Save Money on Groceries by Beating the System

Save Money on Groceries by Beating the System

You’ve decided you’ve had it. You’re tired of spending so much money to feed your family every week. You can’t make your kids quit eating so what are you going to do? You’re going to beat the system.

Follow these tips to find the cheapest food and feed your family great meals for lower costs.

First, if you don’t already shop at the cheapest grocery store in town -- start. Odds are, you know what the cheapest store is, you just like the nicer store with the polished floors and pretty displays. We all do but when it comes to saving money on your grocery bill, it won’t work. Shop at the cheapest store.

Now that you’re shopping at the cheapest grocery store in town, here are some tips for saving money on buy the food you need.

Meat

I always make a weekly menu so I buy only what I need. However, there is an exception to this rule. Check the Sunday newspapers and look at all of the grocery store sales flyers. When you see a spectacular deal on meat -- buy a month’s worth.

When turkeys and hams go on sale during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, get a couple extra and freeze them.

Buy fish and seafood when it is in season.

Cook more meals with chicken than you do beef and pork. Chicken is always the cheaper alternative.

Shop early in the morning. The meat that didn’t sell yesterday will be marked down. Ask the meat manager where he keeps the meat specials if you can’t find them.

Dairy Products

Dairy products tend to be expensive at the regular grocery stores.

Shop food warehouses and buyer clubs.

You can buy milk and cheese in bulk and freeze it. Freezing doesn’t hurt the quality of either one.

Produce

If you live in a large enough city, you can probably find a produce stand that stays open year round. As a rule, don’t buy produce in a grocery store unless it is featured as one of their loss leaders.

Some of the year round produce stands will have slightly bruised or damaged produce for 75% off. Ask if you don’t see this available.

Always buy produce in season:

Fall -- apples, pumpkins, winter squash

Winter -- citrus fruits, broccoli, brussels sprouts

Spring -- bananas, pineapples, plums, strawberries, watermelon, artichokes, asparagus, green beans

Summer -- apricots, avocados, blackberries, blueberries, grapes, lemons, melons, nectarines, peaches, pears, beets, corn, cucumber, green onions, peas, peppers, tomatoes

Potatoes, carrots, and celery are always in season.

Breads, grains, pasta, cereals

The cheapest place to buy bread is at the "day old" bread stores, but there are some grocery stores that will sell bread even cheaper than you can get it there so be on the lookout for this.

Buy whole grains like oats, cream of wheat cereal and corn meal in bulk.

Bulk buy all your baking supplies like flour, yeast, and spices.

Also buy in bulk your beans, rice and pasta. It’s much cheaper to buy dried beans than canned beans and it’s easy to learn how to cook them.

Keep this list of ideas and shopping "tactics" handy until you learn them. Shop using this list and it will go a long way toward saving money on groceries and beating the system.

Eggs – Benefits of Eggs

Eggs – Benefits of Eggs

Eggs are one of the main staples in many bodybuilders’ diets. Not only are possibly the best source of natural protein with a high biological value (88% of the protein being absorbed and utilised by the body). They are also a lean source with little fat – though the yolk does contain some meaning that you may prefer to do away with the delicious yolk. This is actually a mistake however as only when combined together do they contain all 22 amino acids essential for building muscle. The truly extreme bodybuilders sometimes go one step further and eat the actual egg shells too. Hey, it’s your throat…

Of course for muscle building you’ll be advised to eat them raw which means they contain more essential nutrients and protein. Don’t worry too much about Salmonella, while that may sound like awful advice, it does come from sound statistics. Just one in every 30,000 eggs produced each year is likely to be infected with salmonella, which is equal to a loooow .003%. That’s a pretty low percentage, hardly like eating puffer fish. Furthermore, most of the infected eggs cases will be from battery hens, and free-range eggs that have been tested for salmonella are incredibly safe. For some people that might still seem a bit close for comfort, but even then you should realise that most cases of salmonella are mild and can be treated with antibiotics and only very few are serious. So stop whining; Rocky does it and surely that should be enough reason! (Although Rocky also chases chickens around and you should not do that – it’s kind of cruel.)

Though technically better however, for me though, eggs are only a close second as protein sources with tuna coming in at umber one. Eggs are high in cholestrol and so to eat a lot of them might not be the best ever for your heart and blood pressure, especially if you already have problems in that area. Secondly they don’t have all the other advantages of tuna which also has a lot of antioxidants, omega three and fish oil while egg white is mostly just water with a bit of protein. Cooking eggs also wastes some of the protein, and while eggs are normally a versatile food source there’s not that much you can do with raw egg whites (tuna meanwhile is versatile and delicious). Hence I present you with you something that you can do with your eggs while keeping them almost raw.

A quick recipe: Carbonara – Old Style

Carbonara is an Italian pasta dish that was designed to make use of limited amounts of food. Today though it’s a delicious meal that’s been evolved to include cream, cheese, bacon and all sorts of other tempting but not particularly healthy things (you should come round and try mine some time it’s heavenly – angel dust in a dish). Originally though it was simply one raw egg cracked over the pasta with the idea being that the pasta would be hot enough to semi-cook the egg. For muscle building this is a great recipe – high in protein and carbs and low in fat. It should still eliminate any traces of salmonella too meaning it’s safe for even the most cautious.

Surviving a Hot Curry

Surviving a Hot Curry

For men, eating curry has some kind of social importance and credibility attached to it; only real men eat curry and the more manly you are the hotter the curry you can eat. Additionally, the more you know about curry, the more manly you’re perceived to be – and that’s probably why you’re here reading this. This article then will serve two purposes – to make you look clever and knowledgeable while in the curry house, and to help you survive some of the more brutal dishes.

The first thing to consider when picking a curry is that the menus are normally organised in order of hotness. That means that the lower down the menu they are, the hotter they’ll be so you don’t need to know anything about different types of curry to know what you’re letting yourself in for (though bare in mind that not all restaurants follow this rule). If you’re really lucky they might alternatively have a rating system such as allocating them a number of chillies next to the title to indicate hotness. If in doubt bare in mind that the hottest curries as the Phahl, the Vindaloo and the Tindaloo – if what you’re ordering is near them then watch out. When you get your curry look out for chillies and bare in mind that surprisingly it’s actually the smaller ones that are normally hotter. If you want to impress your friends then pick a big juicy chilly and eat it by biting it off at the stalk and it won’t be that bad. Meanwhile, subtly dispose of your little ones or handle with caution and lots of beer.

The other part of the title refers to the meat you’re having with it. For example you can order a ‘Meat Massala’ or a ‘Chicken Ticka Massala’, with ‘ticka’ being a particular style of chicken found in curry houses (and a delicious one at that). My personal favourite style however, and the best one to use if you’re eating a searing hot dish, is the ‘keema’ which means minced meat. This is particularly good as it soaks up the sauce meaning you don’t end up with lots of plain sauce on its own to spoon up at the end. Another way to avoid this situation is to order lots of rice to mix it with. If it’s still to hot you can get plain yogurt to mix it with. For any left over sauce at the end use naan bread to wipe it up with.

Eating a hot curry is hard, but what’s harder is eating while it’s hot in temperature too. Give it a chance to cool down and you’ll find it much easier to handle (cold curry is actually delicious and far less painful to eat). If you don’t have time to let it cool, then cool your mouth with some beer or ask for a pitcher of water for the table.

After you’ve dealt with your mission you’ll probably find your stomach and mouth hurting (as will everyone else though they won’t admit it). To help this problem and look as though you know your stuff, order yourself either a kulfi – which is a small ice cream with pistachios and almonds, or a ‘lassy’ which is a yogurt drink used to settle the stomach after curries. Bon appetite!

Alcoholic Drink Calorie Content

Alcoholic Drink Calorie Content

Most of us are very health conscious these days. We keep track of what we wear, how much we exercise, how much we eat, and we stay away from those carbonated drinks and colas as a precautionary measure. God forbid if one fine day you consume one glass of cola which runs up to 200 calories per glass. That’s about 20 minutes on the treadmill. Instead, you indulged in another vice, not knowing that it too is just as loaded with calories as the so called fatty foods, the alcohol.

Alcohol has no nutritional value, what you call empty calories. Not only does alcohol risk your quest to being fit, it also tarnishes your health in other ways.

A normal bottle of beer runs up to 153 calories. Such calories, like those in beer are only carbohydrates and sugar, both of which can cause weight gain. Surely you would have heard to stay away from the carbs and the sugar. Another problem with beer is that just like colas, beer also feeds on carbonation. This basically means that no matter how much you drink you will never feel like you had enough. You will always want more. If you’re a beer drinker and are drinking a pitcher or 5 pints per week, you are consuming over 40,000 calories per year which is equivalent to eating a doughnut every other day.

Wine is known to have its anti oxidant properties, but one small glass of it can cost you 200 calories, and we all know that one small glass of fine wine is really never enough. That is the same number of calories that a bag of potato chips has. Two large glasses of wine equals about 1/5 of the acceptable daily calorie intake that most women stick too or should stick to.

If it’s the mixed drinks you prefer, be it rum and cola, vodka and lime juice, or even gin and orange juice, don’t feel too happy about yourself. While the liquor like rum or vodka itself has about 60 calories per peg, it is when you mix it and don’t really realize you are drinking alcohol that the calories pile on. Again, these drinks never give you the impression that you are full. Depending on the type of mixer, these drinks can run up to 200 calories per glass.

Alcohol is also dangerous because of the fact that it induces hunger and reduces the number of fat calories you burn. Rather than getting stored as fat, alcohol is turns into a substance called acetate. Acetate makes it harder for a person to burn fat. The acetate is what gives you energy.

Having an alcoholic drink before a meal is dangerous, and can pile on the pounds. If you consume alcohol, you feel hungrier and tend to eat more than you would normally do.

Eventually, while having a few drinks now and then, it won’t really affect your long term plans, it will just slow your weight loss plans. For some men, since it reduces testosterone in the body, it may also prove to increase the difficulty when trying to gain muscle. So the next time you think about drinking, think wisely.

Some Low Calorie Mixed Drinks

Some Low Calorie Mixed Drinks

So you like to devour light drinks or drinks that are not considered hard core alcohol. But you don’t like having to put on the calories in the process of indulging. The solution to your problem is enjoying low calorie mixed drinks. Yes, it is definitely possible to enjoy a night out with the girls and not have to increase the chances of getting wrinkles, because of the number of times you start frowning after realizing how many calories you are consuming.

Beating the bulge requires major dedication and persistence. Sometimes we falter, and the effects of our faltering can damage the work we have put in for so long. There may be temptation that where ever you go, whether it is at an office party, at a friend’s house or at a bar. Instead of having guilt into yourself to misery or suffering at the hands of self pity, learn to indulge healthy.

The classic drink that most "Men" and some women like to have is Rum and coke. However, both drinks have a high calorie content that’s bit too much to have in more than one or two servings. Instead one of the two will have to be compromised. You will have to settle for real Rum and diet cola. The result is just as good as with the real coke. One glass of this works up to only about a 100 calories. That’s almost 2/3 less than with the real cola.

Vodka with any juice tastes good. However, vodka with any diet juice tastes just as good, and you’ll get the satisfaction of knowing that the calories are not as much. Try mixing diet mixed fruit juice or cranberry juice for a delightful combination of flavors in your mouth.

If you’re looking for a more exotic sounding drink then opt for the Mojito. Mojitos are great antioxidants and can flush out the other toxins in your body. This drink consists of Rum, mint leaves and lime juice. Add club soda at the end to finish off the prep.

For energy and the extra kick and feeling that only alcohol can give you, mix diet Red Bull with your preferred choice of alcohol. Usually, the best alcohol to mix with diet Red Bull is Vodka. It will give you all the energy you need to keep you going all night whether it’s a night out party or a house party.

The simplest and quickest low calorie mixer is Gin and tonic. Though it sounds boring, the drink itself will give you a good kick, not to mention a glass of it is less than 100 calories.

So, no matter what your alcoholic preference, there is something good for everyone with low calorie mixers. They don’t only taste good, but are helpful in the long run when you still want to enjoy your life and are healthy enough to do it. This is not endorsing alcohol drinking, but is helping people who wouldn’t stop anyways. There is no harm in that, especially if you can’t sacrifice the buzz even to combat the bulge.

Fish Oil Side Effects: The Good and the Bad

Fish Oil Side Effects: The Good and the Bad

Fish oil, found in salmon and tuna or available as a supplement, is one of those supplements that’s recently taken off massively in terms of its popularity as a cure all for almost any ailment and as a natural health booster. Unlike many of these fads however, fish oil has many very real benefits that have been backed up with research. The side effects of fish oil are clearly noticeable and will indeed make you healthier and cure many health complaints. But what effects are those? And are there any fish oil side effects that you need to be wary of?

Well let’s start with the good. Studies are being published on an almost daily basis that reveal over and over again the countless benefits of fish. Most of these are a result of either the omega 3 fatty acids contained in fish oil, or their ability to sooth joints.

Firstly fish oils can be used as anti inflammatories and can improve your body’s inflammatory responses. This means that conditions such as prostatitis, arthritis, cystitis (and pretty much anything ending in ‘tis’) will be far less painful and uncomfortable. Further to this Omega 3 fatty acids have many cardiovascular benefits and can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure while increasing the ‘good’ HDL cholesterol. This in turn means less chance of a heart attack, stroke or heart disease. With heart disease being one of the major killers in the Western World this can only be a good thing right?

The slightly more interesting fish oil side effects however are those that is has on the brain. Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to improve recall, reasoning and attention by aiding the communication of neurons (brain cells) across synapses. This also helps to protect against various mental disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia and to prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s. Children too have been shown to reap benefits from fish oil side effects and cases of ADD and ADHD can be improved with supplementation. These brain benefits can also be appreciated by babies in the womb, resulting in many pregnant and nursing mothers supplementing their diets with fish oil.

As though these benefits weren’t enough of a reason to supplement with fish oil, it can also help prevent cancer – particularly breast, colon and prostate cancer. Like antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids help to prevent alterations in normal cells that are the basis of cancer.

So there are many benefits of fish oil and omega three fatty acids, but as with any supplementation or diet change the pros need to be measured up against the side effects. So what, if any, are the fish oil side effects?

Like anything, it’s important to supplement with fish oil in moderation. If you take the recommended amount and follow any guidelines that come with supplementation then you should reap the benefits with few to no side effects. The only fish oil ‘side effects’ that you might notice are a fishy taste lingering in the mouth after first taking the oil and potentially ‘fishy burps’. Most supplements however have been put through chilling and filtration processes to prevent this being a major problem, while if you’re getting your fish oil naturally then you’ll probably anticipate the fishy taste ahead of time.

Some individuals also complain of suffering from oily skin when taking fish oils. This can potentially lead to acne, though conversely can actually be used to treat acne as it stops the body from needing to produce extra oil of its own.

It’s also important to bare in mind that fish oil thins blood (which is how it reduces cholesterol and heart disease) which while generally a good thing can be unwise if you’re already taking medication to thin your blood or if you suffer from a condition such as haemophilia, von willebrands syndrome, lupes or their derivitaves that prevent the blood from clotting.

When taken in excessive amounts however overdose is possible and fish oil side effects become more pronounced. Excessively thinning the blood can lead dizziness and low blood pressure. Other side effects that have been noted are nausea, diarrhoea, nosebleeds and heartburn. Again these are only observed when the daily doses exceed 12 grams and are still unusual even under these conditions.

Some supplements such as cod liver oil however also contain vitamins such as vitamin A and D. If taken in high doses these too can be toxic again meaning you should temper your intake of cod liver oil. If you are taking other supplements such as vitamin tablets as well then you should also ensure that the two don’t add up to more than your RDA.

Finally fish oils may contain traces of mercury and other toxins. While these will be harmless in small doses, again they may become notable health threats if taken in excess.

So to conclude fish oil side effects are many and varied and mostly very positive. Like most things though, moderation should be applied in their consumption to avoid getting too much of a good thing.

Foods High in Uric Acid and How They Affect Health

Foods High in Uric Acid and How They Affect Health

Gout is a physical condition that occurs when the body accumulates too much uric acid. It is more common in men than women and more common in people between ages 30 and 60, characterized by swelling of the joints and pain. Uric acid is produced naturally by the body when it breaks down purines, but for one reason or another sometimes either the kidneys are unable to flush out the excess uric acid or the body produces too much of it to be removed. The uric acid then builds up in the joints, causes them to swell and gout is the end result. One helpful way to reduce the amount of uric acid within the body is to reduce the amount of purines that one consumes through their diet and this is why we've compiled a list of foods high in uric acid (or purines before they are broken down) so that you can avoid them and reduce the effects of gout.

Red Meat

Red meat is probably the most well known foods high in uric acid causing purines. Try to avoid beef, lamb, venison and mutton and instead replace them with white meats such as chicken or duck, which don't contain as many purines but should be eaten only occasionally. Even better replacements are vegetarian alternatives such as Quorn or tofu. Avoid bacon at all costs if you are at high risk of gout as this meat contains the highest levels of purines.

Yeast

Unfortunately for the alcohol lovers, drinks that contain yeast such as ale, beer and lager are foods high in uric acid causing purines too. This means little or no bread either. Try and replace bread in meals with other carbs such as rice or potatoes (preferably wholegrain as a low fat alternative) and replace yeast containing alcoholic beverages with non-yeast containing ones such as cider, cocktails or spirit mixes.

Seafood

Another of the foods high in uric acid, seafood is somewhat harder to replace than red meat. Again, try to replace it with chicken or vegetarian tofu for a healthier and lower uric acid causing alternative.

One of the easiest ways to follow a diet that excludes eating foods high in uric acid causing purines is to plan your weekly meals before you do your weekly shop. Write it out like a rota and this way you can make sure you're not tempted to buy beer, bacon, seafood or whatever else is likely to cause you gout. You'll probably find that this system helps you to cut down on your weekly food expenditure too.

While changing your diet to suit one that is low in purines, this is not the only measure that someone suffering from gout should take. For instance, doing strenuous and repetitive exercise will only exacerbate the symptoms of gout and so this should be avoided. If you do develop particularly bad or sudden gout symptoms then you should also keep the joint cool (in water or with an ice pack) and keep it raised too. Above all, those who think they may have gout should discuss the condition with their doctor who may be able to prescribe non-intrusive and helpful medication.

Do You Have Yeast Intolerance?

Do You Have Yeast Intolerance?

Yeast comes under the category of fungus organisms and thrives on sugar. The organism produces gases and toxins like acetaldehyde, alcohol, arabinitol, gliotoxin and zymosan. Any form of overgrowth of the yeast can be harmful to the body. The most common form of yeast, which is found in our digestive tract, is Candida.

Yeast is good for the health, but on the other hand it can also be harmful and can cause a problem for you. To maintain a normal digestive system, our body requires yeast in small quantities. But, when this quantity becomes more than what is required, then it results in a series of health problems and people tend to develop intolerance towards yeast. Any condition that results in overproduction of Candida can result in yeast intolerance.

The main factors that result in overproduction of the yeast resulting in yeast intolerance include:

• Having a lot of antibiotic courses which result in killing the body friendly bacteria that are responsible for controlling the production of the yeast.

• Ingestion of oral contraceptives that has synthetic progesterone.

• If you suffer from indigestion because of some other food intolerance problems, then this allows the overproduction of yeast because of the fermentation of the undigested food in the digestive tract.

Some of the general symptoms of yeast intolerance include:

• Production of gas or flatulence after eating any sugar based food

• Feeling tired after eating food

• Bloating of the stomach

• Occurrence of ulcers in the mouth

• Occurrence of bad breath

• Disorders of the skin like psoriasis or eczema

• Congestion of the nasal tract

• Tongue coating

• Frequent mood swings

• Craving for sweets and sugar

• Having a feeling of irritation and light-headedness when hungry, hypoglycemia

• Heartburn or acidity

To know whether you are suffering from yeast intolerance it is important that you have yourself tested. There are a number of medical tests like organic acid tests that can help determine whether you are suffering from yeast intolerance. If you want to try out a home test, then take a glass of clear water and spit into it. Soon you will see the growth of white fluffy yeast or turbidity in the clear water. If you observe any of these, then it is important that you get yourself tested medically. Relying on the home test is not recommended, it is better that you have a medical test done.

If you are suffering from yeast intolerance, then the best way in which you can avoid is to follow a diet that is free of yeast. Remove milk products like cheese and yogurt; avoid processed food, sugary food and sweetened sugary drinks; avoid confectionery products that have yeast and breads, reduce the intake of caffeine and alcohol, and also avoid fruits that have fructose. Before you start any yeast free diet, it is better that you consult your physician, so that you can have an opinion of what foods to avoid and which ones to include.

Reverse Osmosis

Reverse Osmosis

Water is one if not the most essential attribute that our body needs. In fact almost 70% of our body is made up of water. Without it we cannot function or ultimately survive. However, in today’s world it is not possible to always ensure that we are drinking safe and hygienic water. Many times, we will be confronted with situation where we have unknowingly consumed contaminated water. This contaminated water can have dangerous implications for the body and will affect our digestive system.

To combat contaminated water and hazardous chemicals found in the water, many people turn to reverse osmosis. A system of reverse osmosis removes anything that is larger or heavier than the water molecule.

Our bodies cannot survive on salt water. In fact, our bodies cannot even withstand it. The difference between salt and fresh water is that they are separated by semi permeable membrane. This allows fresh water to flow through the salt water. Reverse osmosis uses pressure to move the salt water through the membrane and filter out the fresh water which will be extracted.

Not only is the salt water separated from the fresh water, other harmful chemicals and minerals are also removed. These contaminants can come in all shapes and sizes and range from naturally occurring chemicals to these induce by industrialization and pollution. Impurities may be found at lesser levels which won’t really harm a person immediately but over a course of time, constant exposure can call illness as severe as liver damage and cancer. E coli, Chlorine, Lead, and Arsenic, Pesticides, Sulphur and Radioactive materials are just some of the chemicals that reverse osmosis can help to combat with.

In areas where fresh water sources are scarce, Reverse osmosis can be a cheap and safe way to desalinate seawater. Reverse osmosis is a generally easy formula to replicate, hence the surge of different home water systems in the market.

A reverse osmosis drinking water system can offer many advantages to a homeowner. This is especially true for homeowners who deal with water problems in their area. The unit consists of various kinds of filters, a storage tank for the water and a faucet which will release clean water when desired. A good system can remove anywhere up to 90% or more of the dangerous contaminants that would be found otherwise. As a bonus it will also remove any odor that the water may have.

The result of using a reverse osmosis system is simple. It gives you cleaner and safer water than your tap or well water would. Since we drink so much water and depend on it for our wellness, it is important to take measures which ensure that we have the best of it at all times.

Feel Better With Alkaline Foods

Feel Better With Alkaline Foods

Alkaline is another term for base. One of the very popular topics in chemistry is about acid and bases. You can consider yourself healthy if you are eating foods rich in alkaline. A lot of diseases are linked to acidic environment inside the body. Unhealthy people are possibly acidic. Cells can be very healthy when they are in the right ph level.

There are lots of things you can do to achieve the right alkaline level you need to be healthy. There are lots of natural alkaline foods and supplements these days that will provide you the desired ph level you should have. In today’s uncertain times, it is better to give your body the best since life is hard and very stressful.

Since acid and alkaline are chemically opposite, increase acid level in the body may destroy your cells. People’s main objective in making their body alkaline is to have an adequate ph level. Having the right ph level will make your body capable of healing itself properly. When you balance your acid and alkaline level for 75% alkaline to 25% acid ratio, you’ll surely experience tone nerves and organs, it will keep you calm and be very reflective.

You should engage in eating sour fruits, green vegetables, yogurt, and milk. Green leafy vegetables are a very good source of alkaline foods. Acid stimulating foods like tea, coffee, drugs, soft drinks, and alcohol should be avoided. These foods are extremely acidic and should be taken in a minimal amount. A person who consumes white flour and sugar increases higher acid level in the body than those who don’t.

Artificial sweeteners for diabetic patients are rich in acid. Eliminating unnecessary food that’s rich in acid will definitely allow alkaline formation that will soon prevent you from being sick later on in life. Eating high calcium foods will eliminate acid in the body. Being too acidic will take your necessary calcium in your bones. Consuming foods such as cheese, yogurt, milk, cabbage, tofu and others will improve your health.

Eating more foods that are alkaline in nature can make a big impact on your reserves. There are important minerals that are alkaline giver; they are potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Avoid junk foods that add acid in the body. Processed foods create acid residue inside the body, this residue is not good for the body. They are a big contributor of different kinds of diseases in the body.

They actually produce malignant cells that promote the birth of a new cancer tissue. Nitrates are chemicals present on processed foods; this chemical is known to be very carcinogenic. Alkaline foods have antioxidant that helps to fight free radicals in the body. The human body should have at least 7.35-7.45 alkaline ph in the blood. If your ph balance is below this range, it is not a good indication of being healthy. Animal based foods were found to have high acid content that can lead to acidosis and allows the decrease of minerals and vitamin absorption in the body.

How to Make Alkaline Water

How to Make Alkaline Water

The food and drink that we include in our daily routine add to the acidic waste dumped in the body. Apart from this the daily stress and pollution are a great cause of acids added to the bloodstream. The pH level of the internal fluids has an effect on the cells in the body. This alteration in the pH disturbs the normal environment of the body and creates negativity in the functioning of the cells and the important organs of the body.

To hydrate the body optimally, it is important to drink alkaline and mineral rich water. The alkaline water helps in neutralizing the acids and removes the toxins from the body. It also improves the electrochemical activity of the cells. The water that we usually drink should have a pH of 8 or 9.

There are three main ways in which how to make alkaline water:

• By using a distiller

• Adding alkaline ingredients to water

• Making use of a water ioniser

Making use of a distiller is the most effective and efficient way in which you can alkalinize and purify water. The process removes all the virus and bacteria and organic and inorganic contaminants. Once the water is distilled it is in its pure form. Distilled water is made by turning normal water into steam and then is condensed back into the water. This process is said to kill all the impurities and removes the toxins that are acidic resulting in making the water slightly alkaline.

There are many ingredients that can increase the alkalinity of water. It is better to opt for natural ingredients or those that have been used over and over. Lemon water is the best form of alkalized water and is also a very healthy drink. You can squeeze lemon juice into normal water. It also helps in detoxifying the liver and the kidneys.

Adding pH drops to the water is also a good way in making the water alkaline. These drops alkalize the water intensely. You can easily find a number of pH drops available in the market. Ask for it at any health store and you can find them easily. Baking soda can also be used to increase the pH of the water effectively. As soon as you add baking soda to a cup of water the pH increases rapidly to 9 or maybe 10 also. This depends on the pH of the water before adding soda.

There are also water ionisers available in the market. Water is ionized by running it over positive and negative electrodes. This separates water into alkaline and acidic forms. This is beneficial as you can use the alkaline water for drinking and the acidic water for other purposes. However, water ionisers are more expensive as compared to distillers but they are user-friendly. You just need to attach them to the tap and produce water according to the pH you desire. It is best suggested to buy a water ioniser rather than making your own ionized water.

Foods That Will Make Your Body More Alkaline

Foods That Will Make Your Body More Alkaline

Do you feel like you have no energy? Are you having problems because you are sickly? The delicate issue regarding pH level in the body is surrounding these days. There is surprising number of diseases arising these days, primarily because the alkaline level in the human body tremendously goes down and acid takes place. As the acid level increases, an imbalance in the body happens and this can cause digestive problems. Lots of people are now experiencing acidosis problems because of lifestyle and poor diet.

The typical diets of modern people are composed of acid rich foods such as proteins, sugars and cereals. Facing vast amount of stress can also be a direct cause of acid formation in the body. There are lots of ways to boost the alkalinity inside the body, if you will only follow the basic lifestyle ancient people practiced, there will never be any one affected by acidifying foods. Eating the right amount and types of foods will help you improve the alkaline level of your body. People needs to eat right to have a better immunity, as the body’s alkaline level increases, the more it can fight infections and bacteria that causes diseases. Here are some foods you can eat which will boost your alkalinity:

1. Fruits

a. Apples

b. Bananas

c. Grapefruit

d. Orange

e. Pineapple

f. Raisins

g. Nectarines

h. Blackberries

i. Date fruit

2. Vegetables

a. Carrots broccoli

b. Cabbage

c. Cauliflower

d. Celery eggplant

e. Mushroom

f. Squash turnips

g. Wheatgrass

h. Spinach

i. Orchards

These foods can also aid in promoting the alkalinity of the body:

• Bean sprouts

• Olive oil

• Almonds

• Chestnuts

• Fresh coconuts

• Molasses

• Maple syrup

• Honey

• Millet

• Egg

It is not just important to have some food to eat on the table. You should also be aware of what you are eating. What you eat is what you become so always be careful and watch out for acidifying foods that may cause damage in your body in the long run. The body’s pH level should be at least 7, below this range may mean disease or ailments. If the body’s pH goes below 6, it may mean serious disease you should be alarmed. During this level, the cells and other parts of the body may not function well and this may cause various diseases taking place.

Studies have shown that when the human body’s alkaline level goes beyond normal, the organs and cells may not function well and this can result in longer healing time. The human body is designed to heal itself when needed. Through proper nourishment this capacity can be possible. When you eat lots of acid forming foods the body is having will have a hard time heal on its own. There are lots of diseases that can be a result of unbalanced pH level in the body. If you want to remain updated, you can try conducting your own pH test level through the use of a litmus paper.

What Kind of Food Is Brain Food?

What Kind of Food Is Brain Food?

Brain foods are the healthy foods that we eat that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals. These are the foods which stimulate the brain, provide emotional balance, nourishment, protect the brain from toxins and support the overall health of the brain. There are some brain foods that have been attributed in making people smart or having above averaged intelligence, but overall these are actually the same necessary nutritional requirements that the body needs to be healthy and fit as much as possible.

If you want to know more about foods that keep the brain fully functional and healthy for a long time you need to remember to include the following in your diet.

You should eat egg yolks as these contain Choline which is a healthy substance that the brain needs to lessen Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related mental deficiencies. The other good sources of choline are flax seeds and peanuts. Spinach is also a good brain food because it aids in the learning capacity of the individual and it protects the brain from age-related diseases. Tuna is also a brain food that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that keep the brain cells active and healthy. It is rich in vitamin B and niacin which helps reduce Alzheimer’s disease.

Eating cranberries improve memory, balance and coordination. Sweet potatoes provide nourishment to the brain because they have vitamin B6, carbohydrates and anti-oxidants. Strawberries improve the learning and motor skills of a person because it provides the brain with a good dose of vitamin C. Eating kidney beans improve memory and lessen mood disorders. Raisin bran helps the brain relax and reduces headaches and migraines. Wheat germ is rich in vitamin E, selenium, choline and magnesium which are all good nutrients and anti-oxidants for the brain.

Try to include salmon in your diet because it is good brain food that is rich in omega-3 fats, proteins and low saturated fats. Cacao beans just like coffee beans in their natural forms improve cognitive functions of the brain, improve memory and moods. Eating blueberries would be also good for the brain because these are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, as well as proteins and anti-oxidants which make the brain function better.

The other brain foods are those rich in proteins such as fish, meat, milk and cheese. Proteins are considered the building blocks for most body tissues and nerves and they help improve mental functions of the brain. Carbohydrates break into glucose which the brain uses as its source of energy and these are found in fruits and vegetables that we eat.

Good fats such as omega-3 fats are important to the brain as these help in improving memory and boosting IQ. Eat plenty of fish like salmon, tuna, sardines, herring, mackerel, trout and anchovies. Good fats also reduces mental disorders such ADHD and dyslexia. Minerals and vitamins like A, C and E help the brain function well.

Ginkgo biloba is good for blood circulation for both the body and brain. It improves brain memory and keeps the brain mentally alert. Brahmi is a type of herb that improves intelligence and memory, enhances alertness and induces calming effects on the brain. That is why this is popular among students who need to focus on their mental alertness and boost their memory abilities. This is usually taken as a vegetable capsule supplement and is also prescribed to people with ADHD and Alzheimer’s disease.

How to Eat Oatmeal as a Healthy Alternative

How to Eat Oatmeal as a Healthy Alternative

The habit of eating oatmeal has its health benefits. Oatmeal is usually eaten at breakfast though others make it as a snack or early evening meal. It is good for the young and old and is one of the most convenient healthy foods to prepare.

The health benefits of oatmeal is that it lowers cholesterol, it is high in fiber, it is low in fat, it has calcium, iron and other nutrients and vitamins, it is good for the heart, it helps in weight control, reduces type 2 diabetes and combats certain cancers. Since you know all of these health benefits, you can take your oatmeal in many ways to keep it a delicious and healthy meal at the same time.

It would be wise to choose what kind of oats you have in your oatmeal. There are the instant oatmeal packs and there are the old fashioned oats. The difference between the two is that the old fashioned oaks take a little more time to cook and are healthier than the instant oats. But, it is just as easy to just put a bowl of these in the microwave and cooking time is done in a few minutes.

Oats that look like kernels are known as Irish oats which have a denser and chewier texture and they require a slow cooking time as long as 30 minutes. These are the healthiest oats and are the most preferred. The rolled or old fashioned oats take about 5-7 minutes to cook. Quick oats are similar to rolled oats except that these are smaller in size and take about 3-5 minutes to cook. Then, there is the instant oatmeal which is dried and precooked. There is also sugar, salt and other additives in it and cooking takes only 2-3 minutes. This is the least healthy of all the oats.

You can choose which oats you prefer but the healthy choice would be any of the old fashioned oats. If you have time to cook it, then you get the healthy benefits the oats offer. Besides, you can add some more healthy ingredients in your oats such as blueberries, raisins, dates, slices of bananas, fresh strawberries, and apples. You can also add crushed walnuts, cashew and other nuts you prefer. You can add soya milk or any low fat milk in your oats. This would make your oats healthier because you get more calcium, protein and vitamin D. To make it taste a bit different, you can add cinnamon or a bit of butter. You can add honey instead of sugar to make it sweeter.

Now that you know how to eat oatmeal in its healthiest form, you can’t go wrong with it. It is always a healthy alternative and can be included in your diet. Oatmeal is a good choice because of the healthy benefits it gives, it is convenient to prepare and it is delicious. You can take it hot or cold, you can eat it in a bowl or you can drink it in a mug and it would last you until your next meal.

Peanut Butter Nutrition

Peanut Butter Nutrition

Peanuts are loved by everyone due to their good taste. Fact is that they are not only delicious but also nutritious and can be consumed regularly in limited quantities. If you know about the facts of peanut butter nutrition then you would love to take peanuts more than ever. This article presents a list of facts pertaining to the peanut butter nutrition.

Proteins are essential for maintaining well built muscles. Generally, legumes are rich sources of plant proteins. Among legumes or nuts, peanuts are highly superior with very large amount of proteins. The protein content found in peanuts is in par with the proteins found in meats and is very good to consume peanut butter or peanuts regularly by people who consume only the vegetarian diet. Peanut butter along with a glass of milk meets the daily protein requirement of the body.

Another important component of peanuts and peanut butter that offers health benefits is unsaturated fats. You can keep your cholesterol levels under control by consuming unsaturated fats. As peanuts are rich source of unsaturated fats, consume them regularly in the form of peanut butter which is delicious to safeguard yourself from coronary heart diseases.

Fiber is essential to maintain a healthy digestive system. Peanuts contain high amount of fiber that is sufficient to meet the daily needs.

Another important factor present in peanut butter that is shown to maintain a healthy heart and reduce the risk of coronary heart diseases is vitamin E. It is just because vitamin E serves as an antioxidant and helps to eliminate the toxins out of the body.

Peanut butter is also a rich source of minerals such as copper, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Copper and magnesium that are rarely found in plant foods are abundant in peanuts. These minerals help to maintain a healthy heart and will protect you from coronary heart diseases.

Another component present in peanut butter that also aids to maintain a healthy heart is phytochemical resveratrol. Another benefit of this phyto-chemical is that it protects you from becoming a victim of cancer.

With such a big list of benefits, peanut butter is the best food for individuals who are on fad diet so as to lose weight. It helps to provide the needed amount of calories and all the nutrients. However, if you wish to build your muscles after losing weight then you may have to boost your diet with carbohydrate rich foods as peanut butter is a poor source of carbohydrates. Hence, lose weight naturally by having peanut butter without the use of any supplements or investing huge amounts on those fad diets.

As seen from the above, peanut butter is rich in a variety of nutrients that promote the health of your heart. Hence, have it in the form of peanut butter sandwiches, as an addition in salads and pasta. Thus, enjoy perfect health by having a healthy delicious meal. If you love to have snacks in the evenings, then make a jar full of peanut butter cookies and store them and enjoy eating it every day.

Hospitals reform parking permits

Hospitals reform parking permits

CHANGES to the way parking permits are allocated at the county’s hospitals will not affect volunteers, according to the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust.

In the past, volunteers were each given their own permit, now they will all be stored centrally by hospital departments and given out just for the time a volunteer needs to park when they are helping out at one of the hospitals managed by the trust – the John Radcliffe and Churchill, in Headington, and The Horton, in Banbury.

An ORH trust spokesman said: “We would like to reassure all our volunteers that should they require a parking permit while volunteering for us, they will be entitled to one.

“This has always been the case.

“The only change is that now permits are given direct to the ward or department and are pooled, rather than each volunteer being issued with an individual permit.”

Time for tea and raise cash for Bristol Children's Hospital

Time for tea and raise cash for Bristol Children's Hospital

Schools and businesses across Bristol have been putting the kettle on to raise money for the children's hospital.

Over the past two weeks six organisations held a traditional tea party to raise money for the Wallace and Gromit Children's Foundation, which donates money to the hospital.

More than 100,000 people across the UK took part in the tea parties which coincided with Wallace and Gromit's 20th anniversary.

Clifton College held its grand tea party yesterday. Children, parents and staff from the prep and pre-prep school tucked into cakes made by the pupils in their after-school cookery club.

The dynamic duo's latest flick, A Matter of Loaf and Death, was shown on a big screen in the school's hall. Pupils also wore non-uniform clothing on the day.

Family business Brinsea Products in Winscombe, who make egg incubators, also held its tea party yesterday.

Juliette Woodland, 45, office manager, said: "Even if we make just £20 it will be good. If every company did that it would be a lot."

SACO in Clifton, which handles corporate apartments, tucked into cheesecake, flapjacks and scones throughout the day yesterday.

Bridget Kelly, 38, office manager, said: "We wanted to support Wallace and Gromit because they're from Bristol and we also love cake."

Broadway Infants School, Yate, held their party last Friday. It also held a raffle with Wallace and Gromit inspired gifts. One parent, a professional cake maker, gave a cake with Wallace's face on and another with Gromit's, which raised £170. Jo Joans, 38, chairman of the school's friends committee, said: "It's a campaign close to a few of the parents' hearts."

Looking for a way to simplify FLSA tests?

Looking for a way to simplify FLSA tests?

Many methods exist for employers to classify employees as exempt or not exempt from overtime pay. However, most of these methods are paper-based, time-consuming, and are prone to error.

There is a solution! For 25 years, businesses and organizations have been using The Overtime Expert to help them determine AND document the overtime exemption status of their employees. This FLSA software is inexpensive, easy-to-use, and provides proof of due diligence.

How the Overtime Expert Works

The Overtime Expert is a web-based, automated check-off system that takes you through the various exemption tests specified in the overtime provisions of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FairPay).

Each FLSA duties test performed using The Overtime Expert is stored for future use on our server, and the findings can be printed and/or downloaded in an editable (.doc) format. Our program is 100% accurate, and provides proof that your classifications are up-to-date with the current Department of Labor overtime regulations.

Proper use of The Overtime Expert will help reduce the probability, impact, and potential damaging findings during a Department of Labor audit. As job responsibilities are changing, ensure all positions exempt from overtime are properly classified.

Need A Helping Hand? Just Infect A Stranger With A Cooperative GeneNeed A Helping Hand? Just Infect A Stranger With A Cooperative Gene

Need A Helping Hand? Just Infect A Stranger With A Cooperative Gene

Cooperation is seen in every corner of life from microbes to humans, many times with no obvious advantages to those that provide it at high costs. Given the existence of "freeloading cheaters" ready to exploit the resources of those cooperating, why is it that cooperation persist? In an article now published in the journal Current Biology Nogueira and colleagues suggest that in bacteria this can result from highly mobile genes that "jump" from one cell to the next carrying the cooperative traits, effectively turning everyone into a cooperator. They also show that, at least in Escherichia coli (E. coli), this new population remains stable through "punisher" genes that impose a mafia-like strategy of "cooperation or death", ensuring that the new cooperators do not revert to freeloading. The work by shedding some light on the complex interactions of microbes that ultimately determine which bacteria thrive or disappear can have important implications for both human health and economy.

Scientists now agree that cooperation thrives if it benefits the cooperator or/and its relatives. The logic behind this last behaviour resides in the fact that to benefit relatives - which are genetically very similar to the cooperator is to increase the probability that shared genes, including the cooperative traits, will pass to the next generation. Natural selection that preserves cooperative behaviours benefiting relatives sometimes even at a cost to the cooperator's survival and/or reproduction is called kin selection. Classic examples of kin selection in action are "watchers" individuals that, at the expense of their own security, guard and raise the alarm in the community or the sterile workers found in ants and honey bees colonies. So cooperation is affected not only by its costs and benefits, but also by the genetic similarity between cooperator and those benefiting from the behaviour, with higher relatedness increasing the probability of cooperation occur.

Following this idea Teresa Nogueira (Centre for Environmental Biology, Univ. Lisbon, and Superior School of Health Technology of Oporto, Portugal), Eduardo P.C. Rocha and colleagues, at the Institute Pasteur and the UPMC Univ. Paris 06 (Paris, France) while trying to understand cooperation among bacteria wondered if horizontal gene transfer a non-sexual process, very common in bacteria, where genes "jump" from one individual to another by increasing the genetic similarity between "infected" individuals, could lead to cooperation via kin selection. Using mathematical tools and adding the effect of horizontal gene transfer to costs, benefits and genetic similarity the researchers confirmed that theoretically at least highly mobile genes carrying cooperative traits should promote cooperation, which is then be maintained by kin selection.

To confirm this hypothesis Nogueira and colleagues looked at E.coli, which is an abundant microorganism in the human gut flora, where the bacteria typically live in a mutually beneficial relationship with humans. However, changes in its social interactions with other microbes and/or the human host can turn E. coli into an extremely virulent organism, making it a particular interesting subject for this study. Not only that, but many of E. coli vital functions depend on secreted proteins (the so called secretome) that are easily exploited by other microbes, turning E. coli into a potential "collaborator", even if an unintentional one.

The work now published analyses 21 E. coli genomes and their secretome genes and starts by finding that only a very small percentage of them are part of the "core genome" those genes shared by all the strains of the species so, supposedly, those linked to functions crucial for survival what agrees with the idea that the secretome contains cooperative traits, since, by definition, cooperative genes can be easily lost by natural selection.

Next Nogueira and colleagues try to identify the proteins of the secretome by comparing them to a large known sample from the human gut. And in fact, several of them were potential cooperative traits but, and even more interesting, they also found many E. coli secretome genes in other bacteria. This agrees with Nogueira's prediction that cooperative traits accumulate in highly mobile genes that, by "moving around", increase the genetic similarity of previously unrelated bacteria (in this case, even across species). This conclusion was further supported by the fact that large part of the secretome was found to be coded by a piece of extra-chromosomal DNA called plasmid, which is, simply, the most mobile part of the whole bacterial genome

Finally, secreted proteins are costly as they are not recycled and if Nogueira's hypothesis was correct - as cooperative traits liable to be exploited by cheaters, they should be under intense selection pressure. And indeed the secretome was found to comprise the proteins least expensive to produce in the entire organism, consistent with cooperation costs.

A last question remained - if highly mobile cooperative genes, by jumping between individuals, turn everyone into a cooperator, in the same way their mobility should lead them to be easily lost, creating, yet again, a new freeloading population. So how is this avoided? One way would be by imposing punishments and this possibility led Nogueira and colleagues to search for proteins known to stabilize gene integration by "punishing" the organism if the gene is lost.

And indeed they found two such mechanisms - the "Restriction Modification" and the "Bacterial Toxin Antitoxin" system. Both systems work as a complex of two genes where one provokes the death of the host if the other goes missing. In E. coli these systems were found next to the secretome genes suggesting that the stability of the new cooperator population is maintained by making the cost of losing the cooperative trait higher then the benefit of becoming a freeloader.

In conclusion, Nogueira and colleagues' work showed that the secreted proteins of E. coli behave as cooperative traits - they are part of the "disposable" part of the genome, show signs of intense selective pressure and some were even identified as potential cooperative traits. In agreement with the researchers' model most of the genes coding for the secretome are located in the highest mobile part of the bacterial genome and found to be shared by other bacteria. This last increased genetic similarity allows the cooperative traits to stay in the population through kin selection, while "punisher" genes further assure the stability of the new population via a "cooperate or die" policy.

These results strongly suggests that like Nogueira proposed cooperation among bacteria can be enforced by extremely mobile genes containing the cooperative traits that jumping between individuals turn them into cooperators. This new population is then maintained by kin selection and punishment.

Microbes are used in a variety of jobs important for humans, from cleaning petroleum oil of the oceans or wastage treatment to food growth, and, of course, they are crucial agents of disease and health. They are also extremely social organisms normally living in a mix of many different species - the flora of the human gut is a good example with different populations growing more or less in result of the social interaction between them and/or the host. Nogueira, Rocha and colleagues' work is an important step in the understanding of these complex relationships and might contribute one day for better ways of manipulating bacterial growth, whether with the intention of stopping pathogenic populations or to stimulate beneficial ones. In the specific case of E. coli this knowledge is particularly important as many of its cooperative traits are virulence factors capable of turning a normally innocuous bacteria into a life-threatening dangerous pathogen.

Source: Ciencia Viva

Low Birth Weight And Diabetes Have A Common Genetic Background

Low birth weight increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Until recently scientists had attributed this to maternal malnutrition during pregnancy. However, now it seems that genetic background may also play a major role. A research team of Technische Universität München and Helmholtz Zentrum München has now demonstrated, that gene variants which influence insulin metabolism can also affect birth weight.

In the BABYDIAB study led by Professor Anette Gabriele Ziegler, director of the Institut fur Diabetesforschung der Forschergruppe Diabetes e.V. at Helmholtz Zentrum München and Forschergruppe Diabetes at the Technische Universität München analyzed the data of 729 children whose mothers had type 1 diabetes and who thus had a higher diabetes risk.

The scientists investigated the genetic background of fetuses for alterations in individual DNA bases, termed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Here they focused on three gene regions which are known to be risk alleles for diabetes caused by reduced insulin secretion. They looked at these in relation to birth weight.

It turned out that there was a significant association between the two SNPs of the HHEX-IDE gene region and low birth weight. This was independent of HbA1c levels (long-term blood glucose levels) of the expectant mother, indicating a lesser correlation between maternal nutrition and blood glucose regulation. "Interestingly, we found this effect in children whose mothers had type 1 diabetes. This could mean that an a priori reduced insulin secretion also plays a role in the development of autoimmune type 1 diabetes," explained Dr. Christiane Winkler of the Forschergruppe Diabetes at Helmholtz Zentrum München and first author of the publication.

In contrast, the researchers found no correlation between the two SNPs of the other gene regions that were studied (CDKAL1 and SLC30A8) and birth weight. However, this does not entirely exclude an association such an effect could become apparent with higher numbers of participants. "Indications of genetic associations are usually only found in very large populations. As we see here, it is important to substantiate these in smaller, but very well-phenotyped study populations. We can thus gain information about the possible mechanism of the original results", emphasized PD Dr. Thomas Illig, head of the Epidemiology Biological Samples Genomics research unit at Helmholtz Zentrum München.

With their findings, the Munich researchers have come a step closer to understanding the underlying genetic mechanisms of diabetes diseases. "Next, we want to investigate whether the genetic associations observed in this study could also have an effect on body weight later in life. Due to the long-term BABYDIAB study, which has run continuously since 1989, this data already exists," Christiane Winkler explained.

Source: Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen

Discovery Of Potential Drug Target For Neurological Diseases

A team of scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) report their success in solving the molecular structure of a key portion of a cellular receptor implicated in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other serious illnesses.

Assistant Professor Hiro Furukawa, Ph.D., and colleagues at CSHL, in cooperation with the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory, obtained crystal structures for one of several "subunits" of the NMDA receptor. This receptor, formally called the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, belongs to a family of cellular receptors that mediate excitatory nerve transmission in the brain.

Excitatory signals represent the majority of nerve signals in most regions of the human brain. One theory of causation in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis posits that excessive amounts of the excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate, can cause an overstimulation of glutamate receptors, including the NMDA receptor. Such excitotoxicity, the theory holds, can cause nerve-cell death and subsequent neurological dysfunction.

A class of inhibitors of the NMDA receptor under the generic name Memantine has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in moderate and severe cases of Alzheimer's. Memantine is a non-specific inhibitor of the NMDA receptor and is neither a cure nor an agent that can halt progression of the disease. The search is well under way for molecules that can shut down the NMDA receptor with much greater specificity. The CSHL team's work pertains directly to that effort.

The NMDA receptor is modular, composed of multiple domains with distinct functional roles. Part of the receptor is lodged in the membrane of nerve cells and part juts out from the membrane. Furukawa's CSHL team focused on a portion of the so-called extracellular domain of the receptor, a subunit called NR2B, which includes a domain of particular interest called the ATD (the amino terminal domain).

"This part is of great interest to us because it has very little in common with ATDs in other kinds of glutamate receptors involved in nerve transmission," says Furukawa. Its uniqueness makes it a potentially interesting target for future drugs. "Our interest is even keener because we already know there are a rich spectrum of small molecules that can bind the ATD of NMDA receptors."

Without a highly detailed molecular picture of the ATD, however, efforts to rationally design inhibitors cannot proceed. Hence the importance of Furukawa's achievement: a crystal structure revealed by the powerful light source at Brookhaven National Laboratory, that shows the ATD to have a "clamshell"-like appearance that is important for its function. The results are published in a paper appearing online Thursday ahead of print in The EMBO Journal, the publication of the European Molecular Biology Organization.

The team obtained structures of the ATD domain with and without zinc binding to it. Zinc is a natural ligand that docks at a spot within the "clamshell" in routine functioning of the NMDA receptor. Of much greater interest is the location and nature of a suspected binding site of a small molecule type that is known to bind the ATD and inhibit the action of the NMDA receptor.

These inhibitor molecules are members of a class of compounds called phenylethanolamines which "have high efficacy and specificity and show some promise as neuroprotective agents without side effects seen in compounds that bind at the extracellular domain of other receptors," Furukawa explains. Now that his team has solved the structure of the ATD domain of the NR2B subunit, it becomes possible to proceed with rational design of a phenylethanolamine-like compound that can precisely bind the ATD within what Furukawa and colleagues call its "clamshell cleft," based on the crystal structure they have obtained.

Glucose Control in Type 2 Diabetes: Review of Cardiovascular Outcomes

Because recent reports have raised questions about the benefits and risks of intensive control of glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes (JW Gen Med Jul 30 2009), investigators conducted a systematic review that was focused on cardiovascular disease (CVD; i.e., coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease) outcomes.

In pooled analyses of data from five studies that each involved >500 adults (treatment duration, 3–11 years), intensive glucose control lowered risk for CVD (relative risk, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.83–0.98; 15 fewer events per 1000 patients during 5 years) and coronary heart disease specifically (RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81–0.96; 11 fewer events per 1000 patients during 5 years). No significant differences were noted for stroke, heart failure, CVD-related mortality, or all-cause mortality. Intensive glucose control prevented nonfatal myocardial infarction (RR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.75–0.94) but not fatal MI, nonfatal stroke, fatal stroke, or peripheral artery disease. Intensive glucose control doubled the relative risk for severe hypoglycemia — an absolute excess of 39 events per 1000 patients during 5 years.

Comment: This systematic review confirms data presented in several recent reviews of intensive glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes — nonfatal MI is less common with intensive control, other outcomes are not affected significantly, and substantial risk for severe hypoglycemia is incurred. This paper also provides useful information about absolute risks for different outcomes. Like others, these authors recommend lifestyle modification, "glucose control that minimizes hypoglycemia," blood pressure control, and lipid lowering to curtail cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes.

— Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine November 5, 2009
Citation(s):

Kelly TN et al. Systematic review: Glucose control and cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes. Ann Intern Med 2009 Sep 15; 151:394.

* Original article (Subscription may be required)
* Medline abstract (Free)

Comparison of Three Insulin Regimens

The industry-sponsored "4-T" study was designed to examine various insulin regimens in patients with type 2 diabetes. Researchers randomized 708 patients with type 2 diabetes who were taking metformin and a sulfonylurea (glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] level, 7%–10%) to receive one of three insulin regimens, added to their oral drugs:

* Once-daily basal insulin detemir (Levemir)
* Twice-daily biphasic insulin aspart (NovoMix 30)
* Thrice-daily prandial insulin aspart (NovoRapid)

During the trial, if HbA1c levels remained higher than 6.5% despite insulin titration, sulfonylurea was stopped and a second insulin was added (3 prandial injections added in the basal group; 1 lunchtime prandial injection added in the biphasic group; or 1 basal insulin injection added in the prandial group). One-year outcomes were reported in 2007 (JW Gen Med Oct 23 2007).

The researchers now report 3-year findings: HbA1c levels were similar in the three groups — about 7%. Mean weight gain was lower in the basal group (3.6 kg) than in the other two groups (about 6 kg). Hypoglycemia was least common in the basal group and most common in the prandial group.

Comment: The authors conclude that addition of once-daily basal insulin to oral therapy, with later addition of prandial insulin if needed, is preferred when one wishes to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. This conclusion is reasonable, given equivalent glycemic control and modestly less weight gain and hypoglycemia in the basal group compared with the other groups. However, these results should be viewed in the context of recent trials that failed to show improved outcomes with intensive glycemic control in similar patients (JW Gen Med Jun 6 2008 and JW Gen Med Dec 24 2008).

— Allan S. Brett, MD

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine November 5, 2009
Citation(s):

Holman RR et al. Three-year efficacy of complex insulin regimens in type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med 2009 Oct 29; 361:1736.

* Original article (Subscription may be required)
* Medline abstract (Free)

More on Adverse Effects of Antipsychotics on Children

An observational study details metabolic changes after 12 weeks of treatment with atypical antipsychotics.

During the past decade, pediatric prescriptions of atypical antipsychotics (AAs) increased fivefold, and more than 80% were for nonpsychotic diagnoses (JW Psychiatry Jun 23 2008, Jun 21 2006, and Sep 4 2002), notwithstanding reports of extreme weight gain at young ages (JW Psychiatry Apr 10 2002). These researchers evaluated the effect of AA use in 272 AA-naive patients from clinical settings (age range, 4–19 years; mean age, 14) who were prescribed olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, or aripiprazole; controls were 15 enrollees who refused treatment or became noncompliant.

In this open, nonrandomized, 12-week study, the investigators measured weight, height, body-mass index, lipid and glucose levels, insulin resistance, fat mass, and waist circumference at baseline and after AA exposure. Diagnoses included schizophrenia, affective disorders, and aggression. Treating physicians could change dosing and prescribe other medications.

At a median of 11 weeks, mean weight gain was significant in medicated patients (4.4–8.5 kg) but not in controls (0.2 kg). All AAs except aripiprazole were associated with lipid level abnormalities. Weight gain of 7% or more of baseline weight occurred in most medicated patients (range: quetiapine, 56% of patients; olanzapine, 84%).

Comment: These data are consistent with reports of gravely harmful and pervasive adverse effects of AAs on children's development. Common sense should point clinicians to consultations on nutrition and exercise. Children on AAs, however, often present with voracious appetites that are unlikely to be amenable to dietary measures. A few studies (e.g., JW Psychiatry Jan 12 2007) have shown promising results with metformin, which might help some children. Neither metformin for AA-induced weight gain nor AAs for many child psychiatric disorders are FDA-approved indications. Pediatricians and family physicians should carefully consider obtaining child psychiatry consultations before prescribing AAs. Clinicians need to carefully consider both nondrug and non-AA first-line interventions for childhood nonpsychotic disorders.

Mold Spores Allergy – Symptoms & Treatment

What is Mold?

Molds (in British English = moulds) are a type of multi-cellular fungi (as opposed to yeasts that are one-cell fungi). Molds are widely present in nature – they break down organic substances.

Mildew is a type of fungi that appear on plants (outdoor and indoor). In practice, a term mildew is often used for any mold growth.

How is Small Vessel Disease treated?

Question

How is Small Vessel Disease treated?

Answer

Most patients with small vessel disease are treated with long-term medications, such as medications that widen blood vessels or anti-clotting drugs, as well as medications that control blood pressure, cholesterol, or underlying medical conditions such as diabetes that increase the risk of small vessel disease. Treatment for small vessel disease also focuses on lifestyle changes targeted at reducing the risk factors for progression of blockages in the coronary arteries, such as stopping smoking, controlling blood pressure, and maintaining a healthy diet.

Weight loss aided by social support

Weight loss is tough and you can’t always do it on your own. In recent years, the value of group support – both online and face-to-face – has been highlighted for successful weight loss. A new study shows that the intense support and involvement of friends and family can help speed up the weight loss process.

A team at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, devised a program called SHARE (Supporting Healthy Activity and eating Right Everyday) which is a culturally specific weight loss program. The participants were African American women or men who enrolled either on their own or with one or two family and friends. The trial ran for two years and the target was to get to 5-10% weight loss.

The program covered counseling, self-monitoring, use of pedometers, group sessions involving weight and activity checks and skill building, and group gym visits and cooking demonstrations. A total of 63 individuals enrolled alone and 130 with friends or partners (151 of these). Those attending with a support partner were further divided into two groups – high support, where the partner shared everything, and low support, where some activities were engaged in alone. Progress was measured at six, 12, 18 and 24 months. After 24 months, main participants – with or without partners – lost an average of five pounds. Those in the support groups had better attendance and better weight loss than those attending alone, but these differences were not significant.

However, those whose partners attended the more personally tailored counseling lost more weight at six months. And those whose partner lost at least 5% body weight had more weight loss than those whose partners lost less than this. In other words, losing weight as a team – husband and wife, say – is motivating and can boost your success.

Source

Kumanyika SK et al Trial of family and friend support for weight loss in African American adults Archives of Internal Medicine October 26 2009; 169:1795-1804

No Proven Cardiac Benefit for Aspirin in Diabetes

People with diabetes are at a high risk for cardiovascular disease.Most major medical society guidelines recommend aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular events in people with diabetes.

These guidelines are based on evidence from clinical trials showing the benefit of aspirin in patients who are at a high risk of cardiovascular disease. However, Italian researchers recently concluded that there is not sufficient evidence to prove a clear benefit of aspirin in preventing major cardiovascular events in people with diabetes. Their findings were published online November 6, 2009 in the journal BMJ.

Scientists reviewed the literature, looking specifically at six trials comparing aspirin with placebo or no aspirin in over 10,000 people with diabetes who had not been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. When they combined all of the data from these six trials, the researchers found no statistically significant differences in the risk of major cardiovascular events, cardiovascular death, all-cause death, heart attack, or stroke in people with diabetes who were treated with aspirin. They did find that men, but not women, with diabetes who took aspirin had a 43 percent reduced risk of heart attack.

The analysis also showed inconsistent evidence related to the harms of aspirin treatment in people with diabetes. Based on their findings, the researchers suggest that physicians need to very carefully select the diabetes patients who are more likely to benefit from aspirin.

Source:

BMJ 2009;339:b4531, doi: 10.1136/bmj.b4531 (Published 6 November 2009)

Pleural effusion

Pleural effusion is a medical condition where fluid accumulates in the pleural cavity which surrounds the lungs, making it hard to breath.

Pleural effusion can result from reasons such as:

• lung cancer
• infection such as pneumonia or tuberculosis
• autoimmune disease such as lupus erythematosus
• heart failure
• bleeding, often due to chest trauma (hemothorax)
• low oncotic pressure of the blood plasma
• lymphatic obstruction
• accidental infusion of fluids

Congestive heart failure, bacterial pneumonia and lung cancer constitute the vast majority of causes in the developed countries, although tuberculosis is a common cause in the developing world.

In states of excess accumulation, pleural fluid can be sampled and evaluated to determine what disease state may be causing it. The evaluation consists of

• Gram stain and culture - identifies bacterial infections
• cell count and differential - differentiates exudative from transudative effusions
• cytology - identifies cancer cells, may also identify some infective organisms
• chemical composition including protein, lactate dehydrogenase, amylase, pH and glucose -differentiates exudative from transudative effusions
• other tests as suggested by the clinical situation - lipids, fungal culture, viral culture, specific immunoglobulins