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ADDITIONAL LINKS
British Lung Foundation web site
Want to know more about arthritis?
Arthritis Research Campaign
Breast Cancer and the Cancer Research site
Artificial Sweeteners
and why you should avoid them.
UK Government Food Standards Agency site
Health Pages
Watercress is the latest 'Top Food' for health
New research shows that watercress is emerging as an important player in the field of diet and cancer prevention. Research led by Professor Ian Rowland at the University of Ulster, Coleraine, has found that watercress extracts can beneficially impact key stages of carcinogenesis, the process that results in cancer. Read more on how watercress has shown itself to be a cancer-fighting ingredient.
To read more on the benefits of Watercress in general, why not visit the home site of Watercress.co.uk? For recipes involving Watercress, just type the word Watercress into any search engine or visit the BBC food web site?
Top 100 foods for Health
Too many snacks and convenience foods can leave you jaded and lacking in energy. Adjusting your diet - even slightly - will soon restore your get up and go. Check out this list of the top 100 healthy foods and find out what you're missing!
Read the article Top 100 foods for Health to improve your well being!
We've made a few changes to finding the foods you are interested in, so why not visit the section and take a run through?
It's still in the experimental phase so if you find anything untoward or a limitation or just a suggestion, then please feed it back in the usual manner - click on Contact Us!
Top 10 Fruits for Health
You've seen the Top 100 Foods for Health, so now see what the experts say are the Top 10 Fruits for Health.
The article appeared in a recent copy of Woman's Weekly, 27th June 2006, and has been compiled by Nutrition expert Judith Wills who has picked her top ten fruits for the extra-special health benefits they provide.
Just read through the entire article, which is relatively short, or click the down arrow and select a fruit (or veg) from the drop down menu.
The hidden danger of Phenylalanine - as found in Aspartame
The 1976 Groliers encyclopedia states cancer cannot live without phenylalanine. Phenylalanine makes up 50% of aspartame. Aspartame is found in artificial sweeteners used in soft drinks and confectionery amongst other things.
Phenylalanine is a hidden danger to anyone consuming aspartame. Most consumers don't know that too much Phenylalanine is a neurotoxin and excites the neurons in the brain to the point of cellular death.
There's some useful information available on the web, written by a Doctor and I would encourage you to read it at some time.
Painkiller scrapped over suicides
A popular painkiller is being withdrawn from the UK market over concerns about links with suicide.
Co-proxamol, used by thousands for conditions such as back pain, will be phased out over the next year or two.
People do not need to come off the drug yet, and should discuss their treatment with their GP, said the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
See BBC Health page for further details.
The dangers of Hair Dyes
As reported on Watchdog on 1st Febuary 2005.
Throughout history people have dyed their hair. The Egyptians used gold dust, the Greeks used saffron and the Romans used leeches.
But since 1906 one chemical has transformed our tresses. Para-Pheneylenediamine or PPD for short. However, some people have suffered severe allergic reactions after using products with PPD in them.
UK lung deaths 'twice EU average'
A greater proportion of people die from lung diseases in the UK than
any other EU country except the Irish Republic, a
report has shown.
The death rate from respiratory diseases in the UK is 105 per 100,000
people - twice the EU average.
Talking of lung diseases, read the next item ....
What is Cryptogenic Fibrosing Alveolitis - CFA ?
CFA (also known as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) results from injury to the lining of the lung, causing inflammation, further injury and scarring. Scars serve a good purpose on the skin where they heal injured areas. In the lung, scar tissue stops the lung performing its normal function of taking oxygen from the air into the blood and removing carbon dioxide from the blood.
Read the full article - reproduced from the British Lung Foundation.
Sharp increase in diabetes cases
The number of people with diabetes in the UK has jumped to 1.8m, latest figures show.
Diabetes UK says this is an increase of 400,000 in just eight years, and represents 3% of the total population.
The charity predicts numbers will continue to rise as the population ages and becomes more overweight.
Want to know more about Diabetes in the UK? Then why not visit the Diabetes UK web site or the BBC Web site.
Arthritis Sufferers
Did you know that there are around 9 million sufferers in the UK alone? Frightening statistic when you look at these numbers taken as a percentage of the total UK population - around 17% - that's one in six!.
This morning on BBC Breakfast programme there was an interview with a young sufferer by the name of Rosie Hayward, and a representative from one of the Arthritis Societies was present, apologies for not noting the specific one. They discussed the condition and effect etc but then got onto diets.
Basically some research the Rosie embarked upon pointed her to the beneficial effects of organic seed oils rich in Omega 3, 6 & 9.
The representative from the Arthritic Society did appear to say that they would try different diets, foods and oils etc he neither gave it the thumbs up nor down but kept an open mind on it. Rosie herself is so pleased by the outcome of taking these supplements that she decided to market them and you can get full details form the Groovy Food Site.
Contact details for a few Arthritic Societies are as follows;-
Others can be found by running the word "arthritis" through a search engine.
This information is published in good faith and possibly for the benefit of any sufferers that may want to further investigate the product. If you have found it helpful, then please let us know.
Breast Cancer Awareness
Some Facts to be aware of:
- Breast cancer now affects one woman in 9 during her lifetime in the United Kingdom
- Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in minority ethnic groups in the UK
- Breast cancer claims more years of life from women under 65 than coronary heart disease
- Every week 730 new breast cancers are diagnosed and 250 women die from breast cancer
- Each year 38,000 women are newly diagnosed and 13,100 women die from breast cancer
- Survival rates are improving, on average 74 per cent of women are still alive five years later
- 80% of breast cancers occur in post-menopausal women
- 1% of those diagnosed with breast cancer are men
Why not visit the Cancer Research site, amongst others, where you'll find further information on the above and what to do etc. You know it makes sense. Alternatively do a web search on the subject.
Food safety advice and information from the Food Standards Agency
More and more people are ordering food from home, whether it's a specialist/luxury product, or day-to-day groceries. As well as older methods such as mail order, phone and fax, people are now buying food using the Internet or digital TV. In recent years, shopping over the Internet has become increasingly popular, with online sales of food and drink reaching a value of £775m in 2002.
The Food Standards Agency offers some advice and lets you know your rights when buying this way, so worth a read.
Sticky situation
Teflon, beloved of cooks, at centre of fears about cancer
It's on saucepans, clothing, even buildings, but now Teflon - the famed non-stick chemical - is at the centre of a slippery controversy about cancer and birth defects.
Since its invention in the 1930s, amateur and professional cooks alike will acknowledge their debt of gratitude to Teflon. Over the years, the non-stick coating on pots and pans has helped turn out countless perfect fried eggs and cheese soufflés.
But for how much longer? Environmentalists have called for the withdrawal of a chemical which is a key ingredient in the manufacture of Teflon because of growing health fears.
See BBC web site for a more in depth report.
Medicines 'killing 10,000 people'
More than 10,000 Britons may be dying each year because of bad reactions to medication, a study suggests.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool assessed 18,820 people admitted to two hospitals in Merseyside between November 2001 and April 2002.
>> for more on this, click here.
Additional Health Items
Alternative for dental sedation
Dentists have developed an alternative sedation procedure to potentially risky general anaesthetic.
Pregnancy clue to cot death risk
Problems during pregnancy could be an indicator a baby will be at a higher risk of cot death, scientists suggest.
Here's a couple of good BBC Health links .....
Travel Health
Going on holiday? Find out about diseases and vaccinations
Medical
notes
A comprehensive guide to clinical conditions
NHS failings hit superbug fight
The NHS has been attacked for failing to monitor the full extent of the hospital superbug crisis. The National Audit Office says incomplete data means the crisis cannot be accurately assessed.
It estimates 5,000 die each year from infections such as MRSA, but warns the true figure could be much higher.
Data published recently on one form of MRSA - bloodstream infections - shows some of the most prestigious hospitals have some of the worst rates.
Dangerous household chemicals
A supermarket chain has banned a range of potentially dangerous chemicals from its own household cleaning brands and other everyday products.
The Co-op has banned chemicals which have been linked to cancer, fertility problems and environmental damage even though they are still legally usable.
Head of Co-op Brand David Croft said there was "credible evidence" against the chemicals which could be replaced.
The Co-op is urging the rest of the industry to follow its lead.
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils & Fats
otherwise known as Trans fatty acids (TFA's).
Did you know that these have been linked to clogging of the arteries and heart disease? It's recommended that you cut them from your diet for this very reason.
What you possibly didn't realise is that many manufacturers use them, in chocolate, biscuits, cakes etc. as it helps to extend the shelf life of the product.
I did ask McVities if and when they were going to remove them from their products and they assured me that they have started the process, along with Nestles, starting with Rolo and Toffee Crisp and then possibly other products.
I was quite surprised when I read the label on a box of Thorntons Continental to find they use it too and so I have sent an email to ask them if and when it is to be removed. They eventually responded by saying that they were looking for alternatives, albeit another Hydrogenated Oil!
There are many articles detailing the adverse effects on our health on the web so just use a search engine and type in the words "hydrogenated oil" you'll find some interesting reading!
Moral of this story is "read the label BEFORE you purchase the product"!
Midlife and the Menopause
Midlife and the Menopause is another useful site for those going through the menopause and who may need that little extra piece of information to help ease the way through the changes.
Mid-life can be a confusing time for women. Changes in their lives, in the lives of close relatives or friends, and in society itself can generate a series of blows to our understanding of what our lives are about and what our purposes are. Children may be leaving home, elderly relatives may die or need care, there may be either redundancy or extra responsibilities at work, and partners may have similar or different issues to handle. Women are often expected, and expect themselves, to cope with other people’s difficulties as well as their own, and this inevitably takes its toll. In addition, women at mid-life go through a set of hormonal changes which can make extra demands on body, mind and spirit. Menopause may introduce more uncertainties into an already complicated situation. Check this site out as it may be able to offer some help in the situation.
Do you suffer Nut Allergies?
Whilst watching BBC2's Working Lunch on Tuesday 13th July, an article appeared that I felt might interest some of you and it was about guaranteed nut free food products.
A company called It's Nut Free Ltd., based in Ripon, Yorkshire, manufacture cakes, biscuits and desserts, with a view to developing savoury dishes too.
Their full contact details are on their web site but please say where you heard about it!
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Plusnet wins ISPA award for Best Consumer Customer Service
Plusnet has won this year’s ISPA award for ‘Best Consumer Customer Service’ 2010.
Why not take a look at their Home Phone Packages too? You might be pleasantly surprised!
