| THE FRENEMY FOODS Your diet staples could be sabotaging your efforts to slim down and denying you vitamins and minerals Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:06 PM PDT Those low-fat, low-taste alternatives passed off as 'health foods' could, in fact, be costing you your health. It's easy to be misled with labels such as 'high fiber', and 'natural'. In reality, many so called 'healthy' foods contain high levels of fat, sugar and salt. Reading the ingredient list and nutrition facts column could help you choose the right items. Here's a round up of the things you consider good that may actually be bad: Honey
You think honey is healthier and more natural than sugar? You are wrong. Both contain similarly high levels of glucose. Because honey is denser, one tablespoon actually contains more calories than the same sized spoonful of granulated sugar. Eat too much honey and you'll gain just as much weight as you will gorging on other sweet stuff.
Low-fat salad dressing
Scientists at Iowa State University, US, have found that low-fat dressing cancels out the goodness in salad. Conversely, using olive oil, or a little butter, boosted vitamin intake because fat helps your body absorb nutrients from vegetables more efficiently.
Breakfast cereals
Studies show that people who eat cereal for breakfast tend to be slimmer than those who don't — but only if they're opting for a healthy brand. Choose the wrong box and you may as well start your day with a slice of cake, as some cereals are high in sugar and fat. The main ones to watch out for are your flavoured, chocolate and sugar-coated or frosted kids' ones. So always read the label. Not that you need to skip the cereal aisle altogether — experts agree that tucking into a bowl of porridge or any other wholegrain cereal is actually healthy. Naturally low in calories and high in fibre, these will help keep you fuller for longer and ward off midmorning snacking.
Skimmed milk
Although guzzling whole milk has been demonised as a health no-no in recent years, research shows that it could be a better choice than its skimmed counterpart.
Whole milk only contains around 4 per cent fat per 100ml as opposed to the 20 per cent plus deemed to be in the 'high fat' category. Skimmed milk contains 0.1 per cent fat. So switching from whole to skimmed milk won't make a huge difference.
Skimmed milk is less nutritious because cream contains fatsoluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Research reveals that full-fat milk boosts metabolism and help you burn more calories, while also lowering the risk of heart disease.
Raw veg
Cooking is believed to kill the vitamins and minerals, but studies have found the opposite. While cooking may destroy some (but not all) vitamin C, the process boosts the uptake of disease-fighting nutrients — antioxidants. A 2008 study found that vegetables such as carrots, spinach, mushrooms, asparagus, cabbage and peppers supply more antioxidants when cooked than when eaten raw. This is because cooking breaks down vegetables' thick cell walls, making it easier for the body to absorb the nutrients they contain. Steaming is best, then gentle boiling. Frying preserves the least vitamins and minerals.
Diet drinks
They seem like a straightforward way for soft drink lovers to cut calories but experts think diet drinks could actually scupper weight loss. While the artificial sweeteners in such drinks can convince the taste buds they're consuming sugar, the brain can't be tricked so easily. When it's denied the calories it's expecting, your body goes on a calorie hunt, making you feel hungry and eat more. Which is why consuming diet drinks can make people more likely to pile on weight, than reduce it.
—Daily Mirror   | | Soon, 3D tech to help grow organs Posted: 03 Jul 2012 09:06 PM PDT 3D-Printed Sugar Network Can Create Artificial Flesh With Blood Vessels
London: Scientists claim to have moved a step closer to developing lab-grown meat using a new 3D printing technique which they say could also be used to create working artificial organs for transplant in the future.
Bioengineers can already make 2D structures out of tissue — but attempts to make organs or larger piece of meat usually lead to sludge. Now, a team from the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that 3D printing "templates" of sugar and growing meat over them can create living artificial "organs" with blood vessels.
The new technique, detailed in journal Nature Materials, works by printing organs "inside out" so that the blood vessels are printed first, then flesh is grown around them.
"Sometimes the simplest solutions come from going back to basics," study researcher Dr Jordan Miller was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. "I got the first hint when I visited a Body Worlds exhibit, where you can see plastic casts of free-standing, whole organ vasculature," he said.
The rapid casting technique hinged on the researchers developing a material that is rigid enough to exist as a 3D network of cylindrical filaments but which can also dissolve in water without toxic effects on cells. After much testing, they found the perfect mix of material properties in sugar.
"Since there's no single type of gel that's going to be optimal for every kind of engineered tissue, we also wanted to develop a sugar formula that would be broadly compatible with any cell type or water-based gel," Miller said.
The whole process is quick and inexpensive, allowing the researchers to switch with ease between computer simulations and physical models of multiple vascular configurations.
The researchers found human blood vessel cells injected throughout the vascular networks spontaneously generated new capillary sprouts to increase the network's reach, much in the way blood vessels in the body naturally grow. They then created gels containing primary liver cells to test if their technique could improve their function.
When researchers pumped nutrient-rich media through the gel's template-fashioned vascular system, the liver cells boosted their production of albumin and urea, natural components of blood and urine, respectively, which are important measures of liver-cell function and health. PTI HOPE FOR TRANSPLANT PATIENTS | | |
 | | 'Better mgmt will solve water crisis not new tech' Posted: 03 Jul 2012 06:40 PM PDT Mumbai: Mayor Sunil Prabhu and several senior corporators may have taken off on a trip to Singapore in search of new technology to plug the city's water crisis, but closer home officials and citizens said what is needed is better management of the supply system to sort out the problem. Importing expensive technologies are not going to solve the issue, they said. "It's not really necessary to bring in new technologies. If we are able to plug the leaks in our existing water supply lines and have a better water management most of the city's water problems will be sorted out," said a senior civic official.
The BMC is in the process of mapping out the entire water supply system in the city and identifying faulty lines but the entire process will take at least three-four years, said the official.
In 2010, when the city was facing one of the worst water cuts, then mayor Shraddha Jadhav and civic group leaders of political parties had attended the same annual Singapore International Water Week to try and end the water woes. They came back with a solution to minimize the rate of evaporation of water from Mumbai's lakes by using an organic palm oil-based solution and mix it with water to form a layer of oil on the water that prevents evaporation.
But it was infeasible, a senior hydraulic official. "It is not possible to use the same technology that is used to solve the problems abroad in Mumbai as we need solutions that are specific to our problems. Secondly, we do not have the same infrastructure facilities that other nations enjoy," the official told TOI.
Civic activists also feel that attending international conferences will not provide a solution to Mumbai's water woes. "We need a conference on water conservation in Mumbai along with all the stakeholders. We need to focus more on indigenous ideas and solutions to our water problems," Hansel D'Souza, president Juhu citizen welfare group, said.
Times View
For citizens worried about water cuts, the BMC trip to Singapore–ostensibly to study its distribution-supply chain model–is like adding salt to injury. The BMC has failed miserably to provide a basic constituent of urban life, adequate, clean drinking water. These trips abroad do nothing else besides fattening netas' and babus' already-fat passports.   | | Look after your smile ...and safeguard your oral health from diseases like cancer Posted: 03 Jul 2012 06:32 PM PDT Looking after oral health is vital and now a link has been found between the build-up of plaque and serious health problems. You may think that by brushing your teeth twice a day you will help keep your mouth healthy. But do you brush for long enough? And do you keep up with your dental appointments? Many of us are avoiding regular sessions in the dentist's chair, and more than one in five say we can't afford dental treatment. And as for flossing, well sometimes it just seems like hassle. But neglecting our gnashers can have serious consequences. Looking after oral health is vital and now a link has been found between the build-up of plaque and serioushealth problems.
Researchers in Sweden have discovered people with the most bacteria on the surface of their teeth and gums have an 80 per cent increased risk of premature death, particularly from cancer. "People who have bad oralhealth seem to be suffering more from certain diseases than those who don't," concurs Dr Peter Frost. It's believed oral bacteria can escape into the bloodstream and injure major organs. "There's now a large body of evidence that patients with gum disease have higher levels of cancer, heart disease, low-birth weight babies, diabetes, dementia and arthritis," says Dr Nigel Carter. So how can we keep our mouths healthy?
SEE YOUR DENTIST REGULARLY
Standards set by NICE (the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) state that we shouldn't leave longer than 24 months between dental appointments.
But, says Dr Frost, this isn't nearly enough. "If you have gum (or periodontal) problems you should see your dentist every six months. "Those with good oral hygiene should go every 10 months." If you leave it any longer you risk irreversible damage to your teeth and gums. If you are worried about the cost, most practices take NHS patients.
BRUSH THOROUGHLY
Twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is still enough, but brush properly. Dr Carter says, "On average, we only brush for 45 seconds each time, when it should be done for two minutes to clean the surfaces of all teeth and remove harmful bacteria that can result in a build-up of plaque.
"Establish a routine early in young children, while you still supervise, so they get into the habit of brushing for long enough." Always wait an hour to brush teeth after eating or drinking fruit juice, as acidic foods and drink soften the tooth enamel and leave it prone to damage.
CHEW GUM AFTER MEALS
Saliva is the tooth's natural protective mechanism, and chewing gum helps produce it. "When we eat, sugars in our food meet bacteria and create plaque acid, which eventually erodes the teeth and causes cavities. Saliva neutralises the plaque acid," says Dr Carter. Chew sugar-free gum after a meal or snack to increase saliva flow.
SEE A HYGIENIST
"It's worth seeing a dental hygienist every three to six months," says Dr Frost. "A hygienist will remove the deposits of tartar, hardened plaque, that builds up on the teeth and teaches you how to prevent it coming back. "This goes a long way towards slowing the progress of gum disease and tooth decay." This is vital to reduce the possibility of tooth loss and developing serious health conditions like cancer. The price of a scale and polish can vary depending on what needs to be carried out, so ask your hygienist how much it will cost beforehand.
USE A MOUTHWASH
This can be useful if it has additional effects, such as preventing decay or build-up of bacteria. But be warned, mouthwashes can't replace brushing. Some contain antibacterial ingredients that work against the bacteria responsible for causing bad breath and plaque. Ask your dentist for the most suitable mouthwash for you.
MONITOR YOUR GUMS
Our gums naturally start to recede as we age, but this can also indicate gum disease. Look out for bleeding gums as this is the first sign of the condition and means you need to see a dentist. Gum disease can, if left untreated, cause tooth loss. More teeth are lost this way than through tooth decay.
Daily Mirror
CLEAN BETWEEN TEETH
A lot of decay and gum diseases occurs between the teeth caused by food debris and the build-up of plaque, so this area shouldn't be neglected. Floss once a day by sliding it gently up and down between your teeth, then curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gum line. Dr Carter recommends interdental brushes. "They come in different sizes for different gaps and are less fiddly and easier to use."
SCRAPE YOUR TONGUE
Many toothbrushes have a scraper on the back for cleaning the tongue. Contrary to popular belief, the bacteria it removes is not connected to serioushealth conditions — but removing it may make us more pleasant to be around. "Tongue scraping gets rid of the sulphur-producing bacteria that lives on the back of the tongue that can cause halitosis," explains Dr Carter. So if you want fresh breath confidence, it's well worth working this into your routine. IT'S A MUST: Visit your dentist every six months REMEMBER: Floss at least once a day  |
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