Wednesday, 18 April 2012

SCIENCE: Cure For Baldness Revealed By Japanese Researchers


Japanese researchers have successfully grown hair on hairless mice by implanting follicles created from stem cells, they announced Wednesday, sparking new hopes of a cure for baldness.

Led by professor Takashi Tsuji from Tokyo University of Science, the team bioengineered hair follicles and transplanted them into the skin of hairless mice.


The creatures eventually grew hair, which continued regenerating in normal growth cycles after old hairs fell out.

When stem cells are grown into tissues or organs, they usually need to be extracted from embryos, but Tsuji and his researchers found hair follicles can be grown with adult stem cells, the study said.

"Our current study thus demonstrates the potential for not only hair regeneration therapy but also the realisation of bioengineered organ replacement using adult somatic stem cells," it said.

The combination of the new and existing technologies is expected to improve treatment for baldness, possibly allowing people to use their own cells for implants that wil mve them their hair rqck.br />
"We would like to start clinical research within three to five years, so that an actual treatment to general patients can start within a decade," said researcher Koh-ei Toyoshima.

The study is published in the online science magazine Nature Communications.

Monday, 16 April 2012

HEALTH: Now Women Can Delay Motherhood By Freezing Their Ovaries And Having Them Re-Implanted Years Later

Since having her ovarian tissue stored and re-implanted Stinne Holm Bergholdt has had three children

British women are to be  given the chance of delaying motherhood by freezing parts of their ovaries.

They will be able to ‘bank’ their ovarian tissue in their twenties  and early thirties, when it is most fertile, and have it re-implanted years later.


Fertility specialists are planning to open the first clinic in the country to offer the procedure, which could cost as much as £16,000, within the next six months.

At present it is only available in a few countries, including the United States, Denmark and Belgium, and so far just 19 babies have been born as a result.

But experts claim the controversial treatment will soon become commonplace as it has been shown to be more effective than egg  freezing and even IVF.

It involves extracting about a third of the tissue of one of the two ovaries which usually contains around 60,000 eggs.

 It is stored in liquid nitrogen in temperatures of minus 190c until the woman decides she is ready for children, when it is thawed and re-inserted into the ovary. Within a few months it should begin producing eggs.

So far most of the women who have had the treatment have been cancer patients hoping to preserve their ovarian tissue in case it is damaged through chemotherapy.

But British doctors are planning to offer the procedure to other women who may want to put off having children for other ‘social’ reasons.

Costs are likely to range from £5,000 to £10,000 to remove and store the tissue with another £6,000 to re-implant it. This compares with £4,000 for a cycle of IVF and £5,000 for egg freezing plus £100 for every year eggs are stored.

Experts say the ovarian tissue method is far more successful as it can potentially yield thousands of eggs against a maximum of 12 normally produced through egg freezing.
Some world-renowned fertility specialists in America claim the success rates are higher than  for IVF.

Dr Gedis Grudzinskas, a leading consultant in infertility and  gynaecology, is planning to open a clinic in central London offering the treatment within the next  six months.

He said: ‘This technology is so much more efficient than we thought it would be.

‘If a woman is having cancer treatment there are few options. She can freeze her eggs but the quality of this technology varies.

‘Women in their late 20s might consider freezing their eggs until they meet Mr Right.’
Once Dr Grudzinskas’s licence is approved by the Human Fertility and Embryology 

Authority and the Human Tissue Authority, British doctors will carry out the first operations under the supervision of an experienced team from Denmark. Some doctors believe that having the tissue removed early in life could impair a woman’s chance of having a baby.

Dr Gillian Lockwood of Midland Fertility Services, near Walsall, said: ‘In the case of cancer patients who’ve got nothing to lose it has great potential.
‘But for social reasons I don’t believe it should be recommended. It could cause scarring or damage to the pelvis that could make it difficult to conceive naturally.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2130269/Now-women-delay-motherhood-freezing-ovaries-having-implanted-years-later.html 





Sunday, 15 April 2012

HEALTH: Benefits Of Honey To The Body

HONEY

 Nature's Energy Booster

The benefits of honey go beyond its great taste. A great natural source of carbohydrates which provide strength and energy to our bodies, honey is known for its effectiveness in instantly boosting the performance, endurance and reduce muscle fatigue of athletes. Its natural sugars play an important role in preventing fatigue during exercise.

 The glucose in honey is absorbed by the body quickly and gives an immediate energy boost, while the fructose is absorbed more slowly providing sustained energy.

 It is known that honey has also been found to keep levels of blood sugar fairly constant compared to other types of sugar. So, to experience these health benefits of honey, here are a few tips for you:


1. Next time before you go for a workout, take a spoon of honey to enable you to go for the extra mile.

2. If you are feeling low and lethargic in the morning, instead of reaching out for a can of carbonated energy drink, try honey. Spread it on hot toast or replace the sugar in your tea with it for a refreshing surge of energy.


3. If your kids are finding hard to cope with the physical strain from the buzzing activities at school, prepare them some sandwiches with honey, butter and ham to make sure they have enough energy to sustain through the day.honey.


Immunity System Builder

Amongst the many health benefits of honey, what is most impressive to me is that honey can be a powerful immune system booster. It's antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties can help improve digestive system and help you stay healthy and fight disease. Start every brand new day with this cleansing tonic if you want to see this health benefit of honey: before breakfast, mix a spoonful of honey and lemon juice from half a lemon into a cup of warm water and drink it.

Honey is Anti-Cancer!

Honey does not cure cancer but what many people don't think enough of or have overlooked is - honey possesses carcinogen-preventing and anti-tumour properties!

Honey Remedy for Ailments

FOR CUTS AND BURNS: For thousands of years, honey has been recognized as one of the most natural home remedies to treat a wide range of ailments and complaints including yeast infection , athlete foot, and arthritis pains. Its antiseptic properties inhibits the growth of certain bacteria and helps keep external wounds clean and free from infection. Honey has been used as a natural cure in first aid treatment for wounds, burns and cuts as it is able to absorb moisture from the air and promote healing. Its antibacterial properties prevent infection and functions as an anti-inflammatory agent, reducing both swelling and pain, and even scarring. It is widely believed that Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) which is the most treasured honey in New Zealand and Australia that has miraculous healing effects, is the preferred honey for wound dressing due to its strong antibacterial property.

FOR HANGOVERS:
When you get a hangover from drinking too much alcohol, combat its effects by applying honey remedy. Honey is gentle on the stomach and contains a mix of natural sugars such fructose which is known to speed up the oxidation of alcohol by the liver, acting as a 'sobering' agent. Follow this recipe: 15ml of liquid honey with 80ml of orange juice and 70ml of natural yogurt. Blend them together until smooth.

FOR SORE THROATS:
One of the better known health benefits of honey is that it is able to help treat sore throats. Thanks to its antibacterial properties, honey not only soothes throats but can also kill certain bacteria that causes the infection. Professional singers commonly use honey to soothe their throats before performances. The Chinese believe that excess heat in the body causes sore throat and taking honey drink can be helpful. Direction: Take a spoonful of honey to soothe the inflammation or gargle with a mixture of two tablespoons of honey, four tablespoons of lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Manuka UMF honey  which is well-known for its anti-bacterial healing properties, is good for sore throat and cough

For Sleeplessness:

Unable to sleep? Use the famous Milk and Honey Remedy. Take a glass of hot milk with a teaspoon of honey to calm the soul and induce sleep. Or, add 1 or 2 teaspoons of honey to a cup of chamomile tea and sip.

HEALTH: Tips On How to Lose Weight


I know some of you reading this now have been looking for a way to shade some weight, i have come up with some tips for you to help yourself out.

If you are a lady out there and you are getting bigger and bigger day by day, i want to tell you to do something about it, because men don't like fat ladies, so don't go complaining that your guy left you because you are the architect of your own misfortune.

So by reading this tips, it will help you a lot to even make you look more attracting for your man .


1. Drink plenty of water. First how to lose weight fast tip is that our body needs a lot of water so give in to water. Water is not just way to flush out toxin but if you have more water in your body you will generally feel healthier and fitter. This it self will discourage any tendency to gorge. The best thing about water is that is has no calories at all.

2. Start your day with a glass of water. As soon as you wake up in the morning, gulp down a glass of water. It’s a wonderful way to start you day and you only need a lesser quantity of your breakfast drink after that. A glass of water lets out all your digestive juices and sort of lubricates the insides of your body. You may have your morning cup of tea but have it after a glass of water. It is good for you.

3. Drink a glass of water before you start the meal.Water naturally needs some space so that you feel fuller without actually having to stuff yourself.

4. Have another glass of water while you are having the meal. Again this is another great how to lose weight fast super tip and a way of making yourself full, another great weight loss tips, so that you can actually rise from the table eating less but feeling full just the same. Instead of drinking it one gulp, take sips after each morsel. It will help the food to settle faster so that you get that feeling that you are full faster.

SIDE NOTE: Water is such a remarkable thing, but seldom do we give it the credit that it deserves. Did you know that over 66% of your body weight is nothing but water’ It’s amazing! Water also plays a vital role in weight control, which is why I donated so much space to it, above.

5. Stay away from sweetened bottle drinks, especially soda, Hey all those colas and fizzy drinks are sweetened with sugar and sugar means calories. The more you can cut out on these sweetened bottle drinks, the better for you. So if you must drink sodas, then stick to diet sodas.

6. Include in your diet things that contain more water like tomatoes and watermelons.These things contain 90 to 95 % water so that there is nothing that you have to lose by feasting on them. They fill you up without adding to the pounds.

7. Eat fresh fruit instead of drinking fruit juice. Juice is often sweetened but fresh fruits have natural sugars. When you eat fruit, you are taking in a lot of fiber, which is needed by the body, and fruits of course are an excellent source of vitamins


8. If you do have a craving for fruit juice then go for fresh fruit juice instead of these that contain artificial flavors and colors. Or even better, try making your own fruit juice taking care not to sweeten it with too many calories.

9. Choose fresh fruit to processed fruits. Processed and canned fruits do not have as much fiber as fresh fruit and processed and canned fruits are nearly always sweetened.

10. Increase your fiber intake. Like I mentioned, the body needs a lot of fiber. So try to include in your diet as many fruits and vegetables as you can.

11. Go crazy on vegetables. Vegetables are your best bet when it comes to how to lose weight fast. Nature has a terrific spread when it comes to choosing vegetables. And the leafy green vegetables are your best bet. Try to include a salad in you diet always.

12. Eat intelligently. The difference between man and beast is that we are driven by intelligence while beasts are driven by instinct. Don’t just eat something because you feel like eating it. Ask yourself whether your body really needs it.

13. Watch what you eat. Keep a watchful eye on every thing that goes in. Sometimes the garnishes can richer than the food itself. Accompaniments too can be very rich. Remember that it is the easiest thing in the world to eat something without realizing that it was something that you should not have eaten. Selective memory you know’

14. Control that sweet tooth. Remember that sweet things generally mean more calories. It is natural that we have cravings for sweet things especially chocolates and other confectionery. Take this weight loss tips seriously and go easy on theses things and each time you consume something sweet understand that it is going to add on somewhere.

15. Fix times to have meals and stick to it. Try to have food at a fixed time of the day. You can stretch these times by half an hour, but anything more than that is going to affect your eating pattern, the result will either be a loss of appetite or that famished feeling which will make you stuff yourself with more than what is required the next time you eat.
 

Tuesday, 3 April 2012

HEALTH: Ten Reasons Why Pregnant Women Should Quit Smoking


One: Women who smoke run a higher risk of miscarriage.

Two: Smokers are more likely to develop complications in pregnancy and labour, including bleeding, premature detachment of the placenta and premature rupture of the membranes.

Three: Some studies suggest there may be a link between smoking and ectopic pregnancy - a life threatening condition where an egg is fertilised outside the womb. This can reduce the chance of becoming pregnant again.


Four: Smoking increases the risk of birth defects.

Five: Smokers are three times more likely to have smaller babies. On average, babies born to smokers are around 200g lighter than those born to non-smokers. Low birthweight babies run a higher risk of death and
disease in infancy and early childhood.

Six: Babies are a third more likely to be still born or die within the first week if born to smokers.

Seven: Smoking trebles the risk of cot death.

Eight: Babies and children whose parents smoke are twice as likely to develop respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis. Every year, some 17,000 children under five are admitted to hospital suffering from the effects of passive smoking.

Nine: Research has shown that smoking may contribute to inadequate breast milk production. In one study, fat concentrations were found to be lower in the milk from mothers who smoked and milk volumes were lower.

10: The good news is that stopping smoking will benefit your baby immediately. When your lungs become smoke free, the carbon monoxide and chemicals clear from your body and your oxygen levels return to normal.

Saturday, 31 March 2012

HEALTH: 15 Tips To Overcome Back Pains



I have seen so many people complaing of lower back pains all the time, so i decided to browse the web in
order to get some facts out on what causes lower back pains and what can be done to prvent it. Back pain is a common problem which affects most of us at a certain time in life

Lower back pain is a problem of bones and muscle, affects the back muscles in the low back. Lower back pain can be cause  by a number of factors which can affect different parts of the back.

Before i proceed with the tips of overcoming back pains, let me quickly show you the common factors which can lead to back pains.



Outlined here are the most common cause of back pains.

1.   Poor seating and poor posture. Office workers are now spending more time at there desks which counter-balances improvements in chair and desk design.

2.   Too much caffeine.

3.   Kidney problems are frequently associated with low back pain.

4.   Pregnancy commonly leads to low back pain.

5.   Emotional stress commonly leads to muscle weakness and back pain.

6.   Sleeping uncomfortably on the wrong kind of mattress.

7.   Lack of exercise and general mobility. The public today is less mobile and with gadget like remote controls and mobile phones are moving less when in the home.

8.   Being overweight. The body needs certain ingredients to function properly and at poor diet can take its affect on  a person's muscles and bones.

9.   Over-activity and excessive sports.

10.   Poor muscular balance.

11.   Pre-existing back problems. If the true cause of a bad back is never rectified, then the condition can continue for a patient for there whole life.

12.   Age. Muscles and bones age which can result in less support for the back muscles.

Ok guys, lets get down to the main business. Below you can see the tips to help to prevent and overcome lower back pain.  

1. Regular exercise. There are lots of good reasons to use exercises to manage your back pain. First of all, it's an all natural way to deal with the problem. You're not constantly popping pills or wrapping ice packs around your back. Because it's all natural, you won't experience any harmful side effects. However, you do need to make sure you perform the exercises correctly so you don't injure yourself further.
Another great reason to take up exercise to manage your back pain is that it helps you avoid more damage down the road. Your core muscles are strengthened through regular exercise. And so you're making sure that your body is able to deal with everything. It's required to do each day.

2. Practice good posture. If you must stand for long periods, rest 1 foot on a low stool to relieve pressure on your lower back. Every 5 to 15 minutes, switch the foot you're resting on the stool. Maintain good posture: Keep your ears, shoulders and hips in a straight line, with your head up and your stomach pulled in.
3. Good sitting posture. Sit in chairs with straight backs or low-back support. Keep your knees a little higher than your hips. Adjust the seat or use a low stool to prop your feet on. Turn by moving your whole body rather than by twisting at your waist.

4. Good position for sleeping. The best way to sleep to reduce the pressure on your back is on your side with your knees bent. You may put a pillow under your head to support your neck. You may also put a pillow between your knees.

5. Reduce occasions of emotional stress. Try to chill out and stay relaxed, because getting wound up causes a lot of stress in all the muscles in the body, not just those in the neck. Stressed-out people are far more likely to suffer from back pain than those who are relaxed. A simple technique to reduce stress is to practise deep breathing. If you breathe deeply using your diaphragm, rather than your chest and neck, you'll help strengthen the deep abdominal muscles, which help to support the spine by tightening the natural ‘corset' effect of the body.

6. Don't sleep on a hard bed. Despite what your mum told you about how sleeping on a rock-hard bed would make you grow up straight, hard beds have no give. This means they won't absorb and support your natural contours and the pressure of your bodyweight will be redirected back into your body. A good bed should adjust to the shape of your spine and be comfortable but firm – a bed that's too soft can also cause back problems.

7. Weight control. Putting on a lot of weight over a short period of time can place stress on the body by tilting the pelvis forwards and overloading the spine. Ever wondered why pregnant women suffer back pain?

8. Have massage therapy. Massage therapy is a great, non-invasive method of treating chronic back pain. It increases circulation to the muscles which helps speed recovery from injuries.

9. Stay flexible. Desk-bound workers should get up every 20 minutes, even if it's just to get a glass of water. Lack of mobility is the most common cause of back pain in men and it doesn't take a Nobel Prize in medicine to work out that slouching over a keyboard for hours will make you stiff.

10. Acupunture. Acupuncture may bring moderate to complete back pain relief for many sufferers. It can be used alone or as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes medications and other bodywork. Clinical achievements, along with positive research results, prompted the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to declare acupuncture a reasonable treatment option for those suffering low back pain.

11. Stay hydrated. Many types of pain are due to chronic dehydration in the body. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day can help reduce pain all over the body. It helps flush out toxins, lubricates and cushions your joints, helps relieve congestion and keeps your body in balance.

12. Balance in lifestyle. If you smoke, quit. Smoking reduces blood flow to the lower spine and causes the spinal discs to degenerate. Also, a diet with sufficient daily intake of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D helps to promote new bone growth

13. Breathing techniques. Breathing techniques that make use of the mind-body connection have been found to reduce pain. Breath therapy was found to be safe. Other benefits of breath therapy were improved coping skills and new insight into the effect of stress on the body.

14. Yoga. Yoga creates balance in the body through various poses that develop flexibility and strength. A study of people with chronic mild low back pain compared Iyengar yoga to back education. After 16 weeks, there was a significant reduction in pain intensity, disability, and reliance on pain medication in the yoga group.

15. Lifting. Don't try to lift objects too heavy for you. Lift with your knees, pull in your stomach muscles, and keep your head down and in line with your straight back. Keep the object close to your body. Do not twist when lifting

If you are having constant issues with back pain then it is recommended to speak to your doctor or see a back pain specialist.
 
Here are some lower back pain exercises
 



Sunday, 25 September 2011

How to Collect Honey from a Bee Box

Raising honey bees can be a fun and rewarding activity. Honey bees are raised in bee boxes and require very little care. The benefit to raising bees is that they will cross-pollinate any surrounding plants. In addition, the bees also produce delicious honey that can be harvested and eaten. Collecting honey from a bee box can be performed twice per year and is not a difficult task as long as the proper protective clothing is worn.

Instructions

    • 1
      Harvest the honey in mid-summer or late fall. These times correspond to the end of the nectar production by plants that bees use to create honey. Wait until a sunny day with no wind to collect the honey as the bees will be most calm during these conditions.
    • 2
      Put on a light-colored long-sleeve shirt and pants. The light color is so that you can easily see when bees land on you. It's best to also wear boots with the pants legs tucked into them to prevent bees from flying up the leg of the pants.
    • 3
      Light the smoker and hold it very close to the bee box entrance to calm the bees. Blow two to three puffs of smoke into the hive. Wait for approximately five minutes to allow the smoke to take effect.
    • 4
      Pull the lid off the bee box by inserting a hive tool underneath the lid and prying it up. Place hands on either side of the lid and gently lift it off. Set the lid aside.
    • 5
      Blow more smoke into the top of the bee box and then lift off the inner cover with your hands. Set the inner cover aside.
    • 6
      Blow more smoke into the hive to force the bees to move to the bottom of the bee box.
    • 7
      Remove one of the supers from the bee box by grasping it with your hands and gently pulling upward. Brush off any bees from the super with your hands. A super is one of the square frames inserted into the bee box onto which bees deposit their honey.
    • 8
      Examine the honeycomb on the super. If 80 percent of the honeycomb sections have a wax seal on the top, the honey is ready to be harvested.
    • 9
      Move the super to an indoor location and use a knife that has been heated in warm water to slice off the wax caps from the honeycombs. Place the super over a container to catch the honey as it drains out.
    • 10
      Reinsert the super back into the bee box and repeat the process until all of the honey has been harvested from the bee box.
    • 11
      Place the inner and outer covers back on top of the bee box.


      Tips & Warnings

      • Do not wear cologne, deodorant, lotion or anything scented before collecting the honey as the bees will be attracted to it. If necessary, take a shower with unscented soap before collecting honey.
      .