offspring

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The painkillers that contain too much salt: Soluble versions of paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen put patients at 22% more risk of strokes

  • Millions of Britons could be at risk of early death due to painkillers
  • Soluble forms found to have 50 per cent more salt than the safe daily limit
  • Researchers behind the study now urging people to avoid the medication
BySophie Borland
|


Painkillers taken by millions of Britons may be causing heart attacks, strokes and early death because they contain so much salt, a major study shows.

Patients who regularly take soluble forms of aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen and other common drugs are 22 per cent more at risk of stroke and seven times more prone to high blood pressure, the researchers found.

They were also found to be 28 per cent more likely to die early.
Recommended doses of some of the painkillers were found to contain 50 per cent more salt than the safe daily limits for adults.

Soluble painkillers taken by million of Britons could be causing early death due to the amount of salt they contain, research shows
Soluble painkillers taken by million of Britons could be causing early death due to the amount of salt they contain, research shows

The researchers behind the study, carried out by University College London and the University of Dundee, are now warning patients to avoid regularly taking soluble painkillers.

And they are urging drugs firms to print labels similar to those on food packaging on the tablets – most of which are sold over the counter – warning patients about high levels of salt.

Millions of adults, particularly the elderly, rely on painkillers for long-term conditions such as arthritis, while supplements such as calcium are commonly taken by pregnant women and those going through the menopause.

Many prefer taking the soluble varieties as they are easier to swallow and are thought to get to work more quickly as they have already been broken down. But the medicines contain very high levels of salt as it helps them dissolve in water and produce a fizzing effect.

During the study, academics monitored patients who had been prescribed soluble forms of paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen as well as supplements such as vitamin D, zinc and calcium for an average of seven years.

They trawled 1.29million patient records obtained from GP surgeries across the UK.

Those taking the soluble pills for any length of time were 16 per cent more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke or die early.

They also found that patients were 22 per cent more likely to suffer a stroke, 28 per cent more likely to die from any cause and seven times more likely to suffer high blood pressure.

On average, patients succumbed to these problems only four years after first being prescribed the drugs.

PARACETOMOL
Certain painkillers were found to contain 50 per cent more salt than the safe daily limit

 
Government guidelines state that adults should eat no more than six grams of salt a day. Patients taking eight soluble paracetamol pills a day – the full daily dose – exceed this amount by 50 per cent.

The average adult eats about eight grams of salt a day, but experts calculate that if we all reduced that by three grams there would be 30,000 fewer heart attacks and strokes a year.

By comparison a packet of ready salted crisps contains half a gram of salt, while a packet of salt and vinegar has one gram. A bowl of cornflakes – the saltiest cereal – contains around 0.4 grams, while two slices of bread have about 0.8 grams.


The worst culprits are ready meals, which can contain seven grams per portion, and some ready-made sandwiches, which contain between three and four grams.
Professor Thomas Macdonald, of the University of Dundee, said: ‘We were surprised at how much salt there was in some tablets.



Researchers behind the study are now urging people not to take the soluble forms on a regular basis
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Researchers behind the study are now urging people not to take soluble painkillers on a regular basis (library image)

‘All the foods we buy we can find out in intricate detail how much sodium (salt) there is but we can’t do that with medicines.’

He added: ‘It’s an avoidable risk and it’s a cardiovascular risk which is the commonest cause of death in Britain. If you take these drugs every day it would be better for your health to take the normal versions, not the soluble ones.’

The researchers only looked at patients prescribed the pills by their GP but they said millions of adults who buy them over the counter were also at risk.

Dr Jacob George, also from the University of Dundee, said: ‘These drugs are also available over the counter, they can be picked up in the supermarket.

‘We have no control over how many millions of people are buying these drugs.
Heart disease, which includes heart attacks and strokes, is by far the biggest killer in Britain. It claims 180,000 lives a year.

Experts pointed out that patients taking the pills occasionally were probably not damaging their health.

Dr Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: ‘We know that too much salt is linked to a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.

‘It’s important to remember that this research applies to people who are taking these medicines every day – this does not mean that occasional use could damage your heart health.

‘To give us an idea of whether these risks translate for medicines bought over the counter, we would need to see further research focusing on non-prescription medication.’

‘This is an important reminder for doctors and patients to carefully consider the risks and benefits of soluble or effervescent (fizzing) medicines at the time of prescription.’

Dr Li Wei, an expert in statistics who specialises in drugs safety at University College London’s School of Pharmacy, was also highly involved in the study.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2514144/The-painkillers-contain-salt-Soluble-versions-paracetamol-aspirin-ibuprofen-patients-22-risk-strokes.html#ixzz2lrghg3sY
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How sushi might not be so good for you after all: Mercury in fish could increase the risk of heart disease

  • The mercury in fish can cause problems with nervous system development
  • It can also counteract the positive effects of omega-3 fatty acids
  • Omega-3 fatty acids reduce cholesterol levels and lower the risk of some cancers, heart disease, blood pressure, stroke and premature birth
  • The highest levels of mercury are in tuna, shark, marlin and swordfish
  • There are lower levels in salmon, crab, eel and kelp
ByEmma Innes
|
Most people believe sushi is a nutritious, low calorie meal, but new research suggests it could actually be bad for you.
A study has revealed that people who regularly eat sushi could be at an increased risk of heart disease.
The researchers, from Rutgers University, near New York, found that eating a lot of sushi can put people in danger of exposure to dangerous levels of mercury.
A study has revealed that people who regularly eat sushi could be at an increased risk of heart disease
A study has revealed that people who regularly eat sushi could be at an increased risk of heart disease

They say the fish contains methylmercury which can cause heart disease, problems with brain and nervous system development and decreased cognitive performance.
The researchers, who published their findings in the Journal of Risk Research, also noted that methylmercury can counteract the positive effects of omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids reduce cholesterol levels and lower the risk of some cancers, heart disease, blood pressure, stroke and premature birth.

The scientists interviewed more than 1,200 people about their consumption of sushi and other fish products.

The fish contains methylmercury which can cause heart disease, problems with brain and nervous system development and decreased cognitive performance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The fish contains methylmercury which can cause heart disease, problems with brain and nervous system development and decreased cognitive performance

They also measured the mercury levels in sushi samples from across the U.S.
They found that 92 per cent of people ate an average of five fish meals per month.
The top 10 per cent of fish eaters exceeded the World Health Organisation’s recommended safe level of methylmercury consumption.

Large tuna, such as the Atlantic Bluefin, were found to contain the highest levels of mercury.

Eel, crab, salmon and kelp all have lower levels of methylmercury.
Methylmercury can pass from a pregnant woman to her unborn child meaning the NHS recommends that mothers-to-be limit their intake of fish that are high in mercury.
The NHS recommends that pregnant woman do not eat any shark, marlin or swordfish.

It also says that they should limit the amount of tuna they have to two steaks, or four medium-sized cans, a week.
The reason for this is that tuna contains high levels of mercury which can damage a baby's developing nervous system.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2513297/How-sushi-good-Mercury-fish-increase-risk-heart-disease.html#ixzz2lrcPLDHF
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Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Did Hitler flee bunker with Eva to Argentina, have two daughters and live to 73? The bizarre theory that's landed two British authors in a bitter war

By Guy Walters
|
Though it was approaching midnight in Berlin, the streets were far from dark. On every street, fires raged out of control as the intense and savage Russian artillery bombardment crept closer to the centre of the Third Reich.


By that late hour on the night of April 27, 1945, there was not one person in Germany who thought that the Nazis could still win.


Deep in his bunker, even the man who had brought such destruction to his country - indeed, to the world - knew that the war was over. As Adolf Hitler gazed at a portrait of his hero, Frederick the Great, King of Prussia and a brilliant military mind, he was certain there would be no eleventh-hour reversal of fortune.
 
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According to Grey Wolf: The Escape Of Adolf Hitler, Eva Braun (right) accompanied the Adolf Hitler when he escaped through a secret tunnel from his bunker in Berlin
According to Grey Wolf: The Escape Of Adolf Hitler, Eva Braun (right) accompanied the Adolf Hitler when he escaped through a secret tunnel from his bunker in Berlin
 

The so-called ‘miracle weapons’ had never arrived, and his once mighty armies existed more in memory than in flesh and steel.


The Führer had three options.


He could allow himself to be captured by the Russians; but the humiliation was unthinkable. He could kill himself, but who could possibly replace him? A Fourth Reich would surely rise, and he would be needed to lead it. That left one option: escape.


Everything had been prepared to the last detail by the shady head of the Gestapo, Heinrich Müller, right down to the clothes worn by the body doubles that would pass for the corpses of Hitler and his intended bride, Eva Braun.


As his office clock struck midnight, Hitler turned to his orderly and nodded. Twenty minutes later, three figures emerged from a secret tunnel connecting the bunker to the surface.

Had any German citizen spotted them, he or she would have been astonished to see the Führer scuttling away like the cowards he so despised. Accompanying him were Eva Braun and her brother-in-law, Hermann Fegelein.


Dodging fires and explosions, the small party made its way to the vast Hohenzollerndamm that ran through the centre of Berlin. 
Once a fashionable boulevard, it was now a makeshift runway, and on it sat a Junkers-52 transport aircraft, its engines being gunned by Captain Peter Baumgart, an experienced Luftwaffe pilot.


Hitler and his companions climbed aboard the aircraft, and before they could even sit down, Baumgart pushed the throttle forward. Within a minute, the plane soared into the air, heading north.

The Führer refused to look out of the window, unwilling to face the hell he had left behind. He was heading to a new life — and a new world. That life, as it would be for so many other Nazis, would be in Argentina.


There are some who regard Hitler's escape story as the absolute truth
There are some who regard Hitler's escape story as the absolute truth
 

Hitler’s route there was tortuous, but necessarily so for the most wanted man in the world. After landing in Denmark, he flew to Spain, where General Franco supplied him with an aircraft to take him to the Canary Islands.


From there, the Führer took a submarine to the Argentine coast, where he disembarked near the small port of Necochea, some 300 miles south of Buenos Aires.


Hitler would never again set foot outside Argentina. And though his dreams of a new Reich would never be fulfilled, he did at least find some form of domestic happiness by marrying Eva Braun, with whom he had two daughters.


Finally, after 17 years in hiding, one of the most evil men in history died on February 13, 1962, aged 73. It was to his bitter disappointment that his old foe, Winston Churchill, had outlived him.


To most of us, such a story sounds like utter fantasy. But there are some who regard it as the absolute truth.

The notion that Hitler escaped from his Berlin bunker has held conspiracy theorists in thrall since the war ended. It has now reared its improbable head once more.


This weekend, it emerged that the story of Hitler’s supposed escape to Argentina has become the subject of a bitter plagiarism row.

In their book, Grey Wolf: The Escape Of Adolf Hitler, British authors Gerrard Williams and Simon Dunstan argued that the Führer escaped exactly in the manner described above, and did indeed see out his days in South America.


However, an Argentine journalist, Abel Basti, who comes from the Patagonian town of Bariloche, where so many Nazis ‘retired’, claims that Williams and Dunstan appropriated his research, and he is seeking compensation.

Williams and Dunstan strenuously deny Basti’s accusation.
‘Basti did in no way invent the idea of Hitler being alive in Argentina,’ says Williams. ‘Books on the subject existed as far back as 1953 and 1987. I have never plagiarised anyone’s work.’


To outsiders, the row looks like three bald men fighting over a comb. The idea that Hitler could have escaped - and kept that escape hidden - seems farcical.


And yet many continue to believe it. Tens of thousands of Nazis escaped after the war, including the notorious Adolf Eichmann and Josef Mengele. Is it not possible that Hitler escaped with them?

As Gerrard Williams says, there have been many versions of the Hitler escape story, and they have been spun ever since May 1945.


In the years immediately after the war, there was no hard proof that Hitler had, in fact, died. One of the problems that investigators encountered was the lack of any physical evidence for his death.


The existence of skull fragments, found by the Russians near the Fuhrer’s bunker and believed to be his, was not known to the West until 1968. Then, in 2009, DNA testing of the bones revealed that in fact they belonged to a woman.

Distributed by Galloping Films
There have been many versions of the Hitler escape story from his bunker (pictured) in May 1945
There have been many versions of the Hitler escape story from his bunker (pictured) in May 1945


This has given the fantasists added ammunition to claim that Hitler didn’t die in the bunker.


In the immediate aftermath of the war, British and U.S. intelligence services received countless reports suggesting the former Nazi leader had been spotted alive and at large.

In September 1945, it was claimed that Hitler and his private secretary, Martin Bormann, had boarded a luxury yacht in Hamburg and had sailed to a secret island off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein.


The next month, staff at the British Legation in Copenhagen informed the Foreign Office that a Danish woman had told them that a friend had dreamed that Hitler was disguised as a monk and living in Spain.


In December, the Americans were ‘reliably informed’ that Hitler had boarded a submarine off the island of Majorca, where he had been living in a hotel with a group of nuclear scientists. Then there were claims that he was living as a hermit in a cave in Italy, or working as a shepherd in the Swiss Alps.


There were those who stated that he’d hidden himself in Antarctica, or even further away still — the Moon! All these reports, no matter how ridiculous, had to be taken seriously and investigated. One after the other, they were found to be groundless.



Some were undoubtedly the products of a Soviet disinformation campaign. For a long time, the Russians believed that the Allies were sheltering Hitler, and they put about these fake stories in an attempt to flush out what they thought to be the truth.


In July 1945, the Russian commander Marshall Georgi Zhukov claimed that since Hitler’s body had still not been found, he ‘could have flown away at the very last moment’. Even General Eisenhower, the former Allied supreme commander, appeared to be taken in.

Today, the vast majority accept that Hitler shot himself in the bunker (pictured) in Berlin on April 30, 1945
Today, the vast majority accept that Hitler shot himself in the bunker (pictured) in Berlin on April 30, 1945

In 1952, he said: ‘We have been unable to unearth one bit of tangible evidence of Hitler’s death. Many people believe that he escaped from Berlin.’


Today, the vast majority accept that Hitler shot himself in the bunker in Berlin on April 30, 1945.

After the war, the historian and MI6 officer Hugh Trevor-Roper was commissioned to investigate Hitler’s death. He spoke to many of those who were present in the bunker during those last fateful days.


They all said the same thing: Hitler had killed himself, and his body and that of Eva Braun were cremated with petrol.


If Hitler had hotfooted it to the Southern Hemisphere, then all these people would have had to have been lying - and to have kept it secret until their dying days.


It is simply impossible to believe that so many people could keep such a grand scale deception so quiet.


But there are still some who cling to their conspiracy theories.


Williams and Dunstan maintain that the ‘Hitler’ and ‘Braun’ who shot themselves in Berlin in 1945 were, in fact, lookalikes.

But would those who had known Hitler intimately for years and who were in the bunker that night really have been fooled by two doubles?

In truth, the supposed escape of Hitler should be seen as nothing more than a parlour game.


There’s not a serious historian who would give the story any more credence than they would to Elvis Presley being alive and well and still hip-swinging in Tennessee.


Guy Walters is author of Hunting Evil: The Nazi War Criminals Who Escaped And The Quest To Bring Them To Justice.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2478100/Theory-Adolf-Hitler-fled-Argentina-lived-age-73.html#ixzz2j2L3NmDs
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Monday, October 28, 2013

Cheap Spectacles could STRAIN the eyes & make you dizzy...

Hidden health risk in reading glasses: Cheap spectacles can strain the eyes and make you feel dizzy

  • Glasses from high street chains have faults which can damage the eyes
  • Extreme side effects include double vision, a new study warns
  • Consumer group Which? tested 18 models from high street stores
  • Expensive £27.50 pair from Boots were no better than a £4 pair
By Sean Poulter
|
Picking up a pair of reading glasses on the high street probably seems like a far-sighted budget solution.

But while they’re relatively cheap, ready-made glasses may come with a hidden health risk.

They can potentially cause eye strain, dizziness and even double vision, according to an expert study.
Risky: The Which? study found that ready-made glasses can cause eye strain, dizziness and even double vision
Risky: The Which? study found that ready-made glasses can cause eye strain, dizziness and even double vision

Consumer champions at Which? asked an optometrist to assess 18 pairs of ready-made reading glasses bought from high street chains.


The magnification was correct across all the samples. But he noted other faults in eight pairs of glasses, including some from Boots and Superdrug.

And the faults were not confined to the cheapest. The most expensive pair cost £27.50 from Boots – but they were no better than a £4 pair from a chain called Tiger.
 


The worst example was sold under the Clarifeye brand at Poundstretcher for £2.99.

Which? said: ‘These had three main faults. The lenses were not centred correctly, they were distorted and loose in the frame.’

A Foster Grant pair which cost £18.50 at Superdrug were also incorrectly centred, as were a £27.50 pair described as Style H by Boots.
 
Expert: Which? had an optometrist assess 18 pairs of glasses bought from high street chains
 
Expert: Which? had an optometrist assess 18 pairs of glasses bought from high street chains


A spokesman for Which? said: ‘Buying ready-made reading glasses may be easy on your wallet, but our snapshot investigation shows that some could put your eyes under too much strain.


‘The faults we found could cause symptoms in the wearer, from headaches to eye strain, slight dizziness and even double vision.’


The consumer group said the research findings make it difficult to recommend a particular brand or retailer.


Rather, it said buyers should look out for glasses protected by packaging which show no evidence of dents or scratches.


It said: ‘Make sure the frame is marked with industry standard markings such as CE. Ensure the frame fits comfortably and try them out. You should be able to read easily for two minutes.


‘If you buy them from an optician, ask for the lenses’ power and centre positions to be checked.’


Which? also advised buying pairs which have a spring hinge and to go for plastic frames rather than cheap and thin metal, which can break.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2474434/Hidden-health-risk-reading-glasses-Cheap-spectacles-strain-eyes-make-feel-dizzy.html#ixzz2j26ZtP1S
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Sunday, October 27, 2013

How eating too many sweets could make you FORGETFUL: Having high blood sugar levels can cause memory problems

  • Maintaining low blood sugar levels is good for the brain
  • Study showed people with too much sugar in their blood were less able to recall a list of 15 words 30 minutes after they had heard them
  • Suggests lowering blood sugar levels could be a way of preventing cognitive decline with age
By Emma Innes
|
Eating too many sweets and other sugary foods could make you forgetful, according to a new study

Eating too many sweets and other sugary foods could make you forgetful, according to a new study
 
 
Bad news if you've got a sweet tooth - eating too many sweets could make you forgetful.

Researchers have found that maintaining low sugar levels in the blood is good for the brain.

The study, published in the journal Neurology, showed people with too much sugar in their blood were more likely to have memory problems.

Researchers looked at 141 people with an average age of 63 who did not have diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Those with less sugar in their blood were more likely to score well on memory tests.
The researchers found that people with high levels of sugar in their blood were less able to recall a list of 15 words 30 minutes after hearing them.

An increase of about seven mmol/mol of a long-term marker of glucose control called HbA1c went along with remembering two fewer words.

Dr Agnes Floel, of Charite University Hospital in Berlin, said: ‘These results suggest even for people within the normal range of blood sugar lowering their blood sugar levels could be a promising strategy for preventing memory problems and cognitive decline as they age.


‘Strategies such as lowering calorie intake and increasing physical activity should be tested.’

Volunteers who were overweight, who drank more than three-and-a-half servings of alcohol per day and who had memory and thinking problems were ruled out before the study started.


The participants’ memory skills were then tested along with their blood glucose levels.

Participants also had brain scans to measure the size of their hippocampus.


People with too much sugar in their blood are more likely to have memory problems because maintaining low blood sugar levels is good for the brain

People with too much sugar in their blood are more likely to have memory problems because maintaining low blood sugar levels is good for the brain
 

Dr Clare Walton, research communications manager for the Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘We already know that type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease, but this new study suggests that higher blood sugar levels may also be linked to poor memory in people without diabetes.


‘The research suggests that regulating blood sugar levels might be a way to improve people’s memory, even if they don’t have diabetes.

‘However, before people without diabetes consider changing their diets or taking medication, more research is needed to test this theory. One in three people over 65 will develop dementia so investing in research like this is vital.’


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2473591/How-eating-sweets-make-FORGETFUL.html#ixzz2iwJ1PcVg
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Saturday, October 26, 2013

CHICKEN NUGGET under the MICROSCOPE

See what a chicken nugget looks like under the microscope: Still enjoying that 'super glue' of cartilage, blood vessels and fat?

  • Researchers in Mississippi examined chicken nuggets at two different fast-food chains and found that only about half of the nuggets were made of muscle meat
  • The rest of the nuggets were made of other chicken parts like fat, blood vessels, nerves, bones and cartilage
  • A representative for the National Chicken Council said it's no mystery what's in chicken nuggets since nutritional information is often available online or on the packaging
By Daily Mail Reporter
|


To the naked eye, a chicken nugget may seem like a relatively healthy and wholesome treat, but under the glare of a microscope the offal truth is revealed. 
 
Dr Richard D. deShazo, a professor of medicine and pediatrics at University of Mississippi Medical Center, said that he was 'floored' and 'astounded' when he took a closer look at the make-up of the ubiquitous all-American meal.

When Dr deShazo and pathologist Steven Bigler sliced into a pair of randomly selected nuggets - bought from two different fast-foot chains - they discovered a jumble of blood vessels, fat, cartilage, but not a whole lot of actual chicken meat.

Nugget from the first restaurant. (A) Trichome stain, 40X; (B) hematoxylin and eosin, 400X; (C) hematoxylin and eosin, 100X.Nugget from the first restaurant. (A) Trichome stain, 40X; (B) hematoxylin and eosin, 400X; (C) hematoxylin and eosin, 100X.
The offal truth: When researchers placed a pair of chicken nuggets from two fast-food chains under the microscope, they discovered a concoction of blood vessels, fat, intestinal tissue, but little actual meat

What's in a nugget? Researchers in Mississippi examined two fast-food chains' chicken nuggets and found that half or less than half of the nuggets were made of meat. The rest was made of high-fat chicken parts
 
What's in a nugget? Researchers in Mississippi examined two fast-food chains' chicken nuggets and found that half or less than half of the nuggets were made of meat. The rest was made of high-fat chicken parts
 
 
A study of the chicken from the first restaurant revealed that it was 50 per cent muscle. The other half of the nugget was made up of fat, blood vessels, nerve and epithelium tissue from birds’ cavities.

The nutritional breakdown was 56 per cent fat, 25 per cent carbs and 19 per cent protein, according to The Atlantic.
The nugget from the second restaurant was 40 per cent skeletal muscle, a mix of fat and connective and organ tissue, as well as bone debris.

Dr DeShazo compared nuggets served in some national franchises to ‘super glue’, comprised of bits of poultry leftovers mashed up with fatty ‘goo’ and fried in salty batter. 
 
The scientist insisted that calling the product 'chicken nuggets' is misleading, because they are mostly fat tissue rather than actual poultry meat.

'What has happened is that some companies have chosen to use an artificial mixture of chicken parts rather than low-fat chicken white meat, batter it up and fry it and still call it chicken,' Dr deShazo said.
'It is really a chicken by-product high in calories, salt, sugar and fat that is a very unhealthy choice. Even worse, it tastes great and kids love it and it is marketed to them.'

The National Chicken Council, a non-profit group that represents America's poultry producers, has dismissed Dr deShazo's finding, arguing that nuggets are 'an excellent source of protein' - especially for children who tend to be finicky eaters.

But according to Dr deShazo and healthy-eating advocate and renowned chef Jamie Oliver, that is part of the problem.

According to Oliver, America’s kids have been 'brainwashed' to such a degree that even if they know that nuggets are mostly made of goo and bone bits, they would still happily eat them.


The problem is especially acute in Dr deShazo's home state of Mississippi, which has the highest rate of childhood obesity in the country.

Don't make it a habit: Dr deShazo, the lead researcher of the study, said it's OK to eat chicken nuggets every once in a while but he's concerned for the people who eat them multiple times a week
 
Don't make it a habit: Dr deShazo, the lead researcher of the study, said it's OK to eat chicken nuggets every once in a while but he's concerned for the people who eat them multiple times a week

By 2030, Mississippi is projected to have the highest obesity rate at 66.7 per cent.
Ashley Peterson, a representative of the NCC, pointed out that nutritional information for most fast food chains is available online, and that anything for sale at the grocery store has a list of ingredients.

'Chicken nuggets tend to have an elevated fat content because they are breaded and fried. But it's no secret what is in a chicken nugget,' she said.
To counter claims similar to the ones laid out in D deSahzo's study, KFC and Chick-fil-A have been running ads touting their chicken nuggets as made entirely of breast meat.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2470623/A-look-chicken-nuggets-microscope-reveals-tissue-bone.html#ixzz2islPMIQn
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Monday, September 9, 2013

'My 7-year-old boy saved my life': Mother's pride after son stops her from falling into a diabetic coma by calling neighbour for help

  • Kieran Carroll called a neighbour when Rebecca Carroll collapsed
  • He also looked after his two-year-old brother, Layton
  • Ms Carroll has had Type 1 diabetes for 15 years and collapsed when her blood sugar level suddenly plummeted
By Emma Innes
|
A schoolboy has been hailed a hero after he saved his diabetic mother’s life.

Kieran Carroll, seven, made sure his two-year-old brother, Layton, did not panic before calling for help when his mother, Rebecca Carroll, collapsed.

Ms Carroll, who has Type 1 diabetes, was at home in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, with her sons when her blood sugar level plummeted causing her to collapse.



Kieran Carroll (left), seven, called for help and looked after his brother, Layton (right), two, when his mother, Rebecca Carroll (centre), collapsed at home. Ms Carroll has been a Type 1 diabetic for 15 years
Kieran Carroll (left), seven, called for help and looked after his brother, Layton (right), two, when his mother, Rebecca Carroll (centre), collapsed at home. Ms Carroll has been a Type 1 diabetic for 15 years

Ms Carroll, 30, said: ‘I’d just come out of hospital after suffering from a viral infection and so my blood sugar was a bit all over the place.

‘I was on my own with the boys at home, and when I could feel my blood sugar dipping, I had a chocolate bar and a drink to try and stabilise it.

‘But the next thing I knew I was waking up and everyone was standing around me. Two of my neighbours were there and half of my family were all staring at me.’

Ms Carroll and her partner Mark Wood, 34, have taught Kieran what to do if he cannot wake his mother up.

‘We have always told him that if ever he can’t wake me, he needs to call for help,’ Ms Carroll said.

‘He knows how to use my iPhone and he can find the numbers for various family members.


‘I have been diabetic for 15 years and from Kieran being an early age he has seen me injecting myself on a daily basis, so I thought it was important to tell him what I am doing.

‘I also didn’t want him thinking it was something he should try.’

When Ms Carroll collapsed, Kieran took care of Layton, and led him safely across a busy road to knock on a neighbour’s door, before calling his aunt, Lindsay Smith.

An ambulance was called and paramedics rushed to the scene to give Ms Carroll a potentially life-saving glucose injection to bring her back to consciousness.

If Kieran had not found help, Ms Carroll could have slipped into a diabetic coma or even died.
 
 
 
Ms Carroll says that she has taught Kieran (right) what to do in an emergency so he knew that when he could not wake her he should go and find their neighbour, Sandra Best (left)

Ms Carroll says that she has taught Kieran (right) what to do in an emergency so he knew that when he could not wake her he should go and find their neighbour, Sandra Best (left)

The proud mother praised quick-thinking Kieran for coming to the rescue.
Ms Carroll said: ‘Our front garden goes straight out onto the road so I worry about him crossing that on his own.


 

‘But when he knocked on the neighbour’s door, he and Layton were standing there holding hands. He was really looking after him.

‘I’m really proud and I can’t get over how grown-up he was. He’s my hero.
‘If it wasn’t for him, I might not still be here today.’

The schoolboy is now set for a special treat, to thank him for his brave efforts.

Ms Carroll said: ‘We told him that we will give him a treat for all that he has done.

‘He will get a meal at his favourite restaurant and we are going to take him on a day trip wherever he wants to go.

‘We will be telling Layton what he needs to do in the future as well so they both know exactly what they have to do in an emergency.’

Ms Smith, 33, said: ‘He is an absolute superstar. We always told him to get help if something happened and it just shows that he listened.’

Ben Holdaway, director for Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: ‘A big well done to Kieran for his actions and for staying calm when he faced what must have been a very difficult situation.

‘He did the right thing to get help for his mum and she must be very proud of him.’




WHY DO DIABETIC PEOPLE COLLAPSE IF THEIR BLOOD SUGAR PLUMMETS?

 
 
 
Type 1 diabetes develops when the insulin producing cells in the body have been destroyed and the body is unable to produce any insulin.

This means that it is unable to regulate the body's blood sugar levels.

When the blood sugar levels fall too low this is known as a 'hypo' - it occurs when the blood sugar level drops below four millimoles per litre.

Warning signs that blood sugar levels are falling include feeling hungry, trembling, sweating and difficulty concentrating.

The best way of preventing a hypo is to eat or drink something sugary.

If it is not treated, it can lead to unconsciousness, coma, and eventually death.

The safest way for a diabetic to avoid a hypo is to regularly check their blood sugar and to eat regularly.

Source: NHS Choices


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2415847/My-7-year-old-boy-saved-life-Mothers-pride-son-stops-falling-diabetic-coma-calling-neighbour-help.html#ixzz2eP3rFEpj
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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

The Story of a PENCIL...





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Injection of jelly that can ease back pain - and fix a slipped disc

  • Gel substance containing protein and supplanting cells injected in discs
  • Protein laminin acts as a glue while cells repair the slipped disc
By Roger Dobson
|


A type of jelly injected into the spine could help ease back pain caused by a slipped disc. The gel-like substance contains cells that repair the damaged disc.

Slipped discs are usually the result of wear and tear, although they can also be caused by injury, for instance by lifting something awkwardly.

The disc — these circles of jelly-like material act as cushions between the bones of the spine — then bulges or splits, pressing on the delicate nerves in the back and triggering severe pain.
 



Are you jelly? The gel-like substance is injected into the back and strengthens the area with protein and cells which replace those in the core of the slipped disc
  
 Are you jelly? The gel-like substance is injected into the back and strengthens the area with protein and cells which replace those in the core of the slipped disc

Recently, scientists have suggested that the problem may occur because the cells in the centre of the disc — which are crucial for its strength and flexibility — become weakened.

A healthy disc has a strong core, called a nucleus pulposus, which holds water and allows it to absorb stresses and strains.



                                                   image : bretcontreras.com

Causing pain: A slipped disc can occur through wear and tear as a result of a physically demanding occupation or injury when the back is overstrained
The cells in this central part are held in place by laminin, a type of ‘sticky’ protein that acts as biological glue.

Studies suggest that laminin decreases as we get older, which means the cells in the core start to spread to other areas of the disc. The spongy core becomes weaker and more brittle, and the disc is more likely to ‘slip’.

 
Previous laboratory research on animals and humans has shown that re-implanting cells into the core of the disc can help repair damage.
But until now the problem has been that once the cells are injected, they quickly move away from the injection site because there is nothing to hold them in place.

Now, scientists at Duke University in the U.S. have developed a gel that contains the laminin ‘glue’ as well as cells to replace those in the core of the disc.

Results from animal studies show that after one injection, the gel solution began to solidify after five minutes and was completely set at 20 minutes.
More than 14 days after injection, the cells were still in place and the disc had become strengthened.

The treatment, which would be injected into a disc by a surgeon under general anaesthetic, is due to enter human trials within the next couple of years.

Commenting on the trial, Jane Tadman, of Arthritis Research UK, said: ‘This new injectable gel is certainly a less invasive procedure than common surgical treatments, which include removing the bulging portion of disc or fusing the spinal bones together.’

She added: ‘It remains to be seen whether it is an improvement on current treatments — we will only know this once it has been tested in people.

‘Our scientists are also involved in laboratory work to see if adult stem cells may be a source of cells for regenerating the intervertebral disc in the future.’

Meanwhile, scientists in the U.S. say that injecting bone marrow into the discs of the back may ease pain. In a study of 22 patients with a slipped disc, doctors took some of their bone marrow — the jelly-like substance at the centre of bones — and then injected it back into the discs in their spine.

Most patients showed improvement two years later.

The bone marrow is a rich source of stem cells — these have the ability to turn into a number of different cells in the body, and the team believe they may help repair cells in the damaged discs.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2402671/Injection-jelly-ease-pain--fix-slipped-disk.html#ixzz2dKDTIO4y
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Thursday, August 15, 2013

Drinking watermelon juice could relieve muscle soreness

Need a boost in the gym? Drinking watermelon juice could relieve muscle soreness

  • The amino acid L-citrulline in watermelon can cut an athlete’s recovery time and boost their performance
  • The chemical speeds up the process of lactic acid removal from the muscles which reduces soreness
By Emma Innes
|
Drinking watermelon juice can relieve muscle soreness after exercise
Drinking watermelon juice can relieve muscle soreness after exercise
 
Drinking watermelon juice can relieve muscle soreness after exercise, new research suggests.

It is believed that the amino acid L-citrulline, which is found in watermelon, can cut an athlete’s recovery time and boost their performance.

Watermelon juice has long been popular with sportspeople but scientists have now given them an excuse to continue indulging in the summer favourite.

In a report published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the researchers explained that there had already been research to show that watermelon juice had antioxidant properties and the potential to increase muscle protein and enhance athletic performance.

However, this was the first time that scientists had explored the effectiveness of watermelon juice that is enriched with L-citrulline.

The team, led by Encarna Aguayo at the Technical University of Cartagena, in Spain, tested natural watermelon juice, watermelon juice enriched in L-citrulline, and a control drink containing no L-citrulline.

The drinks were given to volunteers an hour before exercise.
Both the natural juice and the enriched juice relieved muscle soreness in the volunteers.
 

L-citrulline in the natural juice (unpasteurised), however, seemed to be more bioavailable — in other words, it was in a form the body could better use.

It is believed the juice has this effect because the naturally occurring chemicals in it speed up the process of lactic acid removal.

This is important because lactic acid build-up can cause a burning sensation in the muscles and make them sore.


It is believed that the amino acid L-citrulline, which is found in watermelon, can cut an athlete's recovery time and that it can boost their performance
 
Previous research has suggested that watermelon can also help prevent heart disease by halting the build-up of harmful cholesterol.


The study, by Purdue University in the U.S., found the fruit halved the rate at which 'bad' low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, accumulated in mice.

LDL is a form of cholesterol that leads to clogged arteries and heart disease.
The researchers also found eating watermelon regularly helped to control weight gain and resulted in fewer fatty deposits inside blood vessels.


They also believe the secret to watermelon’s health-boosting properties lies in the citrulline contained within the juice.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2394321/Drinking-watermelon-juice-relieve-muscle-soreness.html#ixzz2c3cquWNe
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