HEALTH TRENDS
Help for chocoholics
A skin patch has been tested by dieticians at London's St. George's Hospital to help people who are addicted to chocolate. The patch releases whiffs of vanilla and other scents that the researchers say help to reduce cravings for chocolates and other high-calorie sweet snacks. People who wore the patch on the back of their hand in early tests, experienced a change in appetite and lost an average 4.5 pounds. Researchers say they are unsure how the vanilla patch works but thinks it may influence satiety.
Source: Reuters Health
Asthma drug for
sicklers
Researchers have found that the asthma drug cromolyn sodium has anti-sickling effect. A single dose of the drug causes a "striking decrease" in sickle cells in African children with severe sickle cell disease. While the mechanism underlying the anti-sickling effect of the drug remains unclear, the findings suggest it "is a good candidate for anti-sickling treatment". The researchers gave intra-nasal doses of the drug to nine African children with severe sickle cell disease. The dose was four times lower than that generally prescribed for treating asthma.
Source: Reuters Health/The Lancet
PAHO's dental aid
Two projects being run by the Pan American Health Organ-isation (PAHO) will improve dental health among children in the Americas. The first project is using a low-cost technique Atraumatic Restorative Treat-ment (ART) and the traditional amalgam to restore decayed teeth. ART, which can be applied by any trained personnel, is a glass ionomer to seal and fill cavities. The second project is a salt fluoridation grant to help eight Spanish-speaking countries develop appropriate salt process technologies so consumers can get better quality salt with fluoride to prevent tooth decay.
Source: Pan American Health Organisation
Tone the muscles
Resistance exercise or strength training will not only tone up the muscles but play a major role in keeping the heart pumping. Cardiovascular exercise is important, but a Northern Illinois University study indicates that lifting weights, stretching exercises or other activities that build and strengthen muscles, will contribute about 20 per cent to the overall age reduction effect of exercise. Strength training helps you to avoid injury and skeletal weakening and protect bone mass and density.
Source: Realage.com
