Honey Kills Bacteria That Cause Sinusitis

Honey is very effective in killing bacteria in all its forms, especially the drug-resistant biofilms that make treating chronic rhinosinusitis difficult, according to research presented during the 2008 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, in Chicago, IL.
The study, authored by Canadian researchers at the University of Ottawa, found that in eleven isolates of three separate biofilms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and methicicillin-resistant and -suseptible Staphylococcus aureus), honey was significantly more effective in killing both planktonic and biofilm-grown forms of the bacteria, compared with the rate of bactericide by antibiotics commonly used against the bacteria.
Given the historical uses of honey in some cultures as a homeopathic treatment for bad wound infections, the authors conclude that their findings may hold important clinical implications in the treatment of refractory chronic rhinosinusitis, with topical treatment a possibility.
Chronic rhinosinusitis affects approximately 31 million people each year in the United States alone, costing over $4 billion in direct health expenditures and lost workplace productivity. It is among the three most common chronic diseases in all of North America.

This confirms what is said in the Holy Quran....
The Holy QURAN in Surat an-Nahl vr.68-69 says: "And your Lord revealed to the bee saying: Make hives in the mountains and in the trees and in what they build: Then eat of all the fruits and walk in the ways of your Lord submissively. There comes forth from within it a beverage of many colours, in which there is healing for men; most surely there is a sign in this for a people who reflect."

All Praises Be To Allah!!.

Obesity May Lower a Man’s Fertility

Obesity May Lower a Man’s Fertility
Being obese may dim a man's chances of becoming a father, even if he is otherwise healthy, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that among 87 healthy men ages 19 to 48, those who were obese were less likely to have ever fathered a child. More importantly, they showed hormonal differences that point to a reduced reproductive capacity, the researchers report in the journal Fertility and Sterility.
Compared with their thinner counterparts, obese men had lower levels of testosterone in their blood, as well as lower levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) -- both essential to reproduction.
According to the researchers, these relatively low levels of LH and FSH are suggestive of a "partial" hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. This is a condition in which the testes do not function properly due to signaling problems in the hypothalamus or pituitary gland, two brain structures involved in hormone secretion.
The findings suggest that obesity alone is an "infertility factor" in otherwise healthy men, write Dr. Eric M. Pauli and his colleagues at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey.
Of the 87 men in the study, 68 percent had had a child. Pauli's team found that the average body mass index, or BMI, was lower among these men compared with those who'd never fathered a child; in the former group, the average BMI was 28, which falls into the range for "overweight," while the average BMI for childless men was nearly 32, which falls into the "obese" range.
When the researchers assessed the men for several reproductive hormones, they found that the more obese a man was, the lower was his LH and FSH levels. On the other hand, increasing obesity correlated with increasing estrogen levels.
Excess body fat, Pauli's team explains, may increase the conversion of testosterone to estrogen in a man's blood. Such hormone alterations could, in turn, signal the brain to suppress FSH and LH production.
Past studies have linked obesity with a dampened libido and increased risk of erectile dysfunction, the researchers note. Those effects, they say, along with the hormonal alterations seen in this study, could act together to decrease an obese man's fertility.

SOURCE: Fertility and Sterility, August 2008.

SambalTumis Comment:

So get that excess fat out of the system, otherwise you may die alone without any lineage to see you to the grave. The animals will fight to death to ensure their DNA is passed on, but some humans would rather die of overeating than passing on their DNA down. Sad...

Green Polar Bear

Green Polar Bears of Japanese Zoo.

Became green due to swimming in algea infested ponds. In July when the climate is hot and water in the pond in not changed regularly may cause growth of green algea.

As the white polar bear swim in the pond to cool down, its fur caught the algea by trapping the algea in the hollow part in the fur.

So the fur became green. The bear will shade off the green pigment when the weather is

cooler in September onwards.

Anyway, its nice to see green bears for a change.

Omega-3 In Our Local Catfish (Keli & Patin)

A recent research in Germany has been found that Fish Oil works better then Statins (Bad Cholesterol reducing drugs) in heart disease patients. Fish oil is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which been proven to offer health benefits like protecting the heart and brain.

These Omega-3 fatty acids are highest in salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, sardines, bluefish, trout, whitefish, and striped bass. Per 100 gm of this fish, one gets about 1 gm of EPA and DHA. Moderate sources are carp, flounder, mullet, smelt, cod, catfish, perch, halibut, pike and pollock. Shellfish, squids, octopus contain little EPA and DHA.

Most of the fish mentioned is foreign to our waters, but we have got plenty of ikan keli and patin in our midst, eventhough their Omega-3 content is moderate eat plenty of them, so we can get enough Omega-3 to get by.

Do eat ikan keli and patin, not just they are cheap, they taste marvellous if cooked with our local delicatesen like tempoyak and belacan. Fullamak!!

Fight Cancer with Fruits and Vegetables

One of the best-kept secrets in the field of health is that the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute have been conducting studies with vegetable and fruit extracts for years, discovering their remarkable cancer-inhibiting effects. Even so, most oncologists know very little about this and many have, in fact, told their patients not to eat vegetables, thinking it might interfere with their treatments.

Their advice is based on the erroneous belief that chemotherapy and radiation treatments depend on free radical destruction of cancer cells. In fact, this is only partially true. Most treatments inhibit cancer through many different mechanisms.

Nutrients from fruits and vegetables — especially the flavonoids — have remarkable powers that have been confirmed by a number of researchers and documented in most major oncology journals. The nutrients enhance the ability of most chemotherapy agents and radiation to kill cancer cells, while at the same time, they protect normal cells from the treatments’ harmful effects. Unfortunately, most oncologists ignore these studies. Instead, they concentrate on new chemotherapy protocols and radiation methods.

Antioxidants, which are found in fruits and vegetables, are powerful cancer fighters. One of the most important antioxidants is a substance called glutathione. It is present in every cell in the body, and low levels are associated with higher rates of several types of cancer. Conversely, when glutathione levels are high, cancer rates are low. Nutritionally, there are several ways to increase glutathione levels, including flavonoids.

The following are powerful natural cancer-fighters:

Vitamin C:

Vitamin C in the form of buffered ascorbate should be taken twice a day. Take it on an empty stomach because vitamin C greatly enhances iron absorption from all foods — and iron is a cancer-growth stimulant. I discuss vitamins and their benefits in detail in my special report “Key Vitamins that Save Your Heart, Prevent Cancer, and Keep You Living Long. Go here for more information.

N-acetyl-L cysteine (NAC):

This chemical supplies one of the chief building blocks of glutathione-cysteine. A number of studies have shown that it is a safe and efficient way to bolster glutathione levels in cells.

Flavonoids:

Research indicates that eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables can raise levels of glutathione in cells. Such foods include Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cilantro, parsley, celery, kale, greens (turnip, collard, and mustard), spinach, tomatoes, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and carrots. Reduced glutathione is also available as a supplement, but generally it’s poorly absorbed.

(Note by SambalTumis : a good supplement for flavanoids is Green Propolis )

Melatonin — which most people think of as a sleep supplement — is also a powerful antioxidant. A growing number of studies are providing evidence that this substance fights cancer, as it has been proven to increase levels of several antioxidant enzymes in the brain and possibly other parts of the body.

...courtesy from Newsmax.com Health Alerts..

Kids Need to Eat Smart to Be Smart

Food does more than satisfy hunger; it provides fuel for the body and mind, too. So as you make a list of school supplies to buy for the upcoming school year, don’t forget to consider the items at your local supermarket that can also help prepare your child for the classroom.
Catherine Kraus, RD, M.Ed, CHES, a dietitian at the University of Michigan Health System, says that a balanced, healthy diet enables chemical messengers in the brain — known as neurotransmitters — to function more efficiently. This produces better concentration and memory.

Parents can take several steps to create well-balanced meals and snacks that provide children the energy and nutrition they need to perform well at school, notes Kraus, a member of the Pediatric Comprehensive Weight Management Center at U-M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

Breakfast.

Research has demonstrated that students who skip breakfast in the morning don’t perform as well as students who do eat breakfast. Kraus recommends serving a healthy breakfast that consists of a whole grain cereal, oatmeal or bread with a form of protein, such as peanut butter or a hard-boiled egg.

Pairing the meal with whole fruit instead of a fruit juice offers a way to add more vitamins, minerals and fiber into a diet. Kraus adds that dairy products are an acceptable addition to your child’s breakfast, as long as they are in the form of fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt or cheese.

Lunch.

While many schools are making efforts to include healthier items on lunch menus, high-calorie items still exist — including pizza, nachos and sweetened drinks. If you are concerned about your child’s cafeteria choices, Kraus recommends packing a lunch.
“When children consume a high-fat, high-sugar meal, their bodies will crash, and they will be come very tired and lethargic — which is not going to help them perform at their best level in school,” explains Kraus.

When packing a lunch, variety is best; choose an assortment of fruits and vegetables in various colors and sizes. This ensures that kids receive a mix of vitamins and minerals, and it will prevent them from becoming bored with the same packed lunch routine every day. Kraus recommends including a type of whole grain product in the meal, such as tortillas or bread, with a lean protein, such as tuna, turkey or chicken.

She also notes that sweetened beverages are full of empty calories and don’t provide any nutritional value. Opt for a beverage that does not contain added sugars — such as water, fat-free or low-fat milk, or 100 percent fruit juice.

Snacks.

When it comes to snack foods, Kraus says that the proper adage to follow is, “Out of sight, out of mind.”
“When you are grocery shopping, keep in mind that if a snack is in the home, your children will likely eat it. So keep healthy food in the house at all times to ensure that they will always have healthy snack options. If you keep candy bars and fruit in the home, most children would pick the candy bar. So just keep it out of the house,” she says.

Focus on finding snack foods that will keep your kids satisfied until dinner and energized for homework and studying. For optimal energy and hunger satisfaction, Kraus recommends pairing protein with a high fiber carbohydrate; serve up string cheese or peanut butter with whole grain crackers or prepare a half-sandwich made with whole grain bread or pita. Another tasty treat option is creating a homemade smoothie by blending yogurt and fruit together.

Dinner.

“A smart dinner will help your child’s brain function. If they are satisfied after dinnertime then they will sleep through the night, and a child needs at least eight to nine hours of sleep a night in order to function while in school the next day,” explains Kraus.
She says that half of a “smart” dinner plate should be made up of fruits and vegetables, and a quarter of the plate should consist of a lean protein. Fill the remaining quarter with whole grains, such as brown rice or whole wheat pasta.

Overall Kraus says that encouraging your children to eat smart during the school day can help them develop healthy habits for life.

“Childhood is a crucial time when bodies are growing and brains are developing,” she says. “It’s so important to fuel the body with good nutrition, and teaching children smart eating habits at a young age is a great idea. It starts with the parents serving as the role model.”

...courtesy from Newsmax.com Health Alerts...

One Can of Red Bull Increases Stroke Risk

Just one can of the popular stimulant energy drink Red Bull can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, even in young people, Australian medical researchers said on Friday.
The caffeine-loaded beverage, popular with university students and adrenaline sport fans to give them "wings," caused the blood to become sticky, a pre-cursor to cardiovascular problems such as stroke.
"One hour after they drank Red Bull, (their blood systems) were no longer normal. They were abnormal like we would expect in a patient with cardiovascular disease," Scott Willoughby, lead researcher from the Cardiovascular Research Centre at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, told the Australian newspaper.
Willoughby and his team tested the cardiovascular systems of 30 young adults one hour before and one hour after consuming one 250ml can of sugar-free Red Bull.
The results showed "normal people develop symptoms normally associated with cardiovascular disease" after consuming the drink, created in the 1980s by Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz based on a similar Thai energy drink.
The Austria-based company, whose marketing says "Red Bull gives you wings," sponsors Formula 1 race cars and extreme sport events around the world, but warns consumers not to drink more than two cans a day.
Willoughby said Red Bull could be deadly when combined with stress or high blood pressure, impairing proper blood vessel function and possibly lifting the risk of blood clotting.
"If you have any predisposition to cardiovascular disease, I'd think twice about drinking it," he said.

Copyright Reuters

...courtesy from Newsmax.com Health Alerts..