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Showing posts from July, 2018

HOW TO RECOGNIZE HEALTHY FOOD WHEN GROCERY SHOPING

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We are often confused about what to buy due to the countless products on grocery store shelves that claim endless health benefits. Keep four tips in mind to avoid being fooled by false hyper advertising when food shopping: 1. The fewer ingredients, the better (as long as they’re real) A good rule of thumb is to look for foods with no more than five ingredients. A long list of ingredients should tip you off that a food is highly processed. Processed foods may also list sugar and starch by different names — there are more than 60 different names for sugar alone! For instance, one serving of a popular brand of colored corn puffs cereal has 7 teaspoons of sugar listed four different ways. (Not to mention red and blue dye, and other chemicals.) Also, when you don’t recognize the name of an ingredient, or when it’s in Latin, chances are it’s not real food. You wouldn’t find maltodextrin, polysorbate 80, or butylated hydroxyoluene in your cupboard. You wouldn’t cook with them

How to Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes

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Research increasingly shows that meat can dramatically raise your chances of diabetes.Eating too much sugar and fat increases your risk of getting type 2 diabetes as we already know. Your body needs protein. But if you have diabetes or a risk of diabetes it’s wise to cut back on your meat intake to improve your health. Research on meat and diabetes. A recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association examined the deaths of nearly 700,000 people in 2012 from heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. They found that nearly 50 percent of the deaths were related to poor nutritional choices. For people who already had diabetes, their risk of death increased if they consumed more processed meats. Another study released this year from researchers in Finland analyzed the diets of more than 2,300 middle-aged men, ages 42 to 60. At the outset, none of the participants had type 2 diabetes. In the follow-up, after 19 years 432 participants did. Researchers found th

GSK's new drug to treat malaria has been given the green light by authorities in the United States.-BBC

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This type of malaria is a particular challenge to get rid of as it can remain dormant in the liver for years before reawakening many times. Scientists have described tafenoquine as a "phenomenal achievement." Regulators around the world will now look at the drug to see if they can recommend it for their populations. ADVERTISEMENT Relapsing illness Recurring malaria is the most common type of malaria outside Sub-Saharan Africa. Children can be particularly at risk, getting several bouts of malaria from a single bite, missing lots of school and getting weaker each time they get the disease. And infected people can act as unwitting reservoirs of the disease because when the parasite reawakens in their bodies a mosquito can carry that parasite on to someone else. This can make it hard to eliminate around the world. Now the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States has given the seal of approval to tafenoquine, a drug that can flush the parasite

Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria 91st annual Conference (IBADAN 2018)

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PSN Conference is around the corner and it is an election year. Endeavor to register and in time using the link below👇 http://www.psn2018conference.com Click on *delegate's form*, when the link opens input your data. Note: *Get your passport and capitation receipt scanned and ready before you proceed.*

Breast milk as a cancer-killer

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Professor Catharina Svanborg has been paving the road to capitalizing on breast milk’s cancer-fighting abilities out of her lab at Lund University in Sweden. Specifically, the professor has been working on a way to bind a breast milk protein known as alpha-lactalbumin to oleic acid, a fatty acid found in olive oil, nuts and seeds. The cancer-killing combination she’s dubbed HAMLET (an acronym for human alpha-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells) has shown great success in laboratory applications, shrinking brain, bladder and colon tumors with ease. Tests involving animal and human cancer cell lines have shown that HAMLET is effective against at least 40 types of cancer. “Looking down the microscope at the dying tumor cells, we were quite excited, especially when the experiment was repeated and showed the same effect twice. We had used non-cancerous cells for a long time in similar experiments and they had not died,” Svanborg told The Telegraph, speaking about the amazing way b

NUC (Nigeria) Develops Academic Postgraduate Programmes in Medicine

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According to the NUC website: In its bid to meet the academic postgraduate requirements of Nigerian University System, the National Universities Commission (NUC), has developed academic postgraduate programmes in medicine. The programme is designed to award Masters, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Medicine (MD). The Executive Secretary, NUC, Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, mni, MFR, FNAL highlighted the general need to overhaul the medical curricula for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. He said this at a meeting with some Deans of Post Graduate schools and Provosts of Colleges of Medicine of Nigerian Universities last Wednesday in the Commission. In his address, the Executive Secretary stressed the need to enhance and refresh the medical profession, hence the decision by the Commission to assemble experts in the medical profession to develop the curriculum which include graduates of Medicine and Dentistry who were lecturers currently on their fell

Do you know about Osteoporosis and it's Risk Factors?

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Osteoporosis is a disorder of the skeleton in which bone strength is abnormally weak and brittle. This leads to an increase in the risk of breaking bones (bone fracture). According to College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, there are more than 1.5 million cases per year (Nigeria). Treatment can help, but this condition can't be cured. It requires a medical diagnosis, with Lab tests or imaging always This condition can last for years or be lifelong/chronic Factors that will increase the risk of developing osteoporosis are: Female gender, Caucasian or Asian race, thin and small body frames, and a family history of osteoporosis. (Having a mother with an osteoporotic hip fracture doubles your risk of hip fracture.) Cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption, lack of exercise, and a diet low in calcium. Poor nutrition and poor general health. Malabsorption (nutrients are not properly absorbed from the gastrointestinal system) from conditions such

Why low dose aspirin is not effective in heavier patients

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Low-dose aspirin may not be effective in preventing cardiovascular events in people weighing 70 kg (154 pounds) or more, a  Lancet  study suggests. Researchers analyzed 10 trials that evaluated aspirin versus controls for primary prevention of cardiovascular events in 120,000 people. Daily, low-dose aspirin (75–100 mg) was associated with reduced risk for cardiovascular events among those weighing less than 70 kg (odds ratio, 0.77), but there was no significant effect for heavier patients — roughly 80% of men in the study and nearly half of women weighed 70 kg or more. In the heavier group, low-dose aspirin may be even less effective in smokers and in those who take enteric-coated aspirin. High-dose aspirin (300–325 or 500 mg), meanwhile, appeared to be effective in reducing primary cardiovascular events only patients weighing 70 kg or more (OR, 0.79). Commentators said that people with more body mass may have more esterases, which clear aspirin and would reduce the bioava

AVOID HONEY FOR BABIES BELOW 1YEAR OF AGE

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Pediatricians recommend waiting until your baby is at least 12 months before introducing honey because it may contain spores of bacteria that can cause botulism. This doesn't mean our honey supply is contaminated -- these bacteria are harmless to adults and children over 1year of age. Honey can, very occasionally, contain a spore of a bacterium called clostridium botulinum. This can cause a rare form of food poisoning (botulism) in babies. The botulism spores can only be killed by the high heat which can be obtained in a pressure canner. According to WHO, the toxin (that is produced in anaerobic conditions) can only be destroyed by boiling. So technically, honey is not safe forinfants even in cooked form such as in baked foods like breads. If your baby has botulism, he may start to show symptoms eight hours to 36 hours after eating honey. Visit your doctor straight away if your baby has eaten honey, and then has the following: • constipation • restlessness • a la

The best position to lay your baby at night and avoiding sudden infant death(SIDS)

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Sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUIDs) are deaths in infants younger than 12 months of age that occur suddenly, unexpectedly, and without obvious cause, with no warning signs or a clear reason. . Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), is the leading cause of SUID. Parents who know about SIDS may think of it as their worst nightmare.Sudden infant death syndrome is known as SIDS or crib death. Although there is no 100% way to prevent SIDS, there is a lot you can do to lower your baby’s risk. Since the American Academy of Pediatrics issued its safe sleep recommendations in 1992 and launched its "Back to Sleep" campaign in 1994, the SIDS rate has dropped more than 60%. In 2015, the CDC noted 39.4 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 154.5 deaths in 1990. 10 Steps to Help Prevent SIDS 1) Put a Sleeping Baby on His Back Your baby’s risk of SIDS is much higher any time he sleeps on his side or stomach. (A baby placed on his side can roll over on his stomach.) These

FDA issues recall for blood pressure medication due to cancer risk

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a recall for several drugs used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure due to the risk of cancer. The FDA announced the voluntary recall of several drugs containing the active ingredient valsartan. The FDA said the recall was due to an impurity, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which was found in the products and is classified as a probable human carcinogen The following are products listed in the recall, according to the FDA: Valsartan from Major Pharmaceuticals Valsartan from Solco Healthcare Valsartan from Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) from Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) from Solco Healthcare The FDA points out that not all products containing valsartan are being recalled. Officials note that because valsartan is used in medicines to treat serious medical conditions such as heart problems, patients who take the recalled medi

Prostate Cancer Symptoms Never To Ignore

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Symptoms of prostate cancer generally become more noticeable in the advanced stages of the disease. Prostate cancer symptoms are not usually caused by the cancer itself, but rather as a result of blockage caused by the increased growth of the prostate gland. This growth can affect a man’s sexual performance and also cause urinary tract difficulties. This is why it’s imperative to have a yearly check-up done in order to catch prostate cancer in the early stages when it can be treated more effectively. In the earliest stages of prostate cancer, it can be difficult to determine the presence of the disease as there are no discernable warning signs. Note that symptoms associated with prostate cancer can also be caused by other non-cancerous diseases, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI) or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH latter is often confused as prostate cancer. Your doctor can help to diagnose your exact condition and address any of the issues listed below and offer

Why you should avoid eating lime when taking Cough medicines

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If you're taking certain cough medicines then don't eat limes. Be careful with limes or Seville oranges if you’re taking cough medicines with dextromethorphan. Citrus foods can interfere with the process that breaks down the drug causing more of it to get in your body. “This can lead to side effects like hallucinations or drowsiness.” The fruits’ effects can last for 24 hours or more so avoid them while you need the cough medicine.

Why patients taking high blood pressure medications should avoid bananas

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Bananas are high in potassium, a good thing, but for those taking high blood pressure medications like Captopril, ACE inhibitors or Angiotensin receptor blockers, avoid large quantities of potassium-rich food like leafy greens and oranges too. Mixed with these drugs, these foods can cause high potassium levels. Bananas are something to avoid if you take blood pressure medications “Too much can cause irregular heartbeats and palpitations.” Tell your GP if you’re taking potassium or diuretics alongside blood pressure medication.

DRUGS YOU SHOULD NEVER TAKE WITH DIARY PRODUCTS

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Dairy products prevent some medications from being properly absorbed into the body. If the medication is not properly absorbed, it may be less effective. Dairy products includes milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream: These products contain large amounts of calcium, which can react with some medications and prevent them from being absorbed into the body. Medications that are affected by diary products include: A) Certain antibiotics (tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin): The classic family of antibiotics that cannot be taken with milk are the tetracyclines, because the calcium in the milk binds the antibiotic and prevents gut absorption. B) Certain medications used to treat osteoporosis (etidronate, risedronate) You should talk to your pharmacist if you are taking the underlisted drugs with any other drug. 1) Calcium supplements: Calcium (e.g., calcium carbonate, calcium gluconate, calcium citrate) can be found in multi-vitamins, over-the-counter medications, and prescript

WHO differentiates exclusive breastfeeding from predominant breastfeeding

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According to WHO, breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers. As a global public health recommendation, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Exclusive breastfeeding from birth is possible except for a few medical conditions, and unrestricted exclusive breastfeeding results in ample milk production. Exclusive breastfeeding: is defined as no other food or drink, not even water, except breast milk (including milk expressed or from a wet nurse) for 6 months of life, but allows the infant to receive ORS, drops and syru

What are some signs that my baby needs supplemental formula for growth?

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• Talk to your baby's doctor if you have any concerns about your baby's weight gain, growth, or eating habits. Here are some symptoms that warrant a call: • More than normal weight loss in a newborn. Babies lose up to 10 percent of their birth weight during the first five days of life. By day five, they start to gain about an ounce a day, and by 2 weeks they should be back up to their birth weight. • Your breasts don't feel soft or empty after nursing, which could be a sign that your baby isn't taking in enough milk. • Fewer than six wet diapers in a 24-hour period once your baby is 5 days old. • Fussiness or lethargy most of the time.

How to tell whether your baby is getting enough breast milk?

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Many mothers worry that they're not producing enough milk for their babies, but most women make plenty of milk. Here are four ways you can tell whether your baby's getting enough: • Pump out your breast milk into a graduated bottle Many mothers can't tell how much milk they produce per feeding. If your baby is losing weight or you are worried about how much breast milk your baby is receiving, it is time to measure it by pumping it out. Pump out some breast milk over a period of 30 minutes to 1hr. If the milk is too small, it is time you change your diet to a breast milk producing diet or look into supplementing your baby's meal with formular • Plenty of dirty diapers. A baby younger than 1 month old who's nursing well will have frequent mustard-yellow stools. Some babies have one after every feeding. Your baby will also have six to eight wet diapers a day if he's getting enough breast milk. • Weigh your baby several times a week. He should be gainin

Can I supplement my breastfed baby's diet with formula?

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Yes, it's perfectly safe to supplement a breastfed baby's diet with formula. Some moms decide to supplement with formula when they go back to work. They may have trouble pumping regularly, but they don't want to give up nursing entirely. Others supplement because their baby isn't getting enough breast milk to grow properly. And many moms just want the freedom to let a family member or babysitter give an occasional bottle. Whatever your reasons for supplementing, keep in mind that any amount of breast milk is always better than none, so the longer you can nurse your baby, the better – even if it's just once or twice a day. Although formula provides all the nutrients your baby needs, it lacks the unique immune factors that can protect your baby from some illnesses. Will supplementing with formula affect my milk supply? Your supply of breast milk depends on your baby's demand for it, so the less often you nurse, the less milk your breasts will produce.

Can I mix breast milk and formula?

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While there's nothing wrong with mixing breast milk and formula in the same container, it's not recommended simply because you don't want to waste a single drop of your precious breast milk. Formula from a bottle that your baby has drunk from must be discarded within an hour of preparation. Breast milk, on the other hand, will "keep," refrigerated, for a number of hours in a bottle that's been fed. So, for example, if you mix 2 ounces of expressed breast milk with 2 ounces of formula, and your baby only drinks 2 ounces altogether, you'll have to throw the leftovers out, wasting some of the breast milk. To avoid this kind of waste, a good plan is to feed your baby whatever breast milk you've expressed, and then follow that up with couple of ounces of formula if you need it. According to Jan Barger a lactation consultant: Some mothers mix powdered formula with their breast milk in order to increase the calories their baby gets during a feeding.

Things you should know about farmed tilapia

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They Have the Crappiest Diet There’s a good chance the tilapia on your plate was raised on a poop diet (that’s poop as a noun, not an adjective). Research from the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future revealed the gory details of disease-ridden fish farms in Asia, where pig and chicken feces serve as a cheaper alternative to standard fish food. While the FDA vehemently denied any of these goings-on, the Johns Hopkins investigation revealed only 2 percent of imported seafood to the United States is actually tested for contamination. It’s not just mega gross. Experts worry that the large amounts of antibiotics given to the fish to ward off infections may give rise to antibiotic-resistant strains of salmonella. How Tilapia is a More Unhealthy Food Than Bacon Research has found the inflammatory potential of farmed tilapia to be greater than a burger, doughnuts—even pork bacon! It gets worse. It also contains the worst Kind of Fat Compared with other fish, farmed tilap

Bacon is as Harmful as Cigarettes- WHO

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Years ago scientists confirmed that bacon was as harmful to human health as smoking cigarettes. This was based off of a decision made by the World Health Organization, to brand processed meats as “carcinogenic to humans,” deciding to list them in the ranks of other notoriously carcinogenic substances such as asbestos, arsenic, cigarettes, and alcohol. The World Health Organization officially classified processed meats as carcinogenic in October 2015. The decision was made by something called the International Agency of Research into Cancer (IARC), based on a review done on 800 participants globally. The research found “sufficient evidence in humans that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer.” According to the IARC Report: “Meat consists of multiple components, such as haem iron. Meat can also contain chemicals that form during meat processing or cooking. For instance, carcinogenic chemicals that form during meat processing include N-nitroso compou

Spices that can help you live healthier and longer life

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In Africa t here’s compelling evidence that several spices and herbs may help manage some chronic conditions (though it’s always smart to talk with your doctor). Herbs and spices do more than simply add flavor to food. They let you cut down on some less-healthy ingredients, such as salt, added sugars and saturated fat, and some have inherent health benefits. Modern science is beginning to uncover the ultimate power of spices and herbs, as weapons against illnesses from cancer to Alzheimer’s disease. “We’re now starting to see a scientific basis for why people have been using spices medicinally for thousands of years,” says Bharat Aggarwal, Ph.D., professor at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and author of  Healing Spices  (Sterling, 2011). Aggarwal notes that in his native India, where spices tend to be used by the handful, incidence of diet-related diseases like heart disease and cancer have long been low. But when Indians move away and ad

Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics: FDA Requires Labeling Changes Due to Low Blood Sugar Levels and Mental Health Side Effects

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Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are approved to treat certain serious bacterial infections, and have been used for more than 30 years. They work by killing or stopping the growth of bacteria that can cause illness.  Without treatment, some infections can spread and lead to serious health problems. According to drug.com, most fluoroquinolone antibiotic drug labels include a warning that FDA is strengthening the current warnings in the prescribing information that fluoroquinoloneantibiotics may cause significant decreases in blood sugar and certain mental health side effects. Sugar disturbances, including high blood sugar and low blood sugar and depending on the fluoroquinolone antibiotic class, a range of mental health side effects are already described under Central Nervous System Effects in the Warnings and Precautions section of the drug label, which differed by individual drug. The new label changes will add that low blood sugar levels, also called hypoglycemia, can

BACK PAIN EXERCISE: The Cobra pose.

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Benefits [ ] Increases flexibility of the spine [ ] Relieves tension in the back and neck [ ] Helps relieve sciatic pain [ ] Strengthens core muscles [ ] Stretches chest, shoulder and ab muscles [ ] Improves circulation in spine and pelvis [ ] Helps improve body posture PRECAUTION: D • You have carpal Tunnel syndrome • you feel discomfort • you have back or wrist injury • You are pregnant.  iscontinue if

MEDICINES YOU SHOULDN'T GIVE YOUR BABY OR TODDLER

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[ ] Aspirin [ ] Over-the-counter cough and cold medicine [ ] Antinausea medication [ ] Adult medication [ ] Medication prescribed for another person or condition [ ] Anything expired [ ] Chewables [ ] Syrup of ipecac Always visit a hospital or the nearest pharmacy, before giving your baby or toddler any medication, especially for the first time. Young children are much more likely than adults to have adverse drug reactions, so giving your child prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medication – even "natural" or "herbal" medicine – is serious business.

Toxic Foods That You Should Stop Consuming Immediately

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1. Processed meats Processed meats such as, ham, bacon and hot dogs are full of unhealthy fats and also contain chemical compounds that are harmful to health. A processed meat is any kind of white or red meat that has been smoked, salted, fermented, cured, or processed in any way to improve preservation or enhance flavor. Most processed meats contain nitrites and nitrates, chemical additives used for preserving that have been associated with various cancers. Processed meat has been classified as a carcinogen by The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). What to consume:  Buy grass-fed beef or goat meat.  Pasture-raised turkey and chicken. Cook it and slice it yourself. 2. Margarine Margarine is high in trans fat, which has been associated with greater risk of death and coronary heart disease. Industrial trans fat consumption is associated with a 34% increase in mortality, a 28% increased risk of mortality from coronary heart disease mortality, and a 2

CAN PREGNANT WOMEN CONSUME BITTER KOLA?

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Garcinia kola (bitter kola, a name sometimes also used for G. afzelii) is a specie of flowering plant in the Clusiaceae or Guttiferae family. Bitter Kola (bitter cola) is used widely in Nigeria and many West African countries as part of traditional hospitality, cultural, and social ceremonies. It is also used to make medicine. The bitter kola is a potent stimulant used in Nigerian folk medicine as a treatment for  *colds,  *coughs,  *throat infections  *nusea and other ailments. Chemical composition of bitter kola 1) caffeine - from 2.5 to 3.5%.  2) Akaloid: Colatin (0.5%), Theobromine (0.1%), Theophylline.  3) Others: tannins, catechin, epicatechin, flobafen, glycosides, cellulose, starch, protein, fiber, vegetable oils, etc. 4) Energy value: proteins (7.9%), fat (0.1%), carbohydrates (5.2%). Colatin, Caffeine, and Theobromine are the components that produces the bitter effects of bitter kola, whilst the stimulant effect of bitter kola is prod