19 Thursday Dec 2013
Posted in Health Hints
SAFER THAN STATINS
If everyone over the age of 50 ate an apple a day, 8,500 deaths from heart attacks and strokes could be avoided every year in the UK alone, say researchers.
Read full article here:> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25413939
19 Thursday Dec 2013
Posted in Health Hints
Most of all, I want people to think about sleep more seriously. We spend around 36 percent of our lives asleep. It’s our single most important behavior, and a lot of really important stuff is going on in the brain while we sleep. If you make getting enough sleep a priority, you’ll perform better at work and in your relationships, and you will be less likely to get sick.
Read Full article: > http://www.thefinancialist.com/you-snooze-you-lose-wrong-russell-foster-on-the-science-of-sleep/
05 Thursday Dec 2013
Posted in Health Hints
Check it out here> http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20130524-zapping-bacteria-the-wireless-way
28 Sunday Apr 2013
Posted in Health Hints
PROSTATE CANCER SURGERY? Lies, lies and more damned lies.
Bert Vorstman, MD,MS,FAAP,FRACS,FACS
http://www.urologyweb.com
“Choosing prostate cancer surgery was the worst decision of my life” patient
There is no creditable scientific evidence for significant curative life extension in men treated for prostate cancer through radical prostate surgery/robotics alone.
In addition, this one surgery is associated with more permanent complications than probably any other operation ever, performed on humans.
It’s an operation that is often treated as an emergency, is without merit and is
probably without equal in providing false hope. Unbelievably, this high-risk
surgical technology for prostate cancer treatment was simply given a pass by
the FDA without being rigorously and scientifically evaluated for risk or reward.
The current lack of progress towards a sincere and definitive resolution to
determining which of the few prostate cancers demand treatment, and which
treatment if necessary, is confounded by a preponderance of short term (5-15
years) clinical studies hopelessly jaundiced by treatment philosophies, egos and money. For many men, their small area of prostate cancer (which was never going to behave like a cancer we normally think of) never required treatment.
For many other men, their prostate cancer treatment with surgery/robotics was a journey to hell and back.
The absence of any real significant scientific validation for prostate cancer surgery/robotics in bringing about curative life extension or reduction in prostate cancer-specific mortality, is an indictment against prostate cancer surgeons worldwide and should stop every man in his tracks.2
Lost in all the years of so-called “data” gathering from a multitude of nonscientifically run clinical studies around the world since the radical surgery was first described by Young in 1905, has been the most basic and fundamental issue of whether prostate cancer surgery/robotics actually extends the life of a man afflicted with prostate cancer in a curative manner. That there is no evidence to support surgery for treatment of prostate cancer has not tamed the proponents of surgery from disseminating opaque prostate cancer information where sensationalism, half truths, downright lies, bias, obvious conflicts of interest, use of the word “data” to imply real results and use of marginal statistical significance to misconstrue real benefit has been spun, distilled and re-spun. Much of this socalled “scientific” prostate cancer surgery information now belongs in the category of junk science.
To date, we have no robust supporting scientific evidence from long term randomized trials using validated pathology and imaging (to diminish significant observer error) to say that radical surgery/robotics for prostate cancer results in curative life extension. In place of answering that most fundamental question of “are we doing any good at curing a man from prostate cancer with surgery?”, we have countless articles on the ignorant preoccupation with PSA testing for prostate cancer, along with endless papers on the latest imaging techniques, each desperately attempting to show how they can identify even smaller, probably meaningless areas of prostate cancer. Along with discussions on other mindless trivia, we see a nauseatingly long list of “how to” articles on surgical technique for prostate cancer removal with each egotistical surgeon trying to outdo the previous “gifted” surgeon. At the very pinnacle of these stupefying discussions however, is the apparently serious debacle questioning the relevance of positive margins (cancer left behind) in a prostate cancer operation! This is an unbelievable example of medical defensive posturing and pseudo scientific rationalization.
Continue reading
25 Monday Mar 2013
Posted in Health Hints, Link Information
Go to the following web link for more information:
http://truththeory.com/2012/05/17/top-food-choices-for-avoiding-and-beating-cancer/
11 Monday Mar 2013
Posted in Health Hints
Gout is a disease that is caused by uric acid build-up in the body. Uric acid is formed when the digestive system breaks down purine’s in our food. A diet low in purine’s helps by allowing excess uric acid to be flushed out in the urine.
Here are some foods that prevent gout.
2.Ginger
Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory that has been found reapeatedly in clinical studies to reduce chronic inflammation. One study in mice found that a compound in ginger may help to reduce the inflammation associated with uric acid buildup.
3.Turmeric
Turmeric has long been recognized as an anti-inflammatory by many cultures and has been proven in several studies. Some experts recommend a daily dose of turmeric to reduce the inflammation associated with gout.
4.Cherry Juice
Cherry juice has been used to alleiviate gout symptoms for decades. Small studies in Italy and the United States have reported sucess with cherry juice as a gout treatment, though scientists are not certain what mechanism is active in producing this result. Cherry juice does not appear to lower uric acid levels directly but research suggests that its antiinflammatory properties may play a role in reducing gout attack occurrence from 3-4 times per year to about once a year.
5.Hot Peppers
Hot peppers are rich in vitamin C which has been shown to reduce uric acid levels.
6.Watercress
Watercress contains moderate levels of vitamins and minerals and is reputed to be very beneficial to the kidneys. It may help to rid the body of excess uric acid.
7.Lemons
Studies have found that the higher a person’s vitamin C intake, the lower the incidence of gout. Try adding lemon to your water every day to alleviate gout symptoms.
25 Friday Jan 2013
Posted in Health Hints
The brains of elderly patients with hearing loss appear to decline more rapidly than those with full hearing, a US study shows.
Suggested explanations include rewiring of the brain as hearing declines or social isolation caused by not being able to communicate.
The researchers hope that treating hearing loss can slow the onset of cognitive decline and dementia.
The study was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.
A team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University followed 1,984 people in their 70s for six years – all had hearing and mental ability tests at the beginning of the study. There were then follow-up brain tests over the next six years.
Test scores declined as the study progressed, but patients with a hearing loss deteriorated 40% more quickly.
Slow dementia?One of the researchers, Dr Frank Lin, said there were two main theories about how the two could be linked.
Another idea is “cognitive load”. As hearing declines the brain dedicates more resources to interpreting the information it is sent, stealing brain power which would be used for other functions.
Cognitive decline can be an early symptom of dementia.
Dr Lin told the BBC: “The major public health question is if we treat hearing loss can we delay cognitive decline or dementia?
“That’s what we all care about, but the answer is we just don’t know.”
He said people with hearing loss used a hearing aid in only 15% of cases in the US “so it is very undertreated”.
Dr Eric Karran, from the charity Alzheimer’s Research UK, said the exact connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline was still unknown.
He said: “Potential social isolation caused by hearing impairment is a more likely explanation for this link than there being a shared disease process, although this needs further investigation, this will be an interesting area to study further.
“Many people find their hearing becomes worse as they get older, and age is also the biggest risk factor for dementia.
“Understanding whether the two are directly linked could give important insight into the condition, but more research will be needed to fully answer this question.”
Dr Jason Warren, from University College London, researches how dementia affects the way people hear the world around them.
He said brain scans had shown that hearing loss in patients was also down to the way a dying brain tried to handle sound.
“People with Alzheimer’s often become ‘lost’ trying to follow a conversation in a noisy room or over the telephone.
“We hope ultimately to design and target effective interventions to help people manage such symptoms in their everyday lives.”
By James GallagherHealth and science reporter, BBC News
13 Sunday Jan 2013
Posted in Health Hints
Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.
“To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I’ve ever written.
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short – enjoy it.
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.
5. Don’t buy stuff you don’t need.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for things that matter.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It’s never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion… Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words…
“In five years, will this matter?”
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive but don’t forget.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need.
42. The best is yet to come…
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.”
Send our web site address to your friends, so they can all read this.
Greybeard
09 Wednesday Jan 2013
Posted in Daily Humour, Health Hints
07 Friday Dec 2012
Posted in Health Hints
Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back.It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow colouring and sold it to people to use in place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever new flavourings…. DO YOU KNOW.. The difference between margarine and butter? Read on to the end…gets very interesting! Both have the same amount of calories. Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams; compared to 5 grams for margarine. Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study. Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods. Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few and only because they are added! Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavours of other foods. Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years . And now, for Margarine.. Very High in Trans fatty acids. Triples risk of coronary heart disease … Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol) Increases the risk of cancers up to five times.. Lowers quality of breast milk Decreases immune response. Decreases insulin response. And here’s the most disturbing fact… HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING! Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC… and shares 27 ingredients with PAINT. These facts alone were enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance). Open a tub of margarine and leave it open in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple of days you will notice a couple of things: * no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something) * it does not rot or smell differently because it has no nutritional value ; nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weeny microorganisms will not a find a home to grow. Why? Because it is nearly plastic . Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast? |
Fiji Pensioners 