplement. I don’t think anyone knows what its effect is. There have only been two studies in rats and mice [before our study].

“It is also sometimes used in stroke patients to treat re-perfusion injury. What happens as the blood supply is restored after a stroke is oxidative damage to the cells. Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant and can help reduce the damage. It is also used to treat diabetics and oxidative damage to the liver in people who have eaten poisoned mushrooms.”

Alpha-lipoic acid is sold as an anti-oxidant supplement and is also used in the treatment of certain conditions including stroke and liver damage.

Scientists invent exercise pill

Posted on August 1, 2008 by Editor

La Jolla, Ca: Trying to reap the health benefits of exercise? Forget treadmills and spin classes, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies may have found a way around the sweat and pain. They identified two signaling pathways that are activated in response to exercise and converge to dramatically increase endurance.

The team of scientists, led by Howard Hughes Medical Investigator Ronald M. Evans, Ph.D., a professor in the Salk Institute’s Gene Expression Laboratory report in the July 31 advance online edition of the journal Cell that simultaneously triggering both pathways with oral drugs turned laboratory mice into long-distance runners and conferred many of exercise’s other benefits.

In addition to their allure for endurance athletes, drugs that mimic the effects of exercise have therapeutic potential in treating certain muscle diseases, such as wasting and frailty, as well as obesity and a slew of associated metabolic disorders where exercise is known to be beneficial.

Previous work with genetically engineered mice in the Evans lab had revealed that permanently activating a genetic switch known as PPAR delta turned mice into indefatigable marathon runners. In addition to their super-endurance, the altered mice were resistant to weight gain, even when fed a high-fat diet that caused obesity in ordinary mice. On top of their lean and mean physique, their response to insulin improved, lowering levels of circulating glucose.

“We wanted to know whether a drug specific for PPAR delta would have the same beneficial effects,” says Evans. “Genetic engineering in humans, commonly known as gene doping when mentioned in connection with athletic performance, is certainly feasible but very impractical.”

An investigational drug, identified only as GW1516 (and not commercially available), fit the bill. When postdoctoral researcher and lead author Vihang A. Narkar, Ph.D., fed the substance to laboratory mice over a period of four weeks, the researchers were in for a surprise.

“We got the expected benefits in lowering fatty acids and blood glucose levels but no effect, absolutely none, on exercise performance,” says Narkar. Undeterred, he put mice treated with GW1516 on a regular exercise regimen and every day had them run up to 50 minutes on a treadmill.

Now the exact same drug that had shown no effect in sedentary animals improved endurance by 77 percent over exercise alone and increased the portion of “non-fatiguing” or “slow twitch” muscle fibers by 38 percent. The result, while very dramatic, gave rise to a vexing question: Why is exercise so important?

First and foremost, exercise depletes muscles’ energy store, a chemical known as ATP. In times of high demand, ATP releases all its energy and forms AMP. Rising AMP levels alert AMPK, a metabolic master regulator, which acts like a gas gauge that the cell is running on empty and revs up the production of ATP. “That led us to consider whether AMPK activation was the critical trigger that allowed PPAR delta to work,” recalls Narkar.

Usually, AMPK can be found in the cytoplasm, the compartment that surrounds the nucleus, but the Salk researchers’ experiment revealed that some exercise-activated AMPK molecules slip into the nucleus. There they physically interact with PPAR delta and increase its ability to turn on the genetic network that increases endurance.

“It essentially puts a turbo charge on PPAR delta, which explains why exercise is so important,” says Evans.

Then came the ultimate couch potato experiment. The researchers fed untrained mice AICAR, a synthetic AMP analog that directly activates AMPK. After only four weeks and without any prior training, these mice got up and ran 44 percent longer than untreated, untrained mice. “That’s as much improvement as we get with regular exercise,” says Narkar.

“Exercise in a pill” might sound tempting to couch potatoes and Olympic contenders alike, but the dreams of the latter might be cut short. Evans developed a test that can readily detect GW1516 and its metabolites as well as AICAR in blood and urine and is already working with officials at the World Anti-Doping Association, who are racing to have a test in place in time for this year’s Summer Olympics.

The study was supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Hillblom Foundation and the National Institute of Health.

Researchers who contributed to the work include postdoctoral researchers Michael Downes, Ph.D., Ruth T. Yu, Ph.D., doctoral candidate Emi Embler, B.S., research associates Michael C. Nelson, B.S., Yuhua Zou, M.S., Ester Banayo, and Henry Juguilon, in the Gene Expression Laboratory, doctoral candidate M. Mihaylova, and assistant professor Reuben Shaw, Ph.D., in the Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, assistant professor Yong-Xu Wang, Ph.D., at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Massachusetts, and professor Heonjoon Kang, Ph.D., at the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, South Korea.

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to fundamental discoveries in the life sciences, the improvement of human health and the training of future generations of researchers. Jonas Salk, M.D., whose polio vaccine all but eradicated the crippling disease poliomyelitis in 1955, opened the Institute in 1965 with a gift of land from the City of San Diego and the financial support of the March of Dimes.

Slim Shakes

Posted on July 16, 2008 by Editor

ULTRALIFE SLIMSHAKE low GI meal replacement – pictured right
www.ultralife.uk.com
Costs $20, 12.64, £9.99 for six sachets or $67, 43, £33.95 for a tub containing six servings.

SlimShake is a great tasting meal low GI replacement meal slimming shake which contains protein and iodine and chromium all combined is designed to normalize blood sugar so that you dont feel hungry it has been formulated by scientists, doctors and nutritionists. As well as 24 key vitamins and minerals it also contains good omega fats which as well as being good for your skin and hair are a natural appetite suppressant. Each shake is 200 calories. It is diabetic and vegetarian compliant and dairy, lactose, wheat, gluten and egg free. Available in Belgian chocolate, Organic strawberry and Madagascan vanilla. Costs $20, 12.64, £9.99 for six sachets or $67, 43, £33.95 for a tub containing six servings. Available to buy online at www.ultralife.uk.com and at the larger branches of Waitrose, Tesco, Superdrug in the UK.9/10

DAVID KIRSCH WELLNESS PROTEIN PLUS//Meal Replacement Powder Box
www.davidkirschwellness.co.uk
Costs $90, 57,£45 for 20 sachets in either vanilla or chocolate

Not all diet shakes are the same. This one, which is also low GI, contains virtually every vitamin and mineral that you need on a low-calorie regime. It also contains fibre and several ingredients that are specifically aimed at keeping blood sugar stable so that you do not get hunger pangs, such as chromium and omega oils in a base made from whey protein. David Kirsch is an internationally accalimed Wellness Trainer and is founder of the Madison Square Club in Manhattan. His celebrity clients include Heidi Klum and Liv Tyler. David is famous for his cardio-sculpting body transformations as featured in his books The Ultimate New York Diet and The Ultimate New York Body Plan. Great taste and you can even add a few strawberries.190 calories. 9/10

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