Lifestyles Ideas Management - Truths about egg yolks

Whenever I lunches with my brother and sister-in-law, they will threw away their egg yolks and eat the whites only, because the yolks is full of cholesterol.
I am not quite too sure about this cholesterol "thing" and a good friend sent me this email on egg yolks. Anyway, I love to eat egg yolk, but not too many at a time.

Many people throw away the egg yolk because they think that's where all the nasty fat and cholesterol is'. This is a perfect example of how confused most people are about nutrition.

In a world full of misinformation, somehow most people now mistakenly think that the egg yolk is the worst part of the egg, when in fact, the YOLK IS THE HEALTHIEST PART OF THE EGG!

By throwing out the yolk and only eating egg whites, you're essentially throwing out the most nutrient dense, antioxidant-rich, vitamin and mineral loaded portion of the egg. The yolks contain so many B-vitamins,trace minerals, vitamin A, folate, choline, lutein, and other powerful nutrients... it's not even worth trying to list them all.

In fact, the egg whites are almost devoid of nutrition compared to the yolk. Even the protein in egg whites isn't as powerful without the yolks to balance out the amino acid profile and make the protein more bio-available. Not to even mention that the egg yolks from free range chickens are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. Yolks contain more than 90% of the calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, thiamine, B6, folate, and B12, and panthothenic acid of the egg. In addition, the yolks contain all of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K in the egg, as well as all of the essential fatty acids.

And now the common objection I get all the time when I say that the yolks are the most nutritious part of the egg...'But I heard that whole eggs will skyrocket my cholesterol through the roof .' No, this is FALSE!

First of all, when you eat a food that contains a high amount of dietary cholesterol such as eggs, your body down-regulates it's internal production of cholesterol to balance things out. On the other hand, if you don't eat enough cholesterol, your body simply produces more since cholesterol has tons of important functions in the body.

And here's where it gets even more interesting...There are indications that eating whole eggs actually raises your good HDL cholesterol to a higher degree than LDL cholesterol, thereby improving your overall cholesterol ratio and blood chemistry.

And 3rd... high cholesterol is NOT a disease! Heart disease is a disease...but high cholesterol is NOT.

You can read the following article about why trying to attack cholesterol is a mistake, and what the REAL deadly risk factors actually are...



So I hope we've established that whole eggs are not some evil food that will wreck your body... instead whole eggs are FAR superior to egg whites.

Also, your normal supermarket eggs coming from mass factory farming just don't compare nutritionally with organic free range eggs from healthy chickens that are allowed to roam freely and eat a more natural diet.

I recently compared eggs I bought at the grocery store with a batch of eggs I got at a farm stand where the chickens were free roaming and healthy. Most people don't realize that there's a major difference because they've never bought real eggs from healthy chickens... The eggs from the grocery store had pale yellow yolks. On the other hand, the healthier free range eggs had deep orange colored yolks indicating much higher nutrition levels and carotenoids.

So next time a health or fitness professional tells you that egg whites are superior, you can quietly ignore their advice knowing that you understand the REAL deal about egg yolks.

One more thing about eggs... I read a study recently that compared groups of people that ate egg breakfasts vs groups of people that ate cereal or bagel based breakfasts. The results of the study showed that the egg eaters lost or maintained a healthier body weight, while the cereal/bagel eaters gained weight.

It was hypothesized that the egg eaters actually ate less calories during the remainder of the day because their appetite was more satisfied compared to the cereal/bagel eaters who would have been more prone to wild blood sugar swings and food cravings.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Prevention of Goitre

Goitre is defined as the enlargement of the thyroid gland which is located in the lower part of the neck. The gland as a left and right lobe connected by a bridge called the isthmus. The condition may appear in the form of a diffuse enlargement where the whole gland, including both lobes, is enlarged. Occasionally, however, only a single nodule is affected. Diffuse enlargement may be due to many reason, one being puberty. For some patients, it can be due to certain factors stimulating the whole gland to be more active and enlarged. The result is an over-production of the thyroid hormone, causing symptoms such as palpitations, anxiety, loss of weight and increased appetite.
A lack of iodine in the patient’s diet may be a factor too but this extremely uncommon nowadays because of the amount of iodine required daily by each person is very small and can be obtained from the salt used by cooking.
If the goiter is due to a single nodule, there may be a small possibility of caner.
The chances of cancer are higher if the nodule is large and increasing in size or is associated with symptoms such as a change in one’s voice or difficulty in swallowing.
You should visit a specialist to ascertain if you have goiter so that treatment can be given accordingly.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Positive side of things

A farmer’s donkey fell into a well.
The animal cried while the farmer tried to figure out what to do.
Finally, he decided that the animal was too old and the well needed to be covered up anyway. He asked his neighbors to help him shovel dirt into the well.
Upon realizing what was happening, the donkey wailed horribly. Then, to everyone’s surprise, it quietened down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer looked into the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit its back, the donkey would shake it off and take a step up. This continued as more and more dirt was shoveled into the well.
Finally, to everyone’s amazement, the donkey stepped over the edge of the well and trotted off happily.
Life is going to shovel all kinds of dirt on you and me.
Each of our troubles represents a stepping stone. The trick to getting out of a deep hole is to look on the positive side of things: never give up, shake off the dirt, and take a step up.
Happy climbing!

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Hand Hygiene

Lifestyles Ideas Management – Hand hygiene

Can you get sick by visiting a hospital patient?
It is not any more risky than visiting friends to school, going to the gym or just going about one’s daily business, said Dr Brian S Koll , chief of infection control at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan.
In most cases, what you should do inside the hospital for protection against infection is the same as what you should do on the outside.
Hand hygiene means washing hands before and after the visit with soap and water or with an alcohol-based gel. Common sense should prevail, Dr Koll added.
Do not touch a dressing on the leg or arm. Do not touch any discharges or anything else that you would not normally touch.
We think of hospitals as dirty places, but we do not live in a clean world.
Buses are dirty; the subway is dirty. Hospital visitors need to be reminded that it is okay to hug you loved one. He said.
The patient also need protection; he warned “Don’t visit when you are sick, when you have a cold, a cough, an open skin lesion or a rash.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Grains

Whole grains are credited with protecting against stroke, heart disease and colon cancer, assisting in obesity control and lowering blood pressure among other thing.
Whole grains include the unrefined grains of barley, buckwheat, corn millet, brown rice, oats, sorghum, wheat, wild rice and even popcorn.
The Mayo clinic promotes it as a healthy food choice and suggests the following ways to make it part of your diet:

Look for the word “whole” on the packaging and ingredient list on off the shelf food products making sure that whole grains are the first few items listed.
Start the day off with breakfast that includes whole grains – bran, shredded wheat or oatmeal cereals.
Substitute whole grain flour for all purpose flour when baking
Make sandwiches using wholegrain breads and use brown rice and whole wheat pasta for cooking.
Add wild rice or barley to soups, stews or salads
Include whole grains such as cooked brown rice or wholegrain bread crumbs to complement minced meat and give it to extra body.
Substitute dry bread crumbs with rolled oats or bran flakes in recipes.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Cinnamon

Some very commonly dried herbs and spices may help block the inflammation believed to drive diabetes and other chronic diseases conducted by researchers from the University of Georgia. The extracted from 24 common herbs and spices and found that many contained many high levels of inflammation –inhibiting antioxidant compounds known as polyphenols, WebMD reported.
Researches James L Hargrove commented on the better off if we used less salt and pepper and focused more on herbs and spices.
Liberal use of cinnamon in breakfast oatmeal or herbs and spices in spaghetti sauce could be a huge health boosters. Ground cloves had the most inflammation-calming polyphenols of any of the spice and herb extracts. Cinnamon came in second, but because it is used more in cooking and in larger amount than ground cloves.
The benefits of cinnamon is lowering blood sugar is already known and has prompted many diabetics to take cinnamon supplements but scientist have mixed reactions about this information.
Herbs and spices are powerful sources of antioxidants and anti-flammatory agents,
the testing showed that oregano, marjoram and sage followed by thyme, Italian seasonings, tarragon, mint and rosemary had the highest polyphenol levels.
Black pepper had the lowest polyphenol content of any of the tested herbs and spices.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Are you a happy shopper?

The way you shop and buy the things could be an indicator of whether you are a happy person. The happiest shoppers aren’t those who bag the best bargains or the big spenders who bag the best items or even the penny-pinchers who have a hard time opening their wallets. A survey was carried out with 329 college students in New York and the results showed four shopping personalities:

Big spenders
Buy everything full price and buy only the best

Value seekers
Seek bargaining on nice things

Non-spenders
Don’t spend much and don’t want to

Experiencers
Spend freely on experiences such as good food or travel, but are not materialistic.

Conclusion:
Experiencers are the happiest while big spenders are the least happy with most credit card debt.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Good or bad?

When it comes to soya beans, tons and tons of studies being published on the effects of soya beans on human health in the last few years, it has been both celebrated and vilified.

Reduced breast cancer risk
A recent study found that eating a serving of soya bean curd or drinking a glass of milk every day reduces the risk of breast cancer in Chinese women.

Male fertility unaffected
Recent reports claiming that eating half a serving of soya-based foods a day could lower a man’s sperm count. Soya food intake was unrelated to sperm quality and male fertility
review from the Soy food Association of North America. Instead, obesity may be a cause for the low sperm concentration found in the men with high soya intakes.

Increased risk of gout and kidney stones
Soya contains oxalates which cannot be absorbed by the body and are excreted only through urine. Oxalates bind to calcium to form kidney stones which can block the urinary system. Gout is caused by the build up of uric acid in the blood stream, which occurs when the body breaks down substances called purines, found in foods like liver, soya beans, tofu and meat. Doctors recommended that those with kidney problems to take less of these soya products, as oxalates may increase the risk of developing kidney stones.
Soya is not the culprit; it is the total intake of purines including those from protein foods like meats, milk, seafood and organ meats.

Good for the heart
Soya can lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Soya protein helps to reduce the LDL (or bad) cholesterol. The presence of soluble fiber in soya also helps to reduce cholesterol in the blood.

Higher risk of memory loss
From the recent study released suggested that eating high levels of some soya products – including tofu may raise the risk of memory loss. Tofu is made from coagulants including salts and acids which could be contributory factors to memory loss. However, further studies are needed.

Post-menopausal women reap benefits
Soya intake helps to prevent bone loss in post-menopausal women but doe not improve hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms.
People of all ages, races and both genders benefit from eating soya. However, most studies that indicate the benefits of soya were skewed towards post-menopausal women in terms of lowering blood pressure, cholesterol and breast cancer risk.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Steaming for a healthier diet

Do you know that steaming your food helps to seal in nutrients that are usually lost through regular cooking methods like frying?

Steaming is a traditional cooking method that is ideal for today’s trend toward healthy eating as very little or no oil is used. It has great advantages over other cooking method as a far higher level of nutrients, vitamins and minerals is retained.
Compared to boiling, steaming results in more nutritious food particular vegetables, as
fewer nutrients are destroyed and leached away in the water.
For broccoli, 2 times of the nutrients are retained as compared to conventional method of cooking. What’s more steaming is simple and enhances the food’s natural flavor.

All sorts of food can be steamed, including all kinds of seafood, vegetables and even chicken. The fresher the ingredient, the better they are for steaming. Most people have the mindset that steamed foods are bland compared to stir-fry and deep-friend alternatives.
I am a vegetable lover and when the greens turn out, crunchy, nutritious and so irresistible.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Acne myths

The dos and don’ts of squeeze out blackheads, pimples and whiteheads guide:
Facials
Regular salon treatment helps by controlling sebum production, healing existing acne scars and minimizing pores. For instance microdermabrasion and mild chemical peels can help to unclog pores.
Depressed scars however are harder to improve and requires stronger laser done by doctor.
Blotting
Whether you blot or not, the body will still produce oil in the skin.
It’s not scientifically proven that blotting frequently encourages more oil to be produced. It is all right to blot.
Extraction
Extracting pimples is a no-no as the pressure applied to the skin may extend inflammation to other areas of the skin.
Washing
It depends on what washing cream you use.
If you have a lot of whitehead and blackheads, choose something which contains alpha hydroxyl acid (AHAs). If you have inflamed acne with bumpy skin, use a cleanser which can kill the bacteria. Simple washing twice a day is more than enough. Over-washing in fact can worsen acne.
Tanning
Tanning only masks acne by evening out the skin color temporarily. Skin may become dry and irritated after a tan which can prompt an acne outbreak.
Certain foods
There is no peculiar instance in individual cases of eating certain foods like chocolate or peanuts cause an acne outbreak. Test yourself. If you get a breakout 10 times out of 10 when you eat a certain item, cut it out.
Stress
Stress can worsen acne through the release of increased levels of hormones which form the adrenal glands which in turn over-stimulate the oil glands.
Make-up
It was best to stick with established brands if you have acne.
If you have make-up on, it is important to thoroughly remove it later as mark-up can clog pores. The more mark-up to cover it up, the more they blocks the pores.
If you have to wear make-up, don’t wear it for prolonged periods.
Large pores
An enlarged pore generally mean the person is susceptible to oily skin conditions and is prone to acne outbreaks. People who have acne tend to have large pores so the condition goes hand in hand.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Beetroot

Since the two months ago, we started drinking ABC fruit juice, A for apple, B for beetroot and C for carrot. It is a good combination of three fruits into one and the color of the juice is of course stained red. It goes well with crushed ice and the taste is not too bad
except the tongue stained red.

Many people hate it because they “stain” the rest of the food on their plates.
Researchers, however are now singing the praised of beets –or beetroot as we call it here in Singapore.
Beetroot is identified it as a nutritional powerhouse, high in folate, manganese and potassium, reported the New York Times. Don’t chop off and toss away the greens. They bring an additional set of nutrients to your dish, most notably beta-carotene, vitamin C, iron and calcium.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Positive side of things

A farmer’s donkey fell into a well.
The animal cried while the farmer tried to figure out what to do.
Finally, he decided that the animal was too old and the well needed to be covered up anyway. He asked his neighbors to help him shovel dirt into the well.
Upon realizing what was happening, the donkey wailed horribly. Then, to everyone’s surprise, it quietened down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer looked into the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit its back, the donkey would shake it off and take a step up. This continued as more and more dirt was shoveled into the well.
Finally, to everyone’s amazement, the donkey stepped over the edge of the well and trotted off happily.
Life is going to shovel all kinds of dirt on you and me.
Each of our troubles represents a stepping stone. The trick to getting out of a deep hole is to look on the positive side of things: never give up, shake off the dirt, and take a step up.
Happy climbing!

Lifestyles Ideas Management - 8 Ways

Do regular aerobic exercise such as swimming.
They will increase the strength and flexibility of the back muscles.
When lifting something heavy, hold it close to your body, keep your back straight and bend at the knees. This reduces the strain on your back.
For pregnant women, try to squat instead of bending. The body’s centre of gravity is then less likely to shift, putting less stress on the back.
Let your hands rest for 15 minutes after 90 minutes of repetitive movement such as typing or playing racquet games. This decreases the inflammation of the muscles attached to the elbow.
Eat food containing calcium such as bean curd, eggs and milk. Calcium helps to strengthen the bones.
Get out in the sun.
Exposure to sunlight allows the skin to manufacture natural Vitamin D which allows calcium in the gut to be absorbed.
Quite smoking which lowers the level of oestrogen, a hormone that retains calcium in bones.
Avoid lifting a child with one arm from the wrist only. It could result in partial dislocation of the elbow joint.
August 6, 2008 The Straits Times

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Bad fats come in many disguises

Saturated and trans fats raise the level of bad cholesterol in your body, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. So the next time you eat, choose a meal with less of these fats.
Types of fat
Saturated fat
Animal fat e.g. fatty meat, skin of poultry, lard
High-fat dairy products e.g. full cream milk, butter, ghee
Dishes containing coconut milk or coconut cream
Deep-fried food
Food prepared with palm-based vegetable oil

Health Effects
Raises “bad” cholesterol levels in the body
Increases the risk of heart disease and stroke

Trans fat
Pastries and cakes
Deep fried food
Cookies and biscuits
Products containing vegetable shortening and hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils ( as stated in the ingredient list on food labels)
Food high in trans fat often contains high amounts of saturated fat.

Health Effects
Raises “bad” cholesterol and lowers “good” cholesterol levels in the body
Increases the risk of heart disease and stroke

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Hand Hygiene

Can you get sick by visiting a hospital patient?
It is not any more risky than visiting friends to school, going to the gym or just going about one’s daily business, said Dr Brian S Koll , chief of infection control at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan.
In most cases, what you should do inside the hospital for protection against infection is the same as what you should do on the outside.
Hand hygiene means washing hands before and after the visit with soap and water or with an alcohol-based gel. Common sense should prevail, Dr Koll added.
Do not touch a dressing on the leg or arm. Do not touch any discharges or anything else that you would not normally touch.
We think of hospitals as dirty places, but we do not live in a clean world.
Buses are dirty; the subway is dirty. Hospital visitors need to be reminded that it is okay to hug you loved one. He said.
The patient also need protection; he warned “Don’t visit when you are sick, when you have a cold, a cough, an open skin lesion or a rash.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - What should women know about ...

HPV Vaccine Plus Screening:
What Women Should Know

THE FUTURE OF CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION
With the introduction of the first HPV vaccine, the dream of eliminating cervical cancer is increasingly within reach. Cervical cancer is the only type of cancer for which there is one, specific cause – certain, “high-risk” types of HPV, or human papillomavirus. HPV is a very common, sexually transmitted virus that normally doesn’t cause any problems. But in some women, the infection stays active long enough to cause abnormal cells to form, which can then develop into cervical cancer. With the HPV test, women at high risk can be identified and monitored carefully. And now, the new vaccine (called Gardasil®) allows many HPV infections to be prevented from occurring in the first place.

However, even with the vaccine, women still need a regular Pap and – depending on their age – the HPV test. That’s because:

o The vaccine cannot protect everyone. To be fully effective, the vaccine should be given before a woman’s first sexual experience – in other words, before she may be exposed to HPV. Thus, the ideal time to get the vaccine is during adolescence. That means that for the vast majority of women today, and for many in the future, regular screening is their first and primary weapon against cervical cancer.

o The protection offered by the vaccine is incomplete. There are roughly 13 types of the HPV virus that can cause cervical cancer. The vaccine is designed to target just two “high-risk” types of the virus, which are responsible for 70 percent of all cervical cancers. However, that means it cannot protect women against the remaining 30 percent of cervical cancers that are caused by other “high-risk” types of HPV.

o There are a lot of unknowns. For example, it is not known whether a “booster” vaccine shot will be needed later in life to ensure continued protection.


Thus, both vaccination and screening are essential tools in the fight against cervical cancer. These general recommendations are emerging from the experts:

CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION GUIDELINES*

Adolescent girls
Individuals most likely to benefit from the HPV vaccine are young girls/adolescents who have not yet had their first sexual experience. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the vaccine for use in girls age 9 to 26, and the American Cancer Society recommends it for routine use in girls age 11 to 12.

Women younger than 30 years
Women should start getting an annual Pap test about three years after they have sexual intercourse for the first time, or by age 21 -- whichever comes first. If the lab cannot be sure whether a woman’s Pap result is normal or abnormal, an HPV test also is recommended.

In addition, some women may choose to get the HPV vaccine. However, the benefit has not been proven in women who are sexually active, since they may already have been exposed to the two types of “high-risk” HPV the vaccines protect against.

Women age 30 or older
This is the age group most at risk of developing cervical cancer. Thus, screening with both the Pap and the HPV test offers extra peace of mind. If the results of both the HPV and Pap test are normal, the HPV test only needs to be repeated once every three years. That’s because the risk of missing a woman at risk when both tests are normal is just one in a thousand.

A note about men: Males get HPV too and can pass the virus to women. However, there is currently no approved HPV test for men. There also are currently no data demonstrating that an HPV vaccine can protect boys or men from HPV-related health problems (such as cancer of the penis, which is rare), or that it can prevent transmission of the virus to women.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - What should women know about ...

The High-Risk HPV Test:

A Breakthrough in Cervical Cancer Screening
· In a Pap test, a laboratory technician visually examines a sample of cervical cells under a microscope to look for abnormal changes. Thus, the findings – no matter what type is used – are inexact, and are subject to human error and interpretation.
· The Digene® HPV Test (the only such test approved by the FDA) uses advanced molecular technology to detect the DNA (genetic material) of 13 high-risk types of HPV, the virus shown to actually cause virtually all cases of cervical cancer.
· The test is done at the same time as the Pap, so women don’t need to do anything more than ask for it.
· The Digene HPV Test is based on proprietary “Hybrid Capture” technology, which combines two innovations from the rapidly evolving field of life sciences – DNA/RNA probes and monoclonal antibodies – to allow rapid, standardized gene testing in virtually any laboratory setting.

· The Digene HPV Test was first approved in 1999 for follow-up evaluation in women of all ages whose Pap results are uncertain – typically referred to as “ASC-US” (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance).
· In 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Digene HPV Test for cervical cancer screening, in conjunction with a Pap, in women age 30 and older.
· Use of HPV testing for routine screening is recognized in guidelines issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Cancer Society and the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals.
· The majority of insurance companies cover the HPV test for routine screening.
· By combining the HPV and Pap tests, the ability to identify women at risk for cervical cancer is increased to virtually 100 percent.1
· In one study, Digene’s HPV test identified 100 percent of the women with advanced cervical disease (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia [CIN] grades 2 and 3), compared to only 58 percent identified by the conventional Pap and 84 percent by the newer, “liquid-based” Pap.2
· In study to study, the sensitivity of Digene’s HPV test consistently exceeds the Pap.3
For more information, visit www.thehpvtest.com

J Cuzick, A Szarewski, H Cubie, G Hulman et al, “Management of Women Who Test Positive for High-Risk Types of Human Papillomavirus: The Hart Study.” The Lancet 2003 362: 1871-1876.

2 Clavel C, Masure M, Bory JP, Putaud I, Mangeonjean C, Lorenzato F et al. Human papillomavirus Testing in Primary Screening for the Detection of High-Grade Cervical Lesions: A Study of 7932 Women. Br J Cancer 2001; 89(12): 1616-1623.

3 Lorincz A, Richart R. Human Papillomavirus DNA Testing as an Adjunct to Cytology in Cervical Screening Programs. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2003; 127: 959-968.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - What should women know about ...

Digene's molecular diagnostic tests, such as the Digene® HPV Test , are based on the company’s proprietary “Hybrid Capture” technology. The technology uses “probes” that specifically target the DNA of certain bacteria or viruses such as HPV, chlamydia and gonorrhea.

If the bacteria or virus is present in the sample of cells being examined, the probes “hybridize” (bind) to it. The resulting “hybrids” (target DNA bound by the probe) are then “captured” to allow detection through a process called “signal amplification.”

In this process, special antibodies and enzymes are added to the cell sample. When they come into contact with the captured hybrids, light is emitted, which can be measured by a computerized laboratory instrument called a luminometer.
With the Digene HPV Test, if the presence of HPV DNA is detected at significant levels, the patient is considered at risk of cervical cancer and in need of additional monitoring by a physician or nurse. If HPV DNA is not detected, the patient can be reassured that she is not currently at risk of cervical cancer.

Overview of how Hybrid Capture technology works:
Step 1:
Probes find the DNA of targeted bacteria and viruses such as HPV, chlamydia or gonorrhea, if present, and bind to it -- forming a "hybrid" (the probe plus the strand of target DNA).


Step 2:
Special biological chemicals (called antibodies) coat the inside of the testing container and “capture” only the hybrids.


Step 3:
Different antibodies (which produce light in the presence of hybrids) are then added. These bind to the hybrids, resulting in the emission of light that is measured by a specialized laboratory instrument called a luminometer. Using the luminometer, the presence or absence of target DNA is determined from the results of this "chemiluminescent" reaction. The amount of light detected is proportional to the amount of target DNA present in the sample.

For information, visit www.theHPVtest.com

Lifestyles Ideas Management - What should women know about ...

From: http://theHPVtest.com
HPV Uncovered
· HPV is a common sexually transmitted virus.
· There are approximately 100 strains of HPV.
· Many women can fight off the infection, but in some, HPV lingers and causes abnormal cells to form, which then can develop into cervical cancer.
· Digene’s HPV Test detects the DNA of 13 high-risk types of HPV.

Cervical Cancer and HPV
· Cervical cancer is the only cancer for which there is a specific cause – high-risk” strains of HPV.
· HPV is responsible for virtually all cases of cervical cancer.
· Women age 30 and over are at the greatest risk for developing cervical cancer.
· The HPV test allows women at high risk for cervical cancer to be identified and monitored carefully.

HPV test v. Pap Test
· Women should receive a Pap test three years after sexual intercourse or by age 21.
· Pap tests are subject to human error because a lab technician manually examines cervical cell samples.
· The HPV test is recommended if a Pap comes back inconclusive or abnormal.
· The HPV Test is FDA approved for women age 30 and over.
· Virtually 100 percent of all cervical cancer cases are detected by combining the HPV and Pap tests.
· The HPV test is done at the same time as the Pap, so women don’t need to do anything more than ask for it.
· Majority of insurance companies cover the HPV test for routine screening.
· If the results of the HPV and Pap are normal, the HPV test only needs to be repeated once every three years.

HPV Vaccine, Gardasil
· The vaccine protects women against two high risk type of HPV; there are 13 strains that cause cervical cancer.
· To be fully effective, the vaccine should be administered before a women’s first sexual experience.
· The vaccine is approved for girls ages 9 to 26.
· Even with Gardasil, women still need a regular Pap, and depending on their age, the HPV test.
· It is unknown if a “booster” vaccine will be needed later in life to ensure continued protection.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - What should women know about ...

A letter from a new friend:
Hi Anne,

I hope you are doing well.
I came across your blog today and noticed your June 27th post concerning cervical cancer. I also think that it is important for women to have the most information possible about this disease that is highly preventable.
I am currently working with the digene HPV Test and was hoping to send you more information for inclusion on your blog. I know you are located in Singapore, however the information would be highly valuable for your American readers.

The digene HPV Test is the only FDA approved HPV test in the United States.
The test is approved for use in women age 30 and older in conjunction with a Pap. The test is meant to provide the best assurance (when used in conjunction with a Pap smear) of finding cervical disease before it becomes cancer.
The test is not mandatory, and only recommended if a Pap smear comes back inconclusive. I've spoken with many bloggers and online contacts, and it is my understanding that women just don't know about the test. I was hoping that you would be willing to help spread awareness through an article or link on your blog.

You can collect more information about our test on our Web site, HPV and Cervical Cancer-The digene HPV Test.
I can also provide you with cervical cancer survivor stories, fact sheets, etc. for publication on your site. Please let me know if you're interested.
I hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for spreading the word about important health concerns on your blog!

Best,
Valarie
Valarie Bastek | New Media Specialist
*@*@*@*@*#*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@

This is a great pleasure for me to spread the word about important health concerns on my blog. thanks Valarie!..

· Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix.
The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb), which opens into the vagina.

· The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2006, about 9,700 women in the United States will develop cervical cancer and about 3,700 will die from it.

· Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer that strikes women — behind only breast cancer.1

· The human papillomavirus, also called HPV, is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is estimated that 80 percent of women will have one or more types of the virus at some time by the age of 50.2

· There are more than 100 types of HPV. Of these, about 15 high-risk types are known to cause virtually all cases of cervical cancer. Two of these types (16 and 18) are believed to cause 70 percent of these cases.3

· Although HPV is very common, cervical cancer is not. In most cases, the body's immune system fights off or suppresses the virus before it causes cancer or any other problems. It's only when high-risk types of HPV persist that the risk of developing dysplasia (pre-cancerous cells) and cervical cancer increases significantly.

· There is evidence that other factors may increase the risk of cervical cancer when combined with HPV, including smoking and illnesses that reduce the body's ability to fight off infections (such as HIV/AIDS).

· HPV cannot be treated, which makes early detection essential.

· A Pap test, the only detection method for nearly 60 years, fails to identify between 15 percent and 49 percent of women with abnormal cells before they become invasive cervical cancer.4

· A recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that one-third of all cervical cancer cases can be attributed to Pap test detection failure.

· The Digene® HPV Test was approved by the FDA in 2003 for cervical cancer screening, in conjunction with the Pap, for women age 30 or older (those most at risk for cervical cancer). With this combination approach, the ability to identify women at risk is nearly 100 percent5 – thus allowing treatment if necessary before abnormal cell changes become more serious.

· A comprehensive approach that combines HPV and Pap testing with the new vaccine that prevents infection with two high-risk types of HPV could make cervical cancer the first malignancy that is actually eliminated.

· Girls and young women who are not yet sexually active will benefit most from the new HPV vaccine. However, because the vaccine, approved for girls and women age 9 to 26, targets just two of more than a dozen types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer, that protection won’t be complete without regular screening.

For more information, visit http://www.theHPVtest.com
1 World Health Organization, November 2, 2005, http://www.who.int/vaccine_research/diseases/hpv/en.

2 ”Consumer/Patient Fact Sheet,” American Social Health Association, National HPV & Cervical Cancer Prevention Resource Center, 1999.

3 Harper, Diane et al, “Efficacy of Bivalent L1 Virus-Like Particle Vaccine in Prevention of Infection with HPV Types 16 and 18 in Young Women: A Randomised Controlled Trial.” The Lancet 2004 364: 1757 – 1765.

4 Clavel C. Masure M, Bory JP, Putaud I, Mangeonjean C, Lorenzato F et al. “Human Papillomavirus Testing in Primary Screening for the Detection of High-Grade Cervical Lesions: A Study of 7932 Women.” Br J Cancer 2001; 89(12): 1616-1623.

5 J Cuzick, A Szarewski, H Cubie, G Hulman et al, “Management of Women Who Test Positive for High-Risk Types of Human Papillomavirus: The Hart Study.” The Lancet 2003 362: 1871-1876.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Prevention of Goitre

Goitre is defined as the enlargement of the thyroid gland which is located in the lower part of the neck. The gland as a left and right lobe connected by a bridge called the isthmus. The condition may appear in the form of a diffuse enlargement where the whole gland, including both lobes, is enlarged. Occasionally, however, only a single nodule is affected. Diffuse enlargement may be due to many reason, one being puberty. For some patients, it can be due to certain factors stimulating the whole gland to be more active and enlarged. The result is an over-production of the thyroid hormone, causing symptoms such as palpitations, anxiety, loss of weight and increased appetite.
A lack of iodine in the patient’s diet may be a factor too but this extremely uncommon nowadays because of the amount of iodine required daily by each person is very small and can be obtained from the salt used by cooking.
If the goiter is due to a single nodule, there may be a small possibility of caner.
The chances of cancer are higher if the nodule is large and increasing in size or is associated with symptoms such as a change in one’s voice or difficulty in swallowing.
You should visit a specialist to ascertain if you have goiter so that treatment can be given accordingly.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Wash your Greens

It is good practice to wash fresh fruits and vegetables before eating them. Washing fruits removes dirt, as well as some pesticides on the surface and stem.
There is not need to soak the fruit; just rinse it before preparing it and eating it.

As for vegetables, a combination of soaking and rinsing will remove both dirt and pesticides. The websites of the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), www.ava.gov.sg has a section on food safety education which gives details on the proper way to clean foods.. You should give vegetables a quick rinse first followed by a 15 minutes soak and a final rinse to remove dirt and pesticides residue effectively.
Most fruits and vegetables sold in Singapore are imported and measures in place to ensure that imported and locally produced vegetables and fruits meet the pesticide safety standards.
If you are still worried about the amount of pesticides on fresh fruits and vegetables, consider buying those grown organically. Vitamins, like vitamin C can be lost when the cut fruits and vegetables are exposed to air or light.
Water-soluble vitamins are lost when the greens are cut into smaller pieces and soaked in water. It is best to eat the fruits as soon as it is cut. For vegetables, do not soak them too long and cut them only after they are soaked.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Let the peace of Christ.....

An old story which comes from the Salvation Army in the last century tells of a strong-willed woman who has been named “Warrior Brown” because of her fiery temper. She was often belligerent and became enraged whenever she got drunk.
Then one day she was converted.
Her entire life was wonderfully changed by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. At an open air meeting a week later, she told everyone what Jesus had done for her. Suddenly a scoffer threw a potato at her, causing a stinging bruise.
Had she not been converted, she would have lashed out at the man furiously. God’s grace, however, had made such a profound change in her conduct that she quickly picked up the potato and put it in her pocket without saying a word.
No more was heard of the incident until the time of the “harvest festival” months later. Then the dear lady who had been known as “Warrior Brown” brought as her offering a sack of potatoes. She explained that after the open-air meeting she had cup up and planted the “insulting potato” and what she was now presenting to the Lord was “the incense”. Warrior Brown has allowed “the peace of Christ” to govern her life.

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had this to say about those who pursue peace: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Matt 5:9) Colossians reminds us that “as members of one body we are called to peace.” Helping people find peace whether by bringing people into a relationship with God or by bringing people together marks us out as a “son of God” or a “daughter of God”. We can do nothing more God-like than to bring peace to those separated from God and from each other. May the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi inspire us as we seek to live out our divine calling and splendor:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where
There is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
From Bethany EFC Focus 27 July 2008

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Scented Leaves

The southern Indians must have their curry leaves, the Chinese spring their onions, but it is in Malay, Indonesian and Thai cooking that we experience the pleasures of a wide spectrum of scented leaves. The use of the right herbs is imperative if you want authentic tastes. Trouble is you need only a little each time which means you end up with left-overs and herbs do not keep well. Addressing myself to these problems, I spent a good while finding out how to preserve herbs. One of the best ways to prolong the life of herbs is to wrap them up in paper towels and store the bundles in air-tight plastic containers at the bottom of the refrigerator. The herbs keep well this way for up to three weeks. You can also use those wonder bags newly developed by the Japanese. Made of green plastic with very fine ground stone embedded in their sides, these bags allow ethylene gas to escape. This is the gas that vegetable matter naturally exudes which accelerates ripening and then rotting. Herbs stored in these special bags can keep almost garden fresh for a fortnight or more. You can buy these bags at many supermarkets.
A neat way to store curry leaves is to pluck the leaves from the stalks and set these in a bowl of melted ghee. You just use the herb ghee to fry your curry spices as usual. By Margaret Chan

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Go Bananas

Banana Cake is easy to make and delicious.
Bananas are rich in B group, vitamins, a good source of fiber, vitamin C, magnesium and potassium. They also contain plenty of carbohydrates, the body’s main source of energy and are easy to digest. But for a cook, there are many more possibilities.
They are good in cakes, breads, muffins, or whipped up in a smoothie. For dessert, chop them into a fruit salad or you can have them grilled.
But it’s handy fact that when bananas lose their appeal raw, they are just right for a cake.
What you need for this are over-ripe bananas. That’s when their skin turns a duller yellow and becomes covered with brown spots. Such bananas, when mashed, do best in cakes and breads. Often when I buy bananas, a couple turn brown before they are eaten or cooked. If there’s no time to turn them into a cake, I slip them into a plastic bag and place them in the freezer until I need them for baking. They will keep frozen for about six months. For an indulgent dessert, try baking bananas in the oven after sprinkling with grated palm sugar or honey. Add a touch of cinnamon, nutmeg or coat with toasted shredded coconut. Serve with a dollop of yogurt, cream or ice cream.

Banana Cake

130g butter
200g caster sugar
2 eggs
1 cup ripe mashed bananas (about two large bananas)
250g plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of sode
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp ground cinnamon
120ml buttermilk
120g chopped walnuts (optional)

Method
Preheat oven to 180 degree C
Grease 1 20cm baking tin and line with baking paper
In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and creamy.
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the mashed bananas (add a little flour
if the little flour if the mixture starts to curdle)
Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon together into a bowl.
Then fold in the mixture along with the buttermilk and walnuts if you are using them
Turn the mixture into the baking pan and bake for around 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the cake comes out clean.
Turn out onto a rack and allow to cool
Either dust the top with icing sugar or top with lemon icing

Lemon Icing (optional)
1 cup icing sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp butter
Boiling water

Put icing sugar, lemon juice and butter into a small bowl
Add a tiny amount of boiling water – just enough to soften the butter
Mix ingredients till smooth and of a even consistency for spreading.
Add a little more water if mixture is too thick and more icing sugar if too runny
Spread even over the top of the cake.
By cynlow@sph.com.sg