With financial constraints which many people are under, home cooking seems like the most affordable option as well as being considered the healthiest, however home cooking could actually hamper your diet according to diet experts Weight Watchers.

They found through a YouGov survey of more than 2,000 Britons that 68 per cent of those questioned aim to dine at home more often, but 95 per cent of those who cook at home kept on eating despite being full, to clear their plate.

Unfortunately people are dishing up bigger portion sizes which is causing over eating, the survey found that 57 per cent believed they dish up the recommended portion sizes, only 14 per cent of people actually did.

There are plenty of cookery shows and food shows on TV which is encouraging people to cook at home using fresh ingredients, but with no real knowledge on diet and or any grasp on how much food they are consuming, people are struggling to maintain a healthy diet. Many people think obesity stems from an unhealthy diet consisting of takeaways and junk food however people who eat ‘healthy’ home cooked food are also at risk of obesity because of over eating.

Now though Weight Watchers is looking at educating people on portion control, Lucy Vickers, the firm’s nutritionist, said: “In today’s ‘eat as much as you can’ society package sizes keep growing with giant bottles of cola, extra-large bags of crisps and king-size chocolate bars. This distorts portion control and research shows some people eat more from larger food containers. In a recent test when moviegoers were given popcorn containers of two different sizes, the people given the larger tubs ate 44 per cent more.”

They are also looking at the phycology of overeating as well as some people may not realise they are over eating, Lucy Vickers explained: “Finishing everything on your plate is often a deeply ingrained habit from childhood. Simple adjustments can help reverse the habit, such as serving up smaller portions and using leftovers for lunch the next day.”

Out of those questioned in the YouGov poll, 68 per cent said they aim to dine at home more this month, with 24 per cent saying this was a way to cut calories. Other figures also show that 24 per cent want to be healthier and 54 per cent want to save cash by cooking meals at home from scratch.

Looking at the report, Weight Watchers suggests that education needs to begin much closer to home rather than what the Government is pushing with their ‘The Responsibility Deal’ which up to now has only concentrated on what we eat when buying from takeaways or fast food outlets and restaurants when outside the home. Looking at what people eat when at home, what they cook and how much they serve up will help people understand where they are going wrong with their diet.

Mac & Cheese

Picture courtesy of D Sharon Pruitt

New research from Spain suggests that the contraceptive system, the coil, can reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer.

Around 2,800 women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. Could more women using the coil reduce these statistics?

In a study of 20,000 people, the women who had used the contraceptive device were found to be half as likely to later develop cancer.

‘Our data suggests that use of IUDs significantly reduce the risk of cervical cancer and that this effect does not seem to be due to differences in screening histories between users and non-users.’ Quotes the author of the study.

People from the charity ‘Cancer Research’ believe that this study is opening up a ‘new’ and ‘exciting’ adventure; which could lead us in the right direction to answer many of the questions that we currently have.

‘It’s not clear how this effect is happening, and whether it’s IUD use itself that is causing the reduced risk, or something else linked to both IUD use and cervical cancer’ she says. ‘Answering these questions could help us understand more about how cervical cancer develops after HPV infection.’

For many men, erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs save their sex lives and marriages however GP’s in the south of England have been urged to only prescribe a twice-monthly prescription of ED drugs. A panel of NHS managers who make rationing recommendations for areas covering Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire decided that there should be a twice-monthly limit on erectile dysfunction drugs.

But currently there is no NHS guidance stating that ED drugs should be limited and that according to research people have sex four times a month, for ages 40 to 60 this is about once a week. Those who buy ED drugs such as Levitra online won’t find a restriction its thought that it covers men who have ED drugs on prescription. It was found in the latest document from the South Central Priorities Committee that they want to limit the use of ED drugs because the committee “has considered the evidence of clinical and cost-effectiveness, and the financial impact on the health economy of treatment for erectile dysfunction” and recommends patients are treated ” with a frequency of dosing of two times per month using the drug with the lowest acquisition cost”.

According to Dr Paul Roblin who represents GP medical committees in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire the guidance was “getting in the way of GPs having a sensible dialogue with patients about their requirements. Local priorities committees don’t understand the only restrictions on GP prescribing come from the national black list and grey list,” he said. “They sometimes portray recommendations as a rule that has to be obeyed, and that’s not true.”

Many GPs will most probably still continue to prescribe erectile dysfunction drugs on a patient to patient basis as many currently do now and it’s unlikely that this recommendation would spread to the rest of England.

Movember

What is Movember?

Movember is a charitable event which aims to raise money, and bring awareness to men’s problems, particularly focusing on prostate cancer.

Last year 111,825 people took part across the UK raising £11.7 million. This money has funded a variety of programmes run by Movember and its men’s health partners The Prostate Cancer Charity and the Institute of Cancer Research.

What do I have to do?

To get involved in Movember, men are asked to register online and start the month of November clean shaven. As their moustaches grow, they will then become walking and talking bill boards for the rest of Movember (30 days) raising awareness while doing so.

The growth of a moustache sparks conversation about men’s issues, such as prostate cancer, that are often forgotten about. Females can also get involved by spreading the word, and helping to raise the cash.

Why should I get involved?

Each year 37,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer; making it the most common cancer in men. If you take part in Movember, you could help lower that number.

The founder of Movember, JC explains : “Through the power of the Mo we are changing the actions and attitudes of men around the world when it comes to their health. The Mo is a catalyst for change, promoting both public and private conversation and through the growth of a moustache during November we will continue to increase early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment of cancer.”

The history of Movember

Movember first began in Australia in the year of 2003, since then, it has grown to become a truly global movement with more than 1.1 million people participating.

Just eight year later and there are official campaigns running in: the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Spain.

What’s going on this year?

Various towns and cities across the UK will be taking part in Movember events. There is something for everyone and the events always prove to be fun whilst you are doing it for a good cause. Get growing!

Movember moustaches

Over the past year, fish pedicures have become increasingly popular, this beauty craze see’s people place their feet into a tank full of tiny Garra Rufa fish which supposedly nibble on dead skin. Experts warn that people with weak immune systems or underlying medical conditions are at increased risk of infection.

Although there is a very low risk for healthy people, anyone with an underlying health condition such as diabetes or psoriasis has now been warned against these pedicures.

These types of pedicures have been popular in Asia for many years however in some states in the US such as Florida, Texas, New Hampshire and Washington, they have been banned due to health concerns that infections could spread through open wounds.

New guidelines have been issued by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) after a fish tank of water was found to contain a number of micro-organisms and that infections could be transmitted either from fish to person (during the nibbling process), water to person (from the bacteria which can multiply in water), or person to person (via water, surrounding surfaces and the fish)by a panel of experts.

Garra Rufa fish are a type of toothless carp and have become increasingly popular here in Britain as part of this pedicure treatment, however as long as tanks are kept clean and no one with open wounds, sores or infections use them, there shouldn’t be too much risk, after all these fish do not break the skin, rather nibble off dead skin….yummy!

Fish Pedicure

Picture courtesy of Tracey Hunter

A lot of people in the UK suffer from Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD) and as we head towards the darker winter month’s people will feel it more and more. Many people use a SAD light on a morning to help boost their mood over the winter months. However eating correctly can also help you too.

With SAD many people turn to comfort eating to make them feel better however comfort eating sugar-loaded carbohydrates and fat-rich foods will actually do little for you. Instead make sure you eat the following to help SAD:

Eggs are very good for your health, over the past few years health experts have said they can do more harm than good although it was never really proven, now however health experts are in agreement that they are good for you, shocker! Eating eggs for breakfast make a really good start to the day, they contain folic acid and are protein-and-fat-rich but don’t cause fluctuations in blood sugar.

Avocadoes are another food that gets health experts in a tizzy however it has been shown that they are full of depression-fighting magnesium as well as B6 and folates. They also contain quite a lot of monounsaturated fat, which aids your metabolism and helps to lower your cholesterol. Mexican food uses avocadoes in most recipes and side dishes so why not have some Mexican feasts to brighten up your winter.

Sweet potatoes make for a good alternative to the spud, because they contain B6 vitamin, they affect the neurotransmitters in your brain and increase your mood. They are also low on the glycaemic index so means you won’t experience a peak and trough in your blood sugar. They are easy to cook with and can be treated pretty much in the same way as a normal spud, however make the most of them by roasting them with spices for a healthy potato wedge.

Oily fish have numerous health benefits which is why experts say we should incorporate them a lot more into our everyday diet. Fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids have been used to successfully treat depression plus they do wonders for your skin. They are a great option for breakfast, lunch and dinner so why not add some of these little god sends to your diet to beat SAD.

Thirteen years ago Viagra was launched, it revolutionised the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), tackling a problem that for many years had been taboo. Some men can suffer from mild ED however a lot of men will suffer more severe cases of ED, those with mild ED often find changes in lifestyle or diet can affect their performance ability in the bedroom. However for the more severe cases medication is needed.

It’s estimated that 40 per cent of men will suffer erectile dysfunction by the age of 40, rising to 65 per cent of the over-60s. This shows that ED is a lucrative market, since Viagra’s inception there have been alternatives launched; Cialis and Levitra are too of the most successful, other options including natural remedies have been tried but none are as success full as these medications. However with all medication there can be side effects some more serious than others, plus a selection of men with ED won’t be able to take medication if they have other health issues.

So as we look to the future we can see that there are many companies and drug manufacturers looking to get a slice of the ED cake by bringing out other options to treat ED. These include:

Viagra Condom

A special gel lines the inside of the Viagra condom that boosts blood flow and it works different from Viagra, which is why the name can be misleading. It actually contains an angina drug that increases blood flow, making it more suitable for men who find it difficult to maintain erections while wearing condoms. It’s thought that this new condom could encourage men to wear condoms, especially if they worry about their performance when wearing one, so the risk of sexually transmitted infections can be reduced. These condoms will be available in the next few months, over the counter.

Delay Spray

Delay spray is used to delay premature ejaculation which is a form of sexual dysfunction. It has an anaesthetising effect on the penis, which will help a man maintain erection for much longer than normal. According to manufacturers, applying the spray three to eight times five to 15 minutes before intercourse can help prolong the time taken to reach climax. This spray is available now at leading Pharmaceuticals.

Other PDE5 inhibitors

Currently other manufacturers are looking at new versions of PDE5 inhibitors to offer alternatives to Viagra. PDE5 inhibitors are what stops the chemical that triggers the end of an erection and many of the new versions aim to last longer or have fewer side effects.

According to research smoking can affect men in the bedroom department; men who successfully stopped smoking saw greater improvements in sexual health compared to men who relapsed during a programme designed to help men quit smoking.

So there is no better time to think about giving up if you are a man, Study author Christopher Harte from the VA Boston Healthcare System said: “The findings may provide a timely nudge for male smokers. With younger men, the risks of smoking in that population appear more far off. They think, “I don’t really need to worry about this until much farther down the road. Regardless of if this really does apply to all men who smoke or not (the goal was) just getting the word out that men could be aware of this finding, so it could influence their decisions to start the quitting process.”

65 men were enrolled by Harte and co-author Cindy Meston from the University of Texas at Austin, the men did not have self-reported impotence either and were put on a an eight-week quit smoking program using nicotine patches.

As part of the treatment the men were brought into a locked lab and shown a racy film, before, half way and a few weeks after treatment. Researchers kept track of how aroused they were and measurements were taken and the men taking part also filled out surveys about their general sexual health.

At the end of the study out of 65 men 20 of them had not lit up and 45 were still smoking, those which quit experienced greater sexual arousal and became excited more quickly compared to non-quitters. However at the moment they weren’t experiencing report better performance in the bedroom but scientists said it could take a while for improvements seen in the lab to translate into real-life.

‘It might take longer for men to actually notice their level of difference subjectively outside of the lab, which is also dependent on their relationship with their sexual partner,’ Harte said.

Diets which are rich in natural spices could help protect your heart by preventing heart disease according to researchers. It’s thought that you could still eat a high fat diet without it having an adverse effect on your heart if you add spies such as turmeric, cinnamon and paprika to the food.

The researchers from Penn State University have found a blend of antioxidant spices can actually reduce the stress that high fat foods put on your heart which is done by the build-up of triglycerides that are stored in fat cells.

Study leader Sheila West said: “If triglyceride levels are raised too much your risk of heart disease is increased. We found that adding spices to a high-fat meal reduced triglyceride response by about 30 per cent, compared to a similar meal with no spices added.”

The research was carried out by preparing two meals which were identical except that one had culinary spices in it and researchers drew blood from the six male participants aged between 30 and 65 every 30 minutes for three hours. They found that when the meal contained the blend of spices, antioxidant activity in the blood was increased by 13 per cent and insulin response decreased by about 20 per cent.

Speaking about the scientific findings Doctor West said: “Antioxidants, like spices, may be important in reducing oxidative stress and thus the risk of chronic disease.”

Oxidative stress is thought to be a contributing factor to heart disease, diabetes and arthritis according to many scientists, the results from these latest experiments can be found in the current issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

Adding to all the doom and gloom about what gives you cancer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is looking into whether tattoos could give you cancer after they found troubling findings about toxic chemicals in tattoo ink.

A lot of our vices such as Smoking, drinking, sunbathing and mobile phones have been linked to cancer and although it can never be easily proved that doing one of those things will give you cancer it will increase your chances, like anything really now.

For centuries man has been tattooing and not a second thought was given to the effect the ink could have on the human body however recent published studies have found that the inks can contain a host of substances which can be harmful, including some phthalates, metals, and hydrocarbons that are carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. The most common chemical found in tattoo ink is called benzo(a)pyrene which is known to be a potent carcinogen that causes skin cancer in animal tests.

According to an FDA fact sheet some pigments are industrial grade dyes ‘suitable for printers’ ink or automobile paint,’ so now the FDA has launched an investigation into what the long-term effects of these pigments are and what happens when they break down in the body or fade from light exposure.

Joseph Braun, an environmental epidemiologist at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, told Environmental Health News: ‘The short answer is we don’t know if the chemicals in tattoo inks represent a health hazard.’

In the US it is estimated that 45million people including at least 36 per cent of adults in their late 30s, have one tattoo at least. A spokesman for the agency said: “Because the dyes and inks used in tattoos have not been approved by FDA, we do not know the specific composition of what these inks and dyes may contain. Therefore, we are unable to evaluate for chronic health concerns, such as cancer.”