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Vegetable Glycerin | Hand & Body Lotion - clears the thirst of the skin

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If you are alive, healthy skin, you feel better. Your skin is a living, breathing organ and should be well maintained. As we age cell renewal slows and the skin begins to dry. Visit the old remedies of nature, plants and vegetables, ingredients, if you are looking for a quality product and personalized service. Applying moisturizer for hands and skin care of their elasticity and prevent premature aging of the skin. Some of the skinButter and nourishing oils, hand and body lotion are as follows:

• The Shea Butter: Forms a breathable, waterproof membrane and a leader in natural product moisture. Natural shea butter contains high amounts of vitamin A and E help repair skin damage. Shea butter is widely used to protect the skin against UV rays and skin softening and healing cracked and ancient known. It also provides some reliefitchy skin. Find natural shea butter ingredients, or use a natural filter to remove contaminants in the plant world is not refined shea butter is generally good. Refining, shea butter that is lighter and a nutty flavor or smoke. If you read the label the INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) name, see Butyrospermum Parkin.

Vegetable Glycerin

· Cocoa Butter: A soothingComponents, reduces dryness and improves skin elasticity. Cocoa butter is a yellow vegetable fat most often used to soften the skin. These solid "at room temperature, but melts on contact with skin. The production of cocoa and cocoa butter in chocolate. E 'is known to prevent and reduce stretch marks, protect dry, chapped skin, helps skin Clearly irritated treatment wrinkles on the neck, mouth and grains, and adds a firming agent in skin careProducts. INCI name for Cocoa Butter Theobroma cacao.

Hand & Body Lotion - clears the thirst of the skin

· Oil Sunflower: Vitamin E provides over other vegetable oils and vitamins A and "smoothing property and hand creams and skin absorbs light, a great herbal oil massage very old. It softens and moisturizes the skin and recommended for dry, damaged skin and annual. INCI name for sunflower, HelianthusAnnuus.
• Jojoba (pronounced Ho Ho Ba), olive oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil and almond oil with a hand cream and body bonus. Each has its own characteristics, which are positive on the skin. Jojoba oil is especially good for mature skin, while grapeseed oil is often recommended for oily skin and acne. Avocado oil penetrates the skin easily and is suitable for most of the skin with almond oil.

Other ingredients to note:
· Vegetable Glycerin: It skincare properties, which softens and soothes the skin. It is hygroscopic, which means it attracts moisture from the air, and supports the epidermis layer of skin to bind moisture to the outside. Mixtures of animal or vegetable . Rather, coconut oil, or glycerin from vegetable oils, palm oil. INCI name glycerin> Glycerol.
Emulsifying · Wax: If you have ever had a bottle of cream that can be purchased because of the amount absence or inadequacy of an emulsifier. hair care products in the oil and water, which was not an easy task. The addition of an emulsifier are connected to the oil and water, and a thickener. And creams for at least six different types of emulsifiers can be added, but I prefer vegetable emulsifierCera. Emulsifying wax oils, vegetable or mineral, so it is possible to buy the cream of the person seeking an application or oil platforms. INCI name for Emulsifying Wax NF, or emulsifying wax, Cetearyl Alcohol & Ceteareth 20th
Stearic · (Palm): Like Emulsifying wax stearic acid used as a thickener emulsify, bind, and stabilize lotions and body. Stearic acid is found naturally in animal fats and vegetable, butthrough hydrogenation to convert the final product. I prefer the stearic acid to 100% Palm derived, and substances added, emulsifiers or other means. The INCI name for stearic acid, stearic acid.

· Extracts of rosemary oil (ROE): Acts as a natural antioxidant, a natural preservative that reduces the rate of oxidation in oils that oxidize quickly and extends the life of the lotion. Natural materials, such as ROE shows antimicrobialActivities, but are generally not sufficient for his need for extra protection, and a broad-spectrum conservative. The INCI name of RE, Rosemary officinalis (rosemary) extract.

· Cosmocil CQ Optiphen: Some lotions and body butter contains no water, but most of the liquid and water-based preservatives to prevent bacterial products. Both CQ and Optiphen Cosmocil preferred because it is gentle and effectivePreservatives, no parabens and formaldehyde are not divided. Cosmocil CQ is commonly used in baby wipes and solutions for contact lenses. CQ INCI Cosmocil water polyaminopropyl biguanide and the INCI name is Optiphen phenoxyethanol, glycol Caprylyl. creams and lotions and some commercial businesses are sometimes filled with condoms to stay fresh for a long period. Without preservatives to prolong the life of the cream, and get rid of bacteria helpBut sometimes, a condom, and the problems of unhealthy skin used. Some commonly used preservatives or parabens or formaldehyde. Germaben (INCI: Propylene glycol, Diazolidinyl urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben), Liquid Germall Plus (INCI: propylene glycol, diazolidinyl urea, carbamate, Iodopropynl) LiquaPar Optima (INCI: phenoxyethanol, methyl-isopropyl-paraben, isobutylparaben, Butylparaben ) and Phenonip (INCI: phenoxyethanol, methylparaben,Ethylparaben, butylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben) parabens preservatives.

· Oil essential and fragrance oils: There is much controversy these days, phthalates, fragrance oils and creams, the body because most of the fragrance oils added. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that the study did not assess the phthalates in toys and toy manufacturers remove phthalatessoft rattles and teethers, to continue his investigation. (Cpsc.gov /). The essential oils of herbs and flowers, of course, but there are some that are not used on the skin (eg clove oil). In addition, certain essential oils, avoiding the sun, and if you are pregnant. Some people, you smell of essential oils, or skin irritation.
If you see a product new skin care, try a small amount of the inner arm, if irritationrecommended. They are sensitive or irritation, use of space and vegetable oil, water and dry not to reduce irritation.
A good hand and body lotion on vegetable oils and butter, but not necessarily contain a large number of them. This is not for the rich ingredients to work. If the cream is flavored with essential oils or use unscented or scented with essential oils for you. They should not be a skin creamSticky and can easily be applied several times a day, if necessary, especially if you frequently wash their hands.
If you are looking for a quality product and personal care, research and read the label on the order of the list of ingredients is important. The ingredients are listed in descending order, if the first part of the hand and body cream, sunflower oil, for example, a greater quantity of oil, the otherIngredients.
African healers, shea butter for thousands of years and know the burns, stretch marks and drought for many years, the natural oils from the skin, because these vitamins, minerals, lipids and proteins. To quench your thirst, dry skin and skin young and healthy as you deserve, and that the nature and find moisturizing hand and body lotion is an old remedy.
Hand & Body Lotion - clears the thirst of the skin

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Hidden Nutritional health benefits of Palm Oil

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Palm oil, a part of the vegetable oil family, is actually the nutrition-packed beneficial fat source that can supply number of health benefits to the body. Palm oil is a rich source of saturated fatty acids and natural chemical compounds but it is good for the overall health and nutrition. Particularly, red palm oil has been well-known for its nutritional health benefits, which is obtained from the fruit of the palm tree and should not be perplexed with palm kernel oil that prepared from the palm kernel. Palm oil is a natural source of vitamin E & carotenoids in addition to fatty acids and other essential fat-soluble micronutrients. Palm oil is much healthier oil in its unrefined form than any hydrogenated vegetable oil.

Hidden Nutritional health benefits of Palm Oil

At room temperature, palm oil remains in semi-solid form and contains 50 percent saturated fat and 50 percent unsaturated fats. In most of local supermarkets, online pharmacies and drug stores, palm oil is extensively available and considered safe to use daily because of the lack of harmful side effects. Most of the people think that the saturated fat content of the oil has damaging effect to the body but it is not true. Palm oil is a medium-chain triglyceride that can be obtained from the milk fat, tropical oils, and mother's milk. For people, who are suffering from digestive problems, this type of fat is recommended. Also, it gives an abundance of calories that supplies people much-required energy for daily life. It is best for sports person as they often require extra energy.

Palm Oil Nutrition

Palm oil is a good source of nutrients; it contains fat, vitamin E, vitamin K, and beta carotene in high amount. One tablespoon of palm oil contains 14g of fat, out of which approximately 40 percent are monounsaturated, 50 percent are saturated and 10 percent are polyunsaturated. This amount of palm oil also contains 120 calories, 1 mcg vitamin K, and 2.17 mg of vitamin E. Fresh red palm oil has all these nutrients in high amount.

Nutritional health benefits of Palm Oil

Palm oil is an excellent source of beta-carotene so the health benefits of palm oil are mostly associated to its beta-carotene content.

Beta-carotene (Carotenoids)

The orange-red color of the palm oil is due to the presence of natural chemical compounds, carotenoids. In comparison to the other vegetable oils, crude palm oil and unrefined palm oil are nature's greatest source of carotenoids. It contains 15 times more carotenoids than carrots and 30 times more than tomatoes. In palm oil, the most active and important form of carotenoids is beta-carotene, a form of vitamin A which is an effectual antioxidant that helps to strengthen the immune system of body and to decrease the risk of cataract, heart disease and cancer.

As well, beta-carotene helps to promote good vision and has the potential to get converted into vitamin A that helps in the rhodopsin production, the night vision pigment in the eye’s retina. Beta-carotene has been also shown to help defend the lungs from disease.

Free from Trans-fatty acid (TFA)

One significant health benefit of palm oil is that it is free from Trans-fatty acid. Many scientific studies have shown that Trans-fatty acids can cause colonic cancer, breast cancer, and heart disease. As well, they are supposed to contribute to the impairment of brain development in newborns and development of Type 2 diabetes.

Vitamin E

Palm oil is a rich source of Vitamin E (tocopherols & tocotrienols). Actually, no other vegetable oil contains vitamin E in comparison to palm oil. Vitamin E is a powerful anti-oxidant that decreases the harmful oxygen species (free radicals) in the body. By this way, palm oil helps to protect person from some chronic diseases as well as delay the ageing process of the body. It strengthens the body’s immune system and protects the body’s skin cells from UV radiation and toxins.

Calories

In the body, energy comes from the all groups of food, including oils and fats. Palm oil is an excellent source of calories; 1 gm of palm oil provides 9 Kcal of energy that is 2 ½ times higher than 1 gram of carbohydrates (4 Kcal) or protein (4 Kcal).

Other Health Benefits
  • Palm oil is full of antioxidants that keep skin looking younger by protecting the skin cells.
  • As the oil is a Trans fat-free, it neither increase fatty deposits in the arteries & blood vessels nor interfere in fat metabolism.
  • Palm oil is odorless and tasteless so it is perfect option for people who don’t like the smell and taste of the most marketed oils.
  • This saturated oil raises the amount of good cholesterol, HDL in the body. It is more effective for maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system, in comparison to other saturated oils.
  • Some studies have shown that tocotrienols, one of palm oil's components, can reverse the blockage of carotid artery and thereby helps to prevent heart attack, stroke, and arteriosclerosis.
  • Red palm oil raises the effectiveness of several breast cancer drugs up to 45% as well as inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells.
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Tropical Plant Fats | Palm Oil

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Tropical Plant Fats: Palm Oil

A Fatal Case of Nutritionism

The concept of 'nutritionism' was developed by Dr. Gyorgy Scrinis and popularized by the food writer Michael Pollan. It states that the health value of a food can be guessed by the sum of the nutrients it contains. Pollan argues, I think rightfully, that nutritionism is a reductionist philosophy that assumes we know more about food composition and the human body than we actually do. You can find varying degrees of this philosophy in most mainstream discussions of diet and health*.

One conspicuous way nutritionism manifests is in the idea that saturated fat is harmful. Any fat rich in saturated fatty acids is typically assumed to be unhealthy, regardless of its other constituents. There is also apparently no need to directly test that assumption, or even to look through the literature to see if the assumption has already been tested. In this manner, 'saturated' tropical plant fats such as palm oil and coconut oil have been labeled unhealthy, despite essentially no direct evidence that they're harmful. As we'll see, there is actually quite a bit of evidence, both indirect and direct, that their unrefined forms are not harmful and perhaps even beneficial.

Palm Oil and Heart Disease

Long-time readers may recall a post I wrote a while back titled Ischemic Heart Attacks: Disease of Civilization (1). I described a study from 1964 in which investigators looked for signs of heart attacks in thousands of consecutive autopsies in the US and Africa, among other places. They found virtually none in hearts from Nigeria and Uganda (3 non-fatal among more than 4,500 hearts), while Americans of the same age had very high rates (up to 1/3 of hearts).

What do they eat in Nigeria? Typical Nigerian food involves home-processed grains, starchy root vegetables, beans, fruit, vegetables, peanuts, red palm oil, and a bit of dairy, fish and meat**. The oil palm Elaeis guineensis originated in West Africa and remains one of the main dietary fats throughout the region.

To extract the oil, palm fruit are steamed, and the oily flesh is removed and pressed. It's similar to olive oil in that it is extracted gently from an oil-rich fruit, rather than harshly from an oil-poor seed (e.g., corn or soy oil). The oil that results is deep red and is perhaps the most nutrient-rich fat on the planet. The red color comes from carotenes, but red palm oil also contains a large amount of vitamin E (mostly tocotrienols), vitamin K1, coenzyme Q10 and assorted other fat-soluble constituents. This adds up to a very high concentration of fat-soluble antioxidants, which are needed to protect the fat from rancidity in hot and sunny West Africa. Some of these make it into the body when it's ingested, where they appear to protect the body's own fats from oxidation.

Mainstream nutrition authorities state that palm oil should be avoided due to the fact that it's approximately half saturated. This is actually one of the main reasons palm oil was replaced by hydrogenated seed oils in the processed food industry. Saturated fat raises blood cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart disease. Doesn't it? Let's see what the studies have to say.

Most of the studies were done using refined palm oil, unfortunately. Besides only being relevant to processed foods, this method also introduces a new variable because palm oil can be refined and oxidized to varying degrees. However, a few studies were done with red palm oil, and one even compared it to refined palm oil. Dr. Suzanna Scholtz and colleagues put 59 volunteers on diets predominating in sunflower oil, refined palm oil or red palm oil for 4 weeks. LDL cholesterol was not different between the sunflower oil and red palm oil groups, however the red palm oil group saw a significant increase in HDL. LDL and HDL both increased in the refined palm oil group relative to the sunflower oil group (2).

Although the evidence is conflicting, most studies have not been able to replicate the finding that refined palm oil increases LDL relative to less saturated oils (3, 4). This is consistent with studies in a variety of species showing that saturated fat generally doesn't raise LDL compared to monounsaturated fat in the long term, unless a large amount of purified cholesterol is added to the diet (5).

Investigators have also explored the ability of palm oil to promote atherosclerosis, or hardening and thickening of the arteries, in animals. Not only does palm oil not promote atherosclerosis relative to monounsaturated fats (e.g., olive oil), but in its unrefined state it actually protects against atherosclerosis (6, 7). A study in humans hinted at a possible explanation: compared to a monounsaturated oil***, palm oil greatly reduced oxidized LDL (8). As a matter of fact, I've never seen a dietary intervention reduce oxLDL to that degree (69%). oxLDL is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and a much better predictor of risk than the typically measured LDL cholesterol (9). The paper didn't state whether or not the palm oil was refined. I suspect it was lightly refined, but still rich in vitamin E and CoQ10.

As I discussed in my recent interview with Jimmy Moore, atherosclerosis is only one factor in heart attack risk (10). Several other factors are also major determinants of risk: clotting tendency, plaque stability, and susceptibility to arrhythmia. Another factor that I haven't discussed is how resistant the heart muscle is to hypoxia, or loss of oxygen. If the coronary arteries are temporarily blocked-- a frequent occurrence in modern people-- the heart muscle can be damaged. Dietary factors determine the degree of damage that results. For example, in rodents, nitrites derived from green vegetables protect the heart from hypoxia damage (11). It turns out that red palm oil is also protective (12, 13). Red palm oil also protects against high blood pressure in rats, an effect attributed to its ability to reduce oxidative stress (14, 15).

Together, the evidence suggests that red palm oil does not contribute to heart disease risk, and in fact is likely to be protective. The benefits of red palm oil probably come mostly from its minor constituents, i.e. the substances besides its fatty acids. Several studies have shown that a red palm oil extract called palmvitee lowers serum lipids in humans (16, 17). The minor constituents are precisely what are removed during the refining process.

Palm Oil and the Immune System

Red palm oil also has beneficial effects on the immune system in rodents. It protects against bacterial infection when compared with soybean oil (18). It also protects against certain cancers, compared to other oils (19, 20). This may be in part due to its lower content of omega-6 linoleic acid (roughly 10%), and minor constituents.

The Verdict

Yet again, nutritionism has gotten itself into trouble by underestimating the biological complexity of a whole food. Rather than being harmful to human health, red palm oil, an ancient and delicious food, is likely to be protective. It's also one of the cheapest oils available worldwide, due to the oil palm's high productivity. It has a good shelf life and does not require refrigeration. Its strong, savory flavor goes well in stews, particularly meat stews. It isn't available in most grocery stores, but you can find it on the internet. Make sure not to confuse it with refined palm oil or palm kernel oil.


* The approach that Pollan and I favor is a simpler, more empirical one: eat foods that have successfully sustained healthy cultures.

** Some Nigerians are also pastoralists that subsist primarily on dairy.

*** High oleic sunflower oil, from a type of sunflower bred to be high in monounsaturated fat and low in linoleic acid. I think it's probably among the least harmful refined oils. I use it sometimes to make mayonnaise. It's often available in grocery stores, just check the label.

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2010/07/tropical-plant-fats-palm-oil.html

Bangladesh: Pesticides in dried fish processing

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(The Financial Express-Bd) Allegations of widespread pesticide use in dried fish processing have once again been coming in from various coastal regions in Bangladesh. As reported in a contemporary on Saturday, 25 Feb 2012, many involved in the trade have been found soaking the raw fish in pesticide (ripcord, submicron, DDT, NOGOS, basudin, diosgenin, formalin, etc) solutions prior to putting them up to dry. This goes to show that there has been precious little in the way of raising awareness against the dangerous practice although successive governments have been alerted long ago --- ever since this health hazard was reported in the early 1980s. According to the Bangladesh Fish Development Corporation (BFDC) in 2010-2011 period, the fish catch amounted to some 3.1 million metric tonnes. On average about 10 per cent of an annual catch is sun-dried, for home consumption as well as export, and many of the traders choose to apply pesticides in a bid to keep flies and maggots away. And they do it at their peril, as well as that of the ultimate consumers.

Thousands of workers are found using their bare hands to mix the poisons without the foggiest notion about the short and long-term health effects. NOGOS for example can destroy nerve cells, result in heart attacks, spontaneous abortion, stomach cramps, vomiting and other adverse effects, the degree of poisoning depending on dose and duration. People in general seem to be ignorant about the dangers and the government itself is hardly up to the task of monitoring pesticide use or abuse, wherever it may be . Many of the worst kinds, though officially banned here, are still available, and reportedly, even sold without names or with labels that do not match the contents. This clearly increases the health risks. Reliable statistics on pesticide casualties may not be available but reports of deaths and sufferings from chronic effects are common enough.

The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research ( IEDCR), investigating cases of 'mysterious' deaths in some villages in recent years had found evidence of extreme callousness in the handling of these agrochemicals, some of which belong to the banned 'dirty dozen' group known as POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants). These have been condemned globally decades ago, and in Bangladesh too they are officially banned. Yet, some of the nastiest are found to be in use, not only on dried fish and on cropland but to 'manage' public health. A functioning central register, or list, of pesticides available in Bangladesh could bring some discipline in the sector and give an adequate idea of the use and abuse of such poisons. The Department of Environment is said to control the country's pesticide registration scheme but strangely there is no specific legislation for controlling their production or use.

The deadliest pesticides can wreck the human body and mind ---- the nervous, reproductive, immune systems and the brain itself. Pesticide residues turn up virtually everywhere in Bangladesh, in ground water and in foods, causing many adverse health effects of 'unknown' origins. Some studies link these pollutants to serious diseases, including cancer and other subtle but potent health problems, such as systemic damage to the endocrine, immune and nervous systems. With such information at hand it should be considered a dereliction of duty if awareness against indiscriminate use of pesticides is not revved up. The government's relevant ministries and departments ---- agriculture, environment, health, commerce ---- all need to put their heads together for long-term solutions to the grave risks posed by the continuing use of the highly toxic pesticides.

Monsanto guilty of chemical poisoning in France

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(Reuters) - A French court on Monday declared U.S. biotech giant Monsanto guilty of chemical poisoning of a French farmer, a judgment that could lend weight to other health claims against pesticides.

In the first such case heard in court in France, grain grower Paul Francois, 47, says he suffered neurological problems including memory loss, headaches and stammering after inhaling Monsanto's Lasso weedkiller in 2004.

He blames the agri-business giant for not providing adequate warnings on the product label.

The ruling was given by a court in Lyon, southeast France, which ordered an expert opinion of Francois's losses to establish the amount of damages.

"It is a historic decision in so far as it is the first time that a (pesticide) maker is found guilty of such a poisoning," François Lafforgue, Francois's lawyer, told Reuters.

Monsanto said it was disappointed by the ruling and would examine whether to appeal the judgment.

"Monsanto always considered that there were not sufficient elements to establish a causal relationship between Paul Francois's symptoms and a potential poisoning," the company's lawyer, Jean-Philippe Delsart, said.

Previous health claims from farmers have foundered because of the difficulty of establishing clear links between illnesses and exposure to pesticides.

Francois and other farmers suffering from illness set up an association last year to make a case that their health problems should be linked to their use of crop protection products.

The agricultural branch of the French social security system says that since 1996, it has gathered farmers' reports of sickness potentially related to pesticides, with about 200 alerts a year.

But only about 47 cases have been recognized as due to pesticides in the past 10 years. Francois, who suffers from neurological problems, obtained work invalidity status only after a court appeal.

LESS INTENSIVE NOW

The Francois case goes back to a period of intensive use of crop-protection chemicals in the European Union. The EU and its member countries have since banned a large number of substances considered dangerous.

Lasso, a pre-emergent soil-applied herbicide that has been used since the 1960s to control grasses and broadleaf weeds in farm fields, was banned in France in 2007 following an EU directive after the product had already been withdrawn in some other countries.

Though it once was a top-selling herbicide, it has gradually lost popularity, and critics say several studies have shown links to a range of health problems.

Monsanto's Roundup is now the dominant herbicide used to kill weeds. The company markets it in conjunction with its biotech herbicide-tolerant "Roundup Ready" crops. The Roundup Ready corn, soybeans, cotton and other crops do not die when sprayed directly with the herbicide, a trait that has made them wildly popular with U.S. farmers.

But farmers are now being encouraged to use more and different kinds of chemicals again as Roundup loses its effectiveness to a rise of "super weeds" that are resistant to Roundup.

And while the risks of pesticide are a generally known and accepted hazard of farming in most places, and farmers are cautioned to take care when handling the chemicals, increased use of pesticides will only cause more harm to human health and the environment, critic say.

"The registration process does not protect against harm. Manufacturers have to be held liable for adverse impacts that occur," said Jay Feldman, director of Beyond Pesticides, a non-profit group focused on reducing pesticide use.

France, the EU's largest agricultural producer, is now targeting a 50 percent reduction in pesticide use between 2008 and 2018, with initial results showing a 4 percent cut in farm and non-farm use in 2008-2010.

The Francois claim may be easier to argue than others because he can pinpoint a specific incident - inhaling the Lasso when cleaning the tank of his crop sprayer - whereas fellow farmers are trying to show accumulated effects from various products.

"It's like lying on a bed of thorns and trying to say which one cut you," said a farmer, who has recovered from prostate cancer and asked not to be named.

The French association of crop protection companies, UIPP, says pesticides are all subject to testing and that any evidence of a cancer risk in humans leads to withdrawal of products from the market.

"I think if we had a major health problem with pesticides, we would have already known about it," Jean-Charles Bocquet, UIPP's managing director, said.

The social security's farming branch this year is due to add Parkinson's disease to its list of conditions related to pesticide use after already recognizing some cases of blood cancers and bladder and respiratory problems.

France's health and environment safety agency (ANSES), meanwhile, is conducting a study on farmers' health, with results expected next year.

(Writing by Gus Trompiz; Editing by Muriel Boselli, Sybille de La Hamaide and Jane Baird)


Cancer 'slowed by cooked tomatoes'

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A nutrient in cooked tomatoes has been shown in laboratory studies to slow the growth of - and even kill - prostate cancer cells, scientists said today.

Dr Mridula Chopra and colleagues at the University of Portsmouth tested the effect of the nutrient lycopene on the simple mechanism through which cancer cells hijack a body's healthy blood supply to grow and spread.

They found that lycopene, which is what gives tomatoes their red colour, intercepts cancer's ability to make the connections it needs to attach to a healthy blood supply.

The researchers, from the university's School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, are now calling for tests to check if the same reaction occurs in the human body.

Director of the research Dr Chopra said: ''This simple chemical reaction was shown to occur at lycopene concentrations that can easily be achieved by eating processed tomatoes.''

Lycopene is present in all red fruits and vegetables, but its concentrations are highest in tomatoes and it becomes more readily available and biologically active when it comes from processed tomatoes with a small amount of cooking oil added.

Dr Chopra said: ''I stress that our tests were done in test tubes in a laboratory and more testing needs to be carried out to confirm our findings, but the laboratory evidence we have found is clear - it is possible to intercept the simple mechanism some cancer cells use to grow at concentrations that can be achieved by eating sufficient cooked tomatoes.''

The research, which is published in the British Journal of Nutrition, was part-funded by Heinz after the food manufacturer asked for more research to follow up earlier studies by the same researchers which showed a significant increase in lycopene levels in blood and semen samples after subjects ate 400g (14oz) of processed tomatoes for two weeks.

Dr Chopra and her colleagues Simone Elgass and Alan Cooper said they had a firm agreement they would publish their results irrespective of the outcome.

Cancer cells can remain dormant for years until their growth is triggered through the secretion of chemicals which initiate the process of linking cancer cells with endothelial cells which act as healthy gatekeeper cells lining blood vessels.

This allows the cancer cells to reach out and attach to the blood supply.

In the laboratory experiments, lycopene was shown to disrupt this linking process, without which cancer cells cannot grow.

The researchers explained that all cancer cells use a similar mechanism (angiogenesis) to ''feed'' upon a healthy blood supply.

They said there was added importance of this mechanism for prostate cancer because lycopene tends to accumulate in prostate tissues.

Dr Chopra said: ''The important thing is for sufficient lycopene to reach where it can matter. We know that in case of prostate tissues it gets there.

''We have tested this in the labs but we don't yet know if the same action will happen in the body.

''Individuals will vary in how much lycopene their bodies make available to fight cancer cell growth and the ability of lycopene to 'intercept' in this way in the body is likely to vary between tomato products - both processing and cooking with fat have previously been shown to make lycopene more effective biologically.

''The type of tomatoes which offer the most effective lycopene also differs and more tests need to be done to find the best breed of tomato for this purpose.''

It was suggested in their previous research that smokers might have to consume more tomatoes than non-smokers to achieve the benefits of lycopene due to the presence of high oxidative stress in smokers.

Eleanor Barrie, senior science information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: ''Some existing cancer drugs target the formation of new blood vessels, but more research is needed to show how they could be used to help cancer patients.

''This small study doesn't directly tell us if lycopene has any effect against cancer, but research like this can help us to understand more about how the chemical affects blood vessel formation.''

Cancer 'slowed by cooked tomatoes'

Posted by Flora Sawita Labels: , , ,

A nutrient in cooked tomatoes has been shown in laboratory studies to slow the growth of - and even kill - prostate cancer cells, scientists said today.

Dr Mridula Chopra and colleagues at the University of Portsmouth tested the effect of the nutrient lycopene on the simple mechanism through which cancer cells hijack a body's healthy blood supply to grow and spread.

They found that lycopene, which is what gives tomatoes their red colour, intercepts cancer's ability to make the connections it needs to attach to a healthy blood supply.

The researchers, from the university's School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, are now calling for tests to check if the same reaction occurs in the human body.

Director of the research Dr Chopra said: ''This simple chemical reaction was shown to occur at lycopene concentrations that can easily be achieved by eating processed tomatoes.''

Lycopene is present in all red fruits and vegetables, but its concentrations are highest in tomatoes and it becomes more readily available and biologically active when it comes from processed tomatoes with a small amount of cooking oil added.

Dr Chopra said: ''I stress that our tests were done in test tubes in a laboratory and more testing needs to be carried out to confirm our findings, but the laboratory evidence we have found is clear - it is possible to intercept the simple mechanism some cancer cells use to grow at concentrations that can be achieved by eating sufficient cooked tomatoes.''

The research, which is published in the British Journal of Nutrition, was part-funded by Heinz after the food manufacturer asked for more research to follow up earlier studies by the same researchers which showed a significant increase in lycopene levels in blood and semen samples after subjects ate 400g (14oz) of processed tomatoes for two weeks.

Dr Chopra and her colleagues Simone Elgass and Alan Cooper said they had a firm agreement they would publish their results irrespective of the outcome.

Cancer cells can remain dormant for years until their growth is triggered through the secretion of chemicals which initiate the process of linking cancer cells with endothelial cells which act as healthy gatekeeper cells lining blood vessels.

This allows the cancer cells to reach out and attach to the blood supply.

In the laboratory experiments, lycopene was shown to disrupt this linking process, without which cancer cells cannot grow.

The researchers explained that all cancer cells use a similar mechanism (angiogenesis) to ''feed'' upon a healthy blood supply.

They said there was added importance of this mechanism for prostate cancer because lycopene tends to accumulate in prostate tissues.

Dr Chopra said: ''The important thing is for sufficient lycopene to reach where it can matter. We know that in case of prostate tissues it gets there.

''We have tested this in the labs but we don't yet know if the same action will happen in the body.

''Individuals will vary in how much lycopene their bodies make available to fight cancer cell growth and the ability of lycopene to 'intercept' in this way in the body is likely to vary between tomato products - both processing and cooking with fat have previously been shown to make lycopene more effective biologically.

''The type of tomatoes which offer the most effective lycopene also differs and more tests need to be done to find the best breed of tomato for this purpose.''

It was suggested in their previous research that smokers might have to consume more tomatoes than non-smokers to achieve the benefits of lycopene due to the presence of high oxidative stress in smokers.

Eleanor Barrie, senior science information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: ''Some existing cancer drugs target the formation of new blood vessels, but more research is needed to show how they could be used to help cancer patients.

''This small study doesn't directly tell us if lycopene has any effect against cancer, but research like this can help us to understand more about how the chemical affects blood vessel formation.''

"Magic mushroom" trips point to new depression drugs

Posted by Flora Sawita Labels: , , ,

(Reuters) - The brains of people tripping on magic mushrooms have given the best picture yet of how psychedelic drugs work and British scientists say the findings suggest such drugs could be used to treat depression.

Two separate studies into the effects of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, showed that contrary to scientists' expectations, it does not increase but rather suppresses activity in areas of the brain that are also dampened with other anti-depressant treatments.

"Psychedelics are thought of as 'mind-expanding' drugs so it has commonly been assumed that they work by increasing brain activity," said David Nutt of Imperial College London, who gave a briefing about the studies on Monday. "But, surprisingly, we found that psilocybin actually caused activity to decrease in areas that have the densest connections with other areas."

These so-called "hub" regions of the brain are known to play a role in constraining our experience of the world and keeping it orderly, he said.

"We now know that deactivating these regions leads to a state in which the world is experienced as strange."

In the first study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal, 30 volunteers had psilocybin infused into their blood while they were inside magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, which measure changes in brain activity.

It found activity decreased in "hub" regions and many volunteers described a feeling of the cogs being loosened and their sense of self being altered.

The second study, due to be published in the British Journal of Psychiatry on Thursday, involved 10 volunteers and found that psilocybin enhanced their recollections of personal memories.

Robin Carhart Harris from Imperial's department of medicine, who worked on both studies, said the results suggest psilocybin could be useful as an adjunct to psychotherapy.

Nutt cautioned that the new research was very preliminary and involved only small numbers of people.

"We're not saying go out there and eat magic mushrooms," he said. "But...this drug has such a fundamental impact on the brain that it's got to be meaningful -- it's got to be telling us something about how the brain works. So we should be studying it and optimizing it if there's a therapeutic benefit."

"FUNDAMENTAL IMPACT"

The key areas of the brain identified -- one called the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and another called the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) -- are the subject of debate among neuroscientists, but the PCC is thought by many to have a role in consciousness and self-identity.

The mPFC is known to be hyperactive in depression, and the researchers pointed out that other key treatments for depression including medicines like Prozac, as well as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and deep brain stimulation, also appear to suppress mPFC activity.

Psilocybin's dampening action on this area may make it a useful and potentially long-acting antidepressant, Carhart-Harris said.

The studies also showed that psilocybin reduced blood flow in the hypothalamus -- a part of the brain where people who suffer from a condition known as cluster headaches often have increased blood flow. This could explain why some cluster headache sufferers have said their symptoms improved after taking the psychedelic drug, the researcher said.

The studies, which are among only a handful conducted into psychedelic substances since the 1960s and 1970s, revive a promising field of study into mind-altering drugs which some experts say can offer powerful and sustained mood improvement and relief from anxiety.

Other experts echoed Nott's caution: "These findings are very interesting from the research viewpoint, but a great deal more work would be needed before most psychiatrists would think that psilocybin was a safe, effective and acceptable adjunct to psychotherapy," said Nick Craddock, a psychiatry professor from Cardiff University.

Kevin Healy, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' faculty of medical psychotherapy said it was interesting research "but we are clearly nowhere near seeing psilocybin used regularly and widely in psychotherapy practice."

By Kate Kelland
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences


"Magic mushroom" trips point to new depression drugs

Posted by Flora Sawita Labels: , , ,

(Reuters) - The brains of people tripping on magic mushrooms have given the best picture yet of how psychedelic drugs work and British scientists say the findings suggest such drugs could be used to treat depression.

Two separate studies into the effects of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, showed that contrary to scientists' expectations, it does not increase but rather suppresses activity in areas of the brain that are also dampened with other anti-depressant treatments.

"Psychedelics are thought of as 'mind-expanding' drugs so it has commonly been assumed that they work by increasing brain activity," said David Nutt of Imperial College London, who gave a briefing about the studies on Monday. "But, surprisingly, we found that psilocybin actually caused activity to decrease in areas that have the densest connections with other areas."

These so-called "hub" regions of the brain are known to play a role in constraining our experience of the world and keeping it orderly, he said.

"We now know that deactivating these regions leads to a state in which the world is experienced as strange."

In the first study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal, 30 volunteers had psilocybin infused into their blood while they were inside magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, which measure changes in brain activity.

It found activity decreased in "hub" regions and many volunteers described a feeling of the cogs being loosened and their sense of self being altered.

The second study, due to be published in the British Journal of Psychiatry on Thursday, involved 10 volunteers and found that psilocybin enhanced their recollections of personal memories.

Robin Carhart Harris from Imperial's department of medicine, who worked on both studies, said the results suggest psilocybin could be useful as an adjunct to psychotherapy.

Nutt cautioned that the new research was very preliminary and involved only small numbers of people.

"We're not saying go out there and eat magic mushrooms," he said. "But...this drug has such a fundamental impact on the brain that it's got to be meaningful -- it's got to be telling us something about how the brain works. So we should be studying it and optimizing it if there's a therapeutic benefit."

"FUNDAMENTAL IMPACT"

The key areas of the brain identified -- one called the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and another called the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) -- are the subject of debate among neuroscientists, but the PCC is thought by many to have a role in consciousness and self-identity.

The mPFC is known to be hyperactive in depression, and the researchers pointed out that other key treatments for depression including medicines like Prozac, as well as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and deep brain stimulation, also appear to suppress mPFC activity.

Psilocybin's dampening action on this area may make it a useful and potentially long-acting antidepressant, Carhart-Harris said.

The studies also showed that psilocybin reduced blood flow in the hypothalamus -- a part of the brain where people who suffer from a condition known as cluster headaches often have increased blood flow. This could explain why some cluster headache sufferers have said their symptoms improved after taking the psychedelic drug, the researcher said.

The studies, which are among only a handful conducted into psychedelic substances since the 1960s and 1970s, revive a promising field of study into mind-altering drugs which some experts say can offer powerful and sustained mood improvement and relief from anxiety.

Other experts echoed Nott's caution: "These findings are very interesting from the research viewpoint, but a great deal more work would be needed before most psychiatrists would think that psilocybin was a safe, effective and acceptable adjunct to psychotherapy," said Nick Craddock, a psychiatry professor from Cardiff University.

Kevin Healy, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' faculty of medical psychotherapy said it was interesting research "but we are clearly nowhere near seeing psilocybin used regularly and widely in psychotherapy practice."

By Kate Kelland
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences


Anti-cheese billboards upstate use scare tactics to shock dairy lovers

Posted by Flora Sawita Labels: , , , ,

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine warns consumers of health risks

BY LINDSAY GOLDWERT

Anti-cheese billboards upstate use scare

tactics to shock dairy lovers The cheese-haters stand alone.

A series of billboards illustrating the fattening effects of the beloved dairy product are dotting the highways of upstate New York .

Drivers get a close-up of dimpled flesh with the words, “Your Thighs on Cheese.” Others get an eyeful of a big belly with “Your Abs on Cheese.”

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), the nonprofit group behind the billboards, isn’t afraid to use scare tactics in order to get Americans to cut the cheese.

“Cheese is loaded with fat, cholesterol, sodium—and calories, PCRM nutritionist Susan Levin wrote in a statement. “It ought to come with a warning label so consumers understand the health risk.”

The group has criticized Albany schools for serving cheese-laden meals to kids and furthering the nation’s obesity crisis.

More than 59% of New York State’s residents are either overweight or obese, according to Department of Health statistics. Albany County residents are even heavier — nearly 63% of adult residents are overweight or obese.

It’s a tough sell to a nation that seems to have a growing love affair with cheese.

Each American ate 32.4 pounds of cheese in 2008, according to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center.

Back in September, the group made the daring decision to put up the billboards in Wisconsin near the Lambeau Field where the Green Bay Packers play.

PCRM attempted to scare football fans with a photo of the grim reaper and the words, “Warning: Cheese can sack you health.”

Packers fans, who dub themselves Cheeseheads, were largely unimpressed.

“They're presenting a very slanted side of cheese,” Laura Wilford, a registered dietitian with the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board in Madison, told the Wisconsin State Journal.

Anti-cheese billboards upstate use scare tactics to shock dairy lovers

Posted by Flora Sawita Labels: , , , ,

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine warns consumers of health risks

BY LINDSAY GOLDWERT

Anti-cheese billboards upstate use scare

tactics to shock dairy lovers The cheese-haters stand alone.

A series of billboards illustrating the fattening effects of the beloved dairy product are dotting the highways of upstate New York .

Drivers get a close-up of dimpled flesh with the words, “Your Thighs on Cheese.” Others get an eyeful of a big belly with “Your Abs on Cheese.”

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), the nonprofit group behind the billboards, isn’t afraid to use scare tactics in order to get Americans to cut the cheese.

“Cheese is loaded with fat, cholesterol, sodium—and calories, PCRM nutritionist Susan Levin wrote in a statement. “It ought to come with a warning label so consumers understand the health risk.”

The group has criticized Albany schools for serving cheese-laden meals to kids and furthering the nation’s obesity crisis.

More than 59% of New York State’s residents are either overweight or obese, according to Department of Health statistics. Albany County residents are even heavier — nearly 63% of adult residents are overweight or obese.

It’s a tough sell to a nation that seems to have a growing love affair with cheese.

Each American ate 32.4 pounds of cheese in 2008, according to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center.

Back in September, the group made the daring decision to put up the billboards in Wisconsin near the Lambeau Field where the Green Bay Packers play.

PCRM attempted to scare football fans with a photo of the grim reaper and the words, “Warning: Cheese can sack you health.”

Packers fans, who dub themselves Cheeseheads, were largely unimpressed.

“They're presenting a very slanted side of cheese,” Laura Wilford, a registered dietitian with the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board in Madison, told the Wisconsin State Journal.

Egg producers may struggle to control Salmonella following cage ban

Posted by Flora Sawita Labels: , , , , ,


Egg producers in the European Union may struggle to control Salmonella when the EU ban on battery cages comes into force in January 2012, according to pathogen elimination and mould control company, Anitox Corporation.

Alan Doyle, the company’s European Business Development Manager, emphasises that despite data published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2011 showing that Salmonella control programmes in laying birds have been highly successful (17 Member States met their 2009 reduction target for flocks of laying hens and the overall incidence of Salmonella in countries which operate control programmes fell from 3.5% in 2008 to 3.2% in 2009) the industry simply cannot afford to be complacent.

“The need for caution was highlighted in a recent study in Belgium to quantify the effects of housing systems on the spread of Salmonella infection within layers and internal egg contamination,” said Doyle. “The study found that, compared with traditional battery cages and furnished cages, aviary and floor housing systems pose a greater risk. Bird-to-bird transmission of Salmonella enteritidis was slightly higher, while a higher number of eggs were contaminated internally by Salmonella.

“The results suggest that a shift from conventional to alternative housing systems for laying hens should be accompanied by a keen concern for optimising Salmonella surveillance programmes. It is critical, therefore, that existing control plans are maintained and additional care is taken to minimise within-flock transmission of Salmonella, which is a persistent problem that cannot be entirely eradicated and poses a major threat to humans who consume contaminated animal products.

“EFSA identified Salmonella spp. as the major hazard for microbial contamination of feed and although feedstuffs for layer, broiler, duck or turkey parent/grandparent stock are sometimes heat-treated in an attempt to reduce the problem, this process may not kill all pathogens. It also significantly increases the cost of the feed, has a high carbon footprint, can damage vitamins/nutrients and has no residual effect, so unless other measures are implemented, re-contamination can occur in the mill, during transport or on the farm. In another recent study, the authors found that non-pelleted feed e.g. mash, was eight times more likely to be contaminated (with Salmonella) than pelleted compound feed.”

Source: Anitox

Egg producers may struggle to control Salmonella following cage ban

Posted by Flora Sawita Labels: , , , , ,


Egg producers in the European Union may struggle to control Salmonella when the EU ban on battery cages comes into force in January 2012, according to pathogen elimination and mould control company, Anitox Corporation.

Alan Doyle, the company’s European Business Development Manager, emphasises that despite data published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2011 showing that Salmonella control programmes in laying birds have been highly successful (17 Member States met their 2009 reduction target for flocks of laying hens and the overall incidence of Salmonella in countries which operate control programmes fell from 3.5% in 2008 to 3.2% in 2009) the industry simply cannot afford to be complacent.

“The need for caution was highlighted in a recent study in Belgium to quantify the effects of housing systems on the spread of Salmonella infection within layers and internal egg contamination,” said Doyle. “The study found that, compared with traditional battery cages and furnished cages, aviary and floor housing systems pose a greater risk. Bird-to-bird transmission of Salmonella enteritidis was slightly higher, while a higher number of eggs were contaminated internally by Salmonella.

“The results suggest that a shift from conventional to alternative housing systems for laying hens should be accompanied by a keen concern for optimising Salmonella surveillance programmes. It is critical, therefore, that existing control plans are maintained and additional care is taken to minimise within-flock transmission of Salmonella, which is a persistent problem that cannot be entirely eradicated and poses a major threat to humans who consume contaminated animal products.

“EFSA identified Salmonella spp. as the major hazard for microbial contamination of feed and although feedstuffs for layer, broiler, duck or turkey parent/grandparent stock are sometimes heat-treated in an attempt to reduce the problem, this process may not kill all pathogens. It also significantly increases the cost of the feed, has a high carbon footprint, can damage vitamins/nutrients and has no residual effect, so unless other measures are implemented, re-contamination can occur in the mill, during transport or on the farm. In another recent study, the authors found that non-pelleted feed e.g. mash, was eight times more likely to be contaminated (with Salmonella) than pelleted compound feed.”

Source: Anitox

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