Alcohol helps ease the shakes!

London: Scientists have claimed that alcohol can be used to treat tremors, a brain disorder that triggers exaggerated shaking and occurs during movement.

A team at the US National Institutes of Health claims that octanol -- a form of alcohol and a colourless ingredient in perfume -- may help treat tremor which can affect people of all ages, though it becomes more common after the age of 40.

In fact, the scientists begun investigating its use for tremor after observations that symptoms reduce significantly when sufferers drink alcohol. They set out to use a safe form of alcohol that doesn`t cause the damage associated with it.

According to them, around 80 per cent of patients have significant tremor reduction from drinking alcohol, a newspaper reported.

In one experiment, the scientists gave patients a single dose of one milligramme of octanol for each kilogramme of their weight, and found it significantly decreased tremor for up to 90 minutes.

And in the second experiment, people who had octanol had fewer symptoms of tremor after five hours than those given a placebo.

Tremor occurs during movement, but not at rest. It usually involves the arms and hands, though the head, face and feet can also be affected. In at least half of cases there is a family history, suggesting a faulty gene is to blame.

Other causes of similar tremor symptoms include an over-active thyroid  anti -epileptic medication and drugs used to treat psychiatric disorders. There is no cure though there are a few treatments.

It is thought tremor is caused by spontaneous activity in nerve cells in the areas of the brain that control movement.

One theory is that alcohol may help dampen this activity. It`s known that alcohol has some effect on this kind of movement because as well as reducing tremor, it can also cause it if drunk excessively.

"Essential tremor can cause significant distress or embarrassment. Some patients find they get useful benefits from alcohol, but this can give rise to regular drinking above the safe limits, which can damage nerve cells and lead to irreversible neurological problems.
"So, the potential emergence of a safe and non-
intoxicating alternative is of great interest," said Nicholas
Silver of The Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery, an
NHS hospital in Liverpool.

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How to drink and not add calories

Never thought it was possible to drink and watch your weight at the same time? It's time to get smart about it. No one can really ignore the empty calories additional sugar alcohol and its mixers bring into your body, but there are a few tricks to enjoying an occasional drink and keeping the love handles at bay. Here are a few dietfriendly drinking tips that can come in handy, especially as the festive and barbecue seasons comes calling.

Choose wisely
There are a few diet-friendly alcohols that pack in fewer empty calories and weight clinchers than others. If you are watching your weight and counting calories, you don't have to sit sipping juices at parties. Don't forget portion control in addition to selecting the right drink. A few good choices (less than 100 calories) are - a shot (25ml) of gin with diet tonic, a shot of white rum with a soda, a small glass of wine or champagne, or a single measure of whisky or brandy. Opt for light beer. Keep away from cream liqueurs or sangrias since they ride heavy on the calorie count.

Pace yourself
Alternate alcoholic drinks with mineral water or diet soft drinks. Make a glass of wine last longer by turning it into a spritzer - add sparkling water or lemonade. Not only does this reduce your chances of getting tipsy, it also hydrates the body and reigns in far fewer calories than the other heavy weights.

Be prepared
Avoid alcohol induced binges and cut down on calorie intake overall by being prepared. Fortify yourself with a healthy breakfast and lunch based on starchy carbohydrates (bread, rice, pasta, potatoes or cereal) along with a little protein (lean meat, fish or soya bean). If you think you won't be able to eat while you drink, have a pre-drink meal or light snack, ideally with some fat, to line the stomach and slow down the alcohol absorption into your system. A hearty sandwich or a bowl of porridge or yogurt is ideal.

Steer clear
A handful of peanuts have around 150 calories and a bag of chips has a deadly 183 calories. If it's a pre-meal lunch or dinner drink you're having, avoid these snacks altogether. Try waiting for your starters to arrive before you start drinking. If nibbles are necessary, breadsticks are a good option.

One at a time
Don't let others top up your glass. Finish a whole glass of your drink before you get another. This will ensure you know exactly how much you are consuming during the course of your session.

Morning after
If the next morning, you feel like you grossly overshot your limit and are nursing a headache, there is a healthier option for a fry-up that doesn't call for oodles of calories.

Try a lighter option of poached or scrambled eggs on a whole wheat bread. Eggs contain cysteine, which is siadi to break down the destructive chemicals that build up in the liver after a night of drinking. Milk, yogurt with fresh fruits, and poha are also simpler, healthier alternatives that will help ease your discomfort without much drama.

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Hangover beauty dos and don’ts

True, for some hangovers are the best after a night's drinking and having fun but for most people hangovers are their worst enemy. The pounding headache and the make-up smeared across your face can leave you looking unattractive the next morning. Follow the simple hangover beauty dos and don'ts to relieve you of the stress the next morning.

Prevention is the best cure
If you know that you are going to be out boozing, take some precaution. Before leaving, place a large glass of water and a high dose of multi-vitamin tablets near your bed. Water will help you if you are dehydrated and the vitamins will help you beat the alcohol off your system.

Drink healthy
Have a glass of fat free milk the next morning. The milk will help your body by providing protein, moisture and calcium which gets depleted with alcohol. Drink a cup of green tea to help your body fight the lowered resistance that comes with drinking.

Liven up your eyes
Sleep deprivation together with booze is a never winning combination. To get rid of the inevitable under eye dark circles the next morning, place cucumbers on your eyes for some time. Try and apply a toning gel with vitamin K to help restore the firmness and the elasticity around your eyes.

Hydrate yourself
Water is probably one of the only elements that helps fight hangovers the best. Hydrate yourself and your skin will not lose out on the moisture and you shall keep glowing even after a wild night party.

Fake it with make-up
When nothing works, your last resort is make-up. Go smoky on the eyes, to hide the puffy bags and nude on the lips which will lend lustre to them. Keep your mane open or tie it up in a ponytail to get the fresh look.

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You could be an alcoholic

They are all around you. For all you know, they might be among your friends, family, acquaintances or colleagues and until you discover their best-kept secret, you wouldn't even know they are alcoholics.

High-Functioning Alcoholics or HFAs, a fast-growing urban concern, are masters at appearing completely normal and leading double lives - efficiently managing their jobs, studies and relationships on one hand yet inwardly, remaining as compulsive as stereotypical alcoholics.
They are good workers, good parents, good spouses, good employees and so good at stealth that they convincingly carry out their roles and duties. However, a person's relationship to alcohol and their emotional dependence on it is what defines an alcoholic. Not the image they project to the outside world.

Pritam Datta, Founder, Living Free Foundation rehab centres, says most often, HFAs walk the tightrope until a close encounter with death or a life-changing event makes them lose something precious or blows their cover. "HFAs are least likely to seek treatment because they are in absolute denial. Their ego won't let them acknowledge it because they consider seeking help a sign of weakness. So the problem with identifying and helping HFAs is that they often don't meet the counselor's criteria for alcohol abuse, as they have managed to keep their personal and professional lives unaffected by it."

As many HFAs succeed or overachieve in their lives, denial comes as easily from themselves as it does from their co-workers, family and friends. Sarah Allen Benton, a reformed American HFA, in her book Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic emphasises on how people in powerful positions are often the hardest to detect and help.

"That is because they tend not to be closely supervised at work, they are assumed to be able to deal successfully with the pressures of their jobs, their high pay enables them to escape the financial consequences of excessive drinking, and they see drinking as their reward for hard work."

Psychiatrist Dr Yusuf Matcheswala says, "HFAs need their regular drink; at the touch of 9 pm every night; or look forward to drinking four-five times a week. Today's generation of work-hardparty-harder are increasingly falling into the HFA space. As they nurture this habit clandestinely, they are unaware of how their bodies are developing scary complications - liver and gastrointestinal problems, cholesterol issues, cerebral dysfunctionality, diabetes, sexual and sleep disorders. "Besides, the HFA's alcohol-tolerance level goes up and as he must drink more to feel the high, he further damages his body. His body is basically a disaster waiting to happen," adds Matcheswala.

A classic characteristic of HFAs is that the evening they have got their salary, they are at a bar, says Datta. "When they have a hangover, they will down a shot in the morning, which will offset it and fix them good to step out and face the world. Their logic is - I'm doing well for myself and my family, so what is the harm if I reward myself with drinks? But they are at as much risk to themselves and others' lives as a raging alcoholic is, because they may fall off the train or the bus or drive and be a menace on the streets."

Matcheswala gives an instance of one of his patients - a 35-yearold well-to-do computer dealer who couldn't do without his daily drink. "He had kept it a secret from everybody and his excuse was that alcohol relaxes him and helps him have a good night's sleep. I told him that he was administering himself a very costly sleeping drug and it was only a matter of time before he must pay its price with his health and well-being." So how do you help the HFA out of his or her misery? Datta says that while family or friends may try to push the HFA for treatment, the task is to tackle the alcoholic's denial and resistance to it. "Don't confront the HFAs. When they are sober, talk to them, explaining how their drinking hurts them and their dear ones. Drop a few examples of how it is adversely affecting things. Be supportive and persuasive."

You are an HFA if...
- You set drinking limits for the day or the week and cannot adhere to them

- You obsess over drinking -when and where and who you will drink with next

- You use alcohol as a reward

- You laugh about it to dissociate yourself from the 'alcoholics'

- You always finish alcohol, even if it is your friend's glass

- You drink more than others and still don't get hit

- You socialise with heavy drinkers

- You experience blackouts, unable to remember what took place during a drinking bout

- When you drink, you behave in ways uncharacteristic of your sober self

- Drinking is a large part of your life

Case study of HFA Ashish Patil, 32, Electricity
"I was in the tenth standard when I had my first drink. I haven't been able to forgo my glass of whisky or vodka since then. For a few years, I would drink surreptitiously to avoid getting caught by my parents. But once I began working, my drinking became an extension of my work hours; the 9-to-5 job, then meeting friends at a bar in the evening and drinking for twothree hours before going home. Eight years ago, I got married and we have a son and a daughter. My wife obviously knows about my habit because of the smell, but not once have I ever misbehaved with her or the children or with anybody else in my drunken stupor. It has been 15 years now that I have my four glasses of alcohol every day without fail. Nothing has changed...I was 55 kgs then and I am 56 kgs now. I haven't had any serious health problem yet and I never report late to work. Nobody in the office or elsewhere knows of this. But I know this habit is fatal in the long run and I have unsuccessfully tried quitting it on three occasions. I am helpless. I guess some drastic event in my life may help me give it up."

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Know your alcohol this holiday season

This presents a challenge for anyone who wants to limit their drinking, also for those who are health conscious since alcohol provides calories, 7 per gram, but no other/real nutrients. But the amount of alcohol in a drink varies by type. Here's a quick brief about how you can know your alcohol and make the right drinking choices this holiday season.

Beer
Beer is generally low in alcohol content, providing around 3 per cent to 8 per cent alcohol. It can vary greatly in calories based on the variety. Heavier, darker beers generally have more calories and alcohol than lighter-colored beers. An average full-calorie beer provides around 150 calories per pint. You can cut calories by drinking a light beer instead. Light beers contain around 100 calories per serving, but newer brews can have even less. Beer is high in carbohydrates; a regular beer can have as much as 13 g of carbs. Cut this in half by switching to a light beer instead.

Wine
Red wines have an alcohol content around 14 per cent, and white wines have around 12 percent alcohol. One glass of red wine provides 150 calories, and the same portion of white wine has about 120 calories. Wine is low in carbohydrates, providing less than 5 gms per glass. Red wine contains phenolic acids and polyphenols, which are antioxidant compounds that fight off free radicals that cause permanent damage to cells.

Cocktails
Cocktails or any mixed alcoholic drinks usually contain more calories than a glass or wine or beer because of the addition of other ingredients such as juice or syrup. One glass of Mai Tai contains 200 to 300 calories, depending on the amount of rum and ice in the drink. A regular glass of margarita has 370 calories and the same size pina colada has 430 calories. A Long island iced tea has 275 alories and a Bloody mary has 172 calories.

Hard liquor
Caloric values listed below represent 30 ml of liquor. vodka contains 70 calories,tequila, bourbon, and Irish whiskey each contain 69 calories. gin contains 59 calories, rum has 65 calories. These increase when mixers are added. Cola and even juices come with their share of calorific content.

Shots
Although hard liquor shots are small in volume, they contain a high concentration of alcohol. One shot of tequila has about 97 calories. If you have five shots of tequila, then you have ingested 485 calories, which is equivalent to more than three big glasses of regular beer or six glasses of red wine. 60 ml shots of whiskey or vodka contain 145 calories.

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HFA, a new lifestyle disorder

They are all around you. For all you know, they might be among your friends, family, acquaintances or colleagues and until you discover their best-kept secret, you wouldn't even know they are alcoholics.

High-Functioning Alcoholics or HFAs, a fast-growing urban concern, are masters at appearing completely normal and leading double lives - efficiently managing their jobs, studies and relationships on one hand yet inwardly, remaining as compulsive as stereotypical alcoholics. Pritam Datta, founder, Living Free Foundation rehab centres, says most often, HFAs walk the tightrope until a close encounter with death or a life-changing event makes them lose something precious or blows their cover.

"HFAs are least likely to seek treatment because they are in absolute denial. Their ego won't let them acknowledge it because they consider seeking help a sign of weakness." Sarah Allen Benton, a reformed American HFA, in her book "Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic" emphasises on how people in powerful positions are often the hardest to detect, "That is because they tend not to be closely supervised at work, they are assumed to be able to deal successfully with the pressures of their jobs, their high pay enables them to escape the financial consequences of excessive drinking."

Psychiatrist Dr Yusuf Matcheswala says, "HFAs need their regular drink; at the touch of 9 pm every night; or look forward to drinking four-five times a week. Today's generation of 'work hard, party-harder' are increasingly falling into the HFA space. As they nurture this habit clandestinely, they are unaware of how their bodies are developing scary complications - liver and gastrointestinal problems, cholesterol issues, diabetes, sexual and sleep disorders. Besides, the HFA's alcohol-tolerance level goes up and as he must drink more to feel the high, he further damages his body. His body is basically a disaster waiting to happen."

A classic characteristic of HFAs is that the evening they have got their salary, they are at a bar, says Datta. "Their logic is, 'I'm doing well for myself and my family, so what is the harm if I reward myself with drinks?' But they are at as much risk to themselves and others' lives as a raging alcoholic is, because they may fall off the train or the bus or drive and be a menace on the streets." Matcheswala gives an instance of one of his patients - a 35-year-old well-to-do computer dealer who couldn't do without his daily drink. "He had kept it a secret from everybody and his excuse was that alcohol relaxes him and helps him have a good night's sleep. I told him that he was administering himself a very costly sleeping drug and it was only a matter of time before he must pay its price with his health and well-being."

How do you help the HFA out of his or her misery? Datta says, "Don't confront the HFAs. When they are sober, talk to them, explaining how their drinking hurts them and their dear ones. Drop a few examples of how it is adversely affecting things. Be supportive."

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Sugary drinks bad for women's heart

In this study, researchers compared middle-aged and older women who drank two or more sugar-sweetened beverages a day, such as carbonated sodas or flavoured waters with added sugar, to women who drank one or less daily.

Women consuming two or more beverages per day were nearly four times as likely to develop high triglycerides, and were significantly more likely to increase their waist sizes and to develop impaired fasting glucose levels. The same associations were not observed in men.

"Women who drank more than two sugar-sweetened drinks a day had increasing waist sizes, but weren't necessarily gaining weight," said Christina Shay, Ph.D., lead author of the study and assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Centre in Oklahoma City.

"These women also developed high triglycerides and women with normal blood glucose levels more frequently went from having a low risk to a high risk of developing diabetes over time," she stated.

Women may have a greater chance for developing cardiovascular disease risk factors from sugar-sweetened drinks because they require fewer calories than men which makes each calorie count more towards cardiovascular risk in women, Shay said.

Researchers have yet to determine exactly how sugar-sweetened beverages influence cardiovascular risk factors such as high triglycerides in individuals who do not gain weight, Shay said, but further work is planned to try and figure that out.

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Nutrition Facts Of Coffee

Here’s some interesting nutrition facts for coffee that may be of interest to you. Especially those on a health quest which includes the bodybuilder looking to build muscle.

Most people think of coffee as the beverage to get your caffeeine addition taken care of for the day. Worldwide numbers run as high at 85% of all caffeeine consumed comes from coffee.

The actual caffeine content can vary greatly depending on the beans and method of brewing used. But here’s a quick breakdown of the average caffeine in coffee. If you need more nutrition facts for coffee on a particular brand or coffee house creation, it’s best to check out that vendor’s website. Adding in sugars and additional shots can change your standard cup of joe into something entirely different.

Average Caffeine Content in Coffee:

•  Drip coffee: 115-175 mg
•  Espresso: 100 mg
•  Brewed: 80-135 mg
•  Instant: 65-100 mg
•  Decaf, brewed: 3-4 mg
•  Decaf, instant: 2-3 mg

Possible Benefits of Drinking Coffee (in no particular order):

•  Reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease
•  Reduced risk of gallstone disease
•  Reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease (80% less likely to develop for those regular coffee consumers)
•  Enhanced cognitive performance

•  Analgesic enhancement (increases the effectiveness of certain types of pain killers)
•  Reduced risk of Type 2 Diabetes
•  Antioxidants in coffee (many people get their only source of antioxidants from coffee)
•  Cardioprotective
•  Reduced risk of cancer (oral, esophageal, and pharyngeal cancer)
•  Reduced asthma attacks

Potential Risks of Excess Coffee Consumption:

•  Sleep pattern changes
•  Increased anxiety
•  Staining of the teeth (my dentist always bugs me about this one.)
•  Effects on pregnancy and menopause
•  Cholesterol 

Overall, coffee offers many benefits and very little side effects to the average consumer of this beverage. You’ll reap more rewards by drinking it in moderation. That’s 1-2 cups per day. Overconsumption of caffeine does have its drawbacks.

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Energy Drink and Health Effects

Energy Drinks

Energy drinks, like almost all other drinks and foods that reach the stomach, should not be consumed in large quantities because of side effects they may have on the body

We definitely don’t prohibit the consumption of such drinks, but we recommend only in special situations (exams, you’re tired of driving, you need to complete an important project at work, etc.). Basically this product is used in special situations and should drink water instead. All well and good, but an Australian study says that energy drinks lead to cardiovascular diseases.

Positive effects of energy drinks

There are some positive effects, the worst is that these drinks are often consumed along with a cigarette!

•  Increases the power of concentration and reaction speed;
•  Person will be more calm and patience;
•  Increase metabolism speed.

These effects can be acquired and if you drink coffee or carbonated beverages, but also their effect will disappear and then you will become lethargic, edgy and to overcome these feelings will drink again.

Should be noted that in comparison to coffee, energy drinks are harmful because of other artificial ingredients that makes your energy to explode.

Energy Drink

When should avoid energy drinks?

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding;
• Sensitive to caffeine;
• Anxiety;
• You are exposed / stress;
• Suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome;
• Have high blood pressure;
• Diabetes.

Extra energy without energy drinks

People are not naturally constantly tired or angry – need to know the reason for lack of energy causes and prevention of this state.

Factors that simply terminates your “energy”

• Choosing lower-quality food and less healthy;
• A stressful lifestyle;
• Negative emotions;
• Fatigue;
• Lack of exercise

Glucose

Content of energy drinks

1. Taurine – an amino acid that is usually produced by our body and especially in muscle, brain, heart and blood. A person weighing 70 kg, has naturally about 70 g of taurine distributed throughout the body, which is 70 times more than a box of taurine energy drink, which contains 1,000 mg.

2. Glucoronolactone – is a carbohydrate, a kind of sugar, the human body produces glucose. Role in energy drinks is to combat fatigue and give a good feeling.

3. In moderate amounts, caffeine has beneficial effects on the body, stimulates its psychological and physiological functions, improves reaction speed and vigilance. Also, during physical activity, caffeine stimulates fat burning.

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Health benefits of beer?

Why drink beer?

Who ever thought there would be health benefits to drinking beer? Well, there is! Studies have revealed that beer can produce the same benefits as drinking wine. Whether you prefer ales, lagers, stout, bitter or wheat beers, studies show that one drink a day for women or up to two drinks a day for men will reduce your chances of strokes, heart and vascular disease. It’s no secret that the stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. and the leading cause of serious, long-term disabilities.

What’s interesting is that it was proven (New England Journal of Medicine – Nov. 1999) that those who drank one beer a week compared to those who drank one beer a day experienced no variance in reducing stroke risks. It is said that light to moderate drinkers will decrease their chances of suffering a stroke by 20%.

A researcher at the Texas Southwestern Medical Center (May 1999) reported that those who consume moderate amounts of beer (one to two a day at the most) have a 30-40% lower rate of coronary heart disease compared to those who don’t drink. Beer contains a similar amount of ‘polyphenols’ (antioxidants) as red wine and 4-5 times as many polyphenols as white wine.

Alcohol has also been attributed of its ability to increase the amount of good cholesterol (HDL) into the bloodstream as well as help to decrease blood clots.

Beer also contains vitamin B6, which prevents the build-up of amino acid called homocysteine that has been linked to heart disease. Those of us who have high levels of homocysteine are usually more prone to an early onset of heart and vascular disease. A new study performed at the TNO Nutrition and Food Research Institute in Utrecht indicates that those who drink beer had no increase in their homocysteine level but those who drank wine or liquor had an increase of up to 10%. Also noted was the fact that those who drank beer experienced a 30% increase in vitamin B6 in their blood plasma, thereby proving that beer (in moderation) is actually healthier to drink than wine and other liquor.

Did you know?

- Beer is nutritious if consumed in moderation

- That beer is fat-free and cholesterol free?

- Beer has a relaxing effect on the body thereby reducing stress.

- It can help you sleep better

- It helps prevent heart disease and improves the blood circulation

- It has proven to have positive effects on elderly people. It helps to promote blood vessel dilation, sleep, and urination.

An average beer contains the following:

0mg of cholesterol

0g of fat

13g of carbohydrate

25mg of sodium

protein, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and vitamins B, B2, and B6

Cuisine a la biere…

Beer in cooking is deeply rooted in Western Europe. Beer is incomparable as a cooking tool. With its unique flavors and versatilities is it unmatched. Due to the fact that alcohol has a much lower boiling temperature than water, it evaporates quickly while cooking your recipe and thereby only leaves the characteristic taste of the beer.

Some ways to use beer in cooking are as follows:

-Marinades for beef – both tenderizes and adds flavor.

-Used as a substitute for water in different soups and stocks – adds much more flavor to your recipes.

-Used in batters for fried foods.

-Added to gravies to spice up the taste.

-Used as a cooking base/liquid for steaming foods (sausages, shellfish, clams, etc.)

Just remember when cooking with beer, keep your beer’s primary taste in mind. Malty beers add a sweet/nutty taste while hop lagers can add a bitter/herbal flavor. Beer increases in bitterness as it reduces to use a sweeter/malty beer when cooking for long periods of time.

Now after reading all this ‘good stuff’ on beer, this isn’t to say that you should go out and get ‘boozed up’ because it’s good for you! Obviously the key, as was mentioned earlier, is moderation. Drinking in excess of these guidelines has been associated with an increased risk of several serious health ailments, such as cancer, high blood pressure, and liver disease. Be warned that drinking over moderation can lead to liver damage, dangers of drunk driving, and damage to fetuses of pregnant women who are drinking…just to name a few.

The health risks of beer

Ever heard of the ‘beer belly’? In a German study, Gerard Klose said ‘dangers begin to emerge in men measuring more than 94 centimeters around the middle, and become "really risky" at a girth of 102 centimeters’. ‘Too much fat’, he said, ‘makes diabetes, certain forms of cancer and heart disease a distinct possibility’.’

It’s no secret that high levels of fat accumulated on the body is unhealthy and can cause serious illness over time. An article in the London Times reports that fat that collects around the internal organs to form the typically male beer belly will also find its way into the bloodstream and in turn, raise your cholesterol levels. This leads to heart and vascular disease and strokes.

Moderation is key here, as it is in all things. Beer is a wholesome drink that is made from natural ingredients, but like anything that is overused or overly consumed into the body, it, too, can cause damage and become dangerous for us. For moderate drinkers, beer can be nutritious.

‘Beer, if drank in moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit, and promotes health.’

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Soda: The Worst Food Imposter On The Planet

Want to know the solid facts?

1/2 of us will die from heart disease; about a 1/3 from cancer;2/3 of us will die obese; and 1/4 of us will get diabetes. All of this is because of our love of behaviors and products that eventually killed us. I will not argue that genetics plays a part in medical propensities for certain diseases, but nothing in my family history could prepare use for a three Big Mac, 2 milkshakes and a diet soda consumer demand driven society. 

Many people do not even know that the amount of food, and especially the types of food they eat, could be directly increasing their chances for ailment and actually robbing them of the very nutrients they were thought to be providing. One huge, pseudo food market is the soda pop industry. This liquid is manufactured, canned and bottled for distribution worldwide at a rate of 150mg of high power fructose for every person on Earth daily.

Soda pop is liquid high fructose corn syrup and/or artificial sweetener mixed with water and carbonated soda, allowing for an immediate flood of simple, processed carbohydrates and sugars to overwhelm the bloodstream and insulin processing systems in crashing waves.

 This can serious erode health and contribute to an imbalance in the body’s ability to handle energy usage and storage management efficiency, leading to diabetic problems or the excess storage of fat. Fat storage of the sugars contained in sodas is quite common as the body cannot possible utilize the amount of sugar rushing into its system during consumption, and thus is instead turned into fat and sent to all of your “unsightly” places. A soda usually contains in excess of 150 empty calories each. People who consume 2 sodas a week will gain ten pounds a year throughout their lifetime if these calories are not burned off. Also exacerbating weight is the fact that the main sugar in soda, fructose, when processed by the liver, is often turned into fat and stored instead of burned off as energy calories. Combined with the fact that fructose also has a tendency to create craving but leave little satisfaction for hunger makes for an equation for weight gain disaster.

Not only does soda’s extra calories and lack of nutrients contribute to higher risk of obesity, these products have also been known to strip the body of much needed calcium, weakening or even causing the wasting away of bone mass. The kamikaze style of entry and processing by the body can further complicate the risk of diabetes or other maladies associated with the body’s resistance to insulin.

Some researchers have even contended that soft drink beverage consumption might even contribute to a person’s risk of contracting certain types of cancers. While the sugars in soft drinks can be avoided with the use of artificial sweeteners, studies have shown them to carry and even higher incident of cancer and other serious ailments that fructose. My suggestion would be to avoid the soda altogether, and make all natural, calorie free, water your main beverage and favorite drink. Your body will thank you for it.

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This Is Your Brain On Coffee

As millions people consume caffeinated beverages in ever increasing amounts, the effects of caffeine on the system needs to be better understood. Recent studies have shown that the stimulant in our coffee, teas, and ever more popular by the day, energy drinks is a complex chemical that has a myriad of effects both in the immediate and long term.

Caffeine is a stimulant, and as such, has serious influence over the central nervous system. Mental alertness is found to be sharpened in the short term, with a lowered ability to concentrate and focus present as the effect of the drug wears off, or when caffeine addiction pushed the body into withdrawal in its absence.

 The duration and power of the stimulant effect is in direct relation to the amount of caffeine ingested. Though considered a mild stimulant, overuse can lead to insomnia, irritability, and even moderate signs of physical addiction. The recent popularity of energy drinks including guarana as a caffeine source has been of particular notice, as the amount in caffeine contained in this South American Fruit is up to 4 times as potent as the coffee bean and 3 times as strong as stout tea. These drinks also contain high levels of simple sugars, especially fructose, which are horrible for health, and should be considered when evaluating them for use.

While the adverse side effects of caffeine addiction can usually be reversed with discontinued use, the mildness of its effects make addiction hard to take seriously by most people, and the will to discontinue its use low. Longer term side effects do not seem to have an overall negative impact on health in general, but the existence of certain health conditions or the taking of particular medications might make the taking of caffeine a more risky endeavor. While usually considered safe in moderation it is always advisable to talk over dietary and medication conflict over with your health care professional. For now, caffeine is seen to increase temporary mental alertness with minimal negative results. 

Abuse of any drug increases these results, and caffeine is not different in this matter, and should be respected as the stimulant it is. If you have a history of drug abuse, especially stimulants, then drinking coffee can actually help to trigger this addiction, so precaution is to be taken. Minors, pregnant women, and those with sleep sensitivity issues are recommended to choose caffeine free alternatives because of its stimulant properties.

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Is Green Tea good for health?

The health effects of tea have been examined ever since the first infusion of Camellia sunensis about 4700 years ago in China .The legendary emperor Shennong claimed in The Divine Farmer,s Herb-Root Classic that Camellia sinensis infusions were useful for treating conditions including tumors ,abscesses, bladder ailments and lethargy.

 Some studies have been made of the other types of tea derived from Camellia sinensis, such as white, oolong and black tea. Green tea has been claimed to be helpful for atherosclerosis, LDL  cholesterol , cancer , inflammatory bowel disease , diabetes ,liver disease ,weight loss ,neurodegenerative diseases and even halitosis.

What makes green tea so special?

The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.

Other Benefits:

Increases metabolic rate:

Clinical trials conducted by the University of Geneva and the University of Birmingham indicate that green tea raises metabolic rates, speeds up fat oxidation and improves insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance.

Lowers chances of cognitive impairment:

A 2006 study showed that elderly Japanese people who consumed more than 2 cups of green tea a day had a 50 percent lower chance of having cognitive impairment, in comparison to those who drank fewer than 2 cups a day, or who consumed other tested beverages .This is probably due to the effect of EGCG, which passes through the blood-brain barrier.

Effects on HIV:

A recent study appearing in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology was the subject of an article on BBC News. It stated that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) found in green tea can lead to the inhibition of HIV binding and may be used as a complementary therapy for HIV patients, but qualified it by noting that "It is not a cure, and nor is it a safe way to avoid infection, however, we suggest that it should be used in combination with conventional medicines to improve quality of life for those infected.

Effects on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD):

The polyphenols in green tea have been shown to reduce intestinal inflammation in mouse models of IBD.

For Burning of calories:

New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

Prevent tooth decay:

Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that cause dental plaque.

Harmful Effects :

To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.

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Tea and its benefits

Tea is a widely consumed beverage across the world. It is an integral part of everyday societal life.  Not only is tea a nature’s wonder herb, but a stimulant, too. Of late, this herb has been receiving a lot of attention from the media. Tea has existed since centuries in countries like China, Japan, India and Sri Lanka. Its potentiality in promoting health has received world-wide attention.People across the globe are turning to this ancient herb to re-discover its magical benefits. This herb contains protective, anti-oxidant and revitalizing properties. Today it is cultivated across the world especially in tropical and subtropical regions

Latin name – Camellia sinensis

Sanskrit Name – Shyamparni/Chaha

The degree of processing of this plant determines whether the tea would be green, black or red variety.

• Green Tea: It is the least processed amongst all the available varieties of teas. It is simply steamed quickly before packaging.
• Black Tea: It is partially dried, crushed and fermented.
• Red Tea: It is similar to the black tea wherein partial drying, crushing and fermentation processes are carried out.

But the most popular varieties as are:

a) Black Tea

b) Green Tea

The major constituents of tea that contributes in establishing its distinctive identity as a beverage include caffeine, Poly-phenols and essential oil, theanine (an amino acid unique to tea), vitamins, minerals, and methyl-xanthines. Pantothenic acid and riboflavin are active principles present in its leaves. Kaempferol and Quercetin are active principles present in the fresh leaves and green tea. It contains fluoride essential for strong teeth. and contains half the amount of caffeine found in an equally-sized cup of coffee. It is devoid of calories – which is Good News for Health Conscious individuals!!!

Recent research has depicted anti-oxidant properties (i.e. cancer fighting properties) in the herb-especially Green Tea. Extensive clinical research studies have been conducted to establish its efficacy.

Benefits of Drinking Herbal Tea:

• As a beverage and a stimulant
• Helps to fight against mutagenic agents i.e it contains anti-oxidant properties that prevents cancer.
• Helps to curb high blood pressure
• Prevents viral and bacterial infections in individuals
• Helps in delaying ageing process in individuals  
• Helps in improving and regulating the functions of the digestive and excretory systems.
• Helps to prevent occurrence of blood clots
• Helps in lowering cholesterol levels
• Helps in neutralization of enzymes that aid in the growth of tumors
• Helps to stimulate the immune system of an individual

Today, as part of this series, we present a recipe on how to prepare Herbal Tea from Chamomile herb which has been described below:

Chamomile Herbal Tea

Ingredients1 ounce chamomile (Babunphool/Babuna)

2/3 ounce peppermint 1 ounce caraway seeds (Aniseed/Saunf) 2/3 ounce angelica (Babhool)

Use 1 teaspoon of the mixture per cup of hot water. Steep this mixture 10 minutes and strain.

Caution:  Never give an infant or young child a medicinal tea with peppermint in it. The menthol in the peppermint could have a reverse reaction.

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Alcohol and Your Health

Alcohol, or ethyl alcohol (ethanol), refers to the intoxicating ingredient found in wine, beer and hard liquor.  Alcohol arises naturally from carbohydrates when certain micro-organisms metabolize them in the absence of oxygen, called fermentation. 

Beer, wine and other liquor contain different amounts of alcohol.  The amount of alcohol in distilled liquor is known as ?proof?.  Proof refers to the amount of alcohol in the liquor; for example, 100 proof liquor contains 50% alcohol, 40 proof liquor contains 20% alcohol, and so on.  Traditional wine has approximately 8-14% alcohol, while regular beer has 4-6% alcohol.

Recent studies show that moderate use of alcohol may have a beneficial effect on the coronary system.  In general, for healthy people, one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men would be considered the maximum amount of alcohol consumption to be considered moderate use.  (By ?healthy? people, we are referring to non-pregnant women, individuals not addicted to alcohol, and people without pre-existing medical conditions, among others).  However, the amount of alcohol that a person can drink safely is highly individual, depending on genetics, age, sex, weight and family history, etc.  A ?drink? is considered to be:

• 4-5 ounces of wine
• 10 ounces of wine cooler
• 12 ounces of beer
• 1-1/4 ounces of distilled liquor (80 proof whiskey, vodka, scotch, or rum)

How Alcohol Travels Through the BodyAlcohol is metabolized extremely quickly by the body.  Unlike foods, which require time for digestion, alcohol needs no digestion and is quickly absorbed.   Alcohol gets ?VIP? treatment in the body ? absorbing and metabolizing before most other nutrients.  About 20 percent is absorbed directly across the walls of an empty stomach and can reach the brain within one minute.

Once alcohol reaches the stomach, it begins to break down with the alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme.  This process reduces the amount of alcohol entering the blood by approximately 20%.  (Women produce less of this enzyme, which may help to partially explain why women become more intoxicated on less alcohol than men.). In addition, about 10% of the alcohol is expelled in the breath and urine. Alcohol is rapidly absorbed in the upper portion of the small intestine. The alcohol-laden blood then travels to the liver via the veins and capillaries of the digestive tract, which affects nearly every liver cell.  The liver cells are the only cells in our body that can produce enough of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase to oxidize alcohol at an appreciable rate. Though alcohol affects every organ of the body, it?s most dramatic impact is upon the liver.  The liver cells normally prefer fatty acids as fuel, and package excess fatty acids as triglycerides, which they then route to other tissues of the body.  However, when alcohol is present, the liver cells are forced to first metabolize the alcohol, letting the fatty acids accumulate, sometimes in huge amounts.  Alcohol metabolism permanently changes liver cell structure, which impairs the liver?s ability to metabolize fats.  This explains why heavy drinkers tend to develop fatty livers. The liver is able to metabolize about ½ ounce of ethanol per hour (approximately one drink, depending on a person?s body size, food intake, etc.).  If more alcohol arrives in the liver than the enzymes can handle, the excess alcohol travels to all parts of the body, circulating until the liver enzymes are finally able to process it. (Which is another good reason not to consume more than one drink per hour.).How the Liver Breaks Down AlcoholThe alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme breaks down alcohol by removing hydrogen in two steps: 1.      Alcohol dehydrogenase oxidizes alcohol to acetaldehyde 2.      Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase oxidizes the acetaldehyde to acetyl CoA. These reactions produce hydrogen ions (acid). The B vitamin niacin (in its role as the coenzyme NAD) picks up these hydrogen ions (becoming NADH).  Thus when alcohol is metabolized, NAD diminishes and NADH increases.

• During alcohol metabolism, NAD becomes unavailable for the many other vital body processes for which it is needed, including glycolysis, the TCA cycle and the electron transport chain.   Without NAD, the energy pathway is blocked, and alternative routes are taken, with serious physical consequences:
• The accumulation of hydrogen atoms shifts the body?s balance toward acid.
• The accumulation of NADH slows the TCA cycle, resulting in a build up of pyruvate and acetyl CoA.  Excess acetyl CoA results in fatty acid synthesis and fat begins to clog the liver.   (An accumulation of fat in the liver can be observed after only a single night of heavy drinking).
  
  

Fatty Liver and Liver DiseaseWith moderate drinking, the liver can process alcohol fairly safely.  However, heavy drinking overtaxes the liver resulting in serious consequences.  A liver clogged with fat causes liver cells to become less efficient at performing their necessary tasks, resulting in impairment of a person?s nutritional health.  Fatty liver is the first stage of liver deterioration in heavy drinkers, and interferes with the distribution of oxygen and nutrients to the liver?s cells.  If the condition persists long enough, the liver cells will die, forming fibrous scar tissue (the second stage of liver deterioration, or fibrosis).  Some liver cells can regenerate with good nutrition and abstinence, however in the last stage of deterioration, or cirrhosis, the damage to the liver cells is the least reversible.

Alcohol and MalnutritionFor moderate drinkers, alcohol does not suppress food intake, and may actually increase appetite.  Chronic alcohol consumption appears to have the opposite effect.  Alcohol causes euphoria, which depresses appetite, so that heavy drinkers tend to eat poorly and become malnourished. Alcohol is very rich in energy, packing 7 calories per gram.  But like pure sugar or fat, the calories are void of nutrients.  The more calories an individual consumes in alcohol, the less likely it is that they will eat enough food to obtain adequate nutrients.  To make matters worse, chronic alcohol abuse not only displaces calories from needed nutrients, but also interferes with the body?s metabolism of nutrients, leading to damage of the liver, digestive system, and nearly every bodily organ.Health Effects of Alcohol Consumption

Arthritis	Increases risk of gouty arthritis
Cancer	Increases the risk of cancer in the liver, pancreas, rectum, breast, mouth, pharynx, larynx and esophagus
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome	Causes physical and behavioral abnormalities in the fetus
Heart Disease	Raises blood pressure, blood lipids and the risk of stroke and heart disease in heavy drinkers.  Heart disease is generally lower in light to moderate drinkers.
Hyperglycermia	Raises blood glucose
Hypoglycemia	Lowers blood glucose, especially for people with diabetes
Kidney Disease	Enlarges the kidneys, alters hormone functions, and increases the risk of kidney failure
Liver Disease	Causes fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis
Malnutrition	Increases the risk of protein-energy malnutrition,; low intakes of protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamine, vitamin B6 and riboflavin, and impaired absorption of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D and zinc.
Nervous Disorders	Causes neuropathy and dementia; impairs balance and memory
Obesity	Increases energy intake, but not a primary cause of obesity
Psychological disturbances	Causes depression, anxiety and insomnia

To Drink or Not to Drink?

Moderate use of alcohol can be an enjoyable, safe experience if used with caution. If you do choose to drink, sip each drink slowly, and always consume alcohol with food.  Spaces drinks out to no more than one drink per hour, and consume plenty of water in between drinks.  Never drink while pregnant and never drive when intoxicated.

• Do you have a problem with Alcohol?
• Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
• Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
• Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
• Have you ever had a drink the first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?

If you answered ?yes? to one question, you may have a problem with alcohol.  More than one ?yes? answer makes it highly likely that a problem exists.  If you feel you have a problem with alcohol, please see your health professional right away.  Effective treatment is available.

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Going Natural with Green Tea for Weight Loss

When you feel that its time to shed some weight a number of options will go through your mind- exercise, diet, fasting, pills and so on. Here we discuss another excellent natural option with no known side effects – the green tea.  More and more people go for green tea as an effective remedy for excess body weight.

How does green tea help to reduce weight?

It is scientifically proven that green tea burns extra calories and impedes fat  absorption in human body. Green tea contains an antioxidant called epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG) which stimulates metabolism and that results in weight loss. The combined effect of EGCG and caffeine causes release of fat into the blood stream which the body uses as fuel for various activities.

This process referred to as ‘thermogenesis’ ultimately leads to losing weight. This also helps in another way- by providing more energy to exercise more.

How is green tea different or more effective than other tea varieties

Like green tea, black tea and oolong tea are produced from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The major difference is that for green tea, leaves are not fermented before steaming and drying. Compared to other varieties, green tea has the highest concentration of catechin polyphenols, which accelerate fat oxidation and thermogenesis.

Right amount of intake for desired results

slimming green teaMaking green tea a part of your life is not that difficult. It’s just adding green tea to your daily diet. You can drink green tea instead of tea or coffee, before and after the meals. But in order to get the maximum results you must drink at least four to six cups. If you don’t like the flavor, you can add green tea concentrate to other food items and have it. Green tea capsules and pills are also available in the market.

Other health benefits of green tea

For thousands of years, green tea has been used as a health drink in many parts of the world. Besides aiding weight loss green tea is scientifically proven to reduce high blood pressure, lower blood sugar and cholesterol and fight cancer. Recent studies have shown that catechins- the powerful antioxidants contained in the green tea fight viruses, slow aging and destroy free radicals which cause cancer, heart disease etc.

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