PESTICIDES IN A THIRD OF FOODS
Nearly a third of UK food and drink, including fruit and vegetables contains pesticides a government advisory body has said.
The Pesticides Residue Committee found traces exceeded the legal limits in 1.7% of cases, which was up a third on the year before, due to more exotic food being tested. A further 30% of the 3,787 items checked during the last year had pesticide traces within those limits .
The committee said the levels were not a health concern, but others disagreed.

CHEMICALS IN FOOD
Food in the UK and six other EU countries contains harmful pesticides and industrial chemicals according to a report by the WWF.
Substances such as banned organochlorine pesticides in fish and reindeer meat, artificial musks and organotins in fish, and flame retardants in meat were detected.
Traces of pollutants which are linked to health problems such as cancer and foetal deformities were found in every one of twenty five food products tested.
The WWF said the report was based on tests carried out on food samples from supermarkets in Britain, Spain, Greece, Italy, Finland and Poland. The harmful chemicals found in food are used in the manufacture of products including packaging, detergent, cosmetics and pesticides.
Experts said the findings could explain why all 352 blood samples provided in a different study were found to be contaminated with chemicals.
Although none of the chemicals in the quantities detected is thought to be dangerous the WWF is concerned about the possible effect of the different chemicals combining in the body. The WWF says not enough is known about the long term effects of the chemicals.

GREEN PRODUCE
Once seen as the preserve of tree huggers and barefoot hippies, ethical shopping is now becoming more mainstream. The amount of money spent in Britain on ethical or green products has been steadily increasing for several years. This doesn't just involve food but also travel, finance, cosmetics and even home appliances.
The manufacture of clothing in third world countries and the ethics involved has been a political issue for some time now, with the media highlighting concerns about sweatshop labour being used in developing countries.
Ethical or Fairtrade foods have become a success with more organic shops and restaurants opening up around the country. Supermarkets have also got in on the act by increasing the amount of this type of produce on their shelves. It's a strategy that appears to be paying off as, according to research, sales are increasing. Supermarket shoppers seem willing to spend more on quality fruit and vegetables. But, what about clothing?
A number of clothing manufacturers have received bad press in the past and are at last publicly addressing these issues. Consumer awareness has also increased and shoppers are looking closely at labels on clothing and investigating the origin of the goods.
At the top end of the market fashion designer Stella McCartney, for example, refuses to use leather, furs or other animal products in her clothing range. High street stores and online retailers have also introduced ethical clothing ranges. Of course, these changes are taking place slowly and still only account for a small percentage of overall sales.
One reason is the cost. Ethically produced clothing is more expensive to manufacture. Research, finding suitable materials and appropriate factories all adds to the price. There is also the cost of marketing and promoting these ranges, which usually means a higher price than 'unethical' products. However, as these products become more readily available, demand should increase and prices will fall.

INSOMNIA
It is estimated that insomnia affects about one-third of the adult population worldwide, and for most of us, the quality of our sleep will decrease at some point in our lives. The pressures of everyday life, stress at work, money worries or illness within the family are all potential causes of sleepless nights. While different types of insomnia have different causes, most people can find relief through the following, regardless of the source of their sleeplessness.

Establish a consistent bedtime routine, and try to go to bed at the same time every night.
Get plenty of exercise during the day. You may not feel like it, but the more energy you expend during the day, the sleepier you will feel at bedtime.
Reduce or eliminate your intake of caffeine, stimulants and alcohol. Even when these are consumed early in the day, they can affect your sleep pattern.
Avoid large meals late in the evening.
Learn and practice a relaxation technique regularly. Breathingexercises, meditation and yoga are good examples.
Don't obsess about not sleeping. Worrying about not getting to sleep can produce a vicious circle. Instead, remind yourself that while sleeplessness is troublesome, it isn't life-threatening.

RISK TO EYESIGHT FOR OBESE

Obese people have double the risk of losing their sight due to the fact that their weight increases their chance of developing certain conditions, a report has said.
The Royal National Institute of the Blind said the obese risk cataracts and age related macular degenaration, the most common cause of sight loss. It warned that millions of obese adults and children living in the UK are also at risk from other conditions. The RNIB said people did not do enough to look after their eyes.

A PINCH OF SALT

Whether or not you should reduce your daily salt intake depends on which group of experts you believe. One groups recommendation can seem like good advice until you find another opinion telling you exactly the opposite.
The Food Standards Agency in the UK has set a target of reducing the average salt intake of adults to 6g a day by the year 2010. This is backed up by the recommendations of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrion (SACN) which is an independent expert committee that advises the FSA and the Department of Health.
In 1994, the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA) recommended reducing salt intake from 9g a day to 6g, based on evidence of a link between high salt intake and high blood pressure.In 2003 this evidence was reviewed by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition to consider if the previous recommendations to reduce salt intakes were still valid.SACN concluded that the evidence of a link between salt intake and blood pressure had increased since 1994. They said that high levels of salt raise the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. SACN then recommended that salt intake be further reduced to 6g a day.
Good advice? Not so, according to research in summer 2005 from the University Medical Centre Utrecht in the Netherlands.Professor Deiderick Grobbee, a cardiovascular specialist and an author of the report, said "If people stick within a range of moderate sodium intake, which we normally get from salt in our food, there is no material variation to the risk of mortality."
The research, known as the Rotterdam Study, involved almost 8000 people in their fifties and above, and found that as long as their salt intake was moderate - no more than 16g a day - the effect on blood pressure was insignificant.It was only if consumption rose to between 21g and 27g a day the risk of stroke increased.
These results, however, were condemned by supporters of salt reduction.Prof Graham McGregor, a cardiovascular specialist at St George's Hospital, London, chairman of Consensus Action on Salt and Health, said "You will always find scientists that will go against the main body of research.Chronic ingestion of the amount of salt that we eat, slowly puts up our blood pressure and is largely responsible for many strokes and heart attacks and that's why the five to six grams a day target was set."
Clear as mud, then.

SUNSCREEN TO COMBAT SKIN CANCER
A group of scientists at Bath University in the UK say they have developed a sunscreen that will actively repair sunburnt skin and may even help prevent skin cancer.
Like conventional sunscreens, the lotion filters the sun's harmful rays. But an extra ingredient means it also helps to mop up the free iron released when skin burns. This reduces inflamation pain and prevents the build up of cancer causing free radicals triggered by exposure to sunlight.

GONE PHISHING
A recent report on BBC TV news revealed that old computers donated by people in the UK for re-distribution to third world countries were being sent to Nigeria. That's Nigeria, phising central!
Many people assume that when they delete data from their hard disc it's gone forever. Not true. Deleted files can still be embedded in the hard disk until they are overwritten with other data, and could be retrieved by those with the relevant knowledge.
The reporter travelled to Nigeria and purchased a hard disk for a few pounds. A computer expert was then able to retrieve the personal details of a man living in the UK. The reporter turned up at the man's house and was able to tell him important information, including credit card and bank account numbers. The man was understandably shocked at the revelation.
Apparently, some companies shipping these computers abroad are more thorough than others when it comes to reformatting the hard disk.
Official advice is to use software that overwrites the information several times, which puts it beyond the use of hackers. Or, more drastically - drive a nail through the hard disk!
A free dowload to carry out a thorough disk clean is available at
www.sys-shield.com/fileshredder.htm

CONFUSION FOR CANCER PATIENTS
A study by Cancer Research UK has suggested that cancer patients can be baffled when offered a choice of treatments for their illness. Research which looked at a group of 43 ovarian cancer patients found they felt confused and concerned over the options on offer. Some felt they were abandoned when doctors did not offer their own suggestions as to what they should do.
Cancer experts said doctors should give as much advice as possible in deciding their care.

ACID REFLUX SYNDROME

Acid reflux syndrome, or Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD) is a common condition and is one of the most frequent causes of indigestion and heartburn. When acid from your stomach leaks back up through your oesophagus (gullet) this irritates the delicate lining of the oesophagus and can result in permanent damage.

The main sympton of acid reflux is heartburn. This is usually a burning pain behind your breastbone and typically happens after a meal when your stomach is full or when you lie down, which allows acid to flow upwards more easily. Those who smoke, are overweight or pregnant tend to experience more frequent heartburn. In more complicated cases it may lead to ulcers in the oesophagus and in the worst cases, cancer of the oesophogus. The occasional bout of heartburn may be nothing to worry about, but more persistent bouts, say more than once a week could indicate acid reflux.

It is widely believed that acid reflux syndrome is related to a person's diet. Junk food and processed food may not be digested properly and this can cause acidic waste, which in turn can cause stomach spasms. This creates stomach gas which opens the valve between the stomach and oesophagus which allows the acidic content to return to the oesophagus.

Most medications will relieve the symptoms without actually curing the condition. Before choosing a medication to rid yourself of the problem you should assess what food you eat and your lifestyle. Studies have shown that foods such as chocolate, peppermint, spearmint, sugar, onions, garlic, spicy foods, coffee and alcohol can all aggravate acid reflux. Eliminating or at least reducing these items from your diet will have a positive effect.

Also, avoid overeating and having a large amount of food in your stomach. Small, regular meals are a far better option. It is also recommended to have your last meal about three hours before bedtime and sleeping with your head raised six inches can help in reducing the number of acid reflux attacks that you may have.

As with anything medical, you should discuss your options with your doctor. But, simple changes to your lifestyle and diet could reduce the need for medication and improve your health.

HOODIA SLIMMING PRODUCTS

A consumer advice programme on BBC television called Old Dogs, New Tricks hosted by Esther Rantzen and Lynn Faulds Wood - well known in the UK for exposing the tactics of dodgy businesses and scam products - turned its attention to hoodia slimming products.
A company called Elixir of Life, based in Jersey, advertise miracle slimming pills called Inferno, which promise to 'pop fat cells like bubble wrap', and Hoodislim, made from a South American cactus called hoodia supposedly an appetite suppressant.
The ladies travel to Jersey to try and find the company but only find a distribution warehouse, who won't reveal where the owners of the company are based. The only other clue is a picture of a 'doctor' in a white coat in the brochure, guaranteeing that the pills work.
Both sets of pills contain herbal ingredients, so they are taken to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew for analysis. Neither of the pills contain anything that could have the effect promised in the brochure and one of the UK's top diet experts, Dr Susan Jebb, emphasises there is no miracle way to lose weight.
The man in the white coat is found. A Dr Brian Whitton, he is a chemist who manufactures the pills and is paid a consultancy fee and allows his photo to be used to endorse the pills. He eventually reveals the owner of the company to be Robin Brown, who runs a family business in Lincolnshire called Healthy Marketing & Fulfillment Ltd. They deny being Elixir of Life but admit they are a customer of theirs.
After Esther's visit to Dr Whitton he contacts the company and asks them to remove his photo from their catalogues.
The programme concludes that there are dozens more hoodia products available via mail order and the internet but, as clinical trials are just underway, there's no evidence that taking hoodia would have any real benefit.


Copyright 2006 robbiex