Wednesday, May 25, 2016



The World Health Organization has declared the Zika virus a global public health emergency.

The infection is suspected of leading to thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains.

Some areas have declared a state of emergency, doctors have described it as "a pandemic in progress" and some are even advising women in affected countries to delay getting pregnant.

But there is much we do not know in this emerging infection.


What are the symptoms?

Deaths are rare and only one-in-five people infected is thought to develop symptoms.

These include:
mild fever
conjunctivitis (red, sore eyes)
headache
joint pain
a rash

A rare nervous system disorder, Guillain-Barre syndrome, that can cause temporary paralysis has been linked to the infection.

There is no vaccine or drug treatment so patients are advised to rest and drink plenty of fluids.

But the biggest concern is the impact it could have on babies developing in the womb and the surge in microcephaly.

What is microcephaly?


It is when a baby is born with an abnormally small head, as their brain has not developed properly.

The severity varies, but it can be deadly if the brain is so underdeveloped that it cannot regulate the functions vital to life.

Children that do survive face intellectual disability and development delays.

It can be caused by infections such as rubella, substance abuse during pregnancy or genetic abnormalities.

Brazil had fewer than 150 cases of microcephaly in the whole of 2014.

But more than 4,700 cases have been reported since 22 October 2015, with 404 confirmed and 3,670 still being investigated.

The link with Zika has not been confirmed, but the WHO says it is "strongly suspected".
Some babies who died had the virus in their brain and it has been detected in placenta and amniotic fluid too.


Why hasn't microcephaly been seen in other countries?

Cases of microcephaly have been centred in north-east Brazil, but the outbreak has affected more than 20 countries.

So where are the other cases of microcephaly?

The outbreak started in Brazil before spreading elsewhere, and the World Health Organization says there will be a lag of several months to know if pregnant women in these newly affected countries are affected too.

There have been suggestions that Zika led to a rise in birth defects after the 2013 outbreak in French Polynesia.


Is it safe to try for a baby?

The link to microcephaly is not certain, but some governments have advised women to delay getting pregnant until more is known.

Experts now believe the virus is linked to a broader set of complications in pregnancy, including miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth and eye problems.

The US Centres for Disease Control says Zika lingers in the blood for about a week and can be spread by sexual intercourse.

"The virus will not cause infections in a baby that is conceived after the virus is cleared from the blood," it says.

"There is currently no evidence that Zika-virus infection poses a risk of birth defects in future pregnancies."


Why is it a public health emergency?

The World Health Organization is worried that Zika is spreading far and fast, with devastating consequences.

Declaring Zika as a "public health emergency of international concern" singles the disease out as a serious global threat. It puts it in the same category of importance as Ebola.

Unlike Ebola, where the focus was on boots on the ground, with Zika the attention will be on understanding the link with microcephaly.

The WHO will coordinate countries' health agencies to conduct trials to determine the risk.

It will also encourage efforts to stop the mosquito that spreads the disease as well as finding a treatment or a vaccine to stop the virus.


Where did Zika come from?

It was first identified in monkeys in Uganda in 1947.

The first human case was detected in Nigeria in 1954 and there have been further outbreaks in Africa, South East Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Most were small and Zika has not previously been considered a major threat to human health.

But in May 2015 it was reported in Brazil and has spread rapidly.

It has since also been reported in: Barbados, Bolivia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname and Venezuela.


How does it spread?


It is spread by Aedes mosquitoes.

They are found throughout the Americas except for Canada and Chile where it is too cold for them to survive.

If they drink the blood of an infected person they can then infect subsequent people they bite.

It is unclear for how long someone can transmit the virus after being infected.

They are the same insects that spread dengue and chikungunya virus.

And, unlike the mosquitoes that spread malaria, they are mostly active during the day, so bed nets offer limited protection.

The WHO expects Zika to spread throughout the Americas, but other scientists have warned that countries in Asia could face large outbreaks too.


Can it be spread through sex?

There have been reported cases of sexual transmission with the virus spreading to people who have not visited affected countries.

This seems to be a very rare event, but it means Zika has a limited potential to spread in any country - not just those with the Aedes mosquito.

Some countries advise men returning home from affected countries to use condoms if their partner is pregnant or might become pregnant.

This should be done for 28 days after coming home if you have no symptoms, and for six months if Zika symptoms do develop.

Zika virus has also been found in other bodily fluids including saliva and urine, but it is unknown whether the virus can spread through these routes.


How long are people infectious?

The best evidence so far suggests that people can spread the virus via mosquitoes for a week after being infected.

In semen it may persist for two weeks.

Countries have advised safe sex and a ban on blood donations for a month after just visiting such countries and for longer if they developed symptoms.


What can people do?

As there is no treatment, the only option is to reduce the risk of being bitten.

Health officials advise people to:
use insect repellents
cover up with long-sleeved clothes
keep windows and doors closed

The mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, so people are also being told to empty buckets and flower pots.

The US Centers for Disease Control has advised pregnant women not to travel to affected areas.


What is being done?

The Brazilian Health Minister, Marcelo Castro, has said a new testing kit is being developed to identify infections quickly.
He also said more money was being put into the development of a vaccine.
Some scientists are also trialling the use of genetically modified sterile mosquitoes that appear to reduce mosquito populations by 90%.
Meanwhile, efforts are under way to kill the mosquitoes with insecticide


Zika vaccine

US experts from the National Institutes of Health say trials of a Zika vaccine will likely start in September this year. Depending on the results, larger trials could begin at the start of 2017.
"The very, very best scenario" would be a vaccine ready for the general public by the beginning of 2018, they say.


Source: BBC News

What you need to know: Zika outbreak

Saturday, April 23, 2016




There are guidelines to follow that help encourage a healthy diet for your infant or child, including:


  • Infants – it is encouraged for babies to be breastfed for the first year of life. In most cases, breastfeeding should be the only source of food in the first six months. If you use formula, be careful not to overfeed or underfeed your baby.

  • Sugar – children should eat only a small amount of foods that contain sugar and avoid food with added sugar, such as lollies, fruit drinks and soft drinks.

  • Low-fat diets – are not appropriate for infants and young children under two years of age. A diet low in fat, especially saturated fat, may be considered for older children.

  •  Drinks – infants and children should be encouraged to choose water as their preferred drink.

Healthy diets for babies and children



Thinking ahead and arranging suppers and snacks for yourself or your family in light of the Australian Dietary Guidelines and Australian Guide to Healthy Eating is the way to adhering to a good diet furthermore the most ideal approach to get thinner. Arranging deals with the monetary allowance, makes shopping less demanding and boosts sustenances that are high in supplements, yet bring down in kilojoules.

Some individuals incline toward three dinners without snacks and others like littler suppers with mid dinners, such as morning and evening tea, in the middle. Contemplating mid supper snacks is vital for good dieting, however totally vital for weight reduction. All around arranged snacks can make it simpler to farthest point part estimate at suppers by permitting a 'top up' amongst dinners furthermore abstains from being so eager at the following feast that you eat an excessive amount of or eat spontaneous optional sustenances.


Notwithstanding, for fruitful weight reduction mid feast snacks should be considered part of a dinner put something aside for later eating and be a decision from the Five Food Groups. For instance: 


Breakfast: a little serve of wholegrain oat, low fat drain and organic product


Morning tea: a cut of natural product toast with a scratch of unsaturated margarine


Lunch: a salmon wholegrain sandwich loaded with a lot of plate of mixed greens


Evening tea: a bit of new organic product


Supper: a little serve of incline flame broiled meat with a lot of hued vegetables and a coat potato


Dinner nibble: a products of the soil fat yogurt based pastry kept until later at night


Best Meal Planning



4 Ways to Change Your Set Point


The following four strategies can help you lose weight. More importantly, they can help you permanently change your body weight set point.


1. Change the organization of your diet.
In the event that your eating routine right now incorporates a great deal of desserts or refined sugars (things like white bread, oat, pasta, and baked good), consider decreasing these—and as a makeshift weight reduction methodology as well as a perpetual movement. This can bring down your insulin levels, which can thusly decrease your voracity and your inclination to store fat.


2. Change the arrangement of your gut.
The types of bacteria that flourish in your intestines may play a major role in your body weight set point. My best guidance is to quit utilizing counterfeit sweeteners, which seem to empower the development of microscopic organisms connected with weight. Rather, you need to develop the strains of microorganisms connected with leaner bodies by eating an assortment of matured and refined sustenances alongside fiber-rich nourishments that sustain those agreeable microscopic organisms.



3. Change your environment.
You can converse with me all you need about voracity hormones and how they undermine weight reduction. In any case, the truth of the matter is that yearning is not what drives a large portion of our utilization. We eat in light of the fact that we are always encompassed by modest, delectable, high calorie foods that are actually designed to be overpowering. We don't simply eat until we're fulfilled; we eat until the curiously large bundle is void or our larger than usual plate is perfect. We eat on the grounds that everybody around us is continually eating.

If you want to permanently lower your body weight, you need to permanently change the habits and behaviors that lead you to overeat. And because this needs to be a sustainable shift, I suggest that you not rely on willpower alone but take steps to reengineer your personal environment in ways that remove all these external cues and calories of opportunity.


4.  Change your body weight more slowly. 
If you have a significant amount of weight to lose, a step down approach may work better than a long steady slide. Start by gradually losing no more than 10% of your total weight. If you're currently 200 pounds, for example, start by losing no more than 20 pounds. Then, spend two or three months maintaining that new lower weight before taking the next step down, again losing no more than 10% of your new weight. It will probably take you longer to reach your goal weight this way but you are so much more likely to maintain that goal weight once you get there!

4 Ways to Change Your Body Weight



Matcha might be somewhat of a pattern at this moment, yet it's been around for a considerable length of time. Keeping in mind it's not going to light muscle to fat quotients, execute disease, detoxify your organs, or lower your cholesterol (as a portion of the sites out there case), it contains numerous helpful mixes.

"Matcha" is Japanese and it alludes to a specific method for preparing and expending green tea. Green tea that is developed for matcha is secured with fabrics for a few weeks before collecting, which empowers chlorophyll creation and makes the leaves considerably brighter green.

The leaves are then collected, steamed, and dried, as they are for tea. In any case, rather than soaking the dried leaves in heated water to make tea, the leaves are ground into a fine powder. The customary matcha drink is made by including a teaspoon or so of this splendid green powder into a little measure of water and whisking it until is foamy. Matcha powder can likewise be added to nourishments, for example, noodles, biscuits, and even ice cream.




What Does Matcha Taste Like?


The kind of matcha is a considerable amount more serious than customarily prepared green tea—to a limited extent in light of the fact that every serving contains significantly more tea. It shouldn't taste fishy, metallic, or unpalatably severe (which are indications of low quality matcha powder). Be that as it may, even getting it done, it can be a touch of a gained taste.

In spite of the fact that cost isn't a dependable manual for quality, I would be suspicious of exceptionally modest matcha. Great quality matcha will be splendid—verging on electric green—in shading and have a wonderful verdant or vegetal aroma. One great portrayal I discovered depicted it as like the scent of naturally pureed peas. With respect to the flavor, some individuals depict it as exquisite, verging on like a juices. Matcha is once in a while blended with milk or sweeteners to make it more satisfactory.

Health Benefits of Matcha

Tuesday, April 19, 2016



1. Weakens Your Immune System:

When Anger Kicks in, your body readies itself to respond to a perceived threat. Your normal processes stop...and certain brain centers start firing in ways that after your brain chemistry.


2. Repressing Anger Triples Heart Attack Risk:

Studies have founds this is worse than lashing out. If you tend to suppress feelings of anger, try to confide in friends or seek therapeutic ways to release your anger.


3. Negative Emotions Create Disease:

The highly conservative center for disease control and prevention (CDC) admits that 85% of all diseases have a strong link to your emotional state.


4. Hiigher Risk Of Heart Attack:

Those with explosive tempers were significantly more likely to have arterial calcium deposit a praimary indicator of heart attack risk.

4 Deadly Effects Of Anger On Your Health



The leaves, stems, needs and shoots of the alfalfa plant have been used historically for their many health-enhancing properties.


1. Loaded with fiber and protein.

2. good source of folate, pantothenic acid, vitamin b6, niacin and thiamin.

3. Fight Leukemia.

4. Fight colon cencer and breast tumors.

5. Cholesterol levels.

6. Reduce inflammation.

7. Help prevent stroke.

8. Boost the immune system.

9. increase bone formation and densty.

Health Benefits Of Alfalfa Sprouts



Top 10 Healthy Tips thats can helps you to control diabetics.

1. Eat food at fixed hours.

2. Do not eat immediately after a workout.

3. If you are on insulin, make sure you have three proper meals with

lght snacks in between.

4. Do not overeat.

5. Drink a lot water that will help flush the toxins off your

system.

6. Include fresh "Vegetables Salad" in every meal.

7. Have at least 20 to 25 grams of raw onion daily.

8. Make sure the gaps between your meals are short.

9.  Do at least 1 hour exercise daily.

10. Add wheat bran to your wheatflour this helps to increase fiber

in your diet.

Top 10 Healthy Tips For Diabetics

Monday, April 18, 2016



Coffee is amazing, Here's Why.?


Prostate Cancer:

Coffee drinkers have a 60% lower risk of lethal prostate cancer than those who abstain.

Source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute.



Diabetes:

Each additional cup of coffee consumed in a day may confer a 7% reduction in diabetes risk.

Source: The Archives of Internal Medicine.


Alzheimer's:

Those who consume 3 cups of coffee a day may delay development of this disease by 2-to-4 years.

Source: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.


Depression:

Coffe drinkers have a 20% lower risk of depression.

Source: The Archives of Internal Medicine.


Tips:

Stick to black coffee. Sweetners and artificial creamers are the main culprits that give coffee a bad reputation.
Keep consumption moderate. Three, 8-ounce cups a day.
Boost antioxidants. Add spices like cinnamon.

Tips And Benefits Of Coffee



Top 6 health tips for healthier you

1. Drink plenty of water:
Drinking 2 cups before a meal can cut calorie intake by 15% and keep skin looking healthy.

2. Sleep:

It's keep you well because chemicals important to your immune system are secreted during sleep.


3. Move that body:

30 minutes of walking can burn 200-250 calories


4. Eat 1 less bite:

Cut 250 a calories from food and burn 250 calories with exercise each day and you can loss 3500 calories, or 1 pound, a week.

5. Wear sunscreen:

With at least SPF 20, 2 to 3 times a day.


6. Give a hug, get a hug:

Hugs can lower blood pressure and ease stress.

Top 6 health tips for healthier you



Heart Health

*High in monounsaturated fat.

*No cholesterol or sodium.

*A top Food source of the antioxidant vitamin E



Energy

*6 grams of protein per ounce.

*12 vitamins and minerals.

*13 grams of good monounsaturated fats.

*Rich in magnesium.


Diabetes

*Low glycemic Index.

*May improve certain risk factors.

*Curbs craving.



Powerful Nutrition

*Tree nut highest six essential nutrients.

*Prebiotic potential.

*Plus protein and fiber.


Gluten Free

*Naturally 100% gluten free.

*Lots of forms to choose from.

*No-stess substitution.



Weight Management

*6grams of power packed protein.

*3.5grams of satisfying fiber.

*Good fit with popular weight-loss plans.

*Just 160 calories per ounce

Top Benefits of Almonds



1. Helps prevent cancer.

2. Prevents kidney diseases.

3. Reduces risk of liver cancer.

4. Lowers cholesterol.

5. Boosts heart health.

6. Lowers risk of disease.

7. Fights against viral infections.

8. Relieves constipation.

9. Helps create good vision.

10. Regulation high blood pressure.


BANANA


Health benefits of Banana




1. It gives instant surge of energy.

2. It helps keep blood pressure under control.

3. It helps Lowers cholesterol.

4. It supports renal health.

5. Banana improves nerve function.

6. And enhances brain power.

7. It decreases the risk of stroke.

Health benefits of Orange and Banana



Top 20 Reasons To Eat More Apples


1. Reduce bad cholesterol.

2. Prevent alzheimer's disease.

3. Decreases risk of diabetes.

4. Increases body endurance.

5. Protects against colon cancer.

6. Boosts your immune system.

7. Prevents Cataracts.

8. Great for radiant skin.

9. Protects the heart.

10. Offers whiter, healthier teeth.

11. Reduces risk of asthma.

12. Protects against parkinson's.

13. Controls high blood pressure.

14. Improve weight loss.

15. Flavonoids fight cancer.

16. Protects the bones.

17. Good for your brain.

18. Prevent gallstones.

19. Neutralize irritable bowel syndrome.

20. Treats anemia.

Top 20 Reasons To Eat More Apples



1. Prunes contain a lot of fibers and sorbitol a stool loosening sugar.

2. Prunes helps to slow again process of the brain and body.

3. Helps in cases of anemia.

4. Prunes are excellent for increasing one's vitality.

5. It helps in normal blood circulation.

6. It is a good remedy for sore throat.

7. It can help prevent cancer because of its high betacarotene content.


The High potassium content in prunes helps you to normalize blood pressur, while the soluble fiber promotes heart health.

Health Benefits Of Prunes


1. May reduce risk factors for heart disease.

2. Contributes to 8% of daily fiber.

3. Aids in stablilizing blood sugar.

4. Source of naturally good fats.

5. Great source of potassium.

6. Maintains a healthy heart.

7. Make your skin Glow.

8. Boosts immune system.

9. Anti-Aging.

10. Anti- Inflammatory.



An authentically nourishing food Cherries




1. Help promote relaxation and sleep

2. Useful in preventing gout.

3. Rich in antioxidants to help fight inflammation.

4. Contain anthocyanins to help regulate blood sugar levels.

5. Dark Cherries contain perillyl alcohol that can prevent certain cancers.

6. Helpful for those function and improve memory.

10 Health benefits of Avocado