Tag Archives: drink

Alcohol causes weight gain and high blood pressure, with no benefit to heart, claims new study

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Reducing consumption, even among light drinkers, can improve heart health, reduce body mass index, and bring down blood pressure.

According to a large new international study, even moderate drinking may not be good for the heart.
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The study defines light to moderate drinking as consuming 0.6 to 0.8 fluid ounces of alcohol a day, or 17 to 23 ml, which is roughly what a 175 ml glass of wine contains.

The 155 researchers – from the UK, continental Europe, North America, and Australia – analysed data about links between drinking habits and heart health from 56 epidemiological studies covering more than 260,000 people of European descent.

They found that people with a particular gene consumed 17% less alcohol per week, were less likely to binge drink, and were more likely to abstain from alcohol altogether, than non- carriers.

These lower alcohol consumers typically had a 10% average reduced risk of coronary heart disease, lower blood pressure and a lower body mass index (BMI).

The researchers conclude that reducing alcohol consumption across all levels of consumption – even light to moderate drinking – is beneficial for heart health.

Co-author Michael Holmes, a research assistant professor in the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine’s department of Transplant Surgery, says, “Contrary to what earlier reports have shown, it now appears that any exposure to alcohol has a negative impact upon heart health.”

He added that observational studies have suggested only heavy drinking is bad for the heart, and that light drinking might even provide some benefit, and this has led some people to believe moderate consumption is good for their health, even lowering their risk of heart disease.

“However, what we’re seeing with this new study, which uses an investigative approach similar to a randomized clinical trial, is that reduced consumption of alcohol, even for light-to-moderate drinkers, may lead to improved cardiovascular health,” says Prof. Holmes.

The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation and the UK’s Medical Research Council, examined the heart health of people who carry a particular version of the gene “alcohol dehydrogenase 1B” which is a protein that helps to break down alcohol more quickly than in non-carriers.

The rapid breakdown causes nausea, facial flushing, and other symptoms, and is linked to lower levels of alcohol consumption over time.
The team used the gene as an indicator of lower alcohol consumption, and from there found the links between lower consumption and improved heart health.

Drinking water helps you control your weight

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tapandwater.jpgYou are probably all well aware of how many glasses of water you should be drinking a day. However, despite all the publicity, we are still not drinking enough and it is impacting on our health. But maybe not in the ways you might think.

A recent review undertaken by Jodi Stookey, an epidemiologist specialising in nutrition, focused on the effect and importance of drinking water in efficient exercise and weight loss. Ms Stookey is based at the Children’s Hospital of Oakland Research Institute (USA).

The review showed that we are not aware of the effect which sugary drinks have on our insulin production and general calorie intake. Whenever you drink or eat something with significant calorie content, insulin is prompted to take care of it. When insulin production is triggered, fat burning in our cells is halted. Therefore water, containing no calories, does not prompt insulin and promotes hydration and energy use. Tea and coffee also have minimal effects on your blood sugar.

The review also pointed to the source of our bad habits – we all know that children like sweet things but those children are growing up to be hooked on sweet drinks and food as adults. If we concentrate on getting our children to drink as much water as possible and reduce intake of sugar, perhaps we can help halt the growing obesity epidemic.

One research project looked at water consumption in two groups of school children, where one group (the control group) were not encouraged to drink any extra water, with the other group having specific teaching about water and water fountains installed at their school. At the end of the school year, it was observed that the children in the water promotion group consumed on average 1.1 extra glasses of water per day compared to the other group. The prevalence of overweight children had increased by 1.9% in the control group and remained relatively stable in the water group (0.1%).

Speaking of her research, Jodi Stookey said: “This is the first review of its kind to highlight the potential link between drinking water and weight control. Water is the only liquid that is indispensable to our bodies. It is recommended that you drink 1.5 litres of water per day, not only to ensure that our bodies function properly, but also for weight management as part of a programme of physical activity and good eating habits.”

 

Nestlé launches anti-ageing drink

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New York: Nestlé, the world’s largest food and beverage company has launched an anti-ageing beauty drink.

Glowelle, which comes in two flavours, Raspberry jasmine and pomegranate lychee, has gone on sale at branches of department stores, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

The drink which costs $7 (£3.50) contains a blend of nutrients which claim to “nourish and hydrate the skin from within and help fight free radicals, known contributors to the signs of aging.”

This drink is just the latest in a bevy of supplements, known as “foodceuticals” that have hit the market.

Drinking more water helps prevent arthritis

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London: Drink more water, it helps prevent arthritis and other conditions, according to new research from the UK’s Arthritis Association.

In addition, Baroness Greengross, founder of the charity Action on Elder Abuse, has this week called for a set of minimum standards on hydration across the UK. However, it’s not just the elderly who should drink more water.

According to arthritis pioneer Charles de Coti-Marsh, we could all stay a lot healthier for longer if we looked after our gut, and staying hydrated is the first step.

Nutritional therapist Elizabeth Hartland explains: “Many people will have heard about the benefits of healthy bacteria and the pro-biotic drinks you can now buy, but symptoms of an unhealthy digestive system, such as constipation, are less talked about. Charles de Coti-Marsh believed that a constipated state creates toxins which stay in the bowel, enter the blood stream and poison the body, the long term effects of which can be diseases such as arthritis. Drinking plenty of water can help avoid constipation.”

About The Arthritic Association
Founded in 1942, The Arthritic Association www.thearthriticassociation.org.ukis a registered charity dedicated to helping relieve people from the pain of arthritis through natural methods.

Rejuvenate your life with La Dolce Vita

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Ahh Italy, they really do have the best of everything. Fabulous fashion, top designers, fast cars, beautiful weather and of course delicious cuisine The La Dolce Vita with Viva Italia festival, coming to London’s Olympic exhibition centre from the 13th-16th of March is a celebration of all things Italian and will give you an insight into just how inspirational Italy is.

So if you fancy adding some Italian chic to your wardrobe, learning the secrets to the mouth watering Mediterranean diet & how to add a touch of Italian flair to your lifestyle then why not come along to experience the true taste of Italy?

Check out this video featuring Italy’s very own Aldo Zilli to see what’s in store
La Dolce Vita

Alcohol abuse higher in intelligent people

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London: Intelligent men and women are far more likely to drink heavily, a new study by the UK’s Medical Research Council has discovered.

The stress of working in a pressurised environment is a factor, particularly for businesswomen in male-dominated professions, says the report which is published in the American Journal of Public Health.

They now suspect, however, that the stressful jobs of high- flying professionals drive them to drink. Intelligent women may be particularly susceptible if they are struggling to do well in male-dominated professions.

The research, led by David Batty of the MRC’s social and public health sciences unit at Glasgow University, says: “An explanation might be that success in the workplace requires, in some circumstances, a willingness to drink frequently and to excess in social situations.”

A group of 8,170 men and women born in Britain during one week in 1970 were studied. Their mental ability at age 10 was compared with information about their alcohol consumption and drink problems at age 30.

The academics found that men and women with higher childhood mental ability scores had higher rates of problem drinking in adulthood. The increased risk of drink problems was higher for intelligent women than men.

The study found that men and women who confessed to drinking most days had the highest childhood mental ability scores, whereas those who reported that they never had alcohol had the lowest mental ability scores.

The proportion of women with a history of alcohol problems was highest among women with professional and managerial jobs. The study found that 47% of men and 22% of women were drinking in excess of the recommended limits of 21 units a week for men and 14 units a week for women.

The government is investigating how to deal with Britain’s heavy drinking culture, including the possibility of restricting shops’ cut-price promotions of alcohol. Another problem is middle-class adults drinking at home.

Alcohol-related deaths continue to rise in Britain. In 2006, the figure increased to 12.9 deaths per 100,000 in 2005 to 13.4 in 2006 (Office for National Statistics) with a doubling in the period from 1991 and 2006.

Beer helps after exercise hydration

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Granada: Beer is better at hydrating the body after exercise than just water, according to new research from Granada University in Spain.

The scientists believe that the sugars, salts and carbon dioxide may be responsible.

The study looked at 25 students over a period of several months. They were asked to run on a treadmill in temperatures of 40C (104F).

Once they were on the point of giving up, researchers measured their hydration levels, concentrationability and motor skills. Half were then given two half pints of Spanish lager to drink, while the rest were given water. Both groups were then allowed to drink as much water as they wanted. The rehydration effect in the students who were given beer was ‘slightly better’ than among those given only water.

Based on the studies, the researchers have recommended moderate consumption of beer – 500ml a day for men or 250ml for women – as part of an athlete’s diet.

The ingredients of beer – which include malted barley, hops and yeast – are rich sources of vitamins and minerals.

Free guide to identifying alcohol abuse

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London: A valuable guide, designed to help identify substance abuse in loved ones, is now available. ‘Beginning Recovery’ is the title of the new guide, published by Winthrop Hall – the UK’s only purpose built drug and alcohol treatment centre.

Coping with the stresses and strains of modern living can be a test for the toughest of resolves. Some find themselves unable to cope with work pressures, financial problems or family difficulties, and find themselves pushed over the edge, forced to seek solace in alcohol and other substances. You can get the leaflet free from Winthrop Hall

Research carried out by the Greater London Alcohol and Drug Alliance* found that 21% of adult Londoners are harmful users of alcohol, and 1% of London’s 7.5 million population are problematic drug users. According to Alcohol Concern*, between 58-60% of 11-15 year olds drink alcohol, with the mean consumption for those who drink doubling from 5 units a week in the early 1990s to 10 units in 2004. By the age of 13, the proportion of those who drink exceeds the proportion of teenagers who do not drink.

This year’s Statistics on Drug Misuse* reports that men are more likely to take illicit drugs than women – 13.7% took drugs in the last year compared with 7.4% of women. Alarmingly, during 2005/06 181,390 people were in contact with structured drug treatment services. This is a 13% increase on figures during 2004/05, where the number was 160,453 and more than twice the number in 1998/99.

For many, the problem is not obvious. However, there may be a number of noticeable changes that are out-of-character.

Symptoms to look out for:
1. Changes in behaviour or routine – missing appointments, coming home late, going out at odd times
2. Evasiveness and vagueness
3. Mood swings – irritability, aggression, depression or euphoria
4. Taking less pride in appearance, poor skin or a weight loss problem
5. Hand tremors and regular sweats
6. Increased secretiveness or lack of openness, even lying
7. Changes in finances, running out of money or money going missing

All of these symptoms can point to a crisis. It’s not always easy for the user to admit they have a problem, and trying to help can often lead to confrontation. People sometimes think they can resolve the problem themselves without proper treatment, but if self-help with the support of friends and family has not worked, then professional help is the answer.

It’s important to remember that help is always at hand – but it’s getting the right help that counts. A copy of the ‘Beginning Recovery’ guide, offering practical advice on recognising symptoms plus information for getting treatment for substance abuse, is available by calling Winthrop Hall on + 44 (0)1580 894334.

Other support organisations include:
The National Alcohol Helpline: 0800 917 8282
Alcoholics Anonymous: 0845 769 7555
FRANK: The National Drug Helpline: 0800 776600

* source:
Greater London Alcohol and Drug Alliance – London: The Highs and the Lows 2 (January 2007)
Alcohol Concern – Young People’s Drinking, Factsheet
Statistics on Drug Misuse, England 2007 – The Information Centre www.ic.nhs.uk

For more details on Winthrop Hall, call 01580 894334.

Drinking culture leads to increase in alcohol deaths

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London: The growing drinking culture is leading to the number of women dying from alcohol abuse.

Drink-related deaths among women aged between 35 and 54 have soared to almost twice the level they were in the early 1990s, according to new research.

Around 14 women per 100,000 in this age group now die from alcohol-induced conditions, such as liver failure according to figures from the Office of National Statistics.

Alcohol is to blame for the deaths of more than 8,000 men and women a year, compared with just over 4,000 in 1991.

Thirty years ago, the death rate for men and women of any age from alcohol abuse stood as just two per 100,000, the lowest in Europe.

The drinking culture also appears to have children in its grip.

A recent Government- commissioned study found that one in five 15-year-olds drinks the equivalent of almost a bottle of wine a week. In some parts of the country, one in eight 12-year-olds is drinking as much. Binge drinking plays a part in more than 4,300 teenage pregnancies and 5.5million lost days of schooling each year.

The nation’s addiction to alcohol takes an average of seven months off the life of every man and woman and is responsible for more than half a million hospital admissions a year, the report by the Centre of Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University found.

Drunkenness is to also blame for more than half a million crimes each year, from violent brawls to robberies and sexual assaults. More than a million men down more than 50 units of alcohol a week.

Previous studies have shown that every day, 15 boys and girls under 16 drink themselves into hospital accident and emergency departments.

Doctors have said that 12-year-olds are being diagnosed as alcoholics and that cirrhosis of the liver – an alcohol-induced problem – is being found in teenagers.

Cider is good for health, say scientists

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Glasgow: A glass of cider a day is good for health, new research from the University of Glasgow suggests.

Scientists have found that the drink, made from apples, and which is currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity, following a huge advertising campaign by one producer, is bursting with health-boosting antioxidants.

In many cases, levels are as high as those found in red wine, which is recognised for its ability to stave off a range of diseases.

Both drinks are rich in phenolics, a type of antioxidant credited with the ability to ward off cancer, heart disease and stroke.

Researcher Dr Serena Marks said: ‘Unit for unit, the cider with the most phenolics had levels comparable to red wine.’

The variety of apple, how its grown, in what soil and the storage all affect the levels and concentrations of antioxidants such as phenolics.

The Glasgow University scientist said that drinking a glass of cider was not only enjoyable but was a good way to increase phenolics in the diet.

A spokesman for the National Association of Cider Makers, which part-funded the study, said: ‘An apple a day is said to keep the doctor away. But a glass of cider could be an even more pleasurable way to take care of yourself-The finding comes as cider becomes increasingly popular. It overtook bitter for the first time last year, with £453million in offlicence and supermarket sales.

Its resurgence has been partly attributed to the ‘Magners effect’, a £20million advertising campaign encouraging consumers to drink the Irish-brewed bottled cider over ice.

It was so successful at appealing to younger drinkers that its manufacturer, Tipperary-based Bulmers, had to import apples from England to keep up production levels. With the popularity of British brands also soaring, many orchards are being replanted for the first time in decades.

Wine drinkers live longest, says new research from Finland

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Helsinki: Wine drinkers are healthier than drinkers of beer and spirits, according to new research conducted on men living in Finland. That’s not too much of a surprise considering the lifestyles associated with each of the beverage types, but the study also suggested that moderate consumption of wine may contribute to a better, longer life.

Over the course of the nearly three-decade study, wine drinkers had a lower mortality rate than drinkers of other alcoholic beverages. The study, published in the February 2007 issue of the Journals of Gerontology, sought to determine if one’s drinking habits affected longevity when measured over a long period of time.

The study was led by Timo Strandberg, a researcher at the University of Oulu, Finland. His subjects, all male residents of Finland, were all born between 1919 and 1934 and all had health checkups at the Institute of Occupational Health in Helsinki during the 1960s and 1970s. The men had their alcohol intake recorded during these examinations and were asked how they felt about their health. All of the men also had “leading positions” in private companies, which the scientists concluded came with some of the highest incomes in Finland (although exact amounts were not made available).

“This setting,” the study authors wrote, “offers a clearer test for the effects of alcoholic beverages because the influence of social class on beverage preference is decreased.”

By tracking down the men in 1974 and repeating the exam of them in 1985 and again in 2000, the scientists hoped to determine if alcohol consumption is related to both the quality–as well as the length–of life.

At the first examination, in 1974, 2,468 men reported if they preferred wine, beer or spirits, or if they didn’t drink, or if they had no particular favorite alcoholic beverage. By the time of the second stage of the study, in 1985, only 1,369 men were available to be reassessed. Some dropped out of the study, some changed alcohol habits and 93 of the men had died. There was another examination in 2000, and by the time of the final calculations, in 2002, the scientists were left with a pool of 1,127 men who consumed an average of three drinks a day or less, and who also did not change their drinking preferences over the course of the study.

“Preference of wine was associated with decreased mortality when compared with preference for beer or spirits over a follow-up of 29 years,” the scientists reported. Wine drinkers had a 34 percent lower rate of mortality, when compared to spirits drinkers, and beer drinkers had a 9 percent lower rate compared to spirits drinkers.

Wine drinkers were also in better health at the end of the study and had performed better on mental health tests. However, wine drinkers also tended to exercise more and smoke less, which leaves the researchers still with the possibility that wine is simply one piece of the happy, long-life puzzle, as opposed to a deciding factor.

“Is it the drinker rather than drink characteristics, as healthier men preferred wine?” asked Strandberg of the results. “That is what is important. The same applies for differences between beer and spirit drinkers,” he added. “Spirit preferrers may lead a more dangerous life, with more risk factors, and all hidden aspects may not be culled in an epidemiologic study.”

Moderate alcohol increases breast cancer risk

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New York: Drinking just two glasses of wine a day raises a woman’s risk of breast cancer, say researchers at the University of Mississippi Medical Centre.

In an animal experiment, female mice given the human equivalent of two alcoholic drinks a day, developed breast tumours twice the size of those given none.

The six-week old mice were fed moderate amounts of alcohol over a four week period.

Lead researcher Jian-Wei Gu said alcohol consumption is the most important avoidable risk factor for women in contracting breast cancer.

The conclusion is based on the fact that studies in mice mimic the results in humans. It is thought that the increase in tumour size is a result of an increase in blood flow through vessels caused by the alcohol.

Less educated women binge drink when they are older

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London: Well-educated young women are more likely to binge drink, says a new study from the UK’s Institute of Child Health.

It also found that women who have children early and have fewer qualifications tend to take up drinking heavily in their 40s.

They concluded that the difference in drinking habits was down to having children. Older women without qualifications were twice as likely to binge drink – that it consume ten or more units of alcohol at any one time – than their better educated counterparts.

The habits of 11,500 British men and women born during one week in March 1958 were monitored on how much they drank. They were monitored and surveyed about how much and how often they drank at the ages of 23, 33 and 42.

Two drinks a day helps reduce blood pressure in men

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Amsterdam: Two alcoholic drinks a day can help men reduce high blood pressure, according to scientists.

As well as the traditional methods of getting healthier body markets such as taking more exercise and cutting amounts of saturated fats and sat, a drink is also recommended following research carried out by Joline Beulens of Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

This latest discovery adds to the mounting evidence that moderate amounts of alcohol are good for health. Wine, for example, contents anti-oxidants, that may have protective qualities and lead to a longer life.

Miss Beulens examined data on 11,711 men with high blood pressure and their incidence of heart attacks, heart disease and stroke between 1986 and 2002. During this period there were 653 heart attacks of which 279 were fatal. Every four years participants filled out a questionnaire including details of how often they drank beer, red wine, white wine and spirits.

The scientists found that the chances of suffering a heart attack were lower among men who consumed one or two drinks a day – one drink was defined as a single glass of wine or a single shot of spirits.

Men, however, are urged not to drink more as this increases blood pressure and heart attack incidence.
However she urged men not to have three drinks a day, as this increases their blood pressure and risk of an attack. ‘Our findings are not a licence to overindulge.’

1 in 5 thinks their partner drinks too much

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London: One in five of those in relationships in the UK (1) thinks their partner drinks too much, according to new research exploring whether alcohol has more of an impact on relationships than couples might think.

The ICM survey of 1000 people (2) was commissioned for the Government’s new Know Your Limits campaign, which launched in October to encourage responsible drinking.

Sadly alcohol and arguments do seem to mix, with one in four (25%) admitting to having rows when they drink. This is particularly the case with 18 to 24 year olds: half of them (49%) admitted that they row with their partner after drinking alcohol. This is also true for one third (37%) of 35 to 44 year olds.

What are the arguments about?

1. ‘Anything and everything’- 35%
2. The behaviour of either partner – 31%
3. Money – 14%
4. The children – 12%
5. Domestic chores – 11%
6. The fact that your partner is drinking – 10%
7. The in-laws – 5%

More than a third of 18 to 24 year olds (37%) say that their partners’ behaviour is the biggest cause for their arguments when drinking. This is also true for 35 to 44 year olds (29%). However, amongst the older age groups the likes of children and domestic chores rise up the agenda.

Making up

Most couples resolve arguments and move on – at least until another one brews the next time they start drinking. However, 10% said that they never resolve the arguments; and 11% let the argument escalate and just ignore each other – but eventually make up.

For those that did resolve them quickly, there were two popular options:

Take a step back, calm down and look for a compromise

Agree that alcohol is blurring the issue and drop it until the next day

Commenting on the results, Srabani Sen of Alcohol Concern said:

“Too much alcohol can affect people who might otherwise think things were fine, with either their or their partner’s drinking. We’re beginning to realise though that alcohol misuse not only causes physical harm, but can also blight relationships. People need to be able to recognise the negative impact alcohol might be having on their lives and try to cut down to safer levels.”

Relate counsellor Denise Knowles said:

“Couples should be able to openly discuss their feelings about their partners’ drinking habits if they feel it’s ever a cause for concern. Learning how to discuss issues effectively is a key element of a healthy relationship.”

Know Your Limits is a joint Department of Health and Home Office campaign which encourages people to drink responsibly and get to know their limits. Men should not regularly drink more than 3 to 4 units a day, and women should not regularly drink more than 2 to 3 units a day. Consistently drinking 4 or more units for men (and 3 or more for women) is not advised because of the progressive health risk it carries.

In addition, women who are trying to conceive, or who are at any stage of pregnancy, should not drink more than 1 to 2 units once or twice a week and should avoid getting drunk. Know Your Limits recognises that drinking can be enjoyable, but also emphasises the undesirable consequences of drinking too much, such as arguments with loved ones, getting into fights or being in a vulnerable situation on a night out.

The research backs up the popular perception that men drink more alcohol than women. More than half of the women (56%) drink less than their partner, and half of the men (51%) admitted they drink more than their partner. In fact, 28% of the men confessed that their partner tells them as much. However, 9% of couples feel their partner’s drinking is a subject they couldn’t easily talk about.

1 Taken from the survey base where people were both in a relationship, and their partner drinks alcohol

2 ICM interviewed a random sample of 1000 adults aged 18 plus by telephone across the UK between 17th–19th November 2006. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Further information at www.icmresearch.co.uk

Alcohol facts

Alcohol is a major cause of disease and injury: it accounts for 9.2% of years of life lost/lived with disabilities.

Alcohol misuse costs the NHS around £1.6 billion every year, mainly in the acute sector.

The estimated annual NHS spend on specialist alcohol treatment is £217 million with 65,000 people receiving treatment.

17% of victims of sexual assault surveyed in the British Crime Survey Interpersonal Violence Module 2001 said that the offence took place when they were incapable of consent due to alcohol.

Regular visitors to pubs and bars are twice as likely to be victims of assault
Half of all violent crimes are linked to alcohol

An agreement was made in June 2006 between the Government, Drinks Industry and health stakeholders to set up the Drinkaware Trust. This new charitable Trust will be funded by the drinks industry and is aimed at positively changing the UK’s drinking culture and tackling alcohol-related harm.

For further information see www.knowyourlimits.gov.uk

About Relate

Relate is working to promote health, respect and justice in couple and family relationships

Relate’s services extend beyond couple counselling to family counselling, counselling for young people, online counselling, sex therapy and relationship skills workshops

Relate works in schools, primary care settings, prisons, and with local authorities on homelessness prevention services
Relate supports 150,000 people each year in over 600 locations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

This year Couple Counselling Scotland changed its name to Relate Scotland which remains a separate charity yet operates with shared standards and in close partnership with Relate

For more information and advice visit: www.relate.org.uk

The beer drinkers diet

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Columbia: The Beer Drinker’s Diet book, published by Amazon.com’s Booksurge, is gaining followers devoted to the author’s methods of losing weight while responsibly enjoying alcoholic beverages.

At first glance, the title “The Beer Drinker’s Diet” may appear to be a comedy book, but glancing through a few pages of Bradley Scott Cailor’s new book, you quickly realize that this is a very serious book for the thousands of people who want to lose weight, while enjoying life.

In an interview with Mr. Cailor, we asked why one should read the book and what makes it so different than others he replied:

“Most weight-loss books said that I could not drink beer while on a ‘diet.’ With this disparaging premise in mind, I have steadfastly tried to get around this issue by trying literally every ‘diet’ and ‘diet pill’ imaginable over the course of 25 years. Frustrated by gimmicky diets, dangerous pills, and senseless diet books, I was so tired of failure that I had to take matters into my own hands in a monumental quest to find what diet plan truly works.”

“In a common-sense manner, this book summarizes every proven principle from literally every diet plan and book into one complete and thoroughly tested guide that has been proven to work by real people. It is passionately written by an “actual writer” from the unique perspective of ‘one regular person to another,’ as I have been there, too!”

Cailor’s book is an interesting and motivating read. His techniques transformed his body, losing over 110 pounds of fat and flab.

New York Times best-selling author Ellen Tanner Marsh commented: “For anyone seeking a health program that really works, The Beer Drinker’s Diet is a motivating and significant book.”

The Columbus Dispatch stated: “The author also shows you step-by-step & pound-by-pound how he lost 114 pounds of fat while enjoying life…he even analyzes-in great detail-why each of his previous 25 years of diet attempts failed! We learn from his real-life trial & error why “miracle pills” and “fad diets” do NOT work …the author has tested all of these gimmicks, diets and pills for us. No Other Diet Book Does This! Beer is his symbol for any favorite food or drink that must be embraced to diet successfully.”

Mr. Cailor’s website www.TheBeerDrinkersDiet.com contains testimonials and reviews of his book, which is surely to gain a huge following as it’s notice and popularity rises.
The Beer Drinker’s Diet is on sale through Amazon.com and offers a 100% guarantee, something seldom seen with book publishers.

Bradley ended the interview with, “Enjoy beer, enjoy life, it all works on this diet, as you really won’t be using this dirty little four-letter word ever again.”

About the author:
Bradley Scott Cailor is a resident of Dublin, Ohio, has a degree in health education and has served many years as a personal trainer.

British business guide to drink and drugs in workplace

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London: In England 17 million working days are lost every year through alcohol-related sickness while 35 percent of people of working age have used an illicit drug.

Now the most comprehensive guide ever compiled to tackle the booze and drugs culture in the British workplace has been published to help ease the pressure on both employers and employees.

Issued by the Faculty of Occupational Medicine in London, the ‘Guidance on alcohol and drug misuse in the workplace’ report has been written by the country’s leading experts and draws on all the most up-to-date information and advice.

In fact the guide has been considered such an important aid in dealing with the problem, that it has also been recognised by the medical research charity, the BUPA Foundation, by winning its annual Health at Work award.

One of the author’s of the report, Dr Steve Deacon, said: “Managing the misuse of drugs and alcohol in the workplace, is a real minefield for business. We found that what they needed was a clear, simple breakdown of the best, most up-to-date and relevant advice.

“This guide not only assists in prevention but also offers support to those seeking treatment and rehabilitation. It is a one-stop shop for handling all issues relating to alcohol and drug misuse.”

The vice-chairman of the BUPA Foundation, Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen said: “All the evidence shows that the misuse of drugs and alcohol in the workplace is on the increase. The price to pay is high – absenteeism, accidents at work, poor performance, errors, lost productivity and long-term ill health.

“The guidance will be a vital tool to occupational physicians as well as those people who work in human resources and safety management, in tackling these issues.”

Dr Steve Deacon and his team received their BUPA Foundation award at a ceremony at Lincoln’s Inn in London yesterday.

· The BUPA Foundation is an independent charitable organisation that funds medical research into the prevention, relief and cure of sickness and ill health. Since 1979 The BUPA Foundation has awarded grants in excess of £19 million to medical research and healthcare initiatives across a range of disciplines from surgery to occupational health. Further information on the BUPA Foundation is available at < a href="http://www.bupafoundation.co.uk">www.bupafoundation.co.uk

· The vast majority of grants go to medical research teams in NHS hospitals.

· The BUPA Foundation Awards are made annually to recognise excellence in medical research and healthcare. The six categories are – care of the elderly, clinical excellence, communication, epidemiology, medical research and health at work.

· Award winners receive a cheque for £10,000.

· This year BUPA donated £2.5 million to the BUPA Foundation.

· Dr Steve Deacon works at the Faculty of Occupational Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians in London.

Heavy drinking shrinks the brain

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Washington:US researchers have revealed that heavy, chronic drinking can cause significant damage to a part of the brain structure which is vital to learning and memory.

Their study reveals that the volume of hippocampal tissue in the brain reduces over the years in heavy drinkers.

The researchers examined the effect of alcohol on the hippocampus and found that heavy drinking can reduce total hippocampus volume, which likely reflects a loss of hippocampal tissue substance.

“The hippocampus actually refers to two structures, the right hippocampus and the left hippocampus that are located in the right and left temporal lobes of the brain. Most scientists think that the hippocampus helps the brain manage learning, especially learning and remembering new things or things that happened recently. Before this study, researchers had noticed that the volume of the hippocampus seemed to be smaller in people who frequently drank large amounts of alcohol for long periods of time.” explained Thomas P. Beresford, Department of Veterans Affairs physician, and professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to compare hippocampus volumes among non-alcoholics and heavy drinkers.

Study results indicated a reduction in total hippocampus volume among the alcoholics.

“When we took a picture of the alcoholic brains using MRI, and measured the hippocampus,” said Beresford, “it was much smaller than the hippocampus in the group of people who did not drink alcohol heavily. This means that alcohol appears to injure the hippocampus by itself. That is, it may harm the hippocampus in a way that other things do not.”

The findings of the study could explain some of the memory impairment and cognitive deficits described in chronic alcoholics, but it is not clear whether the effect is reversible.

“This study is only a first step. We are now studying what happens to the hippocampus in heavy drinkers when they stop drinking, whether the hippocampus heals itself or not, and what we might do to help healing along. Since the hippocampus is connected to many other parts of the brain, it is difficult to know all of the things that it does. Most scientists think that injury to the hippocampus makes it harder to learn things, especially to keep memories of new things or of new patterns. Understanding this, and how alcohol-dependent individuals may cope and even heal, is the point of our research,” he said.

The results of the study are published in the November issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.