Eating nuts during pregnancy 'may curb allergies'

nuts
Current international guidance is that there is no need to either avoid nuts, nor to actively eat them”
Dr Adam Fox, Consultant children's allergist at Guy's and St Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust

Experts say this makes it difficult to offer firm advice to mothers-to-be, with the exception of women who are themselves allergic to nuts and should therefore always avoid eating them.
Conflicting evidence The study authors, led by Dr Lindsay Frazier of the Dana-Faber Children's Cancer in Boston, concluded children were a third less likely to have a nut allergy if their mothers had eating nuts during pregnancy.
This included tree nuts such as walnuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews, pecans, brazils, hazelnuts and macadamias as well as peanuts.
The authors say this suggests that nut consumption may protect against future allergies.
But there are other factors that may also explain this difference.
For example, the women who ate nuts were also more likely to have healthier diets containing plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Dr Adam Fox, consultant children's allergist at Guy's and St Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust, said the findings were interesting but inconclusive.
"To make things even more complicated, there is also strong evidence to suggest that nut allergy doesn't develop until after birth and that it is exposure of the infant's skin to nut protein that is most important in the development of allergy.
"With such differing results from different studies, it is currently impossible to offer advice about exactly what mothers should do regarding nut consumption during pregnancy but current international guidance is that there is no need to either avoid nuts, nor to actively eat them."

New genetic clues for rheumatoid arthritis 'cure'
Pallab Ghosh 
By Pallab Ghosh Science correspondent, BBC News
Arthritic hands 
Current treatments relieve the symptoms but not for all patients, and there is no cure
An international team of researchers has found more than 40 new areas in DNA that increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
The work is the largest genetic study ever carried out, involving nearly 30,000 patients.
The investigators believe new drugs could be developed to target these areas that could one day provide a cure for the disease.

The findings are published in the Journal Nature.
What this offers in the future is an opportunity to use genetics to discover new medicines for complex diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and to treat or even cure the disease” Prof Robert Plenge Harvard Medical School. The research team compared the DNA of arthritis patients with those without the disease and found 42 'faulty' areas that were linked with the disease. The hope is that drugs can be developed to compensate for these faults.
The lead researcher Professor Robert Plenge of Harvard Medical School found that one of these areas produced a weakness that was treated by an existing drug that was developed by trial and error, rather than specifically made to correct the genetic problem.
This finding, he says, shows such discoveries could be used to design new drugs.
"What this offers in the future is an opportunity to use genetics to discover new medicines for complex diseases like rheumatoid arthritis to treat or even cure the disease," he said.

Complex Diseases
Some have argued identifying genetic weak areas for complex diseases - known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) - is not useful. There is little or no evidence, they argue, that "silencing the SNPs" with drugs will relieve any symptoms.

But Dr Plenge says the fact that he has found an established drug that treats the symptoms that arise from a particular SNP for rheumatoid arthritis validates this genetic approach.
There are already therapies that have been designed in the cancer field that might open up new opportunities for retargeting drugs”
Prof Jane Worthington Director, Centre for Genetics
"It offers tremendous potential. This approach could be used to identify drug targets for complex diseases, nut just rheumatoid arthritis, but diabetes, Alzheimer's and coronary heart disease"
Fast track
The study also found SNPs in the rheumatoid arthritis patients that also occur in patients with types of blood cancer.
According to Prof Jane Worthington, director of the centre for genetics in Manchester, this observation suggests that drugs that are being used to treat the cancer could be effective against rheumatoid arthritis and so should be fast tracked into clinical trials.
"There are already therapies that have been designed in the cancer field that might open up new opportunities for retargeting drugs," she told BBC News.
"It might allow us a straightforward way to add therapies we have to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis".


 Discover the Amazing Moringa Oleifera Tree
How can Moringa Oleifera really help with weight loss?learn about Moringa. Let's work together to spread awareness! Hope you enjoy & share.So why do Scientist call Moringa Oleifera "the Miracle Tree -- and the most nutrient-rich plant ever studied."? From Moringa Leaf Powder to Moringa Seed Oil, there's still so much to learn about the amazing benefits of Moringa Oleifera. For example, did you know a recent study has shown the Moringa tree's stems may contain their own amazing benefits? Let MoringaPowder.com serve as a Pinboard of everything there is to know and
Moringa Oleifera – Your Secret Weapon vs Your Diet
Oct 14, 2013
Moringa    
If you’re starting a new diet or workout cycle, let Moringa Powder be the secret weapon that takes your over the top.
The Nutrient Density of Moringa Powder can’t be matched by any other plant or food this planet.
It is a perfect compliment for almost any diet out there for 2 reasons.
1. Moringa Powder has a fantastic Carb to Fiber Ratio
The Carbohydrates to Fiber ratio of Moringa Powder is 2 to 1. This means for every 2 grams of Carbohydrates there is 1 gram of Fiber. According to Harvard Health — A Carb ratio of 10-1 is considered healthy and a Carb to Fiber ratio of 6-1 is recommended for most diets (100% whole grain bread has a 6-1 ratio for example). There are many reasons why fiber is essential to a healthy life. You can read more about Fiber’s Benefits at MayoClinic.com. But the most important thing to note here is that yes, Moringa does have Carbohydrates, but it also has the Fiber to balance it out. The only other natural plant products with a better Carb to Fiber ratio are Flax Seeds, Chia Seeds, and Coconut Fiber.
2. Off the Charts Nutrient Density Provides Natural Energy
Moringa powder is high in protein, amino acids, and vitamins. But it is also has vast amounts of important minerals such as Magnesium, Calcium and Potassium. It’s these minerals which will provide energy and mental strength (willpower!) when you would normally crash and give in to your cravings. This was discussed recently on a Dr. Oz episode.
So what are some good example diets that Moringa is a good fit for?
1. Popular TeaTox / Slimming Tea Diets
Slimming tea diets such as SkinnyMeTea and Nuez dela India are extremely popular these days after being talked about on Dr. Oz. While these diets are generally safe, they usually work by providing a laxative effect. Many users report fatigue and soreness while on these TeaToxes. This is a result of the tea stripping important minerals from your body and not just fats. So it’s important that you replenish your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs. A few capsules of Moringa Powder a day is perfect for this.
2. Mediterranean Diet & Dukan Diet
Both of these diets seem to be taking the world over. They involve cutting out a certain category  of food for as long as 2-4 months at a time. The #1 reported problem with these diets is also anxiety, fatigue and irresistible cravings. When you abruptly start a new diet, your body will have trouble adapting to the sudden changes. Your body won’t know where or when to expect the vitamins, nutrients, amino acids and phytochemicals it’s used to. You won’t know which vitamin or nutrient your body is lacking and you’ll experience anxiety, cravings and finally fatigue. This is why you should start taking Moringa Powder every day for 2 weeks before you start your new diet. Your body will take well to the Moringa and you won’t experience any anxiety, stress, fatigue or cravings when you drastically change your diet  as long as you continue taking your Moringa powder.



Born without skull
on July 28, 2013   /   in Health 8:24 pm   /   Comments
WITH much expectation, the world is waiting to see OkikiJesu Olawuyi grab a fitting place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Many across the world want to see this happen. And what that means is that a Nigerian child is well on her way to making history once she scales the mountain of surgeries standing in her path of life.
OkikiJesu Olawuyi was born without a skull but not without a will to live. Bones from her hands are being obtained to construct a skull bone to help her live. Amazingly, she is winning this battle for  her life at John Hopkins University in the United States of America.
First grade surgeons
There, the best hands the world can assemble are with her every passing hour fighting a medical war to give life to a miracle child  who has announced to  the entire human community that she has something different to offer. First grade surgeons – irrespective of colour, race and tongue are tasking  their expertise to see that this wonder of the 21st century lives to tell her story and  reports say that they are doing a great job to save her.

OkikiJesu Olawuyi was born without a skull
OkikiJesu is getting moral and material support  from across the world to help her live. An avalanche of support is coming her way. Her parents are carrying the burden of pain and anguish with stoic patience. They are fighting to remedy a medical case they cannot tell how it all started. The child needs a lot more financial assistance to pull through, her father, Mr. Caleb Olawuyi, says. He disclosed that she needed an additional $500,000 to undergo the final operation that would enable her live a normal life. Experts say that is possible and they can achieve that. While appealing for generous support from government, corporate organizations and private individuals to help the baby live, Mr. Olawuyi, has equally urged government to set up funds to assist babies afflicted with critical ailments. Speaking straight from the heart, he noted that one needed to be close to a child in pains to know how it feels.
Since news of the child’s medical condition was disclosed, the world has been aghast. She was born on May 11, 2010 with a rare birth deformity which means over 50 per cent of her skull doesn’t exist. The world has not seen anything of this stuff as this medical condition has never been reported anywhere. The child’s condition is one that appears to have turned medicine on its head, having thrown up tremendous professional challenge to the human race. Now, the very best the world has known are fighting a crunchy battle to overcome this, leaving many – particularly those with hearts of stone- wondering if there is nothing they can offer to help.
Now from the home sector, help is coming for three-year-old Okiki and her parents. Since the condition of the baby became public knowledge, a non profit organization had stepped in to assist. Global Initiative for Peace, Love and Care (GIPLC) has been doing all it can to give life to the child whose medical condition is not traceable to her parents. With the assistance of the organization’s Coordinator and Project Manager, Mr. Nuhu Kwajafa, the child  and her parents were on May 4, 2013, flown to the United States. There, she is currently undergoing skull reconstruction surgery at the John Hopkins University Medical Centre.
Specialists in the USA have identified the rare birth deformity which OkikiJesu is suffering as Congenital Cranial Deficiency. Before now, she had been to several hospitals but not cured, but luck flashed on her pathway when GIPLC, which is based in Abuja took up her case.
Significant success
The organization, it was learnt, has recorded significant success in efforts to get medical care for her. Within just a week, it raised about $234,000, an equivalent of N37 million through kind gestures from individuals and groups for her treatment at  John Hopkins Hospital.
Kwajafa, just back from the United States, said: “prior to the complications which arose, what made a determination of the full cost of Okiki’s surgery difficult is that in modern times, it is an extremely rare (perhaps singular) medical condition with no precedence to draw estimates  from. This latter fact also means that it is equally difficult to tell what other medical complications may arise. An example  are  fluids that were retained in her cranial cavity which have posed an unforeseen challenge and may have led to a fatal infection.”
His worry is that “OkikiJesu may not be released from hospital until all outstanding bills have been paid. We and her parents are desirous of her condition being fully remedied before she leaves the hospital.” Against this backdrop, he said “We would like to appeal to the global public to support our cause in ensuring that OkikiJesu Olawuyi lives.”
Medical analysts believe she will be a living testimony if she recovers. According to GIPLC, her case remains the only one of its kind in the world.
When OkikiJesu’s father, Mr. Olawuyi spoke on telephone from John Hopkins Hospital, he expressed optimism that the girl was doing well and had remained in stable condition. He said “We thank God that she is responding positively to every operation performed  on her. The doctors attending to her are also pleased with her present condition. They  said she is a miracle child,because she is so far the only child in the world with this kind of health condition. They told us that there is no case of her type in medical history at their disposal the world over. There are three renowned  doctors attending to OkikiJesu and the experience is so great. They keep assuring us that everything will be fine soon. We are also hoping positively and asking God to deliver our child.
“The major issue is the hospital bill and not really our up-keep, that is, myself, my wife and our 15-month old baby, (Okiki’s younger sister). She is currently at the intensive care unit (ICU). This costs between $6,000 and  $10,000 daily.
Critical operations
Sometimes, two nurses are stationed to take care of her daily and it costs a lot of money. The good thing is that they are not taking any chance. They are all over her all the time. They are monitoring her regularly especially as she is an international patient. The bill is growing higher.
“We appeal to Nigerians not to give up on Okiki. With their support, God will not disappoint us because she keeps improving daily. All the operations have been very critical. They took bones from her hand and leg to construct her skull. And she is doing fine. We appreciate efforts by all Nigerians including individuals, groups and corporate organizations. Everybody has been very supportive. We thank the Nigerian government, the National Assembly, and particularly the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and other kind-hearted people and members of our family for their support.
“On behalf of our daughter Okiki, and other children and parents in this condition, we urge government to institute a Special Trust Fund to take care of such rare and critical cases in the country. This fund should be adequately funded to cater for such critical needs. For us, Okiki’s parents, we are in this condition but hope that one day God will deliver us. In this situation, we repeat our appeal for quick intervention from the government and other Nigerians. Our wish here is that others should be spared this experience. We plead further with government to establish a fund to cater for such children in this condition.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/born-without-skull/#sthash.v0iIpbm1.C6tjbGua.dpuf



DEW Bottled Water Fatal Poisoning Hoax
Outline
Circulating message warns consumers not to drink any bottled water called "DEW" because it contains a poisonous chemical that has already killed 180 people in Nigeria.










Detailed Analysis
According to a warning message that circulates via SMS, social media posts and email, people should not drink a bottled water product called "DEW" because it contains a poisonous chemical that has killed 180 people in Nigeria. The message, labelled as an "urgent notice" suggests that the information came from Customs. It requests users to pass on the information to warn other consumers thereby potentially saving "millions" from also dying.

However, the claims in the message are nonsense. Nobody has died from drinking contaminated bottled water called DEW in Nigeria, Tanzania, or anywhere else in the world. Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has investigated the claims in the warnings and found that they are untrue. In June 2011, NAFDAC issued a public statement refuting the claims. The agency asked members of the public to disregard the warnings, noting that "NAFDAC hereby informs the general public that the text message is false and mischievous as there is no poisonous water imported into the country". The agency statement also noted:

    Investigations so far by NAFDAC in several hospitals across the nation showed that there was no incident of hospitalization or death arising from consumption of Dew water, or any other brand of water.

Moreover, if 180 people had really died from drinking contaminated bottled water - in Nigeria or elsewhere - then the tragedy would have been extensively reported by news media. And, of course, there would have been immediate and well-publicized recalls for the contaminated products along with official health warnings. No such news stories, recalls or health warnings have been published.

The hoax apparently gained momentum after a Blackberry message about the supposed contamination began circulating around Lagos in mid June 2011. It rapidly began circulating to users outside of Nigeria, via Facebook, Twitter and email as well as phone text message.

According to NAFDAC, a water product called "Dew" was registered in 2005 while another product named Dewluk Table Water was also registered in Nigeria. When the hoax first began circulating, the Dewluc company refuted the claims and has suggested that they may have been created by "individuals who might not be comfortable with the rapid growth of the product".

Sending on false health warnings will do nothing other than create unnecessary fear and alarm in communities. If you receive this hoax message, please do not post it to others. And please let the sender know that the claims in the message are untrue.