The war on sugar: 'Children should consume fewer than 6 teaspoons daily'

Sweet in taste but sour for health, sugar intake has become a major concern in the United States, with numerous studies linking high sugar consumption to increased risk of obesity and related diseases. In an attempt to help tackle the problem, the American Heart Association have issued new recommendations for added sugar intake among children and adolescents.

The AHA say children and adolescents aged 2-18 years should consume no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar each day.

Added sugars are sugars and syrups - including fructose, glucose, and high-fructose corn syrup - that are added to foods and drinks during processing or preparation, mainly for taste and preservation.

Given that added sugars are present in candy, cakes, soda, and many other foods and drinks that are attractive to children and teenagers, it is perhaps no surprise their sugar intake is so high.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 2005-2008, boys in the U.S. aged 2-19 years consumed around 16.3 percent of their daily calories (around 362 calories) from added sugars, while added sugars accounted for around 15.5 percent of daily calories (around 282 calories) for girls of the same age.

Based on a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA), children and adolescents need to cut their sugar intake dramatically; it recommends that children aged 2-18 should have no more than 100 calories from added sugar daily - the equivalent to 6 teaspoons.

What is more, children under the age of 2 should not consume any added sugars at all, according to the new guidelines.

This, say the authors, is because children of this age do not require the calorie intake of older children and adults, so there is not enough room for the empty calories provided by food and drinks containing added sugars.

Additionally, they point out that taste preferences develop early in life, so limiting intake of added sugars before the age of 2 may reduce preference for unhealthy foods later on.

High added sugar intake linked to heart disease risk factors

The AHA say their new statement - recently published in the journal Circulation - is easier to follow than the previous one, which recommended different sugar intakes for children and adolescents based on their age and overall calorie intake.

"Our target recommendation is the same for all children between the ages of 2 and 18 to keep it simple for parents and public health advocates," says lead author Dr. Miriam Vos, professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA.

"For most children, eating no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugars per day is a healthy and achievable target," she adds.

Dr. Vos and colleagues reached their new recommendations by conducted an in-depth analysis of all scientific research that has assessed how consumption of added sugars affects children's health.

The results showed that high intake of added sugars during childhood can lead to the development of heart disease risk factors, including obesity and high blood pressure.

"Children who eat foods loaded with added sugars tend to eat fewer healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products that are good for their heart health," notes Dr. Vos.

Furthermore, the risk of developing such health problems increases with the more added sugars a child consumes, and children who are already overweight who carry on consuming added sugars are at greater risk of insulin resistance, making them more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

Sugar-sweetened drinks remain a leading source of added sugars

The authors note that one of the most common sources of added sugars among children is sugar-sweetened drinks, such as soda and energy drinks. This will perhaps come as no surprise to many, given that a single 12-ounce can of cola can contain more than 9 teaspoons of sugar.

"Children should not drink more than one 8-ounce sugar-sweetened drink a week yet they are currently drinking their age in sugary drink servings each and every week," notes Dr. Vos.

The authors say there is little research assessing how no-calorie sweeteners - such as aspartame, saccharine, and sucralose - affect children's health, so they are unable to make any recommendations regarding their intake.

Furthermore, they say it is unclear whether sugars present in 100 percent fruit juices are linked to the same health risks as added sugars.

Still, the AHA are confident that the evidence to date shows children should reduce their intake of added sugars to protect current and future health.

Dr. Vos and colleagues note that from July 2018, food manufacturers in the U.S. will be required to list added sugar content on their labels, which they say will make these new AHA guidelines easier to adhere to.

"Until then, the best way to avoid added sugars in your child's diet is to serve mostly foods that are high innutrition, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean meat, poultry and fish, and to limit foods with little nutritional value."

Dr. Miriam Vos

source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

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REGULAR HEALTH MISTAKES.

All of us make little health mistakes that cause damage to our bodies in the long run simply because we are unaware we are doing something wrong. Here are some of the most common mistakes made by many of us.

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Processed Meats Declared Too Dangerous for Human Consumption.

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has just completed a detailed review of more than 7,000 clinical studies covering links between diet and cancer. Its conclusion is rocking the health world with startling bluntness:Processed meats are too dangerous for human consumption. Consumers should stop buying and eating all processed meat products for the rest of their lives. Processed meats include bacon, sausage, hotdogs, sandwich meat, packaged ham, pepperoni, salami and virtually all red meat used in frozen prepared meals. 

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Hepatitis A Killer - Green Onion.

Very important warning to all !   

I always find chop-up green onion bits sprinkled on

Chinese congee served in Chinese eating shops -
LOOK OUT ! AND DON'T EAT IT !!!

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DANGER OF SEX TOY..WOMEN LEARN BENEFITS.

Hybrid, solar power and even bamboo are a few words associated with protecting and preserving our environment. Dildos, vibrators and the occasional lube are words rarely linked with the environment, but now, even those unmentionables have gone green.

Ailecia Ruscin, former graduate teaching assistant for women’s studies, said that glass sex toys had been around for years.

“Some use glass toys because you can warm the glass or keep it cool,” Ruscin said. “It gives it a different sensation.”

Ruscin said glass toys were probably better for the environment because the toys would last longer, instead of ending up in a landfill.

Pat Davis, president of Passion Parties, a company that sells adult accessories and helps plan sex toys parties, said glass toys were beneficial because they were easy to clean.

“Glass toys can be very pretty, very decorative and very creative,” Davis said. “People even buy them as a decoration piece for their home.”

Davis said glass toys now come with vibrators in them. She said she thought more environmentally conscious consumers could be a reason the glass toys had picked up in popularity.

Shoppers seeking more green options may have helped glass toys become more recognizable, but the health benefits may have also played a factor.

Milton Wendland, second year doctoral student, said the phthalates were a substance used to make the plastic in the toys softer, more pliable and realistic. He said phthalates could cause the plastic to breakdown and could then release toxins into the body and the environment.

“Since phthalates are found in everything from paint to dildos, there is a lot of potential exposure,” Wendland said.

Emily Gertz, environmental journalist in New York City, said vinyl phthalates could cause harm to your health and could cause damage to your reproductive organs. She said not much testing had been done on phthalates.

Wendland agreed and said sex toys weren’t regulated by the government because they were classified as “novelties.”

Ruscin said the government banned all children’s toys from having phthalates in them because no one wanted a child sticking a toy with phthalates in their mouth.

“No one wanted to think about the sex toys. They didn’t want to think about where women were putting those toys, and how that might be dangerous to their health,” Ruscin said.

Gertz said women should probably avoid all toys that contain phthalates to be on the safe side, and instead to use some alternative options like silicone.

Ruscin said silicone could be easily sterilized, which was better because it could protect you from spreading sexually transmitted diseases if the sex toys are shared.

Consumers aren’t the only ones that need to worry about health risks. The retailers who sell these products have become concerned as well.

Ruscin said Good Vibrations, a retailer that sells products online, put symbols next to their products that didn’t have phthalates in them to let their customers know what they were buying. Ruscin said Good Vibrations was trying to phase out all products with phthalates.

Davis said Passion Parties had icons on their Web site that helped their consumers find what they wanted. She said they tried to make sure the customer felt confident about the product they were buying.

Davis said she thought women were becoming more educated about these products. Ruscin said she thought there was still more to be done in terms of raising awareness.

“We need to learn more about phthalates and what they can do before putting them inside our bodies,” Ruscin said.

Ruscin said the only reason she had become aware of the dangers associated with sex toys was because of her women’s discussion group. She said other women who wanted to explore their sexuality should join a local support group. Ruscin said anyone wanting to join their group could come to the Solidarity Revolutionary Center, 1109 Massachusetts St., on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month.

Source: KANSAN.COM

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Sun-dried tomato alert: Health investigators link the celebrity chefs’ favourite to outbreak of hepatitis cases.

Health experts are investigating an outbreak of potentially deadly hepatitis linked to sun-dried tomatoes

 

Health experts are investigating an outbreak of potentially deadly hepatitis linked to sun-dried tomatoes, it emerged yesterday.

Seven people developed symptoms of hepatitis A, which is infectious and can lead to fatal liver complications.

Risk: The Hepatitis A bug

Four of them were hospitalised by the illness but have now been given the all-clear.

However, health protection officials fear contaminated samples or other foods containing them could still be on sale or lurking in kitchen cupboards. 

This is because they are unable to test food for the virus and do not know which brand of sun-dried tomato is responsible.

The Government’s Health Protection Agency and the Food Standards Agency are on the alert for further cases after the two men and five women became ill. Four of the patients live in the East of England, two in London and one in the South West.

The health alert was triggered when two of the cases were reported late last year to the HPA.

Their hepatitis A was identical to a strain from a previous outbreak associated with sun-dried tomatoes in the Netherlands. Neither of the patients had travelled to a country with a high risk of hepatitis in the previous three months and both had eaten ‘substantial’ amounts of sun-dried tomatoes.

An investigation by the HPA of cases of hepatitis A from July to December last year revealed the total of seven cases in which sun-dried tomatoes were implicated.

Because some of the genetic strains of the virus found differed from the Netherlands outbreak, experts believe the contaminated sun-dried tomatoes may carry various strains of hepatitis A.

Previous hepatitis A outbreaks have been linked to sun-dried tomatoes, which have become an increasingly popular ingredient in middle class kitchens and favourite of TV celebrity chefs.

The virus is carried by human faeces and can be passed on through contaminated food or water, especially as a result of poor hygiene during the preparation of food.

It is the only common food-borne disease preventable by vaccine.

Symptoms appear around 28 days after infection and include aches, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort, fever and fatigue. Patients may also develop itchy skin and jaundice which can last several months. 

In the most serious cases, acute hepatitis A can develop into fulminant hepatitis A in which toxins attack the liver, leading to life-threatening complications.

Around half of these patients will need a liver transplant to survive.

Hepatitis A is diagnosed by a blood test, but there is no treatment other than rest and fluids.

Writing in the medical journal Eurosurveillance, Carlos Carvalho, of the HPA, said: ‘A single food source may be contaminated with more than one strain.

‘A food-borne outbreak with multiple strains in at least two European countries is suspected.’

A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency said: ‘Sun-dried tomatoes are being investigated as one possible source of the hepatitis A cases. However, no food source has been conclusively identified and no other relevant cases have been reported in the UK.’

sOURCE: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

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ORGANS AGEING AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

Time: When your body really starts going downhill.

There's no denying the ticking of a woman's biological clock  -  but men are not immune, either. French doctors have found that the quality of sperm starts to deteriorate by 35, so that by the time a man is 45 a third of pregnancies end in miscarriage.Here, with the help of leading clinicians, Angela Epstein identifies the ages when different parts of the body start to lose their battle with time.

• BRAIN Starts ageing at 20.

As we get older, the number of nerve cells  -  or neurons  -  in the brain decrease. We start with around 100 billion, but in our 20s this number starts to decline.

By 40, we could be losing up to 10,000 per day, affecting memory, co-ordination and brain function.

In fact, while the neurons are important, it's actually the deterioration of the gaps between the brain cells that has the biggest impact, says Dr Wojtek Rakowicz, a consultant neurologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London .

We all assume grey hair and wrinkles are the first signs of ageing, but some parts of your body are worn out long before you look old.

These tiny gaps between the end of one brain nerve cell and another are called synapses. Their job is to ensure the flow of information from one cell to another, and as we age we make fewer.

• GUT Starts ageing at 55. 

A healthy gut has a good balance between harmful and 'friendly' bacteria. But levels of friendly bacteria in the gut drop significantly after 55, particularly in the large intestine, says Tom MacDonald, professor of immunology at Barts And The London medical school. As a result, we suffer from poor digestion and an increased risk of gut disease. Constipation is more likely as we age, as the flow of digestive juices from the stomach, liver, pancreas and small intestine slows down.

• BREASTS start ageing at 35.

BY their mid-30s, women's breasts start losing tissue and fat, reducing size and fullness.Sagging starts properly at 40 and the areola (the area surrounding the nipple) can shrink considerably.Although breast cancer risk increases with age, it's not related to physical changes in the breast. More likely, says Gareth Evans, breast cancer specialist at St Mary's Hospital, Manchester , our cells become damaged with age  -  as a result, the genes which control cell growth can mutate, causing cancer. 

• BLADDER Starts ageing at 65.

Loss of bladder control is more likely when you hit 65. The bladder starts to contract suddenly, even when it's not full. Women are more vulnerable to bladder problems as, after the menopause, declining oestrogen levels make tissues in the urethra  -  the tube through which urine passes  -  thinner and weaker, reducing bladder support. Bladder capacity in an older adult generally is about half that of a younger person  - about two cups in a 30-year-old and one cup in a 70-year-old. This causes more frequent trips to the loo, particularly as poor muscle tone means the bladder may not fully empty. This in turn can lead to urinary tract infections. 

• LUNGS Start ageing at 20.

Lung capacity slowly starts to decrease from the age of 20.By the age of 40, some people are already experiencing breathlessness. This is partly because the muscles and the rib cage which control breathing stiffen up. It's then harder to work the lungs and also means some air remains in the lungs after breathing out  -  causing breathlessness. Aged 30, the average man can inhale two pints of air in one breath. By 70, it's down to one.   

• VOICE Starts ageing at 65.

Our voices become quieter and hoarser with age. The soft tissues in the voice box (larynx) weaken, affecting the pitch, loudness and quality of the voice. A woman's voice may become huskier and lower in pitch, whereas a man's might become thinner and higher.   

• EYES start ageing at 40. 

Glasses are the norm for many over - 40s as failing eyesight kicks in  -  usually long-sightedness, affecting our ability to see objects up close. As we age, the eye's ability to focus deteriorates because the eyes' muscles become weaker, says Andrew Lotery, professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southampton .   

• HEART Starts ageing at 40.

The heart pumps blood less effectively around the body as we get older. This is because blood vessels become less elastic, while arteries can harden or become blocked because of fatty deposits forming on the coronary arteries  -  caused by eating too much saturated fat. The blood supply to the heart is then reduced, resulting in painful angina. Men over 45 and women over 55 are at greater risk of a heart attack. A recent study by Lloyds Pharmacy found the average person in the UK has a 'heart age' five years older than their chronological age, probably due to obesity and lack of exercise.   

• LIVER Starts ageing at 70.

This is the only organ in the body which seems to defy the aging process. 'Its cells have an extraordinary capacity to regenerate,' explain David Lloyd, a consultant liver surgeon at Leicester Royal Infirmary.He says he can remove half a liver during surgery and it will grow to the size of a complete liver within three months. If a donor doesn't drink, use drug or suffer from infection, then it is possible to transplant a 70-year-old liver into a 20-year-old.  

• KIDNEY SStarts ageing at 50. 

With kidneys, the number of filtering units (nephrons) that remove waste from the bloodstream starts to reduce in middle age. One effect of this is their inability to turn off urine production at night, causing frequent trips to the bathroom. The kidneys of a 75-year-old person will filter only half the amount of blood that a 30-year-old's will.   

• PROSTATEStarts ageing at 50. 

The prostate often becomes enlarged with age, leading to problems such as increased need to urinate, says Professor Roger Kirby, director of the Prostate Centre in London . This is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia and affects half of men over 50, but rarely those under 40. It occurs when the prostate absorbs large amounts of the male sex hormone testosterone, which increases the growth of cells in the prostate. A normal prostate is the size of a walnut, but the condition can increase this to the size of a tangerine.  

• BONES Start ageing at 35. 

'Throughout our life, old bone is broken down by cells called osteoclasts and replaced by bone-building cells called osteoblasts  -  a process called bone turnover,' explains Robert Moots, professor of rheumatology at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool . Children's bone growth is rapid  -  the skeleton takes just two years to renew itself completely. In adults, this can take ten years. Until our mid-20s, bone density is still increasing. But at 35 bone loss begins as part of the natural ageing process. This becomes more rapid in post-menopausal women and can cause the bone-thinning condition osteoporosis. The shrinking in size and density of bones can lead to loss of height. Bones in the back shrivel up or crumble between the vertebrae. We lose two inches in height by the time we're 80.   

• TEETH Start ageing at 40. 

As we age, we produce less saliva, which washes away bacteria, so teeth and gums are more vulnerable to decay. Receding gums  -  when tissue is lost from gums around the teeth  -  is common in adults over 40.        

• MUSCLES Start ageing at 30.   

Muscle is constantly being built up and broken down, a process which is well balanced in young adults. However, by the time we're 30, breakdown is greater than buildup, explains Professor Robert Moots. Once adults reach 40, they start to lose between 0.5 and 2 per cent of their muscle each year. Regular exercise can help prevent this..    

• HEARING Starts ageing mid-50s 

More than half of people over 60 lose hearing because of their age, according to the Royal National Institute for the Deaf. The condition, known as presbycusis, happens due to a loss of 'hair cells'  -  tiny sensory cells in the inner ear which pick up sound vibrations and send them to the brain.   

• SKIN Starts ageing mid-20s 

The skin starts to age naturally in your mid-20s. According to Dr Andrew Wright, a consultant dermatologist with Bradford NHS Trust, as we get older production of collagen  -  the protein which acts as scaffolding to the skin  -  slows, and elastin, the substance that enables skin to snap back into place, has less spring and can even break. Dead skin cells don't shed as quickly and turnover of new skin cells may decrease slightly. This causes fine wrinkles and thin, transparent skin  -  even if the first signs may not appear until our mid-30s (unless accelerated by smoking or sun damage).   

• TASTE AND SMELL Start ageing at 60. 

We start out in life with about 10,000 taste buds scattered on the tongue. This number can halve later in life.After we turn 60, taste and smell gradually decline, partly as a result of the normal ageing process. This can be accelerated by problems such as polyps in the nasal or sinus cavities. It can also be the cumulative effect of years of smoking.   

• FERTILITY starts ageing at 35 

Female fertility begins to decline after 35, as the number and quality of eggs in the ovaries start to fall. The lining of the womb may become thinner, making it less likely for a fertilised egg to take, and also creating an environment hostile to sperm. Male fertility also starts to drop around this age. Men who wait until their 40s before starting a family have a greater chance of their partner having a miscarriage, because of the poorer quality of their sperm. 

• HAIR Starts ageing at 30 

Male hair loss usually begins in the 30s. Hair is made in tiny pouches just under the skin's surface, known as follices. A hair normally grows from each follicle for about three years, is then shed, and a new hair grows. However, with male-pattern baldness, changes in levels of testosterone from their early-30s affect this cycle, causing the hair follicles to shrink. Each new hair is thinner than the previous one.. Eventually, all that remains is a much smaller hair follicle and a thin stump of hair that does not grow out to the skin surface.   Most people will have some grey hair by the age of 35. When we are young, our hair is coloured by the pigments produced by cells in the hair follicle known as melanocytes. As we grow older, melanocytes become less active, so less pigment is produced, the colour fades, and grey hairs grow instead.

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DRINK ENOUGH WATER?

One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University study: 

Lack of  water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

Preliminary research indicates that  8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers. 

A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen.

Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer. 

Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day? 

(No kidding, all of the above are true....)

Of course, too much water may have strange side effects..... 


Now that I have your attention, go get another glass of  water!   BUT BE VERY, VERY  CAREFUL!!! 

Laugh often, long and loud... Laugh until you gasp for breath.  And if you have friends who make you laugh, spend lots of time with them.

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Lower Limb Amputation Rates Associated With Diabetes Drop, US.

An investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that between 1996 and 2008, the number of leg and foot amputations among U.S. individuals, aged 40+ with diagnosed diabetes, decreased by 65%. 

The study, entitled "Declining Rates of Hospitalization for Non-traumatic Lower-Extremity Amputation in the Diabetic Population Aged 40 years or Older: U.S., 1988-2008," is published online in the current issue of Diabetes Care.

In 1996, the age-adjusted rate of leg and foot amputations was 11.2 per 1,000 individuals with diabetes. However, in 2008 this rate fell to 3.9 per 1,000. 

Non-traumatic, lower-limb amputations, refers to amputations caused by circulatory problems, rather than those caused by injuries. Circulatory problems are a prevalent adverse effect in individuals suffering with diabetes. 

Furthermore, results from the study revealed that in 2008:

Women had lower age-adjusted rates of lower-limb amputations (1.9 per 1,000) than men (6 per 1,000)

Individuals aged 75+ had the highest rate (6.2 per 1,000) than people in other age groups

Rates were higher among blacks (4.9 per 1,000) than whites (2.9 per 1,000)According to the researchers, the decrease in lower-limb amputations among individuals with diabetes may partially be due to factors such as: declines in heart disease, improvements in blood sugar control, as well as foot care and diabetes management. 

Nilka Ríos Burrows, M.P.H., an epidemiologist with CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation, explained: 

"The significant drop in rates of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations among U.S. adults with diagnosed diabetes is certainly encouraging, but more work is needed to reduce the disparities among certain populations. 

We must continue to increase awareness of the devastating health complications of diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of lower-limb amputations in the United States."

After examining data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey on non-traumatic lower-limb amputations from the National Health Interview Survey on the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes from 1988-2008, the researchers discovered that the decrease in rates was higher among individuals with diagnosed diabetes than people without the disease. Although, in 2008, the rate was still approximately 8 times higher among those with the disease than those without diabetes. 

Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic, lower-limb amputations, kidney failure, and blindness among adults. In addition, the disease is the 7th leading cause of mortality in the U.S.. Diabetes also increases the risk of strokes, hypertension, and heart attacks. 

CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation supports prevention and control programs in all 50 states, seven U.S. territories and island jurisdictions, and the District of Columbia. 

The National Diabetes Education Program provides education to enhance treatment for individuals with the disease, promote early diagnosis and prevent or delay type 2 diabetes from developing. The program is co-sponsored by CDC and the National Institutes of Health. 

source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

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ROTAVIRUS OUTBREAK: ANOTHER 298 CASES REPORTED IN PERAK, MALAYSIA

More cases of people suffering from acute gastroenteritis were reported in Perak today due to the Rotavirus outbreak.

The number of victims rose from 2,246 to 2,544 victims as of 6pm.

111 victims in Hilir Perak were detected being infected with rotavirus today, and 40 new cases were also reported in Batang Padang in Tapah.

Among them, an 11 month old baby who was rushed to the Tapah Hospital around 5 pm.

Perak Exco member, Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon however said, the rotavirus outbreak is under control.

"We should be concerned with prevention and treatment of the disease. Once again, I would like to stress to the public to ensure that the water they drink is boiled," said Datuk Dr. Mah.

To a question, he said the virus and its source would be indentified in the next 48 hours.

Rotavirus, a water-borne virus, is the most common cause of severe diarrhoea among infants and young children. 

The outbreak since late last month has caused two deaths and over 2,200 children to fall sick.

Source: NTV7

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MODEL SUES MEXICAN PLASTIC SURGEON FOT NOT MAKING HER NIPPLES "EVEN" AFTER A BREAST IMPLANT.

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What is Skin Cancer and how Skin cancer develope?

Watch This video, How Skin Cancer Develope?

Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the skin which can have many causes. The most common skin cancers are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma. Skin cancer generally develops in the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin), so a tumor is usually clearly visible. This makes most skin cancers detectable in the early stages. 

There are three common and likely types of skin cancer, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises. Unlike many other cancers, including those originating in the lung, pancreas, and stomach, only a small minority of those afflicted will actually die of the disease.

Skin cancer represents the most commonly diagnosed cancer, surpassing lung, breasts, colorectal andprostate cancer. It is the most common cancer in the young population (20 – 39 age group).

It is estimated that approximately 85% of cases are caused by too much sun. Non-melanoma skin cancers are the most common skin cancers. The majority of these are called basal cell carcinomas. These are usually localized growths caused by excessive cumulative exposure to the sun and do not tend to spread.

Source: http://www.news-medical.net

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Dessert and Diabetes: The Best Diabetes-Friendly Sweets

Historically, people with diabetes were told to avoid sugary foods because eating sugar caused spikes in blood glucose. Now we know that it’s carbohydrates (and sugar is just one type of carbohydrate) that causes blood glucose levels to rise. Despite what you may have heard, eating sugary foods doesn’tcause diabetes—but health experts still recommend limiting sugary foods and carbohydrates because of their effects on blood glucose, and because they generally are not as nutritious as many other foods. Desserts certainly fall into this category. Plus, most desserts contain lots of carbohydrates in a very small serving. The bottom line: you can still have a small portion of your favorite dessert on occasion but there are other ways you can satisfy that sweet tooth.

Learn to Improvise

There are lots of ways you can tweak favorite recipes to lower the amount of sugar in them. For instance, using an artificial sweetener allows you to use half the amount of sugar a recipe calls for. You can also try increasing spices such as vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and substituting sugary ingredients with applesauce or pureed prunes (just remember that if you use fruit to sweeten, there are still carbohydrates that must be counted).

Alternative Names for Sugar on Food Labels

If only avoiding sugar was as easy as looking for the word on a food label. But sugar comes in countless forms and is known by many names. In fact, there are more than 20 different types of sugar. Besides the obvious “granulated sugar” you might see any of these types of sugar on a list of ingredients:

sorbitol

maltitol

high fructose corn syrup

dextrose

lactose

turbinado

levulose

maltose

xylitol

Serving Sizes

Your healthcare provider has probably given you a range of carbohydrates that you can have at each meal, or every day. For many people with diabetes, this range is between 45 and 60 grams per meal. This means that you must read food labels carefully, and pay attention to portion sizes. Let’s use an Original Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie as an example. One cookie has 12.6 grams of carbohydrates. For comparison’s sake, there are 57.5 grams of carbohydrates in a slice of homemade apple pie and 12 grams of carbohydrates in a piece of homemade cheesecake.

Satisfy to Sweet Tooth

In general, it’s best to avoid packaged desserts—e.g. cookies and doughnuts—because they tend to be high in carbohydrates and also contain hydrogenated fats and high-fructose corn syrup. Also on the list of no-no’s if you have diabetes: pound cake, fruit pies and cake, and ice cream, because they are also sugar-rich. In general, desserts that you can make with sugar substitutes—think mousse or parfait made with sugar-free pudding or a fruit tart—are healthier choices.

source: http://www.healthline.com/

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Dr. Oz's Super Diet

Recently, the rankings for America’s top diets were released. The Dr. Oz Show’s medical team analyzed the best tips from the most successful plans and selected their top three. Combine them to get the greatest results.

The DASH Diet

DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. This eating plan combines fruits and vegetables, low-fat or non-fat dairy, and whole grains to provide people with a high-fiber, low-fat diet that has been proven to lower blood pressure in just 14 days. One key to lowering blood pressure is to reduce sodium intake. The DASH Diet recommends that instead of salt, use flavor mixes like Italian seasoning, lemon-pepper mix or Chinese 5 spice, which comes in an array of mixtures – like ginger, coriander, cinnamon, cumin and orange peel. It works great on stir-fried meat or vegetables.

National Institute of Health’s TLC Diet to Lower Cholesterol

This diet recommends adding plant sterols to your diet. These plant compounds help block the absorption of cholesterol into your system. Plant sterols are found in a variety of foods, like tubs – not sticks – of margarine, wheat germ, sesame seeds and pistachio nuts. Some studies show that adding 2-3 grams of plant sterols to your daily diet can reduce your cholesterol by up to 15%. Try incorporating these foods into your life. It can be as simple as sprinkling sesame seeds on salads or soups, or having a handful of pistachios a few times a week. 

The Mediterranean Diet

One staple of the Mediterranean diet is the high healthy fat content, found in foods like olive oil, nuts – and oily fish – salmon, sardines and mackerel. These fats not only give you more energy, but satiate you so you’ll feel fuller for longer. To incorporate more good fat into your diet, try to eat three types of healthy fats, three times per week.

source: http://www.doctoroz.com/

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