Could too much green tea be harmful to health?

 

Researchers suggest drinking too much green tea may be harmful to reproductive function and development.

For centuries, green tea has been hailed for its numerous health benefits. But according to a new study, the beverage could do more harm than good if consumed in large amounts.

In a new study published in the Journal of Functional Foods, researchers reveal how exposure to excessive amounts of green tea impaired the reproductive function of fruit flies, as well as the development of their offspring.

While it is unclear whether the beverage has the same impact on humans, the team says their findings warrant caution against consuming large amounts of green tea and other nutraceuticals.
 
Green tea is made from fresh leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Because green tea is one of the least processed forms of tea, it retains the majority of its antioxidants and polyphenols, which are known to be largely beneficial for health.

HIV/AIDS AND OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS

The reason people are advised to go for early check-up, and even after testing positive to HIV, are asked to begin treatments (antiretroviral therapy) as soon as possible is to shut the doors on "opportunistic infections".

Opportunistic infections in this context are like scavengers, who only prey on weakened or about-to-die preys.

Opportunistic infections are infections caused either by bacterial, viral, fungal, or protozoan pathogens that take advantage of a host with a weakened immune system (caused by HIV infection) or an altered microbiota (such as a disrupted gut flora).

Antiretroviral therapy is all about managing HIV infection, and preventing the body from opportunistic infections, which in the end, leads to AIDS.

Most life-threatening opportunistic infections occur when the person’s CD4 count is very low (below 200 cells/mm).

HOW HIV/AIDS KILLS. . .

                                     

The HIV/AIDS is a very deadly disease, this is a known fact, but there remains something that's still unknown to quite a good number of people, and that is how HIV/AIDS kill.

Have you ever wondered how HIV/AIDS kill?

Okay, let me go over this again, with a little addition. . .

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infects cells of the immune system, destroying or impairing their function. Infection with this virus results in progressive deterioration of the immune system, leading to "immune deficiency."

The immune system is considered deficient when it can no longer fulfill its role of fighting infection and disease.

To make you understand this better. . .

In our bodies, there are many harmful micro-organisms, germs, bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses. When our immune system is working well (not deficient), it helps to fight these germs. But when the immune system is weakened by HIV (or by some medications), these germs can get out of control and cause health problems.

Good News for all Sickle Cell patients as FG now free drugs

You know how most families having a sickler as a child continue to pour in so much love, tenderness and care on the child? How the child have to suffer excruciating episodes of the disease, especially severe bone pain? But what happens when a drug, Niprisan that is used to treat patients with this condition get banned from commercial production in the country?!

Prof. Karniyus Gamaniel, the Director-General, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research Development (NIPRD), revealed to newsmen in Abuja that

“we give people who come to the Institute the sickle-cell drug; it is no longer sold in pharmacies; you only get it at the Institute. 

He said there was no cure for sickle-cell anaemia but added that the Institute, in collaboration with local traditional medicine specialists had researched and produced Niprisan to manage the disorder. The director general said that the Institute was continually making efforts at producing the drug to ensure that those with the disorder access it always.

KWARA STATE MEDICAL STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION {KWAMSA} MEDICAL OUTREACH

The Kwara State Medical Students Association (Kwamsa), UNILAG chapter, is having a medical outreach, as part of their 2015 Annual Health Week.

The health week, themed, "BOOM OVER DOOM" marks the 2nd edition of the annual health week.

The aim of the medical outreach is to make impact in the "State of Harmony" by having free medical checkups and giving free drugs for the people of state.

The programme took place at the Emir's palace, and the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Kolapo Sulu Gambari, a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, graced the event and optimum support.

 "Without community service, we would not have a strong quality of life. It's important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It's the way in which we ourselves grow and develop." Dorothy Height

HOW CAN I TELL IF I HAVE HIV/AIDS?

Usually, the key pointers as to whether someone is down with a particular disease are its signs and symptoms. But in this case, you cannot rely on symptoms to tell whether you have HIV. 

The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get tested.

At the same time, it is VERY important to know the signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS so as to be health conscious and alert.

HIV/AIDS; SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of HIV vary, depending on the individual and what stage of the disease the individual is in. There are THREE stages, and they are:

●     The early stage (a.k.a acute infection or seroconversion)

●     The Clinical Latency stage

●     The late stage (progression to AIDS)

LET'S TALK HIV/AIDS With MEDICALMATTAZ

Just recently, I read in an article released by the United Nations that millions of people still don't know about or are not aware of the HIV virus and AIDS, it left me dumbfounded, I was totally surprised.

I had some reservations, but I got even more shocked when I got to discover that even quite a lot of people, even some scholars, (YES! You heard right, S C H O L A R S), don't know what the term HIV/AIDS stands for.

Majorly and generally, HIV/AIDS is known by many to be a disease, a pandemic, and that's all they know about it. But that's not all about HIV/AIDS, and that's why we're doing this. Oya, let's talk HIV/AIDS (from the basics of course).

WHAT IS HIV/VIRUS?

HIV is an abbreviation for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, while AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

WORLD AIDS DAY 2015

WHAT IS WORLD AIDS DAY?

WORLD AIDS DAY is held on the 1 December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died.

The 2015 Global theme is "THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW".

BRIEF HISTORY

World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day, held for the first time in 1988.

On October 1988, the World Health Organization declared December 1, 1988, to be World AIDS Day. Ever since then, World AIDS Day has been observed on this date each year.

IT'S ABOUT TIME

Globally there are an estimated 34 million people who are infected with the HIV virus. And since its discovery in the early 80's, more than 35 million people have died of HIV/AIDS, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.

According to the United Nations Special Sessions on HIV/AIDS, many of the 36 million people infected with HIV do not know they are carrying the virus. Nor do they know much about the disease. And as a result, more than 2 million people die each year of this disease.

It's not like nothing is being done about it; in fact, a lot of health organizations and foundations have risen up to the aid. But. . .

#ITSABOUTTIME we talked about it

LOWER-BACK PAIN

 by JOY OKON

You stand and it feels like your back is preparing for a werewolf transformation. For those that are not familiar with the 'vampire diaries' series, a werewolf transformation is excruciatingly painful. When you sit, you experience the same thing. Even when you lie in bed, same thing occurs. Welcome to the pleasures of lower-back pain.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, four out of five people endure lower-back pain at some point in their lives. It can hang around for a few days or months, and even years. Such fun times eh. Some culprits are involved.

Common culprits include:

·         Exercise mishaps

·         Muscle strains

·         Postural changes during pregnancy, and

·         Bulging or herniated discs says Dr Jennifer Solomon, MD, a board certified physiatrist at hospital for Special Surgery in NYC.

THE MOUTH-BODY CONNECTION

By Joy Okon

Normally, an endocrinologist will assume two times earlier than sending A patient to a gum expert. Yep, you read proper, a gum Specialist. Now the query is, what has one got to do with the opposite? I'll let you know.

Some'll let you know your eyes are the windows in your soul, i'll Inform you your mouth is the door on your body, depart it Unguarded and the body gets invaded. Back to the problem,

The mouth-body connections:

• ORAL HEALTH AND DIABETES

Individuals who be afflicted by periodontal disorder have a better Risk of growing diabetes. Irritation in the mouth Weakens the frame's ability to manipulate blood sugar because of the Release of cortisol which in turn increases insulin resistance After which voila diabetes appear.

AGEs; STAYING OUT OF TOUCH. . .

This is where the most important question lies; how do you prevent yourself from AGEs?

The answer to that lies in two words, "STAY HEALTHY". . .

It is well-known that overeating and obesity can lead to insulin resistance, triggered by chronically elevated oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. The body naturally rids itself of harmful AGE compounds, but it doesn’t eliminate them effectively when too many are ingested through food.

So how can you help yourself?

•  DIETARY INTERVENTIONS

Dietary interventions that reduce the consumption of foods high in AGEs, which are common in the standard Western diet, can be effective in helping prevent these metabolic disorders.

Dietitians recommend patients eat less sugar and fewer processed foods, and this is very important for patients who need to lower their AGE intake.

To reduce AGE consumption, eating foods that contain low AGE levels is key to decreasing the risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

AGEs TOXICITY

Until recently, scientists thought AGEs were just normal byproducts of our metabolic system linked to sugar.

New studies show that AGEs are present in large quantities in most of the foods we eat today.

As new modes of food processing, applied by food industries, or popular methods of cooking expose food to dry-heat to make it safe, digestible and tasty, they also help raise AGEs to levels dangerous for the body.

Why do we consume foods that contain substances known to be toxic? It’s simple. AGEs are known to bring to raw nutrients those positive attributes we associate with our favourite meals. AGEs are responsible for the taste, appearance and the smell of foods we enjoy; the grilled burger and pizza and soft drinks and fried chicken; the bacon and corn chips and cookies.

AGEs are at work whenever cooked food attracts our attention, awakens our senses and encourages us to take yet another bite, even when we’re already full.

FACTORS THAT WORSEN AGEs

There are a number of factors that contribute to the development of Advanced Glycation End Products within the body. These factors include:

DIETARY FACTORS

As stated in AGEs, FOOD SUBSTANCES THAT ARE INVOLVED, dietary Advanced Glycation End Products (dAGEs) are present in some foods (particularly meat, also butter and so on).

Meats high in protein and fat are likely to form AGEs during cooking.

COOKING METHODS

Cooking methods that use high temperatures to brown or char foods, such as grilling, frying, roasting, baking, steaming, microwaving and broiling, have the largest impact on the amount of AGEs consumed.

AGEs, FOOD SUBSTANCES THAT ARE INVOLVED

In addition to AGEs that form within the body, AGEs also exist in foods.

Modern diets are largely heat-processed and as a result contain high levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Dietary advanced glycation end products (dAGEs) are known to contribute to increased oxidant stress and inflammation, which are linked to the recent epidemics of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

AGEs are naturally present in uncooked animal-derived foods, and cooking results in the formation of new AGEs within these foods. In particular, grilling, broiling, roasting, searing, and frying, propagate and accelerate new AGEs formation.

A wide variety of foods in modern diets are exposed to cooking or thermal processing for reasons of safety and convenience as well as to enhance flavor, color, and appearance.

AGEs, DAGEs, RAGEs; BEWARE!!!

The incidence of diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, is increasing at an alarming rate. Worldwide, about an estimated 221 million people had diabetes by 2010, and this increase is non-repentant.

When you go to the doctor, the first thing s/he diagnoses you with is hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), because it is still considered the principal cause of diabetes complications. But there're more serious culprits behind diabetes, of which most doctors aren't even aware of.

It's not your doctor's fault s/he doesn't know it, two things might be involved:

1. It was probably never mentioned to him in med school.
2. These culprits are products of recent studies, research and discoveries.

Doctors would normally warn you against health threateners such high-fat foods, salty foods, sugary foods, and so on - end of the story - but will hardly mention to you this word, AGEs.

Onigbinde calls for establishment of NFF medical department

CAF and FIFA instructor Adegboye Onigbinde on Tuesday called for the establishment of a medical department in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Onigbinde made the call while delivering a paper titled “Areas of Fitness’’ at the ongoing NFF/CAF B-Licence Coaching Course, organised by the NFF technical department in Abuja.

According to Onigbinde, establishing a medical department will ensure that the medical staff are regularly trained for the day-to-day football challenge.

“This will ensure that they don’t just have a medical doctor for the football teams but a special football doctors,’’ he said.

FG Begins Measles Immunisation Campaign In 19 Northern States

                                                        By Winifred Ogbeb and Victor Okek

The federal government is to begin its measles immunisation campaign across the 19 northern states of the federation from the 21st to the 28th of this month.

Speaking to newsmen yesterday in Abuja, the executive secretary, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Mohammed Ado, also revealed that it will extend its follow-up campaign against measles to 96 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the northern states.

He said some of the states include Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while the second phase will commence on 28th January to 1st February, 2016 in the 17 southern states.

He also disclosed that the agency had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with private providers in 2012 to provide immunisation services to children, adding that 60 per cent of health care services in the country are provided by them.

Women, Children Risk Death From Firewood Smoke

                                                              By Bernard Tolani Dada

A professor of Medicine and Pathology, Abdullah Abba has said that scientific studies conducted in Africa have shown that women and children are at a greater risk of dying from household air pollution.


Abbah stated this in Uyo yesterday while delivering a paper on the topic, “Biomass, Air Pollution and the Lungs” at the 19th annual scientific conference of the Nigerian Thoracic Society (NTC). This year’s conference had as its theme, “Household Air Pollution and Lung Health”.

According to the professor, women and children are more susceptible to pollution resulting from the use of bio-fuels as sources of energy for domestic cooking, adding that bio-fuels includes firewood, stoves and charcoal among others.

‎HEALTHIQUETTE‬ - EATING JUNK FOOD

Quit eating junk food and high-fat fast food. Your heart, brain, and overall health are harmed by foods high in saturated fats, salt, and cholesterol.

In your health's best interest, you have to replace them with healthy foods: lots of fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, olive oil, etc.

Eat like an Italian, a Spaniard, a Greek! Enjoy!

‪#‎StayHealthy