Monday, July 28, 2008

Broccoli to the defence of prostate cancer


In Asia country such as Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and China, organic vegeterian diet is known as diet for post cancer treatment patients or the health conscious group. There is some matching between the Asian believes and the article below. Read on.

Just a few more portions of broccoli each week may protect men from prostate cancer, British researchers reported.

The researchers believe a chemical in the food sparks hundreds of genetic changes, activating some genes that fight cancer and switching off others that fuel tumours, said Richard Mithen, a biologist at Britain’s Institute of Food Research.

There is plenty of evidence linking a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables to reduce cancer risk. But the study published in the Public Library of Science journal, PLoS One, is the first human trial investigating the potential biological mechanism at work, Mithen added in a telephone interview.

“Everybody says eat vegetables but nobody can tell us why,” said Mithen, who lead the study. “Our study shows why vegetables are good.”

Prostate cancer is the second leading cancer killer of men after lung cancer. Each year, some 680,000 men worldwide are diagnosed with the disease and about 220,000 will die from it.

Mithen and colleagues split into 2 groups 24 men with precancerous lesions that increase prostate cancer risk and had them eat four extra servings of either broccoli or peas each week for a year

The researchers also took tissue samples over the course of the study and found that men who ate broccoli showed hundreds of changes in genes known to play a role in fighting cancer.

The benefit would likely be the same in other cruciferous vegetables that contain a compound called isothiocyanate, including brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, rocket or arugula, watercress and horse radish, they added.

Broccoli, however, has a particularly powerful type of the compound called sulforaphane, which the researchers think gives the green vegetable an extra cancer fighting kick, Mithen said.

“When people get cancer, some genes are switched off and some are switched on,” he said. “What broccoli seems to be doing is switching on genes which prevent cancer developing and switching off other one that help it spread.”

The broccoli eaters showed about 400 to 500 of the positive genetic changes with men carrying a gene called GSTM1 enjoying the most benefit. About half the population have the gene, Mithen said.

The researchers did not track the men long enough to see who got cancer but said the findings bolster the idea that just a few more vegetable portions each week can make a big difference.

It is also likely that these vegetables work the same way in other parts of the body and probably protect people against whole range of cancers, Mithen added.

“You don’t need a huge change in your diet,” he said. “Just a few more portions make a big difference.”

-Reuters

Saturday, July 26, 2008

What happens if I am overweight?

If you are overweight you have a greater chance of shortening your life. You will be the perfect candidate for developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, joint problems, gallbladder disease, sleep and lung problems and a host of other terminal diseases. Abdominal body fat, the ‘apple shape’, is a higher health risk than the ‘pear shape’.



Source: Health care booklet from Guardian pharmacy


Marco's comment:
First step to achieve wellness is to shape your body to ensure one is not overweight.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Burns are also wounds


Treating minor burns fast is essential. Cool the area with cold water or a cold pack to limit tissue damage and relieve pain. A pack of frozen peas or mixed vegetables will work just as well. An ice cube held in several layers of tissue or cloth is also quite effective.

Apply the cold pack (separate it from the skin by several layers of gauze or similar thin material) for about 30 minutes, after which the pain is usually reduced (remember that this applies to minor burns only.)

If the burn blisters (as with most burns), try preserving the blister as long as possible- the blister fluid is the perfect growth medium for repair of the burned skin.


Source: Health care booklet from Guardian pharmacy

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

What is your ideal weight?


Your ideal weight depends on how tall you are, your build, and whether you are a man or woman. One of the best ways of calculating a healthy weight is to work out your body mass index (BMI) by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. The ideal BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. Your risk of a number of health problems rises significantly from a BMI of 27 while anything over 29.9 is a serious health concern.

Another good check for healthy weight is to measure your waist. Women with a waist circumference of over 88 cm (35 inches) and men with waists of more than 102 cm (40 inches) are at much greater risk for disease.
Source: Health care booklet from Guardian pharmacy


Marco’s comment:
It is almost impossible for working class people in the city to exercise 3 times a week to maintain the well being of the body. At least, we shall help ourselves by maintaining our weight and waist circumference to be at the healthy level.

Women choose to lead healthier lifestyles


A woman is more likely to pick up a health-related publication than a man. It’s been said that women are concerned about their own health and that of their families more than men. This is because women are (most often) the decision makers in a home.

A woman needs to look after her own health first before she can look after her family’s. She needs to look into the health of her body, mind and soul. Only if she is healthy and strong will she be able to provide her family with the best nourishment possible.

Every woman should go for a regular health checks (at least once a year). A woman of child-bearing age should also go for routine gynecological checks with her doctor. Choosing to ignore this may warrant unwanted complications later in life.


Source: Health care booklet from Guardian pharmacy

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Scar facts


Whenever the skin (epidermis) is damaged, the tissue is rebuilt with only very slight scarring. However, when the layer of tissue below the skin (dermis) is damaged, a complex healing process begins which results in a scar. Red and raised scars (hypertrophic and keloid) can form as result of injury or accidents such as cuts and burns. Most scars fade and improve in appearance for about two years following an injury, but they never fully disappear and sweat glands and hair follicles never grow back.


Source: Health care booklet from Guardian pharmacy

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