Category: Health

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Food And Recipes Health

Research – Eating Chocolate Fights Obesity – Lowers Blood Sugar Levels

Scientists found that an antioxidant in cocoa can prevent weight gain and help lower blood sugar levels.

The researchers say there is also evidence to suggest eating dark chocolate can improve thinking, decrease appetite and lower blood pressure.

The latest study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, revealed that an antioxidant in cocoa can prevent mice from gaining weight and that it also lowered their blood sugar levels.

Dr Andrew Neilson and his colleagues explained this is because cocoa, the basic ingredient of chocolate, is one of the most flavanol-rich foods available.

This is good because antioxidants – of which flavanols are one type – have been shown to help fight weight gain and Type 2 diabetes.

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Domestic Policies Health Healthcare News ObamaCare Politics

March 31 Is Only The Beginning

I suppose it would have been fitting if the Obama Administration had scheduled April Fool’s Day as the last day to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. We’ve certainly been treated to a smorgasbord of ineptitude, shifting deadlines, executive pronouncements that let certain economic sectors off the hook, and some rude, disrespectful, sometimes hateful objections from the right-wing about the entire business.

That’s why March 31 is so important. It represents the end of the first, and possibly most vital, stage of the implementation of the act. Millions of people have signed up for heath insurance. Millions of others are now covered by Medicaid. The federal and state websites are still balky, but they work. The end of the beginning is upon us. It can only get better from here. And the best part is that the law is working.

Republicans have dropped their demand that the law be scrapped, which six months ago looked like a possibility as they shut down the government and Healthcare.gov showed exactly what can go wrong when the government attempts to shortchange the software cycle. Now the arguments are that the law needs to be fixed, although GOP candidates are running against it to the exclusion of everything else, except perhaps voter ID laws that will guarantee a Republican majority in the House for the foreseeable future. Even Democrats in tossup races in Louisiana and North Carolina are talking about fixing the law so it doesn’t ensnare the middle class and endanger employer-provided health insurance.

The problem is that, over time, that’s exactly what the law will accomplish. We are moving into uncharted waters, where the employer mandate will shift and companies will start to drop health insurance from their benefit plans. How this will work is the key. Will companies give employees a voucher with a dollar amount attached to it to buy insurance? Will they raise wages so people can pay for their own policies? Will insurance companies bring down the cost of policies so they can remain viable? Will we eventually get a public option that takes private insurance out of the economy? These are the questions that will define how successfully the ACA reforms the health care industry. Follow the money. That’s always been the gold standard of social change.

My sense is that employer-sponsored health insurance will be gone from most industries within 7-10 years, and the fallout won’t be as bad as some have predicted. Companies have a vital interest in the health of their workers and insurance companies won’t want to price people out of plans. Without the major expense of providing health insurance, companies will be able to pay workers more, though not too much more. The minimum wage will be less of a burden as it rises. Workers will need to make healthier choices and get checked more often before health issues become major concerns. The GOP calls this personal responsibility, and they accuse the Democrats of coddling the country with social programs. The ACA will do more for people taking control of their health than anything we’ve done in the United States. Remembers, the ACA is based on Republican ideas. That’s why the law is both a curse and a blessing.

All of that is in the future. For now, President Obama’s approval numbers are in the tank. History will remember him far more positively.

Register your comments at www.facebook.com/WhereDemocracyLives and on Twitter @rigrundfest

Categories
Food And Recipes Health

Healthy (And Oh So Tasty) Smoothies

These healthy smoothies are the perfect morning meal or mid-day snack.
Cherry-Almond Smoothie
Carrot-Apple Smoothie
Mango-Berry Smoothie
Piña Colada Smoothie
Chocolate-Banana Smoothie
Pumpkin Smoothie
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Health

Breakthrough Study in Freezing Patients to Save Gunshot and Stabbing Victims

Suspend animation could buy gunshot and stabbing victims the few precious seconds separating life from death if a Pittsburgh hospital is correct.

After a three-year approval process, a groundbreaking trial starting as early as next week at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center will evaluate whether the new technique can save lives.

‘We just want to review everything one more time,’ said trial leader and professor of critical care Dr. Samuel Tisherman. ‘Our main goal is to show that it can work, so we want to be selective about the patients we enroll.’

Doctors believe that by freezing a patient’s body they can buy themselves another hour to fix life-threatening injuries

The patients will be victims of fatal gunshot and stabbing wounds so close to death their hearts have stopped beating before they reach the hospital, ABC News reported.

The trial will take two years.

‘The standard of care at that point is to intubate them, give them fluids and blood and open up the chest,’ Tisherman said. ‘If you quickly find something you can fix in there, like a source of bleeding that you can stop, then there’s a chance of survival. But if you don’t, that’s when we’ll switch to EPR.’

Emergency Preservation and Resuscitation will replace the patient’s remaining blood with cold saltwater, lowering their temperature to 50 degrees. This will freeze vital cellular functions.

‘As you get colder, you don’t really need red blood cells,’ Tisherman explained. ‘Then the trauma surgeons have more time to find the problem.’

This will give doctors little less than an hour to fix any problems, then reverse the freeze with ‘reperfusion,’ a process that fills the body with blood.

‘The surgeon will only do what he or she absolutely has to do,’ Tisherman said. ‘Little things can get done later.’

Dr. Samuel Tisherman said specialists have already been trained to spot potential trial candidates upon admission

The trial will be coordinated between emergency department staff, trauma surgeons, cardiac surgeons, and perfusionists.

EPR will need 10 patients to test the trial and compare the results against those obtained treating 10 uncooled control patients.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the test under an ‘exception from informed consent’ provision allowing for ‘urgent intervention’ for life-threatening situations.

According to a 2006 study available at PubMed, fewer than 8 per cent of patients survive traumatic cardiac arrest.

‘Enrollment has to be done basically at a moment’s notice,’ Tisherman said, explaining that three trauma surgeons are now trained to recognize potential trial candidates. ‘If one of them is in the building and the right person comes along, then we can go ahead.’

A patient admitted when no trained trauma surgeon is available will be part of the control group.


Read more: DailyMail

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Health

7 Easy Ways to Build Strong Bones

Bone building reaches a peak during adolescence but then slows after age 25. In addition to this natural bone loss, we’re less likely to perform high-impact, bone-stimulating exercises (such as jumping) after age 50. This adds up to an increased risk of osteoporosisand bone breaks and fractures.

Fortunately, you can build stronger bones at any age.

A recent study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion shows that people who jumped 10 times twice daily increased bone density by .5 percent compared with those who didn’t and lost about 1.3 percent. (Note: the study did not include women with osteoporosis; jumping is not recommended in cases of weak bones.)

Experts offer these seven easy tips for men and women to keep bones strong throughout their lives:

1. Snack on yogurt and other calcium-rich foods. Including yogurt, cottage cheese and other low-fat dairy foods adds bone-strengthening calcium to your diet. “In addition to dairy products, choose fish with bones such as salmon, sardines or whitebait,” says registered dietitian Laura Jeffers.

(MORE: Fiftysomething Diet: The 4 Best Foods for Your Bones)

For additional benefits, serve these foods with a side of dark leafy green vegetables or broccoli, which also contain calcium. Other bone-building snacks include almonds, dried figs, calcium-fortified tofu and, if you prefer non-dairy, soy milk.

2. Take a hike. Try to engage in at least 30 minutes of exercise every day, by jogging, brisk walking or aerobics — at whatever level of ability, says Susan Randall, of the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). “As you build stamina, increase the duration and intensity of your exercise,” she says.

To see real improvements in bone density, you need to push your intensity, says Cleveland Clinic physical therapist Maribeth Gibbon. “Increasing your pace for short intervals or going up and down hills will place appropriate forces on your bones.”

Alternate higher-intensity exercises two to three days a week with lower-intensity activities four to five days a week for best results.

3. Lift weights. “All women begin to lose bone mass after menopause,” says Randall, “so the stronger the muscle and the stronger the bone mass before menopause, the better.” Men should lift weights, too.

(MORE: How to Stay Healthy After Menopause)

Resistance exercise requires muscular strength, which improves muscle mass and strengthens and supports bone. Examples of resistance training tools include free weights, wrist weights, weighted vests, exercise bands and resistance machines found at gyms and health clubs. Strive for two to three resistance training workouts a week.

4. Consider a supplement. Your calcium needs increase with age, making it a challenge to take in enough calcium through food alone. The U.S. recommended daily allowance for calcium is 1,000 mg a day during your 20s, 30s and 40s.

After menopause, most women need 1,000 to 1,500 mg a day unless they take hormone therapy, says Jeffers. Men between 50 and 70 years old need 1,000 mg a day; men over 70 need 1,200 mg.

“And since your body absorbs only 500 mg of calcium at a time, divide your dosages out over the course of the day,” Jeffers says. Check with your doctor before starting supplements to find out what amount is right for you.

5. Take a daily “D.” To help absorb calcium, most adults need 1,000 to 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily, saysDr. Andrea Sikon of Cleveland Clinic. “Combined calcium-vitamin D pills usually do not meet this requirement. And most of us who live north of Atlanta do not get enough vitamin D the old-fashioned way — from the sun. Taking a vitamin D supplement ensures you meet your daily needs.”

Even if you take medications such as bisphosphonates (e.g. Fosamax), you still need vitamin D and calcium as building blocks, says Sikon.

6. Stomp your feet. Similar to the noted benefits of jumping for bone density, simply stomping your feet can also help increase bone density in your hips, says Gibbon.

“Do four stomps on each foot twice a day with enough pressure to crush a can,” she says.

Make it a habit to stomp on cans before you toss them into the recycle bin.

Gibbon recommends performing exercise that is site-specific, meaning it must target the areas most prone to fracture: spine, hips and wrists. Push-ups and planks work the wrists and the NOF recommends theseexercises to target the spine.

7. Stretch it out. Round out your workouts with stretching to help avoid a hunched-over posture down the road. “Posture, balance, flexibility, and spine strengthening exercises can help you with better alignment of your body now and in the future,” says Randall.

Lengthening tight muscles reduces back pain and promotes good spinal mechanics and posture, says Gibbon.

Muscles that are commonly tight include those you use to arch your back (spinal extensors); raise and rotate your shoulders (shoulder elevators and external rotators); lift your knees (hip flexors) and pull your feet toward your body (ankle dorsiflexor). P

Perform stretches slowly and smoothly, “to a point of stretch, not pain,” Gibbon advises. For maximum benefit, do stretches once or twice a day, holding each stretch for 20 to 30 seconds.

Next Avenue contributor Linda Melone is a California-based freelance writer specializing in health, fitness and wellness for women over 50.

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Featured Health Politics Relationships

Kenyan Woman Slept With 300+ Men For Revenge

A Kenyan woman (pictured) who claims a man raped and infected her with HIV at a party recently admitted to sleeping with more than 300 men in revenge, the Kenyan Daily Post reports.

The woman, who remains anonymous, shared her story through her Facebook page “Kenyan Scandals.”

“I’m 19 and a 2nd year here at Kabarak Uni,” she said. “I joined this college a virgin; though I’ve had boyfriends before, my parents are strict so having sex was never on my mind.”

But that apparently changed late last year during a visit to a club.

“Sep 22nd 2013 is a day I’ll never forget. We went clubbing in town and got drunk with some senior students then went back [to] hostels for party round 2,” she continued. However, she woke up naked the next day to a man named Javan.

Upon asking if they’d used a condom for intercourse, Javan said yes. However, the woman soon noticed sperm near her vaginal area while taking a bath.

I wanted to commit suicide, she shared. I feared getting pregnant [and] HIV, took contras [and] hoped I was HIV-free. Unfortunately, that was not the case: In November I tested HIV [positive]. I felt like cutting off my neck.

She confronted Javan who claimed he was HIV-negative.

I was so depressed and took alcohol to die, I even bought poison, the pain was just unbearable; how was I [going to] face the world? I let my parents down, I gave up on the world and just wanted to end my life. My future had been ruined, somehow someone had to pay.

She reportedly began exacting revenge by sleeping with as many men as possible. To date, she claims, she has slept with 324 men.

Not a day passes without me having sex, mostly 4 people per day,” she stated. “Nothing will stop me from accomplishing my mission by continuing to sleep around, you never know but maybe you have slept with me or your husband, boyfriend, brother, father or any has slept with me.

The woman’s eventual plan is to infect 2,000 men with the virus before year’s end, according to XNaija.

One commenter on the Kenyan Daily Post says he has slept with the woman:

OMG! I know this lady! the commenter typed. I’ve done it with her more than thrice since Jan this year! Lady, you didn’t have to do this to me. Revenging on the wrong people is unfair. I’m confused.

 

h/t – tvone

Categories
Health

These Photos Show How Heroin, Cocaine and Oxycodone Change Your Appearance Over Time

And they’ll haunt your dreams
Rehabs.com found that one of the most successful ways to raise drug awareness is to show substances’ harrowing impact on a user’s face over time. As a follow-up to its viral faces of meth info-graphic,Rehabs.com has expanded its scope to show the extent at which oxycodone, heroine, and cocaine wreaks havoc on bodies:

By Rehabs.com. See full report here
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Health

Bottled Water – Dasani Is Just Purified Tap Water

(NaturalNews) As more and more people wake up to the dangers of fluoride, chlorine, pharmaceuticals, and the many other toxic compounds found in municipal water supplies, the market for bottled water has exploded. But in the process, some major food and beverage corporations have unwittingly begun peddling that very same tap water in bottles as “pure,” a deceptive labeling term that is the subject of a new trade controversy in Europe.

According to a recent report by Occupy Monsanto, the Dasani water brand, which is owned by beverage giant Coca-Cola, is one such bottled water counterfeit, if you will, that contains purified tap water dressed in fancy-looking bottles. Like many other bottled water brands, Dasani is sold at a premium price, and many people perceive it to be superior to tap water, even though it actually is just tap water.

Even though the majority of the impurities have admittedly been removed from Dasani water, and minerals added back in, many people do not realize that the water contained in Dasani bottles is not actually from a natural spring. If you read closely the labels found on water bottles, it usually spells out the source where the water inside was derived. But this information is often overlooked by consumers who believe they are buying something superior.

“Figures from independent beverage research company Canadean show that at least two out of every five bottles of water sold around the world are, like Dasani, ‘purified’ waters, rather than ‘source’ waters which originate from a spring,” explains Trevor Datson in an Occupy Monsanto piece. “Most of the supermarket own-label bottled waters consist of treated mains water. In short, they are subjected to many of the same treatments that source waters undergo to satisfy public health requirements after being pumped up from the ground.”

The significance of this is that water specifically derived from a natural spring actually is superior to the water supplied by the local tap, at least in most cases. Many people who buy bottled water assume their water comes from a spring, because this is how the bottled water industry got its start. But today, brands like Dasani, Aquafina, and Sparkletts have captured significant market share by engaging in what some would called deceptive advertising.

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Health

Technology – Medics can Remove Kidney Stones from Patients in One Procedure

Doctors may soon be able to remove kidney stones from patients in just one procedure following the development of pioneering new treatment. 

The procedure, known as bilateral simultaneous ureteroscopy, aims to clear both kidneys at the same time, instead of during two separate operations.

It involves visualising and positioning stones with a ureteroscope, before using a laser beam to break them up.

Pioneering treatment: Bilateral simultaneous ureteroscopy involves visualising and positioning kidney stones, left, with a ureteroscope, before using a laser beam to break them up. Right, a patient’s stone-free body is pictured post-operation, with ‘stents’ inserted to allow any stone fragments to pass down from both kidneys

Traditionally, patients are forced to undergo treatment on each kidney individually during separate hospital admissions.

Kidney stones, which affect around 10 to 15 per cent of men, compared to just 2 to 7 per cent of women, develop when crystals of salt accumulate into stone-like lumps and are not flushed out of the body.

WHAT ARE KIDNEY STONES?

Kidney stones, known as nephrolithiasis, develop in one or both of the kidneys when crystals of salt accumulate into hard stone-like lumps.

Small stones may be passed out in urine and even go undetected, but medium-sized or large stones might block part of the urinary system, such as the urethra.

If this happens, they can cause severe pain in the abdomen or groin, and may case a urinary tract infection.

Kidney stones are fairly common and are typically seen in people aged between 30 and 60.

They affect around 10 to 15 per cent of men, compared to just 2 to 7 per cent of women.

Source: NHS

They can lead to stone blockages in the urinary system and cause pain and recurrent urinary tract infections or sepsis.

Bhaskar Somani, consultant urological surgeon at Southampton General Hospital, is helping to develop the use of the technique to clear both organs at the same time.

‘Stone treatment no longer has to be carried out in a staged manner when we have a chance to make people stone-free in one sitting,’ he said.

‘Performing them separately means they have more hassle, more time off work and, logically, if both stones can be removed at the same time then why do it at different times and prolong discomfort for these patients.

‘The idea is to clear all stones in both kidneys at the same time rather than individually as patients then only have to undergo one procedure and, as a result, only one anaesthetic.

‘In particular, for patients with urinary tract infections who have stones in both kidneys, it is sensible to try and clear everything at once as you can’t be sure which side is causing the infection.’

He added: ‘Many surgeons may be fearful of attempting both sides due to the risk and worry of causing trauma to the kidneys.

‘But, with the right expertise, confidence and experience, the benefits of a single procedure far outweigh the risks of performing more work in a single session.’

Expert: Bhaskar Somani (left), a consultant urological surgeon at Southampton General Hospital (right), said a recent study had seen the pioneering technique performed on 22 patients – with a 92 per cent success rate

Mr Somani said a recent study had seen the technique performed on 22 patients suffering from kidney stones – with a staggering 92 per cent success rate.

More than three-quarters of patients were sent home the same day – with others suffering only minimal complications, comparable to those recorded following individual procedures.

‘Our data, which we believe is the first published and presented series in the UK, suggests this is a safe and effective technique with minor complications that are equivalent to individual procedures and can be used as standard treatment,’ said Mr Somani at a regional meeting of the British Association of Urological Surgeons.

Categories
exercise Health

7-Minute Total Exercise Routine

No matter where you are, get that body fit with this new and wonderful 7-minute workout. It requires no gym equipment whatsoever, therefore no excuses. All you need is in your house already, a chair, a wall and your own body weight.

This routine combines the best 10 exercises to burn calories and stay fit and strong, and you should do each for 30 seconds with a 10 second rest in between in order for the workout to be effective.

Remember to always keep your abdominal muscles contracted in every exercise and in every position as well.

#1 Jumping Jacks
The first step is to stand up straight with your feet together and your arms at your side, then bend your knees slightly and follow this with a jump. In mid-jump, bring your legs out to the side about shoulder width or slightly wider. As you are moving your legs outward, you should raise your arms up over your head to elevate your heart rate.

#2 Wall Sit
Stand approximately 2 feet in front of a wall with your back facing it, and lean against the wall slowly and begin to slide down the wall until your knees are bent at 90 degree angles, as though you are sitting in a chair. Keep this position for a minimum of 20 seconds or a maximum of 60 seconds.

#3 Push-Up
This exercise is great for targeting your pectoral muscles, triceps, and anterior deltoids. Push-ups are performed by pushing your body up and down using your upper body and arm strength. To do a correct push-up, you must raise your body up onto your toes so you are balanced on your hands and toes. It is important to keep your body in a straight line from head to toe without sagging your torso or arching your back.

#4 Abdominal Crunch
Lie on the floor, facing up, with your knees bent, then curl your shoulders towards your pelvis. You can either place your hands beside your neck, resting gently behind your neck, or placed across your chest. To perform a proper crunch, your lower back must remain resting against the floor allowing your hip flexors to rest so all of the attention can be focused on your abdominal muscles.

#5 Step-Up onto Chair
The step-up onto chair routine is super effective for your body. Not only does it work on your abdominal muscles, but it also builds lean muscle mass, boosts your metabolism and aids in weight control – Bonus!
Position a sturdy chair in front of you and stand with your feet about hip-width apart and your arms at your sides. Next, step up onto the seat with one foot and press down while bringing your other foot up next to it. Step back with the leading foot and bring the trailing foot down beside it to finish one complete step-up.

#6 Squat
To perform a proper squat, your feet should be flat on the ground, about shoulder-width apart and point your feet slightly facing outward, rather than straight ahead. Never let your knees extend beyond your toes, as this will increase the likelihood of damage to your knees. Keep your back straight and bend at your knees as if you were going to sit back in a chair, thrust your hips forward and pull in your abs whilst keeping your back only slightly arched. Slowly lower your body so that your legs are almost parallel to the floor.

#7 Triceps Dip On Chair
Sit on the chair with the palms of your hands on the edge, and then slowly slide your buttocks off the seat whilst supporting your weight with your hands. First, straighten your right leg and keep your left leg bent at a 90-degree angle keeping your elbows bent all the time, slowly lower your buttocks towards the floor. Push back up until your arms are straight.

#8 Plank
This exercise is vital for building your core and arm strength.
Lie face down on the floor with your elbows resting on the floor and your arms in a 90-degree position. You then push down on the toes of your feet to extend your feet and push your body so it is off the ground and resting on your elbows and toes. Hold the position for as long as you can.

#9 High Knees Running In Place
Perform a typical running motion while lifting your knees high into the air. Ensure that your legs are at 90-degree angles when being lifted high into the air and point your toes forward in order to maintain the correct form and to really benefit from this simple exercise. This exercise is great for the muscles in your legs and hips, and can even improve your lower body flexibility.

#10 Lunge
Lunges are great for toning a number of different areas of your body, so they are a particularly useful exercise.

To perform a basic lunge, you must first begin by standing up straight with your shoulders back and relaxed and your chin up, step forward with one leg, lowering your hips until both knees are bent at about a 90-degree angle. Maintain the weight in your heels as you then push up to the starting position.

h/t – positivemed

Categories
Health

5 Foods That Will Make Your Skin Beautiful

Diet is the most important part of a good skin care routine. As the old saying goes, beauty truly does come from within. No matter how much money or effort you sink into expensive facial products, skin will almost always reflect what’s being put into the body. (A few lucky people can eat anything and never get a pimple, but that’s unusual.) 

It’s as much about what you don’t eat as what you do. A diet rich in high-glycemic carbohydrates, such as refined grains and sugar, has been shown to trigger breakouts. By boosting the body’s blood sugar too quickly, the pancreas produces extra insulin to bring those levels down, which also triggers production in the sebaceous glands. These make sebum, a good oil which flushes out dead skin cells and keeps our skin lubricated via pores, but too much of it results in jammed pores, whiteheads, and blackheads. Milk also triggers sebum production, while some vegetable oils (safflower, sesame, corn, sunflower) promote inflammation.

The good news is that you can eat and drink your way to beautiful skin. Incorporate the following foods into your diet as much as possible, while minimizing your intake of the foods mentioned above.

1. Carrots

Remember your parents telling you that eating carrots would give you great eyesight? (It didn’t seem to work for me; I just got carrot-colored hair instead.) It was vitamin A that they were talking about, a powerful antioxidant that comes in the form of beta-carotene in carrots. It helps maintain good vision, teeth, and bones, while ensuring normal skin cell development and firm skin tone.

2. Berries

The goal is to get lots of vitamin C, which is another great antioxidant that will make skin smooth and taut by boosting collagen production. Vitamin C supports the immune system, helps skin to heal properly, and can help you attain that glowing look. Blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and black currants are particularly rich in vitamin C, and conveniently lower in sugar than many other fruits.

3. Brazil nuts

Only a small handful of Brazil nuts can provide your daily supply of selenium, yet another antioxidant that works alongside vitamins A and C to boost the immune system. A diet rich in selenium can protect against melanoma, sun damage, and age spots. Other good sources are seeds (sunflower, chia, pumpkin), wheat germ, and meat. Many nuts also contain vitamin E, which helps hold in moisture.

4. Parsley

A humble sprig of parsley is surprisingly high in vitamin K, which helps skin to heal itself and promotes elasticity and good skin tone. Also loaded with vitamins A and C, parsley can cleanse the urinary tract and kidneys, while clearing blemishes and reducing redness. Parsley’s volatile oils have antibacterial and anti fungal properties that disinfect pores and prevent acne.

5. Whole grains

Packed with fiber, whole grains are good for reducing the inflammation caused by their overly refined counterparts. They stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce insulin spikes. Whole grains contain zinc, which is repairs skin damage, maintains smoothness and suppleness, and regulates sebum production. The B-vitamin biotin found in whole grains assists skin cells in processing fats, without which skin becomes dry and scaly.

Remember, too, to drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated. Herbal and green teas are also good, but keep away from sugary juices and soda.

Read more: http://www.treehugger.com/organic-beauty/5-foods-will-make-your-skin-beautiful.html#ixzz2w5yfHC5Q

Categories
Health

New study says Autism may be caused by environmental factors

Toxins in the environment have been revealed in a new study to possibly cause autism.

A team of researchers from the University of Chicago concluded that exposure to toxins such as pesticides while in the womb can lead to a significantly greater risk of developing the disorder.

The findings published this week in the PLOS Computational Biology Journal were culled from health records of over 100 million Americans in an effort to shift research from almost exclusively genetic to include environmental factors.

Harmful: Exposure to environmental toxins while in the womb is believed to contribute to increased incidences of autism, a new study has revealed

Essentially what happens is during pregnancy there are certain sensitive periods where the fetus is very vulnerable to a range of small molecules – from things like plasticizers, prescription drugs, environmental pesticides and other things,’ study author Andrey Rzhetsky told Fox News.

‘Some of these small molecules essentially alter normal development,’ the University of Chicago professor of genetic medicine and human genetics continued. ‘It’s not really well known why, but it’s an experimental observation.’

The defects were especially noticeable in boys’ reproductive systems, Rzhetsky noted.

Rates were compared against those reproductive system defects and the findings were alarming – instances of autism rose 283 per cent against every one per cent rise in outnumbered congenital malformations such as micropenis, Fox News reported, citing the study.

Not just genetic: Airborne toxins such as pesticides are now believed to also cause autism

Other intellectual disabilities increased by 94 per cent for ever one per cent increase in malformations, findings showed.

‘Malformations predict very strongly the rates of autism, and the rate of malformation per person varies significantly across the country,’ Rzhetsky told Fox.

‘Some counties have low rates and some have very high.  And rate of malformations is higher in counties with higher rates of autism.’

Instances were much higher in young males, but females were affected to – just not as highly.

One in 88 children suffers from autism, and diagnoses in boys greatly outnumber those in girls, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No clear cause has been established for the disorder.

‘The environment may play a very significant role in autism, and we should be paying more attention to it,’ said Rzhetsky. ‘We should definitely take into account environmental factors.’

Read more: DailyMail

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