Washing Raw Chicken Can Lead To Food Poisoning

As it is often said, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness". Most of us have been brought up in such a way that we have to clean and wash everything properly. that is the right thing to do. when it comes to food stuffs like Meat, Vegetables and even Fruits, we are often advised to wash them before preparing or eating them.
After saying all these, one would ask, "why the headline?" Well, according to the UK’s Food Standards Agency, washing Raw Chicken spreads campylobacter bacteria, which causes food poisoning. That doesn't mean you shouldn't wash your food stuffs, just don't wash your raw chickens.

“Campylobacter can be spread easily and just a few bacteria could cause illness. This could come from raw or undercooked chicken, or from contamination due to washing raw chicken. The easiest way to protect yourself and your family is to follow our simple food safety tips every time you prepare food,” the agency wrote in a statement.

Here are the food safety tips:

1. Cover and chill raw chicken
Cover raw chicken and store at the bottom of the fridge so juices cannot drip on to other foods and contaminate them with food poisoning bacteria such as campylobacter.

2. Don't wash raw chicken
Cooking will kill any bacteria present, including campylobacter, while washing chicken can spread germs by splashing.

3. Wash used utensils
Thoroughly wash and clean all utensils, chopping boards, and surfaces used to prepare raw chicken. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling raw chicken. This helps stop the spread of campylobacter by avoiding cross contamination.

4. Cook chicken thoroughly
Make sure chicken is steaming hot all the way through before serving. Cut in to the thickest part of the meat and check that it is steaming hot with no pink meat and that the juices run clear.

Campylobacter is one of the most common causes of diarrhea-related illness, in the UK, 280,000 people are affected annually.



source: http://www.medicaldaily.com

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World's Largest Tumour Removed in China

A tumour weighing 110kg (242.5lbs), considered as the world's largest tumour was removed from a man in Beijing, China. The operation which lasted for 16 hours, required 9 doctors to carry it out.

The Patient, 37 years old Yang Jianbin was born with a dark birth mark on the right side of his lower back. At the age of nine it started growing into a tumour. By 12 years of age, it was the size of a fist and he had surgery to remove it. But it quickly started to grow again.

By the time he arrived in hospital in Beijing recently it weighed an incredible 110kg.

Chief surgeon Chen Minliang said Yang suffers from a condition known as Neurofibromatosis, which is a genetic disorder that disturbs cell growth in the nervous system, causing tumors to form on nerve tissue. 

He said: "We have seen neurofibromatosis patients before, but this is the biggest nerve tumor we ever saw."

Before his operation, Yang said the giant tumor greatly affected his life. He could only lie down or sit on his bed all day long.

During the 16 hours surgery, Yang received more than 5000ml of blood, which is more than the entire amount an adult's body holds.

Yang is now recovering well and it expected to be discharged later this month.

source: mirror.co.uk

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Man Choked to death during Hot Dog Eating competition

Walter Eagle Tail, a 47-year-old competitive eater DIED during a hot dog eating competition in South Dakota, USA on July 3rd. He died after choking on one of the hot dogs. 

Walter was participating in a 4th of July weekend contest when witnesses say he began to choke. Paramedics were called to the scene to help but they were too late; he was already dead

Custer County Sheriff Rick Wheeler told the Rapid City Journal, "There was someone doing CPR when we arrived. Basically, he probably just suffocated. It got lodged in his throat and they couldn't get it out." "It all happened within minutes," Wheeler added.

In the wake of Walter Tail's death, event organizers cancelled a pie eating contest scheduled to take place the following day.

Competitive eating contests are popular in the US during fairs and festivities.

In the same weekend thatTail died, hot-dog eating world-record holder Joey "Jaws" Chestnut managed to eat 61 hot dogs in 10 minutes, eight short of his record, at an annual contest in Brooklyn's Coney Island.


sources: tmz.com and ibtimes.co.uk

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Benefits of Exercise

By: John Falkinder

Doing exercise for fitness is not merely a notion of today's modern marketers though you could be forgiven for thinking so with all the air play it gets these days.

In fact, it has its roots firmly entrenched in the antiquity; in the words of Aristotle he defined a thing as being fit if "it suited its purpose well". According to this definition, our body is fit when it serves its purpose well. This means our heart, lungs, eyes, muscles, brain and all other organs which fulfil various bodily functions need to receive our full attention to stay fit and healthy for the duration of our lives.

One of the secrets and benefits of physical fitness is intense workout activity; this forces the heart to pump the blood faster, thus increasing the oxygen percentage at cellular level and removing waste that accumulates as a result of natural processes that occur in the body.

A moderate level of exercise for fitness will contribute to an increase of the HDL, which is the "good" cholesterol. The role of HDL or High Density Lipoprotein is to regulate blood sugar levels and to help converting the fat into energy, thus being an important aid in weight loss programs.

Developing and sticking to a regular fitness program comes with other added benefits.

You'll get an increased muscle mass, better looking legs, buttocks and abs and an overall healthier appearance. Your skin will look healthier and smoother and your balance will improve. Your new found fitness will also have you looking much younger than your real age so another of the benefits of physical fitness is anti-ageing.

So as you can see all of these factors will contribute to a new found feeling of well-being as well as increased self-esteem.

Depending on your short term goals, you can alternate your fitness routines in such a way that you help some systems in your body more than others. For instance, if you feel your cardiovascular system needs some strengthening, you can go for aerobic routines that will help you accomplish your goal.

If you want to improve your balance, then you need to perform a series of special routines mostly encountered in yoga and Pilates. And to add some muscle do resistance exercises with weights.

One thing you should know: whatever type of fitness exercises you decide to do, your whole body is going to benefit. The body works as a total unit; it is a highly sophisticated integrated system in which all the different parts have their roles but each of them also influences others.

This is why fitness routines performed at least three times a week in sessions of at least 30 minutes can improve our cognitive functions. The brain is stimulated by the increased blood flow and by the oxygen that comes to feed the cells at a higher rate. Hormone secretion is also stimulated by sustained activity; therefore the risk of developing depression is significantly lowered.

If you are really committed to reinventing yourself and building a healthier and more glowing you, there's no need to start at full pace. Just ease yourself into it until your body gets used to the new changes that are taking place and then each month just increase your levels of intensity.

A simple brisk 30 minute walk every morning is a great place to start. Follow this up with a gradual increase in activity by maybe going to aerobics classes or joining a gym and doing some resistance training.

Just do what your level of fitness permits then gradually increase the level as you become fitter. Within two to three months you will be surprised how much better you feel and look. It is well worth the effort of getting started and reaping some of the many physical benefits of exercise.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8545991

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10 Brilliant Ways To Stay Happy for Women

By:  Jenna Forthright

1. Enjoy a good laugh 

Laughter as they say is actually the greatest medicine for sure. It will relieve your of stress and also lower your symptoms that may lead to high blood pressure.

2. Start juicing cranberries
Drink fruit juice like right now! Not only it taste good but it will do your body good. The properties in cranberries can help you flush out waste build up and toxins.

3. Load up on Fibre
We've all heard the phrase that "It all starts from the stomach". Well foods high in fibre will maintain the flow of food going in and out of your system. Fibre is essential for everyone. Start off with a bowl of oatmeal and you will be setting yourself up for a very healthy and long life.

4. Sleep like a baby
If you are not getting 8 hours of sleep, you are missing out on a lot of health benefits and pushing yourself to an early grave. Eight hours of sleep is essential for any working busy adult. Sleeping re-energizes you and it's a wonderful way to push out a stress.

5. Enjoy your work
Don't get stressed at work. Most of our lives are spent working so don't take the little things too seriously. Remember you are their because you are truly helping someone out (Yourself and your boss). Have fun with it and don't let little things bother you. Be grateful that you have a job as 90% of the world doesn't.

6. Compassion is the key
Going to work in the morning can be stressful sometimes. What makes it worst is if someone rubs you the wrong way. Exercise compassion and just move forward. You don't need to stress about these little 'glitches' in your life. Remind yourself that it's just a 'Plot twist' and keep moving ahead. Put a smile on your face.

7. Entertain yourself by going to the movies
Visit the movies either with your buddies or preferably, by yourself. Enjoy your own personal company. Grab some nachos, hot dogs and pop and go for a ride. We suggest going around noon or 1pm when most people are working or busy (Saturdays should work just fine).

8. Get in touch with your real self
Yoga is perfect but you can get started right now by sitting in the yoga pose and just closing your eyes. Do this everyday and you will become a brand new person who is more calm, collective and happy. Meditation is one of the best things you can do for yourself and you can start off with just 5 minutes a day.

9. Go loco for coca 
Contrary to popular belief, eating chocolate is not only healthy but serves as an immediate stress reliever. Even if it's just a jar of nutella.

10. Get some H2O
Nothing clears the mind then going out and getting some fresh air. Go sit outside somewhere (Not just go for a walk but try to find a spot where you can actually sit).

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8347527

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Tips for Better Eyesight or Good Healthy Vision

By Prince Sachdeva

Your eyes are an important part of your health. There are many things you can do to keep them healthy and make sure you are seeing your best. Follow these simple steps for maintaining healthy eyes well into your golden years. Don't take your eye health for granted. Protect your eyesight with these six tips:

1. Eat for Good Vision 

Vision mainly depends upon what we eat? Eating good food keeps our vision healthy. Nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E may prevent age-related vision problems. Regularly eating these foods can help lead to good eye health: 

• Green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, and collards 

• Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish 

• Eggs, nuts, beans, and other non-meat protein sources 

• Oranges and other citrus fruits or juices

A well-balanced diet also helps you maintain a healthy weight, which prevents obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults.

2. Quit Smoking for Better Eyesight 

Smoking mainly causes cataracts, optic nerve damage, and macular degeneration. If you've tried to quit smoking before and started smoking again, keep trying. It has been observed that the more times you try to quit smoking; the more likely you are to succeed.

3. Wear Sunglasses for Good Vision 

Selecting the right kind of sunglasses will help protect your eyes from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Too much UV exposure makes you more likely to get cataracts and macular degeneration.

Choose sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Wraparound lenses help protect your eyes from the side. Polarized lenses reduce glare when driving.

If you wear contact lenses, some offer UV protection, however; it's still a good idea to wear sunglasses for more protection.

4. Use Safety Eyewear at Home, at Work, and While Playing Sports 

If you work with hazardous or airborne materials at work or home, wear safety glasses or protective goggles every time. Sports such as ice hockey, racquetball, and lacrosse can also lead to eye injury. Always wear eye protection (such as helmets with protective face masks or sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses) to shield your eyes.

5. Look Away From the Computer for Good Eye Health

Staring at a computer screen for long can cause: 

• Eyestrain 

• Blurry vision 

• Difficulty focusing at a distance 

• Dry eyes 

• Headaches 

• Neck, back, and shoulder pain

Protect your eye health by taking the following steps: 

• Make sure your glasses or contact lens prescription is up-to-date and adequate for computer use. 

• Some people may need glasses to help with contrast, glare, and eye strain when using a computer. 

• Position your computer so that your eyes are level with the top of the monitor. This allows you to look slightly down at the screen. 

• Try to avoid glare on your computer from windows and lights. Use an anti-glare screen if needed. 

• Choose a comfortable, supportive chair. Position it so that your feet are flat on the floor. 

• If your eyes are dry, blink more. 

• Every 20 minutes, rest your eyes by looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds. At least every two hours, get up and take a 15-minute break.

6. Visit Your Eye Doctor Regularly 

Everyone should get their eyes examined regularly. It helps you protect your sight and make sure that you are seeing your best. Eye exams can also find some eye diseases, such as glaucoma, that have no symptoms. It's important to find these diseases in their early stages, when they're easier to treat. Depending on your eye health needs, you can see either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist for an eye exam. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye care. They can provide general eye care, treat eye diseases, and perform eye surgery. Optometrists have had four years of specialized training after college. They provide general eye care and treat the most common eye diseases. They do not perform eye surgery.

A comprehensive eye exam may include: 

• Talking about your personal and family medical history 

• Taking vision tests to see if you have nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism (a curved cornea that blurs vision), or presbyopia (age-related vision changes) 

• Tests to see how well your eyes work together 

• Eye pressure and optic nerve tests to determine if you have glaucoma 

• External and microscopic examination of your eyes before and after dilation 

You may also need other tests, depending upon your particular case.

Use these helpful tips to make vision more healthy

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8354424

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Kick Stress to the Curb and Enjoy Your Life

The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.

~William James~

Most Olympic athletes interviewed in Sochi admitted shaking in their boots before their events. A survey of teens in southwest Florida revealed a high rate of suicidal thoughts among high school students. Feeling unequal to the demands of our lives can overwhelm us. Stress squeezes most of us from time to time and paralyzes a few others.

Where does stress come from and what can we do about it? The Hungarian endocrinologist Hans Selye who brought stress to medical and psychological attention described it as "the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change." He researched the body's reaction to stress and its ability to cope with it.

While our bodies struggle to manage stress, our minds also vie with the challenges posed by life. Minor stress inconveniences us. Major stress can immobilize us. Yet not all stress is bad. A certain amount sharpens us and helps us do our best. Completely relaxed, we tend to be lackadaisical.

Selye concerned himself with the physical effects on the body. In addition to our body's reaction, our mind and emotions also become involved. In extreme cases every fiber of our being becomes involved as stress accumulates unchecked.

Athletes contribute to their own stress by setting lofty goals for themselves. The teenagers mentioned above live in a part of the country largely populated by people much older than themselves. They do not feel taken seriously by the senior citizens who surround them and receive most of Florida's attention. Feeling overwhelmed by life may be partly our doing and partly from circumstances in which we find ourselves.

What can we do about our stress? We often choose the stress of competition in order to excel. Here we have a choice of whether the stress we place on ourselves is worth the effort. We also face this choice in our daily lives. Whatever goals we set for ourselves often involve challenges and adversity. Again, it is our choice whether to continue pursuing our goals. We might lower our goals or alter them to less stressful ones.

Others' expectations may be more difficult to manage. Parents sometimes expect their children to renew the quest for their own failed dreams. Others' reactions to our differences in skin color, bodily characteristics or variations of the human traits we all have can lead to their prejudice and our doubts about our value as a person. Although easier for adults than for children, we can decide how much weight to give others' judgments of us. We should remember that others form their opinions for their own reasons. Their ratings of us do not make us any more or less valuable.

We would do better to concentrate on being the best person we can be. Then we can judge our worth by our own standards. We can then more easily ignore others' opinions of us

Article Source: EzineArticles.com; written by:Joseph Langen

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Belgian King Philippe signs child euthanasia into law

King Philippe of Belgium has approved a bill allowing euthanasia in rare cases of terminally-ill children enduring unbearable sufferings. Last week, Spanish activists presented a petition to the Belgian monarch, asking him to not to sign the bill that extends the right of euthanasia to minors. The petition had been signed by 210,000 people from various countries.

The authors of the bill argue that it deals exclusively with very rare cases when a panel of psychiatrists rules that a patient is sane and capable of making decisions. Any such case requires the written consent of a child’s parents. Proposed by the Francophone and Flemish Socialists and backed by ecologists and part of liberals, the bill sparked bitter debates between representatives of the country’s political parties, medical community and parents. The Belgian parliament approved the bill by 86 votes against 44 with 12 abstentions, making Belgium the world’s second state after the Netherlands to legalize child euthanasia.

Belgium's lower house of parliament on Thursday adopted by a large majority a law allowing euthanasia for terminally ill children, making Belgium only the second country to allow mercy-killing for minors. After its adoption in the Senate in December, the ground-breaking legislation was adopted by 86 votes in favour, 44 against and with 12 abstentions. Belgium's Senate on Thursday backed plans to extend mercy-killing to terminally-ill children amid an intense public debate, after the upper house of Parliament voted by a large majority to extend to minors a 2002 law legalizing the practice for adults.

The Senate voted 50 in favour, 17 against for the measure, which must now go to the lower house. Supporters hope it will be approved ahead of elections in May. The bill allows minors to ask for euthanasia on the grounds that their illness is terminal and that they are in great pain and that there is no treatment to alleviate their distress. The request has to be agreed by the patient's medical team and approved by the child's parents. "We want this law to be passed before the dissolution of parliament," said Socialist MP Karine Lalieux.

Belgium introduced euthanasia in 2002 for those aged 18 and over, and would follow in the footsteps of neighbour the Netherlands which allows mercy killing for children over 12.

The Belgian legislation does not set an age limit but states that the patient has to be conscious of their situation and understand the meaning of a request for euthanasia. It is thought that there would be only 10-15 cases a year, based on statements from doctors and nurses that the practice exists outside the law for terminally-ill youngsters in physical distress.

Last month, 16 paediatricians urged lawmakers to approve the legislation. "Why deprive minors of this last possibility," they said in an open letter carried in the press, arguing that under-18s were able to make an informed and mature decision when facing death. "Experience shows us that in cases of serious illness and imminent death, minors develop very quickly a great maturity, to the point where they are often better able to reflect and express themselves on life than healthy people."

A recent poll shows three quarters of Belgians approve the move but a group of Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders oppose it as undermining the value of human life.

After the Netherlands and Belgium, Luxembourg in 2009 also approved euthanasia but for adults only. In Switzerland, doctors can assist a patient seeking to die but euthanasia itself is illegal.

Belgium logged a record 1,432 cases of euthanasia in 2012, up 25 percent.

source: http://voiceofrussia.com/

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Doctors warn new FDA-approved painkiller is deadly dangerous

A new painkiller set to hit the market in March is coming under heavy fire from doctors and lawmakers warning of its powerful ability to kill.

Although the opiate Zohydro was ultimately approved by the US Food and Drug administration, that endorsement went against the recommendation given by the agency’s own advisory panel. The panel voted 11 – 2 against approving the drug, but the FDA argued its availability is necessary to help patients unfazed by current medication.

The new drug hasn’t become available yet, but a group of more than 40 doctors is hoping to preempt its release by urging the FDA to reconsider its decision. According to the letter penned by the doctors, Zohydro is five to 10 times stronger than its nearest equivalent, Vicodin, and has the potential to cause a severe rise in overdose deaths.

The doctors warned that the drug could potentially kill an individual after taking only two Zohydro capsules. A child, meanwhile, could suffer a fatal overdose from just one pill.

“In the midst of a severe drug addiction epidemic fueled by overprescribing of opioids, the very last thing the country needs is a new, dangerous, high-dose opioid,” the letter reads.

Speaking to Forbes, Andrew Kolodny, of the advocacy group Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing, was even more direct: “It’s a whopping dose of hydrocodone packed in an easy-to-crush capsule. It will kill people as soon as it’s released.”

According to NBC News, Congressional representatives and attorney generals from 28 states have also called on the FDA to reconsider the drug’s approval.

Although Zohydro is comprised of the same ingredients found in Vicodin and OxyContin, but it’s not just the higher dose that has medical experts and lawmakers concerned. As RT reported in November, the FDA did not mandate Zohydro to follow the same abuse-deterrents that other drugs do. As a result, the drug will remain just as effective if crushed, snorted, or taken in a way other than originally intended. All this has opponents worried that Zohydro’s potential for abuse greatly exceeds that of other options on the market.

Still, some doctors believe the strong dosage would benefit a select group of patients. Dr. Zonfu Chen of the University Pittsburgh Medical Center East told NBC that Zoyhdro could be helpful to patients who cannot take pain medication outside of hydrocodone.

"The bottom line is no matter which narcotic you're talking about, if you don't use it right it can be abused,” Chen said. “It can be addictive. It all depends on how doctors monitor it. It could be lifesaving. But if used the wrong way, like any medication, it can cause trouble."

Forbes noted that Zohydro’s manufacturer, Zogenix, has also claimed the drug does not contain acetaminophen, which Vicodin does, and therefore is actually safer to use. Others say that difference is negligible, since there are similar medications already available.

The letter to the FDA also placed Zohydro in a larger context regarding drug use in the United States. It noted that 2012 data by the International Narcotics Control Board found Americans consume more than 99 percent of the world’s hydrocodone supply and 84 percent of the global stock of oxycodone.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overdose deaths in the US have skyrocketed since 1999, from roughly 4,000 to nearly 17,000 in 2010.

Although the FDA only reconsiders its rulings on rare occasions, Dr. Jeanmarie Perrone of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine told NBC it’s possible. "There is precedent for reversing,” she said. “I think it could be reevaluated.”

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8 Ways To Keep Your Skin Healthy During Winter

As temperature drops down, heaters switch on, and the wind blows up, the battle for healthy skin begins. Dry air takes away the thin oil layer that leaves moisture on the skin and flares painful and itchy conditions such as severe dry skin eczema, and psoriasis. If our skin stop producing moisture or if the heaters start affecting our skin, it will result in little cracks that destroy the barrier of the skin. Any actions traumatic to the skin, such as cracking, can cause an inflammatory response, which can force skin to become more susceptible to flare-ups of eczema and psoriasis. But you can minimize the risks by preparing now and avoid next few months toll taken on your skin. Here are some tips to help you battle for a healthy skin as winter approaches.

1. When it is cold outside, instead of prolonging our hot showers and baths- a recipe for irritated and dry skin- use lukewarm, not hot, water and keep the shower as brief as possible. Also switch to moisture-rich less aggressive soaps made for sensitive skin. Try to pat yourself dry gently to avoid traumatizing or skin over drying. Do not forget to apply moisturiser while your skin is still slightly damp.

2. Whether you have psoriasis, eczema or severe dry skin called as xerosis, you need to return any moisture that dry air takes away. As soon as the weather gets dry, alarm yourself to start a regular moisturising  The best time to do it is right after you bathe. To get better results you can wrap the problem areas in plastic wrap for about 20 minutes to one hour after moisturising. Your skin will be baby soft!

3. If your skin does get irritated, choose breathable soft fabrics, just as cotton, instead of polyester or itchy woollens. Less fitting clothing will also help to keep your skin from becoming irritated by perspiration and chafed. Keep the humidity level at home between 20% and 40% it can be measured by a hygrometer.

4. Many viral, bacterial, or fungal infections can make psoriasis and eczema even worse because they involve immune system responses. Follow basic steps to keep yourself healthy, like getting enough sleep, washing your hands frequently, and exercising. Do everything to fight infection!

5. Winter means the holidays and the stress that they inevitably contain. Trying to get things done before the holidays as well as emotional stress and being under pressure definitely can trigger skin problems as during periods of stress, the ability of our skin to retain water is quite reduced. Look for any possible way to relieve stress related to holiday.

6. Weight gain in general can worsen the problematic skin conditions. So tread carefully, try to eat properly and do as much exercise as you can.

7. Winter also brings a reduction in the amount of sun exposure, which is not a good fact since sunlight is very important not only for our skin but for the whole body as well to produce vitamin D and get enough calcium that way. The problem is two-fold. Firstly, people wear clothes that cover the skin and have a tendency to stay indoors. Secondly, the energy of ultraviolet light is lessened in the winter. So photo-therapy makes sense for patients being responsive to ultra violet light.

8. Drink as much water as you can! It is one of those essential things you must do during any season and the wintertime is no exception. Try to take in 0.30 litres per 1 kilogram of your weight. You will stay hydrated and be happy with your skin.

From Fitnea.com

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Cancer Ruins Relationships

By Dr. Jeff Davis

Imagine having a good marriage. You are living with the person of your dreams. You have the chance to finish your life with someone whom you are not only crazy about but you love them to life.

Everything is going well. You both pursue your individual careers. You make plans for a family, home and vacations. This is how life is supposed to be; together again.

And then it happens. Your loved one goes to the doctor and gets a bad report. Upon further tests you both find out that cancer is the culprit and your whole future has just changed. Now, instead of planning for a long life together you enter into survival mode.

Cancer is a killer. It has decimated thousands of relationships, impacted millions of lives and made what should be a great life one filled with pain and fear.

Cancer can do the following to any relationship;

1) Fill those affected with fear - since cancer is a killer it is hard to hear the name and not have fear. The person diagnosed with the disease has to deal with the constant mental reminder of "I have cancer'. The loved ones involved typically are very cautious as to what they can say and how much emotions they should show to others.

2) Gets in the way of intimacy - Cancer can affect the sex lives of a couple due to one partner no longer being in the same place they were prior to the onset of cancer. It also impacts emotional intimacy and connectedness between the partners.

3) Kills your dreams - most people dealing with this disease don't dream long term. They see the battle as fatal and begin to make arrangements to leave the earth as opposed to seeing a long life ahead of them.

Cancer ruins relationships. Dreams, goals, aspirations and the future plans people make are all jeopardized by this killer. This is a tragedy indeed but one that does not have to continue to be as bad as it has been.

I encourage you to join with the many fine organizations that exist to do away with cancer. There is research being done and great strides in how to deal with the disease, alleviate the symptoms and making those afflicted as comfortable as possible.

Don't let cancer take anything else away from you and your loved ones. Stay encouraged for you too can come out on top!

http://www.fmsmin.wix.com/fms-home-page

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How To Stay Motivated To Eat Healthy

We all need some kind of motivation to eat healthy. Only exercising is not quite enough to stay in shape and live your life as a healthy person free from extra problems. You need to have a healthy diet as well. So try these tips for staying motivated to eat healthy wherever you go.

Discover new foods

One of the most exciting ways of adopting a new eating habit is finding more and more different foods to try. Explore a specialty foods store, get a new cookbook at the library, or explore new ethnic restaurants. Keeping your taste buds this way will encourage you to continue with eating healthy foods.

Think short term

Keep your goals in doable short-term amount. Focus on half to one week at a time or, if essential, one day at a time. Feel great about the healthy choices you made at the last meal instead of wondering about the slip you made at the party last weekend.

Find a friend or a family member to join you

Sharing health information with your family or friends can be extremely motivating. If everyone gets on to eat healthy foods around the house—such as vegetables, fruits, soymilk, and nuts, hummus and pita, you will not feel tempted to carve on the unhealthy foods you used to eat. You will motivate each other to order plant-based delicious meals at restaurants because you share a common idea and goal.

Track your weight loss

By cutting out fatty and eating high-fibre vegetarian healthy foods, you will forget about high-calorie foods such as dairy products and meat and you will be more likely to lose unwanted pounds. That is another powerful motivation! Is not it?

Notice other health improvements

Taking a low-fat vegetarian diet usually leads to a better health condition. Some of these improvements include better cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure. Other changes, such as having more energy and feeling better overall, will be perceptible only to you.

Think of what you have gained

You are on your way to a healthier, happier life, with decreased risk of serious diseases, including diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease and increased energy. As a result, you will have more time, energy and money to devote to the people and activities precious to you.

From fitnea.com

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Keep Your Chin Up

By Dr. Jeff Davis

When you hear the word "cancer" what does it make you think of? Really sick people who can't get any better? Hospitals full of moaning and groaning? What about death and funerals?

There are a lot of sad connotations associated with the word cancer. It can be a fearful word due to how it has taken the lives of so many people. Not only has it hurt its victims but the families and loved ones attached to that person as well.

I know because I have lived with the pain of cancer touching my home. My wife went in to have a routine check up and a lump was discovered in her breast. We discovered this during the month of December and found that Christmas and those that followed to be a hard time to rejoice.

The doctors were great. They explained to us the approach to dealing with this form of cancer aggressively. She had chemotherapy a few times a month. After each treatment she was very sick for a few days. Her strength left her and she was unable to do even the most simple household task. I made arrangements to leave work and take her to all of her chemotherapy sessions because I wanted to be there and to learn how I could help her make it.

She went in for surgery and had a double mastectomy. Afterwards her self- esteem and picture of herself was greatly affected. She felt like she had lost what made her a woman and was no longer the woman I married who cared so much for her personal appearance.

Radiation followed. That was somewhat encouraging as we looked at how it was the best way to kill off any remaining cells. When it was over and my wife has changed her eating habits her strength slowly began to return. This whole ordeal had taken over a year. But I began to feel like we had arrived on the other side.

I want to encourage you to keep your chin up. You have to look past the problems to the possibility of a solution. Things don't have to stay so bad that they cannot be changed. When you have cancer or when you are a person who has gone through it with someone else you have to find a way to be encouraged. You can do that by seeing the good in it all. Cancer is bad. Very bad. But there are those who not only fight cancer, they survive. Hope is the best medicine you can have when trying to look past all the hurt and pain to see a new reality.

Above all, please, keep your chin up!

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Loosing weight

Have you worked your buns off on an exercise regimen, only to wonder why some of those stubborn pounds won't come off? It may have to do with what's on your plate. Just by changing the way you eat, you can see better and more immediate results in how you look and feel.

Eating Right

Exercise is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to losing weight the healthy way. Your diet also has a lot to do with your ability to shed pounds without resorting to dangerous fads or short cuts  After all, you can't maintain a diet laden in fat, sugars and salts and expect to lose weight. What you eat has a bearing on your weight as well as your energy levels and overall health.

Sticking to fruits, vegetables, non-fat dairy products, fish and skinless poultry goes a long way towards successful weight loss, plus you'll also receive a host of other health benefits from these foods. Swapping out sugary and high-calorie soft drinks with water and 100-percent fruit juices also helps. Curtailing your consumption of starches, artificial and refined sugars and salt reduces fluid retention, resulting in a short-term five-pound loss while reducing heart-related illnesses in the long run.

Portion control is also a big factor. Pass up on second helpings and enjoy smaller portions of the foods you love. You'll take in fewer calories and have less fat stored in your body to burn off. Also avoid snacking in between meals, as it's a great way of losing track of what you've eaten.

Tips for Losing Weight

The following should help you get on the road to a great diet and pave the way for a slimmer shape:

• Start with gradual changes to your diet. It's the small changes that make a big difference. Cutting out an extra cookie or biscuit could result in a five-pound loss over a year.
• Use the foods you love to your advantage. If you love dairy products, find ways to substitute ingredients for healthy alternatives. For instance, swapping whole milk for semi-skimmed milk is one way of lose weight without sacrificing the foods you love.
• Drink plenty of water, since it's easy for the average person to become dehydrated without even noticing. This also has a negative effect on your weight loss efforts.
• Avoid skipping meals. Skipping a meal or two in hopes of shedding pounds that way actually throws your body into starvation mode, where it slows down your metabolism and hoard calories. This causes you to gain weight instead.

Don't hesitate to keep track of the foods you eat with a food journal. It's a great way of staying accountable for your diet while tracking your weight loss.

Losing weight isn't just about staying in shape through constant exercise and physical activity. Eating healthy plays a big role in maintaining a healthier you. Combining the two will do wonders for your physique whether you're just trying to shed a few pounds or if you have bigger goals in mind.

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Rare Undersea Discovery Could Extend Your Life by 10, 20 or 30 Years

Humans have made incredible health strides and are living longer lives than ever.  Many of the maladies that struck down our ancestors have for the most part been completely eliminated – everything from tuberculosis, to polio to malaria.

Today, the biggest killers stem as much from our lifestyles as from microscopic bacteria and viruses.  One of the worst of these is heart disease, and specifically high blood pressure. It’s a slow, but efficient killer that robs many people of what should be the last 10, 20 or 30 years of their lives.

Part of the reason that heart disease is so prevalent and intractable is that it often requires massive changes to one’s lifestyle— changes that are not easy to make.  Everything from radically altering ones diet to implementing serious exercise routines.  And while it’s never too late to start, people often realize the true danger only when it’s too late to make the changes and the damage is done.

Now, however, there may be a scientific breakthrough that could have an impact on high blood pressure comparable to penicillin’s ability treat infections or quinine’s effect on malaria.

Scientists are claiming that they have now isolated unusual ingredients in a rare seaweed discovered by fishermen off the coast of Korea that offer incredible health benefits—including the ability to restore blood pressure to normal levels.

Dr. Haengwoo Lee, a renowned biochemist living near Seattle, Washington conducted a massive 15 year, multimillion dollar clinical study on these two ingredients. The first is Seanol, an extremely rare seaweed extract from Ecklonia Cava that's proven to be 100 times more powerful than any land-based antioxidant. That's because it stays working in your body for 12 hours, compared to land-based antioxidants that work for 30 minutes.

"Its secret is its make-up of special polyphenol antioxidants that are a whopping 40% lipid (fat) soluble," Dr. Lee explains. "Unlike nearly all land-based antioxidants that are water soluble, Seanol's protective compounds can get into things like the fatty tissues of your brain and penetrate all three layers of your cells, including the outside, the oil-based cell membranes, and your DNA."

Indeed, Seanol is so powerful, it's the only FDA-approved Ecklonia Cava marine-algae extract in existence.

The second ingredient is Calamarine, a deep-sea omega-3 discovery that delivers 85% more DHA omega-3s to your heart, brain, joints, and eyes. It's known to combat everything from fatigue and poor memory, to vision problems, joint pain, mood swings and depression.

With that research in mind, Dr. Lee combined Seanol and Calamarine with a high dose of vitamin D to form Marine-D3, the newest supplement in the fight against age-related illnesses and high blood pressure.

According to the CDC, about 1 in 3 U.S. adults has high blood pressure, which increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, the two leading causes of death in the United States. Increasing your omega-3 intake can reduce high blood pressure, and because it's difficult to get enough omega-3s in foods like fish and nuts, many people turn to supplements.

Dr. Lee found that Calamarine delivers some of the greatest concentration of omega-3s known to science, and has been able to formulate it without any fishy burps or aftertaste. Combined with Seanol's ability to reduce body inflammation, as well as help cells get the nutrients they need to thrive, stay healthy and protected, Marine-D3 is able to boost a body's entire well being.

The makers of Marine-D3 are so confident that you'll see fast dramatic results from this product, that if you aren't happy after two full months, simply return the unused portion and they'll buy it back. They'll even give you ten dollars extra just for giving it an honest try! That kind of faith, combined with Dr. Lee's exhaustive research, shows that Marine-D3 really is a one-of-a-kind product.

From howlifeworks.com

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Top 10 Protein Sources (for Vegetarians And Vegans)

Proteins are the building blocks of our organism. They break down into amino acids in the body that help cell repair and growth. You probably know that animal products such as dairy, eggs and meat are fine sources of protein. But they can also be high in cholesterol and saturated fat. And what about meat haters or even vegetarians? They do not take any of these protein full foods. Does it mean they cannot receive the essential amount of protein? Of course not. What you should know is that you do not need to eat cheese or meat to get enough protein. Here are 10 good vegan sources, taking longer than carbohydrates to digest, helping you feel fuller on fewer calories for longer. Just add them to your diet today.

Legume family foods

They are good sources of vegetarian protein with no exception: One cup contains 8 grams—about the same as one cup of milk. If you do not like peas like a side dish, try blending them along with Parmesan cheese, fresh mint, olive oil, toasted pine nuts and serve over linguine. Sure it will become one of your all-time favourite meals without meat.

Quinoa

Most grains contain a very little amount of protein, but quinoa—it is a seed—is unique because it contains more than 7 grams per cup, including all those essential amino acids that the body needs for repair and growth, but cannot produce on its own. Because of that, quinoa often is called as a perfect protein. You can add quinoa to vegetarian chili or soup during winter, or serve with fruit and brown sugar as a hot cereal on breakfast, or toss with a vinaigrette and vegetables to make a fresh summer salad.

Nuts and nut butter

All nuts can be a valuable part of a plant-based diet because of containing both protein and healthy fats. But because pistachios, cashews and almonds are high in calories- 150 calories and 6 or 7 grams of protein per ounce—choose ones that are dry roasted or raw. Almond butter like nut butters, and peanut, are also a great way to get protein. Instead of choosing ones with lots of added sugar or hydrogenated oils look for ones with as few ingredients as possible. Just salt maybe and nuts.

Beans

There are many different kinds of beans— white, black, heirloom, pinto, and so on. One thing that all beans have in common is their high level of protein. For example, two cups of kidney beans contain about 27 grams almost the same as a Big Mac containing 25.5 grams. If you are lazy to buy dried ones needing soaking for overnight before cooking, that is not a problem. It is also perfect and even much easier to buy them canned, and then heat them up over the stove after rinsing them.

Garbanzo beans

These legumes also known as chickpeas can be pureed into a hummus, tossed into salads, or salted and fried as a crispy snack. Just toss a can of garbanzo beans in the blender with some tahini and some herbs or walnut oil and it is ready to go.

Edamame

Not keen of meat substitutes? Get your dish served of soy the way it appears in nature: still in the pod straight from the soybean. Per half cup of boiled edamame contains 8 grams of protein and can be served cold or hot and sprinkled with salt.

Chia seeds

The same plant that is used to make Chia Pet products is an easy way to gain protein and fibre to almost all recipes. They take on a gelatinous texture and plump up while soaked in a liquid, forming a rich treat like creamy pudding.

Leafy greens

Vegetables do contain significant amount of protein along with lots of heart-healthy fibre and antioxidants. If you eat a lot of vegetables and a wide range of different types of vegetables you will certainly add up a good amount of amino acids.

Hemp milk

It is also a dairy-free product that can add protein to your diet, and it is much lower in calories than skim milk.

Seitan

Looks like duck meat and tastes like chicken. It is loaded with protein made from wheat gluten, seasoned with salt and savoury flavours. It can be popular meat substitute for vegetarians.

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Stem cells: Living adult tissue transformed back into embryo state

The living tissue inside an animal has been regressed back into an embryonic state for the first time, Spanish researchers say.

They believe it could lead to new ways of repairing the body, for example after a heart attack.

However, the study published in the journal Nature, showed the technique led to tumours forming in mice.

Stem cell experts said it was a "cool" study, but would need to be much more controlled before leading to therapies.

When an egg is first fertilised, it has the potential to develop into every tissue in the human body, from brain cells to skin.

That flexibility is lost as an embryo develops. However, transforming adult tissues back into an embryonic-like state may lead to treatments that can regenerate a weakened heart, or the light-sensing cells in the eye or even the brain after a stroke.

'Thought impossible'

The transformation has been done in a laboratory, by treating skin samples with a mix of chemicals or genetic modification.

Now scientists at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre in Madrid have achieved the same results inside an animal.

"It is a surprising result, this was not expected, most of us thought that it would be impossible," lead researcher Prof Manuel Serrano told the BBC.

The research group used mice genetically modified to switch on, when they were given a specific drug, production of four chemicals shown to reverse a tissue's destiny in the laboratory.

Tissues were successfully transformed back into an embryonic state, but without further direction they rapidly developed into tumours.

Speaking on Science In Action on the BBC World Service, Prof Serrano said: "Of course this is not what we want for regenerative medicine.

"We want to turn back the clock in a controlled manner and this is something we have to work out in the future.

"We have to find conditions where we reprogramme only partially so that they acquire a plastic state and repair the tissue."

'Monumental task'

Prof Robin Ali, from the Institute of Ophthalmology in London, is using stem cell technology to rebuild the retina to restore sight. He said the "ultimate goal" would be some treatment that could regenerate the back of the eye, "but that is a long way off".

He added: "This is a really elegant study with important implications for the field.

"It will be a monumental task to prove this is safe, as what you're doing is innately dangerous, but it is exciting as it's potentially a new strategy for regenerative medicine."

The technique was able to turn the clock back further than any other stem cell technology, including stem cells taken from an embryo.

Previous techniques produce stem cells that make the tissues found in the body. This study could also make those needed to support an embryo in the womb, such as the placenta.

Prof Robin Lovell-Badge, from the MRC's National Institute of Medical Research, told the BBC that he could not see this technique leading directly to therapies, but rather improving scientific understanding.

"To me the interesting thing was the evidence that the cells correspond to an earlier stage of development.

"If we can repeat that with human cells, it would be incredibly useful and could have important research implications, such as understanding the placenta and how to help maintain a pregnancy."

Prof Chris Mason, a stem cell scientist at University College London, said: "Overall it's very cool and potentially very exciting, but it has massive issues in terms of control."

Instead he thought techniques that transformed cells in the body directly into the desired tissue would be better than going via stem cells.

"It's like a tree, instead of going down from a branch to the root and back up to a different branch, maybe we'll be able to jump from branch to branch."

From bbc.com

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