How to Help Haiti with a ShelterBox

ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity that delivers emergency shelter, warmth to people affected by disaster worldwide. They have already shipped a number of boxes to Haiti and these are being used by hospitals in Port au Prince to provide emergency shelter for post surgery patients. The hospital has no electricity, food, or running water and the injured are constantly coming in with untreated injuries. Doctors fear the number of people needing amputations could spiral into the thousands.

Each ShelterBox costs an average of £490 for its emergency relief contents so any amount of money you can give will help fill one more box. Virgin air has been flying them free to Miami for onward freighter transport to Haiti and lots more boxes are still needed. The UK base is in Newquay for box packing and storage and if you want to know more go to shelterbox.org and to make a donation call 0300 0300 500

Vitamin E Can Prevent Nerve Cell Death After A Stroke

A study at Ohio State University has shown that blocking the function of an enzyme in the brain with a specific kind of vitamin E can prevent nerve cells from dying after a stroke. Following the trauma of blocked blood flow associated with a stroke, an excessive amount of glutamate is released in the brain. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that, in tiny amounts, has important roles in learning and memory. Too much of it triggers a sequence of reactions that lead to the death of brain cells, or neurons — the most damaging effects of a stroke.

Tocotrienol, a form of vitamin E, works by stopping the enzyme from releasing fatty acids that eventually kill nerve cells. It has already been studied over the last ten years and has been established that this form of vitamin E protects the brain in animals though not conclusively proved yet in humans.

Vitamin E occurs naturally in eight different forms; 4 forms of tocopherol and 4 forms of tocotrienol. While tocopherols are generally present in common vegetable oils like soy, wheat germ and sunflower, tocotrienols are concentrated in cereal grains such as oat, barley, rye, and rice bran. The various different forms of natural vitamin E have distinct functions and tocotrienol targets specific pathways to protect against neural cell death and rescues the brain after stroke injury

Tocotrienols and tocopherols are potent antioxidants that are 100% natural and can be derived from rice bran oil and palm oil distillates and are available in supplement form. Tocotrienol or TCT, is not abundant in the western diet but is a common component of a typical Southeast Asian diet.

What is interesting is that the amount of tocotrienol needed to achieve these effects is quite small — just 250 nanomolar, a concentration about 10 times lower than the average amount of tocotrienol circulating in anyone who regularly takes vitamin E. The benefits of vitamin E are well known for health, it a acts as a powerful antioxidant by neutralizing free radicals in the body that cause tissue and cellular damage and contributes to a healthy circulatory system.

Cold Weather Skin Saver

What with worrying about my roof – no it hasn’t been fixed yet – and the biting cold winds the skin on my face has taken on the texture of sandpaper – albeit the fine kind. Normal moisturisers are just not enough for this kind of skin irritation and so I turn to my favourite natural remedies which in this case is Kiwiherb Organic Calendula Ointment.

I always have organic Calendula in my natural first aid box as it helps heal cuts and sores, chapped lips, rough cracked hands or chilblains, and conditions such as eczema or dermatitis. Calendula flowers are naturally high in carotenoids, which means they are naturally anti-inflammatory and antiseptic so they effectively support your body’s ability to repair damaged skin by improving blood flow to the affected area, helping small blood vessels to seal, stem bleeding, and prevent bruising. What I like is that it calms the redness and irritation of the skin while it heals so that the skin looks much more moisturised and normal in appearance.

Calendula is safe enough to use on children and babies for conditions such as eczema, cradle cap, and nappy rash, which may flare-up over the winter months. If you have any trouble finding it locally, then call Kiwiherb’s UK distributor, Lifeplan Products Ltd, on 01455 556281, or visit their company website www.lifeplan.co.uk

Why 4 hours of TV is bad for your health and Exercise Helps The Brain

Tempting though it is in this cold weather, curling up with Cranford could be shortening your lifespan according to an Australian study. It’s not Cranford of course that is the problem, but how many hours you spend in front of the box.

The study was done by Melbourne university and found that Aussies who reported watching four or more hours of TV a day were 46% more likely to die during a 6.6-year period than those who watched less than two hours a day. That’s bad enough, but they also found that the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease during follow-up was 80% greater in the excessive viewers, although statistically, the result attained only borderline significance. Well that’s a relief, but the risk was the same whether the participants also had other risk factors such as low exercise, smoking, poor diet, high blood pressure, and abdominal obesity.

It’s not the TV that’s really to blame, but an increasing habit of living a much more sedentary life than our predecessors. The programmes are not to blame, but the habit of sitting for long periods in a chair is.

It could be time to get out of the chair and head for the hills – or at least for a brisk walk – to keep your metabolism from slowing down to unhealthy levels.

Health Bite: Exercise for Your Brain’s Health

If you need another reason to get up out of the chair, it seems that almost any amount of moderate physical activity in middle age and beyond can reduce the odds of mild cognitive impairment by 30% to 40%. As mild cognitive impairment is associated with a 5-10-fold increased risk of dementia it is worth paying attention. Previous observational studies have shown that physical activity may protect against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and some evidence suggests that exercise for individuals with mild cognitive impairment offers some protection, too, the authors wrote.

Research by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota has found that the benefit applies equally to men and only when moderate exercise was undertaken — not light or vigorous physical activity. I have always been wary of vigorous activity and if this helps me solve more crossword puzzles then I am all for it. If you aren’t sure of the difference, here’s how the Mayo clinic categorised it:

• Light exercise: bowling, leisurely walking, stretching, slow dancing, and golfing using a cart.

• Moderate exercise: brisk walking, hiking, aerobics, strength training, swimming, tennis doubles, yoga, martial arts, weight lifting, moderate use of exercise machines, and golfing without use of a cart.

• Vigorous exercise: jogging, backpacking, bicycling uphill, tennis singles, racquetball, skiing, and intense or extended use of exercise machines.

US Army Finds Traumatic Brain Injuries May Be Helped by Progesterone

It’s a common misconception that it is only women who produce progesterone, though certainly men have far less of it, it is needed for many processes in the body. This naturally occurring hormone can protect damaged cells in the central and peripheral nervous systems and new research done at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, is recommending that progesterone is a viable treatment option for traumatic brain injuries.

This research has emerged because of the increase seen in traumatic brain injury among combat casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is estimated that as many as 30 percent of wounded soldiers have suffered such injury and it has stimulated government interest in developing a safe and effective treatment for this complex disorder.

It seems there is growing evidence to indicate that administering progesterone after such injuries can have beneficial effects, including substantial and sustained improvements in brain function. This applies equally to men and women, as progesterone can cross the blood-brain barrier and reduce the level of swelling after a brain injury, it also significantly reduces the area of necrotic cell death and improves behavioural outcomes.

Natural progesterone was recently tested in two clinical trials for traumatic brain injury and will begin a phase 3 trial soon. The researchers concluded that given its relatively high safety profile, ease of administration, low cost and ready availability, then progesterone should be considered a viable treatment option, particularly as there is little other treatment available to brain injury patients.

Are You Measuring Out The Wrong Dose?

If you are suffering from a cough or cold, how do you measure out the dose? If you use a special spoon from the chemist, or the measuring cup that came with the product, then you are on the right track. However, millions of people just reach for a kitchen spoon and that could be a serious mistake – particularly where children are involved.

In a study published in this month’s Annals of Internal Medicine, Cornell University researchers asked 195 university students to pour out 1 tsp. (5 ml) of cold medicine into kitchen spoons of various sizes. Consistently, they got it wrong and on average poured out either 8% too little or 12% too much, depending on the size of the spoon they chose. If they picked a medium-size tablespoon they erred on the side of caution and tended to underdose, but if they used a large tablespoon, they overcompensated and overdosed which is potentially a real problem. Even worse is not using a spoon but drinking straight from the bottle which runs a double risk of both the wrong dose and spreading germs..

Twelve percent over the recommended dose may not sound like a lot, but if you are taking a medicine every four to eight hours for up to four days that is putting you in danger. Medicines for pain and cold can contain acetaminophen which can also put stress on the liver. In the USA there have been an estimated 56,000 emergency-room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations and 458 deaths related to acetaminophen overdoses over a ten year period.

This is a particular problem for two groups of people: drinkers — whose livers may already be compromised — and children. Unlike doses for adults, those for children tend to be very precise, right down to the milligram, which means even a single, small overdose is something to be avoided. Adding to the problem is the fact that the formulation of a drug for infants can differ from that for an older child: the infant’s version can actually be stronger since it is often administered in tiny amounts with a medicine dropper.

According to studies done by Dr. Benard Dreyer, a professor of paediatrics at New York University, they have done studies that show that 50% of the time, parents give the wrong dose and they recommend parents don’t use spoons at all but only the measure supplied with the medicine.

I know a lot of over-the-counter medications come with dosing cups, but many people lose them, don’t like them or don’t know how to use them and simply feel more comfortable with a spoon. Plus the fact that the level markers are not always clearly visible and you have a problem on your hands. The problem is all to do with our perception, because 5 ml on a teaspoon pretty much covers the entire surface area of the spoon and so looks like a lot to us but the same 5 ml on a large spoon somehow appears to be less, and as a result we add more.

Online Pilates for Virtual (and real) Exercise

Getting more exercise is usually one of the most popular New Year Resolutions, but what kind and can you get to weekly classes or a nearby gym on a regular basis? If finding time is a problem then you might be interested in a new concept which from Vitalflow which offers the first downloadable Pilates classes. If you have just got into exercise dvd’s, then this is the next step in the technological revolution as the online clips are downloadable to a laptop, MP3 player, or mobile phone.

It’s claimed to be the perfect way to practise Pilates from the convenience of your home or office at a time that suits you and most importantly, at your own pace. Not sure about the mobile phone, but certainly Pilates is a very popular and safe form of exercise that works on strengthening your core muscles in the abdomen to provide a strong natural ‘girdle’ to support your back. It is taken at a slow, concentrated pace and the small movements involved make it ideally suited to online tuition where the audio and visual instruction ensures you are doing everything properly and safely.

The clips are demonstrated by Josie McKenlay, a fully qualified fitness, Pilates and yoga instructor with 25 years experience in leading health clubs. A series of beginner and improver classes are being offered first, at a cost of US$24.99 (around £20) each, as well as a one off intermediate class for US$4.99 (less than £5).

The Vitalflow six minute work out video has achieved a five star rating on YouTube and attracted over 45,000 views. It’s not for beginners, but if you would like to have a look at it go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ-pDuwN4pU and for more information on the beginner’s pilates online go to www.vitalflow.tv.

Health Bite – Get Active For Autism Research

The National Autistic Society (NAS) is inviting people to join its 2010 active challenge team and raise vital funds to help and support people affected by autism. Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people and how they make sense of the world around them. It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. Asperger syndrome is a form of autism where people are often of average or above average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language.

Whatever your ability there really is something for everyone, from 5k fun runs to 500k cycles. Last year over 970 supporters raised an amazing £750k and you can walk, jog, run or cycle in any organised event and you’ll receive training and fundraising support every step of the way. All funds raised through active challenges will be used to support NAS services including Advocacy for Education service, Befriending scheme, Parent to Parent support service and help! programme.

For information on NAS active challenge events call the events team on 08450 509 001 or visit www.autism.org.uk/events and if you need help or support then the NAS Autism Services Directory is the UK’s most comprehensive directory of services and events for people with autism. Visit http://www.autism.org.uk/autismdirectory to find autism services and support networks in your area

Matcha Magic for New Year Health

As my regular readers will know, I am a great fan of green tea and if you want the absolute best for your health then you need Japanese matcha which is a very rare and special green tea. It is full of antioxidants, helps raise energy levels, elevates mood, lowers cholesterol, is anti-ageing, can help with weight loss, help prevent heart disease and can boost your metabolism by up to 40 per cent.

Organic matcha from specialty company Teapigs comes from the renowned Nishio region in Japan, where the tea leaves are grown under cover for the last few weeks to produce the maximum amount of amino acids and the chlorophyll that gives it the green colour. The leaves are then dried and very slowly ground by a granite stone to a very fine powder, which is then packed and sealed immediately to lock in all the nutrients. Just a quarter teaspoon of this bright green powder gives you the same health benefits as equivalent of 15 cups of regular green tea and contains 70 times the antioxidants of orange juice, 90 times the beta carotene of spinach plus vitamins A, B and C.

What more can you want? The thing I particularly like about green tea is that it is both energising and calming and because matcha is a fine powder that you mix with hot or cold liquid there is no waste as you have the whole leaf in powder form. Matcha can be drunk like any normal green tea – with hot water – though I prefer to start the day with it on an empty stomach and mix it with juice or a smoothie. It feels odd to be glugging down a green liquid, but the result is worth it. When I am packing for a stint as a speaker on a cruise ship, it’s the first thing into the case!

If you have had an overindulgent Christmas and New Year followed by this debilitating cold weather then that can really impact your health. A simple way to remedy that is to use matcha in a smoothie recipe for breakfast to set you up for the day. This delicious recipe was devised at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Restaurant in London.

In a blender put the following:

2g (approx 1/2 teaspoon) matcha

1/2 apple

1/4 stick celery

2 sprigs mint

1/2 banana

1/2 pear

Blend and drink- delicious

20% Off To Try it!

If you want to try matcha, just use the code superhero at the checkout stage and you’ll get a 20% discount off your purchase of teapigs organic matcha. It’s only valid until 31st January so go to the website if you want to order at www.teapigs.co.uk

Milk Thistle Can Help Protect Cancer Patients

I have often suggested to those undertaking chemotherapy that they talk to a homoeopath and get a remedy to protect them from the side effects of the chemotherapy and its effect on the immune system. There are several remedies available from places like the Ainsworths in London and the Galen Pharmacy in Dorset. They latter are happy to advise you by phone if you call them on 01305 263996 and they can then post a remedy out to you.

Now there is a new study out that offers hope for patients who suffer liver inflammation as a result of chemotherapy. A study recently published by the American Cancer Society indicates that the herb could be helpful in allowing patients to take potent doses of chemotherapy without damaging their liver.

Chemotherapy drugs frequently cause liver inflammation with the result that their dose of the drug must be reduced or stopped. Clinical studies have already established that the herb can be used to reduce damage from cirrhosis (from alcohol) or toxins (such as mushroom poisoning) but this is the first review to establish if it can be helpful in cancer patients.

Fifty children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and who all were suffering from liver inflammation, a common side effect of their chemotherapy, took part in a randomized, controlled, double blind study in New York. Half were given milk thistle and half a placebo and at the end of the trial period they performed liver function tests on all the children.

Those who were given milk thistle had improvements in their liver enzymes compared with children receiving a placebo. Taking milk thistle also seemed to help keep fewer patients from having to lower the dose of their medications: chemotherapy doses were reduced in 61 percent of the group receiving milk thistle, compared with 72 percent of the placebo group. In addition, milk thistle appeared to be safe for consumption. Also, the researchers found that milk thistle does not interfere with the cancer-fighting properties of chemotherapy.

For anyone dealing with liver toxicity, from whatever cause, it would seem to make sense to add this herb into any treatment regime.

5 point plan for reducing cholesterol

Naturally, you didn’t overindulge at Christmas at that New Year’s Party, but in case you know anyone who does here is a simple 5 point plan to tackle cholesterol for 2010.

1. Reduce saturated fat. I know, you know all about this, but it may be time to start practicing it rather than theorising. Just avoid too much red meat, butter and high fat cheeses and substitute healthy low fat options – not the ones containing chemicals, but the really natural ones like more white meat and fish and fewer slabs of brie and stilton and switching to cottage or edam cheese – at least for a while. Substitute whole soy protein for animal protein, and use low- or non-fat dairy products.

2. Avoid trans-fat. Read the labels and beware of the phrase “partially hydrogenated oil” on the label. Most often found in snacks such as crisps – which you were cutting down on anyway, weren’t you? Look for baked rather than fried crisps if you really can’t give them up.

3. Go for garlic because it not only will help lower cholesterol levels, but it will boost your immune system as well.

4. Switch to green or white tea as they both contain antioxidants that help lower cholesterol and prevent the cholesterol in your blood from oxidizing. Without milk or sugar please, though a little honey might help if you find green tea too bitter.

5. Fill up on soluble fibre as it has a powerful cholesterol-lowering effect, and is found in the kinds of foods that naturally fill you up and will help you avoid unhealthy snacks. Fill up on beans and lentils, apples, citrus fruits, oats, barley, peas, carrots and freshly ground flaxseed.

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