Friday, July 18, 2008

US scientists scrap major AIDS vaccine test (AFP)

A doctor retrieves a blood sample from a man for an HIV test in Tegucigalpa, Honduras in 2006. US scientists have scrapped plans for a large trial of a HIV vaccine due to concerns about its effectiveness, the government's medical research agency said.(AFP/File/Elmer Martinez)AFP - US scientists have scrapped plans for a large trial of a HIV vaccine due to concerns about its effectiveness, the government's medical research agency said.

Teenagers are at a higher risk for iron deficiency anemia due the rapid rate at which they are growing during these years. As the body grows, it requires larger amounts of nutrients, including iron, which it receives from the blood. If the blood is not replenished with iron, anemia can set in. So combine teenage growth spurts with a diet lacking iron-rich foods and you could have a case of teenage anemia to deal with.

There are other risk factors for teenage anemia mostly targeting teenage girls. Teen girls are at a higher risk for anemia since the body loses iron during menstruation and girls usually do not compensate for that loss by eating more iron-rich foods. Anemia is more likely to develop in teen girls who become pregnant also. Lastly, becoming a vegetarian or dieting to lose weight can cause anemia to develop since the present of red meat, which is a l-ornithine-hcl bulk powder source of iron, is lacking in these lifestyles.

Symptoms Of Iron Deficiency Anemia

The symptoms of iron deficiency anemia can be mild and hard to notice. Often, if the anemia is mild, there may be no symptoms at all. Even when there are noticeable symptoms, frequently they are dismissed as a bug or even just due to the fact that teens often don't eat as well as they should or sleep as much as they should. The most common symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia are fatigue or weakness, pale skin color caused by fewer red blood cells in the blood, and trouble concentrating or remembering most likely caused by less oxygen in the blood flowing to the brain. As you can see, many normal teens without anemia can display these symptoms for any number of reasons.

Other, more noticeable, symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia in teens are a faster pulse caused by the heart beating harder to pump more oxygen into the blood, shortness of breath when running or climbing stairs (or any type of exertion), and frequent or severe headaches. The most disturbing symptoms can be sudden severe nosebleeds that may or may not accompany the headaches. Unfortunately, many of these symptoms can also be explained by other causes.

The best advice is to watch your teen. If you notice a combination of these symptoms lasting for more than a couple of days, you should schedule a visit with your teen's doctor. The doctor will ask a series of questions to determine whether or not your teen should be tested for anemia. Luckily, a simple blood test is all that is needed to diagnose iron-deficiency anemia.

Treatment For Iron Deficiency Anemia

If your teen is diagnosed as having iron-deficiency anemia, an iron supplement will most likely be prescribed once or twice a day for a time depending on how severe the anemia is. Your doctor may also recommend, and it is a good idea to, making some lifestyle changes involving a healthier diet consisting of dark green vegetables, legumes and small amounts of red meat as well. Your teen should also try hard to get at least eight hours of sleep a night, which is the minimum amount recommended for children growing at the speed that adolescents are. With the proper diet and sleep, as well as the iron supplements, the anemia should subside within a couple of weeks.

For more information on anemia symptoms, visit http://www.youranemiasymptoms.com/

Jennifer Carpenter is a work at home mother of three, two teens and a preschooler. She is a writer and Internet marketer who is currently working towards financial freedom through working online. Read more about her incredible journey at http://www.livingmybigdream.com

Quarter of Chinese adults are overweight, obese: US study (AFP)

A doctor treats an obese patient at a hospital in Shanghai, in 2004. Declining physical activity and a shift towards a Western diet are driving up obesity rates in China, with more than 25 percent of adults now considered overweight or obese, a study warned Tuesday.(AFP/File/Liu Jin)AFP - Declining physical activity and a shift towards a Western diet are driving up obesity rates in China, with more than 25 percent of adults now considered overweight or obese, a study warned Tuesday.

Living according to an alkaline, healthy diet low on calories makes sense in many ways, especially regarding the reduced intake of animal protein and fatty acids. Eating on the run, consuming hot dogs, muffins, pizzas etc., is extremely unhealthy, because these are ALL acid forming and acid producing foods!

Studies have shown that an acidic, anaerobic body environment encourages the breeding of fungus, mold, bacteria, and viruses. As a result, our inner biological environment shifts from a healthy oxygenated, purchase pure l-arginine a-ketoglutarate aakg environment to an unhealthy acidic one (having acidic pH levels on the pH scale).

75% Alkaline Foods

It is a lot of "hard work" for the body to neutralize and detoxify these acids before they can act as poisons in and around the cells, ultimately changing the environment of each cell. Therefore, one should consume at least 75% of alkaline foods, like green vegetables, and never more than 20-25% of neutral and acidifying foods, like burgers or sandwiches. Eating foods that are alkaline transforms the body's balance from dangerously acidic to slightly above neutral.

However, one might feel confused or unsure about what kinds of alkaline foods to buy. This sample shopping list helps one to know what kinds of healthy alkaline foods typically stock the fridge:

Refrigerated: Borage Oil, Fresh salsa (no vinegar), Flax seed oil, Hummus, Sprouted Wheat Tortillas, Tofu, Udo's Choice-Perfected Oil Blend

Legumes: Adzuki, Black, Black-eyed, Cranberry, Garbanzo, Kidney, Lentils, Mung, Pinto

Produce:

Avocado, Beets, Bell peppers, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Cucumber, Dark lettuce, Eggplant, Garlic, Herbs (fresh), Jicama, Kale, Leeks, Lemon, Lime, Onion, Parsley, Red, new potatoes, Seasonal fruit (only when in acid-alkaline balance), Spinach, Squash, Tomato, Zucchini

Nuts/Seeds:

Almonds, Brazil nuts, Flax seeds, Filberts, Macadamia nuts, Pecans (seasonal), Pine nuts, Pumpkin seeds, Sesame seeds, Sunflower seeds, Walnuts (seasonal), *all nuts/seeds should be raw and unsalted

Freezer:

Boca burgers (vegan), Manna bread (Sun seed or Whole Wheat)

Seafood/Meat:

Salmon, Trout, Free range turkey (only on rare occasions)

Salts:

Bragg's Amino Liquid, Sea Salt, Real Salt Brand

Health Food Section

Almond butter, Almond milk, Amaranth, Basmati rice, Brown rice cakes, Buckwheat, Dulse flakes, Flours (spelt, millet, amaranth, etc), Grape Seed Oil, Kamut, Millet, Olive oil, Quinoa, Rotini (quinoa,spelt), Soba noodles (rice or buckwheat), Spelt, Soymilk, Sprouts (any), Sun-dried tomatoes (in olive oil), Tahini, Vegetable broth (yeast-free), Wild rice

The entire metabolic process depends on an alkaline environment. When we consume too many acidic or acid-producing foods, excess acid corrodes tissues and organs and thus provides a favorable environment for harmful bacteria and other micro organisms that can damage glands and organs.

New Levels Of Healthiness & Energy

A healthy diet with alkaline food supports vital cellular activities and functions and will create new levels of healthiness and energy. Alkaline foods are rich in nutrients for the body and an excellent source of the substances that are anti-yeast, anti-fungal, and anti-mycotoxic. Alkaline green foods are some of the lowest-calorie and lowest-sugar foods you can get and are very cleansing and loaded with fiber.

Balance-pH-Diet.com informs people about the over-acidification of the body due to fast paced and unhealthy lifestyles, which is the reason for many diseases and weight gain.

Get information about Alkaline Food and Alkaline Diet

Click here to learn more about How to Alkalize & Lose Weight.

Acid-Alkaline-Food-Chart