Alcohol can Increases Risk for Cancer in Women

Few years back Scientists were claiming that, wine will reduce your HDL and thereby reducing the rate of Cardiovascular accidents. Now here is the news which might hurt a bit Alcohol lovers specailly women..

Medscape Medical News has posted, "Even low to moderate alcohol consumption significantly increases the risk for cancer, both overall and at specific sites, in women, according to results from the Million Women Study conducted in the United Kingdom.

The women in the study were middle-aged (median age, 55 years), and 75% said they drank alcohol, consuming — on average — 1 drink per day (100-g alcohol). Very few drank more than 3 or more drinks per day, and there was no difference between wine or other drinks, such as spirits, although most women drank wine.

Each drink significantly increased the risk for cancer, the researchers found.

For such women in developed countries, the researchers estimated a background incidence of 118 cancers diagnosed per 1000 women up to the age of 75 years.

Consuming 1 drink per day increased this to an extra 15 cancers per 1000 women, and 2 drinks a day increased it to an extra 30 cancers per 1000 women, they report. Most were breast cancers, but the risk for cancer was also increased for the liver and rectum, and for the mouth and throat in women who also smoked.

Cancers at these sites have been linked to alcohol in the past, but this study shows that even low to moderate consumption significantly increases the risk, lead author Naomi Allen, DPhil, from Oxford University, in the United Kingdom, told Medscape Oncology."

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Fewer Calories = Low weight regardless of proportion of carb. Protein, fat

Heartwire (WebMD) posts,

"People lose weight if they eat fewer calories, regardless of where those calories come from [1]. That's the upshot of a two-year study by Dr Frank Sacks (Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA) and colleagues, published in the February 26, 2009 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine."

"Research has looked at whether carbohydrate is more satiating than fat, or whether protein is more satiating than carbohydrates, or whether overeating fat puts more fat in the belly than overeating carbohydrates, etc," Sacks explained. "So what's concerned colleagues of mine on the nutrition guideline panels in the past is the possibility that if we say that a 40% fat diet is okay, that maybe that would lead to weight gain. But where this study is going to be helpful is in saying 40% fat, 20% fat, it doesn't matter. If people can maintain a calorie deficit no matter what type of diet they were on, they're going to lose weight."

"Diet Details

The diets tested in the study included the same types of foods, but in different proportions, and were tailored to patients such that overall calorie consumption was reduced by approximately 750 calories per day, with each diet including a different macronutrient composition:

• High-fat, average protein: 40% fat, 15% protein, 45% carbohydrate.
• High-fat, high-protein: 40% fat, 25% protein, 35% carbohydrate.
• Low-fat, average protein: 20% fat, 15% protein, 65% carbohydrate.
• Low-fat, high-protein: 20% fat, 25% protein, 55% carbohydrate.

Participants were advised to exercise for at least 90 minutes per week, at a moderate level, and were offered counseling sessions every eight weeks, with group sessions held weekly or biweekly over the course of the study.

In all, 80% of subjects completed the trial, and 14% to 15% of subjects managed to lose at least 10% of their initial body weight. Subjects randomized to different groups reported similar degrees of satisfaction, hunger, and satiety. All the diets reduced risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease at six months and two-year follow-up. At the two-year mark, the low-fat diets and the highest carbohydrate diet fared better than the high-fat diets and low-carb diet in terms of reducing LDL cholesterol. By contrast, the lowest carbohydrate diet improved HDL-cholesterol levels more than the highest carbohydrate diet. All of the diets produced slight improvements in blood pressure and decreased the number of patients with metabolic syndrome. All, with the exception of the highest carbohydrate diet, decreased fasting serum insulin levels."

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Controlling your State of your mind will make you happy:

Ultimate motive of everyone's life is to live happy. I am not trying to prove that I am a good philosopher but I have found a secret here and I wanna share it with you.

"Feel Good Inside and Out:

By Melissa Pheterson

A sound body deserves a sound mind. But if you're feeling blue, seeing red or seeking refuge from the proverbial skies of gray, you can't enjoy the optimal health you work so hard to achieve. Women are more likely than men to undergo depression — especially around menopause, perhaps due to hormonal changes. Genetics are a risk factor, too. And with a 15 percent mortality rate, depression is a serious problem.

While we can't tinker around inside our skulls, remember that feeling good physically can "rub off" on the brain. Here are strategies to feel at peace with the world.

1: Feed your brain

Look for low-calorie foods with lots of "crunch," suggests Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom, director of the UPMC Weight Management Center. It's like a vigorous workout for your teeth — a sweet release that helps deflect the binge of "stress-eating." We suggest carrots, celery and apples, rather than tortilla chips or the eponymous "Crunch" bar.

Don't use food to "self-medicate"; while it can bring comfort, remember that it's mainly a source of fuel. Brush your teeth, take a walk, and think it through, says Fernstrom. An extra slice of cake won't solve anything.

Avoid excessive stimulants like caffeine or guarana.

Nutrients like folate, vitamins B6 and B12 play a role in proper brain function, and might stave off depression. Find them in calcium-fortified OJ, kidney beans, acorn squash and bananas.

2: Breathe right

"Everyone needs a lesson in breathing," says Mark Liponis, M.D., author of UltraLongevity: The Seven Step Program for a Younger, Healthier You. The immune system responds instantly to any change in breathing because it signals a threat. Shallow, rapid gasps — the "hyperventilating" stress response — sends the immune system into overdrive. How to pass Breathing 101:

Slow it down — allow your diaphragm to fully contract.

Feel the breath through your entire lungs.

Remember to breathe out — many people don't! Exhale the air completely.

3: Know thyself

Everyone's got a different way of letting off steam. "Discover which relaxation methods work for you, and tuck them in your toolbox," says psychiatrist, columnist and best-selling author Gail Saltz, M.D. "For some, it's deep breathing; others thrive on exercise." And for others, it might be a heart-to-heart followed by a steaming-hot bath. Still wound-up? Try these:

Go steady: Studies suggest that rhythmic exercise is healthiest for the immune system. "Rhythms are built into the body's mechanism, and moving to a rhythmic beat is therapeutic," says Liponis. Think swimming, rowing, tango, or walking to your iPod playlist.

Get pinned: The National Institute of Health endorses acupuncture — the ancient Eastern practice of inserting thin needles at specific points in the body — for improved sleep, reduced levels of pain and a greater sense of well-being. And you thought needles were for spinsters...

4: Step out of the "same old story":

Do you déjà vu? Many women find themselves unwittingly and maddeningly repeating behavior that stymies their growth, development and fulfillment — at the office, in relationships, around their family. Do you find yourself caught in the same trap, over and over? Try the three R's:

Review

Reality-check

Re-evaluate

"The most important thing really is self-knowledge — recognizing patterns and understanding what lies beneath," says Saltz. "We're often living an old story of something that happened long ago." To break the repetition, step out of the story to review it from an outsider's perspective. Give yourself a reality-check to find the root of the problem. And remember, the best vantage point can often be found on the therapist's couch, where you can get help re-evaluating the situation.

Study: Proximity to fast-food restaurants linked to stroke risk

You wont believe this, "Living close to a fast food restaurant can increase your chances of stroke." Don't get panicky of course, if you are not eating fast food you are not risk. think again.... when you will pass by the restaurant, wont you grab a snack.. yes you might...(CNN) reports -- "A person's risk of stroke is associated with the number of fast-food restaurants near their residence, according to a study presented Thursday at a stroke conference in San Diego, California.

Fast-food restaurants may be associated with stroke risk, a new study says. Some say there's not enough evidence.

Researchers led by Dr. Lewis B. Morgenstern at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor counted 1,247 strokes caused by blood clots in 64 census tracts in Nueces County, Texas, which includes Corpus Christi, from January 2000 through June 2003.

They also mapped the county's 262 fast-food restaurants and then adjusted for socioeconomic status and demographics and found a statistically significant association.

"The association suggested that the risk of stroke in a neighborhood increased by 1 percent for every fast-food restaurant," the authors wrote in a poster presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference.

Residents of neighborhoods in the 75th percentile of fast-food restaurants had a 6 percent increased risk of stroke compared with residents of the 25th percentile of such eateries, according to the study, which was paid for by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke."

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Polio moves toward global eradication

I am very excited about this great news. I personally have seen so many cases of Polio and I definitely understand how horrible is to have this disease. It makes a child cripple for whole life.
(CNN) reports-- "With a chance of winning an Oscar on Sunday, the director of "The Final Inch" says she hopes her documentary will shed light on the often over-looked issue of polio eradication.
The more doses of the vaccination a child receives, the better protected the child is from contracting polio.

The more doses of the vaccination a child receives, the better protected the child is from contracting polio.
"I felt like I was looking at something that no one in the world talks about," Irene Taylor Brodsky, who also helped produce the film, said in a recent interview.

Filming the short documentary was an "eye-opening experience," she said, particularly for one of her co-producers who had to wear a bulletproof vest during filming in Afghanistan.

"The Final Inch" is a testament of the health workers around the world laboring to make polio the second globally eliminated disease behind small pox, Brodsky said.

The 37-minute film, which is scheduled to air on HBO on April 1, has been nominated for an Academy Award in the best documentary short subject category. The awards ceremony is Sunday night.

The film focuses on "the final stages of a 20 year initiative" to eradicate polio around the world, Brodsky said.

Polio is a highly infectious disease which lingers in the poor water systems of India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan.

The more doses of the vaccination a child receives, the better protected the child is from contracting polio.

"The Final Inch" focuses on the polio vaccine efforts in India and Pakistan.

Brodsky said she hoped to include Afghanistan, but that became impossible because of the threat of violence and social barriers. Producer Tom Grant had to wear a bulletproof vest while filming in the war-torn country."

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Boost your memory by reducing calories in your diet

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Boost your memory by reducing calories in your diet
Posted by JS PS on Sunday, February 22, 2009 Under: Healthy Lifestyle
I have been suggesting for ages that if nothing kills one, then eating might kill him one day. What not you can get by eating more. you know very well about all diseases, excessive eating might lead to. "CNN reports
"Having a senior moment? A new study suggests that cutting calories may help.
Cutting down on calories could help women retain their memory, according to a study conducted in Germany.

I have been suggesting for ages that if nothing kills one, then eating might kill him one day. What not you can get by eating more. you know very well about all diseases, excessive eating might lead to. "CNN reports
"Having a senior moment? A new study suggests that cutting calories may help.
Cutting down on calories could help women retain their memory, according to a study conducted in Germany.
Older adults who cut down on the amount of calories they consume get a two-for-one special: weight loss and better memory.

Healthy women ranging in age from 50 to 80 who reduced their calorie intake by 30 percent for three months not only lost weight, but their scores on verbal memory tests also shot up by 20 percent, according to a study conducted by Dr. Agnes Floel and her colleagues from the University of Munster in Germany, who published the results in the January issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"The results seem pretty dramatic," said Mark P. Mattson, a senior investigator at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) in Bethesda, Maryland.

"Even though the number of subjects in the study was not really high, they had really high, statistically significant improvements in their performance on the memory test," added Mattson, who studies caloric restriction and the brain in his role as chief of the Cellular and Molecular Neurosciences Section at the NIA's Laboratory of Neurosciences. He was not involved in Floel's investigation."

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