Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a highly prevalent gastrointestinal disorder that reduces patients’ quality of life and imposes a significant economic burden to the healthcare system. The disorder is characterized by the presence of a cluster of symptoms and signs including cramping, increased gas, abdominal pain, altered bowel habits, food intolerance, and bloating. For some people, IBS involves incontinence or a feeling of incomplete evacuation. Some patients have no abdominal pain in the morning, and get stomachaches in the afternoon. Others go for two weeks without pain, and then have a day of crippling pain. These effects of IBS may cause you to feel you're not living life to the fullest, leading to discouragement or depression.http://www.thesunweekly.co.ke/index.php/health/item/265-irritable-bowel-syndrome

Dementia cases to nearly triple by 2050: report

The number of people with dementia worldwide will nearly triple from 47 million today to 132 million in 2050, a report said Tuesday.

 

Dementia is an umbrella term for degenerative diseases of the brain characterised by a gradual decline in the ability to think and remember.

 Accounting for well over half of cases, Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia.

As the world gets older, the number of people with dementia is set to increase exponentially, notes the World Alzheimer Report 2015, produced by Alzheimer's Disease International. http://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/health/Dementia-cases-to-nearly-triple-by-2050-report/-/1954202/2845128/-/fagucj/-/index.html

More evidence that fried food raises heart attack risk

People who eat lots of fried food and sugary drinks have a 56 percent higher risk of heart disease compared to those who eat healthier, US researchers said Monday.

The findings in Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Association, were based on a six-year study of more than 17,000 people in the United States.Researchers found that people who regularly ate what was described as a Southern style diet — fried foods, eggs, processed meats like bacon and ham, and sugary drinks — faced the highest risk of a heart attack or heart-related death during the next six years.

http://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/health/More-evidence-that-fried-food-raises-heart-attack-risk/-/1954202/2828118/-/11n5w4wz/-/index.html 

Breast cancer risk is higher among women who drink a glass of wine a day say researchers

BY Mirror

Updated Wednesday, July 29th 2015 at 21:41 GMT +3
Alcohol Concern fears 3,000 cases each year of the killer disease could be the result of alcohol consumption, which is thought to increase oestrogen production.
New research has highlighted the link between alcohol and breast cancer prompting new warnings to women to drink less
More than a million British women aged over 50 took part in the Oxford University study which saw them fill in a questionnaire after having a breast scan.
The study found those who drink a glass a day were between 7 and 12 per cent more likely to get breast cancer, according to a fact sheet published by charity Alcohol Concern.
Experts encouraged women to have more alcohol free days and drink less. 
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/health/article/2000170906/breast-cancer-risk-is-higher-among-women-who-drink-a-glass-of-wine-a-day-say-researchers 

5 ways to keep stress — and blood pressure — down

When it comes to preventing and treating high blood pressure, one often-overlooked strategy is managing stress. If you often find yourself tense and on-edge, try these strategies to reduce stress.

• Get enough sleep. Inadequate or poor-quality sleep can negatively affect your mood, mental alertness, energy level, and physical health.
• Learn relaxation techniques. Meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, deep breathing exercises, and yoga are powerful stress-busters.
• Strengthen your social network. Connect with others by taking a class, joining an organization, or participating in a support group.
• Hone your time-management skills. The more efficiently you can juggle work and family demands, the lower your stress level
• Ask for help. Don't be afraid to ask for help from people around you. If stress and anxiety persist, ask for professional help.

Insomnia

Sleep is a physiological process that occurs in humans and animals and is defined as a recurrent state of reduced attention to the surrounding environment. The most important functions of sleep are the restoration of body functions, synthesis of proteins, and the prevention of lethargy. The number of sleep hours required varies from individual to individual.

 An adult person needs 6 to 8 hours of good sleep daily to be alert during the day.Today the inability to sleep plagues millions of people. Sleeping pills, including tranquilizers, represent the most prescribed group of medications. Rather than simply treating the symptom, nutritional research reveals that biochemical causes of insomnia can be addressed by nutritional therapy, often resulting in permanent alleviation of sleep difficulties.

Natural Vs Simple sugars

Natural sugar refers to sugars that occur naturally in foods while refined sugar refers to sugars that have undergone an extraction and purification process, often turning the finished sugars into crystals that are easy to add to foods. Simple sugars are very quickly broken down by your body and create spikes in your blood sugar, unlike natural, which take longer to process. 

While it's been widely noted that excess sugar can increase the overall risk for heart disease, a 2013 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association displayed strong evidence that sugar can actually affect the pumping mechanism of your heart and could increase the risk for heart failure.

Sugar…Sweet but Dangerous!!

There’s no doubt that most people are addicted to sugar. We consume too much sugar per person per year. We live in a society that constantly feels the “need” to reward every single good job with sweet treats. After a few years of " rewarding" the outcome is obvious, both psychologically and physically! So it might be helpful to find out what that means – what sugar really is, what food value it has, and what problems it causes.

Around the world, a growing body of expert opinion – the 'No Sugar’ movement – is leading a global fightback and warning that our sweet habit is completely out of control. Sugar, whether added to food by you or the manufacturer, is the greatest threat to human health. Recent studies show that sugar, perhaps more than salt, contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease. Evidence is growing too, that eating too much sugar can lead to fatty liver disease, obesity, kidney disease and Type 2 diabetes. Ironically, most people know that excess sugar is dangerous yet they can’t resist. And the reason for that is pretty simple. Sugar is addictive. And the food industry is doing everything it can to keep us hooked. Check my next post to learn the difference between natural sugar and processed sugar.

Hunger vs. Appetite: What's the difference?

Hunger and appetite are two very different things. Hunger is the physical need for food whereas appetite is the desire for food. Hunger occurs with low levels of glucose in your blood, several hours after eating – it is a protective mechanism that ensures your body is adequately fueled. Appetite is the conditioned response to food - it is a sensory reaction to the look or smell of food.

Our appetite is closely linked with our behavior but also takes cues from our digestive tract, brain and fatty tissue. Having an increased appetite or having the feeling of wanting to “eat everything in your path”, stems from your biochemistry and/or an emotional connection you have formed with food. Appetite is what controls your cravings and this is influenced by the sensory reaction to food so your appetite can increase or decrease depending on your taste preferences, what food is available to you, your health, and emotional state. Appetite can be increased or decreased by hormonal factors and stress. Most people are “nourished” well beyond when their natural satiety signals kick in. In the hectic world we live in now many people eat when they are distracted or on the run and they have literally lost the ability to listen to intrinsic satiety signals.

Thyroid disorder:The silent disease no one talks about.

Rehema suspects her condition may have been instigated by a love for junk and sweet foods. “I am a sweet tooth,” she admits laughingly. “I snacked on cakes, ice crème, French fries... the list is long.” Today though, vegetables and plant products have replaced the sweet food. According to nutritionist Kepha Nyanumba of AAR, majority of illnesses that afflict humanity could be prevented if everyone ate appropriately – meaning more vegetables and less of animal products. Unfortunately, says Kepha, majority of Kenyans love food that is easy on the tongue which is often processed and sweetened excessively. Today, Rehema is a healthy woman. She is also a mother of one: the worry of being infertile before starting a family has now dissipated. She however has regular checks with the hospital if her thyroid has reverted back to over activity.
Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/pulse/article/2000148197/thyroid-disorder-the-silent-disease-no-one-talks-about?pageNo=3

Rehema suspects her condition may have been instigated by a love for junk and sweet foods. “I am a sweet tooth,” she admits laughingly. “I snacked on cakes, ice crème, French fries... the list is long.” Today though, vegetables and plant products have replaced the sweet food. According to nutritionist Kepha Nyanumba of AAR, majority of illnesses that afflict humanity could be prevented if everyone ate appropriately – meaning more vegetables and less of animal products. Unfortunately, says Kepha, majority of Kenyans love food that is easy on the tongue which is often processed and sweetened excessively. Today, Rehema is a healthy woman. She is also a mother of one: the worry of being infertile before starting a family has now dissipated. She however has regular checks with the hospital if her thyroid has reverted back to over activity.
Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/pulse/article/2000148197/thyroid-disorder-the-silent-disease-no-one-talks-about?pageNo=3

By Gardy Chacha Updated Saturday, January 17th 2015 at 10:38 GMT +3 0 inShare 

Rehema suspects her condition may have been instigated by a love for junk and sweet foods. “I am a sweet tooth,” she admits laughingly. “I snacked on cakes, ice crème, French fries... the list is long.” Today though, vegetables and plant products have replaced the sweet food. 

According to nutritionist Kepha Nyanumba of AAR, majority of illnesses that afflict humanity could be prevented if everyone ate appropriately – meaning more vegetables and less of animal products. Unfortunately, says Kepha, majority of Kenyans love food that is easy on the tongue which is often processed and sweetened excessively. 

Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/pulse/article/2000148197/thyroid-disorder-the-silent-disease-no-one-talks-about?pageNo=3

 Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/pulse/article/2000148197/thyroid-disorder-the-silent-disease-no-one-talks-about?pageNo=3

Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/pulse/article/2000148197/thyroid-disorder-the-silent-disease-no-one-talks-about?pageNo=3

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

The turn of the New Year is the single most important time to reflect on your life. In fact, we all naturally do it. We do it because it’s one of the only milestones that continue to remind us of the importance of time. It forces us to reflect on our achievements and re-evaluate our future. Many people commit to goals that focus on healthy lifestyle changes such as weight loss, exercise etc.  Research suggests that while 50% of individuals make New Year’s resolutions, only 12% achieve their goals. New Year resolutions are fantastic, but why is it that most New Year resolutions do not stick?  Most resolutions are too vague, too hard and too spontaneous. You're better off taking the time to think things through and putting the necessary preparation into place so that you have a chance of succeeding.

The following tips will ensure that the changes you implement this year are more sustainable:

• Think of what you would have in your ideal life, and where you’d like to be in one, two, or even three years, and see if your lifestyle goals bring you closer to that picture. If so, they’re good goals to stick with. If you can keep in your mind the image of where you would ultimately like your goals to take you, it’s easier to stick with them.
• Don’t wait until you feel inspired or feel like you are in the mood to do something. Motivation is typically generated when we engage in a behavior. Just begin now and your chances of accomplishing the goal will significantly increase.
• Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Whatever you do, make sure you take daily action towards your New Year resolution. Daily action will create some serious momentum and propel you well on your way to success. Make it a habit to do what you do and work towards your resolution. Sticking with your goal through adversity and challenge is what separates success from failure.
• Connecting with others who share similar goals can be inspiring and motivating. If you are unable to meet your goals on your own, consider seeking professional help. Professionals can help you gain insight into a problem, identify your lifestyle goals, and work with you to achieve them.