Oily fish 'can halt eye disease'
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/8088860.stm

People with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) should eat oily fish at least twice a week to keep their eye disease at bay, say scientists. 

Omega-3 fatty acids found in abundance in fish like mackerel and salmon appear to slow or even halt the progress of both early and late stage disease. The researchers base their findings on almost 3,000 people taking part in a trial of vitamins and supplements.  The findings are published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.  An estimated 500,000 people in the UK suffer from AMD, which destroys central vision.

Experts have already suggested omega-3 may cut the risk of getting AMD by a third, and now this latest work suggests these fats also benefit patients who already have the disease. “ These findings appear to be consistent with previous research that has shown that eating omega 3 poly-unsaturated fats as part of a balanced diet may help prevent the development of age-related macular degeneration ”

A spokeswoman from RNIB

Progression to both dry and wet forms of advanced AMD disease was 25% less likely among those eating a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids. People with advanced AMD who also consumed a low-GI diet, eating of foods that release their sugar more slowly, and who took supplemental antioxidant vitamins and minerals like vitamin C and zinc appeared to reduce their risk of disease progression by even more - by up to 50%.  Substituting five slices of wholegrain bread for white bread every day out of a total intake of 250g of carbohydrate might cut out almost 8% of advanced age related macular degeneration over five years, say the authors.

Surprisingly, however, the supplements were counterproductive for those with early AMD, negating the benefits of omega-3 fats, and even appeared to increase the risk of disease progression. Those who took all the antioxidant vitamins plus zinc, and who a high daily intake of beta carotene - found in yellow and green vegetables - were 50% more likely to progress to advanced disease. The researchers at Tufts University, Boston, believe omega-3 fatty acids offer protection against AMD by altering fat levels in the blood after a meal that can be damaging to the body. But they say it is not clear whether patients should also consider taking supplements as well as omega-3 because of their mixed findings.

They suggest that eating two to three servings of fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, shellfish, and herring every week, would achieve the recommended daily intake (650mg) of omega-3, substantially cutting the risk of both early and late stage AMD. The UK's Food Standards Agency says people should eat at least two portions of fish a week including one of oily fish. But they caution that too much oily fish is bad because it can contain low levels of pollutants that can build up in the body.

Most people can safely eat up to four portions a week, but girls and women who might have a baby and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should limit their intake to two portions a week. A spokeswoman from RNIB said good nutrition was very important for both general and eye health. "These findings appear to be consistent with previous research that has shown that eating omega-3 poly-unsaturated fats as part of a balanced diet may help prevent the development of age-related macular degeneration, the main cause of severe sight loss in the UK. "RNIB hopes that this will further highlight why looking after your eyes should be a key motivation in maintaining a healthy lifestyle," she said.

Saffron can protect against eyesight loss
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/sciencenews/5522063
Excerpt from article by: By Richard Gray, Science Correspondent | 13 Jun 2009

Pilau rice and paella could hold the secret to preventing eye sight loss in old age, according to new research.

Photo: GETTY

Saffron and saffron powder, close-up: Saffron can protect against eyesight loss Scientists have discovered that saffron can protect against some of the most common forms of blindness  Scientists have discovered that saffron, the spice which is commonly used in Spanish, Italian and Indian cuisine, can protect against some of the most common forms of blindness.

The study revealed that eating saffron – which can cost as much as gold – regularly helped to make the delicate cells in the eye needed for vision more resilient against disease. Experiments in animals also revealed that a diet containing saffron can protect the eye from damage caused by bright sunlight and slow the progress of genetic diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa.

The researchers also found saffron had a beneficial effect in humans suffering from age-related macular degeneration, the most common form of blindness in old age. Macular degeneration affects more than 500,000 people in the UK and around two per cent of people aged over 50 years old suffer from the disease, which is caused by the gradual damage to cells on the retina at the back of the eye. Early tests by the researchers, however, have revealed that patients showed signs of cell recovery after being given saffron in their diet.

The scientists, who are based at the University of L'Aquila, in Italy, and Sydney University, in Australia, are now conducting a clinical trial on human patients with age-related macular degeneration. Saffron has been used in cooking for thousands of years and is a key ingredient in dishes such as paella, risotto and pilau rice. The spice is produced from the dried stigmas – the part of the plant where pollen grains germinate – of the lilac coloured flower, Crocus sativus.

Each flower contains three threadlike deep red stigmas that give food a rich yellow colour and subtle flavour. High quality saffron can cost up to £500 for just one pound of the spice, but historically it has cost more than its weight in gold and was the source of lucrative spice trading. Professor Silvia Bisti, who led the research from the University of L'Aquila, said: "Saffron seems to possess a number of properties that are protective to vision. "We are now trying to understand the mechanism, but it appears to block cell death. Saffron components have strong antioxidant properties. "It also appears to affect genes which regulate the fatty acid content of the cell membrane and this makes the vision cells tougher and more resilient."

The researchers found that feeding rats around one strand of saffron a day helped to protect the animals against damage to their eyes from bright light while also slowing the progression of retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited disease that causes progressive sight loss and affects one in every 4,000 people. Barbara McLaughlin, campaigns manager for the Royal National Institute of Blind People, said: "The first results of small scale trials of saffron in humans seem very encouraging.

"Clearly, a lot more research is needed to understand how saffron affects the eye and whether it could be turned into an effective treatment."

Cancer-fighting chemicals found in broccoli

Daily Mail Health Section
Excerpts…
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Compounds isolated from broccoli could provide a new weapon against bladder cancer, new research has shown. A previous study found that eating the green vegetable could help protect people from the disease.

Men who ate two or more half-cup servings of broccoli were 44 per cent less likely to suffer the disease than those eating fewer than one serving a week.  Now the same team of scientists has identified the chemicals in broccoli that are thought to inhibit bladder cancer.
Professor Steven Schwartz, from Ohio State University in Columbus, USA, who help conduct the study, said: "We're starting to look at which compounds in broccoli could inhibit or decrease the growth of cancerous cells.

"Knowing that could help us create functional foods that benefit health beyond providing just basic nutrition."  A total of 11,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year in the UK, and just over 3,000 people die from the disease.

The American researchers isolated compounds called glucosinolates from broccoli sprouts. During chopping, chewing and digestion, these chemicals are transformed into nutritional powerhouses called isothiocyanates.  The scientists suspected that these played a role in inhibiting bladder cancer. In at least three laboratory experiments, they were proved right. Isothiocyanates slowed the growth of bladder cancer cells, and had the greatest impact on the most aggressive cancers.

Canadians lead cluttered lives, according to new research
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2009/10/c5015.html?view=print

Kijiji Canada enlists Clutter Wrangler to help break messy habit

TORONTO, June 10 /CNW/ - Canadians are a nation of clutter-collectors and we're unable to break the bad habit. According to a recent survey commissioned by Kijiji Canada, the overwhelming majority of Canadians are clutter collectors (nearly 80 per cent) and the worst offenders are those who participate in spring cleaning; the survey found that Canadians who are spring cleaners are more likely than non-spring cleaners to consider themselves clutter collectors (78% versus 59%). What's feeding the habit? The survey, conducted by Leger Marketing, found that most Canadians hold on to unwanted items either because of the hassle or amount of time it takes to get rid of them. Unfortunately, fewer than three-in-10 Canadians feel that they can estimate the value of their unwanted items.

"When it comes to identifying and getting rid of unwanted items, most people feel overwhelmed; they often have no clue where to start," said Jaclyn Ray, Kijiji's Clutter Wrangler and a professional organizer. "The key to breaking any bad habit is to take small steps. For clutter collectors, the first step is admitting you have a clutter problem and that you want to change it. The second step - removing clutter - is where most Canadians have trouble because it can be time-consuming and tedious."

"This process can be simplified by using an online local classifieds site, like Kijiji.ca, because it gives consumers an easy and free way to get rid of unwanted items and make extra cash while doing so." Why get rid of the clutter? The problem is only going to get worse over time and most won't realize it until they start packing for a big move. Residents of Quebec take note; with Quebec Moving Day just around the corner, it's important to start identifying the clutter now and getting rid of
unwanted item as soon as possible. With more than one-quarter of Quebec residents having some idea of the value their clutter holds, selling off the unwanted items is also a great way to raise money for moving-related expenses.

Get rid of body odour !
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4635875,prtpage-1.cms
12 Jun 2009,

As the scorching heat is making it tough for you to step out of your house, bad body odour might be causing even more troubles. Try these simple ways to get rid of that stinking body odour...

1. The most common remedy is to use an antibacterial, pleasant smelling soap and wear cotton clothes to reduce sweating.

2. Apply baking soda on the arm pits to absorb sweat and kill bacteria.

3. Apple cider vinegar, white vinegar and alcohol are other solutions you can apply on your underarms to reduce body odour.

4. What you eat is directly related to your body odour — so eat healthy and avoid processed foods and too much red meat.

5. Frequent consumption of garlic, curry, cumin and masala can be the cause of foul smell.

6. Avoid alcohol and tobacco — this worsens your problem.

7. The underarms tend to accumulate more sweat, removing hair by waxing or shaving helps prevent sweat rings.

8. Drink lots of water and fresh vegetable juices to reduce sweating and hydrate the body.

9. Drink a glass of water in the morning, on an empty stomach, along with 500 mg of wheatgrass. The chlorophyll present in the grass will help in reducing odour.

10.  A few drops of rose water or tea tree oil added to the bath, will give long lasting freshness.

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