Friday, November 5, 2010

Brain damaging habits......... important pls read !!!

Subject: Brain damaging habits important pls read !!!
BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS



1. No Breakfast
People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2 . Overeating=2 0
It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3. Smoking
It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. High Sugar consumption
Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. Air Pollution
The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our 20 body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6 . Sleep Deprivation
Sleep allows our brain to rest.. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells..

7. Head covered while sleeping
Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

8. Working your brain during illness
Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts
Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. Talking Rarely
Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain

The main causes of liver damage are:



1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.

2. Not urinating in the morning.

3 . Too much eating.

4. Skipping breakfast.

5. Consuming too much medication.

6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.

7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil.
As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is20very fit.

8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver.
Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.

We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to 'schedule.'

The top five cancer-causing foods are:


1.. Hot Dogs



Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.

2. Processed meats and Bacon



Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.

3. Doughnuts



Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams , may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.

4. French fries



Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .

5. Chips, crackers, and cookies



All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.

PASS THIS TO ALL WHOM YOU LOVE & CARE FOR. ............ .. ....

--
Yaso Jeyapragastharan

Friday, October 29, 2010

Perfect timing to drink water, will maximize its effectiveness on the Human body..!!!



Subject: Perfect Timings to Drink Water

Perfect timing to drink water, will maximize its effectiveness on the Human body.


Two (02) glass of water - After waking up - Helps activate internal organs

One (01) glasses of water - 30 minutes before meal - Help digestion

One (01) glass of water - Before taking a bath - Helps lower blood pressure

One (01) glass of water - Before sleep - To avoid stroke or heart attack



Please pass this to the people you care about.......

Subject: Perfect Timings to Drink Water

Perfect timing to drink water, will maximize its effectiveness on the Human body.


Two (02) glass of water - After waking up - Helps activate internal organs

One (01) glasses of water - 30 minutes before meal - Help digestion

One (01) glass of water - Before taking a bath - Helps lower blood pressure

One (01) glass of water - Before sleep - To avoid stroke or heart attack



Please pass this to the people you care about.......

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Okra! Who knew....!!!

On Oct 25, 2010, at 4:13 PM, Noel Vethanayagam wrote:

Subject: Okra! Who knew

Here's something new... A guy has been suffering from constipation for the past 20 years
and recently from acid reflux. He didn't realize that the treatment could be so simple -- OKRA!
He started eating okra within the last 2 months and since then has never taken medication
again. All he did was consume 6 pieces of OKRA everyday. He's now regular and his blood sugar
has dropped from 135 to 98, with his cholesterol and acid reflux also under control.

Here are some facts on okra (from the research of University of Illinois. "Okra is a powerhouse
of valuable nutrients, nearly half of which is soluble fiber in the form of gums and pectins. Soluble
fiber helps to lower serum cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart disease. The other half is insoluble
fiber which helps to keep the intestinal tract healthy, decreasing the risk of some forms of cancer,
especially colorectal cancer..

Nearly 10% of the recommended levels of vitamin B6 and folic acid is also present in a half cup of
cooked okra. Okra is a rich source of many nutrients, including fiber, vitamin B6 and folic acid.

He got the following numbers from the University of Illinois Extension Okra Page.. Please check there
for more details.

Okra Nutrition (half-cup cooked okra)

* Calories = 25
* Dietary Fiber = 2 grams
* Protein = 1.5 grams
* Carbohydrates = 5.8 grams
* Vitamin A = 460 IU
* Vitamin C = 13 mg
* Folic acid = 36.5 micrograms
* Calcium = 50 mg
* Iron = 0.4 mg
* Potassium = 256 mg
* Magnesium = 46 mg

These numbers should be used as a guideline only, and if you are on a medically-restricted diet
please consult your physician and/or dietician..

1. The superior fiber found in okra helps to stabilize blood sugar as it curbs the rate at which sugar
is absorbed from the intestinal tract.

2. Okra's mucilage not only binds cholesterol but bile acid carrying toxins dumped into it by the
filtering liver. But it doesn't stop there..

3. Many alternative health practitioners believe all disease begins in the colon. The okra fiber,
absorbing water and ensuring bulk in stools, helps prevent constipation. Fiber in general is helpful
for this but okra is one of the best, along with ground flax seed and psyllium.

Unlike harsh wheat bran, which can irritate or injure the intestinal tract, okra's mucilage soothes,
and okra facilitates elimination more comfortably by its slippery characteristic many people abhor.
In other words, this incredibly valuable vegetable not only binds excess cholesterol and toxins
(in bile acids) which cause numerous health problems, if not evacuated, but also assures their easy
passage from the body. The veggie is completely non-toxic, non-habit forming (except for the many
who greatly enjoy eating it), has no adverse side effects, is full of nutrients, and is economically
within reach of most.

4.. Further contributing to the health of the tract, okra fiber (as well as flax and psyllium) has no equal
among fibers for feeding the good bacteria (probiotics).

5. To retain most of okra's nutrients and self-digesting enzymes! , it should be cooked as little as
possible, e.g. with low heat or lightly steamed. Some eat it raw.

Friday, October 22, 2010

SHE took the same shrimp/prawn..!!! However at the same time the deceased also took'vitamin C', that is where the problem is.!!!

Bas Baskaran.......Chicago,USA

Better safe than sorry.
YOU MAY POISON YOURSELF ACCIDENTALLY

In Taiwan , a woman suddenly died unexpectedly with signs of bleeding from her ears, nose, mouth & eyes. After a preliminary autopsy it was diagnosed death due to arsenic poisoning death. Where did the arsenic come from?

The police launched an in-depth and extensive investigation. A medical school professor was invited to come to solve the case.

The professor carefully looked at the contents from the deceased's stomach, in less than half an hour, the mystery was solved... The professor said: 'The deceased did not commit suicide and neither was she murdered, she died of accidental death due to ignorance!'

Everyone was puzzled, why accidental death? The arsenic is of the U.S. military for carrying rice seedlings H Gao. The professor said:
'The arsenic is produced in the stomach of the deceased.' The deceased used to take 'Vitamin C' everyday, which in itself is not a problem. The problem was that she ate a large portion ofshrimp/prawn during dinner.
Eating shrimp/prawn is not the problem that's why nothing happened to her family ever though they took the same shrimp/prawn. However at the same time the deceased also took'vitamin C', that is where the problem is!

Researchers at the University of Chicago in the United States , found through experiments, food such as soft-shell shrimp/prawn contains a much higher concentration of - five potassium arsenic compounds...

Such fresh food by itself has no toxic effects on the human body. However, in taking 'vitamin C', due to the chemical reaction, the original non-toxic - five potassium arsenic (As anhydride, also known as arsenic oxide, the chemical formula for As205) changed to a three potassium toxic arsenic (ADB arsenic anhydride), also known as arsenic trioxide, a chemical formula (As203), which is commonly known as arsenic to the public!

Arsenic poisoning have magma role and can cause paralysis to the small blood vessels, "mercapto Jimei"??, inhibits the activity of the liver and fat necrosis change Hepatic Lobules Centre, heart, liver, kidney, intestine congestion, epithelial cell necrosis, telangiectasia. Therefore, a person who dies of arsenic poisoning will show signs of bleeding from the ears, nose, mouth & eyes.

Therefore; as a precautionary measure, DO NOT take shrimp/prawn when taking 'vitamin C'.

After reading this; please do not be stingy. Forward to your friends and family!!

Friday, October 8, 2010

A mechanism in the body that causes high blood pressure has been uncovered by British scientists in a breakthrough that could lead to new treatments!

High blood pressure switch could one day be turned off
October 7, 2010, 8:37 pm




A mechanism in the body that causes high blood pressure has been uncovered by British scientists in a breakthrough that could lead to new treatments for the condition.





By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent


Researchers have found for the first time a key step in how the body controls blood pressure and so how the process sometimes goes wrong.



By targeting the mechanism they can stop it from malfunctioning and so prevent the condition, known as hypertension, that affects millions of people in Britain and is a major cause of heart disease and stroke.



The researchers at Cambridge University and Nottingham University discovered the mechanism while studying pre-eclampsia, a potentially deadly form of high blood pressure which occurs in women during pregnancy.



Blood pressure is controlled by hormones called angiotensin which in too high a dose forces blood vessels to constrict, increasing blood pressure.



The scientists, who have spent 20 years researching the hormones, have discovered the very first stage in their development. They now believe they could develop a way of inhibiting the "switch" that allows the hormones to overproduce and prevent the onset of high blood pressure.



Professor Robin Carrell at the University of Cambridge, said: "We have found the first step in the main process that controls blood pressure.



"We are excited by what we have found because of the potential insights it provides us. Knowledge of what causes a disease is the number one factor needed for its eventual management and treatment.



"By getting a step earlier and looking at an earlier change we are opening up new strategies and coming closer to the reason why some people develop hypertension."



Dr Aiwu Zhou, a British Heart Foundation (BHF) Fellow at the University of Cambridge, said: "Although we primarily focused on pre-eclampsia, the research also opens new leads for future research into the causes of hypertension in general."



Millions of people in Britain suffer from hypertension, one of the major causes of heart disease and stroke and drugs that treat it make up six per cent of all prescriptions.



Drugs currently used to treat high blood pressure – such as ACE inhibitors – focus on the later stages of the mechanism that controls blood pressure.



The study, which was published in Nature, hopes to lead to new inhibitors that nip the condition in the bud before it has caused any damage.



High blood pressure frequently affects pregnancy. However, in two to seven per cent of pregnancies this develops into pre-eclampsia, which threatens the health and survival of both the mother and child.



Around 55,000 women a year die from the condition.


(C) The Telegraph Group London 2010

Thursday, August 26, 2010

WHAT FRUITS,VEGETABLES GOOD FOR YOU..!!!

Apples

Protects your heart
prevents constipation
Blocks diarrhea
Improves lung capacity
Cushions joints

Apricots
Combats cancer
Controls blood pressure
Saves your eyesight
Shields against Alzheimer's
Slows aging process

Artichokes
Aids digestion
Lowers cholesterol
Protects your heart
Stabilizes blood sugar
Guards against liver disease

Avocados
Battles diabetes
Lowers cholesterol
Helps stops strokes
Controls blood pressure
Smoothes skin

Bananas
Protects your heart
Quiets a cough
Strengthens bones
Controls blood pressure
Blocks diarrhea

Beans
Prevents constipation
Helps hemorrhoids
Lowers cholesterol
Combats cancer
Stabilizes blood sugar

Beets
Controls blood pressure
Combats cancer
Strengthens bones
Protects your heart
Aids weight loss

Blueberries
Combats cancer
Protects your heart
Stabilizes blood sugar
Boosts memory
Prevents constipation

Broccoli
Strengthens bones
Saves eyesight
Combats cancer
Protects your heart
Controls blood pressure

Cabbage
Combats cancer
Prevents constipation
Promotes weight loss
Protects your heart
Helps hemorrhoids

Cantaloupe
Saves eyesight
Controls blood pressure
Lowers cholesterol
Combats cancer
Supports immune system

Carrots
Saves eyesight
Protects your heart
Prevents constipation
Combats cancer
Promotes weight loss

Cauliflower
Protects against Prostate Cancer
Combats Breast Cancer
Strengthens bones
Banishes bruises
Guards against heart disease

Cherries
Protects your heart
Combats Cancer
Ends insomnia
Slows aging process
Shields against Alzheimer's

Chestnuts
Promotes weight loss
Protects your heart
Lowers cholesterol
Combats Cancer
Controls blood pressure

Chili peppers
Aids digestion
Soothes sore throat
Clears sinuses
Combats Cancer
Boosts immune system

Figs
Promotes weight loss
Helps stops strokes
Lowers cholesterol
Combats Cancer
Controls blood pressure

Fish
Protects your heart
Boosts memory
Protects your heart
Combats Cancer
Supports immune system

Flax
Aids digestion
Battles diabetes
Protects your heart
Improves mental health
Boosts immune system

Garlic
Lowers cholesterol
Controls blood pressure
Combats cancer
kills bacteria
Fights fungus

Grapefruit
Protects against heart attacks
Promotes Weight loss
Helps stops strokes
Combats Prostate Cancer
Lowers cholesterol

Grapes
saves eyesight
Conquers kidney stones
Combats cancer
Enhances blood flow
Protects your heart

Green tea
Combats cancer
Protects your heart
Helps stops strokes
Promotes Weight loss
Kills bacteria

Honey
Heals wounds
Aids digestion
Guards against ulcers
Increases energy
Fights allergies

Lemons
Combats cancer
Protects your heart
Controls blood pressure
Smoothes skin
Stops scurvy

Limes
Combats cancer
Protects your heart
Controls blood pressure
Smoothes skin
Stops scurvy

Mangoes
Combats cancer
Boosts memory
Regulates thyroid
aids digestion
Shields against Alzheimer's

Mushrooms
Controls blood pressure
Lowers cholesterol
Kills bacteria
Combats cancer
Strengthens bones

Oats
Lowers cholesterol
Combats cancer
Battles diabetes
prevents constipation
Smoothes skin

Olive oil
Protects your heart
Promotes Weight loss
Combats cancer
Battles diabetes
Smoothes skin

Onions
Reduce risk of heart attack
Combats cancer
Kills bacteria
Lowers cholesterol
Fights fungus

Oranges
Supports immune systems
Combats cancer
Protects your heart
Straightens respiration



Peaches
prevents constipation
Combats cancer
Helps stops strokes
aids digestion
Helps hemorrhoids

Peanuts
Protects against heart disease
Promotes Weight loss
Combats Prostate Cancer
Lowers cholesterol
Aggravates
Diverticulitis

Pineapple
Strengthens bones
Relieves colds
Aids digestion
Dissolves warts
Blocks diarrhea

Prunes
Slows aging process
prevents constipation
boosts memory
Lowers cholesterol
Protects against heart disease

Rice
Protects your heart
Battles diabetes
Conquers kidney stones
Combats cancer
Helps stops strokes

Strawberries
Combats cancer
Protects your heart
boosts memory
Calms stress



Sweet potatoes
Saves your eyesight
Lifts mood
Combats cancer
Strengthens bones



Tomatoes
Protects prostate
Combats cancer
Lowers cholesterol
Protects your heart



Walnuts
Lowers cholesterol
Combats cancer
boosts memory
Lifts mood
Protects against heart disease

Water
Promotes Weight loss
Combats cancer
Conquers kidney stones
Smoothes skin



Watermelon
Protects prostate
Promotes Weight loss
Lowers cholesterol
Helps stops strokes
Controls blood pressure

Wheat germ
Combats Colon Cancer
prevents constipation
Lowers cholesterol
Helps stops strokes
improves digestion

Wheat bran
Combats Colon Cancer
prevents constipation
Lowers cholesterol
Helps stops strokes
improves digestion

Yogurt
Guards against ulcers
Strengthens bones
Lowers cholesterol
Supports immune systems
Aids digestion



7 Don'ts After a Meal

1. Don't smoke - Experiment from experts proves that smoking a cigarette after meal is comparable to smoking 10 cigarettes (chances of cancer is higher).

2. Don't eat fruits immediately - Immediately eating fruits after meals will cause stomach to be bloated with air. Therefore take fruit 1-2 hr after meal or 1 hr before meal.

3. Don't drink tea - Because tea leaves contain a high content of acid. This substance will cause the Protein content in the food we consume to be hardened thus difficult to digest.

4. Don't loosen your belt - Loosening the belt after a meal will easily cause the intestine to be twisted and blocked.

5. Don't bathe - Bathing will cause the increase of blood flow to the hands, legs & body thus the amount of blood around the stomach will therefore decrease. This will weaken the digestive system in our stomach.

6. Don't walk about - People always say that after a meal walk a hundred steps and you will live till 99. In actuality this is not true. Walking will cause the digestive system to be unable to absorb the nutrition from the food we intake.

7. Don't sleep immediately - The food we intake will not be able to digest properly. Thus will lead to gastric & infection in our intestine.

My personal comments:

Re: 3 above - You may drink warm water or warm Chinese tea made of sun dried tea leaves, ( as opposed to kiln baked tea ).

Re: 5 above - Don't bathe soon after a meal, you may do so 2 hrs. later.

Re: 6 above - If you are young and eaten too much, or if you have eaten a normal amount, but you are middle aged or older, walking after a meal may help your digestive system.

Re: 7 above - If you have consumed 'Red Vine' before or during your meal,

it is alright to sleep soon after a meal. But if you have consumed liquor, beer or 'White Vine' before or during a meal, having a glass of milk or malted milk, will prevent you getting gastric pains.

Those who are 'Diabetic' should not follow the above chart blindly;

they should take their prescribed medication before consuming sweet

fruits, ice-cream, fudge, etc.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FROM YOU IS WELCOME ! GOOD LUCK - GOD BLESS

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

The smell of rain...!!!



The smell of rain

At the end of this story, it gives you two options. I think you will figure out what option I chose.

A cold March wind danced around the dead of night in Dallas as the doctor walked into the small hospital room of Diana Blessing. She was still groggy from surgery.


Her husband, David, held her hand as they braced themselves for the latest news.
That afternoon of March 10, 1991, complications had forced Diana, only 24-weeks pregnant, to undergo an emergency Cesarean to deliver couple's new daughter, Dana Lu Blessing.



At 12 inches long and weighing only one pound nine ounces, they already knew she was perilously premature..

Still, the doctor's soft words dropped like bombs.

'I don't think she's going to make it,' he said, as kindly as he could.


'There's only a 10-percent chance she will live through the night, and even then, if by some slim chance she does make it, her future could be a very cruel one'



Numb with disbelief, David and Diana listened as the doctor described the devastating problems Dana would likely face if she survived.





She would never walk, she would never talk, she would probably be blind, and she would certainly be prone to other catastrophic conditions from cerebral palsy to complete mental retardation, and on and on.



'No! No!' was all Diana could say.

She and David, with their 5-year-old son Dustin, had long dreamed of the day they would have a daughter to become a family of four.

Now, within a matter of hours, that dream was slipping away



But as those first days passed, a new agony set in for David and Diana. Because Dana 's underdeveloped nervous system was essentially 'raw', the lightest kiss or caress only intensified her discomfort, so they couldn't even cradle their tiny baby girl against their chests to offer the strength of their love.
All they could do, as Dana struggled alone beneath the ultraviolet light in the tangle of tubes and wires, was to pray that God would stay close to their precious little girl.


There was never a moment when Dana suddenly grew stronger.



But as the weeks went by, she did slowly gain an ounce of weight here and an ounce of strength there.




At last, when Dana turned two months old, her parents were able to hold her in their arms for the very first time.




And two months later, though doctors continued to gently but grimly warn that her chances of surviving, much less living any kind of normal life, were next to zero, Dana went home from the hospital, just as her mother had predicted.



Five years later, when Dana was a petite but feisty young girl with glittering gray eyes and an unquenchable zest for life.


She showed no signs whatsoever of any mental or physical impairment. Simply, she was everything a little girl can be and more. But that happy ending is far from the end of her story.


One blistering afternoon in the summer of 1996 near her home in Irving , Texas , Dana was sitting in her mother's lap in the bleachers of a local ball park where her brother Dustin's baseball team was practicing.


As always, Dana was chattering nonstop with her mother and several other adults sitting nearby, when she suddenly fell silent. Hugging her arms across her chest, little Dana asked, 'Do you smell that?'



Smelling the air and detecting the approach of a thunderstorm, Diana replied, 'Yes, it smells like rain.'



Dana closed her eyes and again asked, 'Do you smell that?'



Once again, her mother replied, 'Yes, I think we're about to get wet. It smells like rain.'

Still caught in the moment, Dana shook her head, patted her thin shoulders with her small hands and loudly announced,
'No, it smells like Him.


'It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest.'


Tears blurred Diana's eyes as Dana happily hopped down to play with the other children.

Before the rains came, her daughter's words confirmed what Diana and all the members of the extended Blessing family had known, at least in their hearts, all along.



During those long days and nights of her first two months of her life, when her nerves were too sensitive for them to touch her, God was holding Dana on His chest and it is His loving scent that she remembers so well.



You now have 1 of 2 choices. You can either pass this on and let other people catch the chills like you did or you can delete this and act like it didn't touch your heart like it did mine.


IT'S YOUR CALL!


'I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.'
This morning when the Lord opened a window to Heaven, He saw me, and He asked: 'My child, what is your greatest wish for today?' I responded:
'Lord please, take care of the person who is reading this message, their family and their special friends. They deserve it and I love them very much'

The love of God is like the ocean, you can see its beginning, but not its end..


________________________
This message works on the day you receive it. Let us see if it is true. _____________


ANGELS EXIST but some times, since they don't all have wings, we call them FRIENDS.


_________________________


Pass this on to your true friends. Something good will happen to you at 11:00 in the morning; something that you have been waiting to hear.
This is not a joke; someone will call you by phone or will speak to you about something that you were waiting to hear.


Do not break this prayer; send it to a minimum of 5 people

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Appreciation- Dr. S. Packiyanathar Athanasiyar...!!!

Appreciation- Dr. S. Packiyanathar Athanasiyar
2010-08-06 20:05:39

Dr.Swampillai Packiyanathar Athanasiyar was born on October 16, 1917 in Sillalai, a village called “ Little Rome “ in the Jaffna diocese to orthodox Catholic parents.

His father was Dr. Swampillai Athanasiyar and his mother Mary Josephine. He had six sisters and one brother of whom three sisters predeceased him after a long life time of service as an eminent physician in Sri Lanka and abroad he passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on July 8, 2010 while in London. Incidentally 25 years ago his beloved mother too died on this same day.

Completing his secondary education in Jaffna, he joined the Ayurvedic College in Colombo to pursue his studies in medicine. He joined his father Dr. S Athanasiyar and acquired more knowledge and experience from a renowned veteran well known in the field of Ayurvedic treatment in the Peninsula. Dr. Packiyanather earned the respect and affection of his patients. His kindness and goodness with his specialized ancestral medicine for children and adults reached out to all and he enjoyed a lucrative practice.

Always neatly dressed in white, he was a gentleman par excellence. He was so conscious of his profession that even if disturbed in the dead of the night he would not hesitate to attend to emergency calls.

He was a devout Catholic. He played an active role in the parish activities and served in different capacities with responsibility and honesty .In spite of his heavy schedule, he always found time to participate in all church activities and never failed to attend any functions of relatives and parishioners

Dr. Packiyanather was married to Perly Swampillai, a caring, loving and a compassionate wife much involved in social work and an ex- Chairperson of the Pandaterruppu Town Council. They were blessed with one daughter and two sons.

Dr. Pakiyanathar’s faith in God sustained him in all his trials and triumphs. His demise is an irreparable loss to the Ayurvedic medical profession and to the community at large

As his brother-in-law I will not forget the yeoman services he has rendered to my family.

May he rest in peace

S.B. David


© Copyright 2010 | Wieya newspapers Ltd.Colombo

Friday, August 20, 2010

HEALTH WATCH/ DAILYNEWS.LK: In the early days they were called `prostitutes’. No matter what you call them, they don’t wait doing nothing.!!!

HEALTH WATCH

A shock of your life
‘Seven Colombo sex workers HIV positive!’ Now we can call them ‘commercial sex workers’.

Nadira Gunatilleke

In the early days they were called `prostitutes’. No matter what you call them, they don’t wait doing nothing.


A child who is HIV positive

They have hundreds of `clients’ who provide them sufficient money to live. The clients also have hundreds of other `service providers’!

Who are these clients? They are either single or married men. How about their innocent wives/girlfriends who know nothing about their husbands’/boyfriend’s HIV positive `entertainer’. According to findings, over 50 percent of Sri Lankan married women get HIV/AIDS from their husbands!

May be you are fit and fine. May be you are well protected against all STDs and HIV due to your good sexual behaviour or fear for life! May be you are very enthusiastically reading news just to learn what is happening around you.

At the same time may be there are persons who faint after reading the above news item and who are dying inside about the safety and future of himself and his innocent wife/girlfriend!

Maybe you are not too late to think about it. That is why we need to discuss this issue. It is all about Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) and HIV.

According to Health Ministry Media Coordinator W.M.D. Vanninayake, Sri Lanka’s HIV prevalence rate has gone up from 0.1 to 0.5. since the discovery of first HIV infected person from the country around two decades ago. This is a fact that all of us should take into consideration. Although records say that only around 1323 HIV positive persons are there in the country, the actual number can be much more higher than this recorded number. Maybe there are a thousand more male and female HIV carriers in Sri Lanka who are in good health and have casual sex with other partners other than their wives/girlfriends.

According to the scientific findings, antibody tests may give false negative (no antibodies were detected despite HIV being present) results during the Window Period, an interval of three weeks to six months between the time of HIV infection and the production of measurable antibodies to HIV seroconversion.

Most people develop detectable antibodies approximately 30 days after infection, although some seroconvert later. The vast majority of people (99 percent) have detectable antibodies by three months after HIV infection; a six-month window is extremely rare with modern antibody testing. The most dangerous fact is during the window period, an infected person can transmit HIV to others although their HIV infection may not be detectable with an antibody test.

Therefore if a person had unprotected sex, very worried about his/her safety and health, runs into a lab and gets tested for HIV within few days of the incident, it will give no relief to him/her. The test may say negative but the person can be HIV positive!


The world making an awareness

The best thing that can be done by a genuine husband/wife who had unprotected sex is, protecting his/her spouse until the window period ends and get himself/herself tested for HIV. It will ensure the safety of the innocent husband/wife who does not know a thing about his/her spouse’s `sex adventures’. But the question is whether he/she is (really)worried about the health and safety of his/her spouse. If one really loves and care for another first of all he or she will love himself/herself and protect himself/herself first!

The worst possible situation arises when a husband brings HIV home, gives it to his wife and the wife gives birth to their HIV positive child ! There is no need to describe the pathetic situation of such a family which is proceeding towards a huge tragedy. The innocent child may lose both or one parent in an early age of his life and then die from AIDS once his/her immunity gives up.

The sex worker found positive for HIV has nothing to do with any of these tragedies because she was earning a living selling her body without knowing her HIV positive status, and the mother is helpless without knowing anything about her husband’s behaviour.

The innocent child is paying the price for the sins of his/her father who seek some ‘thrill’ outside home!

After hearing or reading this breaking news you may start thinking twice of the safety of your family. It increase your blood pressure and take away your mental peace. The other fact is you do not have any right to infect your pregnant spouse with HIV. So why worry about breaking news? Live your life according to the nature and religion.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adolescent hearing loss on the rise in US
Do you ever get the impression your teen is just not hearing you? Well, maybe he’s not. Literally. According to a new study, more American adolescents may be suffering from early signs of hearing loss than previously estimated.


Listening to
music through
earphones for
a long period
of time is not good

Researchers looking at hearing loss in people ages 12 to 19 found that when compared with data from the mid-1990s there has been a 30 percent increase in the development of minimal levels of hearing loss, and a 77 percent increase in more serious hearing problems – those where obvious communication difficulties can be observed. About one in 20 children experienced hearing loss in 1994, and that number jumped to about one in 5, or an estimated 6.5 million adolescents, by 2006.

“What we’re seeing is a big jump in the prevalence of hearing loss in a very short period of time, in less than one generation,” an author on the study Dr. Roland Eavey said. “That means we’re on the front edge of an epidemic.” The results were published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Hearing loss is a serious problem that can lead to developmental delays for school-aged children.

Even though the condition is common, getting to the root of the problem remains a challenge.

The authors of the JAMA article conclude that more studies are needed to determine the ex

act cause of the increase.

“We see smoke,” Eavey explains. “We’re not sure where the fire is yet, but we know it’s not good for the woods to be burning.”

An otolaryngologist with the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders Dr. Gordon Hughes, agrees that the findings are significant and says the next step is moving beyond epidemiological analyses.

“You’re taking a cross section of the population in certain age groups, and then comparing what you see from then to now,” he explains. “You cannot prove cause and effect with that.”

Both Eavey and Hughes say future studies should probe more specifically into questions about noise and music.

Even though the 2005 – 2006 survey included a question asking participants whether they had been exposed to loud noise or music for five hours or more a week, Eavey says adolescents may simply reply ‘no’ to a question either because they don’t understand the significance, or because to them a loud rock concert might be the norm.

Asking “have you experienced ringing in your ears in the last three months,” could really help pinpoint the cause, he suggests.

Despite the absence of a causal link, experts say technological trends popular among adolescents can’t be ignored.

CNN health


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The doctor of tomorrow
Dr Sujatha Liyanage - Health Education Bureau

An era of acute diseases with straight forward causes is gradually being replaced with chronic diseases of complex and multifaceted causation, most of which are man made.


Chronic disease epidemiology

Chronic non communicable diseases in Sri Lanka reaching epidemic proportions, pose a severe threat to the people- resulting in premature death and disability. Moreover, by diminishing the productivity of the nation and huge health care costs, NCDs (diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and cancer) play out a huge economic burden to the Government.

Around the world 60 percent of all deaths are due to NCDs, and four-fifths of these occur in low and middle-income countries. But fortunately, nearly all chronic diseases are preventable. Four factors contribute to three-quarters of the risk for NCDs: physical inactivity and poor nutrition (which lead to overweight and obesity), tobacco use and alcohol use.

All of these can be effectively targeted. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommend multi-faceted multi-institutional’ responses to eliminate the global chronic disease burden.

With regard to the responses a three-point approach that merges epidemiological surveillance, primary prevention (preventing chronic disease in lay healthy communities through health promotion) and secondary prevention (preventing complications and improving the quality of life of people with chronic disease through medical, psychosocial and/or economic interventions) is suggested.

Considering the structure and agents of responses, (1) interdisciplinary research that addresses the multi-faceted causes and consequences of chronic disease; and (2) innovative interventions that efficiently use existing economic and human resources are further recommended by professionals.

Educational curricula of medical schools should introduce the higher level of reasoning and assessment. The habitual view of the patient from linear cause and effect, symptom and diagnosis to a broader real life viewpoint. The role of the future doctor should undergo a shift from today’s traditional practice. In a way it should be a multidisciplinary, patient centered and also inclusively concern body, mind and spirit.

The future doctor should be much more capable of working smoothly with partners of various allied health and non health professionals. This novel doctor should consistently be updated with new evidences of best practices to ensure that patients under his care receive high quality services and best available treatment options. High technology is not the sole hope for medicinal achievement; it must be coupled with a ‘high-touch’.

It is because of the natural healing powers of the human body and mind that we continue survival. Subsequently an ideal doctor should not compromise this capacity, but facilitate patients towards self healing. They should be empowered to adopt healthy life behaviors. In other words, health promotion, which emphasizes community empowerment for their optimal well being within supportive environments, must be the primary idea of future medicine . Accordingly the doctor should be where the community is, but not in a ‘in- the- clinic practice’. The delicate and inborn healing process is not to be compromised with robust interventions and drugs. Rather than fostering drug dependence and its adverse effects, the safest and mildest drugs should be used in the first instance.

It is important to utilize high technology and curative wisdom with utmost care and patience. The battle against complex chronic diseases cannot be solved solely by prescribing a drug or an intervention which is at the same time valuable in acute ill health and emergencies. In most chronic conditions such approaches will only temporarily relieve the patent’s current symptoms , with the threat of returning symptoms from the underlying problem.

In the management of chronic diseases the patient should be the navigator of a multidisciplinary team of care providers, not a passive recipient.

The empowered patient plays a giant role in controlling his/her own health and well being through adopting healthy life styles, involving in formulation of healthy public policies and advocating for supportive environments.

In short, to tackle the multifaceted nature of chronic disease causation the future doctor should have the ability to advocate for optimal supportive environments and be actively involved in the formation of policies conducive to the overall well being of communities.

Such a role of a doctor is urgently required to reduce risk, morbidity and mortality for a growing number of Sri Lankans affected by chronic diseases. It will be the inimitable solution to reverse the escalating health expenditure on chronic disease burden and to enhance the quality of lives of our nation.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An Illegal Abortion:

Murdering in a point of secured living
Dr SHANTHA HETTIARACHCHI

A love affair of a matching young couple had been going on for several years. They were able to obtain the consent from their parents very recently after passing through a long period of opposing .

Both of them were willing to discuss their problem openly in the session of counseling .


A baby inside the womb

As the marriage was registered a few months back, they were preparing for their wedding ceremony in the near future. An unexpected problem had been encountered by them while waiting to see this happiest day in their life. The girl had developed ulceration in the genital region and later diagnosed as genital herpes. Though it was a sexually transmitted infection, it had come through another hidden route in this instance.

The girl had to undergo a termination of pregnancy in an illegal abortion center in finding an urgent but incorrect answer to an unexpected problem, before appearing as a bride in front of their relatives. The genital ulceration was apparent two weeks after this unpleasant experience and it was evident that such a gift had been received through the usage of unsterilized instruments in this illegal place.

The gift they received could not be discarded from their life. There is a possibility to recur the disease in time to time even after subsiding the relevant clinical manifestations with treatment. They were counseled and reassured how to reduce this burden from their mind while living with this recurring illness.

It is true that the word abortion is very familiar to people nowadays, irrespective of their religious or racial differences. When they see or hear this word the mind of the majority get struck with the term, illegal abortion. An increasing number of unwanted pregnancies which are occurring in the country, has invariably created this situation.

It is evident that abortion could happen spontaneously in 10 to 15 percent of pregnancies. Abortion is defined as the termination of a pregnancy before the fetus is capable of extra uterine life, prior to 28th week of gestation.

The causes for the spontaneous abortion include, malformation or defective development of the fertilized ovum or zygote, general diseases of the mother such as rubella, syphilis, malaria, toxoplasmosis, diabetes, hypertension, renal disease, acute emotional disturbances and high fever, certain hormone imbalances like increased or decreased activity of thyroid gland, low level of progesterone and trauma, irradiation exposure or abnormalities of the uterus.

When the abortions take place intentionally, they are said to be induced. An induced abortion may be legal or illegal according to the law in the relevant country. The existing legislation in Sri Lanka, has been implemented in the year 1883.

There is a legal provision for induced abortion when the mother’s life is in danger due to her pregnancy. There are no other indications to allow an induced abortion, according to this law in our country.

The grounds on which abortion is permitted are different in countries. Saving the life of the mother, preserving physical or mental health of the mother, medical problems or birth defects of unborn fetus, economic or social reasons , rape or incest and demand or request are among the indications that has been selected differently in those countries.

In Sri Lanka section 303 of the Penal Code provides that anyone voluntarily causing a woman to terminate her pregnancy is liable up to three years imprisonment and/or payment of a fine, unless the miscarriage was caused in good faith in order to save the mother’s life. A woman who induces her own miscarriage is also liable to the penalties. If the miscarriage is caused without the consent of the woman, the person causing it is liable up to 20 years’ imprisonment and payment of a fine according to section 304.

The same penalty is imposed if the woman’s death results from any act carried out with intent to bring about a miscarriage, whether or not the offender knew that the act was likely to cause death according to section 305.

Currently, a vast number of illegal abortions are being reported while such tough legislations are existing in the country. It has been estimated through various researches that around 700 to 1000 illegal abortions are occurring in a day.

It must be emphasized that exact incidence of illegal termination of pregnancy could not be measured as many patients who are admitted to hospitals with symptoms of abortion deny any attempt in disturbing pregnancy. The suggestive evidence of manipulation can be detected in some of the cases during the examination.

The complications that arise as a result of abortions will endanger the life of the woman.

In addition to the acute complications of nervous shock, hemorrhage, infection, injury to genital tract and internal organs, chronic pelvic inflammatory diseases could occur as a long-term sequel of unsafe abortion. Sometimes drugs or other chemicals which are used to induce abortions, may cause adverse toxic or chemical reactions.

Unsafe illegal abortion could act as a path in transmission of sexually transmitted infections. No one can guarantee that operators of these hidden places adhere to proper sterilization techniques in induction and completion of relevant procedure. There is a possibility in sharing sexually transmitted infections through the use of improperly sterilized instruments when someone is having this type of disease, among the waiting group of women who are in the queue to get terminated the pregnancy.

The majority of deaths in illegal abortion are attributable to infection. The patient can develop septicemia as a result of multiplication of the germ, which has entered the bloodstream in these circumstances. Apart from this, nervous shock or excessive hemorrhage may be a cause for sudden death following these procedures.

The resultant infection may lead to chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, involving the genital tract. It can manifest clinically, with fever, lower abdominal pain, menstrual irregularities and vaginal discharge. Sub fertility may be another additional problem due to this condition.

The number of women, who undergo illegal abortion, represent group of married as well as unmarried.

The lack of proper knowledge on family planning is the common reason in considering both groups. There is an necessity in providing correct sex education to all, with different proportion to suit for the different age groups.

The good attitudes must be built among them while improving the knowledge on this context, in avoiding problematic circumstances. It should be emphasized that destruction and disintegration of socio cultural norms are the unavoidable results with delay in providing this knowledge to our society.

courtesy:dailynews.lk
Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2010 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Walking to a good night’s sleep...!!!

Walking to a good night’s sleep
August 15, 2010, 5:54 pm



By Professor Jim Horne



Much has been said about how to seek a good night’s sleep, from taking pills and potions, to ‘sleep hygiene’ – an unappealing term which conjures images of a sanitised sleep with sterile bed clothes, open windows and no bodily contact, but actually involves avoiding various things (alcohol, coffee, exciting films) and not going to bed until sleepy. But these methods do little to promote natural sleepiness.



Sleep scientists have, however, found various enjoyable waking activities which are effective in bringing a sounder sleep.



While many believe that a physical work-out and plenty of exercise promotes sleep, it doesn’t, and nor does sleep provide any extra benefit to recovery after exercise, beyond that gained in relaxed wakefulness. Although heavy exercise can lead to deeper sleep, this has little to do with the exercise itself, and more to do with becoming hot as a consequence - the same exercise in a cool wind, keeping both body and brain cool, has no effect on deep sleep. A hot body also means a warmer brain; its chemistry will work faster and be in need of more recovery during sleep.



The good news for couch potatoes is there is an easier way to warm up body and brain, requiring no physical effort whatsoever, that not only increases deep sleep but also leads to more sleepiness at bed-time and a quicker sleep onset. Just lying in a hot bath in the evening will help deep sleep that night. Besides, it’s a relaxing pastime and the accompanying peace of mind also gives a more restful sleep. Adding plenty of bath foam also helps; the insulating bubbles keep the heat in the bath for longer.



More sleep science concerns the body’s need to cool down before a night’s sleep, which seems at variance with having that bath. But drying off afterwards accelerates this cooling; your body overcompensates, radiating out more heat than was gained in the bath, further speeding up sleep.



That exercise should be relaxing, not taxing, was strongly advocated by the Victorians. In 1900 the British Medical Journal pronounced: "daily bodily exercise in the open air, but always short of great fatigue must be enjoined. What is called carriage exercise is better than no outdoor change at all, but walking is far better exercise and cycling better still, and riding on horseback the best of all ….Gardening in the open air, not in conservatories or hothouses affords good exercises and it is very efficient in keeping up objective attention."



Though quaint, as a means to improve one’s sleep it is wiser than you might think; the mental activities of gardening will certainly ‘exercise the brain’ if sufficiently varied and stimulating. ‘Brain exercise’ leading to deeper sleep comes not so much from crosswords or suduku but from spending a few hours walking in a changing, interesting environment, looking around and absorbing what is going on. Window shopping, sightseeing; anything new and different enough to hold your attention will do. Having conversations and meeting new people adds the important ingredient of novelty, putting further agreeable demands on one’s mind and brain. All this new stimulation makes the brain work harder than staying indoors surrounded by familiarity. Reading or watching TV only engages relatively small parts of the brain, unlike getting out and about. Similarly, seeing an exciting film is still too passive - one has to be moving purposely, interacting with your surroundings. A multitasking parent, juggling various activities at once, may be comforted to know that their efforts may help them sleep well later.



The feeling of weariness after that day out at the seaside or walking around a museum is not so much due to the ozone or a surfeit of ‘fresh air’, but the novelty. And I suspect the accompanying aching feet is not from excessive walking, but a cry from the brain that it has had enough, and it’s time to sit down and stop. Here’s where sleep science comes in once more; not only will you feel sleepier that evening, but beneficial changes to the brain’s circuitry in response to the day’s novelty occur during this sleep. Such changes are reflected by increases in newly discovered ‘slow oscillations’ in the minute electrical brainwaves generated by the sleeping brain.



(C) The Telegraph Group London 2010

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Warning about Energy Saving Bulbs...!!!




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2010 06:38:27 -0700
From: noelsotha@yahoo.com
Subject: Fw: Warning about Energy Saving Bulbs.
To: noelv@rogers.com






HEALTH WARNING



You have to bury them deep, away from other sources.



Subject: Warning about Energy Saving Bulbs.


...Regarding Energy Saving bulbs

....Very Important

Warning from the British Ministry of health about Energy Saving bulbs
These type of bulbs which are called Energy Saving or low Energy bulbs, if it is broken it causes serious danger! As much that everybody will have to leave the room for at least 15 minutes.
Because it contains Mercury (poisonous) which cause migraine, disorientation, imbalances and different other health problems when inhaled.
And many people with allergies, causes them severe skin condition and other diseases just by touching this substance or inhaling it.
Also the ministry warned by NOT cleaning the debris of the broken bulb with the vacuum cleaner, because it would spread the contamination to other rooms in the house while using the vacuum cleaner again.
It must be cleaned through normal broom or brush and be kept in a sealed bag and thrown right away from the house in the bin for hazardous materials.
Notice: Mercury is dangerous, more poisonous than lead or arsenic!!!!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Many people are unaware of the body odour problem, which is something that can easily be solved.!!!

Hidden truths on body odour

Sweat is a part of a daily occurrence, brought on when the adrenaline starts pumping. Our bodies are constantly producing sweat, but there are certain times when they produce a lot more. Sweat consists almost entirely of water, with some sodium and fat, none of which are toxic. It is not uncommon for one to feel discomfort caused by sweat and body odour (BO). The fact remains that many people are unaware of the body odour problem, which is something that can easily be solved.

Body odour is caused by a natural process that involves sweat, which occurs on the skins surface. The body sweats to control temperature and not to remove toxins. Additional sweat is produced to cool down our bodies when we are exposed to heat, physical exertion, stress or nervousness. When the sweat gland is stimulated, the cells secrete a fluid that travels from the coiled portion of the gland up through the straight duct and out onto the surface of our skin.

Many external factors contribute towards our self-esteem and the way others perceive us. If we are unaware of problems relating to BO, it can affect our daily activities and interaction with others. It is important to maintain good practices pertaining to hygiene and regulate issues connected to it.

BO is caused by a natural process that involves sweat, which occur on the skin's surface. Sweat itself is odourless, but if left on the skin for some time bacteria can form, therefore causing an unpleasant smell. It has been scientifically proven that people can become immune to their own body odour over time, resulting in the fact that they don't realise they have body odour, although they may notice it on others.

The body sweats about a litre a day, surprisingly the underarm sweat is about 1% of the body's sweat - we are just more aware of it because the sweat can't evaporate as easily from under the arm as from other areas of the body.

When the under arm area is washed with soap on a regular basis the skin loses its moisture or another word for this; it is in this environment that bacteria thrive. The bacteria feed on the sweat from the apocrine glands and on dead skin and hair cells which in turn is the primary cause of BO.

It is note worthy that much time and money is spent on personal grooming but an essential hygienic habit of eliminating body odour is neglected when it can be easily taken care of. Similar to shampooing and conditioning hair, manicuring nails and brushing teeth; using a deodorant is a necessity.

Personal hygiene experts have recommended, especially in tropical countries, that deodorants or antiperspirant deodorants be used after a shower, as these products combat the onset of sweat, thereby masking unpleasant odours. Deodorants permit the release of perspiration, but prevents odour by combating it with antiseptic agents, which remove odour-causing bacteria. Antiperspirant deodorants work by dissolving in sweat to produce a thin coating on the skin's surface that temporarily reduces underarm sweating, but do not alter the body's release of sweat to any significant degree.

Within such a hygiene-conscious society, it is important to step back and reassess hygiene practices and become aware of the issues connected to body odour and how it is produced. It is only by addressing the root cause of the problem that one can progressively move forward, build successful relationships and create a lasting impression.

dailynews.com

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Around 300 to 400 persons die of non-communicable diseases like high-blood pressure, diabetes, heart ailments, cancer and kidney failure everyday..!!!

Sirisena vows to battle non-communicable diseases
July 13, 2010, 9:33 pm


by Don Asoka Wijewardena



Around 300 to 400 persons die of non-communicable diseases like high-blood pressure, diabetes, heart ailments, cancer and kidney failure everyday.



Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Maithripala Sirisena has appointed a National Steering Committee to conduct effective awareness programmes to prevent such diseases.



Health Ministry spokesman W. Wanninayaka told The Island that the emergence of non-communicable diseases was in fact a cause for concern because unlike communicable diseases, most non-communicable diseases could be prevented by changing lifestyles.



The consumption of liquor, tobacco, junk food and high cholesterol foods could be some of the causes. According to the Health Ministry, The National Steering Committee on Non-Communicable Diseases will hold island-wide awareness programmes. The Committee comprises Secretary to Health Ministry, Director Medical Services and the Director General of Health Services.

island.lk
UPALI NEWSPAPERS (PVT) LTD
Copyright © Upali Newspapers (Pvt) Ltd.

Considering the high death toll in an ideal situation they should resign from their posts since there seemed to be no political will to rectify..!!!

Sri Lanka’s losing Battle against dengue

July 12, 2010, 6:10 pm



By Shyamalee Mahibalan



Why does a holiday have to be this stressful, especially if you have young kids? With an alarming rise in death toll I have to say Sri Lanka has lost the dengue battle or its losing it. The health ministry and the environment ministries have failed the young children of this country. Considering the high death toll in an ideal situation they should resign from their posts since there seemed to be no political will to rectify. This story was infact a plea from a mother of a 1 year old child who was a victim of dengue and was just released from the hospital. I do relate to her story .Three years ago I was living on a prayer inside the Apollo ICU, with my 5 year old daughter who was battling a strange combination of Chikungunya and Dengue (DHF) at the same time. An island wide blood drive and eight packs of platelets she was out of hospital. Since then I do have a travel advisory for parents with children, "please be careful and take plenty of mosquito repellents (never a believer of the latter but was forced to accept that repellents do work). How can any parent relax when you have to run around checking for mosquito bites and carrying thermometers around?



Within the last week alone 11dengue deaths most being children. Wonder who is responsible for this? Most certainly this should be the responsibility of the environmental ministry to implant a cohesive action plan to tackle dengue, but where are they? The past week I have heard from the health authorities that the children are brought to hospital at latter stages. Is there any literature indicating which stage that the children should be taken to hospital and how to monitor there progress? Or for that matter how to keep your environment clean. Needless to say an ailing sewage system in the city of Colombo and the suburbs with its swelling population, mountains of garbage pile ups and the many construction sites are definitely culprits. For years there seemed to be more talk on clearing up garbage and cleaning up the roads, people are yet to see the results. The garbage pile ups are all over Colombo including a mini one down my road, since it is a never ending battle with the CMC to collect the daily garbage the people seemed to have found a convenient alternative. Any empty space or a bare land is easily converted to a dump yard. With Dengue reaching pandemic levels and the rising of my husband’s stress levels my bags are packed and out of here, and I sigh in relief once I reach Changi. But what about all the parents who have to stay back and raise their children? Can the authorities fail them?



Its time Sri Lanka followed Singapore’s concerted efforts to control dengue. Singapore is not a dengue free country; even as I write this I could see the weekly fogging outside. During dengue peak times fogging is done on a regular basis. The National Environment Agency (NEA) adopts a multi-pronged approach to control dengue. Extracted from its web site

a. preventive surveillance and control;



b. public education & community involvement;



c. enforcement; and



d. Research.



Preventive Surveillance and control



Through data gathered during field surveillance and with the aid of the Geographical Information System, NEA conducts daily mosquito surveillance operations. The information enables NEA to move quickly into areas to do source reduction (i.e. remove/destroy breeding grounds found). These are important steps to prevent possible dengue transmission.


NEA's operations strategies are:



* Active surveillance in areas prone to dengue and/or where there is high mosquito population.



* Breaking the source of transmission as quickly as possible when cases (both suspected and confirmed) and clusters of cases emerge



* In 2006, NEA had doubled its manpower deployment for mosquito control to 500 officers and formed dedicated teams responsible for regular auditing, inspections and enforcement in each of the 84 constituencies.



* These teams, being familiar with the areas under their charge, are able to identify and pre-empt potential problematic areas quicker and more effectively.



* NEA had inspected 1.5 million premises and carried out more than 40,000 ground surveys in 2006, an increase of 60% and 29%, respectively, as compared to 2005.



* The number of breeding found in homes in 2006 was 44% lower than in 2005, this is observed despite the increase in inspections by NEA by 59%.



(b) Integrated Efforts with Other Agencies/Organizations



NEA works with various land agencies as well as private organizations and associations to ensure that there is a coordinated approach in keeping the mosquito population and dengue cases low. Some of the agencies NEA has worked with include:



i) Construction Sites



* Since 2001, an Environmental Control Officer (ECO) Scheme had been introduced in construction sites. Under the Scheme, construction sites are required to engage a part time or full time ECO depending on the cost of the development.



* These NEA-trained ECOs are responsible for maintaining the pest and mosquito control works within the construction sites.



* Today, only 6% of construction sites inspected were found breeding Aedes mosquito, down from 30% in 1999.
------------------------------------------------
island.lk
UPALI NEWSPAPERS (PVT) LTD
Copyright © Upali Newspapers (Pvt) Ltd.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

New HIV infections are increasing among homosexuals, drug users and prostitutes who don’t seek help because of laws that criminalize these practices.!

New HIV infections increasing among homosexuals

NEW YORK (AP) - New HIV infections are increasing among homosexuals, drug users and prostitutes who don’t seek help because of laws that criminalize these practices, the head of the U.N. AIDS agency said Monday.

Michel Sidibe, the head of UNAIDS, said "it is unacceptable" that 85 countries still have laws criminalizing same sex relations among adults, including seven that impose the death penalty for homosexual practices.

He called a proposed Ugandan law that would impose the death penalty for some gays "very unfortunate" and expressed hope it will never be approved.

At a time when UNAIDS is scaling up its program and seeking universal access to HIV treatment, Sidibe said he was "very scared" because bad laws are being introduced by countries making it impossible for these at risk groups to have access to services.

"You have also a growing conservatism which is making me very scared," Sidibe added.

"We must insist that the rights of the minorities are upheld. If we don’t do that ... I think the epidemic will grow again," he warned. "We cannot accept the tyranny of the majority."

Sidibe told a group of journalists at a luncheon hosted by the United Nations Foundation that in countries from China to Kenya and Malawi, about 33 percent of new HIV infections are in men having sex with men, a significant increase.

By contrast, he said that in the Caribbean where most countries don’t have repressive laws, only between 3 and 6 percent of HIV infections are in male homosexuals.

Even in the United States, where laws are not restrictive and the gay community was the first to tackle AIDS, Sidibe said it is "shocking" that more than 50 percent of new HIV infections last year occurred among homosexuals. And he said in the 19-25 age bracket the infection rate was even higher.

"It seems like we have come full circle" in the United States, he said. "After almost no cases a few years ago we are seeing again this new peak among people who are not having access to all the information, the protection that is needed."

In addition to failing to adequately deliver the right messages about AIDS prevention, Sidibe blamed complacency in a new generation that has access to treatment.

He added that this was not just a problem in the U.S. but in Europe and in Africa as well.

Sidibe said drug users are also getting the HIV virus that causes AIDS in high numbers.

"You have 70 percent of new infections occurring in Eastern Europe and Central Asia among drug users, but they are criminalized," he said. "They don’t have access to services. They have to hide themselves and go underground."

Of the 16 million people in the world who are injecting drugs, almost 3 million are HIV positive, and among them less than 4 percent have access to treatment and less than 8 percent have access to services, Sidibe said.

"It’s the same for men having sex with men," he said.

In Nigeria, where there are 1,000 new HIV infections every day, over 30 percent are in vulnerable groups - drug users, sex workers and homosexuals, he said.

Sidibe called for "a prevention revolution" including a campaign in major cities around the world like the anti-smoking campaigns launched in recent years.


www island.lk

This small Asian country has an excellent healthcare system accessible not only to its citizens, but also to any visitor with a valid visa..!!!

Western wrongs and human rights
M.D. Nalapat
China Daily/ANN

It’s a fact that Western countries today are far more technologically advanced than their Asian counterparts and their citizens live a "better life".

But that does not mean human rights are better protected in the West. Instead, an honest examination would show human rights are far better protected in Asia, at least when it comes to the most vulnerable sections of society such as ethnic minorities and residents without citizenship.

Take healthcare. In the United States, the epitome of Western culture, it is difficult for a person without a health insurance or enough money to get medical treatment. Visitors to the US, especially from poorer countries, may be refused access to healthcare.

In many European Union (EU) countries, the standard of medical treatment the underprivileged of other countries get is far below their national standards. Are the human rights of visitors who fall ill in Europe and the US protected? Why is the fundamental right to health neglected by the very countries that claim to be the torch-bearers of universal human rights?

Contrast this with Kuwait, for example. This small Asian country has an excellent healthcare system accessible not only to its citizens, but also to any visitor with a valid visa. And the cost for the best medical treatment is just 1 Kuwaiti dinar (or $3.50). Wouldn’t a person visiting the US even with a valid visa be laughed at and thrown out of the door if he/she enters a hospital with $3.50 and seeks medical treatment.

Good medical care is not confined to Kuwait. The Arab spirit - in the best Asian tradition - ensures that every member country of the Gulf Cooperation Council provides excellent healthcare.

Hundreds of thousands of patients die each year because they cannot afford the medicines from American and European pharmaceutical companies because they have priced it out of the reach of most of the people to make huge profits. These companies fleece patients not only in other countries, but also in their own, saying the high costs are to fund research.

But the pharmaceutical cartel has enough power to get the EU to block low-cost Indian drugs from entering not only their home markets, but also those in Africa. US companies, on the other hand, use their judicial system to maintain their monopolies and continue crippling patients in America and Europe with their high costs.

If the authorities in these countries had the moral courage to resist the lures of the pharmaceutical giants, millions of their citizens would have benefited from low drug prices. But that in the Western paradigm is not a violation of human rights.


www island.lk

Arteries improve after smokers quit, the first big study finds...!!!

Arteries improve after smokers quit, study finds

ATLANTA (AP) - Quitting smoking can turn back time.

A year after kicking the habit, smokers’ arteries showed signs of reversing a problem that can set the stage for heart disease, according to the first big study to test this.

The improvement came even though smokers gained an average of 9 pounds (4 kilograms) after they quit, researchers found. Their levels of so-called good cholesterol improved, too.

"A lot of people are afraid to quit smoking because they’re afraid to gain weight," said the study’s leader, Dr. James Stein, a University of Wisconsin-Madison cardiologist.

The new research shows these people gain a health benefit even though they pick up pounds that hopefully can be shed once they’ve gotten used to not smoking, he said.

Smoking is one of the top causes of heart disease, and about one third of smoking-related deaths in the U.S. are due to heart disease. A heart attack often motivates longtime smokers to give it up.

Quitting is known to lower the risk of developing or dying of lung cancer. This is the first major clinical trial to show it quickly improves artery health. Results were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and presented at the group’s annual conference on Monday.

In the study, 1,500 smokers were given one of five methods to help them quit - nicotine patches; nicotine lozenges; the drug bupropion, sold as Wellbutrin and Zyban; or a combination of patches and lozenges or the drug and lozenges. A sixth group received a dummy treatment.

After one year, 36 percent had quit, and it made no difference which method they used, Stein said.

Before the study started and one year after smokers quit, doctors did ultrasound tests to see how well blood vessel linings relaxed and handled blood flow. Hardening of the arteries is an early step to heart disease. Using a tourniquet, they stopped blood flow in the forearm for a few minutes, then measured how a major artery responded when the flow was restored.

"It’s a valid test" and is considered a good sign of how healthy the heart arteries are, said Dr. Alfred Bove, a Temple University heart specialist and president of the cardiology group.

Doctors found that artery function improved 1 percent in the quitters.

"That may not sound like much," but research shows that translates to a 14 percent lower risk of developing heart disease, Stein said.

"It’s a small improvement at one year. The question is, do these folks keep getting better?" Bove said.

The study is continuing another two years to give an answer, Stein said.

London-based GlaxoSmithKline PLC provided smoking cessation medicines for that part of the study, and several authors have research funding from the company. Federal government grants paid for the artery study.


www island.lk

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Do’s and don’ts during lightning..!!! Safe than sorry...!!!

Do’s and don’ts during lightning

Shirley Wijesinghe

The Met Department has issued a lightning warning to the public with the on set of the first inter monsoonal rains.

Lightning has already claimed the life of an eight-year-girl in Ranna in the Lunugamvehera area.

Safe than sorry
* Disconnect electrical instruments
* Avoid touching electrical instruments

* Limit use of phones

The Met Department warned the public to take adequate precautions against lightning especially with regard to the use of electric items and appliances.

This can be done by following certain precautionary measures that would reduce lightning risks, a Met Dept official said.

He said harm from lightning could come in different ways.

Apart from direct strikes it could transmit via electronic or magnetic fields. He warned the public not to have electric wires tied to nearby trees.

All electrical instruments should also be disconnected from the main power supply.

Avoid handling or touching electrical instruments, the official said.

He also advised to limit the use of telephones during a thunderstorm.

“Find shelter in a safe place to avoid exposing yourself to open air. If the time interval between a lightning flash and thunder clap is less than 15 seconds, move quickly to a protected location, as there is immediate likelihood of impending danger. However there is no danger in touching , holding or carrying a person struck by lightning.

dailynews.lk

Monday, March 15, 2010

Coconut water: Is it good for you.......?

Coconut water: Is it good for you?...........By Dr. Asoka S. Dissanayake
Former Professor of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya


Coconut woman is calling out, and everyday you can hear her shout,

"Get you coconut water it’s good for your daughter
Coco got a lot of iron, make you strong like a lion"


Words from a Harry Belafonte song


Two recent articles, one a front page news item appearing in The Daily News of 2nd March titled "Coconut water improves HDL" and the other in the Island of 8th March titled "Sugary soft drinks lead to diabetes, research finds" prompted me to write this article. In it, as a medical academic turned coconut grower I will endeavour to discuss whether coconut water has any health benefits and to discuss the economics of growing coconut for producing coconut water.

King coconuts or young green coconuts "Kurumba" have to be harvested when the nuts are about 6 months old if they are to provide coconut water that can be used as a drink whereas to harvest the coconut kernel, mature nuts are plucked once a year. As the coconut matures, the "water" is gradually replaced by the coconut kernel (also called meat) and air. King coconuts are mostly plucked when immature. Once they have matured the little kernel in them can be converted to oil but the market for such oil is very limited and hence many mature king coconuts are left to fall off and decay.

The chemical composition of coconut water (CW) is affected by several factors. Published studies have shown that CW from different coconut varieties contains varying concentrations of the main constituents. The chemical composition of CW also changes as the nut matures. Soil and environmental conditions also affect the chemical profile of CW. The most comprehensive review of the composition, uses and possible medicinal applications for CW comes, of all places, from Singapore where today coconut is grown for landscaping and not as an agricultural crop (Jean W.H. Wong & colleagues published in Molecules 2009, 14, 5144-5164 ). Sadly in it, not a single paper authored by a Sri Lankan is cited. This paper publishes a detailed account of the various constituents found in coconut water. The data quoted from several sources are for green young and as well as mature coconuts. No mention is made of King Coconut water (KCW). Coconut water is made up of about 95% water. The energy value is low at between about 16 to 19 calories per 100g. Coconut water has relatively high amounts of potassium, calcium and magnesium but is comparatively deficient in sodium, chloride and bicarbonate. The biochemical profile of coconut water varies as nuts mature, resulting in reductions in the concentration of potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride and osmolarity.

CW has been a thirst quencher and a refreshing drink over the ages. According to the Wikipedia web site, CW has long been a popular drink in the tropics, especially in Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands like Hawaii and the Caribbean, where it is available fresh, canned or bottled. In Brazil, coconut water is the second best-selling juice after orange juice. While it is still consumed in our village areas and KCW is an essential component of the Buddhist mid day ‘dane’, in urban areas it has been replaced by the bottled sugary soft drinks and sweetened fruit drinks. In fact, I believe that the youth think it is fashionable to drink a bottle of Coke rather than a have a Thambili! There also seems to be a seasonal variation in the demand for CW or KCW. I have found that during the rainy season it is difficult to sell king coconuts. In many countries CW is also marketed as a sports drink because of its high potassium and mineral content. One cup-full of coconut water contains more electrolytes than most sports drinks and has more potassium than a banana. So, should we be serving CW in addition to "Anamalu or Ambung" at the next Cricket World cup? Interestingly, a booklet in Sinhala published by the Coconut Research Institute (CRI) titled "coconut based products" mentions the methods for producing three coconut water based products. They all refer to the uses for CW from mature nuts. The first is for the manufacture of coconut vinegar a long held practice. The second refers to bottling CW for sale as a sweetened drink (by adding 60g of sugar to a litre of mature CW along with preservatives etc.) This will only add to our diabetic population. The third is for the manufacture of ‘wine’ from CW. This goes against the ‘Mathata Thitha’ policy! The CRI has not paid any attention to KCW or CW from green nuts.

Coconut water is said to be isotonic with plasma and if the covering husk is not damaged is sterile. Hence it can be infused safely directly into the blood stream. The idea for its use as an intravenous rehydration fluid was proposed, I believe, by Prof. K. Rajasuriya in the 1950s. A 1979 study from New Zealand found that compared to oral rehydration fluids known to be effective in cholera, coconut water was found to have adequate potassium and glucose content, but was relatively deficient in sodium, chloride and bicarbonate. The addition of table salt to the coconut water was suggested to compensate for the sodium and chloride deficiency. The study concluded that in areas of the world where coconuts are plentiful, the advantages of sterility, availability and acceptability make coconut water theoretically feasible for the oral rehydration of patients with severe gastroenteritis when conventional fluids are unavailable. Other authors have questioned the wisdom of using coconut water as an oral rehydration solution given the great variation in concentration of sodium, glucose and tonicity. Then there is the question as to whether a litre of King Coconut water which, in my opinion, requires at least one and a half coconuts is cheaper than a packet of ‘Jeevani’? However, when one considers the fact that The Island report claimed that 130,000 new cases of diabetes may be attributed to consumption of sweetened drinks, drinking coconut water as a thirst quencher is to be recommended. Today, the cost of a king coconut from a road side stall may be around Rs. 20 to 30 compared to the cost of a bottle of a "spritely" drink (40 calories per 100 ml or double that of CW) at around Rs.70 for half that amount. Merely having young coconuts for sale by the wayside will not suffice. There is the need to develop proper packaging and marketing strategies based on consumer behaviour (seasonal demand and how it impacts on the variation in nut production etc.) in order to compete successfully with the large multinationals that produce the soft drinks. There is also the question of waste disposal that will need to be addressed. What does one do with the leftover husks? Though I could not find any hard data, in young coconuts the fibre content of the husk is low (one can cut through the husk quite easily) and thus cannot be turned in to coir products. At present they only contribute towards mosquito breeding unless disposed of properly.

What of its iron content that Belafonte sang about? The iron content is rather low at around 0.25 mg/100g compared to the amount of calcium or magnesium around 20mg/100g or more. Furthermore, there is no evidence that CW increases muscle mass or strength as claimed in the song. Another part of the song says "coconut water and rice curry can take any sweet man away". I do know of households where the CW is not thrown away but is added to curries possibly to improve the taste. Maybe some of the readers can contribute CW based recipes that will enable housewives to keep their husbands happy!

Coconut water is traditionally used as a growth supplement in plant tissue-culture / micro propagation. This may be attributable to the phytohormones (plant hormones) present in coconut water. There is increasing scientific evidence that supports a possible role for coconut water in health and medicinal applications. One of the groups of phytohormones found in coconut water is the cytokinins. To quote from Wong’s paper, "Significant advances have made in understanding the biological functions of the various cytokinins in both plant and human systems. The potential anti-cancer properties of specific cytokinins could bring encouraging and novel perspectives in finding cures for the different types of cancers. Kinetin has been known to retard senescence in plants and it has been suggested that it has anti-ageing and anti cancer effects."

What of its cholesterol lowering effect? A group very active in the area of research into beneficial effects of CW, the Coconut Research Unit in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, has reported that that both tender and mature coconut water feeding significantly reduced blood lipids in cholesterol fed rats. In a 2008 study they reported that coconut water had lipid lowering effect similar to the commonly used cholesterol lowering drug lovastatin in rats fed fat-cholesterol enriched diet. It is this study that was probably quoted in the Indian Coconut Journal referred to in the DN article. The same group showed that CW may offer protection against myocardial infarction (heart attacks) in rats. It has been suggested that CW can help in the control of high blood pressure. The Kerala group has also claimed that CW can protect against chemically induced liver damage in rats. Claims have been made for its efficacy in the treatment of kidney stones, urinary infections and as antidote for mineral poisoning. However, much more work involving both animal and human studies need to be done before we can extrapolate from a few rat experiments to man to give credence to the myriad of claims.

Let me turn to the question of economic viability of growing coconut to produce green coconuts. The writer of the DN article claims that there is likely to be an excess of nuts produced in Sri Lanka. Available data do not support this contention. The predicted yield for 2010 is 2791 million nuts. This is 2.4% lower than that predicted for 2009 (data from Coconut Research Institute web site). Of the annual production, about two third is consumed for cooking and only about one third is available for value addition. I cannot understand how the writer came to the conclusion that there would be a significant excess of nuts! Even if we were to produce well above the total current annual production which has averaged about 2.5 to 3.0 billion nuts per year for the last 5 or more years, would it be profitable for the grower to sell the young nuts and make a reasonable profit? On the one hand, I believe that producing nuts for drinking purposes is not going to significantly reduce the labour inputs for weeding, fertilizing and gathering the nuts and there is no real possibility of reducing fertilizer inputs. On the other, the green nuts have to be plucked by hand by climbing the tree and lowering the bunch on a rope so as to prevent them from being damaged. This will cost around Rs. 35-50 per tree per pluck as compared to plucking mature nuts using bamboo poles which today works out at about Rs. 5-6 per tree per pluck. Thus plucking young nuts will add a further Rs. 1.50 to 2 to the cost of production. Today it costs us between Rs. 11 and 12 to produce a mature nut and if tree climbers are used it will increase to about Rs. 14. We sell our king coconuts at around Rs. 10 per nut, the farm gate price for green nuts will definitely be not more than 50% of that for mature nuts i.e. Rs 10 compared to Rs. 20 at current prices. Thus to me it seems that growing nuts mainly to provide the coconut water is not a viable proposition. The "bad name" that coconut oil had in the West is slowly dissipating and what the State should be doing is to encourage the production of higher value virgin coconut oil, look for more markets for our coconut oil and desiccated coconut and increase the demand for our mature coconut. I have made a plea before in my article titled, "The Coconut Fat controversy. A plea for more research and a medical consensus" published in The Island of May 20, 2006 for the State to encourage research into the medicinal applications of coconut. I have yet to learn of any support being given for such research. Quality research will not only bring kudos to Sri Lanka but open new avenues for marketing our coconut products. This, I am sure would be more beneficial to our economy than for instance opening a coconut auction in Gampola which is not a coconut growing area but the current minister’s home borough! g



www island.lk

Natural Healing in the Body against Illnesses! FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH! Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness!!!

Bas Baskaran to chelvdurai

It is an interesting and good article to read.

Eating Fruit -
Dr. Stephen Mak treats terminal ill cancer patients by "un-orthodox" way and many patients recovered. He believes on natural healing in the body against illnesses. See the article below.
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Dear Shereen,
Thanks for the e-mail on fruits and juices. It is one of the strategies to heal cancer. As of late, my success rate in curing cancer is about 80%. Cancer patients shouldn't die. The cure for cancer is already found. It is whether you believe it or not? I am sorry for the hundreds of cancer patients who die under the conventional treatments. Very few can live for 5 years under the convenctional treatments and most live for only about 2 to 3 years. The conventional treatments do not make any difference because most cancer patients also live for about 2 to 3 years without undergoing any treatment. It is difficult to cure those cancer patients who have undergone chemo and radiotherapy as their cells are toxic and weak. When there is a relapse, the cancer will spread very fast as the resistance is poor. Thanks.
Dr. Stephen Mak

EATING FRUIT...

It's long but very informative

We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat.

What is the correct way of eating fruits?

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! * FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.

In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.

So, please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining — 'every time I eat watermelon, I burp', 'when I eat durian, my stomach bloats up', when I eat a banana, I feel like running to the toilet, etc. — Actually, all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the other food, putrefying them and producing gas, hence the bloating!

Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton, who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight

When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get the taste. Cooking them destroys all the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!

KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E & fiber Its Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants and flavonoids which enhances the activity of Vitamin C, thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack and stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits and protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE : Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent and dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene — the cancer- fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are Vitamin C and potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.

Drinking Cold Water After a Meal = Cancer! Can you believe this? For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks. HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE: (THIS IS NOT A JOKE!) Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive.


Read this. It could save your life!!