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Friday, June 24, 2011

Wellness Tip: Healthy Spirit: "Stay healthy in new campaign"

A NEW campaign to keep people fit and healthy in the Vale was launched this week.
Vouchers are now available which can save health-conscious residents money on fruit and vegetables as part of the healthy eating Change4Life campaign.
Worcestershire Regulatory Services and the NHS have also teamed up with stores in the area to sell a wider range of fruit and veg.
On Wednesday (June 22) a launch event took place at Broadway Youth Club on Lime Tree Avenue where Change4life vouchers were handed to visitors.
Another launch event is to take place on Tuesday (June 28) at Badsey Village Hall for residents to collect some vouchers. Everyone is welcome.
The vouchers can be redeemed at Nisa Local on Bibsworth Avenue in Broadway and Spar Stores on High Street in Badsey.
Dr Frances Howie, Worcestershire's assistant director of Public Health, said: "We know that often people want to eat more healthily but in a busy day they just grab the nearest food on offer.
"By working with local stores to link with the Change4Life campaign we can make sure there is always something healthy to choose."
Steve Jorden, Head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services, said he was delighted with the response to the campaign.
"Following a successful pilot in the north east where sales of fruit and veg grew by almost 40 per cent, I am delighted with the response from local stores to sell a wider range of fruit and veg, manage waste better and actively promote healthier food choices," he said.

Wellness Tip: Healthy Body: Surfing (not only the net) but the Sea

Surfing provides a great full-body workout as it requires intense upper body engagement when paddling and strong lower body work to guide the board once you’re upright. At the same time, core muscles are engaged throughout, making surfing a fun way not only to improve cardiovascular fitness and build strength in the upper and lower back, arms and legs, but it also improves balance, coordination, stability and power. While muscles are being strengthened, surfing doesn’t bulk up the body, but instead builds long, lean muscles less prone to injury.

Because surfing is not really a symmetrical form of exercise (surfers tend to favor one side), it should be balanced with stretching and cross-training in order to maintain muscular equilibrium. Also, as with any form of exercise, easing into surfing under the tutelage of an experienced surfer is a kind choice to your body. Otherwise, you can end up with some pretty wicked back spasms.

If you take up surfing, you won’t necessarily become the laid-back surfer dude. But hours in the sun, in saltwater, moving your body, while syncing up with nature is a recipe for increasing your sense of well-being and overall health.

A number of surfing camps offer lessons for newbies, both children and adult classes. One camp featuring classes taught by world-class surfers is Surf Diva, which conducts two- to five-day workshops for women at beginner and intermediate levels at several southern California locations, as well as Costa Rica.



Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/catching-a-healthy-wave.html#ixzz1QBJ3erta

Wellness Tip: Healthy Emotions: Laughter helps immune system!

Laughter can offer you distance from your problems and enhance your sense of well-being, Wolz said. In fact, numerous studies have shown that laughter can help your immune system and decrease stresshormones, which constrict blood vessels and suppress hormone activity.

A study by researchers at the University of Maryland found that laughing while watching a comedic film causes your blood vessels to dilate by 22 percent. That's because when you laugh, the tissues forming the lining of your blood vessels expand and make room for an increase in blood flow. Translation: When you laugh at the movies, you're actually lowering yourblood pressure to the same extent that you'd lower it when you do physical exercise, said Dr. Michael Miller, director of the University of Maryland's Center for Preventive Cardiology.

To get the biggest heart-healthy benefit from watching comedies, you should be watching movies that make you do a real belly laugh for at least 15 minutes, Miller said.

Climate Change Update

Ted Turner: Climate Change Humanity's Most Serious Problem

Board members of the UN Foundation, including Founder and Chairman Ted Turner, got a close look at what effects climate change is having on the Arctic.

After their annual Board of Directors meeting in Oslo, several directors traveled to Svalbard, the world's northernmost community. They journeyed up a fjord to the foot of a receding glacier with scientists from the Norwegian Polar Institute.

Turner told reporters on a teleconference today, "They pointed out to us while looking at the glacier that it is receding every year due to global climate change. The temperature here at the high latitudes changes more rapidly than it does in the temperate zones."

Based on observations to date, the scientists projected that this year the extent of Arctic sea ice will be smaller than it has ever been, even smaller than in the previous record low year of 2007.

Among the board members visiting Svalbard was Gro Harlem Brundtland, a physician who served three terms as Prime Minister of Norway in the 1980s and '90s, and then became director general of the World Health Organization.

As chair of the World Commission on Environment and Development in the 1980s, Brundtland created the concept of sustainable development and provided the momentum for the UN's 1992 Earth Summit. She now serves as a Special Envoy on Climate Change for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Brundtland told reporters on the call that the scientists informed the group that ocean waters have heated up over the past decade at least one degree Celsius to a depth of 1,000 meters. "This is a dramatic change in a short period of time due to the changes humanity is causing by how we are acting," Brundtland said.

Asked what can be done to convince and persuade climate skeptics and deniers to recognize what so many scientists know and are trying to communicate so urgently, Turner said, "That's a very good question. If we knew the answer to it, we'd already have an energy policy in this country," he said, referring to his home country of the United States.

"We just have to keep working as we're doing now to get as much publicity as we can for the facts," said Turner. "The evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of recognizing climate change."

Wellness Update: Antarctica: Free Salmon Recipe!

The Be Well Woburn team has come up with a novel idea to get dads and children in kindergarten through grade 5 to spend time together and do something physical, nutritious and fun.

Woburn’s version of the Amazing Race—The Amazing Wellness Race—is the brainchild ofGary Reese, assistant school superintendent for curriculum and assessment.

People travel around the world to try new things, Reese explained Monday. The Be Well team wants people—especially kids—to try new things, Reese said, both activities and foods.

So teams of participants will get to visit seven continents and either try a food or activity from that continent, Reese explained.

Visitors to Antarctica, for example, will get the chance to try salmon, which, Reese said, many children have never sampled. If they like it, they can get a salmon recipe to take home.

http://woburn.patch.com/articles/woburns-version-of-the-great-race-for-dads-children-thursday

Wellness Update: Australia: Healthzone Limited

Healthzone Limited (ASX: HZL; OTCQX: HLTZY), Australia's leading natural products distributor, franchise retailer and producer of health, beauty and natural products, today announced that Executive Chairman, Peter Roach, has purchased 813,131 shares of Healthzone Ltd stock at AU$0.40 per share in a private transaction from an existing investor.

About Healthzone Limited

Healthzone Ltd operates a portfolio of distribution, consumer product and retail business and is the largest operator in the Australian Wellness sector with significant and growing Asian and China wellness market interests. Each business provides immediate opportunities for earnings growth through business development and integration. Healthzone's businesses are comprised of three principal activities; Health and Beauty distribution; Health and Beauty Products, and Health Food Retail. For further information please visit www.healthzone.com.au



Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/337355#ixzz1QBFVkelg

Wellness Update: South America: Walk with A Doc! and be Healthy!

The hot new health program is called Walk With A Doc and it's taking off for good reason.

It helps people lose weight. It prevents or reverses the effects of dozens of diseases, including arthritis, depression, diabetes, heart attack and stroke. It provides fast answers to health questions, turns doctors and patients into friends, and it's free.

Easy, too.

All it takes is a physician who's willing to lace up a pair of sneakers, head to a mall or a park and go for a walk with two or 250 people at a time.

And it was founded by a doc from Ohio.

Dr. David Sabgir grew up in Worthington, outside Columbus; graduated from Miami University in Oxford and the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo; and completed his internship, residency and fellowship at the Ohio State University Medical Center before going into private practice in Columbus in 2003.

He launched Walk With A Doc with a 2.2-mile hike through Sharon Woods Metro Park, just north of the state capital, on April 9, 2005.

The reason was simple.

Telling people to get out and exercise wasn't working.

"And I was pretty good at telling them to do it," Sabgir says before trying out his pitch again, explaining how walking can lower cholesterol, reverse diabetes and wipe out sleep apnea; how it makes people feel good, boosts their self-esteem, transforms their lives.

Then one Saturday morning while lifting weights with a buddy he started thinking: "All I'm doing here is helping myself. Maybe I could help five or 10 more people if we went to the park and walked."

He talked to his nurse, Mollie Bangert, who designed a flier and posted it in their office. And the two of them began spreading the word to their patients, who loved the idea.

They called the office to ask if they could bring their husbands, their grandkids, their dogs. But Sabgir was worried. He knew their record when it came to following through. If 50 or 60 people showed up for the first walk, he'd be happy.

When he got there that Saturday morning, 101 people were waiting.

Over the next six weeks, the number of walkers varied. One Saturday there'd be 50 people, the next 140. But a core group returned each week. And new people showed up every time.

http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2011/06/walk_with_a_doc_program_has_oh.html

Wellness Update: North America: Cutting-edge Nutritional Systems for Obese

Toronto -- Achieving fitness goals is an obstacle for millions of people suffering from obesity. As a result, diabetes, heart disease and strokes are few of the physical consequences. Fortunately, to address the growing obesity epidemic in North America, many health and wellness organizations have developed cutting-edge nutritional systems.

One of the fastest growing wellness companies, Visalus Sciences created the Body by Vi™ Challenge to replenish the body with vitamins, nutrients and minerals.

The product is powered by the latest technology and fitness best practices including Kosher certified meal replacements with tri-sorb protein, chelated multi-vitamins, and patented anti-aging formulas. Body by Vi Challenge is designed from the ground up to transform an individual's well-being and enforce healthier choices.

The Challenge encourages participants to prioritize their fitness goals for a minimum of 90 days.

As an incentive for participants achieving their fitness goal, Visalus also offer rewards including $100,000 for Hollywood makeovers, cruises and other fun prizes.

To learn more about the Body by VI Challenge please visit http://myeverlastinghealth.myvi.net/challenge

Wellness Update: Africa: United States First Lady Michelle Obama will travel to Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa, and Gaborone during her June



Focusing on youth leadership, education, health and wellness, the trip is a continuation of her work to engage young people at home and abroad, from mentoring students in the US and encouraging them to gain international experience, to encouraging young people to excel academically, serve, and lead during her visits to Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, India, Mexico and the United Kingdom (UK).

Accompanying her will be her mother, Marian Robinson and her daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama.

According to a news release from the US Embassy in Gaborone, this visit will underscore that the US has an important stake in the success of Africa's many nations and underscore the historic connections between the American people and those who live on the African continent. South Africa is a vital global partner for the US, as political leader and economic engine on the continent, and a historic example of democratic transition in Africa and around the world. Botswana's enduring democracy, bolstered by its commitment to using its vast natural resources to invest in its people and grow its economy, models the potential for good governance, and strong institutions to advance prosperous and stable societies.

In addition to advancing her international youth engagement agenda, the First Lady's events will amplify President Barack Obama's support for democracy, development and economic opportunity across Africa. During her trip, Obama will deliver the keynote address to a US-sponsored Young African Women Leaders Forum in South Africa.

Forum participants include young women from across sub-Saharan Africa who are leading or involved in social and economic initiatives in their own countries. The Forum will build on the Obama Administration's ongoing engagement with the next generation of African leaders and the momentum of the August 2010 President's Forum with Young African Leaders held at the White House.

Wellness in Europe: ELIQUIS(R) (apixaban) Meets Primary and Key Secondary Endpoints in Phase 3 ARISTOTLE Study Detailed results to be presented at Eur

ELIQUIS(R) (apixaban) Meets Primary and Key Secondary Endpoints in Phase 3 ARISTOTLE Study

Detailed results to be presented at European Society of Cardiology Congress 2011


Bristol-Myers Squibb CompanyBMY +5.73% and Pfizer Inc. PFE +1.82% announced today topline results of the Phase 3 ARISTOTLE trial of ELIQUIS(R). In this study of patients with atrial fibrillation and at least one additional risk factor for stroke, ELIQUIS met the primary efficacy objective of non-inferiority to warfarin on the combined outcome of stroke (ischemic, hemorrhagic or unspecified type) and systemic embolism. In addition, ELIQUIS met the key secondary endpoints of superiority on efficacy and on ISTH (International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis) major bleeding compared to warfarin.

ELIQUIS, a new oral direct Factor Xa inhibitor, is being developed by the alliance of Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer.

The companies expect to submit regulatory filings in atrial fibrillation in the U.S. and Europe in the third or fourth quarter of 2011.

The detailed results of the ARISTOTLE study will be presented during the "Hot Line" session on August 28, 2011, at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2011 in Paris.

About ARISTOTLE

ARISTOTLE, a double-blind, multicenter, head-to-head Phase 3 trial, randomized 18,201 patients with atrial fibrillation from over 1,000 centers in about 40 countries. Patients were randomized to receive either ELIQUIS 5 mg twice daily (2.5 mg twice daily in selected patients) or dose-adjusted warfarin (titrated to a target INR range of 2.0 to 3.0).

About ELIQUIS

ELIQUIS is the approved trade name for apixaban in Europe and the proposed trade name in the U.S. and other countries. ELIQUIS is not approved for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer recently announced the first regulatory approval for ELIQUIS for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in adult patients who have undergone elective hip or knee replacement surgery in the 27 countries of the European Union (EU).

ELIQUIS is being investigated within the EXPANSE Clinical Trials Program, which is projected to include nearly 60,000 patients worldwide across multiple indications and patient populations and includes a total of nine completed or ongoing, randomized, double-blind Phase 3 trials, including ARISTOTLE.

In addition to stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation and the prevention of VTE in patients who have undergone total hip or total knee replacement surgery, ELIQUIS is being investigated in Phase 3 trials for the treatment of VTE and the prevention of VTE in hospitalized acutely ill medical patients.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/eliquisr-apixaban-meets-primary-and-key-secondary-endpoints-in-phase-3-aristotle-study-2011-06-22?reflink=MW_

Wellness in Asia: World's 1st Online Portal for Spa and Wellness therapies launched in Bali, Indonesia

Medical evidence for spa and wellness therapies

The world’s first online portal dedicated to the medical evidence that exists for 22 spa and wellness therapies,Spaevidence.com, was launched at the Global Spa Summit in Bali, Indonesia. The new portal consolidates clinical evidence about 22 key spa therapies, including yoga, reflexology and aromatherapy, from four existing databases: Natural Standards, the Cochrane Library, Pub Med and the Trip Database. The portal has been developed with support from Dr. Ken Pelletier, Dr. Daniel Friedland, Dr. Marc Cohen and Nader Vasseghi. Among the therapies are lesser known ones such as ear candling, qi gong and music therapy. For each therapy it gives links to databases, research and ongoing trials.

Under the 2011 banner of “Engage the Change: The Customer. The Money. The Future,” delegates attended dozens of presentations and panels exploring smart new ways to engage with consumers; enter new markets; embrace new technologies; implement new business, tourism and wellness concepts; and pursue new investments.

There are at least 75,000 spas across the world, the number being difficult to determine as where a hotel with health leisure facilities ends and a spa/wellness centre begins is a matter of debate. Spas are seen as a leader in promoting both medical tourism and wellness tourism.

The release of new industry research is a hallmark of every summit, and the ten research reports available online include:
• GSS: “Wellness Tourism and Medical Tourism – Where Do Spas Fit?”
• Coyle Hospitality Group: “Priorities of Today’s Spa Consumers”

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Wellness Tip: Men's Sexual Health

"1. Check under the bonnet. While your car has an MOT only once a year, you should check your own tackle more frequently! Testicular cancer affects around 2000 men in the UK every year. Men should check about once a month, feeling for any lumps or bumps that were not there before.

2. Unexpected leak? Bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STI’s) such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and Syphilis are more common in men. There may be no symptoms at all, or discharge, pain when passing urine, or painful testicles. These STI’s can be treated with a simple course of antibiotics.

3. Full Service History. There is not always a quick fix for STI’s. Viral STI’s such as HIV, Herpes, genital warts have no cure, although we can treat some of the symptoms which differ depending on the infection.

4. Bumpy road ahead. Mental health problems affect one in four people and both men and women suffer from it equally. Depression is the most common mental health problem, and men are half as likely as women to seek help if they are suffering."


Wellness Tip: for Couples: Key to Better Sex

Key to Better Sex Revealed in New Study - FoxNews.com:

"Studying sexual satisfaction

Respondents answered questions meant to gauge levels of autonomy, self-esteem and empathy, along with their sexual health and satisfaction. Autonomy is defined as the strength to follow personal convictions even when they go against conventional wisdom, which usually increases as adolescents age and enter adulthood, Galinsky said. Self-esteem is a belief in one's self-worth, which also increases with age. Empathy is the ability to take another's perspective, to see things from their angle and understand and respond to their emotions.

The study found that men were more likely than women to report having orgasms most or all of the time during sex, with 87 percent of men saying so, compared with 47 percent of women in the study. Men were also more likely to enjoy giving oral sex to their partner more than women were, the study found."

Wellness Update: Australia: Love life

One wedding in 2011 enough: PM's beau: "The couple met in a salon in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy in 2006.

Mr Mathieson said at the time he had no idea what Ms Gillard did for a living.

'It was the first time I saw her. I thought, what a wonderful lady,' he told 60 Minutes.

Chatting led to their first date.

Just in case it was an awkward first date, both had exit strategies.

One of Mr Mathieson's mates phoned to tell him someone was interested in looking at a Mercedes that was up for sale, while one of Ms Gillard's friends advised of a work-related emergency.

'Of course it was both set up in case we needed quick exits,' Mr Mathieson said.

A sneak peek at the official prime minister's residence in Canberra, The Lodge, revealed Mr Mathieson's special hide-out - a shed at the back of the home.

For Ms Gillard, the shed is a no-go zone.

'No girls allowed,' she laughed, adding later, 'I'm hanging on the outside of the shed, as instructed'.

As patron of the Australian Men's Shed Association, a federal plan to deal with men's health, Ms Gillard says her partner has 'gone and looked at things and talked to people on the ground'."

Wellness Tip: Check the Colors of the Food in Your Plate, Guard Our Nutrition & Fight Obesity

From food pyramid to My Plate | SeacoastOnline.com:

"The USDA and Obama administration have teamed up to give a new look to the food pyramid. This recently released educational tool, which is in the form of a plate, has been created as an easier to understand and apply model than the various forms of food pyramids that have been used for about two decades.

The design of the plate makes the nutrition message easy to understand for all ages — children through adults — and various cultures and ethnic groups. Even without exact measuring, we get the message as to what our meals should include and in what proportion — at least half the plate fruits and vegetables, a quarter of the plate from the protein group, and the remaining quarter of the plate from grains (preferably whole grains). Next to the plate is a serving of dairy (which can be a dairy product or fortified soy milk).

Besides being aware of the image of the plate, it is important for Americans to read about the more specific guidelines that come along with the image — the image is just the tip of the iceberg. Similar to the previously released food pyramid, a lot of nutrition information and interactive tools are available online (www.choosemyplate.gov). The site gives a summary of the key recommendations that coincide with the revised 'Dietary Guidelines for Americans' released several months ago."


Climate Change Update: 21st World Conference on Disaster Management

World must face climate change: expert:

"21st World Conference on Disaster Management:

According to Lester Brown, the world is ill-prepared and may not survive an impending colossal natural disaster such as flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts or recordbreaking heat waves that are triggered by climate change.

'At some point, these disasters will be unmanageable at the societal level,' said Brown, who recently wrote a book on the topic, World on the Edge: How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse.

Furthermore, a number of recent weather-related incidents should act as a warning for the world to wake up and to spring into action.

For instance, Brown cites that one of the most troubling impending disasters is the current 'irreversible' rapid melting of the Greenland ice sheet. If temperatures continue to rise, it is feared the ice sheet will melt completely and raise sea levels by a projected seven metres, which will disrupt rice production in the river deltas in Asia, where 60 per cent of the world's population lives.

Rising sea levels will also impact real estate values along coastal regions in North America and communities such as New Orleans, which has only since recovered from hurricane Katrina in 2005, will be threatened and could disappear, he added."

Wellness Update: Africa: Mobile health offers hope to patients in Africa

Mobile health offers hope to patients in Africa | Alex Duval Smith | Global development | guardian.co.uk:

"Mobile health is already firmly established enough for the WHO to have set up a special unit five years ago, the Global Observatory for eHealth, staffed by four people in Geneva.

Its manager, Misha Kay, estimated that up to 40 African countries are using mobile health services. He said large countries with several phone operators – such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya – are leading the way. 'The momentum is huge. What is happening is important. Millions of people in Africa still do not have access to any healthcare. With mobile technology they can at least have some,' he said.

The report says there are now more than 5bn live mobile phone subscriptions and that 85% of the world's population is covered by a wireless signal. In Africa, mobile penetration exceeds infrastructure development – including paved roads, and access to electricity and the internet.

The report praises an initiative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where Population Services International (PSI) supports a free hotline to complement its family planning campaigns. In Ghana, funding from a US university provides free mobile-to-mobile voice and text services between the 2,000 GPs who serve the country's 24 million population."

Wellness Update: Antarctica: Mission to convince today's leaders the land should remain untouched

Slideshow: Ottawa native travels to Antarctica on environmental mission - MyWebTimes.com:

"McGann, a 1989 graduate of Marquette High School, spent two weeks in March on an expedition to Antarctica, a mission that aimed to not only share the landscape of a continent that few ever see, but also to convince today's leaders the land should remain untouched.

McGann works as the sustainable information technology leader for KPMG LLP in Minneapolis. His job is to track how the firm uses technology, determine the environmental impact the company has and offer ways to reduce the company's carbon footprint.

With that kind of background, McGann was a natural fit for the International Antarctic Expedition. KPMG agreed to pick up the expenses for McGann to go on the expedition as a representative for the company.

'It's kind of a global niche,' McGann said of his job. 'Only a few people do what I do specifically.'

Antarctica does not belong to any nation, but an international treaty has set the continent apart, free from military outposts, mining and drilling while allowing only limited scientific research. That treaty expires in 2041 and the organizers of the International Antarctic Expeditions want to keep the land pristine.

'It's the fifth-largest continent, twice the size of (North America). It has the harshest conditions on the planet, the driest and most remote place on Earth,' McGann said."

Wellness Update: North America: To raise 5 Million Dollars, Family running across North America

Family running across North America:

"Chicoine and his family of eight stopped in Regina on Monday. Their journey, called the Marathon of Health, started in Vancouver on May 8 and they are hoping to be done in February 2012.

The goal of the run is to inspire people to be more active and to live healthier.

'In Canada, the health care system is based a lot on treating disease and not much really on health and wellness,' said Chicoine. 'When it comes to health, people just seem to see the status quo. Part of our mission as well is to try and get people to understand that if all of us, everyday, took a few steps to improving our health ... just think of how much money we could save.'

They are concerned that, every year, billions of dollars are spent on treating disease, primarily through drugs and surgery.

'It's very frustrating to see the medical system and how it's set up,' said Ben. 'If we made even the slightest impact that would be a great thing.'

With the exception of their son Jake, no one in the family had significant long-distance running experience.

Injuries crept up during training but they said stem cell nutrition from one of their sponsors allowed them to recover faster."

Wellness Update: South America: New Study on Summer Heat

AFP: Say goodbye to cool summers: climate study:

"By 2050, the coolest summers in the tropics and parts of the northern hemisphere will still be hotter than the most scorching summers since the mid-20th century if global warming continues apace, according to a new study.
Tropical regions in Africa, Asia and South America could see 'the permanent emergence of unprecedented summer heat' even within the next decades, said the study, to be published later this month in the journal Climatic Change Letters.
Such dramatic changes in temperature would have a major impact on human health, food supplies and biodiversity, warn the researchers.
'Large areas of the globe are likely to warm up so quickly that, by the middle of this century, even the coolest summers will be hotter than the hottest summers of the past 50 years,' said lead author Noah Diffenbaugh, a professor at Stanford University's Woods Institute for the Environment.
Scientists have long predicted that climate change driven by greenhouse gas emissions would cause more frequent heat waves, such as struck Europe in 2003, or the United States this week."

Wellness Update: Europe: Germany confirms source of E.coli outbreak

AFP: Germany confirms source of E.coli outbreak:

"German officials said Saturday that bean sprouts had led to a deadly bacteria outbreak across Europe, but that the farm producing the toxic vegetable was not to blame.
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) confirmed test results announced on Friday that identified bean sprouts from an organic farm in the northern village of Bienenbuettel as carrying the virulent E. coli strain EHEC-0104, ending a frantic two-week probe.
Although the farm has since closed down, regional farm minister Gert Lindemann said that it 'had, according to his knowledge, done nothing wrong'.
'It has high hygiene standards,' he told the Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung daily.
The killer bug claimed at least 33 lives and has left some 3,000 people ill across 14 countries and led to several bans on vegetables grown in Europe, which have cost farmers millions of euros (dollars) in losses."

Wellness Update: Asia: Healthcare Sector concern: June 10, 2011 Swine Flu up in Asia

Healthcare Sector Update: June 10, 2011 | FINANCIAL NEWS NETWORK ONLINE: "BioCryst (NASDAQ:BCRX) is up after media reports said a novel variant of swine flu has emerged in Asia with a genetic adaptation giving some resistance to Roche's Tamiflu and GlaxoSmithKline's (NYSE:GSK) Relenza, the two mainstay drugs used to tackle the disease. However, there was no significant reduction in sensitivity to peramivir, an experimental flu drug from BioCryst."

Wellness Tip: "Expand Emotional Elasticity thru deep breathing & meditation

smmirror.com | Dr. Mao’s Wellness Central: Five Ways to Balance Emotions:

"Expand Emotional Elasticity

Use deep breathing and rest to restore your metabolic equilibrium. Sometime during your busy day find time to close your eyes and take ten deep breaths. Even better, meditate on a daily basis to head off emotional extremes before they start. Studies show that people who meditate are calm, slower to anger, and better able to find their way through problems to good outcomes. Try spending 10 to 15 minutes in meditative relaxation each day and watch your emotional elasticity expand! There are many meditation guides and CDs that can help you learn the practice. You may want to try my guided meditation CD called Meditation for Stress Release."

Wellness Tip: Learn to Balance Emotion by Recognizing them

smmirror.com | Dr. Mao’s Wellness Central: Five Ways to Balance Emotions:

"The Chinese healing tradition groups emotions into five predominant states: joy, rumination (including worry), sadness, fear, and anger. Experiencing these emotions is a normal part of life, and you usually shift naturally from one to the next in reaction to events that pop up in your day. However, when one single emotion dominates, it brings your entire body out of balance and can produce illness. Learning to manage your emotions is essential for your happiness, health, and longevity."

Wellness Tip: A healthy body starts in what we put in our mouth

A healthy body starts at the top - SentinelSource.com: Little Kids: child, health, tooth, pediatric dentistry, tooth brushing: "Healthy snacks for your child, along with proper brushing and flossing, promote health and greatly reduce the chance of tooth decay, or cavities.

Sweet, sticky snacks, like soda, candy or raisins, contain a lot of sugar which causes acid to form in the mouth. The acid then breaks through the tooth surface and causes a cavity.

Starchy snacks, like crackers and pretzels, tend to stick to the teeth and also can cause cavities. The more snacking your child does (frequent sipping or nibbling throughout the day), the greater the chance of cavities forming.

Think of each snack as a 20-minute acid attack on the teeth. So limit the frequency of snacks, supervise your child's brushing twice a day and choose healthy snacks whenever possible."

Wellness Tip: Eat fermented foods like soy beans, produce good bacteria, prevent cancer

Arirang | Korea for the World, The World for Korea - Arirang.co.kr: "'People who live in farming villages tend to have good bacteria which come from the regular intake of fiber. But city people generally have more of the bad bacteria that grows from eating fat.'

Eating fermented foods, including soy bean paste, produces good bacteria and increases activity in the large intestines which can help prevent cancer and obesity.
But consuming too much greasy food stimulates bad bacteria growth.


[Interview : Kim Eun-jung
Korea Food & Drug Administration] 'If you eat greasy food, the stomach can't absorb the food properly and this disrupts the stomach's healthy food absorbing pattern.'

So the answer to a healthy body is quite simple, just start from padding out your meals with food such as soy bean paste, red pepper paste and kimchi.
Lee Ji-yoon, Arirang News."

Health Foods more accessible at AHS Canada

AHS to make healthy food more accessible - Edmonton - CBC News: "Alberta Health Services is taking steps to make it easier to eat healthier foods in the province's hospitals, clinics and personal care homes.

AHS is bringing in a healthy food policy province-wide, but won't ban salty or sugary foods.

AHS vice-president Sharon McKay said they will gradually make it easier to find salads, fruit and low-salt foods in vending machines and cafeterias, as well as in the meals of patients.

'There's lots of work that needs to be done. There's also lots of opinion about how far should we go and how much junk food should be available within the facilities,' she said.

'That's why we're going to engage our public and our staff and physicians about what they would like to see in the facilities that would support healthy eating.'"

Saturday, June 4, 2011

STOP Suicide: Spotting the Signs and Helping a Suicidal Person

Suicide Prevention: Spotting the Signs and Helping a Suicidal Person:

"A suicidal person may not ask for help, but that doesn't mean that help isn't wanted. Most people who commit suicide don't want to die—they just want to stop hurting. Suicide prevention starts with recognizing the warning signs and taking them seriously.
If you think a friend or family member is considering suicide, you might be afraid to bring up the subject. But talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life. Speak up if you're concerned and seek professional help immediately! Through understanding, reassurance, and support, you can help your loved one overcome thoughts of suicide."

Common Misconceptions about Suicide

FALSE: People who talk about suicide won't really do it.
Almost everyone who commits or attempts suicide has given some clue or warning. Do not ignore suicide threats. Statements like "you'll be sorry when I'm dead," "I can't see any way out," — no matter how casually or jokingly said may indicate serious suicidal feelings.

FALSE: Anyone who tries to kill him/herself must be crazy.
Most suicidal people are not psychotic or insane. They must be upset, grief-stricken, depressed or despairing, but extreme distress and emotional pain are not necessarily signs of mental illness.

FALSE: If a person is determined to kill him/herself, nothing is going to stop them.
Even the most severely depressed person has mixed feelings about death, wavering until the very last moment between wanting to live and wanting to die. Most suicidal people do not want death; they want the pain to stop. The impulse to end it all, however overpowering, does not last forever.

FALSE: People who commit suicide are people who were unwilling to seek help .
Studies of suicide victims have shown that more than half had sought medical help in the six months prior to their deaths.

FALSE: Talking about suicide may give someone the idea.
You don't give a suicidal person morbid ideas by talking about suicide. The opposite is true — bringing up the subject of suicide and discussing it openly is one of the most helpful things you can do.


If you're thinking about committing suicide, please read If You're Feeling Suicidal or call 1-800-273-TALK now! To find a suicide helpline outside the U.S., visit Befrienders Worldwide.


Suicide Warning Signs

Talking about suicide

Any talk about suicide, dying, or self-harm, such as "I wish I hadn't been born," "If I see you again...," and "I'd be better off dead."



Seeking out lethal means

Seeking access to guns, pills, knives, or other objects that could be used in a suicide attempt.


Preoccupation with death

Unusual focus on death, dying, or violence. Writing poems or stories about death.



No hope for the future

Feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and being trapped ("There's no way out"). Belief that things will never get better or change.



Self-loathing, self-hatred

Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, shame, and self-hatred. Feeling like a burden ("Everyone would be better off without me").



Getting affairs in order

Making out a will. Giving away prized possessions. Making arrangements for family members.



Saying goodbye

Unusual or unexpected visits or calls to family and friends. Saying goodbye to people as if they won't be seen again.



Withdrawing from others

Withdrawing from friends and family. Increasing social isolation. Desire to be left alone.



Self-destructive behavior

Increased alcohol or drug use, reckless driving, unsafe sex. Taking unnecessary risks as if they have a "death wish".



Sudden sense of calm

A sudden sense of calm and happiness after being extremely depressed can mean that the person has made a decision to commit suicide.



Healthy Food: for the Brain & Body

The Swazi Observer: "In most developed countries, alcoholism is often responsible for nutritional deficiencies that affect mental functioning. Diseases can also cause nutritional deficiencies by affecting absorption of nutrients into the body or increasing nutritional requirements. Poverty, ignorance and junk foods contribute to nutritional deficiencies. Your brain likes to eat. And it likes powerful fuel: quality fats, antioxidants, and small, steady amounts of the best carbohydrates.

Here is a list of foods that supercharge your brain: Remember to consult your food for blood type list.
1. Avocado: Start each day with a mix of high-quality protein and beneficial fats to build the foundation for an energised day. Avocado with scrambled eggs provides both, and the monounsaturated fat helps blood circulate better, which is essential for optimal brain function.
2. Blueberries: These delicious berries are one of the best foods for you, period, but they’re very good for your brain as well. Since they’re high in fibre and low on the glycemic index, they are safe for diabetics and they do not spike blood sugar. They are possibly the best brain food on earth: they have been linked to reduce risk for Alzheimer’s, shown to improve learning ability and motor skills in rats, and they are one of the most powerful anti-stress foods you can eat. Avoid: dried, sweetened blueberries."

pls click website for complete article. thanks!

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