Mobile phones are oftern stolen, so here's a tip
To check your mobile phone's serial number, key in the following sequence into your phone: * # 0 6 #
A 15 digit code will appear on your screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it safe. Should your phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the Sim card your phone will be totally useless. If you don't get your phone back, at least you know the thief won't be able to sell or use it either.
It is also worthwhile registering it (and other electronic items like tablets) on the Immobilise website (https://www.immobilise.com/).
Wednesday, 30 December 2015
Monday, 28 December 2015
Natural Childbirth
Alisa B. Donner, Top 5 walk away facts from a morning with Dr. Michel Odent (2015):
Michel Odent, a leading obstetrician and childbirth specialist, claims that men should stay away from childbirth as while for many men, attending the birth of a child is a momentous and emotional occasion, the father's presence can lead to his partner needing a caesarean delivery, and even to marriage break-ups and mental illness. Odent also believes the mother-to-be's labour can be longer, more painful and more complicated because she senses his anxiety and becomes nervous. Babies' arrival in the world would be more straightforward if women were left alone with only a midwife to help them, as they used to be.
"The ideal birth environment involves no men in general. Having been involved for more than 50 years in childbirths in homes and hospitals in France, England and Africa, the best environment I know for an easy birth is when there is nobody around the woman in labour apart from a silent, low-profile and experienced midwife – and no doctor and no husband, nobody else," Odent told the Observer. "In this situation, more often than not, the birth is easier and faster than what happens when there are other people around, especially male figures – husbands and doctors."
He links it to the "industrialisation of childbirth", when women began giving birth in hospital rather than at home and wanted someone to support them during the process. Studies show that men now attend for some or all of more than 90% of births in the UK.
The presence of men during their partner's labour produces adrenaline, which makes the woman tense and slows her production of the hormone oxytocin, which is vital for birth, says Odent. "If she can't release oxytocin she can't have effective contractions, and everything becomes more difficult. Labour becomes longer, more painful and more difficult because the hormonal balance in the woman is disturbed by the environment that's not appropriate because of the presence of the man."
Duncan Fisher, chief executive of the website Dad Info, said: "I think Odent is wrong and is not basing his argument on evidence either that it damages men or their relationships with mothers. Of course, not all men are nervous and a lot of women would be even more nervous without their partner there. Mothers want them there because it is not home."
But Mary Newburn, of the National ChildbirthTrust, said that although men being present was now considered normal, some felt under pressure to attend their child's birth because of cultural expectations. She wouldn't go as far as saying that men are always unhelpful in labour, "but it's not men's right to be there. The most important thing is that the woman feels safe, secure and supported, so if she wants to have a woman around instead, that's fine."
Odent said that men witnessing childbirth can ruin the sexual attraction between a couple and lead to them becoming just good friends and then getting divorced. Some men end up suffering from a widely-unrecognised male equivalent of postnatal depression, he added. Others end up playing golf or computer games – or even walking out and never returning – as they try to avoid their new reality. A few end up with schizophrenia or other mental disorders, he said.
Grace Thomas, a consultant midwife with the Aneurin Bevan health board in Wales, has studied expectant fathers' attitudes towards pregnancy. Her research has found that new fathers may undergo emotional turmoil before and after their child's birth as they adjust. "Perhaps the midwifery profession has contributed to encouraging men to attend their child's birth without understanding the impact of the birth both on them and on the mother. It's important that we understand the psychology of the family unit and how to best help and prepare the father to attend his child's birth," she said Thomas.
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/oct/18/men-birth-labour-baby
- To be born is to enter the age of the microbe - a newborn baby’s immune systems need the microbe of their mother’s bodies. Modern hospital births are afraid of the microbes of the mother, why? A birthing mother does not need to be sterilized before holding her newborn baby who just came out of her womb!
- A woman and her body instinctively know how to give birth – as long as modern medicine doesn’t interfere, she should be able to complete this quite naturally and skillfully – all she needs is some support or partnering
- The mother’s brain activity can inhibit natural birth, to mimic mammals her neocortex shuts down during birth – stimulation of bright light, talking, intrusive monitoring or tests, nurses coming in and out of the labor room – this actually stimulate the brain at the exact time that it needs to be going into more of a meditative zone in order to perform the task of labor.
- TRUST: the female body, nature, the birthing baby
– we are all here because we were born, and because before the age of
modern medicine generations and generations before us were quite capable
at that task.
- Women have the strength and determination to give birth, we are not helpless and incompetent when it comes to birthing and nursing – why is the message in modern culture consistently reinforcing that erroneous belief?
Michel Odent, a leading obstetrician and childbirth specialist, claims that men should stay away from childbirth as while for many men, attending the birth of a child is a momentous and emotional occasion, the father's presence can lead to his partner needing a caesarean delivery, and even to marriage break-ups and mental illness. Odent also believes the mother-to-be's labour can be longer, more painful and more complicated because she senses his anxiety and becomes nervous. Babies' arrival in the world would be more straightforward if women were left alone with only a midwife to help them, as they used to be.
"The ideal birth environment involves no men in general. Having been involved for more than 50 years in childbirths in homes and hospitals in France, England and Africa, the best environment I know for an easy birth is when there is nobody around the woman in labour apart from a silent, low-profile and experienced midwife – and no doctor and no husband, nobody else," Odent told the Observer. "In this situation, more often than not, the birth is easier and faster than what happens when there are other people around, especially male figures – husbands and doctors."
He links it to the "industrialisation of childbirth", when women began giving birth in hospital rather than at home and wanted someone to support them during the process. Studies show that men now attend for some or all of more than 90% of births in the UK.
The presence of men during their partner's labour produces adrenaline, which makes the woman tense and slows her production of the hormone oxytocin, which is vital for birth, says Odent. "If she can't release oxytocin she can't have effective contractions, and everything becomes more difficult. Labour becomes longer, more painful and more difficult because the hormonal balance in the woman is disturbed by the environment that's not appropriate because of the presence of the man."
Duncan Fisher, chief executive of the website Dad Info, said: "I think Odent is wrong and is not basing his argument on evidence either that it damages men or their relationships with mothers. Of course, not all men are nervous and a lot of women would be even more nervous without their partner there. Mothers want them there because it is not home."
But Mary Newburn, of the National ChildbirthTrust, said that although men being present was now considered normal, some felt under pressure to attend their child's birth because of cultural expectations. She wouldn't go as far as saying that men are always unhelpful in labour, "but it's not men's right to be there. The most important thing is that the woman feels safe, secure and supported, so if she wants to have a woman around instead, that's fine."
Odent said that men witnessing childbirth can ruin the sexual attraction between a couple and lead to them becoming just good friends and then getting divorced. Some men end up suffering from a widely-unrecognised male equivalent of postnatal depression, he added. Others end up playing golf or computer games – or even walking out and never returning – as they try to avoid their new reality. A few end up with schizophrenia or other mental disorders, he said.
Grace Thomas, a consultant midwife with the Aneurin Bevan health board in Wales, has studied expectant fathers' attitudes towards pregnancy. Her research has found that new fathers may undergo emotional turmoil before and after their child's birth as they adjust. "Perhaps the midwifery profession has contributed to encouraging men to attend their child's birth without understanding the impact of the birth both on them and on the mother. It's important that we understand the psychology of the family unit and how to best help and prepare the father to attend his child's birth," she said Thomas.
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/oct/18/men-birth-labour-baby
Friday, 25 December 2015
Energy Facts 2015
Most of us are not aware of how much energy we use everyday. Here are some facts that may make you think about how and how much energy you use.
A survey of British householders released on November 10 2015 via the Energy Saving Trust revealed just how much energy is wasted by Christmas lighting. Of those surveyed 52% of respondents intended to display decorative Christmas lighting outside the house. With this in mind GoCompare calculated that a display of 100 five-watt bulbs switched on for six hours a day over the festive period will consume 207 Kwh, the equivalent of 22.8 days of the average British household's electricity consumption. If you are lighting up outside, LED lighting is the most efficient.
As reported in The Independent 12 Nov. 2015
- The UK produces 30 biullion tonnes of emmissions per year. With a population of around 6 billion, this works out at about 5 tonnes per person per year.
- Add in international travel and importing goods from abroad, makes a total of 11 tonnes of CO2 per person per year.
- UN statistics put UK emissions at 9.4 tonnes per person per year.
- 3 to 4 tonnes is used in the house for heating, washing, cooking, refrigeration and lighting.
- Energy is also used in the growing, processing and packaging of food.
- Private transport - the typical UK car carrying the typical 1 or 2 people emits 0.18kg of CO2 per km travelled. So a daily commute of 20 miles produces 1.4 tonnes of CO2 over a year.
- Public transport - a daily commute by train, coach or bus produces 0.04 tonnes over a year.
- Flying - the emission levels are very high.
A survey of British householders released on November 10 2015 via the Energy Saving Trust revealed just how much energy is wasted by Christmas lighting. Of those surveyed 52% of respondents intended to display decorative Christmas lighting outside the house. With this in mind GoCompare calculated that a display of 100 five-watt bulbs switched on for six hours a day over the festive period will consume 207 Kwh, the equivalent of 22.8 days of the average British household's electricity consumption. If you are lighting up outside, LED lighting is the most efficient.
As reported in The Independent 12 Nov. 2015
Wednesday, 23 December 2015
Conception to Birth
Your father's sperm determines your gender. If it contained an X chromosome, you are
female (XX); if it contained a Y chromosome, you are male (XY). Occasionally people are born with other combinations (XXY, XXYY, XYY, XXX and X) which give rise to specific medical conditions.
Month 1: In the very first few days human embryos hatch out of the fertilised egg, and a new theory is that not hatching properly probably leads to the creation of identical twins, triplets and quadruplets.
At six days old, you are just a clump of cells already transferred to your mother’s womb, needing to implant yourself into its lining. Only healthy embryos are worth nourishing for nine months; they release a chemical signal showing they are developing properly. Around two-thirds of embryos fail at this stage or soon after and are lost.
Month 2: Fingers and toes start to develop under the direction of the 'Sonic Hedgehog' gene. If there are mutations in this gene, you can end up with more than 10 fingers or toes.
Over the next few weeks, 14 different structures come together to make a scaffold for intricate layers of tissue to form the face. No two faces are exactly the same; your face is the result of your genes, and the precise timing of when they were switched on and off during this critical process. Failure to align correctly produces conditions such as hare lip and cleft palate.
Month 3: Foetuses show a handedness preference at 11 weeks, long before the brain shows any right-left differences, perhaps due to how the left and right arms are built. Nine out of ten foetuses become right-handed, one out
of ten choose the left, and fewer than 1% are ambidextrous – equally
comfortable using both sides. Left-handers do tend to be a bit shorter and more prone to dyslexia, migraines and autism, but have the same life expectancy as right-handers. The proportion of left and right handedness seems to be stable at 10%; archeologists find 10% of left handed tools in excavations.
Month 4: Skin is initially transparent, but now develops a fine fur-like hair called "laguno", sweat glands develop and melanocytes (that give the skin its colour) colonise the skin from the tissue beneath. An albino is someone who has no melanin; they are prone to skin cancer.
By 14 weeks you were making human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins, which help your immune system recognise bacteria and viruses. There are thousands of possible combinations of HLAs – you inherited your set from your parents. One theory suggests that HLA proteins change our aroma to other adults, and that we choose a sexual partner with a very different HLA makeup, and therefore smell, to our own.
Month 5: From 15 weeks, male foetuses receive a big surge in testosterone, created in their testicles. Female foetuses receive a much lower dose from their mother and their adrenal gland. Around this time, aspects of personality are being connected in the brain. Exposure to high levels of testosterone is thought to contribute to more ‘male-type’ behaviours like risk-taking. People exposed to higher testosterone in the womb also have a longer ring-finger relative to their index finger.
It is thought that the surges of testosterone affect the brain with feelings of being male or female (gender). Humans can therefore have disparate 'settings' for (a) brain sex, (b) body sex and (c) attraction. The transgender ratio is estimated to be 1 in 10,000.
If the 'wrong' testosterone (dihydro-) is produced, males do not develop a penis. They are usually brought up as girls, but puberty surges of ordinary testosterone stimulates the growth of the penis. The condition is unusual but can be common in some populations.
Month 6: Bones are initially formed as cartilage that slowly hardens to bone as pregnancy progresses. Bone cells create hard bone, laying it down like cement. At this stage most of the bones have calcified but all still have soft parts that allow you to keep growing.
The fat used by muscles starts to be laid down at 23 weeks. Carnitine transports fatty acids so they can be broken down to generate energy for the muscles; supplied in the womb by the mother, after birth is produced by your kidneys and liver and derived from meat and dairy products. Carnitine transporter disease affects parts of the process; it is 100 times more common in the isolated population of the Faroe Islands than the 1 in 40,000 times in populations elsewhere.
Month 7: Most of the brain's growth is now about wiring; fatty sheaths are wrapped around the brain cells, insulating them so they can send signals around your head. Around 100 billion new connections are made every day and the brain starts to lay the foundation for memory. Hearing is the first of the senses to develop.
Month 9: Your lungs are the last organs to form, as they are not needed in the womb. They grow while still encased in liquid but need to function in air as soon as you are born. Unborn babies practise breathing, inhaling and exhaling the amniotic fluid that surrounds them and must get rid of that fluid to draw the first breath.
Michael Mosley in Radio Times 12-18 Sep. 2015. This is based on Mosley's Countdown to Life: the Extraordinary Making of You programme broadcast on BBC2 14, 21 and 28 Sep. 2015.
and
BBC website: Nine things that shape your identity before birth
Month 1: In the very first few days human embryos hatch out of the fertilised egg, and a new theory is that not hatching properly probably leads to the creation of identical twins, triplets and quadruplets.
At six days old, you are just a clump of cells already transferred to your mother’s womb, needing to implant yourself into its lining. Only healthy embryos are worth nourishing for nine months; they release a chemical signal showing they are developing properly. Around two-thirds of embryos fail at this stage or soon after and are lost.
At four weeks the shape of body and limbs emerges. At eight weeks an
embryo becomes a foetus. A foetus’ age is the duration of its gestation – two
weeks more than time since conception.
Month 2: Fingers and toes start to develop under the direction of the 'Sonic Hedgehog' gene. If there are mutations in this gene, you can end up with more than 10 fingers or toes.
Over the next few weeks, 14 different structures come together to make a scaffold for intricate layers of tissue to form the face. No two faces are exactly the same; your face is the result of your genes, and the precise timing of when they were switched on and off during this critical process. Failure to align correctly produces conditions such as hare lip and cleft palate.
At 12 weeks the
layers of skin around the fingers begins to wrinkle, pushing against
the amniotic fluid surrounding them. This interaction helps mould a unique combination of arches, loops and
whorls in the fingertips. Even identical twins experience slightly
different pressures from the amniotic fluid and develop subtly different
patterns. By 17 weeks, your 10 fingerprints were complete.
Month 4: Skin is initially transparent, but now develops a fine fur-like hair called "laguno", sweat glands develop and melanocytes (that give the skin its colour) colonise the skin from the tissue beneath. An albino is someone who has no melanin; they are prone to skin cancer.
By 14 weeks you were making human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins, which help your immune system recognise bacteria and viruses. There are thousands of possible combinations of HLAs – you inherited your set from your parents. One theory suggests that HLA proteins change our aroma to other adults, and that we choose a sexual partner with a very different HLA makeup, and therefore smell, to our own.
Month 5: From 15 weeks, male foetuses receive a big surge in testosterone, created in their testicles. Female foetuses receive a much lower dose from their mother and their adrenal gland. Around this time, aspects of personality are being connected in the brain. Exposure to high levels of testosterone is thought to contribute to more ‘male-type’ behaviours like risk-taking. People exposed to higher testosterone in the womb also have a longer ring-finger relative to their index finger.
It is thought that the surges of testosterone affect the brain with feelings of being male or female (gender). Humans can therefore have disparate 'settings' for (a) brain sex, (b) body sex and (c) attraction. The transgender ratio is estimated to be 1 in 10,000.
If the 'wrong' testosterone (dihydro-) is produced, males do not develop a penis. They are usually brought up as girls, but puberty surges of ordinary testosterone stimulates the growth of the penis. The condition is unusual but can be common in some populations.
Month 6: Bones are initially formed as cartilage that slowly hardens to bone as pregnancy progresses. Bone cells create hard bone, laying it down like cement. At this stage most of the bones have calcified but all still have soft parts that allow you to keep growing.
The fat used by muscles starts to be laid down at 23 weeks. Carnitine transports fatty acids so they can be broken down to generate energy for the muscles; supplied in the womb by the mother, after birth is produced by your kidneys and liver and derived from meat and dairy products. Carnitine transporter disease affects parts of the process; it is 100 times more common in the isolated population of the Faroe Islands than the 1 in 40,000 times in populations elsewhere.
Month 7: Most of the brain's growth is now about wiring; fatty sheaths are wrapped around the brain cells, insulating them so they can send signals around your head. Around 100 billion new connections are made every day and the brain starts to lay the foundation for memory. Hearing is the first of the senses to develop.
By 28 weeks brain and body are well developed. Two
eyes lined with colour-sensing cone cells have developed. Pigments that
could detect short (blue), medium (green) or long (red) wavelengths of
light arre being produced. Most people can detect 10 million different
colours once born. But 8% of males and 0.5% of females are born
colour-blind, without all the necessary pigments. Some people are born
with a fourth type of pigment that senses wavelengths between red and
green, so they see colours even more vividly.
Month 8: The foetus gains weight rapidly, building up a big fat reserve. Size at birth depends on many things, including race, gender and genes. But
external factors like mother’s diet, stress levels and smoking
status also play a role. Evidence suggests that the environment in
your mother’s womb might have changed chemical markers within your DNA
that control how your genes were switched on and off as you grew, and that this might impact aspects of your health
later in life, such as body mass index, risk of diabetes and cognitive
performance. It seems that when a mother's diet is low in calories (fat & sugar), the foetus becomes very efficient in extracting nourishment, setting the body to do the same life long.
Michael Mosley in Radio Times 12-18 Sep. 2015. This is based on Mosley's Countdown to Life: the Extraordinary Making of You programme broadcast on BBC2 14, 21 and 28 Sep. 2015.
and
BBC website: Nine things that shape your identity before birth
Monday, 21 December 2015
How Good are Superfoods
The media constantly tell us about the latest wonder foods but do they really work? Well some do and others don't.
Yes they do
Kale: a member of the cabbage family, with high levels of vitamins and minerals. ## It lowers blood cholesterol and its good for blood clotting. ## It also contains two pigments we need but cannot produce ourselves - lutein and zeaxanthin. These pigments help protect the macula at the back of the eye. Roughly one in ten of us will suffer from macular degeneration.
Kefir: a fermented milk drink containing probiotics, minerals, vitamins and essential amino acids. ## Good for a healthy gut. Most probiotics contain just one type of bacteria, whereas kefir can have up to 20 different types. Despite having to survive stomach acid, kefir is effective.
Xylitol: a sugar alcohol derived from fruit and vegetables. ## Xylitol helps prevent tooth decay by starving bacteria in your mouth and promoting saliva production. In Finland, most people use it every day and children at nursery school are given it after every meal. Dental records show it has made an impact. You can find it in brands of chewing gums and peppermint sweets.
Blackcurrants: summer fruit high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. ## Blackcurrants have 6 to 8 times more antioxidants than blueberries. Blackcurrants work on the cardiovascular system, so good if you are exercising.
Broccoli: member of the brassica family, rich in phytonutrients, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals. ## Some evidence that a particular type, containing high levels of glucoraphanin, helps treat cancer. As glucoraphanin is extremely bitter, a new variety has been bred to get rid of the taste and boost the glucorphanin. It's called Beneforte and available in supermarkets.
Quinoa: gluten-free South American grain containing nine essential amino acids, B vitamins, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium and manganese. ## Very nutritious, it contains protein and a lot of iron and magnesium. Good at regulating blood sugar as it is a slow release carbohydrate. White rice will make your blood sugar go into overdrive, followed by a sugar crash. Quinoa produces a tiny rise in blood sugar level and then returns to normal.
Kippers: smoked herring, a protein rich fish high in Omega 3 fatty acid, calcium and vitamin D. ## We should be eating two portions of oily fish a week and kippers are one of the best sources (after mackerel). The fattest herring are used to make kippers, so you get a good portion of these nutrients.
Spirulina: a nutrient rich algae containing minerals, vitamins and esssential amino acids, and a complete protein. It is a pond algae (not a seaweed). ## It's so nutri-dense that just one spoonful a day gives you enough iron for the day, lots of protein and your daily requirement of B vitamins. It also has anti-inflammatory properties so can alleviate chronic hay-fever.
Sweet potato: a root vegetable high in nutrients including vitamins B, C and D, iron, magnesium, potassium, beta carotene and other carotenoids. ## One sweet potato gives you your daily vitamin A requirement - much more than in carrots. To help your eyesight, eat sweet potatoes twice a week instead of ordinary potatoes as they have 2,000 times as much vitamin A and twice as much vitamin C.
Not effective in normal amounts
Grapefruit: citrus fruit high in vitamin C and the antioxidant lycopene. ## Grapefruit contains naringenin, a compound which flicks a switch in our metabolism to start fat-burning. But to get enough naringenin to do that, you'd have to eat 40 grapefruit in a single sitting.
No they don't
Wheatgrass: young grass of the wheat plant, a natural source of vitamins and minerals. ## Marketed as good for blood oxygenation and energy, it is no better than other vegetables and you are better eating broccoli and kale.
Activated charcoal: specially processed carbon. ## Sometimes found as an ingredient in juice bars, sold as a hangover cure on the basis it is supposed to absorb toxins which are then excreted in your poo. In A&E departments, it is part of conventional treatment for overdoses if administered within an hour of the overdose. The amount given as medical treatment is huge; what you get in a juice bar is negligible.
Feature in Radio Times, 27 June - 3 July 2015 (accompanied a documentary)
Yes they do
Kale: a member of the cabbage family, with high levels of vitamins and minerals. ## It lowers blood cholesterol and its good for blood clotting. ## It also contains two pigments we need but cannot produce ourselves - lutein and zeaxanthin. These pigments help protect the macula at the back of the eye. Roughly one in ten of us will suffer from macular degeneration.
Kefir: a fermented milk drink containing probiotics, minerals, vitamins and essential amino acids. ## Good for a healthy gut. Most probiotics contain just one type of bacteria, whereas kefir can have up to 20 different types. Despite having to survive stomach acid, kefir is effective.
Xylitol: a sugar alcohol derived from fruit and vegetables. ## Xylitol helps prevent tooth decay by starving bacteria in your mouth and promoting saliva production. In Finland, most people use it every day and children at nursery school are given it after every meal. Dental records show it has made an impact. You can find it in brands of chewing gums and peppermint sweets.
Blackcurrants: summer fruit high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. ## Blackcurrants have 6 to 8 times more antioxidants than blueberries. Blackcurrants work on the cardiovascular system, so good if you are exercising.
Broccoli: member of the brassica family, rich in phytonutrients, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals. ## Some evidence that a particular type, containing high levels of glucoraphanin, helps treat cancer. As glucoraphanin is extremely bitter, a new variety has been bred to get rid of the taste and boost the glucorphanin. It's called Beneforte and available in supermarkets.
Quinoa: gluten-free South American grain containing nine essential amino acids, B vitamins, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium and manganese. ## Very nutritious, it contains protein and a lot of iron and magnesium. Good at regulating blood sugar as it is a slow release carbohydrate. White rice will make your blood sugar go into overdrive, followed by a sugar crash. Quinoa produces a tiny rise in blood sugar level and then returns to normal.
Kippers: smoked herring, a protein rich fish high in Omega 3 fatty acid, calcium and vitamin D. ## We should be eating two portions of oily fish a week and kippers are one of the best sources (after mackerel). The fattest herring are used to make kippers, so you get a good portion of these nutrients.
Spirulina: a nutrient rich algae containing minerals, vitamins and esssential amino acids, and a complete protein. It is a pond algae (not a seaweed). ## It's so nutri-dense that just one spoonful a day gives you enough iron for the day, lots of protein and your daily requirement of B vitamins. It also has anti-inflammatory properties so can alleviate chronic hay-fever.
Sweet potato: a root vegetable high in nutrients including vitamins B, C and D, iron, magnesium, potassium, beta carotene and other carotenoids. ## One sweet potato gives you your daily vitamin A requirement - much more than in carrots. To help your eyesight, eat sweet potatoes twice a week instead of ordinary potatoes as they have 2,000 times as much vitamin A and twice as much vitamin C.
Not effective in normal amounts
Grapefruit: citrus fruit high in vitamin C and the antioxidant lycopene. ## Grapefruit contains naringenin, a compound which flicks a switch in our metabolism to start fat-burning. But to get enough naringenin to do that, you'd have to eat 40 grapefruit in a single sitting.
No they don't
Wheatgrass: young grass of the wheat plant, a natural source of vitamins and minerals. ## Marketed as good for blood oxygenation and energy, it is no better than other vegetables and you are better eating broccoli and kale.
Activated charcoal: specially processed carbon. ## Sometimes found as an ingredient in juice bars, sold as a hangover cure on the basis it is supposed to absorb toxins which are then excreted in your poo. In A&E departments, it is part of conventional treatment for overdoses if administered within an hour of the overdose. The amount given as medical treatment is huge; what you get in a juice bar is negligible.
Feature in Radio Times, 27 June - 3 July 2015 (accompanied a documentary)
Friday, 18 December 2015
Heart Attacks
Heart disease in women is under-diagnosed and under-treated.
Cut your risk in the following ways:
Feature in Good Housekeeping June 2015
Cut your risk in the following ways:
- Limit your TV watching to seven hours a week. Sitting down for long periods is bad for you even if you exercise regularly. Sitting affects blood sugar and fat levels an dincreases levels of inflammatory chemicals linked to diabetes and heart disease.
- Stay lean. Being overweight means more strain on the heart and blood vessels; you are more likely to develop diabetes, hgih blood pressure and high cholesterol.
- Just one glass of alcohol. because women have more fat and less water in their bodies, alcohol is absorbed more quickly and they are more susceptible to its toxic effects.
- Keep moving. Try for half an hour a day (split into shorter bursts if you like). Walking is low risk, easy to fit in and gentle on the joints.
- Give up smoking; it doubles the risk of heart disease and women may be especially vulnerable.
- Eat a Mediterranean diet: rich in fruit and vegetables, oily fish, beans, pulses and grains, plus small amounts of red meat, dairy and very little sugar and salt.
- Unusual fatigue and weakness.
- Nausea and/or vomiting.
- A dull pain, ache or heavy feeling in the chest or mild discomfort that makes you feel unwell.
- Chest pain that spreads to your back or stomach.
- Chest pain that feels like indegestion.
- Feeling light-headed or dizzy and having chest pains.
- Shortness of breath without chest pain.
- Some of these symptoms may even appear in the weeks before an actual heart attack.
- No family history of heart disease. While it does increase your risk, it's only one factor.
- Too young. Lifestyle factors mean that women can have heart attacks before the menopause.
- Don't have angina. US research indicates that 64% of women who died suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms.
Feature in Good Housekeeping June 2015
Cut Flower Tips
Here are some tips on keeping cut flowers looking good for longer.
Alstromeria: They start flowering in June and tend to be still flowering in October. Stake all the taller forms to stop them collapsing in the wind. Pick regularly to get successional waves of flowers.
Daffodil: Their stems excrete a sticky substance which speeds up the decay process. So cut the stem at a very sharp angle 2 inches below the end, then pass it through the fire or leave it for a while in warm water, for the substance to be eliminated. You can use a combination of vinegar and salt to clean the daffodil’s vase.
Larkspur: The annual delphinium. The stems are really thick so they last for a long time as they can hold more water. Take out the main stem and you will get several flowering stems.
Peonies: Wait for three years before picking flowers. Pick at the 'marshmallow' stage, when the coloured buds are soft to the touch. That way you know they will open properly and have a good 10 days life in the vase.
Roses: gently removing the outer 'guard' petals from roses will allow them to open more fully. Place your index finger on the inside of a petal, press down softly and peel it away from the flower.
Sweet Peas: when picked may have lots of little black flies on them. So pick one day, leave overnight in a dark/shady place with door or window open. The flies will seek the light and will be gone the next morning.
Tulips: Stick pin through stem to prevent airlock; this helps them take up water for longer.
Other Tips
Various sources.
- Brass pots are better than china or glass as brass acts as a fungicide.
- Wash your vase thoroughly before use to get rid of bacteria, which can block flower stems and prevent water being taken up. Put them in water as soon as you get home.
- Cut the ends off flowers and dip into boiling water to make them last longer.
- Cut stems at an angle (giving a wider surface for water to travel up the stem) with a clean pair of sharp scissors.
- Woody stems - do not hammer. Cut stems at an angle with a sharp knife.
- The vase should be two-thirds the height of the arrangement, so cut stems accordingly.
- Remove any leaves beneath the water line. As these decay they will prevent water travelling up the stem.
- Avoid putting your flowers in direct sunlight, or near a radiator or air-conditioning vent.
- Keep away from fruit - the gases they give off will wilt your blooms faster.
- Recut stems and change water every two days for the longest lasting arrangement.
- Add sugar or lemonade to the water if no food crystals came with the flowers.
- Aspirins will keep leafy flowers fresh, but not those without leaves.
- Bleach - one teaspoon per vase - stops blooms giving off ethylene gas.
Alstromeria: They start flowering in June and tend to be still flowering in October. Stake all the taller forms to stop them collapsing in the wind. Pick regularly to get successional waves of flowers.
Daffodil: Their stems excrete a sticky substance which speeds up the decay process. So cut the stem at a very sharp angle 2 inches below the end, then pass it through the fire or leave it for a while in warm water, for the substance to be eliminated. You can use a combination of vinegar and salt to clean the daffodil’s vase.
Larkspur: The annual delphinium. The stems are really thick so they last for a long time as they can hold more water. Take out the main stem and you will get several flowering stems.
Peonies: Wait for three years before picking flowers. Pick at the 'marshmallow' stage, when the coloured buds are soft to the touch. That way you know they will open properly and have a good 10 days life in the vase.
Roses: gently removing the outer 'guard' petals from roses will allow them to open more fully. Place your index finger on the inside of a petal, press down softly and peel it away from the flower.
Sweet Peas: when picked may have lots of little black flies on them. So pick one day, leave overnight in a dark/shady place with door or window open. The flies will seek the light and will be gone the next morning.
Tulips: Stick pin through stem to prevent airlock; this helps them take up water for longer.
Other Tips
- Use a potato as the base for a kissing ring.
Various sources.
Wednesday, 16 December 2015
10 Social Media Statistics
Here are some statistics on social media in 2013
1. The fastest growing demographic on Twitter is the 55-64 year age bracket. For both Facebook and Google+ it is the 45-54 year age bracket. Keep older users in mind when using social media, particularly on these three platforms.
2. 189 million of Facebook's users are 'mobile only'. It's worth considering how your content displays on mobile devices and smaller screens before posting it, particularly if your target market is full of mobile users.
3. YouTube reaches more U.S. adults aged 18-34 than any cable network. If you've been putting off adding video to your strategy, now's the time to give it a go. You could start small with simple five minutes videos explaining what your company does or introducing your team.
4. Every second 2 new members join LinkedIn. This is a place where you may want to focus more on new users. Making your group or community a great source of information and a newbie-friendly space can help you to make the most out of the growing userbase.
5. Social Media is the #1 activity on the web (overtaking porn). Putting time and effort into your social media strategy clearly makes sense in light of these stats.
6. LinkedIn has a lower percentage of active users than Pinterest, Google+, Twitter and Facebook. Although LinkedIn is gathering new users at a fast rate, the number of active users is lower than most of the biggest social networks around. So more people are signing up, but they're not participating. This means you're probably not going to have as good a response with participatory content on LinkedIn, like contests or polls, as you might on Facebook or Twitter.
7. 93% of marketers use social media for business.
8. 25% of smartphone owners ages 18-44 say they can't recall the last time their smartphone wasn't next to them.
9. Even though 62% of marketers blog or plan to blog in 2013, only 9% of US marketing companies employ a full-time blogger.
10. 25% of Facebook users don't bother with privacy settings.
Belle Beth Cooper, Huffington Post 22 Nov. 2013
1. The fastest growing demographic on Twitter is the 55-64 year age bracket. For both Facebook and Google+ it is the 45-54 year age bracket. Keep older users in mind when using social media, particularly on these three platforms.
2. 189 million of Facebook's users are 'mobile only'. It's worth considering how your content displays on mobile devices and smaller screens before posting it, particularly if your target market is full of mobile users.
3. YouTube reaches more U.S. adults aged 18-34 than any cable network. If you've been putting off adding video to your strategy, now's the time to give it a go. You could start small with simple five minutes videos explaining what your company does or introducing your team.
4. Every second 2 new members join LinkedIn. This is a place where you may want to focus more on new users. Making your group or community a great source of information and a newbie-friendly space can help you to make the most out of the growing userbase.
5. Social Media is the #1 activity on the web (overtaking porn). Putting time and effort into your social media strategy clearly makes sense in light of these stats.
6. LinkedIn has a lower percentage of active users than Pinterest, Google+, Twitter and Facebook. Although LinkedIn is gathering new users at a fast rate, the number of active users is lower than most of the biggest social networks around. So more people are signing up, but they're not participating. This means you're probably not going to have as good a response with participatory content on LinkedIn, like contests or polls, as you might on Facebook or Twitter.
7. 93% of marketers use social media for business.
8. 25% of smartphone owners ages 18-44 say they can't recall the last time their smartphone wasn't next to them.
9. Even though 62% of marketers blog or plan to blog in 2013, only 9% of US marketing companies employ a full-time blogger.
10. 25% of Facebook users don't bother with privacy settings.
Belle Beth Cooper, Huffington Post 22 Nov. 2013
Monday, 14 December 2015
Oats
Oats are important in our diet as they are a good source of both soluble and insoluble fibre.
Eating whole grains lessens the risk of type 2 diabetes. The beta-glucan in oats improves insulin sensitivity, and because the soluble fibre slows down the digestion of starch, oats lessen the rise in blood sugar levels after eating compared to bread or rice.
Oats are naturally gluten free and are not related to gluten-containing grains like wheat, rye and barley. They are however sometimes contaminated with wheat when grown or processed. Look for products that state they are gluten free.
Studies show a 10% reduced risk of colorectal cancer for every additional 10g of fibre in whole grains such as oats.
Adding oats to your diet can significantly reduce blood pressure (and therefore the need for antihypertensive medicine).
Higher intakes of dietary fibre and whole-grains such as oats have been associated with reduced progression of coronary atherosclerosis in individuals with established coronary artery disease.
Oats are a good source of vitamin E, zinc, selenium, copper, iron, selenium, manganese and magnesium.
Various sources
- Insoluble fibre's main role is that it makes stools heavier and speeds their passage through the gut, relieving constipation.
- Soluble fibre breaks down as it passes through the digestive tract, forming a gel that traps some substances related to high cholesterol, thus reducing the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream.
Eating whole grains lessens the risk of type 2 diabetes. The beta-glucan in oats improves insulin sensitivity, and because the soluble fibre slows down the digestion of starch, oats lessen the rise in blood sugar levels after eating compared to bread or rice.
Oats are naturally gluten free and are not related to gluten-containing grains like wheat, rye and barley. They are however sometimes contaminated with wheat when grown or processed. Look for products that state they are gluten free.
Studies show a 10% reduced risk of colorectal cancer for every additional 10g of fibre in whole grains such as oats.
Adding oats to your diet can significantly reduce blood pressure (and therefore the need for antihypertensive medicine).
Higher intakes of dietary fibre and whole-grains such as oats have been associated with reduced progression of coronary atherosclerosis in individuals with established coronary artery disease.
Oats are a good source of vitamin E, zinc, selenium, copper, iron, selenium, manganese and magnesium.
- The beta glucans found in oats boost the immune system against viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi.
- Oats feed beneficial bacteria in our gut.
- Research shows that children introduced to oats at an early age were less likely to develop persistent asthma.
Various sources
Friday, 11 December 2015
Sexism
Despite the progress in women's rights, girls growing up in the UK still face sexism at school, university, online.
A GirlGuiding UK survey in 2014 found that more than a third of girls over seven had been made to feel stupid because of their gender, nearly two thirds of young women reported having been sexually harassed, and almost all felt they were judged on their looks rather than their ability. Tachers write online about trends in the classroom where girls are ridiculed by boys for speaking. A recent National Union of Students survey about the 'lad culture' now pervading universities found that more than a third of women had faced unwanted remarks about their appearance, just under a third reported gender-based verbal harassment and 37% siad they'd had ynwanted sexual advances.Online harassment is overwhelmingly directed at women, with death and rape threats.
Why is this happening and why does it seem to be getting worse? It may be that the accessibility of pornography, viewed for the first time by boys at an average age of 11, is changing the way they see their female peers. Studies show that such films can increase misogyny and sexism in the men who watch them. Images that once would have been 'top shelf' now surround us in advertising and the music industry.
The HeforShe campaign, fronted by Emma Watson, is a 'solidarity movement for gender equality'. It is important to support girls in the family but it is equally important to bring boys up well too. Talk about the issue and help them understand sexism and ways to fight back.
Author: Zoe Williams
Feature in Good Housekeeping March 2015
A GirlGuiding UK survey in 2014 found that more than a third of girls over seven had been made to feel stupid because of their gender, nearly two thirds of young women reported having been sexually harassed, and almost all felt they were judged on their looks rather than their ability. Tachers write online about trends in the classroom where girls are ridiculed by boys for speaking. A recent National Union of Students survey about the 'lad culture' now pervading universities found that more than a third of women had faced unwanted remarks about their appearance, just under a third reported gender-based verbal harassment and 37% siad they'd had ynwanted sexual advances.Online harassment is overwhelmingly directed at women, with death and rape threats.
Why is this happening and why does it seem to be getting worse? It may be that the accessibility of pornography, viewed for the first time by boys at an average age of 11, is changing the way they see their female peers. Studies show that such films can increase misogyny and sexism in the men who watch them. Images that once would have been 'top shelf' now surround us in advertising and the music industry.
The HeforShe campaign, fronted by Emma Watson, is a 'solidarity movement for gender equality'. It is important to support girls in the family but it is equally important to bring boys up well too. Talk about the issue and help them understand sexism and ways to fight back.
Author: Zoe Williams
- Share stories of great women in history and in your family. Talk about how their bravery, imagination and resilience changed their lives and others.
- Avoid labels and limiting language that say all boys or girls behave in a certain way, whether negative or positive. (e.g. 'girls don't do maths' or 'girls are tidier than boys'.)
- Encourage and support them to question and challenge sexist language among their friends or in the media - show them the brilliant viral video #LikeAGirl on YouTube.
- Avoid commenting on looks and clothes, as people often do with little girls. Focus instead on appreciating their inner qualities, such as kindness, creativity or knowing their own mind.
- Build a community of strong role models around them of women, and men, who boost their self-esteem by seeing them as capable, lovable people they want to spend time with.
Feature in Good Housekeeping March 2015
Wednesday, 9 December 2015
Blood Pressure Control
While there are many medications to help control blood pressure probems, there are also some drug-free ideas which may help.
- Take up Tai Chi. In a review of 26 studies, 85% found it helped reduce blood pressure.
- Eat bananas, vegetables, nuts and seeds to boost your potassium and magnesium intake, and cut back on salt.
- Eat beetroot - several studies have shown that it promotes levels of nitric oxide in the blood and lowers blood pressure.
Monday, 7 December 2015
A Fairer Britain
Our social welfare, health services, benefits system, etc., are facing increasing problems. Here are some of the solutions being suggested. [I am not specifically recommending these policies, but they are points to consider when re-thinking how the welfare state could or should be revised.]
A new book (A Time For Choosing: Free Enterprise in Twenty-First Century Britain by Kwasi Kwarteng, Palgrave Macmillan 2015) sets out a "radical" free market agenda, pulling together policy ideas from the Free Enterprise Group of Conservative MPs and backed by the Institute for Economic Affairs think tank. It argues for a more radical shrinking of the welfare state to return it to the contributory principle envisioned by its founder Sir William Beveridge - that you only get out what you have paid in. Here are some of the points and proposals made in the book.
A new book (A Time For Choosing: Free Enterprise in Twenty-First Century Britain by Kwasi Kwarteng, Palgrave Macmillan 2015) sets out a "radical" free market agenda, pulling together policy ideas from the Free Enterprise Group of Conservative MPs and backed by the Institute for Economic Affairs think tank. It argues for a more radical shrinking of the welfare state to return it to the contributory principle envisioned by its founder Sir William Beveridge - that you only get out what you have paid in. Here are some of the points and proposals made in the book.
- Welfare is expensive - over £90bn for working-age benefits alone - because too many people are eligible. The main out-of-work benefit (JobSeekers Allowance) is "fairly stingy for those who have contributed to the tax system for years and find themselves out of work for the first time".
- Pay benefits as a loan to give "an additional incentive to find work rather than allow the debt to build up". Young people who have not yet paid national insurance contributions for a certain period (say five years) could receive their unemployment benefit in the form of a repayable loan, receiving the same amount of cash as now, but paying back the loan once in work. Someone out of work for all seven years between the ages of 18 and 25 would build up a loan debt of £20,475 - less than many tuition fees loans.
- Scrap maternity and paternity pay to ease the burden on business. Instead, new parents would get a flat rate "baby bonus" paid directly by central government.
- Scrap some government departments.
- Tax raising powers for local authorities.
- A regional minimum wage.
- Allowing free schools to generate a profit.
- Encourage banks to use a common IT system allowing "portable" bank accounts.
- Scrap the BBC licence fee.
Friday, 4 December 2015
Truth About Fat
Some basic facts:
Four volunteers took part in a controlled study for the programme.
- Fats in the mouth hold on to flavour molecules and release flavours slowly (more pleasant to eat).
- When you eat fat, within 1/2 second of fat on tongue, the brain detects fat in the mouth, and there is increased activity in the brain's pleasure centres. We have an inbuilt urge to seek out fat.
- Normal amount of fat is c. 23% body fat. Abdominal fat is the most dangerous.
- In a healthy diet around one third of calories should come from fats.
- 95% of fat eaten goes into the blood - our bodies are built to do this.
- Body fat cushions internal organs from injury, cushions the buttocks, and is a fat store in the event of lack of food.
- Bodies make fat from sugar and carbohydrates.
- The more we eat, the bigger each of our fat cells get - no other cell type in the body does this.
- Hard fats are more saturated, which leads to higher levels of blood cholesterol.
- Not all saturated fats are the same - each food has different combinations. Some may increase risk of diabetes, while others lower it. Dairy foods seem to be beneficial and processed meats (pies, bacon, suasages) bad for health.
- Unsaturated fats (e.g. olive and rapeseed oils) can lower blood cholesterol and protect against heart disease.
- Omega 3 oil helps build the cells of the body and is needed by the brain. The best sources are oily fish as they store the oil in their flesh: try to eat at least one portion of salmon, sardines or mackerel a week. Other fish (like cod) store the oil in their liver - which is why it is sold as cod liver oil.
- Tiny algae in seawater contain omega 3 oil, but several tons are needed for a few tablespoons of oil. It may be possible to grow and harvest this in the future, not just for humans but also to farm animals to give meat and milk higher in omega 3 oil.
- Frying in fat gives a crispy outside and fluffy inside, as water comes off the surface it crisps up, while the inside stays moist.
Four volunteers took part in a controlled study for the programme.
- Beforehand a blood sample was taken after a meal (a different meal for each volunteer), which was after a 12 hour fast. The meals were: (a) burger and chips, (b) salmon and avocado, (c) a pizza and (d) a bowl of nuts. When the plasma was separated from the rest of the blood it was cloudy, indicating the presence of fat - the same level for all 4 volunteers. 95% of fat eaten goes into the blood - our bodies are built to do this.
- For 7 days all 4 volunteers then ate no fats (no food containing more than 1% fat).
- They ate more carbohydrates, experienced problems with digestion, bloating and wind, felt hungry and found food uninteresting.
- At the end of the 7 days everyone was more fatigued, tired, had less energy. They were also more attracted to fatty food (measured by an eye-tracker experiment).
Wednesday, 2 December 2015
Clingfilm Tips
Clingfilm is useful but is not the easiest product to handle; it does
not roll out properly, is hard to tear or won't even unroll at all and
just starts to tear.
- Store plastic wrap in the fridge and it will handle far better.
- If you have crumpled piece you cannot unstick, put in the the freezer for just ten minutes and it will come undone
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