The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health
The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health |
- Online tool calculates how many people you've indirectly had sex with
- Niacin therapy unhelpful, occasionally harmful: study
- Energize Your Day with the Essentials of Protein
| Online tool calculates how many people you've indirectly had sex with Posted: 11 Mar 2013 11:49 PM PDT A new online calculator tabulates how many people you have indirectly had sex with based on the number of your actual sexual encounters. Lloydspharmacy in the UK created the Sex Degrees of Separation Calculator to highlight the dangers of unprotected sex. A 30-year-old woman, for example, who has had seven male sexual partners roughly the same age has come into sexual contact with 3,828,759 people. To calculate your number, input your age, gender, and number of sexual partners, as well as the age and gender of each sexual partner. According to the Daily Mail, "the calculator helps to explain why sexually transmitted infection rates are on the rise at a time when the average man claims to have had nine sexual partners while the average woman admits to having had 6.3 lovers." The Health Protection Agency's latest figures show that rates of sexually transmitted diseases are highest in young adults aged 15-24 years old, accounting for 57 percent of all new gonorrhea diagnoses and 56 percent of all new genital warts diagnoses, according to the report. -- AFPRelaxnews |
| Niacin therapy unhelpful, occasionally harmful: study Posted: 11 Mar 2013 11:35 PM PDT A combination drug containing niacin failed to lower the risk of heart attacks or strokes and even proved harmful for some with vascular disease, a study released Saturday reported. Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, has for years been widely prescribed to lower "bad" LDL cholesterol and raise levels of "good" HDL cholesterol. The link between high levels of LDL cholesterol and heart disease is well-documented, and doctors work to mitigate that risk with diet and lifestyle changes as well as a variety of medications. But even with these protocols in place, heart disease and stroke claim lives and cause damage, so scientists continue searching for ways to improve the treatment. Niacin -- in doses about 100 times higher than the recommended amount from food -- was thought to be helpful. Indeed, the combination drug used in the study -- made by US pharmaceutical giant Merck and combining extended release niacin with laropiprant -- is already approved in 70 countries, though not the US. But when tested against a placebo in more than 25,000 patients, it failed to reduce the numbers of heart attacks, strokes or other serious cardiovascular problems. Even more worryingly, the study showed unexpectedly higher levels of bleeding and infections in the group taking the drug versus the placebo. And the group taking the study drug also showed higher levels of other side effects, including new cases of diabetes and complications for previously-diagnosed diabetes, as well as rashes and diarrhea. "We are disappointed that these results did not show benefits for our patients", said Jane Armitage, lead author of the study, which included more than 25,000 subjects. But she and her fellow authors said the result is important, because it gives evidence that the risks of niacin outweigh the benefits when used with current treatments. Armitage said it was unlikely the poor outcome could be linked to the second component of the drug, laropiprant, which was included to reduce the facial flushing caused by niacin. The lack of benefit on heart attacks and strokes is consistent with another recent, smaller-scale study of niacin, which did not use laropiprant, and many of the side effects are known to be due to niacin, she explained. Because of the results of this research, Merck has withdrawn its application for FDA approval of the drug and suspended its sale around the world. -- AFPRelaxnews |
| Energize Your Day with the Essentials of Protein Posted: 11 Mar 2013 04:03 PM PDT What did you have for breakfast today - a hearty dose of Nasi Lemak with fried chicken, completed with Teh Tarik? Or perhaps a much-needed steaming cup of coffee to go with the morning paper? For some people, it is a norm to skip breakfast in the morning for an extra 10 minutes of snooze time or to beat the traffic jam. For those who do have breakfast, you'll have to admit that we are spoilt for choice when it comes to the selection of food we can have to start our day. The question is, are you eating right for the right start to your day? While bread or cereal may seem to be a convenient option, they are high in carbohydrate and may lead to elevated blood sugar levels which drop quickly and leave you feeling hungry and drained. Research have showed that a breakfast high in protein helps with stabilising blood sugar and prevents hunger for a number of hours. According to the Malaysian Food Guide, Food Pyramid and Food Composition, breakfast should account for 30% of our protein intake – which translates to approximately 21 grams. While there are many types of food we can consume to meet the 21 grams of protein intake for breakfast, we have to also be mindful not to take in too much calories and fats, which may lead to obesity. Each person's protein needs depend on several factors such as age, size, physical condition, and the level of physical activity. Nutritionists use a standard method to estimate a person's minimum protein requirement daily, which is to multiply a person's body weight (kg) with 0.8, as the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) in the US for protein is 0.8 grams per kilograms of body weight of adults. Take a typical Malaysian breakfast for instance. According to Nutriweb Malaysia 2000-2012 Database of Nutrient Composition of Malaysia Food, three pieces of Roti Canai can provide you with 21 grams of protein for your first meal of the day, but that also comes with 31 grams of fat, and 136.5 grams of carbohydrate. Likewise, in order to have 21 grams of protein, you will need to have 2.2 packets of Nasi Lemak, but provides you with 28.8 grams of fat and 128 grams of carbohydrate. Understanding the importance of a high-protein breakfast, leading direct selling company Amway have introduced its NUTRILITE™ All Plant Protein Powder to help you boost your protein intake and get a right start for the day. With 2.5 scoops of NUTRILITE All Plant Protein that can be mixed with any of your favourite beverages or food, it is an easy and convenient breakfast option that can help you achieve the needed 21 grams of protein, with only 1.3 grams of fat and 0.8 grams of carbohydrate. "Certified Halal, lactose-free and safe for vegetarians, the NUTRILITE All Plant Protein Powder caters to many people as it has no cholesterol and contains only minimal fat content and nine essential amino acids to aid the body's digestion," said Dr. Gene Maly, Senior NUTRILITE Research Scientist. "This complete, nutritious alternative to meat and dairy products is suitable for those seeking a lean source of protein in their diets, with its naturally sourced with a unique tri-blend of soy, wheat and pea," Maly added. "It is a boost to your diet to load up your day's essentials, giving you an energized start in the morning." Energize your day and start it right with NUTRILITE All Plant Protein Powder, available through Amway Distributors nationwide and at the 20 Amway Shops located in Petaling Jaya, Seremban, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bharu, Batu Pahat, Bintulu, Penang, Klang, Wangsa Maju, Mentakab, Taiping, Malacca, Segamat, Brunei, Alor Setar, Kuantan, Nusa Bestari, Seberang Perai, Sibu, and Ipoh. For more information on NUTRILITE All Plant Protein Powder, log on to http://www.amway.my/nutrition/nutrilite/energise-your-day or call Amway at (03) 7946 2800. *Source: Nutriweb Malaysia 2000-2012 Database of Nutrient Composition of Malaysia Food This article is brought to you by Amway. |
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