Top Flu Expert Warns Of A Swine Flu-Bird Flu Mix

MEXICO CITY – Bird flu kills more than 60 percent of its human victims, but doesn't easily pass from person to person. Swine flu can be spread with a sneeze or handshake, but kills only a small fraction of the people it infects.

So what happens if they mix?

This is the scenario that has some scientists worried: The two viruses meet — possibly in Asia, where bird flu is endemic — and combine into a new bug that is both highly contagious and lethal and can spread around the world.

Scientists are unsure how likely this possibility is, but note that the new swine flu strain — a never-before-seen mixture of pig, human and bird viruses — has shown itself to be especially adept at snatching evolutionarily advantageous genetic material from other flu viruses.

"This particular virus seems to have this unique ability to pick up other genes," said leading virologist Dr. Robert Webster, whose team discovered an ancestor of the current flu virus at a North Carolina pig farm in 1998.

The current swine flu strain — known as H1N1 — has sickened more than 2,300 people in 24 countries. While people can catch bird flu from birds, the bird flu virus — H5N1 — does not easily jump from person to person. It has killed at least 258 people worldwide since it began to ravage poultry stocks in Asia in late 2003.

The World Health Organization reported two new human cases of bird flu on Wednesday. One patient is recovering in Egypt, while another died in Vietnam — a reminder that the H5N1 virus is far from gone.

"Do not drop the ball in monitoring H5N1," WHO Director-General Margaret Chan told a meeting of Asia's top health officials in Bangkok on Friday by video link. "We have no idea how H5N1 will behave under the pressure of a pandemic."

Experts have long feared that bird flu could mutate into a form that spreads easily among people. The past three flu pandemics — the 1918 Spanish flu, the 1957-58 Asian flu and the Hong Kong flu of 1968-69 — were all linked to birds, though some scientists believe pigs also played a role in 1918.

Webster, who works at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., said bird flu should be a worry now. Bird flu is endemic in parts of Asia and Africa, and cases of swine flu have already been confirmed in South Korea and Hong Kong.

"My great worry is that when this H1N1 virus gets into the epicenters for H5N1 in Indonesia, Egypt and China, we may have real problems," he told The Associated Press. "We have to watch what's going on very diligently now."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are extraordinarily busy trying to understand the swine flu virus itself, and haven't had time to break off staff to look at the possibility of a swine flu-bird flu mix, spokesman Dave Daigle said.

Malik Peiris, a flu expert at Hong Kong University, said the more immediate worry is that swine flu will mix with regular flu viruses, as flu season begins in the Southern Hemisphere. It is unclear what such a combination would produce.

But he said there are indications that scenario is possible. Peiris noted that the swine flu virus jumped from a farmworker in Canada and infected about 220 pigs. The worker and the pigs recovered, but the incident showed how easily the virus can leap to a different species.

"It will get passed back to pigs and then probably go from pigs to humans," Peiris said. "So there would be opportunities for further reassortments to occur with viruses in pigs."

He said so far bird flu hasn't established itself in pigs — but that could change.

"H5N1 itself has not got established in pigs," he said. "If that were to happen and then these two viruses were both established in pigs in Asia, that would be quite a worrying scenario."

Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Minnesota who has advised the U.S. government on flu preparations, said while flu experts are discussing the scenario, he has yet to see specific evidence causing him to think it will happen.

"Everything with influenza is a huge guessing game because Mother Nature holds all the rules, and we don't even know what they are, so anything's possible," he said. "We don't have any evidence that this particular reassortment is that much more likely to pick up H5N1 than any other reassortment out there."

"We don't have to put these things together," he added. "This is not chocolate and peanut butter running into each other in the dark hallway."

But there is in fact discussion of putting them together — in a high-security laboratory — to see what a combination would look like, according to Webster. Similar tests have been done at the CDC mixing bird flu and seasonal human flu, resulting in a weak product, he said.

Daigle, the CDC spokesman, said the agency wants to look at the question in the future.

Webster has done groundbreaking work on both swine and bird flus in his 40-year career, and has followed the evolution of the current swine flu strain from a virus that sickened a handful of people who worked with North Carolina hogs into a bug that has spread from person to person around the world.

He is closely involved in the global effort to analyze what the virus might do next. It has killed 42 people in Mexico and two in Texas, but so far has not proven very deadly elsewhere, leading to some criticism that the World Health Organization's warnings of a potential pandemic have been overblown.

Webster said underestimating the swine flu virus would be a huge mistake.

"This H1N1 hasn't been overblown. It's a puppy, it's an infant, and it's growing," he said. "This virus has got the whole human population in the world to breed in — it's just happened. What we have to do is to watch it, and it may become a wimp and disappear, or it may become nasty."

AP Medical Writer Maria Cheng in London contributed to this report.

Readmore...

Swine flu shuts more than 400 schools

President Barack Obama voiced hope Friday that the swine flu virus will run its course “like ordinary flus” as officials reported more than two dozen new cases and scores more schools shut down.

The government issued new guidance for schools with confirmed cases, saying they should close for at least 14 days because children can be contagious for seven to 10 days from when they get sick. That means parents can expect to have children at home for longer than previously thought.

The Education Department said that 433 schools had closed, affecting 245,000 children in 17 states. That was about 100 more schools reported closed than reported on Thursday.

Major U.S. airlines, meanwhile, announced plans to curtail flights into flu-ravaged Mexico.

“I’m optimistic that we’re going to be able to manage this effectively,” Obama told reporters as he received an update from his Cabinet on the federal response to the health emergency. At the same time, he emphasized that the federal government is preparing as if the worst is still to come so that it won’t be caught flat-footed.

Obama’s fresh take on the flu scare — more intense in neighboring Mexico than in the United States but also present in some measure around the globe — came as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the virus has been confirmed in eight more U.S. states and seems to be spreading.

Cases confirmed by the CDC and states rose to more than 150, with the flu now reported in more than 20 states.

The most recent onset of illness was Tuesday, CDC said, indicating a continuing spread, though no faster than the rate of the regular winter flu.

“We think the cases do continue to occur,” said CDC’s Dr. Anne Schuchat. But CDC also said the new swine flu virus lacks genes that made the 1918 pandemic strain so deadly.

Obama said it wasn’t clear whether the flu would be more severe than others before it, and he said the swine flu is a cause for special concern because it is a new strain and people have not developed an immunity to it.

Government agencies are preparing in case the flu comes back in a more virulent form during the traditional flu season, the president said, talking of an overarching effort to help schools and businesses while also responding to pleas for help from other countries.

'Don't fall behind'

While emphasizing at a press conference that the closures to date represent a tiny fraction of the almost 100,000 schools in the country, Education Secretary Arne Duncan instructed teachers, parents and students to be prepared if their school does close.

To teachers, Duncan said: “Think about reworking upcoming lesson plans so students can do their schoolwork at home if necessary.”

To parents: “Learn about what they’re learning at school. Keep them on task.”

And to students: “Don’t fall behind your peers at other schools that are still in session. Keep working hard.”

Many travelers have become increasingly concerned about going to Mexico, though authorities there said new cases were leveling off.

>The Mexico City mayor said Friday that no new flu deaths were reported overnight for the first time since the emergency was declared a week ago. Mexico has confirmed nearly 400 swine flu cases and has 16 confirmed deaths, although reports have indicated that roughly 168 may have died from it.

U.S. travelers have been advised to avoid nonessential travel to Mexico. Continental Airlines Inc., the biggest U.S. carrier to Mexico, said Friday it would halve the number of seats it sells to fly there. Delta Air Lines Inc. and UAL Corp.’s United Airlines also announced plans for reduced flights to Mexico, while smaller carriers were following suit.

'We're not the Typhoid Mary family'

The energy secretary aide who apparently got sick helping arrange Obama’s recent trip to Mexico told The Associated Press when reached at his office Friday that he was feeling better.

The aide, Marc Griswold, a former Secret Service agent who was doing advance work for Energy Secretary Steven Chu, declined to elaborate beyond comments in The Washington Post.

“We’re not the Typhoid Mary family, for goodness sake,” he told the Post in a story published Friday. “We’ve been told that we’re not contagious. We’re already past the seven-day mark for that.”

The White House has said Griswold did not fly on Air Force One and never posed a risk to the president.

Though most U.S. cases have been relatively mild and have not required a doctor’s visit, U.S. precautions include shipping millions of doses of anti-flu drugs to states in case they’re needed, replenishing the U.S. strategic stockpile with millions more treatment courses, and shipping 400,000 treatment courses to Mexico.

The CDC added the following states to its list of those with confirmed cases: New Jersey with five cases, Delaware with four, Illinois with three, Colorado and Virginia with two, and Minnesota, Nebraska and Kentucky each with one.

CDC previously had confirmed cases in New York, Texas, California, South Carolina, Kansas, Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio, Arizona, Michigan and Nevada.

Readmore...

Swine Flu Q&A

A new strain of swine flu that has killed 149 and sickened nearly 2,000 in Mexico has spread to the United States and is raising fears of a possible pandemic. Learn more about the disease and why it is causing concern among health officials.

What is it?

Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs first isolated in swine in 1930, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illness is caused by four different type A influenza strains that can cause outbreaks in pigs, though subtypes H1N1 and H3N2 seem to be more common. The death rate among pigs is low, with most infections occurring in the late fall and winter.

Symptoms of infected pigs include fever, depression, coughing (barking), sneezing, difficulty breathing, red or inflamed eyes, lack of appetite and discharge from the nose or eyes.

How do people get infected?

Human infection happens intermittently, with most cases occurring when patients have direct contact with pigs. But cases of an infected person transmitting the swine flu to others have also been documented, says the CDC. (A 1988 outbreak in pigs in Wisconsin led to multiple human infections, and there was evidence that a patient transmitted the virus to health care workers.)

About one case of swine flu in humans is reported to the CDC every one to two years, but from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases were reported to the agency. According to WebMD.com, 11 of those people had direct or indirect contact with infected pigs.

Human-to-human infections do occur similar to the way the human seasonal flu virus is transmitted — through coughing, sneezing and coming in contact with a person or object with the virus.

People cannot become infected by eating pork or pork products. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit kills the virus as well as other bacteria, notes the CDC.

How is it diagnosed?

A respiratory specimen must be collected within the first four to five days of illness, when the infected person is most likely to be shedding the virus. However, some patients (such as children), may shed the virus for 10 days or longer, according to the CDC. Specimens must be sent to the CDC for laboratory testing in order to identify swine flu.


How is it treated?

Four antiviral drugs are licensed to treat the disease in the U.S.: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir. Most of the viruses are susceptible to all four, but the CDC currently recommends oseltamivir or zanamivir to treat and prevent swine flu infections. The antivirals, which are prescription medicines, should be taken as soon as possible symptoms appear.

Tamiflu (the trade name for oseltamivir) and Relenza (the trade name for zanamivir) are effective against the new strain when taken early, says the CDC.

There is currently no human vaccine for swine flu, but the flu vaccine may provide some protection against the H3N2 strain, though not the H1N1 strain.
Readmore...

Swine Flu, Israel Do Not Use Term "Flu Pigs"

Israel Do Not Use Term "Flu Pigs"

Jerusalem - The whole world called flu pigs (swine flu). But a senior Israeli officials is about to change these terms flu pigs. The goal, that does not mention the name of the animal that is declared off-limits for Jews.

"We will use the term Mexican flu that does not need to mention the word pig," said Vice Minister of Health of Israel Yakov Litz's ultra-religious party United Torah Judaism as mentioned by daily News.com.au, Tuesday (28/4/2009).

Eating pork forbidden in Judaism, religion of the majority of citizens of Israel. Similar restrictions apply in Islam.

Israel has not been confirmed cases of swine flu that has killed more than 100 people in Mexico and has spread to the U.S. and Europe. However, a man aged 26 years Israel is being treated in hospital after returning from Mexico. Israeli authorities are still awaiting test results to ascertain whether he was infected swine flu virus or not.

A man of Israel who recently returned from Mexico have been quarantined on Monday, 27 April local time. Quarantined after he examined himself to the hospital because of sore throat complain, one of the symptoms of swine flu.

From Detiknews
Readmore...

THE RIGHT APPROACH TO FIGHT CANCER

Under weakly alkaline condition, cancerous cells are not able to grow, or even to survive.

These are real cases which are very important. Please read patiently and pass this on. Even if you had read it, you should read it again, especially the list of acidic and alkaline food stuff. It's best to read it several times and remember them. Please read this article in full patience. It helps to improve and maintain your health.

About 30 years ago, a Mr. Zhang who worked in the Public Sales Department of a Taipei Brewery, sat for Overseas Study Selection Examination, and passed with flying colours. Before leaving, unfortunately, the medical examination at a public hospital discovered that he had a tumour growth in his lung about the size of a child's fist. Thus, he was not able to make the overseas trip for further study.

Mr. Zhang was very disappointed. He had the feeling that the diagnosis could be wrong. So he went for a 2nd check-up in another hospital but the result confirmed that there was no error in the previous diagnosis. The young Mr. Zhang was in great despair after the confirmation. He made several calls to Mr. Wei, his old classmate who was the Mayor's secretary of Huangsun County, Taidong County Government.

On hearing the sad news, Mr. Wei rushed to Taipei to see Mr. Zhang on Sunday. Mr. Zhang briefed Mr. Wei in detail about his despair and pessimism, and entrusted his friend regarding his affairs after his death. It happened that Mr. Wei was a good friend of Dr Lu Geling, who in 1949-55 was in charge of the Maijie Hospital, and was a researcher and specialist in cancer.

He suggested to Mr. Zhang to seek Dr Lu's treatment immediately. Mr. Zhang initially refused to consult doctor anymore as the result might add further misery to him. But Mr. Wei said that he had called Dr Lu and made an appointment with him. So Mr. Zhang felt obligated and went with Mr. Wei to meet Dr Lu.

When meeting Mr. Zhang, Dr Lu said: " Mr. Wei is my best friend and he has introduced you to me. We are fated to know each other. Let me ask you do you know why is that cancer is referred to as terminal illness?" Both Mr. Zhang and Mr. Wei did not know how to answer.

Dr Lu explained: " There are only 2 approaches so far to treat cancer today. The 1st is to destroy the source of the disease. The 2nd is to increase the immunity to fight the disease. But the strange thing is that, whether we use Cobalt 60 or other drugs to destroy the cancerous cells, before they are killed, the good cells are destroyed first. On the other hand, no matter what nutrients or supplements we use, before the good cells have a chance to absorb them, the cancer cells have taken them up. This simply speeds up the growth of cancer. Therefore, both approaches are doomed to fail, that is why cancer is terminal."


Dr Lu continues: "Human beings are the most intelligent creatures and they had successfully put men on the moon. But why there is no one ever questioned the above 2 approaches for cancer treatment which lead to ultimate death, and try to look for a 3rd approach? When I was conducting clinical research in Majie Hospital, I had many opportunities to work with many colleagues who had assisted me in the hospital. I found out that the blood tests of cancer patients showed 100% acidic results.

Those Buddhist monks and nuns who are long term vegetarians and live very close to Nature, their blood are prevalently weakly alkaline and none of them has yet been detected of any cancer illness. Therefore, I can boldly concluded that under weakly alkaline condition, cancerous cells are not able to grow, or even to survive.


Mr. Zhang, I would suggest that starting from now you must reduce your intake of the acidic meaty dishes. Consume more alkaline food. Also you can take green algae and soup made from water chestnuts with skin. Modify your physical condition, and try seriously to have a regular life style which is close to Nature. If you live for another 5 years, you should have no further problem. Best of luck."

Mr. Zhang followed Dr Lu's suggestion and was serious in changing his eating habits. Every day, he ate green algae, drank chestnut soup, became optimistic and did an appropriate amount of exercise. One year later, he went back to the same public hospital for a check up. It was found that the tumour not only did not increase in size, but was also skrinking. It's a miracle to the hospital staff who examined him. Five years later, the tumour had shrunk to almost disappearing stage. Now after almost 40 years, Mr. Zhang's health is totally normal, and is living a very pleasant life.

After Mr. Zhang's case, a Mr. Chen Tianshou, who was previously Head of the General Administration of the Taidong Provincial Hospital, was also diagnosed with lung cancer. When Mr. Wei knew about it, he told Mr. Chen what Mr. Zhang had gone through. Mr. Chen started to follow Dr Lu's recommendation of changing his physical condition. Just like the case of Mr. Zhang, he was able to recover fully from the cancer.

At that time, Dr. Lu and his family had migrated to the United States. When he returned to Taiwan and met up with Mr. Wei, he was told of the 2 cases of Mr. Zhang and Mr. Chen. Mr. Wei suggested that let both of them make detailed briefings in person, so that Dr. Lu could publish a report on this self-curing method.

Dr Lu very humbly replied: 'I am too old and I do not have any clinical records of the cases. Please tell your friends and relatives, if they agree, please continue and spread the words to others"

One should take care of oneself and also should be caring about others. 85% of cancer patients are having acidic condition in their physical bodies.

Blood of healthy persons is weakly alkaline in nature, with a pH of about 7.35 to 7.45.

>Babies' blood is also weakly alkaline.

As adults age, their bloods become more acidic in nature.

According to a study of body fluid of 600 cancer patients, 85% of the patients are in acidic physical condition. Therefore, how to maintain the weakly alkaline nature of our body is the 1st step from keeping oneself from illness.

Acidic physical condition manifests itself in following ways:

1. Skin without luster.
2. Athlete's foot.
3. Feeling tired even after a little exercise, and feeling sleepy the moment one gets into a bus.
4. Easily out of breathe after going up and down the stairs.
5. Fat and with lower stomach protruding,
6. Move slowly and movement lethargic.

Why does the body physical condition turn acidic?


1. Excessive intake of dairy acidic food..

a) Meats, dairy products, eggs, beef, ham, etc are acidic food

b) Taking too much acidic food will cause the blood to become acidic and viscous,
difficult to flow to the end of blood vessels, leading to cold feet or knee, stiff shoulders and insomnia.

c) For those who are young and strong, it's alright to consume suitable quantity of meats, but for older people, vegetables or small fishes are the more suitable diet.

2. Any irregularity in the pace of life will cause the body physical condition to become acidic.

a) Irregular pace in life will lead to mental and physical stress

b) According to statistics, people who sleep late are more likely to have cancer than normal persons, by as much as 5 times.

c) Human beings originally lead a life with regular tempo in this world. It's not possible to store up sleep or food and not possible to live a healthy life by mixing up days and nights.

d) Human organs are controlled by the autonomic nerves. During day time it is mainly sympathetic nerves activities, and at night it is mainly the parasympathetic nerves which are functioning. If this order is disturbed and reversed, then will encounter all sorts of sicklnesses.

3. Over tensed becoming emotional.

a) Social stresses in view of civilized society.

b) Job related or mental stresses.

>c) For a person suffering mental stress, a temporary release of stress may lead to death. This is known as the syndrome of imperfect adrenal cortex function.

4. Physical Stress.

a) Before any operation it would be necessary to check whether the renal cortex does function normally. If the adrenal cortex is lacking, or if the stress imposed by the operation exceeded the ability of adrenal cortex to cope, it could lead to death or other adverse impacts.

b) If the patient's face is puffy, it would be necessary to ask for the detailed patient's medical history and medication status. For patients taking adrenal cortical hormone, extra care should be exercised when acupuncture treatment is given.

c) Avoid stress due to physical labour or excessive exercise, or playing card games and driving through out the night etc.

Appendix: Acidity/alkalinity of Common food stuff

1. Strongly acidic food: egg yolk, cheese, cake baked with white sugar or persimmon, mullet fish roe, dried cod, etc.
2. Mildly acidic food: ham, bacon, chicken meat, squid, pork, eel, beef, bread, wheat, butter, horse meat.

3. Weakly acidic food: white rice, peanut, beer, alcohol, fried tofu, sea weeds, clam, octopus, catfish, etc.
4. Weakly alkaline food: red bean, radish, apple, cabbage, onion, tofu etc.
5. Mildly alkaline food: dried radish, soya bean, carrot, tomato, banana, orange, pumpkin, strawberry, egg white, dried plum, lemon, spinach, etc.
6. Strongly alkaline food: grape, tea leave, wine, kelp sprout, kelp, etc. Especially natural green algae which contain rich quantity of chlorophyl are very good alkaline health food, but avoid drinking tea in excess, and it's best to drink in the mornings.
It's a Blessing to you if you pass this on! Thank you. Good Bless You!

(source: http://maxloh-something2share.blogspot.com/2008/10/right-approach-to-fight-cancer.html)

Readmore...

Adrenaline

We find out exactly what is coursing through your veins

Back to school
Have you ever wished you’d listened more in biology classes? Chances are the answer is a firm no, given that at the time it seemed more fun to scribble obscenities on your neighbour’s desk, but I bet that all those poor souls who have wasted years pondering on the source of the philosopher’s stone will be kicking themselves when they find out that the secret of life has been swimming in our blood since time began.

You see, the unsung hero that kept every single one of your ancestors alive long enough to procreate, is a little hormone called adrenaline.


This hormone, which threw many a lifeline to hunter-gatherers, was responsible for our family trees, but our increasingly stressful and sedentary lives means that instead of fighting lions we are battling with our email demons and building up levels of adrenaline that could be harmful to our sometimes lazy bodies.


What is adrenaline?




Adrenaline, known as the fight or flight hormone, is an early evolutionary adaptation allowing us to cope with dangerous and unexpected situations. Naturally produced in high-stress or physically exhilarating situations, adrenaline is released from the adrenal glands (located on top of each kidney) into the bloodstream, and rapidly prepares the body for action.
What causes it?
Several factors such as life-endangering situations, high-intensity exercise and fatigue, can precipitate the release of adrenaline. And although the hormone increases energy and productivity, excessive amounts in the bloodstream can also have a detrimental effect on the body, such as fat build-up and insomnia. Not ideal for health-conscious workaholics.
What happens when it’s released?
When released into the bloodstream, the hormone boosts the supply of oxygen and glucose to the brain and muscles, while suppressing other non-emergency bodily processes (digestion in particular). With dilated blood vessels and air passages, the body is able to pass more blood to the muscles and get more oxygen into the lungs, thereby increasing physical performance for short bursts of time.

In addition to this, the muscles of the iris contract to allow the pupils to expand, so not only can you think more clearly, but you can see more clearly too. All of these effects prepare the body for the surge of energy needed to flee from dangers of the wild, namely starving lions and bitter exes.
How much is too much?
Scientists have shown that because of the dangers of too much adrenaline, it is vital to 'work off' some of the hormone that has been released into your system.

While our ancestors handled this naturally through fighting or other physical exertion, in our world, high-stress situations often arise that involve little more physical activity than pressing ‘send’ on an email, so we must resort to exercise to dissipate adrenaline tensions.
How can we work it off?
Dr Matthew Watt, Honorary Senior Fellow at St Vincent’s Hospital, Australia has shown that regular physical exercise effectively gets rid of the adrenaline accumulated during stress by metabolising any excess in the bloodstream, which means, we’ll have to take a leaf out of our ancestor’s book and exert ourselves just a little harder in order to add another branch to our family trees.
Readmore...

Choosing the right food: Is it in your blood?

Choosing the best food to eat has become something of a minefield, as we are bombarded with complicated, confusing and sometimes conflicting nutritional information.

But for adherents of the blood type diet, one restaurant has made ordering the right meal easy.

All of you have to do is say the word, or more precisely, the letter. Healthy Choice in Mega Kuningan's Bellagio Boutique Mall is Jakarta's first organic blood type cuisine restaurant.

Whether your blood type is O, A, B or AB, the restaurant offers a selection of tasty meals tailored to your blood group.

From dory tofu soup and cranberry vegetarian fried rice to sirloin flank steak with mint sauce and yaki don fried noodles, the menu includes a wide range of options categorized according to the four blood types.

The restaurant is one of seven Healthy Choice restaurants in Jakarta that promote healthy eating and living.

The menu is based on the theories of naturopath Peter J. D'Adamo, the author of Eat Right 4 Your Type.

The Eat Right 4 Your Type diet is built on the idea that our blood contains various antigens depending on our blood type and these antigens react positively or negatively to lectins in the different food we eat, rejecting assumptions that everyone's body digests food in the same way.

Therefore, our blood types determine which foods should be included or avoided in our diet, and which are neutral.

It is also based on the theory that blood types evolved at different times and our food consumption should mirror the food that our ancestors ate.

For example, according to D'Adamo, O was the original blood type and was identified in the hunter-gatherer period.

On that basis, O blood types should eat a meat-heavy diet, similar to that of the hunters.

Passionate restaurant co-owner and naturopath, Riani Susanto, first became interested in healthy eating 12 years ago while suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome-like symptoms.

After much experimentation, she concluded that the solution lay in eating organic foods - foods grown and produced without chemicals, preservatives or hormones.

Riani decided to spread the word about healthy eating through the Healthy Choice restaurant chain.

"I don't say people cannot eat cake. I just say that if you don't eat cake everyday then you can have another 10 years to enjoy the cake."

When she initially read D'Adamo's books, Riani was a little skeptical, but on completing the series, she thought the theory made sense and decided the blood type diet would be the theme for her next restaurant.

She compiled the menu based on the foods prescribed in the blood type diet and the organic ingredients that were available, before refining the menu according to Asian tastes.

Riani believes that the Eat Right 4 Your Type diet can help to control weight, reduce fatigue and allergies, improve the functioning of the liver and even help with fertility.

"People think that the doctor will always be there waiting for you, that the cure is always there. People do not appreciate prevention," she says.

"We have to take responsibility for our own health - we cannot give that to the doctor."

But Soekirman, a professor in nutrition science at Bogor Agricultural University, has little faith in the diet.

"There is no scientific basis behind it at all. It is science fiction," he laughs. "It is an interesting read, like a novel."

In Soekirman's opinion, there is no consensus in the scientific community that O was the original blood type. He also asserts that there is no research published to back up D'Adamo's theories.

So why has the diet gained so much popularity?

"It is successful because it results in weight loss," he says.

"Of course if you eat only certain foods, automatically your weight goes down because it is not a complete diet. According to nutrition science, this is not a healthy diet."

Soekirman argues that the best diet is a balanced one consisting of a large proportion of carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables and smaller amounts of dairy, fats and sugars.

He does agree, however, that the appropriate diet varies from individual to individual.

"It should be according to the needs of the person. It will be different for the old and young, for the pregnant and the overweight," he says.

"It should be based on the condition of the person, not the blood type."

Soekirman believes it will take some time before Indonesians prioritize a healthier diet.

"Food patterns will follow what is happening in the West in developed countries - more fat and sugars. That is the trend we are afraid of."

However, TV host and presenter, Sophie Navita, believes the reason organic food has not taken off in Indonesia is because it is more expensive and offers limited ingredients.

Despite this, Sophie turned to organic eating when she was pregnant with her first child, because she believed it was a much healthier option in the long run.

"And it really tastes good. Usually healthy food wouldn't taste as good, but it went beyond my expectations!" she says.

Readmore...

Diet recommendations

So what is right for your blood type?

In his book, Eat Right 4 Your Type, naturopath Peter D'Adamo prescribes diet, exercise and lifestyle plans for each of the four blood groups.

Based on the theory that all food contains lectins that are compatible or incompatible with each blood type, the diet recommends that certain foods should be included and others avoided in order to minimize negative reactions to lectins.

The theory goes further to say that since our blood types evolved at different times, our dietary requirements are determined by our ancestry and we should eat what our ancestors with the same blood types ate many years ago.

D'Adamo argues that managing our diets in this way can help lose weight, boost energy and lower the risk of contracting some diseases.

Blood Type O - The Hunter

It is recommended that those with the O blood type eat foods high in protein such as red meat, fish and poultry.

They should also include fruits and vegetables in their diet.

However, they should avoid grains, breads, legumes and beans as well as dairy products, caffeine and alcohol.

D'Adamo's health regime for O types includes vigorous exercise such as aerobics, running and contact sports.

Blood Type A - The Cultivator

For A blood types the Eat Right 4 Your Type diet suggests a predominantly vegetarian diet including soy, grains, fruits and vegetables.

However, D'Adamo warns that Type As have particularly sensitive digestive systems and should try to maintain a fresh and organic diet.

They should avoid dairy products and red meat.

In addition, Type As should engage in gentle and calming exercises such as golf, yoga and tai chi.

Blood Type B - The Nomad

Those with the B blood type have relatively tolerant digestive systems and can enjoy almost all foods including dairy, meat, eggs and vegetables.

Grains, lentils, nuts, tomatoes and processed foods should, however, be avoided.

D'Adamo recommends moderate exercise that requires mental balance for Type Bs, such as hiking, swimming, tennis and cycling.

Blood Type AB - The Enigma

Type AB's dietary and exercise requirements are a hybrid of type A and type B requirements.

The Eat Right 4 Your Type diet especially recommends seafood.

It also suggests that tofu, dairy foods such as yoghurt, and green vegetables are beneficial.

D'Adamo also suggests that type Abs should eat smaller, more frequent meals.

Those of blood type AB have a long list of foods that should be avoided including chicken, beef and pork as well as smoked or cured meat. Also on the to-avoid list are beans, corn, wheat and seeds, as well as caffeine and alcohol.

Like Type As, D'Adamo recommends calming exercises for type ABs.
Readmore...

Cinnamon spice produces healthier blood

Just half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day significantly reduces blood sugar levels in diabetics,
a new study has found. The effect, which can be produced even by soaking a cinnamon stick your tea, could also benefit millions of non-diabetics who have blood sugar problem but are unaware of it.

The discovery was initially made by accident, by Richard Anderson at the US Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland.

“We were looking at the effects of common foods on blood sugar,” he told New Scientist. One was the American favourite, apple pie, which is usually spiced with cinnamon. “We expected it to be bad. But it helped,” he says.

Sugars and starches in food are broken down into glucose, which then circulates in the blood. The hormone insulin makes cells take in the glucose, to be used for energy or made into fat.

But people with Type 1 diabetes do not produce enough insulin. Those with Type 2 diabetes produce it, but have lost sensitivity to it. Even apparently healthy people, especially if they
are overweight, sedentary or over 25, lose sensitivity to insulin. Having too much glucose in
the blood can cause serious long-term damage to eyes, kidneys, nerves and other organs.
Molecular mimic

The active ingredient in cinnamon turned out to be a water-soluble polyphenol compound
called MHCP. In test tube experiments, MHCP mimics insulin, activates its receptor, and
works synergistically with insulin in cells.

To see if it would work in people, Alam Khan, who was a postdoctoral fellow in Anderson’s lab, organised a study in Pakistan. Volunteers with Type 2 diabetes were given one, three or six grams of cinnamon powder a day, in capsules after meals.

All responded within weeks, with blood sugar levels that were on average 20 per cent lower than a control group. Some even achieved normal blood sugar levels. Tellingly, blood sugar started creeping up again after the diabetics stopped taking cinnamon.

The cinnamon has additional benefits. In the volunteers, it lowered blood levels of fats and “bad” cholesterol, which are also partly controlled by insulin. And in test tube experiments it neutralised free radicals, damaging chemicals which are elevated in diabetics.
Buns and pies

“I don’t recommend eating more cinnamon buns, or even more apple pie - there’s too much fat and sugar,” says Anderson. “The key is to add cinnamon to what you would eat normally.”

The active ingredient is not in cinnamon oils. But powdered spice can be added to toast, cereal, juice or coffee.

Anderson’s team were awarded patents related to MHCP in 2002. But the chemical is easily obtained. He notes that one of his colleagues tried soaking a cinnamon stick in tea. “He isn’t diabetic - but it lowered his blood sugar,” Anderson says.

The group now plans to test even lower doses of cinnamon in the US, and also look at long-term blood sugar management with the spice.

Readmore...

The Dental Health and Dental perforated

Perforated teeth that are not as durable due to contention at the time of the first. This theory stand up to year 1700-an until Willoughby Miller an American dentist, who works at the University of Berlin to find the causes of tooth decaying. He found that the hole caused by a dental meeting between the bacteria and sugar. The bacteria will change the rest of the sugar from food into acids that cause tooth clabber environment (natural environment should be basa teeth) and this is the acid that eventually make a small hole on the email services.

Hole occurs when the teeth on the email, we have not felt the toothache. However, the small hole next to the email can be slit and the rest of the food the bacteria will make the hole bigger punch dentin. At this time we will feel the earthquake on the teeth while eating. If left, the hole until the hole so that our nerves will start to feel sick tooth. This process will not stop until the teeth eventually become exhausted and only the root of a tooth.

Unplug Dental

Dental pain can not be regarded as the opinion of some people, because if didiamkan, can make the teeth become red and swollen. In addition, the teeth can be a hollow channel of the entrance channel to the germs of disease blood disease that can cause kidney, lung, heart and other diseases.

To avoid growing worse, when you have hollow teeth should immediately visit your dentist for mengobatinya. Although many people do not like going to the dentist for the reason that no matter the situation with the dentist, worried that high costs, fear or shame diejek because of damaged teeth, but to go to the dentist is the best solution to overcome the toothache. Perforated teeth can not heal itself. Although, perhaps after suffering toothache, the pain may be lost but the situation does not improve teeth. Teeth will remain hollow, even lubangnya will continue to draw more.

Steps will be taken in general dental menambal gear is damaged, if lubangnya not too large. However, if we feel the toothache, the process can not be directly penambalan done so because the gas in the teeth can not come out. Doctors will give paregoric will kill nerve or tooth so that we do not languish with the pain. At the next visit the teeth will then be cleaned and ditambal temporarily, permanently penambalan done at the next visit again.

When the hole is too large and not feasible for ditambal, the teeth should be revoked. Just as the process penambalan teeth, the teeth also can not be immediately revoked when the teeth are still a pain. This is when we feel the toothache, the anesthesia drugs (drugs to prevent immune pain when a tooth pulled) can not penetrate the root of a tooth, so that when pulled will cause a tremendous pain. The process of divestiture new teeth can be done when a tooth is not a pain to remove and pain doctors will kill nerve teeth.

Preventing Dental perforated

To prevent the occurrence of holes in the teeth, you can perform the following steps:


Check the teeth regularly
Visit the dentist every 6 months even if you do not feel the toothache. This is necessary so that doctors can detect the small holes that occur in the tooth and can be immediately so that the hole is not large. Can also detect the tooth that is not flat or berlekuk that can cause the teeth difficult to clean.

Brush teeth regularly and in a timely manner
Morning after breakfast and dinner, before bed is a great time to brush teeth. Saliva does not leave much time on our bed, so the teeth will be damaged if you leave food residue on the teeth without menyikatnya. Saliva is useful for memlinfungi bacterial cause of dental tooth hollow.

Brush teeth the right way
Bagamat brush teeth regularly has been done but if done in a way that is not true, of course the result will not be maximum. The correct way is to brush down to the tooth for front (incisor) the top, brush the teeth towards the top to the bottom of the front teeth and a flat brush to molar. Tooth comb teeth should be longer, because the teeth on this potentially menempelnya leftover food.

Wash Your Mouth after meals
Brush the teeth is not possible after we eat, the best way is rinse-kumur so that the rest of the food does not stick and continue to reduce the acid in the teeth.

Use dental floss to remove food residue
The remaining food is left behind, should not be removed by using the toothpick. Use toothpick can cause a rift between the larger adjacent teeth can cause injury to the gum.

Select a toothpaste containing fluorida
Using a toothpaste containing fluorida. This substance is one of the email material forming the teeth. The existence of these substances can prevent contamination in the teeth.


Eating food that filamentous
Consume vegetables or fruits can make sure the teeth stronger and prevent the occurrence of perforated teeth.

Reduce foods that contain sugar and flour
When this type of food left behind on the teeth and the bacteria will cause the acid to create a hollow tooth.

Readmore...