colon-residing superbug

Oh dear, another thing to worry about. It seems like hand washing, even with antibacterial soap, will not kill an infectious germ that likes to live in the colon.
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The Clostridium difficile is spread by spores in the feces and is increasing annually in hospitals and nursing homes. This looks serious as this superbug is resistant to treatment.
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Read the article: http://health.yahoo.com/news/ap/deadly_bacteria.html
The CDC publication: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_on_he_me/storytext/deadly_bacteria/27661908/SIG=119qrkmlq;_ylt=Au6hlkDuhyTHMoS35aolW8G0j4t4/*http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/index.htm

Infections lead to chronic disease, maybe Alzheimer's

Washing your hands is probably one of the best things you can do for your health. It's one of the simplest things to do and often overlooked. How many of you wash your hands before eating?
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Bacterial and viral infections can lead to a long list of chronic illnesses, maybe even to Alzheimer's Disease.


ScienceDaily reported on May 25, 2008: "A number of chronic diseases are in fact caused by one or more infectious agents. For example, stomach ulcers are caused by Helicobacter pylori, chronic lung disease in newborns and chronic asthma in adults are both caused by Mycoplasmas and Chlamydia pneumonia, while some other pathogens have been associated with atherosclerosis. The realization that pathogens can produce slowly progressive chronic diseases has opened new lines of research into Alzheimer's disease."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080522155752.htm

Older, but definitely wiser

According to an article in the NY Times, we definitely get wiser as we get older.

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Studies showed that older adults were able to take in more information than their younger counterparts. Even though the older participants of the studies took longer to read the materials, including information randomly provided them, they absorbed it all, while the younger participants tended to ignore any info that seemed extraneous.

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Researchers believe that the older we get, we can absorb and process more information in order to apply it to real situations. This application of knowledge is commonly referred to as wisdom. The research is published in a new book Progress in Brain Research.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/health/research/20brai.html?em&ex=1211860800&en=9febe0bbc826f335&ei=5087%0A

Fasting prevents jet lag

According to an article in Reuters published yesterday, US researchers found that fasting may prevent jet lag. Going without food for approximately 16 hours could change the body's circadian clock and help global travelers quickly adjust to new time zones.
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In lab tests, these researchers from Harvard Medical School found that mice could override their body clocks when it improved their chances to find food. So when it was time for the mice to sleep, that was when they were fed and the mice were able to adjust their sleeping and waking times in order to get the food.
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All mammals have a gene that regulates the body's clock that determines sleeping, eating, and waking. And the researchers believe that when there is no food, the body's clock can be manipulated and changed. Hence, they believe that if people fast on an international flight, they will be able to shift their body clock to the destination's clock.
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Considering that the costs of flying are increasing, perhaps airlines will soon be charging for rewarmed heavy carb meals. So now you have a good reason to pass on the chicken or the beef.

Importance of healthy body weight

A study published in today's ScienceDaily describes the importance of keeping a healthy body weight as it helps to delay or even prevent physical disabilities later in life.

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Even though it seems to be common sense to eat healthy foods, exercise and stay fit and trim during one's lifetime, this advice is not so easily followed by the masses.

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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070521212943.htm

stressed pregnancy may lead to baby's asthma

A recent study from the Harvard Medical School suggests that when women are stressed during their pregnancies it may trigger a chemical change in the body's immunity that leads to fetuses developing asthma and allergies.

Read the BBC article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7404391.stm

Oh man! Man boobs

If you're a man and have man boobs, then you know it's time to hit the gym.

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However, if you're a boy in the UK, you can just get them surgically removed.

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Sounding like an urban legend, this is a true story according to the Daily Mirror. Obesity in boys and teens are leading to increasing and abnormal hormonal changes.

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The medical term for man boobs is gynecomastia. The article states that normally, overweight boys can just lose weight to reduce their chests, but that gynecomastia is "caused by a hormone imbalance which can be triggered by obesity. It causes firm, tender female breast tissue to grow under the nipples. "

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1020425/Children-obese-surgeons-giving-breast-removal-operations-schoolboysChildren-obese-surgeons-giving-breast-removal-operations-schoolboys.html

nutrition and soft drinks

Carbonated drinks like colas and other flavored sodas contain lots of additives and sugars. Regular and diet soft drinks contain no nutritious elements.
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To drink these on a daily basis surely will damage your body.
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On occasion, I enjoy a cold fizzy root beer, but I don't drink it every day.
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Unfortunately children around the developed world don't realize that they shouldn't drink soda every day.
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One thing to help you get back into shape is start limiting how many soft drinks you have per month.
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Of course the obesity problem is not due to one element such as soda. Many elements come into play. Read this Washington Post article that describes how obesity is rampant in both the affluent suburbs and the poorer inner city areas of the US.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/09/AR2008050900721.html?hpid=topnews

Sign of the Times

This painting by Lucien Freud recently sold for a record-splitting sum and seems to be a sign of the times.
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The Washington Post is currently doing a series about childhood obesity in the US.
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Here are some frightening statistics:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/17/AR2008051702426.html?hpid=topnews

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This new blog "All Healthy" will be an aggregate, gathering up-to-date news from around the web, while providing useful information to help you make healthy choices.
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When we make healthy choices, we usually feel better and enjoy life more.