Salmon is not the only fish
Despite Food Standards Authority (FSA) assurances that we should
continue to eat farmed salmon despite cancer risks, not everyone will want to do so. There are other ways to get omega-3, the beneficial
ingredients in salmon. Other oily fish include
sardines, tuna, herrings, anchovies, pilchards. mackeral.
Supplements containing omega-3 can also be
contaminated, so look for organic brands in health stores. One
supplement, Nu-Mega's DHA, is in the form of pure refined tuna oil from tuna fish
responsibly fished in the Southern Pacific
Ocean using dolphin-friendly methods. The oil
is refined, and
rigorously tested to ensure that no
heavy metals or toxins are
present. Go
to www.dha-in-mind.com
for more
information.
You don’t need a firm mattress
We’ve always been told that firm
is best for backs. That was until researchers from Palma de Mallorca) decided to test the theory on 313 adults who had
chronic low back pain, which they said worsened while lying in bed and when rising
(reported in The Lancet).
The participants were given either a firm or a medium-firm mattress, which
they slept on every night for 90 days. Half were given a 2.3-rated, or firm, mattress, and
the rest slept on a 5.6-rated one, considered to be of medium-firmness.
Patients who slept on the medium-firm mattress reported less pain in bed. And on rising,
they experienced less general disability than those who had been given the firm mattress
to sleep on. Didn’t anybody ever think of
asking the punters before?
What Vitamin D does
Women who have a diet rich in vitamin D are 30 per
cent less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, and 40 per cent less likely to develop
multiple sclerosis (MS) says a report in Neurology journal..
While vitamin D can be taken as supplements - such
as cod liver oil - its most natural source is the sun which may play a role in maintaining a healthy, self-regulating
immune system.
To find out more about arthritis and related conditions, see the Arthritis Association
website www.arc.org.uk . And for a less orthodox view, read WDDTY (What Doctors Don’t Tell You) Arthritis
Manual, a ring-bound volume with treatments, conventional and alternative, rated for
efficacy. To order, click on this link:
http://www.wddty.co.uk/shop
/details.asp?product=366
NB A new WDDTY report - The Secrets of Longevity: Your Essential Guide to Diet
and Exercise - is an exploration of the many (and often contradictory) diet and
exercise regimens.
This company
takes a radical view of convention medicine, so expect an opinionated approach, though
there is much useful information to be gained from their publications. To find out more,
follow this link:
http://www.wddty.co.uk
/shop/
details.asp?product=390
All in the genes
If you squint when the sun comes out,
and have to wear sunglasses even in February,
looking like a popstar may not be your main motive. You
may be suffering from a genetic defect, say scientists at the University of Groningen in
the Netherlands.
Abnormal recovery time in response to changes in light have been found in
certain people, and the only way to feel comfortable is to wear dark glasses. Opthamologists are now in the process of rewriting
their text books to explain the new discovery. They
will in future be able to offer patients with a light adaptation problem to take a series
of tests of the retina.
There’s no research as yet to explain whether being a pop star makes
one extra vulnerable to this condition, but we wait with baited breath.
OK for steroids
Using steroids to control asthma is a
standard treatment, but you may have read that a long-term risk is osteoporosis, brittle
bones. Now, a study from Canada of more than 130,000
over 65-year-olds, brings the happy news that there are no more fractures among steroid
takers than among the rest of the age group.
The group had used inhaled steroids for four years or more. High doses of steroids are linked to extra risk. But recommended doses for asthma are, it now appears,
safe.
 Maximise your memory
This work provides detailed instructions, illustrations and sample
exercises that show the reader how to build a system of personalized frameworks for
storing and recalling information on demand.
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Don’t
ignore cystitis
Over 50% of women suffer from cystitis at
some point in their lives, but surprisingly, a survey from Caneston reveals that one in
three women (36per cent) are unaware of its causes. Common triggers for cystitis are
dehydration, exhaustion, bruising during sex and irritants such as scented soaps. Symptoms include a sharp burning sensation when
passing water, an urge to visit the loo frequently and a feeling of not emptying the
bladder properly.
Cystitis is an inflammation of the lining of the bladder or urinary tract.
Bacterial cystitis is caused by bacteria that is usually passed from the bowel to the
bladder during sex or from wiping from back to front. The mild form is non-bacterial and
usually caused by factors such as friction, bruising, allergies and irritants like
perfumed soaps and shower gels.
Tips to avoid cystitis include urinating both before and after sex,
drinking plenty of water to flush out bacteria effectively from the system and remembering
to wipe from front to back when going to the toilet. Two
thirds of women in the survey said that they found taking cranberry juice can help. Cranberries maintain a healthy urinary tract by reducing
the acidity levels in the urine.
Caneston, in case you haven’t guessed, produce cranberry juice. Their new cranberry flavoured Canesten Oasis is available in sachets over-the-counter from
chemists. The contents dissolve easily in a glass of water to make a convenient drink and
should be taken three times daily for two days.
Canesten provide advice via their helpline on 0845 758 5030 or website, www.canesten.co.uk.
Getting fit and cheating (but only sometimes)
Can you combine getting fit and cheating occasionally with the odd choc,
doughnut or portion of Haagen Dazs? Yes, according
to a poll, from EAS, the sports nutrition company.
They persuaded 500 recruits to
change their lives in 2000-2003, on the Body for Life fitness scheme which combines
lifestyle, exercise and diet, and were polled in November and December, 2003. The results
showed that:
More that half those who set out to get fit had
persisted, with 60 per cent still exercising three or more times a week. The rest had
become more health conscious.
Many had gone on
to run marathons, triathlons and join teams including rugby and football. One enthusiast
even joined the Marine Commandos.
Two-thirds said
that feeling fitter helped them gain confidence, and 32 per cent said their ability to
meet new partners was improved.
One third who
set out to lose weight were not disappointed, with falls of up to 23kg (more than 3 ½
stone) and many reports of dropping two clothes sizes.
Their
‘worst ever meals’ before they started, included ‘bags of 20
doughnuts’; ‘rabbit pie, washed down by eight pints of Guinness’; and
‘mountains of ice-cream, kebabs, and triple cheese burgers’.
However, many managed to fit these into ‘cheat days’, as a
reward for restraint.
The EAS range of Sports and Diet products is available from good
independent health food stores. For more information visit the website www.eas-uk.com .
If in any doubt about any of the
information covered in healthwise articles and it's relevance for you, consult your GP.
In edition 46:-
The drugs don`t work the whole
of the time
Most drugs
only work for a percentage of all patients
Whatever happened to `A`type
personalities
Research
showing those personality types prone to health problems
More evidence in favour of soya
beans
Could soya
beans help reduce menopausal symptoms?
Ring in the new
A cultural
revolution in the NHS?
Understanding Female
sexual
dysfunction
Does this
syndrome actually exist?
Index to
all previous Healthwise editions
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