Thefastpharma. Health news blog
May 21
There is a great deal of individual variation in the way that children interact with others. Some seem to have boundless curiosity and confidence, while others are hesitant and literally cling to mother’s skirts. Shyness has been the subject of a great deal of study by researchers in recent times. Many have been concerned with [...] [...more]
Posted: under General health.
There is a great deal of individual variation in the way that children interact with others. Some seem to have boundless curiosity and confidence, while others are hesitant and literally cling to mother’s skirts. Shyness has been the subject of a great deal of study by researchers in recent times. Many have been concerned with the age-old argument of nature versus nurture. Are children the way they are because they were born that way, or as a result of their upbringing?
It is true that shy parents are more likely to have shy children. What is not clear is whether this is because of an inherited predisposition to shyness, or because there is something about the parenting style that makes a particular child shy. In addition, role modelling is very important. A child learns from the way his parents interact with other people, and is likely to emulate this style. Shyness as a particular style is more common in certain cultural groups, though again it is uncertain whether this is genetic or due to a particular style of parenting.
Shyness can be very painful for children who may find it very difficult to interact with others in a social setting, or take a long time to warm up. The worst thing that parents or teachers can do is to push these children into a strange situation, or else ridicule them in front of others. This only diminishes their self-confidence and makes things worse.
It is very important to respect individual differences in temperament and personality of children, to accept them as they are, and to support them in their efforts to negotiate the many transitions of their childhood successfully. A child’s shyness may so affect his confidence and interaction with peers that parents will be concerned about his social isolation. In such cases, it may be appropriate to consult a psychologist or other health professional. A number of professionals specialise in working with shy children, either individually or in groups. Your doctor will be able to refer you to an appropriate person.
*136\90\8*
May 18
By the way, almost all painkillers cause constipation, so changing painkillers is not a good way of dealing with this problem. You will probably need to take laxatives regularly. Read pages 130-31 for other suggestions.
Aim for the balance between pain relief and side effects that’s best for you. You may prefer to be completely free [...] [...more]
Posted: under Cancer.
By the way, almost all painkillers cause constipation, so changing painkillers is not a good way of dealing with this problem. You will probably need to take laxatives regularly. Read pages 130-31 for other suggestions.
Aim for the balance between pain relief and side effects that’s best for you. You may prefer to be completely free of pain, even if this means that you are drowsy and can’t concentrate on anything. Or you may prefer to have mild pain when you move about in exchange for feeling more alert.
It is almost always possible to relieve cancer pain with painkillers taken by mouth either in tablet or liquid form. Injections should be necessary only if you are vomiting, can’t swallow, or are too sleepy to take pills or syrup. An alternative to injections is suppositories. Some painkillers, for example, oxycodone, are available in this form. The painkiller is absorbed into the system through the lining of the rectum. Their big advantage over injections is that you can use them yourself at home. Another use for suppositories is as a supplement to painkillers taken by mouth. If you use a painkilling suppository last thing at night instead of your tablets or syrup, you are likely to get a longer stretch of pain-free sleep, because suppositories are longer acting.
*174/40/1*
May 18
There is some scientific evidence to suggest that some warts respond to treatment with a tranquillising drug.
All these treatments where success has been claimed are probably part of a placebo effect.
Local applications are effective and those prescribed by doctors and chemists contain either salicylic acid or podophyllin or both.
Where the local application fails to get [...] [...more]
Posted: under General health.
There is some scientific evidence to suggest that some warts respond to treatment with a tranquillising drug.
All these treatments where success has been claimed are probably part of a placebo effect.
Local applications are effective and those prescribed by doctors and chemists contain either salicylic acid or podophyllin or both.
Where the local application fails to get rid of the wart more invasive treatment may be necessary.
It is possibly to cut it out and then sew up the wound.
This totally removes the wart and the virus that is causing it and is unlikely to recur.
However, if the warts are multiple this may be difficult.
Applying an ointment to remove the thicker layer and then curetting the base, or roots of the wart, may also be effective.
Electric diathermy or electric desiccation, usually done under local anaesthetic can totally destroy all the wart tissue.
If there are many warts it may not be practicable to inject each one with local anaesthetic and so a general anaesthetic may be necessary.
*617/71/1*
May 15
Placing a wedge of rubber between the first and second toes may help but this needs a wide shoe to accommodate it.
At operation, the bunion is removed, the bony overgrowths are shaved off and the joint is realigned. The toe becomes straight again and the joint is either fixed or floppy but this doesn’t seem [...] [...more]
Posted: under General health.
Placing a wedge of rubber between the first and second toes may help but this needs a wide shoe to accommodate it.
At operation, the bunion is removed, the bony overgrowths are shaved off and the joint is realigned. The toe becomes straight again and the joint is either fixed or floppy but this doesn’t seem to interfere with function.
It takes some time before the foot is comfortable in a shoe but almost all who have the operation are pleased with the result.
Hammer toe is a condition which affects the second, third and fourth toes. It is usually due to overcrowding or to one of these toes, usually the second, being too long.
The toe becomes bent and the flexed joint sits up and, by rubbing against the shoe, develops a painful corn on the top. Operation to fillet the toe, taking out some bone, and shortening it so that it fits the shoe, gives a good result.
*359/71/1*
May 15
Once the sample is collected, treatment can be started. Potassium citrate is used to render the urine alkaline. This can be given as Citralka, or as one of the newer tablets or powders that dissolve in water to form a pleasant fizzy drink. Like the old-fashioned barley water, these relieve the symptoms but do not [...] [...more]
Posted: under General health.
Once the sample is collected, treatment can be started. Potassium citrate is used to render the urine alkaline. This can be given as Citralka, or as one of the newer tablets or powders that dissolve in water to form a pleasant fizzy drink. Like the old-fashioned barley water, these relieve the symptoms but do not cure the complaint.
Antibiotics are always necessary. The doctor will usually choose that which he thinks is the most suitable and await the results of the culture to see if he is right.
Antibiotics should always be taken for a full course of from five to seven days to deal with the bacteria completely. Patients should not stop the treatment just because they feel better. This applies to any infection when antibiotics are prescribed.
If the culture and sensitivity tests show that the bacteria causing the infection are insensitive to the antibiotic the doctor has chosen, it can be changed to a more appropriate one.
During pregnancy, the doctor must choose the antibiotic with care. Some antibiotics can affect the foetus and should be avoided.
*109/71/1*
May 15
Unfortunately, dramatic and obvious improvements in treatment like these are rare. After the results in Hodgkin’s disease were published, the principle of using high dose combinations was applied to other types of cancer. A few types showed a similarly dramatic improvement in results but for many it was much less spectacular or nonexistent. For example, [...] [...more]
Posted: under Cancer.
Unfortunately, dramatic and obvious improvements in treatment like these are rare. After the results in Hodgkin’s disease were published, the principle of using high dose combinations was applied to other types of cancer. A few types showed a similarly dramatic improvement in results but for many it was much less spectacular or nonexistent. For example, about one in three people with extensive breast cancer gain a remission with single chemotherapy drug treatment and their average length of life is about nine months. About two in three people get remissions with combination chemotherapy and their average length of life is about twenty-one months, none are completely cured. In cancer of the large bowel and most types of lung cancer, no combinations of drugs results in people living any longer, on average, than those who have no anti-cancer treatment at all. Combinations using the drug cis-platinum are far less effective against other types of cancer than they are against testicular cancer.
How have cancer specialists reacted to the fact that dramatic breakthroughs in treatment are rare and usually only apply to a few particular types of cancer? They have reacted by spending a lot of their own time and energy and a lot more of their patients much more precious time, energy, and comfort trying to prove very small differences between treatments. They look for differences that are ’statistically significant’, that is, unlikely to be due to chance. ‘Statistically significant’ does not mean significant for people, as you will soon see.
*140/40/1*
May 08
Has the G.I. factor been tested in long-term studies?
At least twelve studies to date have looked at the G.L factor in the diet in relation to long-term diabetes control. Some of these studies have been five weeks long, others, including ours, up to three months. All but one showed a clear benefit in improving blood [...] [...more]
Posted: under Diabetes.
Has the G.I. factor been tested in long-term studies?
At least twelve studies to date have looked at the G.L factor in the diet in relation to long-term diabetes control. Some of these studies have been five weeks long, others, including ours, up to three months. All but one showed a clear benefit in improving blood sugar levels. People with high blood lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides) showed improvements in this area as well.
The insulin response is important and the G.L factor does not tell us anything about this. Is there a correlation?
In general, studies have found an excellent correlation between the G.L factor of a food and its insulin response. Sometimes the insulin response is higher or lower than expected. The presence of more protein will increase the insulin response proportionately. A large amount of fat may reduce the glycaemic response but not the insulin response. But we should be avoiding large amounts of fat.
Why do different groups around the world come up with different values for the same food?
For the most part, we see very reproducible G.L factors for the same foods from standardised tests around the world. Apples and oranges, for example, have been tested a great deal and give similar G.L factors.
Packaged foods like cornflakes also give very consistent values.
Rice is one food which is very variable because its amylose content varies from variety to variety. Oats and porridge vary, too. To date we are not sure of the reasons for this. Potatoes vary with the variety and method of cooking. New or cocktail potatoes have lower G.L values.
*90\42\4*
May 08
Genetics. Where there is good reason to suspect a genetic influence on obesity, it is reasonable to suspect that the fat loss response to exercise will be blunted in comparison with the non-obese. Generic influences probably mean a reduced level of fat utilisation at a given exercise intensity meaning that a greater total amount, and [...] [...more]
Posted: under Weight Loss.
Genetics. Where there is good reason to suspect a genetic influence on obesity, it is reasonable to suspect that the fat loss response to exercise will be blunted in comparison with the non-obese. Generic influences probably mean a reduced level of fat utilisation at a given exercise intensity meaning that a greater total amount, and greater attention to the type of energy intake, is required.
Race. Although not yet widely studied, differences in body fat distribution, muscle fibre type, and fat oxidation rates between different ethnic and racial groups could be expected to have an impact on exercise effects between groups. For example, the higher level of glycolytic fast twitch’ muscle fibre in negroid people and American Indians, which is known to be associated with higher levels of body fatness, could influence the exercise parameters required for optimal fat loss in these racial groups, although the most appropriate approaches are not yet known. Until more research confirms these proposals, the general principle of increased energy expenditure for fat loss is all that can be recommended.
Myth-information. It is often assumed that mates and females should lose fat at the same rate through physical activity. This is not so. Exercise appears to be not as effective for fat loss in most women as it is in men.
*154\186\4*
May 08
Because of its efficiency as an energy store, fat has traditionally had great survival value in humans. This has been shown many times in survival situations such as shipwrecks or plane crashes. The person with the higher percentage of body fat is more likely to survive under conditions of food deprivation.
The higher percentage of body [...] [...more]
Posted: under Weight Loss.
Because of its efficiency as an energy store, fat has traditionally had great survival value in humans. This has been shown many times in survival situations such as shipwrecks or plane crashes. The person with the higher percentage of body fat is more likely to survive under conditions of food deprivation.
The higher percentage of body fat in (pre-menopausal) females serves the biological function of helping to preserve the species in situations of famine. If women lose too much fat they become amenorrhoeic (don’t ovulate and therefore do not have periods) and thus are not able to conceive.
Fat is the highest source of food energy that can be obtained (9kcal/g compared with 4.5kcal/g for carbohydrate or protein), so fatty foods would have had survival value in a hunter-gatherer
environment. According to Professor Kerin O’Dea from Deakin University this may explain our taste for ratty foods which still persists today. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view), there is now no shortage of available fat, particularly from processed foods. There is also no need to expend so much energy (and therefore ‘burn off fat) by having to chase our food. So, for the first time in human history, people can overindulge their biological liking for fat, under-indulge their physical activity requirements—and get fat in the process.
*14\186\4*
May 08
Civilization, increased industrialization and artificial, altered environment have caused a dangerous increase in various diseases, which are called civilization diseases. These are: dental diseases, chronic stomach and intestinal diseases, heart and coronary diseases, rheumatic diseases, some nervous disorders, and cancer.
The basic causes of civilization diseases are to be found in our antibiological way of living, [...] [...more]
Posted: under General health.
Civilization, increased industrialization and artificial, altered environment have caused a dangerous increase in various diseases, which are called civilization diseases. These are: dental diseases, chronic stomach and intestinal diseases, heart and coronary diseases, rheumatic diseases, some nervous disorders, and cancer.
The basic causes of civilization diseases are to be found in our antibiological way of living, such as:
Changes in environment: air and water pollution, etc.
Changes in nutrition: health-destroying toxic food additives, foods grown in depleted soils and devitalized by processing, wrong selection of diet, overeating, etc.
Disturbances of life rhythm: lack of exercise, haste and hurry, insufficient rest and recreation, excessive use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, etc.
Civilization diseases can be cured or prevented, and a long life in good health can be accomplished, by the following remedial measures:
Improved nutrition from natural unadulterated foods, free from toxic additives and rich in vital substances (enzymes, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, proteins, etc.).
Intensified battle against the continuous pollution of water, air, soil, and food, which causes the accumulation of toxic substances in our bodies, and ultimately disease.
Improved safety and hygenic conditions at work.
Sufficient recreation and rest.
Points 2, 3, and 4 are self-explanatory. In regard to point No. 1, improved nutrition, the Society gives the following advice:
The basis of a diet which assures healthy and well-balanced nutrition should be:
Cereal products: whole grain cereals and breads, and other courses from whole corn, whole rice, and other whole grains and seeds.
Milk and milk products: cheese, curds (cottage cheese), soured milk, yogurt, kefir and butter (moderately). Milk and milk products should not be pasteurized.
Vegetables, fruits, and potatoes. Fruits and vegetables preferably should be consumed raw; potatoes peeled after cooking.
In addition, the following recommendations are given:
Meat, fish and eggs can supplement this basic diet, but a daily intake of these foods is not necessary.
Unrefined, cold-pressed vegetable oils, rich in unsaturated fatty acids, such as sunflower oil, linseed oil, soybean oil, should be included in the diet.
Honey should replace the use of white sugar and sweets.
The fact that about half of the world population lives on a vegetable diet proves the possibility of vegetarian nutrition.
In order to assure complete nutritional balance, a vegetarian diet should be supplemented with milk and milk products, nuts, soybeans, linseed, sunflower seeds, edible yeast, fruit juices, etc.
Older persons should increase intake of honey and vitamins; avoid overeating, especially of animal fats; and restrict salt intake.
All foods should be as natural as possible, without chemical additives.
So, here you have, from the highest possible authoritative source on nutrition, a macrobiotic diet which will assure you optimal health and prolong your life.
*129\58\2*
