Yogurt that might stop a heart attack

The human gut is home to 100 trillion micro-organisms of 1,500 species

Yogurt that might stop a heart attack
Our guts are home to a microscopic world – and their contents may be a matter of life or death, reports Roger Highfield.

What does it mean to be human? It’s a deceptively simple question, but the answer is complex. The reason is that most of our cells are not human at all. We depend on a vast army of microbes to stay alive: a friendly “microbiome” that protects us against germs, breaks down food to release energy, and produces vitamins.

Your digestive system alone is home to roughly 100 trillion microbes – about 10 times the number of cells in the major organs. A team co-led by Prof Jeroen Raes of the Flemish Institute of Biotechnology has discovered that we all have one of three basic ecosystems of bugs in our guts – but strangely, the type for each person is unrelated to their race, native country or diet. They label these “enterotypes” the “bacteriodes”, “prevotella” and “ruminococcus”, to reflect the species of bug that dominate in each. People with a bacteriodes ecosystem, for example, have a bias towards bacteria that get most of their energy from carbohydrates and proteins.

This revelation has prompted much interest, because it could explain differences in our ability to digest food. A few years ago, Prof Jeffrey Gordon’s team at Washington University School of Medicine found that the intestines of obese people contain a slightly different repertoire of microbes when compared with slim people. In the Flemish study, researchers found a similar correlation between obesity and the abundance of bacteria that extract energy rapidly from food.

Prof Jeremy Nicholson, of Imperial College London, doubts that the latest find is of huge biological significance, since the three enterotypes probably have similar roles and capabilities. Yet he believes that one day, it might be possible to engineer enterotypes, which could be used (for example) to boost the number of calories extracted from poor diets by children in developing countries.

That is not to say that it will be easy. The human gut contains about 1,500 bacterial species, so tinkering with their ecology in a controlled way may be tricky. Although there are products that claim to manipulate bacteria, such as prebiotics, which fuel certain microbes, and probiotics (such as yogurts) that contain live bacteria, we still understand too little to do this reliably.

Yet recognition of the importance of the microbiome is growing. It has already been linked to our understanding of obesity, allergies, diabetes and cancer – and in the past few days, a study has appeared by Prof John Baker at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee that suggests that the types and levels of bacteria in a person’s gut may be used to predict the likelihood of their having a heart attack, too. The find, Prof Baker believes, “is a revolutionary milestone” in the prevention and treatment of such attacks.

As part of his experiments, he and his colleagues induced heart attacks in three separate groups of rats. The first was fed a standard diet. The second was given the antibiotic vancomycin and the third fed a probiotic supplement containing Lactobacillus plantarum, a bacterium that suppresses the production of a hormone called leptin, which is linked to appetite and metabolism.

It turned out that the group treated with the antibiotic also showed decreased levels of leptin – and that the two groups with lower leptin levels suffered less serious heart attacks, and recovered from them better. “We may not be ready to prescribe yogurt to prevent heart attacks, but this research does give us a much better understanding of how the microbiome affects our response to injury,” says Dr Gerald Weissmann, editor-in-chief of the journal in which the study appeared.

Prof Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, stresses that more research will be required to show whether the dramatic changes in inflammatory molecules seen in the rats would apply to humans, too. But few doubt that, in the not too distant future, we will get dramatic new insights into our health by studying the shadow world of our microbial passengers.

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Warning on wi-fi health risk to children

According to estimates, half of all primary schools are already using wireless networks

Children should not place computers on their laps while they are using wireless internet connections because of potential health risks, according to a leading Government adviser.

Professor Lawrie Challis, who heads the committee on mobile phone safety research, called yesterday for pupils to be monitored amid mounting public concern over emissions from wi-fi networks.

He is concerned that few studies have been carried out into the level of exposure in classrooms and believes that if health problems do emerge they are likely to be more serious in children.

Prof Challis, is chairman of the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme, an £8.4 million investigation, funded by the Government and the industry, into the potential health risks of mobile phones.

He said that until more research had been carried out, children who used wi-fi enabled laptops should only do so if they kept a safe distance from their embedded antennas.

Prof Challis said: "With a desktop computer, the transmitter will be in the tower.

"This might be perhaps 20cms from your leg and the exposure would then be around one per cent of that from a mobile phone.

"However if you put a laptop straight on your lap and are using wi-fi, you could be around 2cms from the transmitter, and receiving comparable exposure to that from a mobile phone.

"Children are much more sensitive than adults to a number of other dangers, such as pollutants like lead and UV radiation, so if there should be a problem with mobiles, then it may be a bigger problem for children.

"Since we advise that children should be discouraged from using mobile phones, we should also discourage children from placing their laptop on their lap when they are using wi-fi.

"In view of public concern, I should like to see some measurements of intensities arising from wi-fi made in schools."

Last week it was revealed that Sir William Stewart, the chairman of the Health Protection Agency, told colleagues that he would like to see monitoring of children exposed to wireless technology in schools.

In the past 18 months approximately 1.6 million wi-fi connections have been set up in British homes and offices, and about one in five adults owns a wireless-enabled laptop.

According to estimates, half of all primary schools and four fifths of all secondary schools are using wireless networks.

Wi-fi works through the transmission of radio waves between a router, which is connected to a telephone line, and a small transmitter in a computer.

Under international guidelines the amount of energy absorbed into the body from such radio waves cannot exceed two watts per kilogram when averaged over any 10 grams of tissue.

The maximum signal strength next to the router or computer transmitter is 0.1 watts and the power level falls off very rapidly beyond a few cms from the transmission points.

However it is believed that a classroom containing 20 laptops and two routers could combine and be equivalent to the emission from a mobile phone.

Jeff Hand, professor of imaging physics at Imperial College London, said: "If we are talking about health issues linked to localised heating of tissue then these will be insignificant at the power levels we are talking about here."

But while most scientists only recognise potential health effects from mobile phones linked to heating, others believe there could be "non-thermal" effects.

Alasdair Philips, the director of Powerwatch, the consumer group, said: "We are not talking about problems caused by heating. Our brains and nervous systems work by using electrical signals. I believe these signals are being interfered with by exposure to this wi-fi radiation.

"Based on studies reporting effects experienced by people living near mobile phone masts, I would predict chronic fatigue, memory and concentration problems, irritability and behaviour problems - exactly what we are seeing increasingly in our school pupils. "

Prof Challis has backed Sir William's recommendations in his 2000 report that children under 15 keep mobile phone use to a minimum and be encouraged to text rather than call.

The Health Protection Agency also advises children to limit their use of mobiles.

The Austrian Medical Association is pressing for a ban on wi-fi in schools. Dr Gerd Oberfeld, Salzburg's head of environmental health and medicine, has described wi-fi as "dangerous" to sensitive people.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "Wi-fi devices are of very low power, much lower than mobile phones. The only firm precautionary advice issued by the Health Protection Agency is about children's use of mobile phones."

•A report into the possible link between high-voltage cables and cancer has urged the Government to consider restricting homes and schools within 200 feet.

But the study, commissioned by the Department of Health, stopped short of recommending a specific ban.

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Using WI-Fi on a laptop damages sperms

Using Wi-Fi on a laptop damages sperms: Report

LONDON: Here's an advice for the tech-savvy generation -- browsing the Net on a laptop computer connected with wireless technology can damage sperm counts, a new study has claimed.

An international team has discovered that a laptop, using Wi-Fi, which is placed near male reproductive organs reduced men's sperm quality and also their chances of experiencing fatherhood, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The study, led by the Nascentis Centre for Reproductive Medicine in Cordoba, Argentina and Eastern Virginia Medical School, found a quarter of the sperm placed next to a laptop for just a few hours were killed.

Evidence of DNA damage was also found. In comparison, sperm that was stored at the same temperature but away from a laptop showed a smaller drop in mobility and a significant reduction in DNA damage.

Meanwhile, semen placed under the computer without the Wi-Fi connected did not experience significant levels of sperm damage, according to the study.

"Our data suggest that the use of a laptop computer wireless connected to the internet and positioned near the male reproductive organs may decrease human sperm quality," said Dr Conrado Avendano, who led the study.

"At present we do not know whether this effect is induced by all laptop computers connected by Wi-Fi to the internet or what use conditions heighten this effect," he added.

In the latest study, researchers took sperm specimens from 29 healthy men, aged 26 to 45. Each donor sample was separated out into two pots and either placed under a laptop using wireless technology or away from the computer.

The researchers then used the laptop to download information from the internet for four hours. They found that 25% of the sperm under the laptop had stopped moving and nine per cent showed DNA damage.

By comparison, just 14% of samples kept away from the Wi-Fi stopped moving while just three per cent suffered DNA damage.

Dr Avendano stressed the results did not necessarily mean the same would occur in a real-life setting, adding that men should not unduly worry. But he recommended more research be undertaken.

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DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven its value. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers.

For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following diseases:
Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.

METHOD OF TREATMENT
1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water
2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minute
3. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.
4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours
5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.
6. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.

The following list gives the number of days of treatment required to cure/control/reduce main diseases:
1. High Blood Pressure (30 days)
2. Gastric (10 days)
3. Diabetes (30 days)
4. Constipation (10 days)
5. Cancer (180 days)
6. TB (90 days)
7. Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment only for 3 days in the 1st week, and from 2nd week onwards – daily..

This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.

It is better if we continue this and make this procedure as a routine work in our life. Drink Water and Stay healthy and Active.

This makes sense .. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals ..not cold water. Maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain...

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you.

It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion.

Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine.

Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks:
· Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting,
· Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
· You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.
· Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.
· 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.
· Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware.
The more we know, the better chance we could survive...

A cardiologist says if everyone who knows this information share this to everyone, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.