PROBIOTICS
In the micro zoo that doubles as your intestines there are around 100,000 billion bacteria, weighing around 2lbs. In a healthy gut, there are ten times more bacteria than there are cells in the entire body and the metabolic capacity of this bug collective, called “micro flora”, is equivalent to that of the liver. So if you think of the hell the liver has to go through keeping you alive, these bacteria really are the unsung heroes of the body. And they are continually sacrificing themselves for the cause, making up half the weight (around 50 grams) of the average stool among adults in the UK.
Some of the micro flora have an important role to play in digestion and the processing of dietary minerals. However, they are not all working towards this common cause.
There is a constant battle raging between productive and harmful strains. ‘The role of the good guys is to crowd out the bad by attaching themselves to particles in the gut that pathogenic bacteria need to cling on to,” says nutritionist Dr Colette Short This is where pro biotic — the supplement form of good bacteria — come in. They have been used for many years to tilt the balance back in favor of the health-giving bacteria, particularly the two most important strains, Lactobacilli and Bifido bacteria.
‘The optimum state will be when you have these two in predominance,” says Short ‘They both produce lactic acid in the gut which decreases PH levels and makes the environment less friendly to the harmful bacteria.” Another important one is FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides) which are synthesized naturally from sucrose. “FOS resists digestion in the small intestine and gets right down to the colon to act as a lunch box for Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria,” reveals Cole.
However, these protective micro flora can get killed off themselves by things like antibiotics and stress and when the balance tips in favor of the bad guys, the results can turn your stomach and threaten your life. Warns Short: “Helicobacter pylori is an amazingly resilient microorganism. k can withstand the acid environment of the stomach, which is normally powerful enough to dissolve a razor blade.”
The stomach usually protects itself from these acids with a special mucus lining, and completely renews its cells every three days. But if this protection breaks down because of a Helicobacter infection, the acid can eat away at the stomach wall and create an ulcer, which can become malignant “Many probiotic strains have been shown to have the ability to kill pathogens and stimulate the immune system,” says Professor Jeremy Hamilton, medical microbiologist at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
‘The most important thing is the quality and quantity of bacteria.” There are plenty of products on the market containing live bacteria, but you need the specific strains mentioned that can withstand the journey through the acid in your stomach and your small intestine. “Unfortunately, not all the brands have been found to contain the numbers of bacteria stated on their labels,” warns Hamilton. However, products that have been tested adequately are fermented milk drinks like Yakult, fruit juices like Pro Viva Blackcurrant and supplements like Seven Seas Multibiota. Also if you take other health supplement such as raspberry ketones, make sure it doesn’t work against the probiotics.
What do you want to know about your health
I’m worried about blinding innocent beach-goers with my snow-white body when I hit the beach next month. Is it worth using fake tan? TY, DERBY
Absolutely. You just need to be careful about how you apply it. The most important step is exfoliation, so use a body scrub first to prevent patchiness and make sure the active agent – dihydroxyacetone – is able to bond properly with your skin. Rinse off any soap residues, which can turn the tan “Tango man” orange, and dilute the lotion with moisturizer before applying it to your hands, elbows and knees, where the skin absorbs more color. For better skin care, use Trend Statement coconut oil for skin.
Then apply a coat over your whole body. If you’re still hesitant, play safe with a product designed for fair skins, such as Soltan Self Tan Mousse Light (£4.66 for 150m1) and build up colour gradually over a few weeks. Alternatively, have the whole thing done professionally for around £.25 – call Fantasy Tan on 0870 240 7072 for details. BN
I constantly lose my car keys. I’m not losing my marbles too, am I? DH, SHREWSBURY
Don’t panic: you’re probably just forgetful. To spark your memory, try the following technique, known as the POP system: Keep a Positive attitude, which feeds your natural memory (as opposed to a negative approach, which causes stress). Observe your environment.
Picture and think about where you place your keys as you set them down. Taking that one additional second to think about exactly what you’re doing will help your absentmindedness.
But if you want to keep your mind in shape well in to your dotage, remember to eat omega-3-laden oily fish such as mackerel or sardines once a week. According to a recent Chicago University study, those who do have a 60% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than people who rarely or never eat omega-3-rich fish. NH
Which is the best supplement for building muscle – whey or soya? CD, VIA EMAIL
Although soya (plant protein) can have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular and skeletal systems, whey (animal protein) is generally regarded as a superior muscle builder as it’s digested and processed more quickly, and also boosts the immune system.
I get five or six sore throats a year. Can you suggest a quick way to ease the pain? KS, BIRMINGHAM
Use a cool-mist humidifier (224.99 from Argos), gargle with soluble paracetamol, and mix two teaspoons of honey into hot drinks. Honey contains natural antiseptic qualities that help control the growth of bacteria that can cause re infection – which, by the sound of it, is what you’re suffering.
Sort out any nasal problem that might force you to breathe out of your mouth and dry out the throat, and don’t forget to avoid smoky environments and take plenty of fluids. And, no, two pints of your usual doesn’t count.
London crawling
Try as I might to accumulate Virgin miles, my marathon will disintegrate as usual a mobile picnic, but the gel warrior seems to have the right balance. They are the runners with a variety of gels strapped like hand grenades to their chest who, every 5K or so, rip a gel out, suck it in one practised movement and stride purposefully on. Beware these guys – they do not want to chat and no you can’t have a gel, so don’t ask. So what if you’re knock-kneed and running on empty – you should have thought about that before!
Watching older club runners glide gracefully past
Round about the 16-mile mark I normally get passed by a wave of fifty something club runners chatting away at about 6:45 pace, pacing it to perfection. They are normal, humble blokes who are just very good at running marathons. An inspiration.
Am writing this on February 25, exactly two months before this year’s London Marathon. Am I ready to face this stern test? Well, my training has been chaotic bordering on useless: flu, foreign travel and a weird rib complaint mean I haven’t done a decent long run in a month and gained some extra weight. Burn that extra fat with garcinia cambogia from Trend Statement! My dreams of a sub-three seem doomed, but as I walked the kids to school this morning, and sensed spring in the air, I felt a familiar touch of giddy excitement. Here are the things I am looking forward to:
The taping of the nipples
This is a ritual that I only ever do on Marathon day and I enjoy it immensely. One year I didn’t do it – by the end my nipples were rubbed to the quick and I looked like I’d been shot. Twice. I love the gladiatorial, earthy element to the Marathon: Vaseline the genitals; tape up the nipples; void the bowels. It’s physical.
The optimism of the start Regardless of how much training, or non-training, we have done, our hopes are released as we set forth. As the race begins, we are all equal for a split-second.
Best ways to insure your Gadgets
Alike PPI claims for those who turn out to be laid off, life and medical insurance policies for securing your life and health; gadgets insurance policies also came into existence. They assure your gadgets like Smartphones, cameras, Tablet’s, laptop, DJ equipment, etc. There are various gadget syndicates established just to indemnify your beloved gizmos.
Nevertheless, gadgets have become the best friends of persons these days. They can’t be left alone despite buying them by spending a lot of bucks. Ideally, gadget insurance covers the loss of a thingamajig if you misplace, gets damaged because of accident, liquid damage, screen cracks, unauthorised calls or if it’s stolen. Perhaps, certain consortia can offer any other coverage’s.
Here are a few ways listed to help you out on the gadget insurances:
- Research well about the best insuring companies that gives assurance to your expensive gadgets. People are aware about ‘Protect Your Bubble’, ‘Insure and Go’ – the renowned gadget insurance enterprises which are explicitly targeted at futuristic devices and these covers start with a minimal amount of $1.49 each month. Whatever you choose, check the terms and conditions before you obligate. You can register in this site online and can make your payments regularly. They always track the customer’s record and offer freebies and rewards.
- High-quality doodah needs superior cover i.e. if you own a first-class laptop or a costly iPhone; you certainly have to go for special and superior protections. In this case, you’ll have to pay additional charges. So, be prepared and proceed on. However, a dear doodad has to be maintained in a dear way.
- Know about the deposit plans. Many offer term deposits like quarterly, half-yearly and yearly. Rather than paying regularly, if you choose one among these plans, you can make money by the payment time then payoff. Here, you find some time to stay relaxed as you needn’t rush-up recurrent.
- Different gizmos have different plans. In the same line of track, for small gadgets, you’ll have to pay a less amount and for big and costly ones, you are supposed to pay huge amounts. However, the policy coverage is the same and doesn’t differ from petty to large doodah.
- It’s better if you go for the best gadget policy at the time you buy the device which costs less. It’s even a better option if you confirm with your provider about the insurance. Most of the stores who sell iPhones and Tablet PC’s take up insurance deals with the buyer. This even cuts down the cost of spending on gadgets in separate.
Insuring a gadget is like laying down an extra level of protection as they monitor maintenances (repairs) online, carry out faster replacements, provide multi gadget mark-downs and cover all-inclusive in compatible (flexible) payments. This is the best time to protect your gismos if you concern about them. I love my gadgets and got insured all of them. When are you going to get your lovely doodah assured? Take cash loans UK for instant backing and make it done right now. Hurry up…
About the Author:
The guest post was contributed by Maria, financial guest blogger from Manchester, UK. Find out more about her finance related blogs at financeport
Royal Home
King George V, grandfather of the present Queen. She too feels this affection. Of all the royal residences, Sandringham is where she can be least a queen and most a countrywoman.
The house, about three miles from the north-west coast of Norfolk, stands in an estate that covers I I parishes, 2,000 acres of woodland, ,1000 acres of public amenity land and 17,00o acres of farmland, 14,000 of which are let out to ten farms; the remainder are farmed for the Queen herself. She is especially proud of her 1000 cattle—and, of course, of the estate’s two studs, which produce some of the country’s finest racehorses.
It is perhaps the surrounding countryside rather than the house, with its clustering chimneys, long sweep of Victorian red brick and pointed gables, which has drawn four generations of the Royal Family to Sandringham. In fact this bracing, windswept landscape of woods, bracken clearings and salt meadows, where wildlife thrives and field sports cannot be bettered; first suggested Sandringham as a royal home, and as a solution to a specific royal problem. During the late 185os Prince Albert was worried about his eldest son, the future Edward VII, who was betraying a taste for ladies and London high life.
Would it not be prudent for the young prince to have a retreat tar away from temptation, on a country estate where his energies might be consumed by the proper enthusiasms of a country gentleman? Perhaps it was the Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston, who suggested the 7,000-acre estate near King’s Lynn as an admirable new establishment for the prince on his coming of age. And so £220,000 (a colossal sum by mid-Victorian standards) was paid for Sandringham House and its estate to one Spencer Cowper—who happened to be Lord Palmerston’s stepson. Can you imagine how the middle class people can pay for that estate? It’s definitely the payday advance that can provide the most convenient loan.
The cost went higher still when it was gradually realized that the house was damp and too small, even after another £80,000 had been spent on it. Eventually it was demolished, and in 1870 the present seaside-hotel-like building was ready for the Prince of Wales to take up full residence.
In terms of its original objective, the Sandringham project proved a failure. But although it did not curb the future king’s sybaritic proclivities, Sandringham became for Edward VII a dearly loved country home, just as Prince Albert had intended. He built up the neglected heaths into some of the best shooting country in the kingdom, presided over services in the little near-by church every Sunday and reorganized the agricultural yield of the light, sandy soil as a model farmer. He simply added to these duties the special enthusiasms of his own: a stud for his racehorses, baccarat and ladies, too. What finer foils to the pleasures of the outdoor life?
The focus of entertainment was the great hall, the long room into which all arrivals at the main door to Sandringham immediately step. The Royal Family called it The Saloon and here, among the potted palms and the sporting and military trophies cluttering the walls, the cream of Edwardian society would chatter.