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

We have all heard the horror stories of people who have bought medications online only to become very, very ill. In some cases people have also died because what they thought was safe and the proper medication was not. This is why you should be very careful when buying online and only use reputable suppliers such as www.ukmedix.com who work with a network of UK pharmacies and Doctors to provide you with a safe and secure service.

Men can find it hard to visit the doctors especially if they have a problem (down there) so speaking to professionals online can help and make them feel comfortable. Luckily now if you do suffer from impotence or premature ejaculation there are medications out there which can help you, plus there seems to be less stigma now around taking them!

It should be noted thought that it’s not just men who can suffer with sexual problems women too can suffer from low sexual desire. Again something you might not feel too comfortable going to the doctor for, worrying that it’s not important enough of that you may be fobbed off. Female sexual health isn’t something that you should shrug off, after all why shouldn’t you enjoy an active sex life no matter your age.

Finally all medication online should come in marked boxes, just as you would get from the pharmacy with all the correct packaging and labels. You know something is wrong if the box is plain or has incorrect spelling on.

It’s not really a topic men like to discuss, especially between their friends however in your group of friends or in your office at least one man does/will suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED). Many men also believe ED is something which only affects old men, however it can strike at any age, so how do you know if you have erectile dysfunction?

Well ED is the inability to get and maintain an erection that is sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse. Sometimes ED may just be temporary, however because there are a number of causes you could suffer from ED permanently. ED is not to be confused with premature ejaculation which is where a man ‘comes’ too quickly or retarded ejaculation which is where a man cannot reach climax.

Many men are probably aware what the treatments for ED are, the most famous one is Viagra or ‘the little blue pill’ as it’s also know other ED treatments include Levitra, and Cialis. However all of these treatments come with side effects so you should always visit your doctor before taking them.

ED in young men tends to be caused by anxiety, you know, worrying about having sex if you’re not experienced, worrying about causing pregnancy and problems with condoms. This type of ED is something you normally grow out of with experience! For those in middle age, ED can be caused by stress, such as work or home life, cutting down on these types of stresses (if you can) can help. It can also be caused by diabetes so it’s always good to seek regular health checks. Finally for those older, you will find that the chance of having ED increases because of general health deterioration.

So what should you do if you suffer from erectile dysfunction? Well don’t jump straight on the internet to buy drugs from a dodgy retailer, god knows what you might end up getting, visit your doctor first, sometimes speaking to someone can actually help. If you still find that you need ED drugs then make sure you buy them from pharmacies and reputable online sellers such as www.ukmedix.com, where you can also get advice.

We have been told time and time again, that snacking regularly is bad for us. But is it as bad as it’s made out to be?

No doubt you have heard the saying, that snacking between meals ruins your appetite and now we are even being told that snacking is the demon behind the modern-day crisis of obesity.

But if you an active kinda guy, then neither of the above may necessarily be true. On average, men need to consume an extra 600 calories more per day than women. Factors such as height, weight and occupation, can push this figure even higher still.

Basically, snacking can be a good thing. It can give you the extra calories you need, whenever you need them.

Snacking is pretty much essential if you miss a meal, as busy men are liable to do. Many of us regard meals as a low priority when we’ve got a hundred other things to do.

Snacking is not a problem, if you lead a busy life. However, it then because a problem if you choose to snack of the wrong types of foods.  Another advantage of snacking is that it gives you energy for specific occasions, like a workout or football game, for example.

Now, experts are actually saying that having three big meals is a mistake, and that instead we should have three smaller meals and some snacks, too.

Digesting large meals is hard work for your body and can actually make you feel lethargic. However, eating five times a day isn’t for everyone and can often be bad for those people who are prone to over-eating. But if you lead an active life, then this can be a very effective way of maintaining energy.

The American Dietetic Association suggests that if you’re truly hungry, a small snack could be a good way to ‘tide you over’ until you are ready for a big meal. If you don’t snack when you feel hungry, your blood sugar can drop sharply.

The dangers of snacking

The dangers of snacking are pretty basic. If you snack at the wrong times, with the Snacks high in fat, wrong foods, you are highly likely to gain weight.

What should men snack on?

There are a few rules for snacking. First, your snack shouldn’t be the sugary, carbohydrate-heavy type. This will only send your blood levels soaring.

When it comes to snacking, you should try high-fibre cereal topped with fresh fruit, picking at slices of lean ham, turkey or beef, or dipping into a punnet of cherry tomatoes throughout the day. This is extremely health and is almost certain to keep your hunger at bay.

If you find yourself a bit peckish before playing sports, oatmeal is a great snack. It has a healthy balance of protein and good carbohydrates. This releases glucose into the bloodstream more slowly, which then avoids peaks and troughs in blood sugar levels.) If you prefer energy bars, go for ones that are low in fat and sugar and made from whole oats.

Smoothies are another fabulously healthy way to see you through the afternoon. Made from a mix of fruits and either yoghurt or soya milk. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a healthy snack!
And finally, there’s chocolate. Yep, you heard that right. But it has to be the dark stuff, rich in heart healthy flavonoids. Milk chocolate is too high in sugar and fat.

Get snacking

Forget what you heard, snacking can be beneficial for most men! Snacking gives extra energy and helps you to avoid low-sugar lumps. Remember, this is only true if you snack on the right things!

Not quite ready for your beautiful locks to turn grey? According to new reports, you might not have to; L’Oreal provides an answer to stop hair from turning grey.

Researchers and beauty giants have been searching for decades to find an answer to stop grey hair once and for all. Researchers are currently working on a medication that, if taken every day, could help you retain your natural hair colour for as long as possible.

Due to the researchers wanting to avoid a synthetic drug, they have been testing all kinds of natural medication for years. Finally they have found a natural drug which works. It is found in fruit. However, researchers have been careful to not to reveal what the fruit extract is, until the safety trials have been completed in approximately 18 months’ time.

However, it has been released that the drug will be inexpensive and should be taken as a diet supplementary would.

Hairs begin to turn grey after the age of 30, when human cells start a process called oxidative stress, this then makes them less resistant to toxins. The hair pigment cells then die. The pill, however, would help to stop this from happening.

Des Tobin, professor of cell biology at University of Bradford, concludes: ‘With people living longer and working longer, they are in the grey zone for longer and the demand for something like this is huge,’

A national New Year health campaign has been launched by the Department of Health to help people quit smoking. They are launching a NHS Quit Kit which is a box of practical tools and advice which will equip people with the tools to quit smoking.

The NHS Quit Kit will be showcased in a series of TV, radio and search campaigns which has been created by Partners Andrews Aldridge. The campaigns will encourage smokers to get the free kit from a participating pharmacy in England.

As part of the NHS Quit Kit smokers will get a new text support programme, which will give them extra encouragement, support and advice in the first weeks the most crucial time for people trying to quit.

There are 7,000 pharmacies backing this campaign in England, including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Morrison’s, Co-operative, Superdrug, Boots, Manichem, Whitworth, Medipharmacy, Cohens Group and Lloyds, as well as around 800 independent pharmacies.

For more information on the NHS Quit Kit and how to find your nearest pharmacy, check nhs.uk/smokefree.

Since Viagra was first launched over ten years ago, millions of men have regained their sexual confidence and now scientists are looking into the effects it can have on the heart. Researchers are looking into whether Viagra can help patients with diastolic heart failure.

Diastolic heart failure is a condition which means sufferers have abnormally inflexible ventricles (which are the heart’s major pumping chambers), this means the chambers do not fill sufficiently with blood, leading to blood “backing up” in the lungs and breathing difficulties.

Scientists have found that Viagra which supresses the enzyme phosphodiesterase (PDE) in the penis to allow blood flow also activates an enzyme that causes a protein in heart muscle cells to relax. In tests carried out in dogs with diastolic heart failure effects were seen within minutes of the drug being administered.

Study leader Professor Wolfgang Linke, from the Ruhr Universitat Bochum (RUB) in Germany, said: “We have developed a therapy in an animal model that, for the first time, also raises hopes for the successful treatment of patients.”

The research team found that Viagra worked on the same enzyme in the heart (PDE), it had the effect of causing a cardiac muscle protein called titin to become more elastic.

Professor Wolfgang Linke said: “The titin molecules are similar to rubber bands. They contribute decisively to the stiffness of cardiac walls.”

Viagra was originally developed to treat patients with high blood pressure, however it was not found to be effective, but it did have an amazing effect on men with erectile dysfunction.

Scientific studies have produced results suggesting that people are 5X more susceptible to sun damage when sun bathing in the afternoon, as appose to in the morning. The study shows that afternoon sunbathing raises the risk of cancer development.

This is thought to be because the protein (XPA) produced in the body to repair UV damage cells is more active in the morning. Suggesting that bathing in the sunshine or visiting a tanning booth could is supposedly safer before lunchtime.

In scientific tests, mice (with internal body clocks exactly opposite to humans because they are nocturnal) developed five times more skin cancer tumours when exposed to UV rays in the morning, compared with those in the afternoon.

Professor Aziz Sancar, has shown in other studies that levels of the XPA protein differ throughout the day and seem to be controlled by the body clock. It is believed that XPA levels in humans would be at its greatest at 7am.

The research would suggest that restricting sunbathing or visits to the tanning booth to morning hours would reduce the risk of skin cancer in humans. However, it is still highly dangerous. Malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, kills around approximately 2,000 people per year and specialists urge ‘sun-tan seekers’ to find alternatives to sunbathing and sunbeds.

His team now plans to test human volunteers to confirm that morning sun is safest for people.

Sunbathers

Picture courtesy of AnnieGreenSprings

Researchers have proven that having a good old laugh, doesn’t just improve you mood, but improves your pain thresh hold too.

Having a laugh can help people feel less pain because it causes the body to release chemicals that act as a natural painkiller.

Researchers found this by testing how much pain volunteers could withstand. Researchers at Oxford University found that volunteers who had recently experienced genuine laughing fits were able to withstand up to 10 per cent more pain than those who hadn’t laughed recently.

The scientists indicated that they type of laugh also effected the results. Professor Robin Dunbar (who led the research team) believes that uncontrollable laughter releases endorphins into the body which then generate mild euphoria which results in a reduction in pain.

Dunbar explains: ‘It’s the emptying of the lungs that causes this effect; it’s exactly what happens when we say ‘I laughed until it hurt’. It seems to be extremely painful and it’s that pain that produces the endorphin effect.’

Professor Dunbar’s theory also suggests that as well as reducing pain, endorphins make people more likely to developing bonds. ‘The next stage will be to see whether laughing really allows groups to bond together and work as a group better.’

If this turns out to be the case, it could explain why the first humans were able to create bonds and create the first initial tribes.

Worried about your stomach after a night on the town? Don’t be. Try drinking strawberry daiquiris.

Researchers have found the strawberries can help protect the stomach from the effects of alcohol. This is highly important as it gives us hope of improved treatments of stomach ulcers.

The finding was discovered when scientists gave ethanol to laboratory rats. The team found less ulcerations in the stomachs of those rats which had eaten strawberry extract (40mg/day per kilo of weight) for 10 days before being given alcohol.

Scientists say a diet which is rich in the fruit can help prevent gastric illness and slow down the formation of stomach ulcers.

The scientists said that treatments for stomach ulcers needed antioxidant properties, and that strawberries could be the answer to this.

Researchers were studying the mucous membrane, which contains special cells that produce acid and enzymes- helping the body to break down. It also excretes mucus; this protects the lining of the membrane from the acid.

Inflammation of the stomach membrane is related to alcohol consumption but can also be caused by viral infections or anti-inflammatory medication (like aspirin.)

Maurizio Battino, coordinator of the research group explained: ‘In these cases, the consumption of strawberries during or after pathology could lessen stomach mucous membrane damage. This study was not conceived as a way of mitigating the effects of getting drunk but rather as a way of discovering molecules in the stomach membrane that protect against the damaging effects of differing agents.’

Strawberries

Picture courtesy of Geekpulp