INFO, HEALTH TIPS AND NEWS

Consuming about 30 g of chocolate every day during pregnancy may benefit fetal growth and development. This news is from a new study presented recently at the 2016 Pregnancy Meeting of the Society for Maternal - Fetal Medicine in Atlanta, GA. The researchers enrolled 129 expectant mothers who were randomized to consume 30g of either low- or high-flavanol chocolate daily for 12 weeks and were followed up until they gave birth. The study indicated that chocolate could have a positive impact on placenta and fetal growth and development. However, expectant mothers advised against overindulging in the tasty treat due to its fat, sugar and caffeine content.

Consuming about 30 g of chocolate every day during pregnancy may benefit fetal growth and development. This news is from a new study presented recently at the 2016 Pregnancy Meeting of the Society for Maternal - Fetal Medicine in Atlanta, GA. The researchers enrolled 129 expectant mothers who were randomized to consume 30g of either low- or high-flavanol chocolate daily for 12 weeks and were followed up until they gave birth. The study indicated that chocolate could have a positive impact on placenta and fetal growth and development. However, expectant mothers advised against overindulging in the tasty treat due to its fat, sugar and caffeine content.

A new study has confirmed the link between exposure to acetaminophen before birth and in infancy to developing asthma in childhood. This study also found that the link is independent of the reason for medication use. The study which was led by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo - is published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. The authors of the new study however emphasized that their findings do not warrant making changes to recommendations regarding the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy.

For many, the first port of call when urinary tract infection hits is a box of cranberry juice. However, new research published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology suggests that while cranberry capsules can help, cranberry juice may be little more than a panacea. The team studied 160 patients aged 23-88 years who were likely to develop a UTI following a gynecological surgery. Half of the patients received two cranberry juice capsules twice daily - the equivalent in strength to two 8-ounce servings of cranberry juice - for 6 weeks after surgery. The others took a placebo. Cranberry capsules lowered the risk of UTIs by 50%. However, the researchers point out that since a cranberry capsule provides the equivalent of 8 ounces of cranberry juice, a patient would need a lot of pure cranberry to prevent an infection. One of the researchers explained that it takes an extremely large concentration of cranberry to prevent bacterial adhesion and this amount of concentratio...

Organic foods are defined as those that are grown or produced in the most natural way, without the use of chemical fertilizers pesticides, growth hormones etc According to new research, organic products might be the best choice, when it comes to the levels of omega - 3 in milk and meat. Prof. Carlo Leifert, of Newcastle University in the UK and his colleagues conducted two studies reviewed over 260 global papers on the nutritional content of milk and meat, with the aim of identifying differences in the nutritional quality of organic and non-organic products. The results which are published in the British Journal of Nutrition show that organic milk, meat contain 50% more Omega-3. Additionally, the team found that organic meat was lower in two saturated fats that promote poor heart health: myristic and palmiti acid.

A therapy that retrains the body's immune system to fight cancer has provoked excitement after more than 90% of terminally ill patients reportedly went into remission. White blood cells were taken from patients with leukaemia, modified in the lab and then put back. The lead scientist, Prof Stanley Riddell from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle, said all other treatments had failed in these patients and they had only two-to-five months to live. Experts said the trial was exciting, but still only "a baby step." Prof Riddell told the BBC: "Essentially what this process does is, it genetically reprograms the T-cell to seek out and recognise and destroy the patient's tumour cells. "[The patients] were really at the end of the line in terms of treatment options and yet a single dose of this therapy put more than ninety percent of these patients in complete remission where we can't detect any of these leukaemia cells." Seven of t...

Mini-stomachs grown in a lab could one day supply insulin to people with diabetes. Loss of insulin-producing beta cells is a hallmark of diabetes. In an attempt to find a cure for the condition, researchers have spent years searching for ways to replace these insulin- producing beta cells. A study - published in the journal Cell Stem Cell - suggests that cells from the lower section of the stomach, known as the pylorus region, show the greatest potential to be reprogrammed to act like beta cells. In the experiment, reprogrammed stomach cells pumped out insulin and glucose at normal levels in the blood. To turn this into something that could one day be a viable therapy for people, the team took stomach stem cells from diabetic mice, engineered them with the same genes and grew mini-organs. Then, they implanted the mini-stomachs back into the mice. Five out of 22 mice maintained normal glucose levels, and, sure enough, their implants contained lots of cells that churn out insulin....

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking test called the TruSight Cardio Sequencing Kit that can quickly detect all known genes associated with such diseases. People suffering from inherited heart conditions may now be diagnosed early, allowing for immediate treatment to be initiated. Inherited heart conditions are caused by gene mutations that have been passed down from relatives. If a mother possesses one of these faulty genes, there is a 50% chance that they will pass the mutation on to their child. Genetic testing is key to identifying such mutations, enabling early diagnosis of inherited heart conditions and allowing patients to take steps to lower their risk of sudden death from such disorders.

. A new study in the United Kingdom revealed that getting a decent night sleep is very important because while sleeping, the brain is hardwired to sort through the huge chunks of activities, filling the memory with important information. Previous studies have however found the link between improved memory and a good night's sleep. A study published in January 2015 revealed that it is the memory consolidation activity of the brain's neurons that actually put us to sleep. Another research issued in the journal Neurobiology of Learning and Memory in November 2015 found that people were able to remember new information better if they were able to sleep at least eight hours following the encounter. Scientists said the findings are crucial because sleep deprivation lead to impaired cognitive functions.

Although breast milk is said to contain an array of beneficial nutrients that babies need to grow, it does not provide sufficient amounts of vitamin D. Breastfeeding until the first year of life without vitamin D supplementation is said to cause rickets, which results in weak and soft bones. Vitamin D deficiency rickets among breastfed infants is rare, but it can occur if an infant does not receive additional vitamin D from a vitamin supplement or from adequate exposure to sunlight. The Canadian Paediatric Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend giving breastfed babies with a daily dose of 400 International Units of vitamin D during the first year of life.

Animal milk has long been claimed as the go-to source of calcium by the dairy industry, but as it turns out, milk is bad for you. Calcium from animal milk is not absorbed as well as that from plant-based sources , and it can be accompanied by a number of dangerous health problems. 1. Broken bones In a Swedish medical study , women who consumed large quantities of dairy milk daily were more likely to sustain fractures than those who drank little to no milk. 2. Prostate cancer Some evidence suggests that the consumption of milk and other dairy products leads to an increased risk of prostate cancer. Conversely , dairy-free diets have been followed to slow the progress of prostate cancer. 3. Lactose intolerance Cow’s milk contains a sugar called lactose that can be difficult for people to digest, resulting in symptoms such as nausea, cramps, gas, bloating, and diarrhea. It can also develop later in life and result in months of worsening symptoms. 4. Acne In multiple studies , ...

Dirty hands A friend of mine took his girlfriend out for dinner. They had sweet, hot, succulent suya at one of those Yahusa places in town. I only heard about it later. That was after his girlfriend was rushed to the emergency room complaining of heat in her private part. It turned out that he did not wash his hands after the suya before touching her private part. It’s a familiar story that reminded me about sexually transmitted diseases and the myth surrounding some of them. It always begged the question, ‘How did the first person get the infection?’ I mean, yes, infections can be transmitted once your partner has it, but, how did your partner get it in the first place? In fact, some young women who are not yet sexually active also blame the toilet for developing infections. Some of the explanation and the myth had been that women get the diseases from the toilet seat. I know women who, because of this, do not sit on basins of public toilets! The truth, of course, ...

Only a woman will know the pain of a urinary tract infection. Let us call it UTI for short. This is the medical term for an infection in the waterworks. The burning sensation in the private parts and the ache in the bladder are indescribable for many. The discomfort and misery every time you go to pee is as horrible as you like. Yet, you have to go every few minutes knowing you can only pass a little amount of urine, painfully. Now, this article is about the treatment of UTI and it is worth reading by both men and women. The first thing to do, of course, is to see your doctor. This avoids huge problems later and helps you to keep a small infection from becoming a potentially life-threatening condition. Let me reiterate this. Urinary Tract Infection can become a kidney infection and threaten your life, if not well managed. So, see a doctor as soon as you can and give them a sample of your urine. We prefer the first and early morning sample of urine in a clean and sterile bottle. The l...

The Avocados Avocados contain high levels of vitamin E, iron and potassium. And though, unusually for a fruit they contain “good” fat. The fat is mainly the monosaturated type, which is said to help lower so-called “bad” Do you want to lose weight, improve your skin and lower your risk of many life-threatening diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disease? Here’s why you need to add up some of this super healthy fruit in your dietj. Sounding like a super fruit already! How about one avocado per day?! Acts as a digestive enzyme Avocado has a rich fat content that makes it easier to absorb fat solubles such as vitamins A, K, D, and E, which means that adding this creamy fruit to any vegetable-dense meals will help you get all of the vitamins of your food. Without fat in your diet, the body would not be able to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins in that meal. Eases Arthritis Symptoms Avocados contain phytosterols, carotenoid antioxidants, omega 3 fatty a...

It may shock many of us to know that over five million people die annually because of abuse of pain relief medication. These deaths do not occur because these drugs are toxic or harmful to them. They occur due to carelessness, self-medication and overindulgence on the part of the users. According to the World Health Organisation, pain relief medications such as panadol, paracetamol, ibruprofen and aspirin are some of the most abused substances in the world. Experts say this is so because they are sold-over-the-counter without prescription, hence they are almost available in every cabinet at homes and offices. When used moderately, they are safe, for all. However, the danger in easy access and possession of OTC pain relief medication is when many turn such drugs to sweets or candies that make a raging headache disappear. Doctors warn that an abuse of painkillers can harm your liver, kidneys and other gastro-intestinal organs. A Senior Consultant Nephrology at the Transplant Instit...