Nuts help cut risk of heart disease

CHICAGO: Here's a health tip in a nutshell: Eating a handful of nuts a day for a year — along with a Mediterranean diet rich in fruit, vegetables and fish — may help undo a collection of risk factors for heart disease.

Spanish researchers found that adding nuts worked better than boosting the olive oil in a typical Mediterranean diet. Both regimens cut the heart risks known as metabolic syndrome in more people than a low-fat diet did.

"What's most surprising is they found substantial metabolic benefits in the absence of calorie reduction or weight loss," said JoAnn Manson, chief of preventive medicine at Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital.
In the study, the people who improved most were told to eat about three whole walnuts, seven or eight whole hazelnuts and seven or eight whole almonds. They didn't lose weight

, on average, but more of them succeeded in reducing belly fat and improving their cholesterol and blood pressure.

Manson, who wasn't involved in the study, cautioned that adding nuts to a western diet — one packed with too
many calories and junk food — could lead to weight gain and more health risks.

"But using nuts to replace a snack of chips or crackers is a very favorable change to make in your diet," Manson cautioned.

The American Heart Association says that over 50 million Americans have metabolic syndrome, a combination of health risks, such as high blood pressure and abdominal obesity.

Nuts help people feel full while also increasing the body's ability to burn fat, said lead author Jordi Salas-Salvado of the University of Rovira i Virgili in Reus, Spain.

"Nuts could have an effect on metabolic syndrome by multiple mechanisms," Salas-Salvado said. Nuts are rich in anti-inflammatory substances, such as fiber, and antioxidants, such as vitamin E

. They are high in unsaturated fat, a healthier fat known to lower blood triglycerides and increase good choleste

Eight hours to healthier cells

All you need to do is get some sleep

 Want healthier cells in just eight hours? Then get some solid shut-eye tonight.
    Your body does important things while you sleep — like healing your cells. But just one night of tossing and turning could trigger cell-damaging inflammation. So turn off the lights, slip on that sleep mask, and get your 40 winks.
Inflamed in the Membrane
    In a recent study, sleep-deprived people — especially women — showed a marked increase in their levels of a protein called NF-kB. That's bad news, because NF-kB plays an essential role in the body's inflammation response. The study may help explain why poor sleep is associated with several inflammation-related disorders, including cardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and obesity.
Mini Mind-Body Makeovers
    Need help adjusting to the end of daylight saving time? Or getting over jet lag? Or just sleeping through an average night? Doze your way to good health with these tips:
    Refresh yourself on the basics. Find out when to sleep, what temperature is best, and which foods to eat.
    You move, you snooze. You might associate stretching with waking up, but it can help you nod off, too. Stretch yourself to sleep.
    Develop good sleep habits. Fall asleep and stay asleep with a deepsleep plan.

SOUND SLEEP: Develop good sleep habits

How lizard spit aids diabetes

A drug that enables Type 2 diabetics to produce more insulin and lose weight opens a whole new chapter in diabetic management

A year ago, when 58-year-old retiree B S Wig, saw the scales tip at 149 kg, he was dismayed. He was diabetic and also increasingly obese. His blood sugar hit a dismal 350 mg/dl after meals. The normal should be under 140 mg/dl. ''I had become weak and refused to socialise. My life had gone haywire,'' says Wig. Till he was put on to a new drug, which not only reduced his weight to a healthy 118 kg, but his sugar levels to normal. ''I can now be dated,'' he says happily.
    Wig is lucky. Most diabetics have difficult lives, with an unending cycle of ill health, weakness and obesity as the pancreas produce little or no insulin, the hormone that converts glucose to energy. Plus, diabetic drugs usually make the patient obese, which adds to the risk of high BP, heart problems and strokes. So it's essential to have drugs which control sugar levels and reduce weight.
    And that's what a new injectable drug, Byetta, does, say experts. It's made from the saliva of the Gila monster, a venomous lizard found in Southwest America. It's the first in a new range of anti-diabetic medicines and is FDAapproved. However, it can be used only on Type 2 diabetics.
    It came to India exactly a year back and now, experts can quantify its success. By 2009, an upgraded version may be available.
    Unlike Type 1 diabetes where there's no insulin secretion, in Type 2, insulin production from the beta cells of the pancreas isn't sufficient. And for Byetta to work, viable beta cells are needed, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, senior endocrinologist, Apollo Hospital, Delhi.
    It works in three ways: It signals the pancreas to make the right amount of insulin after a meal; stops the liver from making too much glucose when the body does not need it, reduces appetite and the amount of food eaten and slows the rate at which glucose leaves the stomach.
    Type 2 diabetics form 90% of the estimated 40 million diabetic cases in India. Almost 80% of them are obese, says Mithal. Adds Dr Pradeep Talwalkar, professor, diabetology, Raheja Hospital, Mumbai. ''It suppresses rise in sugar levels by suppressing glucogon, a hormone which has the opposite effect of insulin.''
    ''Byetta'' says Mithal, ''can produce nausea and vomiting in some patients. It is a niche drug, not for all diabetics, but is a good choice for those who need to lose weight with high post-meal blood sugar rises that remain uncontrolled even on oral medicines.''
    ''Byetta also carries a lower risk than insulin of causing hypoglycaemia, a dangerous condition where the patient can lose consciousness and slip into coma as insulin drops to very low levels,'' says Talwalkar.
    Wig's case is an ideal example. ''I was not judicious about my medicines and kept oscillating between oral medicines and insulin. Meanwhile, my weight and sugar levels went for a toss till I started taking Byetta,'' he says.
    It's important for obese diabetics to lose weight, says Chennai-based Dr A Ramachandran, president, India Diabetics Research Foundation, as obesity makes them resistant to diabetic treatment. ''It is, in fact, an analog for hormones which produce insulin called incretin.'' A weight reduction of 5-6 kg a year is good, says Mithal. Byetta is normally given with oral medicines.
    But it's expensive — around Rs 7,500 monthly. Rimi Dasgupta, a 41-year-old diabetic, who lost 12 kg and with sugar levels which came down to 140 mg/dl from 390 mg/dl, says, ''It's easy to inject, but I don't know how long I can take it as it's expensive. I hope to continue it for a year.''
    Byetta comes in a prefilled injection pen which uses a small needle. This pen contains pre-measured doses, so the patient doesn't have to adjust the dose. It's injected twice daily before morning and evening meals.
    Generally, the patient is started off on a dose of 5 micrograms (mcg) twice a day for at least 30 days, but this could be increased to 10 mcg based on individual results. In clinical trials, it was found that on an average, patients lost five pounds in 30 weeks. However, Byetta cannot be used simply for weight reduction.
    Though there are other new medicines which stimulate the pancreas to make insulin without producing hypoglycaemia such as Januvia and Glavus, says Ramachandran, these don't make a patient lose weight.
    Byetta could just be that shot that makes a difference.

8 Steps for Aging Gracefully

The suggestions in this gallery are intended to help you become more aware of your spiritual self. Any activity that makes you feel more alive, more connected to others and to nature, less isolated, more comfortable with change, is beneficial. It will enhance your physical and mental health. It will help you accept the fact of your aging. It will help you to age gracefully. 1 PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR BREATH Many cultures identify breath with spirit, seeing the breath cycle as the movement of spirit in the physical body. Simply minding the breath is a way of expanding consciousness beyond the ego, of experiencing transcendence. 2 CONNECT WITH NATURE You can do this by walking or sitting in a natural setting; a city park will do just fine.Allow yourself to slow down, drop your usual routines, and just absorb the influence of the place. 3 SPEND TIME WITH YOUR LOVED ONES Make a list of people in your life in whose company you feel more alive, happy, and optimistic. Make an effort to spend more time with them. Our spiritual selves resonate with others, and that connection is healing. 4 REMEMBER THE LITTLE THINGS Bring flowers into your home and enjoy their beauty. 5 SOOTHE YOUR SOUL WITH SOUND Listen to music that you find inspirational and uplifting. 6 SEEK OUT BEAUTY Admire a work of art that raises your spirits: a painting, sculpture, or work of architecture. 7 MAKE AMENDS Reach out and try to resume connection with someone from whom you are estranged; practice forgiveness. 8 DO SERVICE WORK Give some of your time and energy to help others.The possibilities are endless, and there are so many ways to help in addition to writing a check to charity.

Amrita turns soyaholic

 Amrita Arora is an ultimate combination of a charming face and hot body. When we asked her how she manages to be so svelte, the actress said, "I am high on soya milk these days! I am so addicted to it that I keep having it at a regular interval throughout the day. It's an energy drink that I just can't part with as it's healthy sans calories and it keeps me full." Well, now if you ever see the actress with a bottle in hand you know what it is.

HEALTH FREAK: Amrita Arora

HAIR, YOUR CROWNING GLORY!

Is recession hitting your hairline? Karan Agrawal finds out that trichologists can help

"Global recession,global heating and global hair loss!"exclaims Dr Apoorva Shah,the pioneer of Trichology in India,who along with his wife Dr Sonal Shah are India's first certified Trichologists.We are living in a world of diminishing returns as far as hair is concerned!
    The need for good hair is universal, beyond all boundaries.Hair is your crowning glory and also a measure of your self-image,prestige and confidence.Hair is also your body's barometer indicating good health or lack of it. Many times hair problem are the first signs that something is wrong with you internally! On the eve of bad hair day the mantra to get a bounty full hair on your head is to know the basic fact about your hair.That is why this article.
What is Trichology?
Trichology is the science of hair and scalp in health and disease.It was developed in 1902 in London and since then has used the wonders of science to detect and effectively treat hair and scalp diseases.
Role of Trichologist
Trichologist is the specialist for hair and scalp problems.When confronted with a hair problem a Trichologist would first conduct tricho analysis of the hair and scalp to diagnose the problem before choosing from an array of scientific tools to deal with it.Today there are around 400 Trichologist all over the world.
Significance of Trichology
An early indication of many disorders.
Very often hair problems are the first signs that show that something is going wrong internally.
Hair loss can indicate:
    Thyroid problems
    Anemia
    Dietary and mineral deficiency
    Hormonal imbalance
    Ovarian Cyst disease
Psychological Importance of Hair
    Hair loss can be devastating and should never be trivialized.
    It can lead to body dysmorphic disorder,which leads to destruction of self- image,prestige and confidence as hair and skin are the two most visible parts of the body.
Emotional Effect
    Trichotillomania
It is commonly known,is an impulse control disorder or form of self-injury characterized by the repeated urge to pull out scalp hair,eyelashes or other body hair,sometimes resulting in noticeable bald patches.It is caused severe emotional stress mostly in children,but also seen in adults.
    Tricophagia
It is the advanced stage of Trichotillomania.Characterized by pulling hair and eating it.
Hair facts
    Function of hair
Apart from imparting you with diva looks,hair has a far more essential
function.It's our protective shield and essentially serves to protect that part of the organ where it grows out.Our eyes are protected from dust by eyelashes.Eyebrows disallow sweat and rain from entering into eyes and causing irritation.Nose hair protects from dust particles from air to entering respiratory passages.Hair on our head apart from adding beauty also protects the skull and the brain.Hair on body helps in keeping the body warm.
Growth cycle of hair
Hair follows its own growth pattern which is spread over a certain period of time and consists of three basic stages: Anagen Phase – Growth Phase The Anagen phase or growth phase lasts for about three years.Approximately 85 per cent of all hairs are in the growing phase at any one time. Catagen Phase – Transitional phase At the end of the Anagen phase the hairs enters into a Catagen phase which lasts about one month and makes the end of growth period.On an average 1 per cent of follicle are in this stage. Telogen Phase – Resting phase The resting phase follows the catagen phase and normally lasts about three months.During this time the hair does not grow but stays attached to the follicle.Approximately 10-15 percent of all hair are in this phase at one time.At the end of the Telogen phase the hair follicle re-enters the Anagen phase.
Some interesting hair facts
    Palms and soles are the only two parts in the body which do not have hair.
    Number of hair follicales are formed in the third month from inception and are the same till the time of death, hence there can never be a before and after picture.
Correct diagnosis
Following three ways for correct diagnosis:
A.Trichologist is well trained to correctly diagnosis hair and scalp problems by physical examination of hair and scalp
B.Tricho analysis: A Trichogram helps in determining the A/ T ratio of hair , the grade of hair loss and the structure of hair.
C.Scalp analysis
    Capilloscopy identifies the state of the scalp and hair follicles.
    Densitometry is used to identify the volume and density of hair.
Impact of modern lifestyle on hair and scalp
    Stress: A physical or emotional stress can cause hair to prematurely enter in falling stages leading to Telogen effluviums, a type of sever hair loss. Stress can also caused a type of auto immune disorders on the scalp called alopecia which starts as a 25 paisa coin baldness and then spreads all over the scalp.
    Fashion: today our lives seem to be dictated by changing trends, straightening perming and colouring. All these chemical processes take a high toll on our hair. Tricchoxerrhis nodosa , or hair breakage due to chronic weakness is a common problem caused by chemical treatment.
    Pollution: pollution takes its toll on your hair as well as the rest of your body.It affects by breaking disulphide and hydrogen bonds of the hair it makes your hair dry,brittle,tangled and matted.
    Diet: today's fast food diet which consist of high-fat,high-animal protein and high-salt diet damages the kidneys and creates acidic blood,thereby leading to hair loss,This lifestyle leads to vitamin deficiency,which is another cause of hair loss.And thanks to the globalization of fast food chains,we're importing hair loss from overseas.
Hair tips
+ The first step to beautiful hair is cleanliness.Wash your hair every alternate day or even daily with a mild shampoo formulated for daily use, if necessary. + Eliminate or cut back on smoking, caffeine and carbonated sodas which weaken the body and block maximum hair growing potential. + Excessive blow drying can damaged hair in the long term , making it brittle and causing spilts ends. + Cumin, turmeric and black pepper are some 'hair- friendly' spices. + While drying your hair with towel, use blotting technique instead of rubbing it vigorously. + Use a wide toothcomb to avoid pulling the hair.

London-based team provides holistic healing

Mumbai: Lying on a mat in a dimly lit room, tender hands make sure your body is at ease. With gentle strokes, they expertly locate the tension zones in your body, and then heal them within 15 minutes. The blockages in your body disappear; the fears and anxiety you once felt have disappeared. With an increasing number of Mumbaikars showing symptoms of posttraumatic stress, help is coming in from all quarters. Two experts from the Ki Healing Centre in London—Pradnya Ranade and Master Choong—were in Mumbai for two days to lend a hand. They believe that their brand of natural healing helps people receive vital energy that has been depleted after being hit by physical and mental pain.
    On Saturday, they held a post-trauma session at the Health Awareness Centre in Bandra, where people affected by the terror strikes, either directly or indirectly, were given a first-hand experience of the healing process. "There is a lot of anxiety, and many fears remain shut inside the system. They should be released as soon as possible; it is best to nurse fresh wounds immediately,'' said Ranade, who had also treated those affected by the London blasts. "Ki Healing techniques help people overcome their physical and emotional suffering. We provide revitalising acupressure and energy treatments for individuals,'' she added.
    Shilpa Chawala of the Health Awareness Centre recollects a 65-year-old man's visit to the clinic. "He said he had never felt so scared before, never felt so afraid that he couldn't step out of his house. And he had only seen it on television. Posttrauma treatment for these people is extremely crucial, so they can let go of the fears they harbour,'' she said.

THE NATURAL WAY: Pradnya and Choong treat a trauma patient

How GREEN is this medicine?

The law that regulates ayurvedic drugs now allows the use of antioxidants, preservatives and sweeteners. But won't these drugs lose their organic wholesomeness? Sunday Times finds out

Meenakshi Kumar | TNN

 Ayurveda, the oldest health system in the world, is going in for a makeover, but is it all to the good? Till now,
the biggest innovation had been coloured ayurvedic pills and capsules. But the government's recent amendment of the 63-year-old Drugs and Cosmetics Act appears to allow a more fundamental change — ayurvedic medicine can now contain anti-oxidants, flavouring agents, preservatives and sweeteners. So is ayurveda about to lose its unique organic wholesomeness?
    Ayurveda practitioners and drugmakers don't think so. They say the additives, natural or synthetic, must be in permissible quantities in order that the medicine retains its natural properties. ''The purpose of allowing the use of anti-oxidants or sweeteners is to increase the shelf life of the ayurvedic medicines,'' says Dr S K Sharma, advisor to the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH). The reasoning is that once they last longer, it would be easier to market ayurvedic medicines nationally and internationally.
    But Sharma cautions that the changed law is not ''purely for commercial reasons. There is a
strong need for scientific innovation. It's time that we tried to improve ayurvedic medicines.'' So, the anti-oxidants that are being allowed to use will prevent the medicine from decomposing. The additives, says Sharma, will only help in making ayurvedic medicines more stable than ever before.
    Some ayurvedic practitioners admit that there are legitimate concerns about additives. Dr V V Doiphode, dean of Pune University's Department of Ayurveda, stresses the importance of testing any product before it is added to an ayurvedic drug. ''The onus is on the drug-makers to ensure these (additives) aren't detrimental to health,'' he says. For that they will have to conduct extensive research and lab testing.
    There are other ways of ensuring compliance, not least guidelines issued by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The IPC sets strict standards for drugs and other pharmaceutical products. Add to this, the wording of the amended Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which allows ''only natural colouring agents as permitted under rule 26 of Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules 1955 for ayurveda, siddha and unani drugs.''
    But what if someone wanted to market a flavoured chyawanprash, say chocolate, to attract the international market? Would that be more synthetic than traditional chyawanprash? Not really, so long as it retains its original properties, says Ranjit Puranik, CEO of Shree Dootapapeshwar Ltd, ayurvedic drug-maker and exporter. The loophole, however, is that a product like chyawanprash, which is made of 54 herbs — of which amla (gooseberry) is the main — can be marketed internationally as a dietary supplement rather than a medicine. If it has to be marketed as a medicine, then all the 54 herbs have to go through a standardisation process that will certify that none of the herbs are harmful to health.
    The amended act allows synthetic additives in ayurvedic drugs but insists they ''carry a statutory warning stating the name and quantity of the artificial sweetener.'' Puranik says it's up to the individual manufacturer to decide how natural he wants the ayurvedic drug to be. And if he uses a large quantity of synthetic additive ''he clearly can't then sell the product as ayurveda''.
    That may affect ayurvedic core market, but the holistic health treatment has a long way to go in persuading India and the wider world of the goodness of its old-style organic approach to healing. Industry experts estimate that the global market for ayurveda is worth $120 billion. But India's ayurveda exports are a paltry Rs 450 crore or $91 million. China and Sri Lanka lead the world in ayurveda manufacture and export.
    India is finally trying to close the gap by adding innovation to the ayurveda mix. ''These medicines can be tweaked a bit to suit people's tastes, but the medicinal properties should be maintained. Say for instance, a popular ayurvedic medicine, kashayam, is now available in the form of capsules and tablets. This has been achieved by spray drying but the original properties are not tinkered with.'' says V G Udayakumar, president of the Kerala-based Ayurveda Medical Association of India. He believes the same can be applicable to other medicines too.
    But there's some way to go before the humble hajmola becomes the world's prescribed cure for indigestion.
TRACING ROOTS
    Ayurveda traces its origin to Atharaveda, the fourth Veda
    The Sushruta Samhita, a Sanskrit text by surgeon Sushruta, appeared during the 1st millennium BCE . It is an encyclopaedia of medical learning with details on surgery
    It's believed that visiting Chinese pilgrim Fa Hsien wrote about the Gupta empire's health care system in the 4th century and was impressed by the institutional approach to medicine
    Later, when Arabs came to India, they translated both Sushruta and Charaka Samhita, which then made their way into Europe
    One of Sicily's famous families, the Branca, adopted techniques described by the Sushruta
    Gradually, ayurvedic medicine became the foundation of the European medical tradition