Crave less for sugar

An average Nigerian consume about 1500 calories per day. How is that possible? One Pepsi, Coke, Fanta or any of those soft drinks contains about 10 teaspoons of sugar. Many kids drink 3 or 4 cans of soft drink per day. These food are nutritionally depleted.
  Many people can not do without adding sugar to their foods and yet they seem unaware of the amount of sugar they take in from hidden sources including large amount in ketchup and cereals. Canned fruits containing syrup is another source of sugar. Drugs in syrup form is also a source of sugar. Well, you may think it doesn't say sugar on the label. You are right. Looking at the nutritional label can be confusing. Manufacturers will use the terms "corn syrup" or "glucose" instead of "sugar". What you are consuming is sugar.
  If you walk through any major grocery store, you will see beautifully packed processed foods- chock full of sugar.
  Many people believe that a little sugar wont hurt them but continuous eating of sugar over and over can render serious results. Here are some major problems associated with sugar:
1. Decreased immune system- sugar weakens our immune system by affecting the T-cells which protect us against viruses. It impairs white blood cells called phagocytes which protect us from bacteria and also temporarily impairs the B-cells which produce antibodies. Eating 100g of simple carbohydrate (e.g. few cookies) can reduce the ability of white blood cells to engulf and destroy micro organism. As a result, we are prone to bacterial and viral infections.
2. Insulin resistance- Insulin is a very important hormone in the body. It allows glucose (blood sugar) to enter cells from the bloodstream and tells the cells to start burning glucose instead of fat. Having too much glucose in the blood is highly toxic and one of the reasons for complications of diabetes. One feature of the metabolic dysfunction that is caused by the Western diet, is that insulin stops working as it should. The cells become “resistant” to it. This is also known as insulin resistance, which is believed to be a leading driver of many diseases including metabolic syndrome, obesity, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and especially type II diabetes.
  When our cells become resistant to the effects of insulin, the beta cells in our pancreas make more of it.
This is crucial, because chronically elevated blood sugars can cause severe harm. Eventually, as insulin resistance becomes progressively worse, the pancreas can not keep up with the demand of producing enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels down. At this point, blood sugar levels get increased and a diagnosis of type II diabetes is made.
  Sugar is a leading contributor to obesity in both children and adults. High insulin levels which are caused from excessive sugar intake will trigger the body to store fat. That's the reason most diabetics gain weight when they begin taking insulin. Insulin tells the body to store fat and sugar triggers the pancreas to release more insulin. Elevated sugar can also lead to low blood sugar and craving for sugar. Thus, the cycle starts over with the consumption of more sugar to prevent the symptoms of low blood sugar.
  The evidence is mounting that sugar, NOT fat, may be one of the leading drivers of heart disease via the harmful effects of fructose on metabolism. Studies show that large amounts of fructose can raise triglycerides, small, dense Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and oxidized LDL (very, very bad), raise blood glucose and insulin levels and increase abdominal obesity. These are all major risk factors for heart disease.
  Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and is characterized by uncontrolled growth and multiplication of cells. Insulin is one of the key hormones in regulating this sort of growth.
For this reason, many scientists believe that having constantly elevated insulin levels (a consequence of sugar consumption) can contribute to cancer. In addition, the metabolic problems associated with sugar consumption are a known driver of inflammation, another potential cause of cancer.  Multiple studies show that people who eat a lot of sugar are at a much higher risk of getting cancer.
3. Yeast problem- Yeast is one of the problem we face in our colon. Remember that yeast loves sugar. Everyone has some yeast in their intestines, but when we take in a great amount of sugar we may develop yeast overgrowth in the intestinal tract which might make our abdomen swell like yeast roll. When alcohol is added to the mix, we become like brewery. A person with a " beer belly" is usually a product of sugar, yeast and alcohol.
  Yeast infections experienced by many women are compounded by high intakes of sugar.
4. Teeth problem- When people eat up to 10-20% of calories as sugar (or more), this can become a major
problem and contribute to nutrient deficiencies.
  Sugar is also very bad for the teeth, because it provides easily digestible energy for the bad bacteria in the mouth.
5. Sugar addiction- Sugar can be addictive for a lot of people. Like abusive drugs, sugar causes a release of dopamine in the reward center of the brain. People who have a susceptibility to addiction can become strongly addicted to sugar and other junk foods because they can cause massive dopamine release much more than we were ever exposed to for food found in nature.
World Health Organisation recommended that sugar intake should not be more than 10% of an adult's total caloric intake per day. i.e. 50g of sugar per day which means between 12 and 13 cubes of sugar. Total recommended amount from both natural and refined sugars.
  For people who can’t tolerate it, added sugar is incredibly harmful. Crave less for sugar!

Health benefits of zinc

Zinc (Zn) is a transition metal belonging to group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc has substantial biological importance for plants and animals as an essential trace element.
Zinc is responsible for a number of different functions in the human body. It is important in pregnancy, childhood and adolescents and it helps stimulate the activity of 100 different enzymes.
Having a low level of zinc makes a person more susceptible to disease and illness.
Zinc is important for healthy immune system. The human body needs zinc to activate T lymphocytes (T cells). T cells help the body in two ways: controlling and regulating immune responses and attacking infected or cancerous cells.
Zinc can also be used to treat diarrhea in children. A 10-day course of zinc tablets is effective at treating diarrhea and also helps prevent future bouts of the condition.
Zinc affect learning and memory. Research conducted at the University of Toronto revealed that zinc has a crucial role in regulating how neurons communicate with one another, affecting how memories are formed and how we learn.
Zinc treatments may improve the body’s natural levels of testosterone. Studies are still being performed to provide conclusive evidence on the efficacy of natural supplements to relieve Erectile dysfunction symptoms.
Zinc is also used in treating common cold. Zinc lozenges were found to shorten the duration of common cold episodes by up to 40%. In addition, a Cochrane review concluded that taking "zinc (lozenges or syrup) is beneficial in reducing the duration and severity of the common cold in healthy people, when taken within 24 hours of onset of symptoms."
Zinc may help protect the skin and mucosal membranes. Topical zinc
may stimulate leg ulcer healing by enhancing re-epithelialization, decreasing inflammation and bacterial growth. When zinc is applied on wounds it not only corrects a local zinc deficit but also
acts pharmacologically.
Zinc is also possibly effective for the treatment of Acne, Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ), Osteoporosis(abnormal loss of bony tissue resulting in fragile porous bones attributable to a lack of calcium) and Preventing and treating pneumonia.
The element is naturally found in a number of different foods, but it is also available as a dietary supplement. Foods with the highest Zinc content are Oysters, Toasted Wheat Germ, Roast Beef, Crab, Pork loin, Baked beans, Lobster, Dark chocolate, Peanuts and Crab.
Zinc supplements are available in the form of capsules and tablets and also present in multivitamins as zinc gluconate, zinc sulfate, or zinc acetate. However, The Tolerable Upper Limit for zinc is 40mg for males and females over 18 years.
Certain groups of people are more likely to have low zinc, including those with gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, cancer, liver disease, sickle cell disease, malabsorption and very low food intake, and
alcoholics. Some medications can also reduce zinc levels. These
include ACE inhibitors, thiazide diuretics, and stomach acid reducers (ranitidine, omeprazole, sodium bicarbonate). Signs of zinc deficiency include: loss of appetite, anemia, slow wound healing, abnormal taste, depressed growth,altered cognition, diarrhea, hair loss.
Zinc distributes all over the body, so it’s difficult to test through a blood test. If you suspect that you might have a zinc deficiency, talk with your doctor.

Showdown In The Emirate Stadium

Chelsea visit Arsenal on Sunday knowing that victory will take them one big step closer to a fourth Barclays Premier League title. Victory for the leaders at Emirates Stadium followed by three more points at Leicester City on Wednesday would secure them the trophy with four matches to spare.
Jose Mourinho has also a chance to extend his unbeaten record against Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, the Portuguese enjoying dominance in this fixture with an undefeated streak stretching back 12 matches across various competitions. The relationship between the two managers has been fractious in the past, but Mourinho is focused purely on the match ahead and not the history between the two men or clubs.
"For me he is not my rival, I don't feel that,” Mourinho said. “I just feel he's the manager of a big club in the same city where I work and live.
"We're big clubs with the same objectives and because of that there will always come a little bit of rivalry but for me it's no different to when I was at Inter with the Milan managers or in Real [Madrid] with the Atletico managers.
"I'm not proud [of his record over Wenger], for me an achievement is to win [on Sunday], not the other 12 matches that we played before against Arsenal, I don't look to this.
"Every match is a match, no relation to the previous or the next one, what they [the players] care about is the way we work all week and the way we prepare ourselves for the game."
Mourinho confirmed that Didier Drogba is fit after an ankle problem, although Diego Costa (hamstring) and Loic Remy (calf) remain doubts, with Under-21 star Dominic Solanke in line for a Barclays Premier League debut.
Cesc Fabregas is set to make his first return to Emirates Stadium since departing for Barcelona in 2011. Wenger has called on Arsenal fans to respect the Spain midfielder who was captain at Arsenal.
If Wenger is to earn his first win over Mourinho, Sunday might represent his best opportunity for some time, with Arsenal coming into the match on the back of eight consecutive league victories. Arsenal are 10 points behind Chelsea, but Wenger remains confident his side can close that gap.
"When you are fighting for the championship - and I know that well - when you are on a good run, sometimes you take points that in another season if you were two or three places behind, you would not take," he said. "The focus and belief is there and is a bit stronger that we can take these points.
“The difference between the teams is not only measured by the difference in points.
"But nobody has given Chelsea the points. They had to fight for it and they made it."
Wenger described defender Per Mertesacker as "50-50" for this game with an ankle problem, with Gabriel Paulista set to deputise, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring) and Mikel Arteta's lack of match fitness means they remain absent.
Arsenal (from): Ospina, Szczesny, Bellerin, Chambers, Debuchy, Gabriel, Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Cazorla, Coquelin, Diaby, Flamini, Gnabry, Ozil, Ramsey, Rosicky, Wilshere, Giroud, Sanchez, Walcott, Welbeck.
Chelsea (from): Blackman, Cech, Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Christensen, Filipe, Ivanovic, Terry, Zouma, Cuadrado, Fabregas, Hazard, Loftus-Cheek, Matic, Mikel, Oscar, Ramires, Willian, Costa, Drogba, Remy, Solanke.

 

Health status

Do you know your Body Mass Index (BMI)? Are you underweight, normal, overweight or obese? Don't be at risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, high total cholesterol and stroke. Obesity is not an option for you.
Obesity is an excessive or abnormal fat accumulation that present a risk to health. Risk associated with non-communicable diseases like hypertension, coronary heart disease etc.
At an individual level, obesity is as a result of the combination of excessive food energy intake (such as increased consumption of sweetened drinks and consumption of fast foods) and lack of physical activity (physical activity has an effect on how your hormones work and hormones have an effect on how your body deals with food).
Other causes include pregnancy, genetics, lack of sleep (Sleep deprivation may lead to obesity through increased appetite as a result of hormonal changes. Lack of sleep result in your body producing less leptin, hormone that suppress appetite) and medication (clinically significant weight gain is associated with some commonly prescribed medicines like dexamethasone, alternative therapy should be selected where possible).
However, poorly balanced diets and lack of physical exercise are key factors in the increase of obesity.
It is very important to realise that a small drop in weight is a good start and a great achievement. The longer a person is overweight, the harder it becomes for them to lose weight. Successful and permanent weight loss is best achieved as a result of changing how and when you eat, increased physical activity and modifying your behaviour. Some patients may be prescribed medication while others might undergo weight loss surgery.
Treatment methods include;
Dietary changes- reducing calories and eating healthier are vital to overcoming obesity. Consume more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean source of protein (beans and soy) and lean meat. Limit salt and added sugar. Take small amount of fat from heart-healthy sources such as canola and olive oils.
Trying to lose weight quickly by crash-dieting carries risk of vitamins deficiencies, developing health problems and chances of failure significantly higher.
Physical activity- the more you move your body, the more calories you burn. Walking briskly is a good way to start increasing your physical activity if you are obese. Try to find activity which can fit into your daily routine.
Prescription medications- this should be considered only as a last resort. Prescription drugs may become an option if the patient finds it hard to shed the pounds or if obesity has reached such a point as to significantly undermine health. Bear in mind that as soon as you stop taking these drugs the overweight problem generally comes back, they have to be taken indefinitely.
Orlistat (xenical) is an approved drug by Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for long term use in adults and children over 12 years. This drug blocks the digestion and absorption of fat in your stomach and intestine. Unabsorbed fat is eliminated in the stool. Average weight loss with orlistat is about (2-4kg) more than you can get from diet and exercise after 2 years of taking the medication. Side effects of the drug includes oily and frequent bowel movements, gas and bowel urgency but the side effects can be minimized as you reduce fat in your diet. Because orlistat blocks  absorption of some nutrients ,take a multivitamin while taking orlistat to prevent nutritional deficiencies.
Know your health status. Be healthy!!!

Life's Lesson

A doctor entered the hospital in a hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery. He answered the call as soon as possible, changed his clothes & went directly to the surgery block.

He found the boy’s father pacing in the hall waiting for the doctor.

On seeing him, the dad yelled: “Why did you take all this time to come? Don’t you know that my son’s life is in danger? Don’t you have any sense of responsibility?”

The doctor smiled & said: “I am sorry, I wasn’t in the hospital & I came as fast as I could after receiving the call…… And now, I wish you’d calm down so that I can do my work”

“Calm down?! What if your son was in this room right now, would you calm down? If your own son dies now what will you do?” said the father angrily

The doctor smiled again & replied: “I will say what Job said in the Holy Book “From dust we came & to dust we return, blessed be the name of God”. Doctors cannot prolong lives. Go & intercede for your son, we will do our best by God’s grace”

“Giving advises when we’re not concerned is so easy” Murmured the father.

The surgery took some hours after which the doctor went out happy, “Thank goodness!, your son is saved!” And without waiting for the father’s reply he carried on his way running. “If you have any questions, ask the nurse!!”

“Why is he so arrogant? He couldn’t wait some minutes so that I ask about my son’s state” commented the father when seeing the nurse minutes after the doctor left.

The nurse answered, tears coming down her face: “His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was at the burial when we called him for your son’s surgery. And now that he saved your son’s life, he left running to finish his son’s burial.”

MORAL : "Never judge anyone….. because you never know how their life is & what they’re going through.”

Cancer vaccine on the way!

A cancer vaccine is a vaccine that either treats existing cancer or prevent development of cancer. Vaccines that treat existing cancer are known as therapeutic cancer vaccines.
Scientists are having extraordinary success treating cancer with new vaccines they believe could be a 'game changer' in the battle against the disease. They have worked out how to teach the body's immune system to identify cancer cells, allowing patients to be primed to destroy cancer. The method involve taking T-cells, which fight infection and giving them the ability to recognise a special tag on the surface of cancer cells, called the WT1 protein.
The research is being carried out on patients with leukaemia but the scientists hope their vaccines will eventually be used to fight many types of cancer, including that of bowel, prostate and breast whose cells tend to have WT1 on their surfaces.
In short term, doctors are looking to see if these super-immune cells will be powerful enough to stop leukaemia patients from relapsing after chemotherapy. But scientists also hope this approach might work to help treat a range of other cancers too.
However, these treatments are still in the early stages of clinical trials and although some people have had great responses, they haven't worked for everyone.

Key English Premier League (EPL) matches this weekend

BURNLEY vs ARSENAL
Arsenal have won their last seven EPL matches, the best current run in the division. No side has won eight in a row at any point this season. The gunners have exactly the same record after 31 matches as they did last season (W19 D6 D6). This be the 100th and 150th appearances of Santi Carzola and Aaron Ramsey. Burnley have won just a match in their last 5 matches.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS (QPR) vs CHELSEA
QPR have kept a clean sheet in their last 4 EPL matches at home to Chelsea (W2 D1 L1). Chelsea have conceded in 6 of their last 7 matches against QPR in the top flight (W3 D2 L2). Eden Hazard could make his 100 EPL appearance in this match. Chelsea have led in 12 of their 15 EPL away matches this season.
MANCHESTER UNITED vs MANCHESTER CITY
Man united have lost their last 4 league matches against Man city, they have never lost 5 in a row against any club. Sergio Aguero has scored 4 goals in his last 3 EPL matches against Man united. Only 3 of Wayne Rooney's 8 EPL goals against City have come at Old Trafford. Indeed, his last 3 against the Citizens arrived at the Etihad. No city manager has lost 4 successful EPL away matches since Stuart Pearce in September 2006.

Diet and wound healing

The whole process of wound healing can be negatively impacted without proper nutrition. Diet plays a critical role in how fast wound heals, how strong the wound tissue becomes, duration of recovery period and how well the body fights off infection during recovery.
A poor diet can turn a normal wound into a chronic wound that never seems to get better.
As the body attempts to heal itself from a wound, it will create stress hormone and divert extra resources (fats, proteins, carbohydrates, antioxidants and more) to the creation of new tissue. This is referred to as the CATABOLIC PHASE OF HEALING.
Protein is the most essential aspect of diet when healing from a wound as it helps to repair the damaged tissue from the wound. Good sources of protein are beans, fish etc. To help the healing process, more protein is needed.
Taking in plenty carbohydrate is also essential to prevent the body from using other nutrients and protein for energy. Food like cereals and breads are good source of energy for wound healing. Fats from diary product (milk and yoghurt) are essential as they help to maintain healing.
Vitamin A and vitamin C are important antioxidants for wound healing. Vitamin A helps to fight off infection and aids in controlling inflammatory response while vitamin C helps with the creation of collagen in the skin. Red fruits and dark green vegetables, citrus fruits and leafy green vegetables are great sources of vitamin A and C respectively.
Zinc is an important mineral for wound healing. It helps the body synthesize protein and develop collagen. Zinc recommendation vary from 15mg-50mg per day. Zinc supplements are available in the nearest pharmacy store close to you.
A final note is needed to emphasize the importance of hydration for wound healing. Drink plenty of water and fluid throughout the healing process to help facilitate proper circulation and detoxification.

Positive or negative thinking?

If you are not happy with your life or whatever happens in it, discipline your disappointment; it is not external but a result of the internal way you view, believe and do things in the world.
The choices we make determine the quality of our lives and whatever happens, we use it to succeed or to fail, either it is good or bad. This is mostly determined by our attitude.
Everything is mental; everything is a personal choice and a total responsibility of each one of us. Our attitude is the reason to do the necessary changes or the reason to blame others for our poor performances, mistakes or ignorance in certain things.
At the end the quality of our lives is up to each one of us. The formula is simple and factual: we attract negative things when we chose to focus in negativity and positive things when we focus in positivity. It is time to be honest with ourselves; nobody can make us happy or miserable, success or failure but our attitude - the positive or negative way we choose to view the world.
The moment we take responsibility for our life, our life will definitely change. Take action now; there is no such thing as the perfect time  or right moment.
Choose to be happy, nothing is more important than feeling good. Life is too short. Don't let the opportunities and blessings of life fly from your hands.

Pregnancy and omega-3

Nutritional needs in pregnancy is constantly expanding through scientific research. Among the most recent development is the importance of omega-3 fatty acids in both the health of the mother and the development of an healthy baby.
Fish oil is the source of omega 3 fatty acids. EPA and DHA are the primary source of omega 3 found in fish such as tuna, sardines and salmon. Omega 3 fatty acids acids are not synthesized by the human body and therefore must be obtained through diet or supplementation.
In foetus, omega-3 is very important for the neurological and early visual development of the body. In infants, higher consumption of omega 3 reduce the risk of allergies.
In mother, with each subsequent pregnancy they are further depleted. Deficiency increase mothers risk of depression.
In pregnancy, it prevent pre-term labour and delivery, lower risk of pre-eclampsia and may increase birth weight.
Dosage recommendation is 300mg DHA daily.

Stalling Sterling

Liverpool playmaker, Raheem Sterling has turned down an improved contract on the present one, that has just two years to run out. Report reaching us indicate that the youngster would have a pay rise to a whooping €135,000 (£100,000). The 20 year old said it's not about the money. This singular act has attracted criticism from both fans and pundits alike. A number of clubs are locking around to see how it all goes, interest has been shown from Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester city and recently Manchester united, but Liverpool are not willing and ready to sell.

Clash of the titans

Lunch time face-off between the resurgent Arsenal and the wounded Liverpool. Both teams have been in tremendous form in the year 2015. Though Liverpool lost their last game against the red devils in Anfield after their captain, Steven Gerrard saw red, they would want to bounce back from that defeat. Arsenal has also been in a good form which has earned Olivier Giroud and Arsene Wenger claim the player and manager of the month respectively. Arsenal would want all three points to cement their place in the top four while Liverpool would try to make top four also. One thing is guaranteed, we are in for a cracker.

Easter celebration

Happy good Friday to the followers of Christ. He gave His life for u, what has thou given for me?