Office printers 'are health risk'
By Nick Bryant
BBC News, Sydney
Generic office picture
Office printers emit tiny particles of toner, the scientists say
The humble office laser printer can damage lungs in much the same way as smoke particles from cigarettes, a team of Australian scientists has found.
An investigation of a range of printer models showed that almost a third emit potentially dangerous levels of toner into the air.
The Queensland University of Technology scientists have called on ministers to regulate these kinds of emissions.
They say some printers should come with a health warning.
The researchers carried out tests on more than 60 machines.
Almost one-third were found to emit ultra-tiny particles of toner-like material, so small that they can infiltrate the lungs and cause a range of health problems from respiratory irritation to more chronic illnesses.
Conducted in an open-plan office, the test revealed that particle levels increased five-fold during working hours, a rise blamed on printer use.
The problem was worse when new cartridges were used and when graphics and images required higher quantities of toner.
The researchers have called on governments to regulate air quality in offices.
They also want companies to ensure that printers are based in well-ventilated areas so that particles disperse.
Tuesday, 31 July 2007
Monday, 30 July 2007
A Normal Life
A nice article from Dr Tim O'Shae:
A Normal Life
You're born. You get no drugs and no vaccinations. During childhood you have the usual illnesses, but conservative treatment gets you through them without antibiotics or drugs, and you build your natural immune defenses. You don't eat white sugar, white flour, hydrogenated oils, too much meat or cheese, or drink soft drinks. You concentrate on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and a clean, natural diet. You never learn to drink coffee or to smoke cigarettes. The only pills you take are natural antioxidants and enzymes and minerals, which are part of your daily intake. You drink at least 1 liter of water every day.
Into adulthood, you never get sick: no colds, no flu, no headaches, no diabetes, no ADD, no "thyroid problems," no panic attacks, growing pains, fatigue, or digestive disorders, no high blood pressure. The only pains you experience come from accidental injury. Perhaps you do moderate exercise or sports activity to maintain mobility and general fitness. You look to the care of your spine. Your entire adulthood is spent in this disease-free mode. As you age, your mind gets sharper, your body gets stronger, your immune system tougher. You experience no arthritis, cancer, or osteoporosis, no Parkinson's or Alzheimer's. Finally one day after 90 or 100 years, you flicker like a candle and go out.
The above paragraph may be useful in choosing a doctor. Some doctors will say all this is impossible; which for them is true. So don't choose them. All this is possible; moreover, thousands and thousands of people are living it. So listen only to those who can help you achieve such a condition of living health. Because now we've arrived at the threshold of a time when good health and a powerful immune system are not only advisable; they are the very determinants of survival.
www.thedoctorwithin.com
A Normal Life
You're born. You get no drugs and no vaccinations. During childhood you have the usual illnesses, but conservative treatment gets you through them without antibiotics or drugs, and you build your natural immune defenses. You don't eat white sugar, white flour, hydrogenated oils, too much meat or cheese, or drink soft drinks. You concentrate on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and a clean, natural diet. You never learn to drink coffee or to smoke cigarettes. The only pills you take are natural antioxidants and enzymes and minerals, which are part of your daily intake. You drink at least 1 liter of water every day.
Into adulthood, you never get sick: no colds, no flu, no headaches, no diabetes, no ADD, no "thyroid problems," no panic attacks, growing pains, fatigue, or digestive disorders, no high blood pressure. The only pains you experience come from accidental injury. Perhaps you do moderate exercise or sports activity to maintain mobility and general fitness. You look to the care of your spine. Your entire adulthood is spent in this disease-free mode. As you age, your mind gets sharper, your body gets stronger, your immune system tougher. You experience no arthritis, cancer, or osteoporosis, no Parkinson's or Alzheimer's. Finally one day after 90 or 100 years, you flicker like a candle and go out.
The above paragraph may be useful in choosing a doctor. Some doctors will say all this is impossible; which for them is true. So don't choose them. All this is possible; moreover, thousands and thousands of people are living it. So listen only to those who can help you achieve such a condition of living health. Because now we've arrived at the threshold of a time when good health and a powerful immune system are not only advisable; they are the very determinants of survival.
www.thedoctorwithin.com
Sunday, 29 July 2007
heartburn drugs linked to hip fracture risk
Popular heartburn medications may make it harder for body to absorb calcium:
Taking such popular heartburn drugs as Nexium, Prevacid or Prilosec for a year or more can raise the risk of a broken hip markedly in people over 50, a large study in Britain found.
The study raises questions about the safety of some of the most widely used and heavily promoted prescription drugs on the market, taken by millions of people.
The researchers speculated that when the drugs reduce acid in the stomach, they also make it more difficult for the body to absorb bone-building calcium. That can lead to weaker bones and fractures.
Hip fractures in the elderly often lead to life-threatening complications. As a result, doctors should make sure patients have good reason to stay on heartburn drugs long term, said study co-author Dr. Yu-Xiao Yang of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
“The general perception is they are relatively harmless,” Yang said. “They often are used without a clear or justified indication for the treatment.”
Some people find relief from heartburn with over-the-counter antacids such as Tums, Rolaids and Maalox. For others, these medicines do not work well. Moreover, heartburn can be more than a source of discomfort. People with chronic heartburn can develop painful ulcers in the esophagus, and in rare cases, some can end up with damage that can lead to esophageal cancer.
Dr. Sandra Dial of McGill University in Montreal, who was not involved in the study but has done similar research, said patients should discuss the risks and benefits with their doctors and taper off their use of these medicines if they can.
Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec are members of a class of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors. The study found a similar but smaller risk of hip fractures for another class of acid-fighting drugs called H2 blockers. Those drugs include Tagamet and Pepcid.
The study, published in Wednesday’s Journal of the American Medical Association, looked at medical records of more than 145,000 patients in England, where a large electronic database of records is available for research. The average age of the patients was 77.
The patients who used proton pump inhibitors for more than a year had a 44 percent higher risk of hip fracture than nonusers. The longer the patients took the drugs, the higher their risk.
Taking such popular heartburn drugs as Nexium, Prevacid or Prilosec for a year or more can raise the risk of a broken hip markedly in people over 50, a large study in Britain found.
The study raises questions about the safety of some of the most widely used and heavily promoted prescription drugs on the market, taken by millions of people.
The researchers speculated that when the drugs reduce acid in the stomach, they also make it more difficult for the body to absorb bone-building calcium. That can lead to weaker bones and fractures.
Hip fractures in the elderly often lead to life-threatening complications. As a result, doctors should make sure patients have good reason to stay on heartburn drugs long term, said study co-author Dr. Yu-Xiao Yang of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
“The general perception is they are relatively harmless,” Yang said. “They often are used without a clear or justified indication for the treatment.”
Some people find relief from heartburn with over-the-counter antacids such as Tums, Rolaids and Maalox. For others, these medicines do not work well. Moreover, heartburn can be more than a source of discomfort. People with chronic heartburn can develop painful ulcers in the esophagus, and in rare cases, some can end up with damage that can lead to esophageal cancer.
Dr. Sandra Dial of McGill University in Montreal, who was not involved in the study but has done similar research, said patients should discuss the risks and benefits with their doctors and taper off their use of these medicines if they can.
Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec are members of a class of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors. The study found a similar but smaller risk of hip fractures for another class of acid-fighting drugs called H2 blockers. Those drugs include Tagamet and Pepcid.
The study, published in Wednesday’s Journal of the American Medical Association, looked at medical records of more than 145,000 patients in England, where a large electronic database of records is available for research. The average age of the patients was 77.
The patients who used proton pump inhibitors for more than a year had a 44 percent higher risk of hip fracture than nonusers. The longer the patients took the drugs, the higher their risk.
Saturday, 28 July 2007
amazing benefits of coconut oil - for weight loss, etc.
from Mary Enig, Ph.D : Coconut Oil - Health and Nutritional Benefits:
"Coconut oil has a unique role in the diet as an important physiologically functional food. The health and nutritional benefits that can be derived from consuming coconut oil have been recognized in many parts of the world for centuries. A review of the diet/heart disease literature relevant to coconut oil clearly indicates that coconut oil is at worst neutral with respect to atherogenicity of fats and oils and, in fact, is likely to be a beneficial oil for prevention and treatment of some heart disease. Additionally, coconut oil provides a source of antimicrobial lipid for individuals with compromised immune systems and is a nonpromoting fat with respect to chemical carcinogenesis.
Approximately 50% of the fatty acids in coconut fat are lauric acid. Lauric acid is a medium chain fatty acid, which has the additional beneficial function of being formed into monolaurin in the human or animal body. The antiviral, antibacterial, and antiprotozoal properties of lauric acid and monolaurin have been recognized by a small number of researchers for nearly four decades: this knowledge has resulted in more than 20 research papers and several U.S. patents, and this past year it resulted in a comprehensive book chapter, which reviewed the important aspects of lauric oils as antimicrobial agents (Enig 1998). Monolaurin is the antiviral, antibacterial, and antiprotozoal monoglyceride used by the human or animal to destroy lipid-coated viruses such as HIV, herpes, cytomegalovirus, influenza, various pathogenic bacteria, including listeria monocytogenes and helicobacter pylori, and protozoa such as giardia lamblia. Some studies have also shown some antimicrobial effects of the free lauric acid."
Not all Fats are Alike. Replacing the fats you now eat with coconut oil may be the wisest decision you can make to lose excess body fat. We often think that the less fat we eat, the better. However, you don’t necessarily need to reduce your fat intake, you simply need to choose a fat that is better for you, one that doesn’t contribute to weight gain. You can lose unwanted body fat by eating more saturated fat (in the form of coconut oil) and less polyunsaturated fat (processed vegetable oils). One of the remarkable things about coconut oil is that it can help you lose weight. Yes, there is a dietary fat that can actually help you take off unwanted pounds. Coconut oil can quite literally be called a low-fat fat. The anti-obesity effect of coconut oil is clear in all of the animal studies.
When coconut oil was fed as 7% of energy to patients recovering from heart attacks, the patients had greater improvement compared to untreated controls, and no difference compared to patents treated with corn or safflower oils. Populations that consume coconut oil have low rates of heart disease. Coconut oil may also be one of the most useful oils to prevent heart disease because of its antiviral and antimicrobial characteristics. JAMA 1967 202:1119-1123; Am J Clin Nutr 1981 34:1552
Raymond Peat, Ph.D. - "The anti-obesity effect of coconut oil is clear in all of the animal studies, and in my friends who eat it regularly."
"Coconut oil has a unique role in the diet as an important physiologically functional food. The health and nutritional benefits that can be derived from consuming coconut oil have been recognized in many parts of the world for centuries. A review of the diet/heart disease literature relevant to coconut oil clearly indicates that coconut oil is at worst neutral with respect to atherogenicity of fats and oils and, in fact, is likely to be a beneficial oil for prevention and treatment of some heart disease. Additionally, coconut oil provides a source of antimicrobial lipid for individuals with compromised immune systems and is a nonpromoting fat with respect to chemical carcinogenesis.
Approximately 50% of the fatty acids in coconut fat are lauric acid. Lauric acid is a medium chain fatty acid, which has the additional beneficial function of being formed into monolaurin in the human or animal body. The antiviral, antibacterial, and antiprotozoal properties of lauric acid and monolaurin have been recognized by a small number of researchers for nearly four decades: this knowledge has resulted in more than 20 research papers and several U.S. patents, and this past year it resulted in a comprehensive book chapter, which reviewed the important aspects of lauric oils as antimicrobial agents (Enig 1998). Monolaurin is the antiviral, antibacterial, and antiprotozoal monoglyceride used by the human or animal to destroy lipid-coated viruses such as HIV, herpes, cytomegalovirus, influenza, various pathogenic bacteria, including listeria monocytogenes and helicobacter pylori, and protozoa such as giardia lamblia. Some studies have also shown some antimicrobial effects of the free lauric acid."
Not all Fats are Alike. Replacing the fats you now eat with coconut oil may be the wisest decision you can make to lose excess body fat. We often think that the less fat we eat, the better. However, you don’t necessarily need to reduce your fat intake, you simply need to choose a fat that is better for you, one that doesn’t contribute to weight gain. You can lose unwanted body fat by eating more saturated fat (in the form of coconut oil) and less polyunsaturated fat (processed vegetable oils). One of the remarkable things about coconut oil is that it can help you lose weight. Yes, there is a dietary fat that can actually help you take off unwanted pounds. Coconut oil can quite literally be called a low-fat fat. The anti-obesity effect of coconut oil is clear in all of the animal studies.
When coconut oil was fed as 7% of energy to patients recovering from heart attacks, the patients had greater improvement compared to untreated controls, and no difference compared to patents treated with corn or safflower oils. Populations that consume coconut oil have low rates of heart disease. Coconut oil may also be one of the most useful oils to prevent heart disease because of its antiviral and antimicrobial characteristics. JAMA 1967 202:1119-1123; Am J Clin Nutr 1981 34:1552
Raymond Peat, Ph.D. - "The anti-obesity effect of coconut oil is clear in all of the animal studies, and in my friends who eat it regularly."
Wednesday, 25 July 2007
doctor promotes urine therapy
NOTHING UNSCIENTIFIC ABOUT URINE THERAPY
Dr. B.V. Khare
How does it feel to be an allopathic expert promoting urine therapy?
I feel great! Many doctors know about it but they feel inhibited because of many reasons: they don’t have experience; they feel scared that if people really start doing it and remain healthy their practices will go down, etc..
I have given more than 200 lectures all over India and when I gave a lecture at Mumbai Rotary Club, the doctors present there told me to stop promoting it because they were having a slack season. They were afraid if I promoted urine therapy with greater enthusiasm the number of patients attending dispensaries would be further reduced.
How do others in the medical fraternity react to this?
Some were curious to know more about it and some were sceptical about its value. Many of them reacted favourably and started sending patients to me with chits for consultation on auto-urine therapy. You will be surprised to know that I treated with auto-urine therapy(AUT) many doctors too and they were cured of their ailments. But when asked to give me a certificate that they had such a remarkable result, they refused for obvious reasons.
How do you tackle people who may tell you that your are unscientific?
There is nothing unscientific about it. Mr. Moraji Desai, the former Prime Minister of India, was using this remedy for years and he lived for almost a hundred years bouncing with good health. In fact, I got an invitation to give a talk at the Rotary Meeting on alternative therapy four or five years ago just because the doctors who were under my treatment showed no signs of aging and they insisted that I should be invited to talk to the general public.
Many people are working all over the world and doing research on this. The Dean of J.J.Hospital is keen that I should start research on this project And I have given my consent. We should start some work in the next 2 to 3 months.
Is there any scientific research in this regard? Or some documented evidence?
There is a lot of scientific research and documented evidence on auto-urine therapy. The Italian surgeon Stanislau R Burzynski, now settled in America, separated anti-neoplastin from human urine and showed remarkable results in the treatment of cancer. But the cost of treatment was in lakhs.The other substance found in large quantities in the urine is called dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). It is a hormone related to testesterone. This, as research showed, has anti-aging, anti-cancer, and anti-obesity properties. There is also lots of research on urea. When recycled by mouth, it is converted into essential amino acid.
In what otherwise-incurable diseases do you find urine therapy effective?
I have personally treated many patients with allergies, especially asthma, which have been cured. The other condition on which AUT has effect is chronic amoeobic dysentery which is really a problem in India. Chronic constipation, which is also a common thing in old age, gets cured in a few months.
Some cases of cancer have got cured, but one cannot say that all cases can get well. This mainly depends on the stage of the disease. For common troubles like skin diseases, cold, cough, bronchitis, viral fever and pyorrhoea,it is really a boon.
How did you get interested in this therapy?
I read a book in 1975 called "Manav Mootra" by Ravjibhai Patel. It gave me an impetus to treat a case of Hodgkin’s disease with high grade cancer. The patient was supposed to be a gone case. But with auto urine therapy, this man is still perfectly allright.
Then in the last few years, I have treated many patients not only from India but also from a few places abroad with this therapy. The diseases I have treated with this auto urine therapy are : psoriasis, eczema, allergy, arthritis, diabetes, obesity, backache, hyperacidity, ulcerative colitis and mental depression. Now appointed in Shushrusha Hospital as a yoga therapist, naturopath and urine therapy consultant, I am doing regular consultation on this.
Are there any side-effects, if it is taken in excess?
There are no side-effects at all if taken in excess. In fact, in viral fever or arthritis, when we want the patient to have quick results, we tell them to do auto-urine or Shivambu fast where the patient takes nothing else except auto-urine and water for as many days as he or she can, with remarkable results.
Somebody has written that it helps even AIDS patients? Is there any evidence?
There are many reports that it does help patients. The reference which I must get for my experience in this is lacking. I have personally treated two patients. They started improving very well but left the treatment halfway. I would like that more clinical research is done to know more about it.
Someone wrote that alcohol and non-vegetarian food should be avoided during urine therapy? Why?
Alcohol and non-vegetarian food produces more toxic substances in the body and neutralise the good effects produced by auto-urine therapy. We, in fact, tell all patients to give up tobacco in all forms and pan masala also. We tell them to restrict consumption of tea, coffee, cold drinks, spices, fried foods, junk foods and bakery products. All the above restrictions are to prevent more toxic substances in the body so that AUT will have better results.
When can one safely stop the treatment?
Why do you want to stop at all? When I am not suffering from any disease, I take three glasses of my own urine everyday and massage my body with auto urine every morning and take bath after one hour. Have you stopped brushing your teeth? Or stopped going to the toilet? Or stopped taking a bath? Obviously not. This is to be incorporated in your daily routine. I have several people on record where after starting auto-urine therapy - a family of four have not gone to a general physician for any ailment for more than a year. Please start this therapy and experience the benefits yourself if you don’t believe me.
Can you quote some successful cases that you have treated? What is the patients’ feedback?
My experience runs to so many years and if I start quoting, it will fill a 200-page note book. No patient who has started this therapy with faith has come back and told me that the therapy was totally useless. You must have faith and patience. A few illustrative cases:
One: A young man of 40 had been suffering from asthma from childhood. he came because he was curious and wanted to know more about AUT. I convinced him and he started it, inspite of his brother, being an M.D. (General Medicine), calling him crazy for having faith in auto-urine therapy. he persisted with the diet control, naturopathy and auto-urine therapy and got completely cured in 10 months.
Two: A young man suffering from psoriasis wanted to commit suicide because he thought that he had committed some sin in his last birth and that he was suffering because of that. He started with auto-urine therapy. Results started showing in 6 weeks but he got completely cured in 4 months.
Three: A lady aged 45 years was being treated by a physician in one of the five star hospitals in Bombay for rheumatoid arthritis. She was immobile with a lot of pain. She was treated in a hospital with allopathic medicines including cortisone, but only got temporary relief of about 15%-20% as well as a lot of side-effects because of the drugs. She came to me and I convinced her to start an auto-urine (shivambu) fast. She fasted continuously for 8 days by taking auto-urine (all that she passed) and plain water. Astonishingly, she got totally cured on the 9th day. She is still doing it and is quite healthy.
Dr. B.V. Khare
158 Yashodhan, Hindu colony,
Sir Bhalchandra Road, Dadar
Mumbai - 400 014 Tel: 414 5774.
Dr. B.V. Khare
How does it feel to be an allopathic expert promoting urine therapy?
I feel great! Many doctors know about it but they feel inhibited because of many reasons: they don’t have experience; they feel scared that if people really start doing it and remain healthy their practices will go down, etc..
I have given more than 200 lectures all over India and when I gave a lecture at Mumbai Rotary Club, the doctors present there told me to stop promoting it because they were having a slack season. They were afraid if I promoted urine therapy with greater enthusiasm the number of patients attending dispensaries would be further reduced.
How do others in the medical fraternity react to this?
Some were curious to know more about it and some were sceptical about its value. Many of them reacted favourably and started sending patients to me with chits for consultation on auto-urine therapy. You will be surprised to know that I treated with auto-urine therapy(AUT) many doctors too and they were cured of their ailments. But when asked to give me a certificate that they had such a remarkable result, they refused for obvious reasons.
How do you tackle people who may tell you that your are unscientific?
There is nothing unscientific about it. Mr. Moraji Desai, the former Prime Minister of India, was using this remedy for years and he lived for almost a hundred years bouncing with good health. In fact, I got an invitation to give a talk at the Rotary Meeting on alternative therapy four or five years ago just because the doctors who were under my treatment showed no signs of aging and they insisted that I should be invited to talk to the general public.
Many people are working all over the world and doing research on this. The Dean of J.J.Hospital is keen that I should start research on this project And I have given my consent. We should start some work in the next 2 to 3 months.
Is there any scientific research in this regard? Or some documented evidence?
There is a lot of scientific research and documented evidence on auto-urine therapy. The Italian surgeon Stanislau R Burzynski, now settled in America, separated anti-neoplastin from human urine and showed remarkable results in the treatment of cancer. But the cost of treatment was in lakhs.The other substance found in large quantities in the urine is called dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). It is a hormone related to testesterone. This, as research showed, has anti-aging, anti-cancer, and anti-obesity properties. There is also lots of research on urea. When recycled by mouth, it is converted into essential amino acid.
In what otherwise-incurable diseases do you find urine therapy effective?
I have personally treated many patients with allergies, especially asthma, which have been cured. The other condition on which AUT has effect is chronic amoeobic dysentery which is really a problem in India. Chronic constipation, which is also a common thing in old age, gets cured in a few months.
Some cases of cancer have got cured, but one cannot say that all cases can get well. This mainly depends on the stage of the disease. For common troubles like skin diseases, cold, cough, bronchitis, viral fever and pyorrhoea,it is really a boon.
How did you get interested in this therapy?
I read a book in 1975 called "Manav Mootra" by Ravjibhai Patel. It gave me an impetus to treat a case of Hodgkin’s disease with high grade cancer. The patient was supposed to be a gone case. But with auto urine therapy, this man is still perfectly allright.
Then in the last few years, I have treated many patients not only from India but also from a few places abroad with this therapy. The diseases I have treated with this auto urine therapy are : psoriasis, eczema, allergy, arthritis, diabetes, obesity, backache, hyperacidity, ulcerative colitis and mental depression. Now appointed in Shushrusha Hospital as a yoga therapist, naturopath and urine therapy consultant, I am doing regular consultation on this.
Are there any side-effects, if it is taken in excess?
There are no side-effects at all if taken in excess. In fact, in viral fever or arthritis, when we want the patient to have quick results, we tell them to do auto-urine or Shivambu fast where the patient takes nothing else except auto-urine and water for as many days as he or she can, with remarkable results.
Somebody has written that it helps even AIDS patients? Is there any evidence?
There are many reports that it does help patients. The reference which I must get for my experience in this is lacking. I have personally treated two patients. They started improving very well but left the treatment halfway. I would like that more clinical research is done to know more about it.
Someone wrote that alcohol and non-vegetarian food should be avoided during urine therapy? Why?
Alcohol and non-vegetarian food produces more toxic substances in the body and neutralise the good effects produced by auto-urine therapy. We, in fact, tell all patients to give up tobacco in all forms and pan masala also. We tell them to restrict consumption of tea, coffee, cold drinks, spices, fried foods, junk foods and bakery products. All the above restrictions are to prevent more toxic substances in the body so that AUT will have better results.
When can one safely stop the treatment?
Why do you want to stop at all? When I am not suffering from any disease, I take three glasses of my own urine everyday and massage my body with auto urine every morning and take bath after one hour. Have you stopped brushing your teeth? Or stopped going to the toilet? Or stopped taking a bath? Obviously not. This is to be incorporated in your daily routine. I have several people on record where after starting auto-urine therapy - a family of four have not gone to a general physician for any ailment for more than a year. Please start this therapy and experience the benefits yourself if you don’t believe me.
Can you quote some successful cases that you have treated? What is the patients’ feedback?
My experience runs to so many years and if I start quoting, it will fill a 200-page note book. No patient who has started this therapy with faith has come back and told me that the therapy was totally useless. You must have faith and patience. A few illustrative cases:
One: A young man of 40 had been suffering from asthma from childhood. he came because he was curious and wanted to know more about AUT. I convinced him and he started it, inspite of his brother, being an M.D. (General Medicine), calling him crazy for having faith in auto-urine therapy. he persisted with the diet control, naturopathy and auto-urine therapy and got completely cured in 10 months.
Two: A young man suffering from psoriasis wanted to commit suicide because he thought that he had committed some sin in his last birth and that he was suffering because of that. He started with auto-urine therapy. Results started showing in 6 weeks but he got completely cured in 4 months.
Three: A lady aged 45 years was being treated by a physician in one of the five star hospitals in Bombay for rheumatoid arthritis. She was immobile with a lot of pain. She was treated in a hospital with allopathic medicines including cortisone, but only got temporary relief of about 15%-20% as well as a lot of side-effects because of the drugs. She came to me and I convinced her to start an auto-urine (shivambu) fast. She fasted continuously for 8 days by taking auto-urine (all that she passed) and plain water. Astonishingly, she got totally cured on the 9th day. She is still doing it and is quite healthy.
Dr. B.V. Khare
158 Yashodhan, Hindu colony,
Sir Bhalchandra Road, Dadar
Mumbai - 400 014 Tel: 414 5774.
Sunday, 22 July 2007
iboprofen - take this and lose a cup of blood
so you think taking anti-inflammatories is safe... see this news release from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA)
2005 AGA News Releases
High Doses of Ibuprofen Cause Significant GI Bleeding, Despite Safety Profile
“Safest” Painkiller Causes Bleeding in Otherwise Healthy People
Bethesda, Maryland (Nov. 1, 2005) – People who take high doses of ibuprofen on a regular basis are three times more likely to experience gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding than those who do not take painkillers. Results of a small, retrospective analysis published today in the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology show that significant GI bleeding can be observed as early as three days after starting an ibuprofen regimen in otherwise healthy people—giving credence to the belief that high doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), no matter the safety profile, are likely to cause gastrointestinal bleeding that can be harmful to the digestive system.
“Unfortunately, people dealing with chronic pain, such as arthritis, often increase the recommended dose of their painkillers and they should be aware that the effects on the GI tract can be serious,” said Richard H. Hunt, MD, senior study author from the McMaster University Health Science Centre. “Of all the NSAIDs available over-the-counter, ibuprofen was thought to have the least harmful effects on the GI tract. However, our study shows that healthy, young people and older people are at great risk of internal bleeding and should speak with their doctor to determine the risks of taking large amounts of ibuprofen.”
Researchers from the McMaster University Health Science Centre in Ontario, Canada conducted a post-hoc analysis of two separate randomized studies that included 68 healthy volunteers who were given either four weeks of an ibuprofen regimen (800 mg, three times daily for 28 days) or a placebo—a dosage amount twice that of the recommended 1200 mg per day. Prior to starting the regimen, patients were evaluated for a one-week control period to demonstrate that they were not bleeding. Blood loss was determined in these subjects by conducting a radioactive analysis of Chromium-51 labeled red blood cells in stool during their baseline week and throughout the study.
Of the healthy subjects included in the study, those taking ibuprofen for 28 days experienced blood loss that was 3.64-fold greater than the placebo group. On average, those taking ibuprofen experienced blood loss as low as 40mL (approx. 1/5 cup) and as high as 299mL (approx. 1 cup). Bleeding was found to begin as early as three days after the start of the treatment and generally lasted the entire duration of the study in most subjects. According to study authors and previous studies, although the ibuprofen dose was higher than the recommended over-the-counter amount, blood loss, anemia and other adverse events can be observed at any dose of ibuprofen.
“While bleeding with a standard dose of ibuprofen is customary, the dose given in this study was twice that normally recommended over-the-counter by physicians,” said Denis M. McCarthy, MD, PhD, author of an accompanying editorial and professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. “Excessive bleeding in these people could signal underlying gastrointestinal problems and those suffering from diseases of the small or large intestines should consult their doctors about ibuprofen use.”
The authors of this study are hopeful that these findings will bring attention to the reality of the amount of painkillers potentially being used by patients at home and the fact that ibuprofen is often combined with other painkillers—potentially causing a greater amount of bleeding from the GI tract.
“The potential for serious GI complications should always be considered when ibuprofen is recommended for at-home use,” said Hunt. “Elderly people and those with debilitating conditions such as arthritis should be especially cautious about the medications they are taking together and the adverse effects of those interactions. Serious bleeding can always occur even with over-the-counter drugs that are considered safe.”
Ibuprofen is considered to have one of the most favorable safety profiles of all of the traditional non-selective NSAIDs, touted as the painkiller with the fewest side effects and lowest incidence of ulcers or GI bleeding. Everyday more than 30 million people take over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription NSAIDs for pain relief, headaches and arthritis. Although long-term use of NSAIDs in high doses can provide great benefit in terms of anti-inflammatory effects, pain relief and cardioprotective effects, there is an increased risk of gastrointestinal complications ranging from stomach pain to ulcers, hemorrhage and severe and potentially deadly gastrointestinal problems. Each year, the side effects of long-term NSAID use cause nearly 103,000 hospitalizations and 16,500 deaths by some estimates.
In 2003, the AGA launched the R.E.D.U.C.E. (Risk Education to Decrease Ulcer Complications and Their Effects from NSAIDs) Campaign to help explain the potentially harmful effects of NSAIDs and how Americans can lower their risk for serious gastrointestinal problems.
More information for consumers about the possible risks associated with NSAIDs is available at www.2reduce.org.
About the AGA
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) is dedicated to the mission of advancing the science and practice of gastroenterology. Founded in 1897, the AGA is the oldest medical-specialty society in the United States. Comprised of two non-profit organizations—the AGA and the AGA Institute—our more than 14,500 members include physicians and scientists who research, diagnose and treat disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. The AGA, a 501(c6) organization, administers all membership and public policy activities, while the AGA Institute, a 501(c3) organization, runs the organization’s practice, research and educational programs. On a monthly basis, the AGA Institute publishes two highly respected journals, Gastroenterology and Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. The AGA’s annual meeting is Digestive Disease Week, which is held each May and is the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.
2005 AGA News Releases
High Doses of Ibuprofen Cause Significant GI Bleeding, Despite Safety Profile
“Safest” Painkiller Causes Bleeding in Otherwise Healthy People
Bethesda, Maryland (Nov. 1, 2005) – People who take high doses of ibuprofen on a regular basis are three times more likely to experience gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding than those who do not take painkillers. Results of a small, retrospective analysis published today in the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology show that significant GI bleeding can be observed as early as three days after starting an ibuprofen regimen in otherwise healthy people—giving credence to the belief that high doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), no matter the safety profile, are likely to cause gastrointestinal bleeding that can be harmful to the digestive system.
“Unfortunately, people dealing with chronic pain, such as arthritis, often increase the recommended dose of their painkillers and they should be aware that the effects on the GI tract can be serious,” said Richard H. Hunt, MD, senior study author from the McMaster University Health Science Centre. “Of all the NSAIDs available over-the-counter, ibuprofen was thought to have the least harmful effects on the GI tract. However, our study shows that healthy, young people and older people are at great risk of internal bleeding and should speak with their doctor to determine the risks of taking large amounts of ibuprofen.”
Researchers from the McMaster University Health Science Centre in Ontario, Canada conducted a post-hoc analysis of two separate randomized studies that included 68 healthy volunteers who were given either four weeks of an ibuprofen regimen (800 mg, three times daily for 28 days) or a placebo—a dosage amount twice that of the recommended 1200 mg per day. Prior to starting the regimen, patients were evaluated for a one-week control period to demonstrate that they were not bleeding. Blood loss was determined in these subjects by conducting a radioactive analysis of Chromium-51 labeled red blood cells in stool during their baseline week and throughout the study.
Of the healthy subjects included in the study, those taking ibuprofen for 28 days experienced blood loss that was 3.64-fold greater than the placebo group. On average, those taking ibuprofen experienced blood loss as low as 40mL (approx. 1/5 cup) and as high as 299mL (approx. 1 cup). Bleeding was found to begin as early as three days after the start of the treatment and generally lasted the entire duration of the study in most subjects. According to study authors and previous studies, although the ibuprofen dose was higher than the recommended over-the-counter amount, blood loss, anemia and other adverse events can be observed at any dose of ibuprofen.
“While bleeding with a standard dose of ibuprofen is customary, the dose given in this study was twice that normally recommended over-the-counter by physicians,” said Denis M. McCarthy, MD, PhD, author of an accompanying editorial and professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. “Excessive bleeding in these people could signal underlying gastrointestinal problems and those suffering from diseases of the small or large intestines should consult their doctors about ibuprofen use.”
The authors of this study are hopeful that these findings will bring attention to the reality of the amount of painkillers potentially being used by patients at home and the fact that ibuprofen is often combined with other painkillers—potentially causing a greater amount of bleeding from the GI tract.
“The potential for serious GI complications should always be considered when ibuprofen is recommended for at-home use,” said Hunt. “Elderly people and those with debilitating conditions such as arthritis should be especially cautious about the medications they are taking together and the adverse effects of those interactions. Serious bleeding can always occur even with over-the-counter drugs that are considered safe.”
Ibuprofen is considered to have one of the most favorable safety profiles of all of the traditional non-selective NSAIDs, touted as the painkiller with the fewest side effects and lowest incidence of ulcers or GI bleeding. Everyday more than 30 million people take over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription NSAIDs for pain relief, headaches and arthritis. Although long-term use of NSAIDs in high doses can provide great benefit in terms of anti-inflammatory effects, pain relief and cardioprotective effects, there is an increased risk of gastrointestinal complications ranging from stomach pain to ulcers, hemorrhage and severe and potentially deadly gastrointestinal problems. Each year, the side effects of long-term NSAID use cause nearly 103,000 hospitalizations and 16,500 deaths by some estimates.
In 2003, the AGA launched the R.E.D.U.C.E. (Risk Education to Decrease Ulcer Complications and Their Effects from NSAIDs) Campaign to help explain the potentially harmful effects of NSAIDs and how Americans can lower their risk for serious gastrointestinal problems.
More information for consumers about the possible risks associated with NSAIDs is available at www.2reduce.org.
About the AGA
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) is dedicated to the mission of advancing the science and practice of gastroenterology. Founded in 1897, the AGA is the oldest medical-specialty society in the United States. Comprised of two non-profit organizations—the AGA and the AGA Institute—our more than 14,500 members include physicians and scientists who research, diagnose and treat disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. The AGA, a 501(c6) organization, administers all membership and public policy activities, while the AGA Institute, a 501(c3) organization, runs the organization’s practice, research and educational programs. On a monthly basis, the AGA Institute publishes two highly respected journals, Gastroenterology and Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. The AGA’s annual meeting is Digestive Disease Week, which is held each May and is the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.
echinacea - cold remedy
Best Cold Herb
Some people still get colds in the
summer. Here's something you should know about fighting
colds..
A set of new studies confirm that
Echinacea really does boost your body's ability to ward off cold
symptoms - naturally. The medical community has dismissed this
idea for years. I still hear doctors claim that there is no
evidence - but they shouldn't anymore.
The journal Lancet
recently published a review of 14 studies proving
Echinacea's effectiveness, both as a preventive measure and as a
treatment. Taking Echinaces lowers your chances of catching a cold by
58% and shortens the length of a cold by an average of 1.4 days.
ref. al sears md
Some people still get colds in the
summer. Here's something you should know about fighting
colds..
A set of new studies confirm that
Echinacea really does boost your body's ability to ward off cold
symptoms - naturally. The medical community has dismissed this
idea for years. I still hear doctors claim that there is no
evidence - but they shouldn't anymore.
The journal Lancet
recently published a review of 14 studies proving
Echinacea's effectiveness, both as a preventive measure and as a
treatment. Taking Echinaces lowers your chances of catching a cold by
58% and shortens the length of a cold by an average of 1.4 days.
ref. al sears md
Wednesday, 18 July 2007
intense exercise and backpain
I have to report that after practising the 5 minute fast exercise schedule (as mentioned in the last posting) for a few days I could hardly move with back pain. So perhaps this is something to bear in mind if you have a back problem. ( i did feel fitter though!) Anyone else out there have experience with this program?
Thursday, 12 July 2007
intense 5 min exercise programme
Take the guesswork out of high-intensity exercise by adopting the universally acclaimed Tabata Protocol, an Olympian-style training regime that provides immediate results far exceeding those derived from endurance training. A workout that is extraordinarily brief in duration, the Tabata Protocol consists of six to eight high-intensity reps with a brief rest period between each.
Please note: do not attempt this if you have any serious health problem without consulting your doctor.
Here’s the drill: Run, jump, skip or cycle at maximum intensity for 20 seconds, then rest for 10 seconds. Repeat six to eight times. It’s done and over in less than five minutes, but its effects will be felt long afterwards.
“The Tabata Protocol provides a strong stimulus to improve your cardiovascular fitness with a very short duration workout,” says Dr. Alexander Koch, associate professor of Health and Exercise Sciences at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri.
“More studies are now revealing that exercise intensity, rather than frequency and duration, is the key variable behind improvement in maximum oxygen consumption (Vo2max).”
Credit for this deceptively simple training method belongs to Dr. Izumi Tabata and a team of researchers from the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo, Japan.
Their groundbreaking 1997 study, published in Medicine & Science in Sports Exercise, provided documented evidence concerning the dramatic physiological benefits of high-intensity intermittent training.
Please note: do not attempt this if you have any serious health problem without consulting your doctor.
Here’s the drill: Run, jump, skip or cycle at maximum intensity for 20 seconds, then rest for 10 seconds. Repeat six to eight times. It’s done and over in less than five minutes, but its effects will be felt long afterwards.
“The Tabata Protocol provides a strong stimulus to improve your cardiovascular fitness with a very short duration workout,” says Dr. Alexander Koch, associate professor of Health and Exercise Sciences at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri.
“More studies are now revealing that exercise intensity, rather than frequency and duration, is the key variable behind improvement in maximum oxygen consumption (Vo2max).”
Credit for this deceptively simple training method belongs to Dr. Izumi Tabata and a team of researchers from the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo, Japan.
Their groundbreaking 1997 study, published in Medicine & Science in Sports Exercise, provided documented evidence concerning the dramatic physiological benefits of high-intensity intermittent training.
Saturday, 7 July 2007
hiatal hernia
from Dr Kita, chiropractor and KST practitioner:
I had a 71 yo man come in my office with a hiatel hernia. He asked me if I could help with it and I said sure. I never adjusted anybody with a hiatel hernia, but I remembered in the workbook an article by Dr. Wayne Rebarber about hiatel hernia. I just followed what he said. Push up below the xiphoid and check. I got a yes, then asked him to take a deep breath and then exhale. On exhalation 1 tap superior to inferior with the arthrostim. Then, I used the same line of drive but 2 inches on each side. I rechecked for anything else for the hiatel hernia and got a no.
He came in a week later and reported to me that he went home and the hernia really hurt for a short time then the pain disappeared. The hernia hasn't bothered him since.
note:
An estimated 50 percent of people over forty years of age have hiatal hernias. However, many people are unaware of the condition. Small hernias rarely cause any trouble. It is the larger hernias that are most often linked to reflux problems. Ulcers often accompany a hiatal hernia. The acid reflux may lead to ulceration of the esophagus. Ulcers can also occur in the duodenum (the top of the small intestine) or the stomach.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
Most people with a sliding hiatal hernia have no symptoms, and it is often diagnosed when a person is being evaluated for other health concerns. However, if the LES moves above the diaphragm, it may not close well, and stomach acid and juices may back into the esophagus (acid reflux). This results in an uncomfortable feeling of burning, warmth, heat, or pain behind the breastbone (sternum). This may occur after eating, soon after lying down, or when bending forward, and may come and go. You may also have a sour or bitter taste in your mouth and belching. This group of symptoms is commonly known as heartburn or reflux. Coughing up of bloody mucus may occur when the esophagus become irritated.
Other symptoms may include:
Fullness in the upper abdomen after a meal.
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or a sensation of a lump in the throat (globus sensation).
Regurgitation (not reflux) of stomach juices and nausea.
A hoarse voice.
Friday, 6 July 2007
Parsons Acupressure Technique (PAT) and weight loss
The Parsons Acupressure Technique (PAT) is a new technique invented by a chiropractor based on the ancient knowledge of the acupuncture meridiens (or meridians).
One important application is to weight loss:
Firtly some background:
More than 12m adults and one million children will be obese by 2010 according to a report by the Department of Health. The Health Survey for England also warns 19% of boys and 22% of girls (aged 2 to 15) and 33% of men and 28% of women will be obese by 2010.
Obesity and diabetes:
A million Britons are unaware that they have type 2 diabetes, and in 80 per cent of cases the condition is linked to obesity
Huw Alban Davies, a hospital consultant, has warned that we are raising a generation in Britain today who will die before their parents.
“They will have developed diabetes at a young age and they will die of strokes or coronary heart disease in their fifties,” he said.
Research has shown that excess amounts of fat around the midriff are particularly linked to heart disease and diabetes.
Also researchers in Boston have that found that people with high insulin levels tend to gain weight.
So the secret to losing weight may be to adopt healthy habits that stabilize insulin levels such taking plenty of exercise and avoiding processed junk food especially high sugar foods.
(Britney Spears had a notorious junk food craving and her daily diet consisted of primarily empty calories. The pop star had been seen consuming Red Bull energy drinks, and Starbucks Frappuccinos. Recent pictures reportedly featured the singer looking bloated and chunky, until they were digitally slimmed down to resemble her trademark svelte body. A source reports that Britney was devastated by her appearance in the photos, and complained to her promoters, "I look like a blimp, so do something about it. I need to look perfect - better than perfect").
Is dieting the answer?
No - because most people pile the pounds straight back on after dieting. The world's largest study of weight loss has shown that diets do not work for the vast majority of slimmers and may even put lives at risk.
More than two-thirds pile the pounds straight back on, raising the danger of heart attack, stroke and diabetes.
Indeed most dieters end up heavier than they did to start with, the researchers found.
They warn this type of yo-yo behaviour is linked to a host of health problems. And they say the strain that repeated weight loss and gain places on the body means most people would have been better off not dieting at all.
The findings follow other research that shows the UK is in the grip of a dieting frenzy, with one in four Britons at any one time trying to lose weight.
The average woman is estimated to lose and gain 251/2 stone during her lifetime - putting on 151/2 stone for the ten stone she loses through dieting. Last night, the U.S. scientists behind the latest research - the most thorough and comprehensive analysis of its kind - said that dieting simply does not work.
The University of California researchers analysed the results of more than 30 studies involving thousands of slimmers.
Although the overview did not name specific weight loss plans, popular diets in recent years include the low carbohydrate, high protein Atkins diet and the GI diet, which is rich in slow-burning wholegrain carbohydrates.
Pooling the results of the various studies clearly showed that while people do lose weight initially, most quickly put all the pounds back on.
In fact, most people end up weighing more than they did to begin with. Researcher Dr Traci Mann said: "You can initially lost 5 to 10 per cent of your weight on any number of diets.
"But after this honeymoon period, the weight comes back. We found that the majority of people regained all the weight, plus more. Sustained weight loss was found only in a small minority of participants, while complete weight regain was found in the majority."
Dr Mann's research showed that up to two-thirds of dieters put on all the weight they lose - and more - over a four to five-year period. Half of those taking part in one study were more than 11lb heavier five years later, while dieters taking part in another study actually ended up heavier than other volunteers who hadn't tried to lose weight.
A four-year study into the health of 19,000 men revealed that most of those who put on weight had dieted in the years before the start of the study.
The analysis, published in the journal American Psychologist, concluded dieters may actually be damaging their health.
Research has shown the repeated rapid weight gain and loss associated with dieting can double the risk of death from heart disease, including heart attacks, and the risk of premature death in general.
Such yo-yo weight loss has also been linked to stroke and diabetes and shown to suppress the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to infection.
Dr Mann said: "We decided to dig up and analyse every study that followed people on diets for two to five years. We concluded most of them would have been better off not going on the diet at all.
"Their weight would have been pretty much the same, and their bodies would not suffer the wear and tear from losing weight and gaining it all back.
"The benefits of dieting are simply too small and the potential harms of dieting are too large for it to be recommended as a safe and effective treatment for obesity."
The psychologist, who advises would-be slimmers to swap calorie-controlled diets for a balanced diet coupled with regular exercise, added: "Exercise may well be the key factor leading to sustained weight loss.
Studies consistently find that people who report the most exercise also have the most weight loss. Dr Beckie Lang, of the Association for the Study of Obesity, said: "Maintaining a healthy weight isn't about going on a diet and coming off a diet when you reach your target weight. It is about adopting skills that change your eating habits for life."
So is exercise the answer?
It may help, but you have to be careful not to overdo exercise - see previous postings on this blog based on Al Sears's work.
What is the PAT approach?
The Parsons Acupressure Technique (PAT) approach to weight loss first looks at
why a person holds on to weight in different places as compared to others.
For example, some people hold weight in the stomach ('Pot Belly'), others carry weight in the hips and thighs, while others carry excess weight more evenly throughout the body.
This indicates different imbalences in the body. For example excess weight gain all over the body can indicate a thyroid problem. In PAT we address these specific imbalences by tapping or pressing on specific points along the acupuncture meridians. This procedure also addresses the emotional reasons that people overeat (and choose the wrong foods), again by tapping on acupuncture points, using a similar method to EFT (see previous post).
www.patlife.homestead.com
One important application is to weight loss:
Firtly some background:
More than 12m adults and one million children will be obese by 2010 according to a report by the Department of Health. The Health Survey for England also warns 19% of boys and 22% of girls (aged 2 to 15) and 33% of men and 28% of women will be obese by 2010.
Obesity and diabetes:
A million Britons are unaware that they have type 2 diabetes, and in 80 per cent of cases the condition is linked to obesity
Huw Alban Davies, a hospital consultant, has warned that we are raising a generation in Britain today who will die before their parents.
“They will have developed diabetes at a young age and they will die of strokes or coronary heart disease in their fifties,” he said.
Research has shown that excess amounts of fat around the midriff are particularly linked to heart disease and diabetes.
Also researchers in Boston have that found that people with high insulin levels tend to gain weight.
So the secret to losing weight may be to adopt healthy habits that stabilize insulin levels such taking plenty of exercise and avoiding processed junk food especially high sugar foods.
(Britney Spears had a notorious junk food craving and her daily diet consisted of primarily empty calories. The pop star had been seen consuming Red Bull energy drinks, and Starbucks Frappuccinos. Recent pictures reportedly featured the singer looking bloated and chunky, until they were digitally slimmed down to resemble her trademark svelte body. A source reports that Britney was devastated by her appearance in the photos, and complained to her promoters, "I look like a blimp, so do something about it. I need to look perfect - better than perfect").
Is dieting the answer?
No - because most people pile the pounds straight back on after dieting. The world's largest study of weight loss has shown that diets do not work for the vast majority of slimmers and may even put lives at risk.
More than two-thirds pile the pounds straight back on, raising the danger of heart attack, stroke and diabetes.
Indeed most dieters end up heavier than they did to start with, the researchers found.
They warn this type of yo-yo behaviour is linked to a host of health problems. And they say the strain that repeated weight loss and gain places on the body means most people would have been better off not dieting at all.
The findings follow other research that shows the UK is in the grip of a dieting frenzy, with one in four Britons at any one time trying to lose weight.
The average woman is estimated to lose and gain 251/2 stone during her lifetime - putting on 151/2 stone for the ten stone she loses through dieting. Last night, the U.S. scientists behind the latest research - the most thorough and comprehensive analysis of its kind - said that dieting simply does not work.
The University of California researchers analysed the results of more than 30 studies involving thousands of slimmers.
Although the overview did not name specific weight loss plans, popular diets in recent years include the low carbohydrate, high protein Atkins diet and the GI diet, which is rich in slow-burning wholegrain carbohydrates.
Pooling the results of the various studies clearly showed that while people do lose weight initially, most quickly put all the pounds back on.
In fact, most people end up weighing more than they did to begin with. Researcher Dr Traci Mann said: "You can initially lost 5 to 10 per cent of your weight on any number of diets.
"But after this honeymoon period, the weight comes back. We found that the majority of people regained all the weight, plus more. Sustained weight loss was found only in a small minority of participants, while complete weight regain was found in the majority."
Dr Mann's research showed that up to two-thirds of dieters put on all the weight they lose - and more - over a four to five-year period. Half of those taking part in one study were more than 11lb heavier five years later, while dieters taking part in another study actually ended up heavier than other volunteers who hadn't tried to lose weight.
A four-year study into the health of 19,000 men revealed that most of those who put on weight had dieted in the years before the start of the study.
The analysis, published in the journal American Psychologist, concluded dieters may actually be damaging their health.
Research has shown the repeated rapid weight gain and loss associated with dieting can double the risk of death from heart disease, including heart attacks, and the risk of premature death in general.
Such yo-yo weight loss has also been linked to stroke and diabetes and shown to suppress the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to infection.
Dr Mann said: "We decided to dig up and analyse every study that followed people on diets for two to five years. We concluded most of them would have been better off not going on the diet at all.
"Their weight would have been pretty much the same, and their bodies would not suffer the wear and tear from losing weight and gaining it all back.
"The benefits of dieting are simply too small and the potential harms of dieting are too large for it to be recommended as a safe and effective treatment for obesity."
The psychologist, who advises would-be slimmers to swap calorie-controlled diets for a balanced diet coupled with regular exercise, added: "Exercise may well be the key factor leading to sustained weight loss.
Studies consistently find that people who report the most exercise also have the most weight loss. Dr Beckie Lang, of the Association for the Study of Obesity, said: "Maintaining a healthy weight isn't about going on a diet and coming off a diet when you reach your target weight. It is about adopting skills that change your eating habits for life."
So is exercise the answer?
It may help, but you have to be careful not to overdo exercise - see previous postings on this blog based on Al Sears's work.
What is the PAT approach?
The Parsons Acupressure Technique (PAT) approach to weight loss first looks at
why a person holds on to weight in different places as compared to others.
For example, some people hold weight in the stomach ('Pot Belly'), others carry weight in the hips and thighs, while others carry excess weight more evenly throughout the body.
This indicates different imbalences in the body. For example excess weight gain all over the body can indicate a thyroid problem. In PAT we address these specific imbalences by tapping or pressing on specific points along the acupuncture meridians. This procedure also addresses the emotional reasons that people overeat (and choose the wrong foods), again by tapping on acupuncture points, using a similar method to EFT (see previous post).
www.patlife.homestead.com
Wednesday, 4 July 2007
Diets damage health?
Diets damage health, shows biggest ever study
Most people pile the pounds straight back on after dieting
The world's largest study of weight loss has shown that diets do not work for the vast majority of slimmers and may even put lives at risk.
More than two-thirds pile the pounds straight back on, raising the danger of heart attack, stroke and diabetes.
Indeed most dieters end up heavier than they did to start with, the researchers found.
They warn this type of yo-yo behaviour is linked to a host of health problems. And they say the strain that repeated weight loss and gain places on the body means most people would have been better off not dieting at all.
The findings follow other research that shows the UK is in the grip of a dieting frenzy, with one in four Britons at any one time trying to lose weight.
The average woman is estimated to lose and gain 251/2 stone during her lifetime - putting on 151/2 stone for the ten stone she loses through dieting. Last night, the U.S. scientists behind the latest research - the most thorough and comprehensive analysis of its kind - said that dieting simply does not work.
The University of California researchers analysed the results of more than 30 studies involving thousands of slimmers.
Although the overview did not name specific weight loss plans, popular diets in recent years include the low carbohydrate, high protein Atkins diet and the GI diet, which is rich in slow-burning wholegrain carbohydrates.
Pooling the results of the various studies clearly showed that while people do lose weight initially, most quickly put all the pounds back on.
In fact, most people end up weighing more than they did to begin with. Researcher Dr Traci Mann said: "You can initially lost 5 to 10 per cent of your weight on any number of diets.
"But after this honeymoon period, the weight comes back. We found that the majority of people regained all the weight, plus more. Sustained weight loss was found only in a small minority of participants, while complete weight regain was found in the majority."
Dr Mann's research showed that up to two-thirds of dieters put on all the weight they lose - and more - over a four to five-year period. Half of those taking part in one study were more than 11lb heavier five years later, while dieters taking part in another study actually ended up heavier than other volunteers who hadn't tried to lose weight.
A four-year study into the health of 19,000 men revealed that most of those who put on weight had dieted in the years before the start of the study.
Bleak as these figures seem, the true picture could be even worse, as it is thought that most people lie about their weight - and don't like to tell researchers that their weight has started to creep up again.
The analysis, published in the journal American Psychologist, concluded dieters may actually be damaging their health.
Research has shown the repeated rapid weight gain and loss associated with dieting can double the risk of death from heart disease, including heart attacks, and the risk of premature death in general.
Such yo-yo weight loss has also been linked to stroke and diabetes and shown to suppress the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to infection.
Dr Mann said: "We decided to dig up and analyse every study that followed people on diets for two to five years. We concluded most of them would have been better off not going on the diet at all.
"Their weight would have been pretty much the same, and their bodies would not suffer the wear and tear from losing weight and gaining it all back.
"The benefits of dieting are simply too small and the potential harms of dieting are too large for it to be recommended as a safe and effective treatment for obesity."
The psychologist, who advises would-be slimmers to swap calorie-controlled diets for a balanced diet coupled with regular exercise, added: "Exercise may well be the key factor leading to sustained weight loss.
Studies consistently find that people who report the most exercise also have the most weight loss."
The finding comes as Britain fights a rising tide of obesity.
A growing reliance on fast food and time-saving technology has led to the UK developing the worst weight problem in Europe, with almost a quarter of adults classed as obese.
Last night, British experts said that fad diets do not work and that the key to maintaining a healthy weight is making gradual, long-term changes.
Dr Beckie Lang, of the Association for the Study of Obesity, said: "Maintaining a healthy weight isn't about going on a diet and coming off a diet when you reach your target weight. It is about adopting skills that change your eating habits for life."
Most people pile the pounds straight back on after dieting
The world's largest study of weight loss has shown that diets do not work for the vast majority of slimmers and may even put lives at risk.
More than two-thirds pile the pounds straight back on, raising the danger of heart attack, stroke and diabetes.
Indeed most dieters end up heavier than they did to start with, the researchers found.
They warn this type of yo-yo behaviour is linked to a host of health problems. And they say the strain that repeated weight loss and gain places on the body means most people would have been better off not dieting at all.
The findings follow other research that shows the UK is in the grip of a dieting frenzy, with one in four Britons at any one time trying to lose weight.
The average woman is estimated to lose and gain 251/2 stone during her lifetime - putting on 151/2 stone for the ten stone she loses through dieting. Last night, the U.S. scientists behind the latest research - the most thorough and comprehensive analysis of its kind - said that dieting simply does not work.
The University of California researchers analysed the results of more than 30 studies involving thousands of slimmers.
Although the overview did not name specific weight loss plans, popular diets in recent years include the low carbohydrate, high protein Atkins diet and the GI diet, which is rich in slow-burning wholegrain carbohydrates.
Pooling the results of the various studies clearly showed that while people do lose weight initially, most quickly put all the pounds back on.
In fact, most people end up weighing more than they did to begin with. Researcher Dr Traci Mann said: "You can initially lost 5 to 10 per cent of your weight on any number of diets.
"But after this honeymoon period, the weight comes back. We found that the majority of people regained all the weight, plus more. Sustained weight loss was found only in a small minority of participants, while complete weight regain was found in the majority."
Dr Mann's research showed that up to two-thirds of dieters put on all the weight they lose - and more - over a four to five-year period. Half of those taking part in one study were more than 11lb heavier five years later, while dieters taking part in another study actually ended up heavier than other volunteers who hadn't tried to lose weight.
A four-year study into the health of 19,000 men revealed that most of those who put on weight had dieted in the years before the start of the study.
Bleak as these figures seem, the true picture could be even worse, as it is thought that most people lie about their weight - and don't like to tell researchers that their weight has started to creep up again.
The analysis, published in the journal American Psychologist, concluded dieters may actually be damaging their health.
Research has shown the repeated rapid weight gain and loss associated with dieting can double the risk of death from heart disease, including heart attacks, and the risk of premature death in general.
Such yo-yo weight loss has also been linked to stroke and diabetes and shown to suppress the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to infection.
Dr Mann said: "We decided to dig up and analyse every study that followed people on diets for two to five years. We concluded most of them would have been better off not going on the diet at all.
"Their weight would have been pretty much the same, and their bodies would not suffer the wear and tear from losing weight and gaining it all back.
"The benefits of dieting are simply too small and the potential harms of dieting are too large for it to be recommended as a safe and effective treatment for obesity."
The psychologist, who advises would-be slimmers to swap calorie-controlled diets for a balanced diet coupled with regular exercise, added: "Exercise may well be the key factor leading to sustained weight loss.
Studies consistently find that people who report the most exercise also have the most weight loss."
The finding comes as Britain fights a rising tide of obesity.
A growing reliance on fast food and time-saving technology has led to the UK developing the worst weight problem in Europe, with almost a quarter of adults classed as obese.
Last night, British experts said that fad diets do not work and that the key to maintaining a healthy weight is making gradual, long-term changes.
Dr Beckie Lang, of the Association for the Study of Obesity, said: "Maintaining a healthy weight isn't about going on a diet and coming off a diet when you reach your target weight. It is about adopting skills that change your eating habits for life."
Tuesday, 3 July 2007
breast exam
in this video famous tv doctor explains the importance of self breast exam and demonstrates how to do it
high blood pressure - are drugs neccesary?
It's estimated that high blood pressure affects 90 percent of the population at one time or another. Some of the main causes of this condition include lifestyle factors such as eating a high-grain, high-sugar diet, not exercising, and increasing stress.
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The good news is that following a healthy nutrition plan, along with exercising and emotional rebalancing, will normalize blood pressure in most people. see other topics on this blog such as EFT (emotional freedom technique), chiropractic adjusting, PACE exercise programme, etc.
science confirms the secret to weight loss
Researchers in Boston have that found that people with high insulin levels tend to gain weight.
So the secret to losing weight may be to adopt healthy habits that stabilize insulin levels such taking plenty of exercise and avoiding processed junk food especially high sugar foods .
http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Finally-Science-Confirms-the-Secret-Key-to-Weight-Loss-19046.aspx
So the secret to losing weight may be to adopt healthy habits that stabilize insulin levels such taking plenty of exercise and avoiding processed junk food especially high sugar foods .
http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Finally-Science-Confirms-the-Secret-Key-to-Weight-Loss-19046.aspx
Monday, 2 July 2007
St. John's Wort Helpful in Beating Depression
A recent study looked at 324 people with mild to moderate depression. Some were given twice daily doses of 75 mg imipramine (an established antidepressant). Others took 250 mg hypericum (St. John's Wort) twice daily for six weeks. Both groups reported that their depression was reduced. However, St. John's Wort was slightly more effective at reducing anxiety. Participants also found it easier to take. Only 3 percent withdrew from the study because of side effects compared with 16 percent taking imipramine. British Medical Journal September 2nd 2000;321:536-539
whiplash
The chart below lists the most common whiplash symptoms after an auto accident. Don't just rely on accident insurance. If you experience any of these symptoms, play it safe and get a chiropractic check up.
Basic Whiplash Symptoms
- Neck pain and/or stiffness
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty swallowing
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Pain between the shoulder blades
- Pain in the arms or legs, feet and hands
- Headache
- Low back pain and/or stiffness
- Shoulder pain
- Nausea
- Ringing in the ears
- Vertigo
- Numbness and tingling
- Pain in the jaw or face
Whiplash is most commonly received from riding in a car that is struck form behind, or collides with another vehicle. When the head is suddenly jerked back and forth beyond its normal limits, the muscles and ligaments supporting the spine can be over-stretched or torn. In a rear end collision for example, the victim's car is first pushed or accelerated forward and then, because their foot is on the brake, or their car hits the vehicle in front, their car is rapidly slowed down, or decelerated. As the vehicle accelerates forward, it pushes the body forward too, but the head remains behind momentarily, rocking up and back, until some of the muscles and ligaments are stretched or torn. Too often the injury occurs before the head rebounds off the headrest.
weight loss
here is some interesting info from dr berg on different body shapes and why people put on weight where they do:
About BRT And Body Shapes
In BRT, we attempt to understand WHY a person holds on to weight in different places as compared to others. The question be asked, what imbalance is creating these distortions? Obesity is no doubt the number one problem Americans face today. The average person going to the book store or searching web sites trying to find correct answers usually is left with more confusion and further away from discovering the truth about losing weight. The first thing and most important thing to know about metabolism is that your weight problem is NOT the problem. It is a symptom or an effect of something else. The next thing you know someone will be starting "win the war against obesity". That would be the wrong target. You would get nowhere fast.
Have you noticed that some people hold weight in the stomach and yet other carry weight in the hips and thighs and other people carry weight more evenly through the body? Why is this? In the BRT program, we use three powerful tools to help people - the BRT technique, diet and exercise.
Let's first discuss diet. There is no way you can put EVERYONE on one diet and expect to get the maximum success. WHY? Because each type of weight case is different. And since weight is a symptom, would it not make more sense to design a diet program based on that person's imbalance internally? In our program, we use more of a tailor-made food plan to give the person maximum chance for improvement. For example; right now the high protein diet is very popular. However if you put someone with a liver weakness on this diet, they could feel worse because the liver can't not handle pure proteins, especially cooked. On the other hand if you recommend more carbohydrates to someone who has a glandular imbalance (diagnosed by a medical doctor), they could also be very unsuccessful.
Each person needs to be evaluated individually for what he/she needs. A shot gun approach to losing weight will only lead to failure and lots of effort. The truth is it should not take lots of hard work and effort to lose weight IF you are getting to the right cause. In the BRT program, we take a different approach. We try to understand how your body is responding to food and why it's in slow mode. We want to know why you are carrying weight in one place versus another. We don't attack the fat or the weight directly but want to understand what your body is doing. What foods will support the underlying mechanism of your weight gain?
Now what about exercise? There is a single common error people make when attempting to lose weight. In fact, this mistake has caused people to spend a tremendous amount of wasted time and effort all in vain. In our BRT program, we educate you on the two ways the body makes energy as it relates to weight loss. We want you to fully understand what FAT really is and the exact mechanics of how you burn fat versus sugar. Many people mistakenly burn sugar instead of fat. So instead of giving you another program, we give you a greater understanding of the principles of how the body works with regard to metabolism. Unless you understand this, you will be dependant on the next new diet fad. It actually very simple. You will learn how to use exercise to your advantage to maximize weight loss. If you don't know these key principles, you could unfortunately spend lots of wasted effort with minimal results.
http://www.bodyrt.com/index.cfm/6848
britney
A British tabloid reportedly says it's a bottle of a popular diet pill. Now, some sites are even selling the "fat burner" by claiming that "pop princess Britney Spears maintains her sexy shape with this product." Yet another claims Britney was "outed" as user of the appetite suppressant.
Britney is reportedly furious over the diet pill story. Her lawyer said she does not endorse the diet product and "any company using a photo of her inappropriately" will be contacted and told to "remove the photo."
The latest news is that Britney has made peace with the makers of a diet aid pill, following a long-running dispute. While the terms of the settlement remain confidential, a representative for the diet aid confirms that the matter has been resolved.
Britney had a notorious junk food craving and her daily diet consisted of primarily empty calories. The pop star has been seen consuming Red Bull energy drinks, Starbucks Frappuccinos and Marlboro Lights. On a few occasions, she’s been seen eating one of her favorite snacks, Cheetos. Pictures reportedly featured the singer looking bloated and chunky, until they were digitally slimmed down to resemble her trademark svelte body.
Britney's personal trainer Bobby Strom has exposed several sources behind her fluctuating weight, including her mom Lynne's home cooking. He says, "Her mind has not been in the right place for working out. She's had lots of stuff to get sorted in her head and her personal life lately. But I think that she's over it and back on course, mentally and physically. I'm sure I'll be seeing her again soon."
"She's fond of her mom's food but it tends to be carb heavy and calorific. I've told her to cut out barbeque sauces and gravies, and eat more protein - especially on tour. She also needs complex carbs such as brown rice, veggies and wholegrain breads."
A source reports that Brtiney was devastated by her appearance in the photos, and complained to her promoters, "I look like a blimp, so do something about it. I need to look perfect - better than perfect."
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