Healthy eating and sugar

What to have for your desert after a nice, healthy salad? What about a healthy, low fat 150 gramme toffee yoghurt?

What on earth could be wrong with that?

How about the 3.9% GDA of fat? That's just below the 4% level to allow it be be declared as a low fat product.

But there's more. What about the sugar content of the low fat yoghurt? A small 150 gramme pot of this yoghurt contains a shocking 28.2 Grammes of sugar.

In every 150 gramme pot of low fat toffee flavoured yoghurt there are the equivalent of 7 and a quarter teaspoons full of sugar.

Would you put 7 and a quarter teaspoons into a small cup of tea? Of course you wouldn't! So why on earth would you put that ridiculous amount of sugar into a small 150 gramme pot of low fat yoghurt?

Especially as some experts might argue that the consumption of high amounts of sugars is potentially more dangerous than the consumption of fats.

I am now coming to the conclusion that the war on the high levels of sugars in our diet is an important war. And a war that we must win if we are to reduce the problems of obesity in our general population and of children in particular.

Study shows long-term benefits of use of Tamoxifen

TAKING tamoxifen for 10 rather than five years halves the risk of women dying from the most common kind of breast cancer. This is according to new research being presented at this year’s ASCO conference.

 

The Cancer Research UK study shows oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer patients taking tamoxifen for longer than the recommended five years are better protected against recurrence and are less likely to die from the disease.

 

The ‘aTTom’ study looked at some 7,000 women with breast cancer who, after five years of taking tamoxifen, either continued taking the drug for another five years or stopped treatment.

 

Among women who took tamoxifen for 10 years, 25 per cent fewer had recurrences of breast cancer and 23 per cent fewer died, compared to women who took the drug for only five years.

 

Dr Daniel Rea, who is the clinical lead researcher based at the University of Birmingham, said: “These results are important as they establish that giving tamoxifen for longer than the current standard of five years significantly cuts the risk of breast cancer returning.

 

“Doctors are now likely to recommend continuing tamoxifen for an extra five years and this will result in many fewer breast cancer recurrences and breast cancer deaths worldwide. Tamoxifen is cheap and widely available so this could have an immediate impact.”

 

75% of breast cancers are oestrogen receptor positive and could benefit from hormone therapy. The female sex hormone oestrogen encourages breast cancers to grow by activating oestrogen receptors. Tamoxifen blocks these receptors, thus reducing the chance of breast cancer returning after surgery or developing in the other breast.

 

Despite the benefits of tamoxifen in preventing breast cancers from returning, it does have side effects.  Women taking tamoxifen can experience side effects similar to menopausal symptoms, such as night sweats and hot flushes. Rare but serious side effects of tamoxifen include increased risk of endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus), blood clots, and stroke.

 

In this study no increase in the incidence of stroke was observed with 10 years of tamoxifen therapy, though endometrial cancer risk was higher in this arm. Endometrial cancer is often detected early, when it can often be treated successfully. The researchers estimate that for every endometrial cancer death that occurs as a side effect of long-term tamoxifen, there would be 30 deaths from breast cancer prevented.

Professor Richard Gray, based at the University of Oxford and presenting the aTTom results at ASCO, said: “Five years of tamoxifen is already an excellent treatment but there have been concerns that giving it for longer might not produce extra benefits and could even be harmful. The aTTom study establishes that the benefits of taking tamoxifen for longer greatly outweigh the risks.”

 

Kate Law, director of clinical research at Cancer Research UK, said: “Large clinical trials like aTTom are vitally important to understand how drugs such as tamoxifen work and how best to use them. We need these sorts of studies so we can be sure the benefits from cancer drugs outweigh the side-effects that they may have.”

 

And commenting on the findings Dr Julia Wilson, Director of Research at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: “These findings are extremely exciting for women who are diagnosed with the most common type of breast cancer.

 

“The study proved 10 years of taking tamoxifen has a much higher survival rate than the current five years, which is vital in helping us to stop breast cancer coming back and more importantly to help us stop women dying of breast cancer.

 

“Tamoxifen is a well-established and cheap treatment, which means the guidelines for usage should be easy to amend. We do however encourage all women taking this treatment to speak to their doctor about their individual circumstances as there can be side effects involved.”

Rheumatism. Some alternative cures

Many people are looking for alternative cures for rheumatism.

Some because they are concerned about the reported side-effects of some drug treatments. Others because their GP refuses to acknowledge that they have rheumatism because “they haven't got the rheumatic factor in their blood.”

These doctors then tell their patient to take simple and utterly infective pain killers. Such doctors are, of course, wrong, because a great many people who have rheumatism do not exhibit the rheumatic factor in their blood.

This series of articles in That's Health will look at a range of alternative cures that are available.

The first such product we will look at is Arkopharma’s Phytorhuma Gel (Devil’s Claw).

It comes in an 80ml tube, has the benefit of being non-greasy and rapidly absorbed and offers warmth, relief and relaxation.

What is Harpagophytum? It is a South African, creeping plant. It grows in Namibia and has been used for centuries by local healers to treat pain and joint inflammation.

Why is it called Devil's Claw? Because the fruits have hooked thorns which has given the plant its common name of "Devil’s Claw".

The part used comes from secondary roots. They are rich in glucoiridoids and in particular harpagosides. They have wonderful anti-inflammatory properties and are a great treatment for rheumatism and arthritis. They act on the pain and inflammation thus improving joint mobility.

Devil’s Claw can be used to progressively replace traditional anti-inflammatory treatments because it has no side-effects. Sports people often use Devil’s Claw with great success to help them avoid tendon and articular pain, caused by intensive sporting efforts.

Devil’s Claw root will also favour uric acid elimination so is also an efficient treatment for problems related to gout. Clinical studies have confirmed these properties.

 

INGREDIENTS:

Extract of Devils Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens): 30% Warming agents: Capsicum frutescens: 0.1% / Methyl nicotinate: 0.08%.

Aqua, propylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Triethanolamine, Polysorbate 80. Arachis hypogea oil, harpagophytum procumbens, capsicum frutescens, carbomer, methyl nicotinate, diazolidinyl urea, methylparaben, propyl paraben, BHA, benzyl alcohol, Parfum, Limonene, Citral.

DIRECTIONS:

Place a small amount of the gel into the palm of the hand and massage into painful areas 2-3 times per day. A month’s use will make the use of this gel apparent. It can also be used in conjunction with Arkocaps Phytoflex.

WARNINGS:

Do not apply to irritated or broken skin, varicose veins or mucous areas.

Cost: £8.19 for 80ml, available from health stores nationwide and www.healthy2u.co.uk

My wife will be testing Arkopharma’s Phytorhuma Gel (Devil’s Claw) on her non-rheumatoid factor rheumatism and we will be reporting back.

A tip for people with diabetes who has boils

I visited my doctor today for advice on a boil that had developed in my nostril.

He said that it was a sensible step to take as problems with boils -especially in a place like the nostril- were always a concern for someone who had diabetes.

And that any outbreak of a boil or boils in a person who has diabetes should be reported, straight away, to their doctor.

There's a Search Engine for that! Google backs injured servicemen's Dakar Rally Challenge

Google has today announced its backing for Race2Recovery, the group of injured soldiers aiming to become the first disability team to complete the Dakar Rally.  Google has offered the Race2Recovery team significant financial support to help benefit their final preparations ahead of their challenge.

Race2Recovery is a rally team racing to inspire people who are injured, disabled or facing adversity by being the first team of predominantly injured servicemen to complete the formidable Dakar Rally in South America, January 2013.  The team, whose motto is ‘beyond injury – achieving the extraordinary’, consists of people from all backgrounds and walks of life: injured servicemen, former soldiers, sailors and airmen, and generous people with no military background who have given their time and commitment to the endeavour.

Since appearing on the BBC’s Top Gear programme in 2011, the team has gained significant public and media attention and will be the subject of a five-part documentary, airing on Eurosport on consecutive nights from 24th December.

Through its racing activity, Race2Recovery has committed to raising money for a charitable cause close to the hearts of its team members – the Personnel Recovery Centre at Tedworth House. Based in Tidworth, Wiltshire, Tedworth House is one of five Personnel Recovery Centres that have been established as part of the Defence Recovery Capability.  

The Defence Recovery Capability is an MOD led initiative in partnership with Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion to ensure wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women have access to the key resources they need as they recover.  Race2Recovery has already raised well over £100,000 for the Personnel Recovery Centre at Tedworth House but has its sights set on achieving a much higher target.  Donations to the fundraising campaign can be made at www.race2recovery.com

The Dakar Rally, formerly known as ‘The Paris-Dakar’, is an annual off-road desert race organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation.  The race is considered the ultimate driving, mechanical and navigational test, stretching over 9000km of extreme mountain and desert terrain with only 40%-50% of all competitors completing the course. Since 2009, the race has switched to South America, with the Dakar 2013 starting in Lima, Peru on 5th January and finishing, via Argentina, in Santiago, Chile on 20th January. 

The Race2Recovery team has already shipped its fleet of ten race and support vehicles to South America and the drivers, co-drivers and support team will arrive in Lima, Peru, on 1st January.

Dan Cobley, Managing Director at Google UK, said: "Google is pleased to be supporting the team’s racing endeavour and we will be following their progress with great interest. We wish them well."

Captain Tony Harris, 31, one of Race2Recovery’s rally drivers who is a below the knee amputee as a result of injuries suffered while serving in Afghanistan, said: “For a global brand like Google to support the Race2Recovery team in this way just shows how far we have come.  We are delighted that they have shown such faith in our team by making such a significant investment to our racing activity.  We have worked extremely hard over the last 18 months to build this team and, without the support of our sponsors, we would not have even been able to get to the start line.  As it is, Google’s sponsorship has given the team an extra lift ahead of our Dakar Rally challenge and we are all extremely excited to get to South America and start racing.”

People wishing to find out more about Race2Recovery or make a donation to the fundraising campaign should visit www.race2recovery.com. Or Google Race2Recovery.

What can a diabetic eat?

What can a diabetic eat? Well, pretty much what they like, so long as they do it in moderation.

A well-meaning acquaintance seems surprised at what I eat. I pointed out to him that the diabetes nurse at my health practice had told me that, generally speaking, a diabetic can eat any type of food they want, but must be careful as to the quantity.

She had also pointed out the dangers of consuming too much carbohydrates at the same time. She pointed out that if you had Spaghetti and a sauce that you would be advised not to have garlic bread at the same time.

She said that a glass of beer or wine with a meal should be OK too. But that drinking to excess would not be a good idea for a diabetic.

Another point that she made I found interesting. She advised that the sugar replacement fructose should never be used by diabetics and that it would be advisable to stop eating fruit. She advised that if you wish to continue with the 5 a day fruit and vegetable ideal, just eat extra vegetables.

As for sugar in coffee and tea? That is now a thing of the past. The fact that I can now no longer enjoy the rich and satisfying taste of brown sugar in my coffee (or can no longer enjoy myself at real ale festivals) is a source of disappointment to me, but it is a price that has to be paid to ensure my long term good health.

Slimsticks Launching At Boots

You can help your diet along with Slimsticks, which is launching at Boots stores all over the country.

Costing £24.99 for 30 Slimsticks, they are powder-filled sachets. You just mix them with warm water to make a tasty drink in either vanilla, strawberry or malt flavours.

The main active ingredient is Slimjac™, a blend of Konjac, palm oil and oat oil.

Within minutes of drinking a Slimstick, Konjac expands in your stomach to help make you feel full.

It's a natural source of soft fibre which will help regulate your blood sugar.  

After Three hours, the fine droplets of palm oil and oat oil will get to work, suppressing hunger pangs and reducing your desire to snack.  

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) says Konjac, the main ingredient in Slimjac™, is proven to help with fat loss and fullness. But Slimsticks can only help with a calorie-controlled diet and an active lifestyle.

Franco Beer, the MD of Inovate Health, says: "With Slimsticks, you can eat what you like. You'll just feel like eating much less,  boosting fat loss minus the crippling hunger pangs."

Take one sachet of Slimsticks three times a day up to one hour before eating, by adding the powder in the sachet to 50 to 100ml of warm water and then stirring, knocking it back and following with one more glass of warm water. It takes one litre of water to hydrate one gram of Konjac, so drink plenty.

Slimsticks is being launched at a watershed time in the world of slimming supplements and aids sold across Europe. This is because from December 14 this year new guidelines from the EFSA come into force.  After this date products carrying dubious and unproven slimming claims, not been approved by EFSA will be withdrawn from the market.

Slimsticks has no adverse side effects. Vegans, vegetarians and those suffering from lactose or wheat intolerance, type two Diabetes and Coeliac Disease are safe to take Slimsticks.

(EDITOR: As a recently diagnosed Type 2 Diabetic I am keen not only to find out about new products that might be able to help me keep my blood sugar levels  under control, I also like to share this information  with fellow diabetics.)