NON-ORGANIC PESTICIDES'SIDE EFFECTS

Concern- some pesticides may cause cancer, birth defects, nerve damage & other ills.

Remedy- eat organic varieties of the most tainted items- apples, celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, hot peppers, imported nectarines, peaches, potatoes, spinach, strawberries, sweet bell peppers, collard greens, summer squash. Wash all produce thoroughly especially the non-organic ones.

SIDE EFFECTS OF DRY-CLEANING

Contains- Perchloroethylene (PERC)

Concern- most dry cleaning fluid (PERC), has been linked to headaches, damage to kidneys, central nervous system, & liver.

Remedy- remove clothing from bags, air them out before storing them.

AVOID CANNED FOODS

Contain- Bisphenol A (BPA)

Concern- BPA is linked to reproductive harm, cancer & abnormalities in brain functions & fat metabolism in animal studies.

Remedy- stick to fresh or frozen foods.

HARSH HOUSE-HOLD CLEANERS ARE HEARMFUL

Contain- phosphate, chlorine & petroleum based chemicals.

Concern- they can cause skin rashes, eye irritation, coughing, wheezing & more problems.

Remedy- use plant friendly cleaners or mix your own from baking soda & vinegar.

HOW ANTI-BACTERIAL PRODUCTS' HARM

CONTAIN- triclosan

concern- animal studies have shown that the chemical can disrupt sex & thyroid hormones essential for normal development & reproduction. They may also cause resistance to anti-biotics.

Remedy- stick to plain soap & water to clean hands. They kill just as many germs & are more eco-friendly.

HARMFUL CHEMICALS IN OIL BASED PAINTS

CONTAIN- VOCs- volatile organic compounds

Causes for concern- VOCs in oil based paints have been linked to headaches, nausea, respiratory irritation, decreased fertility & damage to the liver, kidneys & central nervous system.

Remedy- use low VOC or VOC free paint, open windows when painting.

AVOID VINYL SHOWER CURTAINS

THESE CURTAINS CONTAIN PHTHALATES & VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS OR VOCs.

CONCERN- these curtains are made from a type of plastic called polyvinyl chloride or PVC. It contains high levels of phthalates- a group of chemicals linked to reproductive problems & birth defects in animal studies, as well as 108 VOCs. Both are more active during a hot shower.

Remedy- look for PVC free vinyl or use nylon, polyester or other fabric curtains.

Probiotic yogurt may change brain function

Eating pro-biotic yoghurt can not only alter your gut bacteria for the better, it may also change your brain function, scientists say.

Researchers now have the first evidence that bacteria ingested in food can affect brain function in humans.

In a small study of healthy women, between the ages of 18 and 55, researchers found that women who regularly consumed beneficial bacteria known as probiotics through yoghurt showed altered brain function, both while in a resting state and in response to an emotion-recognition task.

The discovery that changing the bacterial environment, or micro-biota, in the gut can affect the brain carries significant implications for future research that could point the way toward dietary or drug interventions to improve brain function, the researchers said.

"Many of us have a container of yoghurt in our refrigerator that we may eat for enjoyment, for calcium or because we think it might help our health in other ways," said a Dr .

The research findings indicate that some of the contents of yoghurt may actually change the way our brain responds to the environment. When we consider the implications of this work, the old sayings 'you are what you eat' and 'gut feelings' take on new meaning, said a researcher.

Researchers divided the women into three groups: one group ate a specific yoghurt containing a mix of several probiotics twice a day for four weeks; another group consumed a dairy product that looked and tasted like yoghurt but had no probiotics; and third group ate no product at all.

They found that, compared with women who didn't consume the pro-biotic yoghurt, those who did showed a decrease in activity in both the insula - which processes and integrates internal body sensations, like those from the gut - and the somatosensory cortex during the emotional reactivity task.

Further, in response to the task, these women had a decrease in the engagement of a widespread network in the brain that includes emotion-, cognition- and sensory-related areas. The women in the other two groups showed a stable or increased activity in this network.

During the resting brain scan, the women consuming probiotics showed greater connectivity between a key brain-stem region known as the periaqueductal grey and cognition-associated areas of the pre-frontal cortex.

The women who ate no product at all, on the other hand, showed greater connectivity of the periaqueductal grey to emotion- and sensation-related regions, while the group consuming the non-probiotic dairy product showed results in between.

The researchers were surprised to find that the brain effects could be seen in many areas, including those involved in sensory processing and not merely those associated with emotion.

Baby heart disease gene found

A new gene associated with a form of congenital heart 

disease in new born babies, known as `a hole in the heart`, 

has been discovered by scientists.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common form of 

congenital malformation, occurring in seven in 1000 babies 

born and is one of the major causes of childhood death and 

illness.

Most patients born with CHD now survive to adulthood, so 

identifying the responsible genes is important as experts 

attempt to provide individual-specific genetic counselling for 

these people.

The study looked at over 2,000 CHD patients and measured 

over 500,000 genetic markers which vary in the general 

population.

The genetic markers in the patients were compared to the 

markers of over 5,600 people in good health who acted as a 

control group.

The researchers found a relationship between a particular 

region of the human genome and risk of atrial septal defect 

(ASD) - a "hole" between the heart`s blood-collecting 

chambers, which they went on to confirm in additional cases 

of atrial septal defect and healthy controls.

We found that a common genetic variation near a gene 

called Msx1 was strongly associated with the risk of a 

particular type of CHD called atrial septal defect or hole in 

the heart," a Dr. said.

 

"ASD is one of the most common forms of congenital heart disease, and it  carries a risk of heart failure and stroke. We estimated that around 10 per cent of ASDs may be due to the gene we found. We can now work to find out how Msx1 and/or its neighbour genes affect the risk of ASD," said a Dr.

Researchers looked at all the major types of congenial heart disease (CHD), but they did not find a genetic marker common in all types of CHD.

"Our work also suggests that if we conduct larger studies we will be able to find genes that cause other types of CHD. Although we are not there yet, further studies may enable us to give better genetic counselling to high risk families," said a Dr.

"Also, when we identify genes important in the development of the heart because they have gone wrong, it helps us understand normal development better.

"Such an understanding is fundamental to any attempt to treat people with heart disease at any age - for example those suffering from heart failure - using regenerative medicine,"  said a Dr.

Statins can cut arthritis risk by half

In a major study, a daily dose of cholesterol-lowering drug statins has been shown to more than halve the chances of getting arthritis.

British researchers believe the breakthrough could pave the way for low-cost pills that can ward off osteoarthritis.

Keele University carried out the research because of growing evidence that arthritis is not just down to wear and tear as the body ages but also inflammation in the joints.

The study of more than 16,000 adults found that people on the highest doses of statins - 18.5mg or more a day - had 60 per cent lower osteoarthritis rates than people not taking the drugs.

Taking between 10 mg to 18.5 mg a day resulted in a 20 per cent reduction in the chances of getting it.

But researchers were puzzled by the fact that some people on very low doses seemed to be at higher risk of arthritis than patients not taking statins.

Osteoarthritis affects at least 8.5 million, causing pain - usually in the hands, spine, knees and hips - as bones rub against each other as cartilage breaks down.

The researchers behind the study said the findings suggest the condition may be more closely linked to heart disease than first thought.

"Our work has shown that the risk factors for cardiovascular disease are also associated with osteoarthritis. The co-occurrence of osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disease is common," they wrote.

But experts said that more research is needed before statins could be given to patients most at risk or in the early stages of the disease.

As well as lowering cholesterol, statins are known to have an anti-inflammatory effect in fighting heart disease. Doctors believe they should be given to protect against cancer and Alzheimer`s as well as easing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis and protect diabetes sufferers against heart disease.

However last week there were warnings that statins can increase the risk of diabetes. 

Pesticides, solvents may up Parkinson`s risk

Exposure to pesticides, or bug and weed killers, and solvents is likely associated with a higher risk of developing Parkinson`s disease, a large analysis of more than 100 studies from around the world has revealed. 

"Due to this association, there was also a link between farming or country living and developing Parkinson`s in some of the studies," said the study author .

For the analysis, researchers reviewed 104 studies that looked at exposure to weed, fungus, rodent or bug killers, and solvents and the risk of developing Parkinson`s disease. Studies that evaluated the proximity of exposure, such as country living, work occupation and well water drinking were also included.

The research found that exposure to bug or weed killers and solvents increased the risk of developing Parkinson`s disease by 33 to 80 percent. In controlled studies, exposure to the weed killer paraquat or the fungicides maneb and mancozeb was associated with two times the risk of developing the disease.

We didn`t study whether the type of exposure, such as whether the compound was inhaled or absorbed through the skin and the method of application, such as spraying or mixing, affected Parkinson`s risk," said one of the researcher.

"However, our study suggests that the risk increases in a dose response manner as the length of exposure to these chemicals increases," the researcher added.

Arugula Salad

When it comes to leafy greens, arugula is a super food: rich in vitamins and bone-building calcium. Toss in some shredded parmesan cheese and slivered almonds to get 215 mg of calcium in a small, tasty salad. That’s twice what you'd get in a slice of cheese quiche.

• Arugula (1 cup): 125 mg calcium
• Almonds (12 nuts): 35 mg calcium
• Parmesan (1 Tbsp): 55 mg calcium

Flatbread Pizza

As an appetizer or a meal, a flatbread pizza with the right toppings can be packed with calcium. And that's before adding cheese! Start with crumbled, canned salmon and plenty of arugula for a pie that's got more calcium than a large glass of milk.

• Arugula (1 cup): 125 mg calcium

• Salmon (3 oz.): 325 mg calcium
• Flatbread crust: 113 mg calcium

Figs Stuffed With Manchego Cheese

Stuff sweet, chewy fresh figs with interesting cheeses to make an appetizer full of flavour. Spanish Manchego is a tangy choice made from sheep's milk and loaded with calcium. Two Manchego-stuffed figs provide 362 mg of calcium -- with just 150 calories.

• Manchego (1 oz.): 300 mg calcium
• Figs (2): 62 mg calcium

Stuffed Grape Leaves

Stuffed grape leaves are a Greek speciality. They're usually made with rice, aromatic herbs and spices, ground beef, and leaves from a grape vine. The olive-green leaves have some calcium, and dipping them in non-fat Greek yogurt boosts the total. Six stuffed leaves with 1/4 cup of yoghurt sauce add up to 147 mg of calcium – about 15% of what you need in a day.

Dandelion Greens

Dandelions can invade a prized lawn, but cooks love the greens for their peppery flavour. The leaves are also loaded with nutrients, and have more calcium than you'd get from spinach. Wilted or sautéed, dandelions make a flavourful side dish. Oil, garlic, and other seasoning help balance the peppery bite.

• Dandelion greens (1 cup): 147 mg calcium

Broccolini

This green vegetable tastes a little sweeter than its big brother broccoli. Broccolini has small florets and long, tender stalks that don't need to be peeled. Roast or sauté the spears for robust flavour. Or steam them briefly, making sure not to lose the vivid green colour. Quick cooking helps retain the vitamins.

• Broccolini (1 cup): 55 mg calcium

Baby Bok Choy

With green leaves and white stalks, baby bok choy looks like regular bok choy in miniature. But this variety of Chinese cabbage is milder and more tender. Try cooking and serving heads of baby bok choy whole, rather than chopping the vegetable. It works great in a stir fry or as a side dish.

• Baby bok choy (1 cup): 75-80 mg calcium

Salmon Croquettes With Dill Sauce

Salmon croquettes are a savoury way to get more calcium. And canned salmon offers 10-20 times more calcium than fillets. Whip up a creamy dill sauce with non-fat Greek yoghurt for 315 mg of calcium in two cakes. The major sources:

• Canned salmon (6 oz.): 181 mg calcium
• Greek yogurt (2 Tbsp): 59 mg calcium

Stuffed Sesame Chicken

 Stuff a chicken breast with a mix of creamy ricotta cheese and spinach. Coat it with sesame seeds, season, and bake as usual. One serving has 251 mg of calcium -- about a quarter of what you need every day.

Stuffed Manicotti

Stuffing manicotti pasta shells is a simple way to add flavour and calcium to a pasta dish. Use skim ricotta cheese to trim some calories in this easy classic. Cover the shells with spicy or garlicky tomato sauce and bake for a quick dinner. Two stuffed shells have more calcium than a glass of milk.

• Part-skim ricotta (½ cup): 335 mg calcium
• Tomato sauce (½ cup ): 16 mg calcium

Almond Cake

Almond cake uses finely ground almonds instead of wheat flour. Their subtle flavor balances the sugar and citrus zest, and the nuts provide a little calcium, too. Add a low-fat, lemon cream cheese frosting to get about 110 mg of calcium in one serving.

Chocolate Mousse

This ultra-creamy dessert is one sweet way to help meet your calcium needs.

The chocolate, milk, and eggs in the recipe all contribute small amounts to add up to 100 mg of calcium per half cup. If you crave chocolate mousse -- but not the full load of calories, fat, and cholesterol -- try the reduced-fat versions found in many markets.

HOW MUCH CALCIUM SUPPLEMENT DOES ONE NEED?

Are you getting enough calcium in your diet? Maybe not.  It depends on your age. According 

to the Institute of Medicine, the recommended daily amount of calcium to get is:

• 
  
• 1-3 years: 700 milligrams daily
• 
  
• 4-8 years: 1,000 milligrams daily
• 
  
• 9-18 years: 1,300 milligrams daily
• 
  
• 19-50 years: 1,000 milligrams daily
• 
  
• 51-70 years: 1,200 milligrams daily for women; 1,000 milligrams daily for men
• 
  
• 71 and older: 1,200 milligrams daily

According to a study, most get enough calcium, except for girls 9 to 18 years old. Although 

women’s recommended calcium needs to increase with menopause, post-menopausal 

woman taking supplements may also be at greater risk of getting too much calcium.

We know that peak bone mass occurs around age 30, so it's very important in childhood 

and adolescence to have a healthy intake of calcium early on. 

After age 30, we start to gradually lose bone, and that loss accelerates for women at the 

time of menopause. So it's very important to stave off bone loss with adequate calcium 

intake.

Your health care provider may recommend calcium supplements. But with so many 

choices of calcium supplements, where should you start? Here's what you need to know.

What kind of calcium supplement should you take?

Best is  to take the kind that one tolerates best and is least expensive. A Dr. recommends 

calcium carbonate because "it's inexpensive, won't cause discomfort, and is a good source 

of calcium."

Some people's bodies may have problems making enough stomach acid, or may be 

taking medications that suppress acid production. For them, a calcium citrate supplement 

might be better because it "dissolves a little better than calcium carbonate for these 

people.

Experts note that supplements that combine calcium with vitamin D -- which is essential for 

the body to appropriately absorb calcium -- provide an added benefit.

What calcium supplement dose is best?

The body can absorb only about 500 milligrams of a calcium supplement at any one time, 

 so you can't just down a 1000-mg supplement first thing in the morning and call it a day.

Instead, split your dose into two or three servings a day. "The best way to take it is, with a 

meal; calcium is absorbed better that way. If your daily diet includes calcium-containing 

foods and drinks, you may not need multiple doses.

Can you take too much calcium?

The upper limit of daily calcium for people between the ages of 19 and 50 is 2,500 

milligrams, and for those 51 and older it’s 2,000 mg.

Calcium supplements rarely cause excessive calcium levels in the bloodstream. "It 

doesn't hurt you, but it's not particularly beneficial, either.

One exception: people who have a tendency to make kidney stones. "You might make 

larger and more frequent stones with unusually high doses of calcium."

Can I skip calcium supplements and get what I need from my diet?

Yes. But it's going to take some work.

How can you tell if you're getting enough calcium? Try tracking how much you get for a 

week. "Write down what you eat for a week. Figure out how much calcium is in what you've 

eaten during that time. Then divide by seven, most probably you'll be well under 1,000 

milligrams.

Some of your best sources of dietary calcium are yoghurt (over 400 milligrams per 8-

ounce serving), non-fat milk (about 300 milligrams per serving), and cheeses like 

mozzarella and cheddar (between 275 and 315 milligrams per serving). Some dark green 

vegetables, like spinach, are fairly high in calcium as well.

Keep in mind that there's really not that much difference between getting calcium in a 

supplement and calcium in food.

Ideally, if you have a good, healthy diet, and get all your nutrients including calcium from 

that, that's best. But the calcium in food and the calcium in supplements is identical.

What would a good, calcium-rich diet look like?

If you drank a glass of milk (300 milligrams of calcium) with a calcium-fortified cereal for 

breakfast (400 milligrams of calcium), you'd get 70% of the 1,000-milligram 

recommended daily amount of calcium for an adult age 19-50 with that meal alone.

Or, you could have a carton of yoghurt (415 milligrams of calcium) with 6 ounces calcium-

fortified orange juice (250 milligrams of calcium) for a total of 665 milligrams of calcium. 

Calcium-fortified foods -- such as cereals, some juices, and soy milk -- are excellent 

sources of the mineral.

Later that day, if you add 3 ounces of canned salmon (180 milligrams of calcium) on your 

lunch salad, snack on 1.5 ounces of cheddar cheese (306 milligrams of calcium), have 

half a cup of spinach with dinner (120 milligrams of calcium), and enjoy half a cup of ice 

cream for desert (85 milligrams of calcium), you would have gotten more than enough 

calcium for an average adult. One can even add some sesame sweet balls, as then one 

can get calcium &  some iron too, black sesame seeds have 400 times more calcium 

than the white one, as black alone is difficult to eat, best is to combine black & white 

sesame seeds & use in your daily diet.

What would a good, calcium-rich diet look like? 

If you don't eat dairy products, good sources of calcium include tofu 

made with calcium sulfate (138 milligrams of calcium per half-cup 

serving); leafy dark green vegetables such as spinach, kale, or turnip 

greens; and calcium-fortified foods.

So do your best to get your calcium the tasty way. But if you can't, a 

simple, inexpensive calcium supplement can help keep your bones 

just as healthy.

Understanding Hiatal Hernia -- Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of a Hiatal Hernia?

The majority of people who have hiatal hernias don't even realize it. Those who do know 

typically find out when visiting a doctor because of chronic heartburn. Symptoms may 

include the following:

• Heartburn; regurgitation
• Difficulty swallowing
• Chest pain radiating from below the breastbone (the sternum)
• A bloated feeling after eating
• Shortness of breath

Call Your Doctor About a Hiatal Hernia If:

Radiating chest pain is not relieved by taking an antacid. You may have angina (the chest pain associated with heart disease), or you may be having a heart attack. Get medical care immediately.

You are being treated for heartburn or hiatal hernia, and you feel sudden chest or stomach pain, have difficulty swallowing, are vomiting, or are unable to have a bowel movement or pass gas. You may have a hernia that has become obstructed or strangulated, which are emergencies. Seek medical help without delay.

Your hiatal hernia is accompanied by chronic heartburn. Stomach acid is repeatedly burning your esophagus, which can lead to esophagitis (an inflamed and ulcerated esophagus), esophageal bleeding or scarring, or cancer. See a doctor soon.

Heartburn Symptoms

Heartburn is the symptom of acid reflux and GERD; however, not everyone with acid reflux 

has heartburn and not everyone with heartburn has acid reflux. The symptom of heartburn 

can also be caused by other unusual things such as intestinal motility problems. Cardiac 

problems can also mimic heartburn and you should not confuse the two. Unexplained chest 

pain should be evaluated by an exercise stress test or EKG prior to an evaluation for 

gastrointestinal problems.

Many people have different acid reflux-related heartburn triggers, but most people have 

similar heartburn symptoms.

• A burning feeling in the chest just behind the breastbone that occurs after eating and lasts 
• a few minutes to several hours.
• 
  
• Chest pain, especially after bending over, lying down, or eating.
• 
  
• Burning in the throat -- or hot, sour, acidic or salty-tasting fluid at the back of the throat.
• 
  
• Difficulty swallowing.
• 
  
• Feeling of food "sticking" in the middle of the chest or throat.
• 
  
• Heartburn may cause chronic cough, sore throat, or chronic hoarseness.

Reporting these symptoms is usually all that is needed for your doctor to make the diagnosis 

of heartburn. However, your doctor may perform special tests to determine the severity of 

your problem or to monitor your treatment. Special tests may also be needed if you have 

unusual symptoms such as weight loss or suffer from the complications of GERD.

Is It Heartburn or a Heart Attack?

Chest pain is one of the most common reasons a person goes to the emergency room. 

While many of these patients are suffering from a heart attack, some actually may be 

experiencing severe heartburn.

Often, the pain caused by a heart attack and during a severe heartburn episode is so difficult 

to distinguish that sophisticated medical testing is needed to determine whether or not you 

are having a heart attack. To complicate matters even more, the two problems have many of 

the same symptoms and occur in similar types of people (For example, older age and 

overweight people.)

Signs more typical of heartburn include:

• A sharp, burning sensation just below the breastbone or ribs.
• Pain generally does not radiate to the shoulders, neck, or arms, but it can.
• Pain usually comes after meals, when lying on the back, when exercising or when experiencing anxiety.
• Symptoms usually respond quickly to antacids.
• Rarely accompanied by a cold sweat.

Signs more typical of angina (severe pain in chest area) or heart attack include:

• A feeling of fullness, tightness, or dull pressure or pain generally in the center of the chest.
• The feeling of a belt being tightened around your chest
• Sudden chest pain or pressure that worsens
• Dizziness
• Pain may spread to the shoulders, neck, jaw or arms
• Pain often responds quickly to nitroglycerin
• Shortness of breath
• Often accompanied by a cold sweat
• Possible light-headedness

If you have any pain that lasts for more than a few minutes or any warning signs of a heart 

attack, seek immediate medical attention. If there's any confusion about whether your 

symptoms are heartburn or a heart attack, also seek immediate medical attention.

Schizophrenia symptoms set in early but often ignored

Doctors say that if the disease is detected early, 40% patients can be cured completely.

The number of schizophrenia cases being reported in the 

state is on the rise. But lack of awareness, the stigma 

associated with the condition and other such factors are 

preventing families from identifying it early in life. In fact, 

experts say that symptoms of the disease can be seen in 

early adolescence and teenage but most of the times, 

families miss or deliberately ignore these symptoms due to 

their reluctance to accept the fact that there is a problem.    

“Of the 280 new patients that I have here, 60% are cases of 

schizophrenia. Most of them are in the age group of 30 to 45 

years. It is quite probable that they may have exhibited 

symptoms in their teenage years itself which were ignored 

due to lack of awareness,” said a Dr.

According to him, 40% of schizophrenia cases can be treated 

completely if detected early. In the rest, 50% of time it is 

possible to control it with medicines.

But often, by the time patients come to us it is too late. 

Moreover, you should remember that schizophrenia is a 

disorder, not a disease. In hardly 10% of the cases does it so 

happen that patients come to us the moment they detect any 

symptoms,” said a Dr. He said that families take quite some 

time to accept that their loved one is a patient of 

schizophrenia. 

It is a biological, psychological and social disorder caused by 

neuro-chemical imbalance in the brain. “In many cases the 

patients exhibit odd behaviour very early in their teens 

including being in their own thoughts, a belief that they have 

a sixth sense, having delusions and hallucinations. But 

families often dismiss such behaviour as part of the child’s 

personality instead of considering the possibility of these 

being symptoms of schizophrenia,” said a Dr.   

Another psychiatrist,  said that many of the symptoms 

associated with the disease when exhibited by patients in 

their teens are termed as ‘good behaviour’ by parents and 

families.   

“When a teenager stays alone, doesn't have many friends 

and lives in his own world, parents believe that she/he is 

being a good child. The cases that get detected early are 

often the ones in which the patients turn aggressive,” said a 

Dr.

Those cases that don’t show aggressive symptoms are 

invariably detected late and the response to medication too is 

often sluggish. He jokes that as in the Parliament, so in 

schizophrenia it is aggressive behaviour that first draws 

attention to the fact that something is wrong.