Four Things You Should Know About ENERGY DRINKS

Teens and young adults spend an estimated $2.3 billion annually on energy drinks laced with caffeine and herbal stimulants. But these aggressively marketed and pricey beverages (called “drugs in a can” and “a pharmacological Molotov cocktail” by Oklahoma State University researchers in one recent report) do more than clean out their wallets.

Over 5,000 reported caffeine overdoses in recent years—46 percent in kids age 18 and younger—have been attributed to them, say University of Miami researchers in a 2011 study in the journal Pediatrics. With caffeine levels up to three to five times higher than a 12-ounce cola, these drinks may also contain rev-you-up herbal stimulants like guarana and yerba mate.

Liver damage, kidney failure, respiratory disorders, agitation, seizures, psychotic problems, muscle break-down, off-rhythm heartbeats, high blood pressure, heart failure, heart attack and even death have been reported in energy drink users in Europe, the U. of Miami researchers warned. And kids taking medications for attention deficit disorders or who have diabetes or heart problems may be at extra risk.

Denmark, Sweden, Australia and Germany have partial or complete bans on their sale to kids. Last fall, Canada began requiring new warnings and stricter caffeine limits. What’s happening in the U.S.? Here’s what parents should know:

The U.S. has no standard definition of an ‘energy drink.’ The Food and Drug Administration only sets caffeine levels on cola drinks, allowing energy-drink makers to pack their beverages with more. (The American Beverage Association has voluntary guidelines for caffeine limits and warning labels, but not all drink makers comply.) Many contain even higher levels than may be listed on the label, because herbs like yerba mate also pack considerable amounts of caffeine.

They’re marketed aggressively to preteens and teens. Flavors like strawberry lemonade and apple cherry and slogans like “party like a rock star!” and ‘ultimate energy rush’ are just the beginning. Energy-drink websites lure kids with come-ons about bands, athletes and celebrities. Coupons and free samples get them started.

Energy drinks don’t help performance. They made timing, coordination, alertness and concentration worse in one Oklahoma State University study of student pilots. In fact, after triggering a burst of stress hormones and feel-good brain chemicals, your energy levels plummet.

One can isn’t one serving. Many contain 2 or even 4 servings per can—but who (especially a thirsty teen) stops at a quarter-can? Drinking the whole thing means they’ve just downed two to four times more caffeine than they’d get from a single serving.

What can you do? Talk with your kid about the downsides of these drinks. And help them save money (energy drinks can cost $2 to $4 a can) by offering bottled water, herbal iced tea (make it at home with fruity herbal tea bags, water, and a little sugar) or seltzer with juice or a squeeze of lemon.

Let us know what you’re doing—and how you feel about energy drinks marketed to kids by leaving your comments here.

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Posted in: energy drink gist,health tips,things you should know about anergy

How to prevent Lassa fever outbreak -Lagos govt

Following recent cases of Lassa fever outbreak in some parts of the country, Lagos State Government, yesterday, enjoined Lagosians to ensure proper and adequate personal and environmental hygiene at all times.

The state government, has, meanwhile, designated telephone numbers to be called in the case of suspected Lassa fever case in any part of the state. Members of the public were also expected to contact the Directorate of Disease Control in the state Ministry of Health on noticing a suspected case of the epidemic.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, who gave the advice as part of the precautionary measures to prevent the outbreak of the disease in the state, urged Lagosians to avoid contact with rats.

He said: “Lassa fever is an acute viral infection caused by the Lassa virus that is associated with persistent high fever.”

Idris stressed the need for people to cover their food and water properly, cook all their food thoroughly, as well as block all rat hideouts and holes through which rats can enter their homes.

He emphasized the importance of storing grains and other dried food items in containers with covers, properly dispose of refuse, maintain adequate sanitation, as well as keeping pets like cats in the house.

He said: “Lassa fever is an acute viral infection caused by the Lassa virus and associated with persistent high fever. It is spread by exposure to and eating of foods contaminated with rat dropping or urine. It is also spread by direct contact with the blood, urine, faces or other bodily secretions of person with Lassa fever.”

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Posted in: Controlling lassa outbreak,prevention of Lassa Fever

‘Everything you know about dieting is wrong

Vancouver -Everything you know about dieting is wrong, say US scientists who have devised a new formula for calculating calories and weight loss that they hope will revolutionise the way people tackle obesity.

Obesity rates have doubled worldwide in the past 30 years, coinciding with a growing food surplus, and the ensuing epidemic has sparked a multibillion dollar weight loss industry that has largely failed to curb the problem.

Current standards in the United States, where two thirds of people are overweight or obese, advise people that cutting calories by a certain amount will result in a slow and steady weight loss over time.

But that advice fails to account for how the body changes as it slims down, burning less energy and acquiring a slower metabolism, researchers told the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Vancouver.

The result is a plateau effect that ends up discouraging dieters and sending them back into harmful patterns of overeating.

As an example, researcher Kevin Hall offered up his large vanilla latte, purchased at a popular coffee shop. When he asked, the barista told him it contained about 240 calories.

“The notion was if I drank one of these every day and then I replaced it with just black coffee no sugar, then over the course of a year I should lose about 25 pounds, and that should just keep going,” Hall told reporters.

“People have used this sort of rule of thumb to predict how much people should lose for decades now, and it turns out to be completely wrong.”

Hall, a scientist with the US National Institutes of Health, said his work aims to “come up with better rules and better predictions of what is going to happen when an individual changes their diet.”

He and colleagues said their scientific model is aimed to help doctors and policymakers, while a “back-of-the-envelope calculation” for consumers means cutting small amounts of daily calories, but expecting to cut more over time.

“If I want to lose 10 pounds of weight eventually, I have to cut 100 calories per day out of my diet,” Hall explained.

“You'll get halfway there in about a year, and then you will eventually plateau, (reaching the goal) after about three years,” he added.

“For folks abroad that works out to about 100 kilojoules per day per kilogram. The contrast is the old rule of thumb predicts twice as much weight loss after a year, and it gets worse after that.”

The new model gives dieters one calorie goal for short term weight loss and another for permanent weight loss. Exercise is also calculated in to help set realistic goals.

Study co-author Carson Chow, also with NIH, said the daily calorie cut needed for weight loss was actually smaller than researchers anticipated.

“It is essentially one cookie different a day, so a 150 calorie cookie leads to a seven kilogram (15 pound) difference in weight. That is huge in my opinion,” Chow said.

“I think the surprise it is such a little change can affect such a great difference in weight, and yet we still can't seem do it.”

Their model was first published in The Lancet in August 2011, and a link is available at http://bwsimulator.niddk.nih.gov.

“People can plug in some information about their initial age, their height, their weight, some estimate of their physical activity level,” Hall said.

Add in a goal weight and the “model will simulate what changes of diet or exercise that person would have to do to achieve that goal weight, and then even more importantly what they need to do permanently maintain that weight loss.”

Since The Lancet article appeared, the notion has not exactly taken the world by storm, in part because it's not primed for public use, but is mainly aimed at doctors and researchers with adult American patients for now.

Also, if a dieter enters an extreme weight goal, the number of calories the model returns may be much too low to be realistic or healthy, so it needs an expert's interpretation.

“It's not particularly user friendly... but it is still relatively informative,” said Hall, who maintains hope that some day his message will be heard.

“There is a lot of inertia behind these old rules of thumb,” he said, adding that he was heartened by an editorial in December in the journal of the American Dietetic Association that commented on the idea of a weight loss plateau and mentioned the new simulator.

“It's going to take some time to get the public and the professional community aware that there is a new way of doing things, and we actually have some tools that weren't available before.” - Sapa-AFP

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Posted in: best dieting tips,obesity information,overweight problems

Boy is world's first to survive being born with heart outside his body(PHOTOS)

When Ryan Marquiss was born with his heart outside of his body, doctors didn’t expect him to survive.

It is an incredibly rare condition and usually babies are stillborn or die within three days.

His heart also hadn’t developed and so he only had half a heart - a combination of defects which is so rare that Ryan is the only one of his kind in the world.

Doctors advised his devastated parents to terminate the pregnancy when his mother was just 12 weeks pregnant, but they bravely refused.

And it is a gamble that has paid off, as Ryan is just about to celebrate his third birthday.

Mrs Marquiss, 34, said: ‘We wanted to let nature take its course, so we refused to have the termination.

‘We knew it would be a miracle if he survived the birth but we were unwilling to take matters into our own hands.

‘The doctors told us that no baby with Ryan’s combination of defects had ever survived, so the fact that he is here with us today, is just amazing. He really has astounded everyone.’

Doctors discovered the problem at 12 weeks into his mother’s pregnancy.

The incredibly rare defect, ectopia cordis, affects only eight in every million births and ninety percent of these are stillborn or die within three days.

And adding to that Ryan was also suffering from hypoplastic right heart syndrome, where only the left side of the heart has developed properly.

Mrs Marquiss, who lives with husband Henry, 34, and their other children Natalie, seven, and Ainsley, five, in Pennsylvania, USA, said: ‘All the odds were stacked against him. We knew that it was a miracle that he had been born alive with his heart outside his body, but then to have another life-threatening condition of only having half a heart meant that everything was against him surviving.

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Posted in: Boy is world's first to survive being born with heart outside his body,childrens health,health tips

How to battle wrinkles and win

What won't we give to have velvet smooth faces? Plastic surgery? Botox? Chemical peels? Face lifts? The list is endless. But before you go on this road, these natural easy at-home tricks will help you to fight ageing.

Try washing your face with oil

If you have dry weary skin, then washing your face with natural oils is a good idea for you. If you're wondering how this will help solve your problem, the Dr Leslie Baumann, a Miami Beach dermatologist may have the answer. “Many natural oils contain linoleic acid, which helps skin retain water,” she said. So, my dear, start your fight against wrinkles with 10 ml of olive oil. Mix in 2 drops of one of these oils: carrot seed to boost elasticity, frankincense to restore skin tone, or lavender to calm redness.

Massage it in for thirty seconds and then rinse with warm water, natural skin-care expert Sharon Gnatt Epel, advised.

Massage the years off

Try acupressure whether at a spa or by yourself. Acupressure smoothens the facial skin, according to Maya Kron, acupuncturist at James Corbett Studio, a New York City spa. These moves will release tension and boost elasticity. If you want to do it yourself, use the index and middle fingers of one hand to massage between your brows for 20 rotations. Apply light pressure to temples for 10 seconds, then to your jawbone joint (located in front of your ears) for 10 seconds. Repeat. Lightly press the muscle that protrudes when you clench your teeth for five to 10 seconds.

Cleanse inside out with juice

Give yourself a routinely three-day cleanse.

During your cleansing days, guzzle a whopping 18 pounds of organic fruits and veggies each day, says Eric Helms.

“This floods skin with vitamins A and C and other nutrients that boost cell turnover.” Next time you go shopping, ask for a blend of spinach, celery, parsley, lemon, pears, and cucumber and mix all these together for a drink.

By day seven (that is if you keep at it), your skin should feel softer and look more luminous.

Snack on Super foods (super foods)

“Skin is a matrix of proteins, water, and fats that needs a non-processed food supply for replenishment,” a dermatologist Dr David Colbert, author of The High School Reunion Diet has said.

Here are three line-softening nibbles to grab now: Almonds pack skin-plumping fats and vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that helps offset UV damage.

Dark chocolate with a cacao content of 72 per cent or higher is rich in damage-fighting antioxidants as well.

Blueberries give you a magic combo of antioxidants and collagen-protecting vitamin C.

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Posted in: health tips,How to battle wrinkles and win,wrinkle gist

Anti-ageing make-up tricks

Thanks to Yahoo! we have eight make- up tricks that will do you a whole lots of good. With all due respect to

wrinkle cream you so much love to buy, especially when you've hit that age - 30+, the right foundation or

lipcolour can make you look younger — instantly.

Try a pink lipstick

"Everyone looks younger with cherubic rosy lips," says make-up artist, Christian McCulloch, who works with Demi

Moore and Naomi Watts. If you're fair, slick on a mauve-y rose shade such as Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Sugar Plum, for deeper skin tones, go with a bolder colour like Berry Smoothie.

Apply a natural glow

If your skin seems dull, try a foundation with light-reflecting particles (they're tiny, so you won't look like a showgirl). "They hide flaws and make skin look radiant," says make-up artist Sonia Kashuk.

Any formula labeled illuminating, brightening, or luminous will do the trick. Try Sonia Kashuk Perfecting Luminous Foundation.

Laugh off lip lines

"When you apply lipstick so it has a crisp border, it draws attention to fine lines around your mouth," says Kashuk.

Try lightly dabbing your finger around your lip line after swiping on your shade: It'll make the edges soft — and your smile juicier.

Smooth lids with shimmer

A neutral-colored shimmery eye shadow is like Spanx for crepe-y eyelids: It gives the illusion of tautness.

Use a powder — not cream — shadow one shade lighter than your skin, such as Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Sin (for light skin), Baked (for medium), or Smog (for dark).

Airbrush skin with primer

It makes you look like you're always standing in flattering light, says make-up artist Maria Verel, whose clients include Diane Sawyer. "Primer blurs the appearance of uneven skin and fine lines, so your face seems smoother."

Rub on a pea-size drop after moisturising — even if you don't wear foundation over it. Verel likes Make Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer.

Fight gravity with eyeliner

"After age 40, eyelids can start to droop at the outer corners," says Sandy Linter, a Lancôme make-up artist who works with Christie Brinkley. Her fix: Line your top lash line with a creamy black pencil, then use a pointed Q-tip to smudge the line slightly up and out past the outer corner "to create a subtle lift."

Use cream blush

Powder blushes, which sit on the skin's surface, can exaggerate the look of fine lines, "but cream formulas sink

into skin to give a dewy finish," says Kashuk.

Brighten eyes with beige pencil

"Big, sparkling eyes convey youth and happiness," McCulloch says. No kidding! His trick: Line the inner rims of

your eyes with a cream-coloured eye pencil

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Posted in: Anti-ageing make-up tricks,women health gist

African women’s g*nitals provide clue to HIV prevention

Following the discovery of an unusually weak inflammatory response to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV, in the g*nitals of some African female s*x workers who are naturally protected from infection of the virus, scientists believe they may have discovered an important clue that could influence future HIV prevention efforts.

Results of a long-term study just published in the journal PLoS ONE, said over the course of a 15-year study which involved women from Benin Republic in West Africa and Zimbabwe in South Africa, researchers found that when some of these women are exposed to HIV, the immune-system cells in their g*nitals, produced fewer inflammatory molecules than the cells in women infected with the virus.

Spokesperson for the research team, Dr. Michel Roger, of the University of Montreal Hospital Centre and its microbiology and immunology department, observed that in Africa where the discovery was made, women represent over 60 percent of HIV cases, even as the proportion continues to increase.

”Studying women who are naturally resistant to the virus enables researchers to identify interesting information in terms of developing vaccinations or microbicide gels that could prevent transmission of HIV,” Roger noted.

Although these molecules are usually helpful by activating lymphocyte T-cells that destroy viruses, HIV actually uses these T-cells to invade people’s bodies, the researchers said. Fewer T-cells means fewer target cells available for the virus to use.

The researchers also found the women’s immune response in their g*nitals — where the virus entered their body — was different from their body’s response once the virus was in their bloodstream.

The study concluded that a better way to stop the spread of HIV would be to block the virus from entering the body, rather than fight it once it had already invaded.

According to Roger, “AIDS vaccination research has entirely focused on the bloodstream and this approach has been a failure. Our research shows that the immune response is different at the site of the infection, and that we should turn to the entry points in order to find a means for blocking the virus.”

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Posted in: African women’s g*nitals provide clue to HIV prevention,HIV infections,women health gist

How Music Affects the Brain and How You Can Use It to Your Advantage

Recently, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords used music therapy to help her learn to talk again. The still unproven theory revolves around the idea that music is represented in multiple parts of the brain and therefore accesses deeper pathways between neurons. Music then helps patients connect the stored knowledge of words through songs and helps create the new connections needed for speech. This same idea has been used for stroke victims in the past, and has been referred to as the Kenny Rogers Effect.

You don't need to have suffer from brain damage to get the benefits though, lets take a look at how music affects the brain in a more casual sense, and how you can use it to enhance your day-to-day.

Recall Memories

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You might remember reports back in the 1990s that said that studying while listening to Mozart increases the likelihood of performing well on a test, but that has been disproven in some studies, and in turn, studies have shown some music has a negative affect on fact retention if you're studying numbers or lists. Still, performing music has been proven to increase memory and language skills, but for listeners, it's better used as a means to recall memories.

It has been shown in Alzheimer's patients to help with memory recall, and even restore cognitive function. It works for Alzheimer's patients in the same way it works in everyone else.

When you listen to music you know, it stimulates the hippocampus, which handles long-term storage in the brain. Doing so can also bring out relevant memories you made while listening to a particular song. So, even though the Mozart-effect has essentially been disproven, the idea that forming a new memory with music, and then using the same music again later to recall the memory still appears to be a sound idea.

If you're having trouble remembering something, you might have better luck if you play the same music you were listening to when you first made the thought.

Boost Your Immune System

The idea that listening to music can boost your immune system might sound a little crazy on the surface, but the science backs it up. Soothing music is known to decrease stress, and when it does that, it decreases the level of the stress hormone cortisol. It's not just soothing music though, even upbeat dance music is known to increase the level of antibodies in your system.

Dr. Ronny Enk, who lead the recent research about music's effect on the immune system suggests, "We think the pleasant state that can be induced by music leads to special physiological changes which eventually lead to stress reduction or direct immune enhancement."

Now the cold season has set in, it's a good idea to keep this in mind throughout the day. If you're feeling stressed out or if you're starting to feel ill, listening to music might be the extra help you need to stay well. If you're having trouble finding something soothing to listen to, our collection of work sounds are a good place to start. If you prefer the upbeat method, any fast and upbeat dance song will do the trick.

Enhance Your Exercising

As we've previously covered, music has a positive effect on exercising. In a recent study, researchers found a positive correlation between fast paced music and exercise. While it's nothing too surprising, music works to increase exercising strength by distracting attention and pushing the heart and muscles to work at a faster pace. Not much is known about how or why it works, but it's thought it eases exercise.

The best music to listen to is between 120-140 beats per minute, which also happens to be the standard tempo for upbeat dance music, meaning you'll be increasing your immune system and helping you exercise at the same time.

Keep Yourself from Choking Under Pressure

We've heard before that humming a tune decreases anxiety and the same goes to prevent choking. In a study of basketball players who were prone to failing at the free throw line, researchers found they could improve the player's percentage if they first listened to catchy, upbeat music.

Listening to the Monty Python song, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," caused the basketball players to lose focus and execute their free throws with minimal involvement from the prefrontal cortex.

If you're prone to getting anxious, worried, or choking in meetings or presentations, throwing on a humorous, light-hearted song before you go in might help distract your brain enough to keep you from failing. The above mentioned "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," is a great example, but we're sure tracks from the likes of Jonathan Coulton, They Might Be Giants, Weird Al Yankovic, or any other comedy focused song will work just as well.

Fight Fatigue and Increase Productivity

The effect of using music to increase productivity is still inconclusive, even though a few studies were done on the subject. Regardless, it certainly doesn't hurt, and it seems the best option might be to use music without words so it doesn't have affect the language parts of your brain. The theory is similar to the exercise one above, faster music might keep you and your brain working hard.

That said, if you have a monotonous job, music is a great way to increase your mood while performing boring work. For the same reasoning it helps with exercising, it can also help with fighting fatigue, especially if you change up the music often. Studies have also shown that almost all music increases your mood, because it causes a release of dopamine, so if you're feeling tired, bored, or depressed, a good pop song might be the cure you need.

Music is a motivator and a great means to keep yourself in your good mood, and while a number of the effects are still unproven, listening to music certainly doesn't hurt. Do you have a particular song that always puts you in a good or productive mood?

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Posted in: health tips,how music effect your health,music and health

Many Causes of Weakness, Feeling Tired, Fatigue and Measurable Muscle Weakness Symptoms

Weakness, feeling tired or general fatigue marked by reduced strength in your muscles can have many causes.

A cause for weakness can have you feel weak all over or only in one area, limb and single muscle. Your loss can be measurable or without any calculable strength loss.

If weakness is your only noticeable symptom, and you are trying to figure out its cause, this quest of self diagnosis is not often an easy task.

Some symptom instigators of fatigue are enumerated to give you a sense of the challenge. Some of these do have typical accompanying symptoms, which may help you weed them out.

A general immeasurable feeling of tiredness is typically caused by an infectious disease, for example:

flu

mono

pneumonia

tuberculosis

Muscle weakness or measurable fatigue can be a symptom of a myriad of conditions, just to name a few:

stroke

anemia

botulism

lung cancer

fibromyalgia

poliomyelitis

pinched nerve

thyrotoxicosis

relapsing fever

chronic fatigue

dermatomyositis

multiple sclerosis

myasthenia gravis

Addison’s disease

cerebral/Bell’s palsy

hyperparathyroidism

low sodium/potassium

Guillain-Barre syndrome

Becker muscular dystrophy

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

muscular/myotonic dystrophy

insecticide/nerve gas/shellfish poisoning

Self diagnosis in the realm of inexplicable tiredness can be a head scratcher.

You really should pay your doctor a visit if your weakness is:

isolated in one region

prolonged without any explanation

sudden without other symptoms ~ fever

sudden after viral infection ~ common cold

Some things to be helpfully aware of about your fatigue occurrences include:

when began

illness/injury

any pain with it

affect breathing

have any allergies

sudden or gradual

after a vaccination

increase, decrease

worse in a.m. or p.m.

constant or come & go

limited to specific region

following a typical viral illness

worsen after strenuous activity

alter hands, arms, shoulders use

talking, chewing, swallowing problems

anything help in relief ~ rest, food, medication

walking, climbing stairs, sitting, getting up difficulty

Go ahead, write some notes concerning these symptom related topics for a potential future review by a white coat (doctor).

Also, you want to be on the look out for other symptoms in concert with your “drag me down” weak feeling, stuff like:

pain

fever

diarrhea

vomiting

headaches

weight loss

vision changes

skin color changes

numbness, tingling

weakened area feels hot to touch

mental state changes ~ alertness, responsiveness

It is not uncommon for many to go a long time tolerating a perpetual state of tiredness and muscle weakness reasoning that the cause is just life itself. Frankly, your existence shouldn’t be this way.

If you are following a healthy lifestyle consisting of a natural diet and a regular exercise regime, something more may be a cause for weakness beyond the “just life” excuse. And popping dietary supplements by the handfuls does nothing for many fatigue causing conditions.

Get it checked out as a start down your measurable health improvement route.

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Posted in: body odor causes,health tips,of fatigue

If You Love Seafood and Shrimps, Read This

A woman suddenly died unexpecte...dly with signs of bleeding from her ears, nose, mouth & eyes.

After a preliminary autopsy it was diagnosed that death was due to arsenic poisoning.

Where did the arsenic come from?

The police launched an in-depth and extensive investigation. A medical school professor was invited to come to solve the case.

The professor carefully looked at the contents. In less than half an hour, the mystery was solved.

The professor said: 'The deceased did not commit suicide and neither was she murdered, she died of accidental death due to ignorance!'

Everyone was puzzled, why accidental death?

The professor said: 'The arsenic was produced in the stomach of the deceased.' The deceased used to take 'Vitamin C' everyday, which in itself is not a problem.

The problem was that she ate a large portion of shrimp/prawn during dinner. Eating shrimp/prawn is not the problem that's why nothing happened to her family even though they had the same shrimp/prawn. However at the same time the deceased also took 'vitamin C', that is where the problem was!

Researchers at the University of Chicago in the United States , found through experiments, food such as soft-shell contain much higher concentration of five

potassium arsenic compounds.

Such fresh food by itself has no toxic effects on the human body.

However, in taking 'vitamin C', chemical reaction occurs and the original non-toxic elements change to toxic elements.

Arsenic poisoning has magma role and can cause paralysis to the small blood vessels. Therefore, a person who dies of arsenic poisoning will show signs of bleeding from the ears, nose, mouth & eyes. Thus as a precautionary measure,

DO NOT eat shrimp/prawn when taking 'vitamin C'.

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Posted in: health tips,If You Love Seafood and Shrimps,Read This,shrimp and seafood gist

How to treat impotence with herbs

Erectile dysfunction — difficulty maintaining an erection sufficient for s*x — is a common problem. You’ve likely seen advertisements on the newspapers or in magazines for erectile dysfunction herbs or supplements.

The search for a remedy or a prescription that can enhance s*xual function and/or treat male erectile dysfunction has been an obsession throughout known history. Whether it was an Eastern civilisation or a Western one, religious or atheist, man’s aspiration for a better or best “manhood” has been a history-time goal.

In order to preserve the integrity of manhood various therapeutic approaches are employed. Among many orthodox therapeutic approaches is the use of Sildenafil citrate (Viagra), but with limited efficacy, unpleasant side effects and contraindications in certain disease conditions.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is quite common among s*xually active men in Nigeria, as evidenced by a survey

that was carried out in Ogbomoso metropolis.

In an assessment of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) usage to enhance male s*xual performance in Ogbomoso metropolis, for instance, researchers found that use of CAM is quite common among s*xually active men in the metropolis and usage is independent of socio-economic status.

Ironically, this survey found that there were 420 (79.24 per cent) CAM users, 38 (7.18 per cent) Orthodox remedy users and 72 (13.58 per cent) neither use herbal nor orthodox remedy to enhance s*xual performance, indicating a significant patronage of CAM as remedy for male s*xual dysfunction.

Also, significant percentage of orthodox remedy users indicated unpleasant experience when compared with CAM users.

The 2011 survey that was published in the Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology was done by Oyekunle Olanrewaju Akinloye from the Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State in collaboration with Raji Yinusa from the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Little wonder, research efforts are also geared towards finding natural products with aphrodisiac potentials, readily available, affordable and with little or no side effect.

Many plants have been reported to possess aphrodisiac potential and being employed as remedies for arousal disorders in males. The herb, the scientists assess to substantiate its usefulness for erectile dysfunction is Clerodendron capitatum, an indigenous tropical African plant.

In Sudan, the roots of this plant are used traditionally in the management of male erectile dysfunction. In Nigeria, this plant is used to treat diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hypertension. It is suggested to be used also in the treatment of diarrhoea and malaria.

Clerodendron capitatum, locally named “Fèrèmomi” in Yoruba, is an indigenous tropical African plant, which grows fast, erect, well branched and grows up to between 0.5 and 2m high.

In carrying out the study, the researchers tried out the methanol extract of the plant root on rabbits and guinea pigs. The extract was made from the air dried and ground roots of the plant.

The researchers, who compared mechanistically the effect of this plant with the viagra, an orthodox drug, on the penile erection found that the plant in a dose dependent fashion can correct an erectile dysfunction arising from poor blood flow to the penis.

They postulated in the study which was published by the journal, Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine that the methanol extract of the root of Clerodendron capitatum induced penile erection in a similar fashion to viagra.

In the same vein, many plants have been reported to possess aphrodisiac potential and are being employed as remedies for arousal disorders in males they include extracts of Fadogia agrestis, Myristica fragans (nutmeg), Passiflora incarnate (passion flower) and Massularia acuminate known as pako ijebu or orin ijebu.

Meanwhile other researchers have shown how extracts of Tribulus terrestris increase the testosterone (male s*x hormone) level of the blood. They suggested that the aqueous extracts may thus be used to modify impaired s*xual functions in humans due to their saponin components.

Tribulus terrestris is commonly called devil’s thorn, yellow vine and goathead. In Nigeria, it is hana taakama in Hausa (prevents swagger, in allusion to its thorns piercing the feet-a common expression) or tsaida (to stop because if a thorn pierces the foot one must stop to extract it), kaije in Kanuri and da ogun daguro in Yoruba.

Tribulus terrestris has a long history of traditional medical use in China, India, and Greece. In ancient times it was recommended as a treatment to promote female fertility and support a healthy libido in both men and women.

S*xual behaviour and erection are dependent on an androgen (male s*x hormone like testosterone) that may be acting both centrally and peripherally. Testosterone supplementation has previously been shown to improve s*xual function and libido, in addition to the intensity of orgasm and ejaculation, which might also be expected to improve.

The increase in testosterone by extracts of Tribulus terrestris seemed to have translated into male s*xual competence as claimed by users of its herbal preparations.

Tribulus terrestris has a long history of traditional medical use in China, India, and Greece. In ancient times it was recommended as a treatment to promote female fertility and support a healthy libido in both men and women.

The study by Adimoelja A. entitled “Phytochemicals and the breakthrough of traditional herbs in the management of s*xual dysfunctions” was published in the International Journal of Andrology.

In addition, chili peppers such as African Pepper, Red Bird Pepper and Hot Flame peppers aside its high vitamin A content, which reportedly helps with smooth skin and vision also has an invigorating effect on several body systems, the penile.

There was convincing research on the role of cayenne in libido or s*xual enhancement and as an aphrodisiac. Cayenne works as a stimulant and catalyst for aphrodisiac functions.

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Posted in: health gist,How to treat impotence with herbs,impotence gist

Complications and Effect of Abortion

Bladder Injury

If your uterus is perforated, your urinary bladder can be perforated, too. This can also cause peritonitis (an inflamed, infected lining of the abdomen) with all of its pain, dangers and necessary reparative surgery.

Bowel Injury

If your uterus is perforated, your intestines can be perforated, too. This will cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, blood in stool, peritonitis (an inflamed, infected lining of the abdomen) and death if not treated quickly enough. A portion of the intestine may have to be taken out, and a temporary or permanent colostomy may be put in your abdomen.

Br*ast Cancer

Women who have aborted have significantly higher rates of br*ast cancer later in life. Br*ast cancer has risen by 50% in America since abortion became legal in 1973.

Ectopic (Tubal) Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is any pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus. After an abortion, you are 8 to 20 times more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy. If not discovered soon enough, an ectopic pregnancy ruptures, and you can bleed to death if you do not have emergency surgery. Statistics show a 30% increased risk of ectopic pregnancy after one abortion and a 160% increased risk of ectopic pregnancy after two or more abortions.

There has been a threefold increase in ectopic pregnancies in the U.S. since abortion was legalized. In 1970, the incidence was 4.8 per 1,000 live births. By 1980 it was 14.5 per 1,000 births.

Effects on Future Pregnancies

If you have an abortion:

(1) You will be more likely to bleed in the first three months of future pregnancies.

(2) You will be less likely to have a normal delivery in future pregnancies.

(3) You will need more manual removal of placenta more often and there will be more complications with expelling the baby and its placenta.

(4) Your next baby will be twice as likely to die in the first few months of life.

(5) Your next baby will be three to four times as likely to die in the last months of his first year of life.

(6) Your next baby may have a low birth weight.

(7) Your next baby is more likely to be born prematurely with all the dangerous and costly problems that entails.

Failed Abortion

Failure to successfully abort the unborn younger than 6 weeks is relatively common. Sometimes, an abortionist fails to evacuate the placenta from the uterus. This means the pregnancy continues even though mother has endured the dangers and cost of an abortion.

Hemorrhage

One to fourteen percent of women require a blood transfusion due to bleeding from an abortion.

Hepatitis

This can occur if you have to have a blood transfusion after an abortion.

Infection

Mild fever and sometimes death occurs when there is an infection from an abortion. This happens in anywhere from 1 in 4 women to 1 in 50 women.

Laceration of the Cervix

About 1 out of 20 women suffer this during an abortion. This causes you to have nearly a 50/50 chance of miscarrying in your next pregnancy if it is not treated properly during that pregnancy. A high incidence of cervical damage from the abortion procedure has raised the incidence of miscarriage 30-40% in women who have had abortions.

More Miscarriages Later

Women who have had two or more abortions have twice as many first trimester miscarriages in later pregnancies. There is a ten-fold increase in the number of second trimester miscarriages in pregnancies that follow a vaginal abortion.

Perforation of the Uterus

Women suffer a perforated uterus in between 1 out of 40 and 1 out of 400 abortions. This almost always causes peritonitis (an inflamed, infected lining of the abdomen), similar to having a ruptured appendix.

Placenta Previa

Placenta previa occurs 6 to 15 times more often after a woman has had an abortion. In this condition your baby’s placenta lies over the exit from the uterus so that the placenta has to be delivered before the baby can get out.

This causes the mother to bleed severely while the baby almost always dies, unless your obstetrician recognizes this condition and removes the baby by Caesarean section at just the right time in the pregnancy.

Post-Abortion Syndrome

Frequently after an abortion, women suffer a range of mental and psychological problems. These may include recurrent dreams of the abortion experience, avoidance of emotional attachment, relationship problems, sleep disturbances, guilt about surviving, memory impairment, hostile outbursts, suicidal thoughts or actions, depression, and substance abuse. These problems may occur days to years later.

Retained Products of Conception

If your doctor leaves pieces of the baby, placenta, umbilical cord, or amniotic sac in your body, you may develop pain, bleeding, or a low grade fever. Besides antibiotics and possible hospitalization, you may require additional surgery to remove these remaining pieces.

RH Incompatibility

Your doctor should be sure of your baby’s Rh blood type if you are Rh-negative, so that he can protect you and your next baby against future Rh incompatibilities. These Rh incompatibilities can:

. require that future babies will need transfusions soon after birth,

. cause future babies to be born dead because of the incompatibilities,

. cause future babies to die soon after birth because of the Rh incompatibility.

If your doctor doesn’t check the blood type of the baby you are going to abort, even in very early suction abortions done before eight weeks, fetal-maternal hemorrhage can occur, thereby sensitizing you if you are Rh-negative.

Severe, Rapid Bleeding

You may develop DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulopathy) from your abortion. This means your blood does not clot and you will bleed uncontrollably. DIC is extremely life threatening and difficult to treat. It occurs in 2 out of 1,000 second trimester abortions.

Sterility

After an abortion you may become sterile. This happens in 1 out of 20 to 1 out of 50 women. The risk of secondary infertility among women with at least one abortion is 3 to 4 times greater than that among women who have not aborted.

Unrecognized Ectopic Pregnancy

Your doctor may try to abort the baby but be unsuccessful because it is developing in your fallopian tube. Unfortunately this tubal pregnancy ruptures later and emergency surgery must be done to save your life. All women in their first trimester should have an ultrasound to make sure they do not have an ectopic pregnancy.

Young Women

Complication rates of abortion increase with younger, teen-age women. However, younger women who carry their babies to term have better births than older women if they get proper care. There is evidence that in 15 to 17 year old women, pregnancy may even be physically healthier than in women of older ages.

"In medical practice, there are few surgical procedures given so little attention and so underrated in its potential hazards as abortion. It is a commonly held view that complications are inevitable."

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