10 Amazing Tips! Baking Soda As A Beauty Product

We all have baking soda at home and use it to prepare food. Most of us know how good it is at whitening laundry. It also perfectly well eliminates unpleasant smell in your closet and refreshes carpets and is excellent at cleaning various surfaces.

What else is baking soda good for? It can be use to make you look more attractive!

1. Fighting Acne
Baking soda can be effectively used to solve the acne problem. It is a safe and effective measure that helps get rid of pimples. Prepare a paste and use it to dry the blemishes.

 2. Teeth Whitening
Take any toothpaste tube and see what most brands include in the content. That’s right – baking soda. If combined with peroxide it provides a whitening effect. Use it instead of toothpaste. The only drawback is that if it is used too often it can damage your enamel. If used once a week, it is harmless and perfectly removes stains and plaques without wearing enamel away.

 3. Breath Freshening
Breath dragees do not solve the problem? They merely hide it while baking soda fights and eliminates odors. Add a teaspoon of baking soda into a glass of water, mix it and then use it to wash you mouth. Gargle the liquid to disinfect your throat and the root of the tongue – this is where most bacteria accumulate. Finally, spit the mixture and enjoy fresh breath again.

4. Skin Softening
If your hands are rough and dry, again, use baking soda -  the quickest ways to soften your skin. Mix a bit of soda with water and soap and thoroughly massage your hands. Rinse your hands with lukewarm water. This method also fights deep down odors that stay after preparing meals.

 5. Hair Clarifying
Not all shampoos and hair conditioners are as good as we would like them to be. Some hair products contain chemicals that our hair does not need at all. To remove them from your hair and scalp, use baking soda. Avoid frequent use because the PH level of soda is very high. The procedure can be safely performed once a month. Some use vinegar for the same purpose, but the difference is that soda does not leave any unpleasant odor.

 6. Body Soaking
Next time you decide to take a bath, add a small cup of baking soda into your tub. Soaking in such water will help you neutralize acids that cause unpleasant body odors and make your skin less oily. What you get as a result is soft, glowing skin.

 7. Brush Cleaning
Baking soda has been used to wash dishes and clean oil and grease. Use it now to clean your makeup tools, such as brushes, sponges, applicators. Mix one full teaspoon of soda in a glass of water, soak your applicators in the mixture. Rinse them with clean water and let them dry. 

8. Nail Cleaning
Another beauty tip is that you can use three parts of baking soda and one part of water to prepare soda paste that you can apply when you perform manicure or pedicure. Massage your feet, hands and nails with the paste, then rinse it. Soda polishes and softens cuticles, cleans under nails, eliminates odors and softens the skin of your feet and hands.

 9. Antiperspirant
Make your own home-made fragrant antiperspirant. It will contain only natural ingredients that are harmless to your skin. Add a few drops of essential oil into 4 tablespoons of soda and apply the mixture under your arms. Such a deodorant provides a sense of cleanliness and freshness for a few hours. Reapply it later in the day if need be.

 10. Exfoliation
You can include baking soda in your daily face washing procedure. Emma Stone, the famous actress shared this news with others and revealed her beauty secret. What she does is that she mixes soda with face washing liquid. Soda work as a soft exfoliant, it gently removes dead skin cells and improves skin tone.

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Menopause Diet Tips - Eat Foods Rich in Phytoestrogens

 

Foods rich in phytoestrogens are a very healthy addition to any menopause diet as they can help relieve and alleviate a lot of the symptoms of.
Here's some specific foods you can include in a menopause diet to help relieve the symptoms and signs of menopause, and improve your overall health:
Green Soya Beans (Edamame)
Fresh soya beans in pods are harvested when they are young and tender. When steamed and salted they make a delicious snack. Green soya beans are available from Chinese supermarkets.
20 mg isoflavones per 100 g
Canned Soya Beans
These can be added to salads or casseroles or pureed with olive olive, lemon juice and garlic to make a dip similar to hummus.
80 mg isoflavones per 100 g
Tofu Or Bean Curd
Made from pureed, pressed soya beans, tofu is low in fat and is a good source of protein. There are three basic types: firm, soft and silken. Firm tofu has a texture similar to cheese; it can be marinated and used to make kebabs or cut into cubes and added to stir-fries. Soft tofu is used in recipes that call for blended tofu or in Oriental soups. Silken tofu has a texture similar to set yogurt; it can be used to make dips, salad dressings, sauces or desserts.
11-30 mg isoflavones per 100 g
Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP)
This is a meat substitute made from soya-bean flour It is low in fat and rich in protein. It is available as dehydrated chunks, as a ground beef substitute or incorporated into prepared foods such as burgers or sausages. The ground beef substitute can be used in dishes such as spaghetti sauce or lasagne.
114-245 mg per 100 g (dry weight)
Soya Milk
This is available unsweetened or sweetened and in a variety of flavors. Look for one with added calcium. Soya milk is cholesterol-free and available in low-fat varieties. It is also lactose-free. Soya milk can be used in the same way as cow's milk, as a drink, on cereals, in cooking or to make smoothies.
A 250 ml glass provides 10-20 mg isoflavones
Tempeh
A thin cake made from fermented soya beans, it has a mushroomy slightly smoky flavor It can be grilled and used as a meat substitute or added to stews, casseroles or pasta sauces.
35-19 I mg isoflavones per 100 g
Isolated Soya Protein
This powder can be mixed into drinks and sauces or added to baked goods such as bread.
46-100 mg isoflavones per 100 g
Soya Flour
Made from ground, roasted soya beans, it comes in full-fat or low-fat versions. It can be used as a substitute for white flour in recipes such as muffins and cakes. It has quite a strong flavor so it is best mixed with another type of flour; try substituting 20-30 percent wheat flour with soya flour.
188-276 mg isoflavones per 100 g
Miso
Made from fermented soya beans, miso is used mainly as a seasoning or condiment. It is very salty and should be used sparingly.
8-28 mg isoflavones per 15 ml (1 level tbsp)
Soya Desserts
There are many different types including yogurts and ice creams. Isoflavone content will vary according to brand.
Soya ice cream - 4-5 mg isolfavones per 100 g
Soya custard - 5 mg isoflavones per 100 ml
Soya yogurt - 16 mg isoflavones per 100 ml
Soya and Linseed Bread
contains around 7 mg isoflavones per slice.
It's also worthy to note that soy sauce, soya oil and soya margarine contain no isoflavones, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't include them as part of a menopause diet, as they offer other health benefits including helping to lower cholesterol.

Get the facts about natural hormone replacement therapy and other natural herbs for menopause. We don't need pumping full of drugs just because our bodies are changing - take control and learn how to manage your symptoms with natural alternatives.
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Must Read! 10 Easy Ways to Flatten Your Belly!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could watch your belly disappear? Here are ten easy ways that you can flatten your belly every day--from simple tips that you can incorporate into your daily life to belly busting moves that you can do at home. Follow these 10 suggestions and watch your belly disappear.

1. Eat a bowl of raspberries. Packed with fiber, they fight constipation (that can swell your midsection like a balloon).

2. Drink lots of water. It's filling, calorie-free, and keeps your metabolism running in high gear.

3. Skip the cocktails. Sure, alcohol may be fat-free, but it's loaded with calories. It can also raise your levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that helps your belly store fat.

4. Sit up straight. Hunching forward makes your belly look bigger. For a slimming effect that actually trains the stomach-supporting muscles to stay taut, sit with your shoulders back, chin up, and lower back supported against the chair. 

5. Plant a garden. All the bending, lifting, and twisting help shape your middle, and you'll burn about 350 calories an hour.

6. Moving your hips. Hula hooping works on the same calorie burning waist-whittling principle as gardening--but with less dirt.

7. Hit the greens. Ditching the golf cart earns you a walking workout; whacking the ball tones and tightens your midriff.

8. Get a leg up. Crunches with your legs off the floor tone the upper portion of your ab muscles. Lie on your back with your legs propped up on the bed or chair. Curl up slowly, raising your head, shoulders, and upper back off the floor, then slowly lower. Do 10 to 12 repetitions, two to three times a week.

9. Reverse that crunch. To tighten your tummy from a different angle, lie on the floor with your arms at your sides, feet off the floor, and your legs and knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Contract your abdominals and press your back into the floor, lifting your hips about 2 to 4 inches off the floor. Hold, then lower. Do 10 to 12 repetitions, two or three times a week. 

10. Do crossover crunches. To work the muscles that define your waistline (the obliques), lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Place your right ankle on your left knee and your hands behind your head, elbows pointing out. Lifting your head and upper back off the floor, twist, and bring your left shoulder toward your right knee. Hold, then slowly lower. Do 10 to 12 repetitions, then repeat to the other side. Do two or three times a week.

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Don’t eat suya without onion, cabbage- Nutritionist Warns

REGULAR consumers of grilled and  barbecued beef and chicken popularly called  suya, have been advised to always eat the delicacy with generous portions of the slices of onions, cabbage, tomatoes and other vegetables usually served along with the meat.

Giving the advise in Lagos, a Professor of Nutrition and Director of Academic Planning at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Prof. Ignatius Onimawo,  said research has shown that while there is a strong link between consumption of suya and increased risk of cancer,  consumption of suya garnished with onions and other vegetables, has a strong cancer-lowering effect.

Cancer risk increasing

Onimawo, who is Immediate past President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, and Dean, College of Food Processing & Storage Technology ,Michael Opkara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, recalled a warning by the World Health Organisation, WHO, that except there is deliberate effort to imbibe healthier  dietary and lifestyle habits over the next 10 years, cancer and other Non Communicable Diseases, NCDs, will increase by more than 27 percent in developing countries like Nigeria, compared to 17 percent in the developed world.

Speaking during the nutrition workshop organised by Coca-Cola Nigeria for health writers, the nutrition expert remarked that dietary habits play a major role in outcome of our health and one of this is the issue of cancer.
Breast cancer: “Take breast cancer. Its incidence used to be very low among our women in  those days and it was even tagged oyinbo disease because it was very rare in Nigeria or in Africa for that matter.

“But today, this is no longer the case. Breast cancer is everywhere. It is even killing people in the village. When we carried out studies to try to look at the aetiology of the disease, to find out where it all started, what we discovered was that we could trace the origin to suya consumption.

Suya preparation: “During preparation of suya, the  meat is cooked over an open fire, and oils from the meat undergo complex chemical reactions that produce toxins that are carcinogenic (cancer-causing) in nature.
Meat cooked over open flame often causes the formation of toxic compounds known as Heterocyclic Amines, HCAs, which are carcinogenic compounds. The more well-done a meat is cooked, the higher concentration of carcinogenic HCA’s can form.

Explaining that cancer is due to  oxidative processes in the body, He said onions are powerful antioxidants  that  effectively stop the oxidative process triggerred by consumption of suya from  taking place,
Further, Onimawo said one of the outcomes of the findings was that women who consume suya, are more prone to cancer (breast cancer) than men because they (women) tend to consume just the suya and ignore the vegetables.

Men eat onions, women eat suya: “This is practically proven. Many young men, take girls out and buy suya to entertain them. Normally, apart from the spices sprinkled on the meat, the suya is served with slices of onions, cabbage and tomatoes in some cases.

“The onion and other vegetables are actually added to act as antidote to the effect of the oil from the suya. Onions neutralise the oxidative effect of the chemicals in the oil and help prevent cancer,  but because the young man wants to impress the girl, he will be eating the onions, while the girl eats the suya. At the end of the day he is preventing cancer, unknowingly, while the girl is eating the cancer.

“Much of this information needs to be made more available. I’m not saying suya is bad, on the contrary, it is a great delicacy, but beneficial only when eaten in moderation and along with the onion and cabbage, he stated.”

More concerns

A number  of  studies support the use of local spices such as ginger, clove, red pepper, black pepper, onion, thyme, oregano and garlic in a meat marinade before grilling also drastically reduce any carcinogens that normally would form on grilled meat.

The suya sauce, a.k.a. Yaji, comprising most of these spices is believed to help ameliorate possible negative effects of the roasted red meat.  However, findings link excessive consumption to  possible kidney damage.
When meat is cooked in a water base as opposed to grilling, HCAs are eliminated. Meat cooked in a soup or  pot will not have carcinogenic HCAs and is a healthier way to cook meat.

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Watch It! The Most Common 8 Things That Causes Cancer!

1-Scientists believe that we have control over cancers and diseases simply by controlling our lifestyle a bit better. Always be aware of what your doing such as not smoking, what your eating on a daily basis and what you can do to protect your skin. Always be aware of your surroundings and take the following 8 tips on staying healthy and cancer free.

2-Your wondering what this is? Every time you drink out of plastic bottles your getting Bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA, a compound that is a toxic substance. in Canada but in the United States not so much. What will it do? BPA is an endocrine disruptor that can mimic the body's own hormones, leading to negative health effects so avoid plastic product with BPA containing in them and try to stay away from canned foods with BPA in them as well.
3-With these new day and age, there are more and more vegans in this world and they head straight for soy products, but not so fast..Soy contains phytoestrogens, a group of chemicals that mimic the hormone estrogen, and this is ok for women but not so much for men. Some experts are concerned that an excess of soy will stimulate the growth of estrogen-sensitive cancers since high exposures of estrogen over a woman's lifetime are linked with an increased risk for breast cancer. If you enjoy soy, you may still have it but just have it in moderation and cut down a little.
4-There are many negative effects on Artificial Sweeteners such as Aspartame Sucralose and saccharin. Many argue that they are human carcinogens, causing bladder, colon, breast and prostate cancer, while others argue that there is no concrete evidence to prove this. The best bet is to just stick to natural sweeteners like maple syrup, honey or even brown sugar.

5- All the synthetic ingredients that are in your beauty products can heighten the risk of cancer. Coal tar is found in hair dye and has been shown to be linked with bladder cancer. Alpha Hydrox acids is the main ingredient for removing wrinkles and blemishes have been shown to increase skin cancer. Phthalates, industrial plasticizers widely used in personal care products to moisturize and soften skin also shown to have birth defects and lifelong reproductive impairments. You have to be careful when putting this stuff all over your face and body all the time because over the years, these toxins will add up.

6- Studies show that scented laundry detergents release carcinogens, potentially raising the risk of cancer. The best thing you can do is get unscented and all natural products.

7- All processed meat contains cancer causing nitrites, doesn't matter if its hot dogs or burgers. According to CancerProject.org, eating 50 grams of processed meat per day (about one hot dog) increases your risk of colorectal cancer, on average, by 21 percent. Maybe save these meats for a special occasion if need be and stay away from the daily eating.

8- Watching TV here and there will not have major negative effects on the body but making it your life will. Exposure to TV screens affects the melatonin levels of younger children, in particular at the onset of puberty. Having reduced levels of melatonin can cause mutations in your DNA and even cause cancer cells to grow.

 

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Does Pregnancy Have You Feeling Overweight - Learn How to Look Great and Feel Beautiful!

By Destini Ingoldsby

People say we are our own worst critic, well I guess in most areas we are. But I know for a fact that when it comes to my weight, my mom is my worst critic. I am either to skinny... " Honey are you eating enough, your face is thinning out, your arms feel smaller." Or I'm gaining to much weight" Sweety, now you know I love you no matter what, but I think your pants are looking a little tight; your not as young as you used to be, you might want to consider eating better."
So then what happens when we get pregnant, people go on and on about how great you look and all the while you keep getting bigger and bigger. Now I know that a percentage; is that cute little trouble maker inside you, but what about the extra snacks you ate at night and between lunch and between dinner. Let's face it, as much as we want to believe it's all baby, not all of it is.
Well I'm sure you'll work it off somehow...right? At each one of your mommy workout classes or Lamaze classes your working off a little bit of extra fat or at least you hope so with all the money your dishing out. And with the continuous encouragement from everyone telling you your beautiful it must be true. Then how come you don't feel beautiful, how come being pregnant looked so much more glamorous and enjoyable before it all happened? How come no matter what you do, that baby fat seems to be clinging onto you, more then your now new arrival?
Well your not alone, 50% of all pregnant women feel unattractive and don't enjoy their pregnancy. Hitting home for anyone? Have you ever heard the saying, "You can't use one kinda vacuum on all carpets?" Well it's because not all vacuums work for all different kinds of carpets. The same goes for weight loss, you need a program designed for you body type. Something designed for your individual needs, something others just like you have used and had success with.
Did you know that you can be proactiv about your weight loss, you don't have to wait until your baby or babies are born in order to loose those baby pounds- you can start now! Yea, yea I know doctors have great advice and are suppose to have all the answers to your pregnancy needs, but what we really need is another momma's advice. So momma it's time you start feeling beautiful, looking great, and enjoying your life!
Author: Destini Melissa Ann IngoldsbyAre those baby pounds getting you down, would you like to know how hundreds of women are enjoying their pregnancy and loosing pregnancy weight?

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The Unbelieveable And Amazing Benefits Of Bananas.

Yemisi Olowookere, a dietician at the Garki Hospital, Abuja says  consumption of banana is ideal for the maintenance of normal blood pressure and heart function.
She said that bananas were the best source of potassium, an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function.
According to her, a medium sized banana provides 350g of potassium which helps the body to maintain normal fluid and electrolyte balances in the cells.
“Bananas help restore normal bowel activity, rich in non digestible fibres, help with constipation and diarrhoea and normalise the colon’s function to absorb large amounts of water for regular bowel movements.
“Bananas have long been recognised for their antacid effects that protect against stomach ulcers and ulcer damage. They help to neutralise acidity, a great way to get rid of heart burn.
“Bananas are a perfect baby food. They are the best solid food to introduce to infants. A mashed ripe banana is an extremely simple and healthy baby food,’’ she said.
Olowookere explained that bananas were easy to digest and rarely cause allergic reactions and could be recommended for children recovering from gastrointestinal problems particularly diarrhoea.
According to her, the dietary fibre component in banana pulp has cholesterol-lowering effect and also promotes an overall improvement of the functional efficiency of kidneys.
“The benefits that the kidneys derive from bananas are due to the high potassium content present in it.
“A normal intake of potassium suppresses calcium excretion in the urine and minimises the kidney stone.’’
She said that bananas were known to calm an upset stomach and help rehydrate the body.
Olowookere said that bananas contained 25 per cent of Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for vitamin B6 necessary for producing antibodies, red blood cells and aiding in the metabolism of fat.
She added that the Vitamin B6 present in banana serves as an immunity booster.
Olowookere said bananas contained tryptophan, a type of protein that converts into serotonin known to make one relax, improve one’s mood and generally make one feels happier.
She also said that bananas could stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anaemia.
“Bananas make you smarter and help with learning by making one more alert. Eat a banana before an exam to benefit from the high levels of potassium,’’ said Olowookere. (NAN)

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Diabetes: New Drug Approved By FDA To Reduce Blood Sugar.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved a new diabetes drug from Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca that uses a novel approach to reduce blood sugar.
Farxiga is a once-a-day tablet designed to help diabetes patients eliminate excess sugar via their urine. That differs from older drugs that decrease the amount of sugar absorbed from food and stored in the liver.
The drug is the second product approved in the U.S. from the new class of medicines known as SGLT2 drugs. In March the FDA approved Johnson & Johnson's Invokana, which also works by eliminating excess sugar through patients' urine.
The agency cleared Farxiga tablets for patients with type 2 diabetes, which affects about 24 million people in the U.S. The approval marks a comeback for the drug, which was previously rejected last year after studies raised concerns about links to bladder cancer and liver toxicity.
Ten cases of bladder cancer were found in patients taking the drug in clinical trials, so Farxiga's label warns against using it in patients with the disease. A panel of FDA advisers last month said that the uptick in cancers was likely a statistical fluke, and not related to the drug. But the FDA is requiring Bristol and AstraZeneca to track rates of bladder cancer in patients enrolled in a long-term follow up study. The companies will also monitor rates of heart disease, a frequent safety issue with newer diabetes medications.
The most common side effects associated with Farxiga included fungal and urinary tract infections. The drug can be used as a stand-alone drug or in combination with other common diabetes treatments, such as insulin and metformin.
People with type 2 diabetes are unable to properly break down carbohydrates, either because their bodies do not produce enough insulin or have become resistant to the hormone, which controls blood sugar levels. Diabetics often require multiple drugs with different mechanisms of action to control their blood sugar levels.
New York-based Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and London-based AstraZeneca PLC already co-market the diabetes drug Onglyza, which increases insulin production while reducing glucose production.

Huffington

400,000 People Infected With HIV/AIDS in Ogun- Commissioner

Proximity to Lagos implicated as one of the reasons for the spread of the disease.
The Ogun State Government disclosed on Thursday that the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the state has risen to 400,000.
The Commissioner for Health, Olaokun Soyinka, noted that the current figure was a hundred thousand higher than the previous year’s figure.
He was speaking at a press conference in Abeokuta organised in preparation for the World AIDS Day celebration in the state.
Mr. Soyinka stated that the prevalence rate, which kept rising and falling and maintaining an undefined pattern since 1996, implied that the state was not winning the war against HIV/AIDS.
He said that the current prevalence rate stood at 3.1, but added that the state government had not relented in its fight against the virus. He said the fight was from all fronts including education, sensitisation, HIV testing and counselling, and provision of anti-retroviral drugs.
The Commissioner disclosed that the level of HIV infection was highest in Ijebu Ode with a prevalence of 5, followed by Abeokuta which had 2.7. He explained that Ijebu Ode was high because it thrived as an economic and social hub by virtue of being a transit point to other states. He also noted that the town had a high student and youth population, the ones hardest hit by the virus.
Mr. Soyinka described the state’s proximity to Lagos as a blessing but pointed out that it, however, increased the need to develop more portent methods to prevent the disease. He stressed that there was a continuous influx of people into the state from Lagos which has a relatively higher prevalence rate in Southwest Nigeria.
“Strategies must be in place to avert HIV transmission from Lagos State which records prevalence of 4.2,” he warned.
He regretted that in spite of the numerous amount of information being passed about the deadly virus, distribution of new infections was still highest among couples, whom he referred to as “low risk heterosexuals.”
He said demography represented 45.17 per cent of new infections.
“There is still low comprehensive knowledge about HIV, especially in rural areas. And apart from that, rate of infection is highest among couples because some don’t know their status, and still don’t use condoms. And in using condoms, we stress correct use of condoms,” he said.
He stated that this year’s World AIDS day celebration in the state was geared at achieving zero prevalence. With the sub-theme, “Take charge of your life, know your HIV status,” it would be aimed at encouraging people to know their status and avoid discriminating against people living with the virus.
On stigmatisation, the commissioner said it was a major reason why people were afraid of knowing their status.
“Stigmatisation is a very serious issue. It is one reason why people are afraid of knowing or disclosing their status. Even families are not willing to disclose the status of members living with the virus. So, how do you get treatment when you don’t know your status,” he said.
The Director of the State Action Council on AIDS (SACA), Kehinde Fatungase, told journalists that the state was sponsoring a stigmatisation bill, which would make discrimination against HIV/AIDS victims a serious crime.
“The stigmatisation bill is in the house. It has gone through second reading and I gather that there would be a public hearing on it next month. So, once this important bill is passed and signed into law, we’ll be able to fight stigmatisation frontally,” Mr. Fatungase declared.
He also said that operators of traditional birth areas were being partnered with in order to increase the prevention of mother to child transmission of the deadly virus.

Premium Times

First Sexual Violence Center Treated 124 Cases in First Few Month Of Opening.

A total of 124 victims of sexual assault and dome-stic violence were attended to in the first five months of  operation of the Mirabel Cen-tre for Rape Victims, the first sexual violence and referral centre in Nigeria, located at the Lagos State University Tea-ching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos.
Disclosing this, yesterday, in Lagos during the official opening of the centre, Executive Director/Managing Partner, Partnership for Justice, Mrs. Itoro Eze-Anaba, said Oshodi, Mafoluku, Ikeja, Mile 12, Ketu and Ojodu areas of Lagos, were flashpoints for assault and sexual violence because the highest number of incidents reported at the centre, were recorded at these places.
“Most of the clients we have attended to were young girls between 11 and 15.

“We also had cases of age 0-11. About 80 per cent are mi-nors referred to us by the Fa-mily Support Unit of the Police.
“When someone is raped, that person is sent to us to carry out the medical examinations and tests and the result is sent back to the Director of Public Prosecution’s office for advice.
“We monitor the process and provide support.”
She said the idea for such a centre was first mooted 10 years ago, adding “the Centre is meant to be a place where people will not be judged or discriminated against on the basis of their experience as a victim of sexual violence.”

Vanguard

OMG! Greeks Self-Inject HIV To Claim Benefits.

WHO report on European health divide says the disturbing practice is growing amid country's deeply troubled economy.

Stringent austerity measures have failed to revive the Greek economy, spurring protests [AFP]

A growing number of Greek residents have injected themselves with HIV so they can claim about $950 in monthly health benefits, according to a report commissioned by the World Health Organisation. The report, Review of social determinants and the health divide in the WHO European Region, found about half of new HIV infections in Greece were self-inflicted, as the population continues to grapple with a deeply troubled economy. The country's suicide rate has also skyrocketed, while health-care access has declined. "These adverse trends in Greece pose a warning to other countries undergoing significant fiscal austerity, including Spain, Ireland and Italy," the report noted. "It also suggests that ways need to be found for cash-strapped governments to consolidate finances without undermining much-needed investments in health." Despite severe austerity measures, which have prompted massive protests in Greece, the country's economy has continued to decline, with unemployment soaring to 27%. Homicide and theft rates have correspondingly doubled, growing alongside the disturbing trend of self-inflicted HIV infections, the WHO report noted. "HIV rates and heroin use have risen significantly, with about half of new HIV infections being self-inflicted to enable people to receive benefits... and faster admission on to drug-substitution programmes," the report stated. "Prostitution has also risen, probably as a response to economic hardship." Health-care gaps The study also found that suicides rose by 17% in a two-year period ending in 2009, with the Health Ministry citing a further 40% rise in the first half of 2011. In the meantime, Greeks have had poorer access to healthcare as hospital budgets have been slashed. WHO commissioned the report, prepared by the UCL Institute of Health Equity, to review inequities among countries in the European Region and recommend policies to bridge the gaps. Since the spring of 2010, Greece has been dependent on bailouts from the International Monetary Fund and other European countries. Stringent austerity measures have failed to revive the Greek economy, instead fuelling sustained public anger. In September, thousands of civil servants marched through Athens as part of a two-day national strike against planned job cuts. Aljazeera

The Best Kept Secret to Highly Successful Couples

According to Adam Grant, Wharton's most popular and youngest tenured faculty member and the author of Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success, people fall into one of three distinct categories: givers, matchers and takers. While Grant's book is written for a business audience, its theories provide extraordinary insight into romantic relationships. The category you fall into may well determine the success and happiness of your relationship.
For example, has a romantic relationship ever made you feel like you were not good enough? Have you ever been taken advantage of by a romantic partner? Have you ever felt like you gave everything to someone and ended up completely worn out? Then you may just fall into the "giver" style of romantic partner.
Interestingly, while the giver style may have its drawbacks, givers are also usually the most attractive partners and are more likely to have long-term relationships. A study examining the trait most highly valued in potential romantic partners suggests that both men and women rate kindness as one of their most desired traits. Givers are also most likely to be affectionate, a trait which determines the long-term success of a relationship (as I describe in this article), not to mention their own longevity.
In order to understand where you fit in and how to best navigate your relationships with others, here's a summary of the three styles of romantic partners.
Givers are people whose primary motivation is to take care of others, to make sure others are well, and to contribute to others and society. In a relationship, these are people who are always thinking about gifts for their partner, who take their partners' interests into consideration, and who are always thinking, "What else can I do for you?" They're pretty awesome. As Grant mentions in his book, everyone likes having givers around because they are always happy to contribute and thinking of others. They understand the relationship as an opportunity to give and take care.
Givers often end up thinking that there is something wrong with them when they are unhappy in a relationship. They are the ones who think they are not lovable or good enough because they take personal responsibility for making the relationship work (rather than blaming their partners). They can end up burned out and exhausted from continuously giving if they do not receive the support they need from the relationship.
Matchers tend to keep a balance sheet in a relationship. When matchers give, they do so with an expectation of getting something in return. When they receive something, they feel like they have to give something back. Matchers are the ones who are keeping tabs and view relationships as somewhat like a commercial transaction. They are the ones who are most likely to say something like, "I did this for you, but you didn't do that for me" or "You paid for this, so I'll pay for that."
Takers are just that -- takers. They usually treat people well if and when those people can help them reach their goals. Interestingly, Grant points out that they often appear as the most charming and charismatic people on the surface. They know how to work the crowd and seduce, but under the surface they are actually motivated by self-interest. You can recognize a taker by how poorly they treat people that they believe are of no use to them. You know you're in a relationship with a taker when you feel sucked dry for all you have, whether it's money, affection, time etc. Once the taker has everything they want from you, you may be relegated to the unimportant sphere of their life. Their primary focus is themselves.
So who is most successful and who is least successful?
Grant points out a fascinating fact about who, among these three styles, is happiest and most successful: it is givers. What about those who are least successful? Also the givers! Why? Givers who learn to successfully navigate a world with matchers and takers make out great. Everyone loves givers, trusts them, and supports them when they are in need. So why are givers also the least successful? Because some givers don't know how to navigate that world and, as a consequence, end up getting taken advantage of. If you're a giver, you've been there at least once both professionally and personally.
Imagine a relationship between a giver and a taker? These end up with the giver completely worn out, having perhaps spent their savings, time and energy on someone who keeps demanding more and never or scarcely provides for their partners' needs (unless they do so temporarily because it behooves them at that moment).
What makes a successful giver? Read Adam Grant's book to get his complete lists of tips. One that stood out to me was the idea of being a "giver with awareness." Awareness of what? Be aware that the world has givers, matchers and takers. Watch people's words and actions and you will know who is who. When you navigate romantic relationships, friendships or business partnerships, investigate which category your potential partner belongs to and don't get blown away by first-impressions (as noted above, takers are masters of first-impression charm). Then what? In a non-romantic situation, you can deal with matchers and takers by adopting a matcher-like attitude (I know, hard to do for a giver!). Start speaking in terms of, "Ok, we have an agreement, you do this and in exchange I will do this."
What about in romantic relationships? I conferred with Adam Grant while writing this article and he shared the following tip about long-term love: "In the most successful relationships, both partners are givers. In other words, when a romantic relationship works, matchers and takers are focused on giving. Both partners might be giving in different ways, but they should be willing to support each other without expecting something in return. That said, when things get too far out of balance, I think we all become matchers." Imagine a relationship where both partners are always caring for each other's needs. Where when there is a fight, both are the first to say, "I'm sorry, it was my fault." In which both live their life with their partner's best interest in mind. You better believe that matchers and takers are also looking out for givers so, if you're a giver, be sure you seek one out for yourself too because you deserve it.
If you recognize yourself as a matcher or taker then -- first of all -- congratulations on being so honest with yourself. Of course, because of givers' affectionate and service-oriented qualities, it is also in your best interest to have a partner who is a giver. However, I'd like you to consider two things:
First, givers will never be fully happy unless you support them as they support you. They will eventually feel worn out and perhaps even leave. In a recent study by Amie Gordon at the University of California-Berkeley, those who experienced more gratitude in their relationship also felt closer to their partner, more satisfied with the relationship and tended to engage in more constructive and positive behaviors within the relationship. Ultimately, for a good relationship that benefits you, you will want your partner to be happy and you'll want to support them in return.
Second, as Grant's book clearly outlines, givers are the ones who end up being most successful and happy if they are not taken advantage of. A large amount of research now shows that a lifestyle comprised of kindness and service leads to greater fulfillment as well as health and happiness. If you want to be happy and successful, it therefore behooves you too to be or become a giver.
With the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays coming up, it's a great time to start being a giver! After all, isn't that what love is about?



source: hoffpost

Birth Control Pills May Raise Eye Risks

Women who use oral contraceptives for several years or longer may want to consider having their eyes checked more regularly as they get older. New research suggests that the pills may double their lifetime risk of developing glaucoma, a degenerative eye disease that can cause blindness if left untreated.
The researchers cautioned that their findings should not discourage women from using oral contraceptives, since the risk of glaucoma for the average adult over the age of 40 remains fairly low. But they said that doctors should be aware of the link, and that women who are using birth control pills — an estimated 11 million or more American women — should keep tabs on their long-term eye health.
Why birth control pills might play a role in glaucoma is not entirely clear. But cells in the optic nerve contain estrogen receptors that are believed to play a role in protecting the eyes from age-related decline, and the pills may interfere in that process by depressing estrogen levels. Researchers have previously found that women who enter menopause early or take medications that block estrogen, like drugs used against breast cancer, also have an elevated risk of glaucoma.
A sometimes painful eye disease, glaucoma affects between two and three million Americans. The most prevalent form of the condition, called open angle glaucoma, is caused by the gradual clogging of drainage canals in the eyes, creating a build-up of pressure inside the eye. The disease is more common in African Americans and in people who have a family history of the illness.
The new study looked at data on 3,406 women over the age of 40 who were followed for many years as part of the ongoing National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which is carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The women regularly underwent eye exams and answered questions about their reproductive health and medical histories.
Women who reported having used birth control pills of any kind for three years or longer had a 5 percent risk of developing glaucoma, compared with a risk of about 2.5 percent in the general population, said Dr. Shan Lin, a professor of clinical ophthalmology and the director of the glaucoma service at the University of California, San Francisco medical school. Dr. Lin presented his findings this week at a meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in New Orleans.
Dr. Lin cautioned that the findings were preliminary and showed only a correlation, not causation. But together with data from previous studies they suggest that there is a relationship between estrogen levels and the development of eye disease.
Two years ago, a large study published in the journal Eye looked at data on nearly 80,000 women who were followed for three decades as part of the Nurses’ Health Study. Women who reported using birth control pills at any point in their lives did not have an elevated risk of glaucoma. But those who specifically had used them for five years or longer did experience a modestly elevated risk of the disease.
A growing body of evidence suggests that women who go into menopause early or have their ovaries removed are also at slightly greater risk of glaucoma, while those who experience menopause later and take postmenopausal hormones appear to be at lower risk, said Dr. Louis Pasquale, the author of that study and an associate professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. He said that estrogen appears to have a “maintenance effect” on retinal ganglion cells in the eye, which are known to have estrogen receptors.
“We think the presence of estrogen helps keep those cells alive,” Dr. Pasquale said. “And so things that happen to women over the course of their lifetime that would reduce their estrogen would increase their risk because glaucoma is a degenerative condition.”
In men, the same cells of the eye appear to have estrogen receptors as well. But Dr. Pasquale said it is not yet known whether fluctuations in hormone levels would have a similar effect in men. “We’re just beginning to scratch the surface of that,” he said.
Dr. Pasquale said that researchers were working on developing topical agents for the eyes that could mimic the protective effect of estrogen. Those drugs, however, have only been tested in animal models, and they are perhaps 10 to 15 years away from human trials.
Ophthalmologists generally recommend annual eye screenings for people 65 and older. But African Americans and people who have diabetes or a family history of eye diseases are typically told to begin the screenings sooner, and women with a history of taking birth control for long periods may be advised to start earlier as well.
“I think, over all, that women need to be cognizant that there may be a connection between their reproductive health and their eyes,” said Dr. Pasquale. “While one wouldn’t necessarily make decisions about their reproductive health based on what might happen to their eyes, they should have their eyes examined if they’re someone that took a lot of oral contraceptives or if they have menopause early.”




source:nyt

Shocking Celebrity Weight Loss.

The gangster rapper lost around 75 lbs in just nine weeks in order to play a cancer patient in the film 'All Things Fall Apart'! Within a few months he was back to normal, how he did it is anyone's guess.






                                                                                                                                                                                    
After having health complications, Drew Cary shed 80 lbs in 2010 by doing cardio and sticking to a high-protein diet chocked full of fruits and veggies. He was actually able to reverse his type-2 diabetes by losing weight and eating right!


                                                                                                                                                                   
Talk about method acting! Christian Bale dropped almost 70 lbs to play the lead role in the Machinist. Eating only one apple and a cup of coffee per day, the actor wanted to lose more weight for the role but his doctor and the film's director told him enough was enough. He beefed back up to play Batman the next year!
                                                                  

Jennifer Hudson

Thanks to a workout routine and Jenny Craig, the actress went from a size 16 to a size 6 in just a year! She looked good before, she looks great now.

                                                              

Kristie Alley

One of Hollywood's most infamous yo-yo dieters, Kristie Alley's weight has fluctuated between 125 and 200 lbs for years. Between 2008 and 2010 she lost 50 lbs thanks to Jenny Craig, for whom she is a spokesperson.

                                      

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Prostitute Attack On Man Nearly Cost Him His Pen*s

What could have been a night to remember turned into a fully-fledged nightmare within a matter of minutes.

Having been on a night out with friends, the man in question went to a local brothel near the southern Spanish city of Malaga.
There he decided to engage in an orgy with three prostitutes.
Once all the action was over, the women demanded €70 each for their services, but the man refused to pay one of them.

"I realize now I must have been a bit of a pain because of the alcohol I’d had," he said.

After a heated argument between the four, the mood changed as two of the women started to stroke and seduce the client to make him calm down.
What happened next caught him completely off guard.
One of the sex workers pulled out a knife and slashed the man’s genitalia.

"I didn’t see it coming, she must have been in a really foul mood," the man, who preferred to remain anonymous said.

I used some bandages to apply a tourniquet to my penis and I caught a taxi to the nearest health centre.

"The cut was so deep doctors referred me to another hospital in Marbella."

His situation was so critical upon arrival, doctors had to give him a blood transfusion before he underwent surgery.

“The operation lasted two hours. Everything went well but doctors told me I was very close to dying or being impotent for the rest of my life.
I’ll never go back to a place like that. It’s over me now, never again.”

Naij

Many children 'slower runners than their parents were'

Many children cannot run as fast as their parents could when they were young, a study of global fitness says.

Experts say the work - being presented at the American Heart Association's annual meeting - suggests children's fitness levels may be declining.
Researchers analysed data spanning 46 years and involving more than 25 million children in 28 countries.
On average, children today run a mile 90 seconds slower than did their counterparts 30 years ago, they said.

“Start Quote

If a young person is generally unfit now, then they are more likely to develop conditions like heart disease later in life”

Lead researcher Dr Grant Tomkinson University of South Australia

• BBC - Health BMI calculator

Obesity

Across nations, cardiovascular endurance - gauged by how far children can run in a set time - has dwindled consistently by about 5% every decade, according to the findings.

The decline is seen in boys and girls and across all ages from nine to 17 years, and is linked to obesity, with some countries faring worse than others.
Lead researcher Dr Grant Tomkinson of the University of South Australia's School of Health Sciences said: "In fact, about 30% to 60% of the declines in endurance running performance can be explained by increases in fat mass."
The problem is largely one of Western countries, but some parts of Asia like South Korea, mainland China and Hong Kong are also seeing this phenomenon.
Dr Tomkinson said children needed to be inspired and encouraged to do more vigorous exercise.
If not, the public health consequences could be dire.
Huff and puff "If a young person is generally unfit now, then they are more likely to develop conditions like heart disease later in life," said Dr Tomkinson.
To stay healthy, children and young people need to do at least an hour of physical activity - such as walking or cycling to school and running in the playground - every day. It can be done in small chunks rather than one session.
Prof Michael Gwitz of the American Heart Association said: "The type of exercise is really important."
He says exercise must be something that "makes you sweat" and is "sustained and dynamic" to promote cardiovascular fitness.
Simply going to the gym or belonging to a school sports team might not be enough, unless you are moving around a lot.
Christopher Allen of the British Heart Foundation, said: "It's well established that being physically inactive in childhood can have serious health implications later in life.
"Keeping active can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and the sooner kids start, the better.
"By encouraging children to get active, we can help protect their hearts as they grow up. Parents, schools and community groups can all help kids on their way to 60 minutes exercise a day."



SOURCE:BBCNEWS

Antidepressant use on the rise in rich countries

The use of antidepressants has surged across the rich world over the past decade, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, raising concerns among doctors that pills are being overprescribed. Figures show that doctors in some countries are writing prescriptions for more than one in 10 adults, with Iceland, Australia, Canada and the other European Nordic countries leading the way. Separate data from the US shows that more than 10% of American adults use the medication. In China, the antidepressant market has grown by about 20% for each of the past three years, albeit from a lower base. Global rates of depression have not risen to the same extent, even though more people are being diagnosed in some countries. In its Health at a Glance report to be released on Thursday , the OECD said that rising consumption levels could be explained by the use of antidepressants in milder cases. "These extensions have raised concerns about appropriateness," it said. It added that the financial crisis may have been a factor in more recent increases in usage, noting that in Spain and Portugal, for example, antidepressant prescriptions have jumped by more than 20% over the past five years. Most psychiatrists agree that antidepressants work for people with severe illness but are not supposed to be the first resort for those with mild depression. Counselling and talking therapies, such as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), are recognised as just as effective over the long term. But counselling is in short supply in many countries. "We know that antidepressants work for moderate to severe depression," said Dr Mark van Ommeren, of the World Health Organisation's department of mental health and substance abuse. "The explosion of antidepressants you see in most countries reflects the fact that lots of people with moderate to severe depression are getting treatment – that's a good thing. "But the negative thing is that a lot of people are getting antidepressants who shouldn't be getting them. Doctors and healthcare providers should be able to recognise depression correctly so that those who need antidepressants get them and those with only mild cases do not get prescribed." The modern antidepressants known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), such as Prozac, took off in the 1990s and gained almost cult status with the publication of Elizabeth Wurtzel's book Prozac Nation in 1994. Doctors were happier to prescribe them because they did not have the addictive properties or side-effects of pills such as benzodiazepines. But the bubble seemed to burst within a few years, with stories of some, particularly younger, people attempting suicide while on the drugs. Some companies paid large sums to settle court cases in the US and UK doctors were warned in 2003 not to prescribe them to the under-18s. But the issues around the various medications do not seem to have affected the long-term upward trend. The OECD figures show Iceland to have the highest prescribing rate, at 105.8 doses a day for every 1,000 inhabitants in 2011, up from 70.9 in 2000 and 14.9 in 1989, when it first submitted figures. Three countries have figures in the 80s in 2011 – Australia, up from 45.4 in 2000 to 88.9 in 2011; Canada, up from 75 in 2007, when it first submitted figures, to 85.9 and Denmark, up from 34.8 to 85.2. The lowest rate in 2011 was in Chile, where 12.8 daily doses were prescribed for every 1,000 inhabitants. In the UK, rates have roughly doubled over the past decade to 70.7 for every 1,000 people. Most experts say that antidepressants are over-prescribed for some people but underused in others. "Antidepressants are widely oversubscribed to get rid of unhappiness," said Professor Tim Cantopher, consultant psychiatrist with the Priory Group in the UK. "They were not designed for that. Unhappiness is part of the human condition. But real clinical depression does respond to antidepressants. And not to prescribe in these cases is to sentence an individual to a far longer illness than he or she need suffer." Harvey Whiteford, Kratzmann professor of psychiatry and population health at the University of Queensland, Australia, said depression was very common and was the second leading cause of health-related disability. But in most OECD countries, he said, only about 50-60% of those suffering from depression got treatment, although the rates were increasing. The sort of treatment people needed varied according to their illness, he said. "There is good evidence that only major depression is likely to respond to antidepressants and other forms of depression much less so." Primary care physicians tend to prescribe drugs rather than CBT, although some countries, including the UK and Australia, have initiatives intended to increase the availability of counselling. Whiteford said: "My view is that antidepressants are often prescribed for the increasing numbers of people now coming to treatment for depression (including mild to moderate forms of depression) where CBT would be the better treatment. Thus, the prescribing rates are going up and some of this prescribing would be for types of depression better treated non-pharmacologically." A Better Access scheme, which subsidised CBT for common mental disorders, increased treatment rates in Australia from 37% in 2006-07 to 46% in 2009-10, Whiteford said. "To get access to psychologists for CBT under the scheme required referral from a GP who made the diagnosis and ruled out medical causes for the anxiety and depression. We hoped this would decrease the prescribing rates of medication with referral to a psychologist being substituted as first-line treatment for mild to moderate disorders. However, what seems to have happened is that most GPs prescribed and referred for CBT." Professor Tim Kendall, director of the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health in the UK, said he doubted whether the rise of antidepressant prescription was a result of better recognition of depression in so many countries. "It's much more likely a testament to the effective marketing by the pharmaceutical industry," he said. "I also wonder if, in better-off countries, which OECD countries are, we don't have time to be depressed and seek chemical solutions to 'get rid of it'." Dr Jordi Alonso, director of the programme of epidemiology and public health at the IMIM-Institut de Recerca hospital del Mar in Barcelona, Spain, said: "In my opinion, one major issue is that GPs have become familiar with the indications and results of antidepressants. Possible explanations of this fact are the time elapsed since new SSRIs were available and of course, the dissemination and publicity about their efficacy – with the lead of the companies who have produced them." source:theguardian

HELP! I Want To Marry My Wife’s Stepmother.

My wife’s parents divorced long ago, when she was probably around 11 years old. Her dad married a woman, “Trish,” 20 years younger than he, a woman he had an affair with while married, and had a child with her, in addition to the three kids he had with his first wife. My wife has resented her stepmother, and never really got over the whole thing very well.

---

Fast forward to today … and I think I’m in love with “Trish” now. For years we’ve crossed paths at family gatherings, and I always found her very attractive (we’re about the same age, 56, while my wife is several years younger than I), and we even flirted a bit over the years, but nothing significant. Her husband is now in very ill health, while at the same time my marriage is in awful shape, and I am no longer in love with my wife.

 

A few months ago, “Trish” chatted me up on Facebook — I don’t spend much time there and never had chatted there online, but we started chatting, and we became very close online, and confided in each other a great deal. Soon we started talking on the phone from time to time as well, and would kid around, or maybe it wasn’t kidding, about running off together, meeting for a romantic getaway, etc. Physically, there is no relationship here — just some hugs at family events, and some secret flirting there as well, but we never get together, just the two of us.

I have suggested going to a movie matinee with her, and she’s always real interested, but backs off eventually. She’s afraid of hurting people — she was the evil stepmother who broke up a marriage and stole my wife’s father from her … if we were to get together, she feels she would again be perceived as the bad person once again, this time taking a husband from my wife!

I told her we could get together so that it wouldn’t look so bad for her — I could move out on my own in a couple of years, after our own kids are away to college. Her husband, by then, will probably be deceased. At that point, “Trish” and I could date, and no one would know of our prior relationship. The other complications, I feel, would be minor — my own kids have “Trish” as their step-grandmother, and she would then become their stepmother. My wife is not close to her half-sister, so I don’t see a problem there, as she wouldn’t be involved with her in any event. I would go from being an in-law to my wife’s half-sister, to being her stepdad. Confused? I am!

should I just forget this whole thing, quit the chatting, and pretend the feelings don’t exist? Or can love conquer all? Or just keep it at a platonic simmer, and not get ahead of ourselves? I’m crazy about “Trish.” I know she has feelings for me as well. We both get anxious if we haven’t talked or chatted for a day or two, and it just feels so right. Or, perhaps “Trish” just needs me to help her through the tough times she has, being alone, taking care of a sick husband … and I need her to make up for the things that are lacking in my marriage. Maybe that in itself is enough, and leave it at that. I don’t know sometimes, and maybe we’re just two lost souls looking for answers. What do you think? What can I do?

Lost in Love, or Just Nuts …

Salon 

Leading Neurologist Says Grains Are Bad For Your Brain - Can Lead To Dementia, Chronic Headaches And Depression

Gluten allergies don't exist said a leading doctor last week, which surely should have given comfort to those of us who have avoided wheat grains for fear of headaches and bloating. But a leading neurologist, Dr David Perlmutter, has said we should avoid grains altogether, as they are contributing to some serious conditions and illnesses such as dementia, depression and chronic headaches. For those of us who have made the switch to healthier grains such as wholemeal, this will come as disconcerting news. But the doctor, who has just published Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar - Your Brain's Silent Killers has said that all grain-based carbs should be eliminated. He is the founder of the Perlmutter Health Center in Naples, Florida, reported News.com.au, who reported the doctor as saying that our brains thrive on fat and cholesterol but suffer when we eat grains. "Lifestyle factors are profoundly influential in determining risk for Alzheimer's, and yet, perhaps because they cannot be monetised, no one is bringing this information to public awareness," he wrote in a piece on Mind Body Green, The Surprising Ways Grains Are Destroying Your Brain. It's his belief that the risk of Alzheimer's disease can be reduced by changing your diet. On his website, he says: "During an appearance on the Dr. Oz show two ago, I was asked to highlight what I would consider to be the three items we should all be working into our diets more frequently to help support better brain health. Not knowing how popular it would later become, I outlined my “Anti-Alzheimer’s Trio,” three foods high in “brain-healthy” fat including grass-fed beef, coconut oil and avocados. "These items are all low in carbs and high in fat, helping to reduce some of that brain-bullying inflammation the root cause of so many ailments. Specifically, coconut oil is known as a rich source of beta-HBA, is one of our brain’s 'superfuels'." Dr Perlmutter's belief that grains are not good for the body echoes what other nutritionists have been saying, which is that our body's evolutionary clock is set 10,000 years ago, when we didn't have grains in our diet. Nutritionist and IBS expert Petronella Ravenshear says: "We’ve changed our diet in the last 10,000 years but our bodies haven't caught up yet. We didn't have things like grains and milk, and now it has become a part of our daily diet. After the second world war people were looking for cheap food sources and cereal and milk became one of them. People came into schools and said you need calcium for strong bones - well, we used to have strong bones without drinking milk because there was no such thing 10,000 years ago. "We are the only animals that have special foods for breakfast – I say eat what you fancy. If you want eggs, smoked salmon, or a piece of chicken, have it - it doesn’t have to be cereal based – it is not good for us. Gluten is Latin for glue because it has such a sticky characteristic – milk protein is also sticky." Dr Perlmutter, who also blogs for The Huffington Post US says: "As a practicing neurologist, I place central importance in applying current science to the notion of disease prevention." Here are his action points to help preserve your brain health and function: • Reduce your carbohydrate consumption immediately. Shoot for a total of no more than 80 grams of carbs in your daily diet. This means favoring vegetables that grow above ground like kale, broccoli, spinach, and cauliflower as opposed to those that store carbohydrate in the form of starch like potatoes and beets. It means limiting fruit consumption and being especially vigilant with things like fruit juice. A single 12 ounce glass of orange juice contains a full 36 grams of sugar. That's about 9 teaspoons -- the same as a can of soda. • Eat more fat. Increase your consumption of healthful fats like extra virgin olive oil, avocado, grass-fed beef, wild fish, coconut oil, nuts and seeds. At the same time, keep in mind that modified fats like hydrogenated or trans fats are the worst choices for brain health. Cooking oils like corn oil and soy oil that have been processed to stay on the grocery store shelf for months or even years have no place in a brain healthy program. • Get at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise each day. Aerobic exercise actually activates the DNA that turns on the growth of the hippocampus, giving you a second chance at not only preserving, but actually enhancing memory function. • Add a nutritional supplement providing approximately 1,000 mg of the omega-3 DHA to your daily supplements. Like aerobics, DHA also activates the gene pathway that enhances growth of new brain cells where you need them most -- in the memory center. SOURCE:HOFFPOST

Watch Believed To Time's President John F. Kennedy Death For Sale.

• 
  
  This undated photo provided by Christie’s shows the wristwatch believed to have been worn by the neurosurgeon who signed John F. Kennedy’s death certificate and an original certificate from the watchmaker. The 18-carat Patek Philippe timepiece is going on the auction block in New York City where it is estimated to bring up to $150,000 at Christie’s on Dec. 17. (AP Photo/Christie’s)

NEW YORK (AP) — A wristwatch that is believed to have been used to declare the time of President John F. Kennedy's death is going on the auction block in New York City.
The 18-carat Patek Philippe timepiece is estimated to bring up to $150,000 at Christie's on Dec. 17. The stopwatch was made in 1948 and purchased for Dr. Kemp Clark by his mother in Switzerland a year later for $750.
Clark was one of several attending physicians at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, when the president entered the emergency room. He pronounced Kennedy dead at 1 p.m. by referring to the watch, according to his family, and signed the death certificate.
"There is endless debate among historians on the actual time of death and there was most likely also a clock in the ER," said John Reardon, Christie's international co-head of watches. "However, the family and historians agree to these facts: the watch was on his wrist that day and he called the time of death and signed the death certificate."
Friday marks the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's assassination.
The Reference 1463 Patek was the Geneva-based company's first water-resistant chronograph wristwatch. It is being sold by Clark's direct descendants) and comes with its original red clamshell box, sales receipt and Patek Philippe certificate. The back is engraved with the doctor's name.
Clark, who died in 2007, created the neurosurgery service at Southwestern Medical School and Parkland Memorial Hospital in 1956 and the neurosurgery residency program in 1962.
A portion of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Red Cross.

Associated Press