Author Archives: Editor

Try the strength for life test – web chat with the experts

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Brain or brawn? The great British debate – Find out how to improve your strength with our expert panel Chat date: Tuesday 22nd May Chat time: 1430 (GMT+1).

When we think of strength we tend to conjure images of Lennox Lewis or Jonny Wilkinson’s one-arm pull-ups. But what about Stephen Hawking or Albert Einstein? Is mental might as important as muscle mass?

According to the team behind the AdeZ Ultimate Strength Test it certainly is, proving once and for all that it takes more mind than muscle to be truly ‘strong’.

But are you ready to take the test to find out how strong you are?

The test was devised with the help of one of the toughest women on the planet, Jo Salter, Britain’s first ever female fighter pilot. It identifies four types of strength – Emotional, Physical, Personal and Cognitive – that are needed to cope with all the challenges life throws at you.

Jo knows that determination and mental agility is just as important as brute strength when it comes to success and problem solving in the face of adversity.

Jo is part of an expert team who are here to answer all your questions about how to become as strong as you can be. She is joined by leading celebrity fitness instructor, Jamie Baird; happiness expert Dr Robert Holden; and nutritionist to the London Wasps and London Irish Rugby Clubs, Jane Griffin, who has devised the Ultimate Strength menu.

All are masters of motivation so make sure you reap the benefit of their collective expertise. Join our live webchat to learn how making even small changes to your daily routine can help you develop the all-round strength to cope with everything life throws at you…

Jo Salter, Jamie Baird, Dr Robert Holden, and Jane Griffin join us live online at http://www.webchats.tv/webchat.php?ID=387 on Tuesday 22nd May at 1430 to discuss how to discover your strength.

For more information visit www.adez.com
Jo Salter was Britain’s first female fighter pilot flying the Tornado GR1. She was one of only five women fighter pilots in the world. She is now a management consultant and author of the book, ‘Energy’.

Jamie Baird, has been a fitness coach for 14 years and is now coach to a series of British celebrities including Kate Beckinsale and Donna Air.

Dr Robert Holden is the Director/Founder of The Happiness Project. He is a psychologist, author and broadcaster who coaches leaders in business, healthcare, education and sport. His services are retained by some of the world’s leading organizations.

Jane Griffin is one of the UK’s foremost sports dieticians. She has been named by her peers as one of the ten leading dieticians in Britain and been presented with the prestigious British Dietetic Association Ibex Award.

UK’s Alzheimer’s Society commissions new study into link between diet and dementia

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London: The UK’s Alzheimer’s Society has today commissioned a new research study into the link between diet and dementia. The review hopes to answer crucial questions about what aspects of diet can help to people lower their risk of developing the devastating disease.

Experts increasingly believe eating healthily is key to reducing risks and are hoping this new research study will galvanise research into this important area.

Sarah Day, Hearts and Brains project manager, Alzheimer’s Society says,

‘From fruit juice to red wine there are lots of different studies that have linked dementia to diet. For the first time in the UK, this study will bring together all of this information to give us a clearer picture of what the evidence says and where more research is needed. What we find will also help us let people know exactly what they can be doing to manage their risk.

‘People think that not much can be done, but a growing weight of evidence suggests this isn’t true. Physical exercise, keeping a low blood pressure and cholesterol, not smoking and eating healthily and can all affect your chances of developing dementia.

‘For example, studies have shown that, a healthy Mediterranean diet could reduce your risk by a third whereas obesity can double your risk. This study will combine this evidence to give us a holistic approach to the facts.’

The first half of the findings of the review will be ready for Alzheimer’s Awareness Week 2007 (1 – 7 July 2007). This year’s Awareness Week will focus on what people can do to reduce their risk of developing dementia, like make simple changes to their lifestyle.

A new booklet ‘Be Headstrong’ which tells people how they can reduce their risks is available from Alzheimer’s Society local branches during Alzheimer’s Awareness Week or from www.challengedementia.org.uk

· Alzheimer’s Awareness Week is the 1 – 7 July 2007

· Copies of the Alzheimer’s Awareness Week brochure ‘Be Headstrong. Challenge your risk of Dementia’ are available on request.

· For information about Alzheimer’s Awareness Week® 2007 and activities happening across the country visit www.challengedementia.org.uk

· 1 in 3 older people will end their lives with a form of dementia.

· 700,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer’s disease. In less than 20 years nearly a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051. 1 in 5 people over 80 have dementia.

· The Alzheimer’s Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and those who care for them. The Alzheimer’s Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

· As a charity, the Alzheimer’s Society depends on the generosity of the public to help it care, research and campaign for people with dementia. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or visiting www.alzheimers.org.uk

· The Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Helpline number is 0845 300 0336 or visit www.alzheimers.org.uk

New fat buster from Vichy Laboratories reduces cellulite in one month

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London: Lipo-metric by Vichy Laboratories is a new cellulite treatment that actually works – it has been tested and nine out of ten women had a result after one month use.

According to Vichy scientists cellulite lurks in both overweight and thin women. It occurs when fat storage cells known as adipocytes swell up and they can expand by 60 times their size. And there’s more – when they swell they produce mini versions of themselves called pre-adipocytes. This causes the skin to swell pressure which breaks down the fibres that keep skin firm resulting in the unpleasant dimpling effect typical of cellulite.

Lipo-metric contains two substances Adrenalyse-S and Aminokine-G which Vichy says combine to produce instant results. It also contains the other proven cellulite buster caffeine.

This product produces results after one month of use and the secret of success is massaging it in twice daily. It can be used on the legs, thighs, tummy and waist.

What causes cellulite
Provoking factors
• Hormonal level variations
• Puberty, pregnancy, menopause
• Erratic blood circulation
• Unbalanced diet
• Stress
• Lack of exercise

Proven results
Tested on 201 women
9 out of 10 achieved a success rate

Lipo-metric costs $39.50 (£19.99, €30) and is on sale internationally and at exclusive pharmacies.

Soya supplement proven to relieve menopause symtoms without dangerous side effects, reveal two new studies

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London: Two new studies, each involving 400 menopausal women, who were given a natural soya supplement has shown that it did not cause the potential dangerous side effects sometimes associated with oestrogen such as a thickening of the womb lining or breast cancers.

The studies were carried out by the French pharmaceutical company Arkopharma in relation to its supplement Phyto Soya, which helps relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes by boosting levels of the hormone oestrogen naturally.

Nearly 400 women took part in each of the studies. The first looked at the effects of Phyto Soya on the endometrium – the lining of the womb – in women aged 45 to 65 years old. In this case the 310 biopsies that were available for evaluation at the end of the trial showed no cases of hyperplasia – an abnormal increase in the number of cells or cancer.

Separately, in another international study, which hasn’t yet been published, the women who were taking Phyto Soya were checked for changes in their breasts with mammography and breast ultrasounds. It found no changes at all in any of the subjects, and therefore no risks of breast cancer associated with the supplement. This study also confirmed that it caused no cases of endometriosis.

The studies’ authors are keen to point out that their results only apply to the brand of soya known as Phyto Soya and do not apply to any other soya isoflavone extract.

The good news for women is that a third study showed that trialists taking Phyto Soya experienced significantly fewer hot flushes a day, with two-thirds of them saying their number of hot flushes had been halved and 73% rating it as good or excellent.

The study concludes that menopausal women worried about the long-term effects of taking HRT now have a new, safe alternative in the form of soya extract.

The low incidence of menopausal symptoms in countries like Japan, where people eat a lot of soya, has long caused some experts to claim that soya extracts could do the same job as HRT. However, there was no proof that it was any less risky to take – until now, that is. But these new clinical studies have shown that Phyto Soya not only significantly reduces hot flushes but also is definitely safe when taken over long periods of time.

Soya is one of a number of plants that includes extracts called phytoestrogens, which are chemicals that act like oestrogens in animal cells. Isoflavones, which are found chiefly in soybeans, are specific phytoestrogens that have a chemical structure that is very similar to human oestrogen. This means that they can affect the way that women’s bodies produce oestrogen, if the right types and amounts are used.

Pet arthritis – advice from pet longevity vet Dr Carol Osborne

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By Dr Carol Osborne

Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease which causes painful inflammation of the joints and affects dogs and cats as well as humans. Recent research reveals that arthritis manifests itself in 95% of dogs even at the age two, and 99% of people at age 35, even if there are no visible signs. Twenty percent of all dogs two years of age and older are afflicted.

Symptoms include limping, lameness, decreased activity, stiffness, reluctance to stand, climb stairs, run and jump. In the case of cats they become reluctant to move and often have accidents outside the litter box.

Although arthritis is more common in large dogs, small dogs and cats are also vulnerable to this condition which destroys the cartilage and connective tissue, which normally act as a cushion and absorbs the shock between bones and joints.

But medical management, weight control and moderate exercise can help many pets to live a relatively pain free life even with this condition. This has traditionally consisted of anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids, which are effective in relieving pain but can carry serious side effects. But new, natural remedies are able to offer similar benefits without the risks. Moderate exercise helps maintain joint mobility and muscle strength for joint support. Weight control also helps reduce the burden of excess soft tissue the joints must support.

Like humans pets can benefit from taking supplements that provide relief from pain while increasing joint lubrication and flexibility and enhancing the joints ability to absorb shock. These should contain a range of ingredients including glucosamine, methylsulfonylemethane (MSM, Green Lipped Mussel, glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronic acid, natural chelated minerals, Ester C, enzymes and polypeptides.

Since age, breed, diet, lifestyle, injury and stress can affect the health and function of joints in different ways it is always wise to seek the advice of a professional vet.

Dr Carol can be contacted toll free in the US at 1-866 DR CAROL or by email at drcarol@drcarol.com For more information visit www.drcarol.com

Pet Longevity Guide – by Dr Carol Osborne

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The Pet Longevity Revoultion
by Dr Carol Osborne, D.V.M.
People and pets are now living longer than ever before. As owners, we naturally want our pets to live the longest, healthiest lives possible. After all dogs and cats aren’t just pets, they are cherished members of our family and for most of us, best friends. In fact, according to a recent Gallup survey the relationship we share with pets gets stronger with every passing year. Our love is so deep, and our relationship so special, that today almost 75% of us wouldn’t hand over their pets even in exchange for $1 million cash.

So, What’s Best For Pets?

Prevention and early disease detection combined with good nutrition, exercise, and proper veterinary care are the cornerstones of good health. Although the aging process is different for every animal (large and giant dog breeds tend to age faster than smaller ones) it generally begins at maturity, somewhere between one and two years of age, for dogs and between 10 and 12 months of age for cats. Most pets become senior citizens at seven. Giant dog breeds are considered seniors at age 5. Shorted lived cat breeds, like Persians, are considered seniors at age six.

How Old Is Old

To determine whether or not a pet is old, it’s important to distinguish between chronological and biological age. Chronological age is determined by the year in which your pet was born or the number of candles on your pets birthday cake. Anti-ageing medicine focuses on biological age, which is determined by how your pet looks, acts and feels.

LONGEVITY AND HEALTH

Longevity is attributed to 70% to lifestyle and 30% to genetics. Up to 90% of diseases in dogs and cats are due to the degenerative processes associated with ageing. Longevity research confirms the fact that a fresh organic diet along with optimal nutritional supplementation can deter and slow the aging process and can help your pet stay younger longer and enhances his or her life expectancy.

Backed By Decades of Research

A successful longevity program starts by supplementing your pet’s body with the critical nutrients it needs on a daily basis. Look for anti-ageing supplements, like PAAWS, specifically designed for pets that contain a scientifically proven, natural blend of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, anti-oxidants, herbs, essential omega 3 fatty acids, digestive enzymes, immune system boosters and longevity factors. They should be are synergistically balanced to optimize your pet’s health and maximize his or her longevity.

SIGNS OF AGEING IN PETS
Signs of aging occur slowly. Their detection requires your close observation and keen eye. Before beginning any supplement use this checklist to identify signs of aging in your pet. Then monitor your pet’s progress by filling out this list 30, 60, and 90 days later.

AGEING SIGNS in DOGS & CATS:
• Weight gain/weight loss
• Changes in skin, hair coat
• Excess shedding
• Changes in appetite
• Drinking more
• Increased urination
• Loss of house training and/or
Accidents in the house
• Hesitant to climb the stairs
• Limping/less mobile, stiff gait
• Harder to get up and down
• Has trouble or can’t jump in and
out of the car
• Bad breath
• Gas or indigestion after eating
• Vision and/or hearing loss
• Less interaction with family members
• Aimless wandering/ walking in circles
• Skin problems
• Excess itching
• Excess barking
• Frantic or cries when left alone
• Easily irritated
• Less enthusiastic when owners return home
• Sleeping more during the day and/ or staying awake at night
• Disoriented or confused
• Litter box problems
• Behavioral changes

TEST YOUR TEST YOUR PET IQ
True or False
1. Over half the dogs and cats in developed countries are overweight.
True False
True. An overweight pet is 15% or more above his or her ideal body weight.
2. Being 10% overweight decreases a pet’s life span.
True False
True. Being 10% overweight also predisposes pets to heart, liver and kidney disease,
as well as arthritis, diabetes and cancer.
3. It is okay to feed my pet my leftovers.
True False
False, Throw out table scraps.
4. Leave meals in your pet’s bowl all day.
True False
False, don’t free-feed. This leads to obesity.
5. Exercising an old pet is not a good idea.
True False
False. Exercise for dogs and cats (of all ages) is essential for good health
6. It is risky to put a pet on a diet.
True False
False. It is risky to let any pet stay fat.

DR. CAROL’S GORMUTT TREATS:
Recipes for Tail Wagging K-9 Treats
BOW WOW’S Blazin Biscuits

3/4 cup flour 1 tsp Vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 1/2 cups regular oats (uncooked)
1/2 tsp. salt 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2/3 cup butter 1/2 cup wheat germ
2/3 cup brown sugar 1 cup bacon, cooked crisp &
1 cup bacon, cooked crisp 1 egg (slightly beaten)

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix well and set aside. Cream butter and brown sugar. Beat in one egg and vanilla. Add flour mixture, stirring well. Stir in cheese, wheat germ and crumbled bacon. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto un-greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute and serve!

Carol Osborne, D.V.M. is a leading authority on alternative veterinary medicine and age-related pet diseases. She is worlds only veterinarian to be a board certified Diplomat of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, and is the author of international best sellers Naturally Healthy Dogs and Naturally Healthy Cats. She is a popular lecturer and broadcaster on the subject of pet longevity and wellness has her own patented line of longevity nutritional products for pets which can be purchased at www.drcarol.com

Exercise is good for pets and owners – advice from Dr Carol Osborne

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PETS AND HUMANS BOTH LIVE LONGER WITH EXERCISE
says top vet Carol Osborne

How Much Exercise Do Dogs Need?
Dogs needs at least 20 minutes of exercise twice a day. The exact amount varies with age, breed, weight and physical condition.

Don’t jump off the sofa one minute and take a ten mile hike the next, dogs, like people, need to get in shape gradually a little bit each day. Try starting with a couple of ten minute walks and you can both build up from there. And if your pet hasn’t taken much exercise recently get the vet to check him/her out before you begin the programme.

One hour of exercise increases your dog’s lifespan by 4 hours. Devise a fitness programme for your dog and you may find that you get as much out of it, if not more, than your dog.

Exercise Is Fun With Your Dog!
Exercise is integral to life. Not only is it essential for optimal health, it also improves circulation, stimulates vital organs, facilitates digestion and helps eliminate harmful toxins from the body. Exercise provides aerobic activity that stimulates your dog mentally and physically. And exercising with pets is fun. It is a great way to bond, and it is as good for you as it is for your dog. Most owners end up looking forward to this “special time” as much as their dog does.

Some enlightened fitness centres open their doors to people and pets – use it or loose it doesn’t just apply to people.

Exercise Goals

Exercise promotes confidence, self-esteem and well being. If you make the commitment to eat right and exercise at least 20 minutes twice a day, you and your dog will look good and feel great! Exercise enhances your health, your looks and your life. Before long you’ll both be wagging your tails!
If your dog can’t exercise, you can help by learning canine massage. It’s therapeutic and stimulates vital tissues. It’s also fun and feels great.

PUP-ULAR CANINE SPORTS (Little League Anyone?)

Playgrounds and obstacle courses are great ways to have fun and stay in shape. You can construct obstacles using odds and ends in your garden or buy them already made from a pet shop.

Sports Equipment
Treadmills for Dogs
They are great for dogs of all ages, including those that are older and arthritic. Pets can use them if the weather is bad, if they live in an apartment or if you just can’t get outside. Canine treadmills come with adjustable inclines and speeds. They are fun for pets and when your dog’s done you can use it too!

Fun Exercises for Dogs & their People
Walks
All dog love to go for walks. They are especially good for lap and toy breeds that are too small to do a lot of exercises.
Jogging
Jogging is especially fun for bird and herding breeds that love to run. Be careful if it’s very hot or very cold and if your dog stops to lie down you need to stop too

Roller Blading
Roller blading is worth a try. Just like jogging, its fun with dogs that love to run. Be sure you’re good on wheels and don’t forget your kneepads.

Frisbee
Frisbee is great with breeds that like to focus on objects; Border Collies and Australian Shepard’s find Frisbees fascinating.

Swimming
Most bird dogs, Labradors, Retrievers and even some Mastiffs love the water. It is also therapeutic for older, arthritic dogs. Be sure your dog can swim, because like people, not all can. Stay near by and keep a close eye on him.

Have a Ball
WITH BALL GAMES. BE SURE THE BALL IS BIG ENOUGH SO YOUR DOG CANNOT SWALLOW OR CHOKE ON IT. Also make sure it’s made of sturdy material like hard rubber so your dog can’t chew it into little pieces and risk choking. Dogs get plenty of exercise fetching and frolicking with balls. They also enjoy chasing, chewing, bouncing and pouncing on them,
Some balls have compartments you can fill with treats like apples, carrots or cucumbers. They’re purr-fect for pet’s that enjoy a good game of “Hide and Go Seek”. They’re also great boredom busters if you’re out for the afternoon or at work.

EXERCISES TO AVOID WITH YOUR DOG
Avoid rough games like tug of war, wrestling and those that involve your dog chasing you. These games encourage aggression and teach your dog to struggle against you as opposed to working with you.

Dr Carol Osborne DVM is the world’s only veterinarian to be a board certified Diplomat of the American Academy of Anti-Ageing Medicine. She has her own bespoke pet health products at www.drcarol.com

Pet Arthritis – advice from leading vet Carol Osborne

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By Dr Carol Osborne

Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease which causes painful inflammation of the joints and affects dogs and cats as well as humans. Recent research reveals that arthritis manifests itself in 95% of dogs even at the age two, and 99% of people at age 35, even if there are no visible signs. Twenty percent of all dogs two years of age and older are afflicted.

Symptoms include limping, lameness, decreased activity, stiffness, reluctance to stand, climb stairs, run and jump. In the case of cats they become reluctant to move and often have accidents outside the litter box.

Although arthritis is more common in large dogs, small dogs and cats are also vulnerable to this condition which destroys the cartilage and connective tissue, which normally act as a cushion and absorbs the shock between bones and joints.

But medical management, weight control and moderate exercise can help many pets to live a relatively pain free life even with this condition. This has traditionally consisted of anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids, which are effective in relieving pain but can carry serious side effects. But new, natural remedies are able to offer similar benefits without the risks. Moderate exercise helps maintain joint mobility and muscle strength for joint support. Weight control also helps reduce the burden of excess soft tissue the joints must support.

Like humans pets can benefit from taking supplements that provide relief from pain while increasing joint lubrication and flexibility and enhancing the joints ability to absorb shock. These should contain a range of ingredients including glucosamine, methylsulfonylemethane (MSM, Green Lipped Mussel, glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronic acid, natural chelated minerals, Ester C, enzymes and polypeptides.

Since age, breed, diet, lifestyle, injury and stress can affect the health and function of joints in different ways it is always wise to seek the advice of a professional vet.

Dr Carol can be contacted toll free in the US at 1-866 DR CAROL or by email at drcarol@drcarol.com. For more information visit www.drcarol.com

Drinking small amounts of Armagnac can help prevent heart disease

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Paris: Scientists have discovered that French Armagnac brandy has medicinal benefits.

They tested de-alcoholised Armagnac on blood cells and found it acted in a similar way to an anti-thrombosis drug.

Next they gave one group of volunteers three centilitres of Armagnac a day, and another the same amount of vodka. Professor Nicholas Moore of Bordeaux University said: “The positive effects were there on the ones who had Armagnac. Small amounts daily will help prevent heart disease.”

British scientists invent jab to end high blood pressure

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London: A jab to control high blood pressure has been invented by British scientists.

A third of all adults suffer from high blood pressure which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Now Cheshire-based Protherics has created a vaccine, based on a protein found in limpets, which would require patients to have a three-jab course with a booster every six months.

The jab which has already been trialed successfully on humans is is a viable alternative to the current treatment where pills are given. The limpet protein in the new jab attacks a hormone called angiotensin which raises blood pressure by narrowing arteries.

Protherics is planning trials of an improved version of the jab, which is ten times more effective at stimulating the immune system than its original formula.

People who have tried it have suffered few side-effects, although one in ten did complain of a brief, flu-like illness.

A successful jab would guarantee its manufacturers a healthy share of the $24bn (£12bn)spent around the world annually on blood pressure medicines.

Ideally, patients would be given an initial course of three injections, with a week or fortnight between each jab. A booster shot every six months, or even once a year, would keep blood pressure low. The jabs will be offered privately rather than on the UK’s NHS public health service.

Another company, the Swiss firm Cytos Biotechnology is developing a similar vaccine using an empty virus shell to spur the immune system into action.

Zurich-based Cytos, which is also developing anti-smoking, obesity and flu vaccines, has already shown that its jab is effective at lowering blood pressure.

But the reduction was less than that achieved by tablets already available on prescription. Further trials are due to later this year.

In time, the vaccine may be given to ward off problems in young men and women with a family history of heart disease.

Various blood pressure tablets already on the market work by targeting angiotensin, either by cutting production of the hormone or by stopping it from working properly. But many people stop taking the daily tablets simply because there are no obvious signs that they are boosting their health.

Others give up after suffering side effects. Beta blockers, a major type of blood pressure pill, can cause fatigue, cold hands and feet, nausea, diarrhoea and impotence. They have also been linked to the risk of stroke.

Oestrogen replacement in women before the age of 65 cuts dementia risk

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Boston: Women who use hormone therapy before the age of 65 could cut their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, according to research presented to this month’s meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Boston.

A recent study found women who used any form of estrogen hormone therapy before the age of 65 were nearly 50% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or dementia than women who did not use hormone therapy before age 65.

The study was part of the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study, which is a sub-study of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), one of the largest U.S. prevention studies of postmenopausal women.

The study looked at prior hormone use in 7,153 healthy women ages 65-79 before they enrolled in the WHI Memory Study. Researchers followed the women’s cognitive health over an average of five years.

In that time, 106 of the women developed Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Dementia is a general term referring to the progressive decline in a person’s cognitive function. Dementia can affect memory, attention, language and problem solving abilities. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia.

Prior studies have shown that hormone therapy started during the WHI Memory Study increased a woman’s chance of dementia. The reduced risk of dementia was seen only with prior hormone therapy, used before study enrollment. Reduced risk was not affected by other examined factors.

Study author, Victor W Henderson MD, of Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology said: “We found that it didn’t matter how old the woman was when she started hormone therapy, how long or recently she took it or what kind of prior therapy she used.”

Women who began estrogen-only therapy after the age of 65 had roughly a 50% increased risk of developing dementia. The risk jumped to nearly double for women using estrogen-plus-progestin hormone therapy.

“Further studies are needed to support these findings and learn more about how hormone therapy affects the long-term cognitive health of women who begin use before age 65,” said Henderson.

Heart risk women should be on statins, say experts

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Dallas: Women with a “moderately high risk” of heart problems should be prescribed the anti-cholesterol drugs called statins, according to a leading expert.

Professor Scott Grundy from the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center argues in the British Medical Journal that women should not be ruled out simply because of their gender.

The drugs are designed to reduce levels of bad cholesterol linked to heart disease called LDLs. While many studies have found that statins can prevent heart disease in men, the case for women is much less conclusive.

However, lack of evidence for their effectiveness on women in part because women make up only 16 per cent of those who take part in statins trials has led some experts to argue against their use.

Yet he said there was already general agreement that both men and women at high risk of heart disease should get intensive drug therapy.

Professor Grundy wrote: ‘Until a large-scale clinical trial is carried out to test the efficacy of cholesterollowering in women at moderately high risk, drug therapy should be avoided in most lower risk women.

‘But in those with multiple cardiovascular risk factors and who are projected to be a moderately high risk, use of drugs should not be ruled out.’

Superfood blueberry may protect against bowel cancer, says new research

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New Jersey: Blueberries may prevent colon cancer, a new US study has discovered.

The fruit which has already been labelled a “superfood” because it contains the anti-ageing compound pterostilbene, which could prevent cancer in humans.

Scientists at Rutger University in New Jersey and the US Department of Agriculture said that a pilot study on rats showed that those fed the anti-ageing compound had 57% fewer pre-cancer lesions in their colons. They carried out the experiment on two groups of rats all of which were fed a cancer causing compound called azoxymethan – the group given pterostilbene had least cancer.

Dr Bandaru Reddy, a professor of chemical biology at Rutgers said the blueberry compound was not a cure for cancer but might offer protection against the disease in humans.

It also appeared to reduce the rate at which cancer cells proliferate and inhibited certain genes involved in inflammation.

As well as having anti-ageing properties blueberries are also thought to help with memory loss.

Most Britons believe they look 10 years younger than their real age

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London: Almost a third of women (31 per cent) in their early sixties believe they look ten years younger. Almost a quarter of men in their early 60s (24 per cent) believe they look 10 years younger.

The majority of people in the UK say they look and feel younger than their years. 12 per cent of women aged 36 or over believe they look ten years younger than their years and almost a third (31 per cent) say they feel ten years younger than their real age!*

The new research, compiled by innovative private medical insurer, PruHealth, reveals despite the pressures of modern life, the majority of Britons excel at holding back the years.

The Older, the Better!

Contrary to popular belief, more than half (54 per cent) of women aged 40-plus believe they look younger than they are. But it’s not just women who look and feel younger than their years, 14 per cent of men in their early 40s think they look 10 years younger than they actually are.

70 per cent of women in their early sixties feel ten years younger, and a third (31 per cent) say they look ten years younger. Similarly, almost a quarter of men in their early 60s (24 per cent) believe they look 10 years younger.

However, the optimum age for looking and feeling younger is in your 70s, with 93 per cent of women feeling younger and 84 per cent saying they look younger than their years!

Modern Living

The pressures of modern life are taking the biggest toll on men and women in their thirties, with juggling work, starting a family and financial worries impacting on this generation’s looks. 17 per cent of men and 12 per cent of women in their thirties think they look older than their years.

The findings also reveal the majority of Britons manage to stay looking and feeling youthful despite putting daily pressures on their bodies:

· Nearly one in four (23 per cent) Brits say their stress levels are eight or above on a scale of one to 10 (10 being the highest)

· 45 per cent of people have six hours of sleep or less per night

· Nearly one in four (23 per cent) adults drink more than 14 units of alcohol each week

· A fifth (20 per cent) of Brits smoke cigarettes every day

· 50 per cent of people only do moderate exercise less than once a week

Spend to Mend

For many Brits, the secret to eternal youth could be down to balanced lifestyles. Although the average person splurges nearly £50 a month (£48.13) on booze, cigarettes and junk food, we also spend £29.03 each month on fruit and veg and vitamins. Our monthly spend of £25.94 on skin, hair and body care could also be in a bid to stave off the ‘ugly’ effects of fatty foods, cigarettes and alcohol, such as bad skin and greasy hair.

Katie Roswell, Health and Lifestyle Expert, PruHealth, said: “Despite many recent warnings of bad diets and binge drinking, people in the UK are generally living balanced lifestyles and as a result are feeling and looking better than ever. If we continue to move in the right direction by eating sensibly, cutting back on smoking and making time in our busy schedules for regular exercise, hopefully we’ll be able to continue holding back the years!”

Full consumer product information can be found at www.pruhealth.co.uk

*YouGov conducted an online survey of 2,193 people for PruHealth between 20 – 23rd April 2007. Data is weighted to be representative of the GB population.

** Government Actuary Department, 2005

About PruHealth

PruHealth was launched in October 2004 as a joint venture between Prudential and Discovery Holdings from South Africa. Since launch, PruHealth has grown quickly. It now covers over 100,000 lives and in a sample of its individual customers, one third said they had changed their behaviour for the better because of its Vitality reward scheme which encourages policyholders to look after their health.

PruHealth was chosen, among other stakeholders, to champion the Department of Health’s “small change, big difference campaign.”

The campaign is aimed at adults with the message that even small changes in diet and physical activity can make a difference. Launched by Tony Blair and Patricia Hewitt in April 2006, PruHealth was the only private medical insurer to be selected at launch.

Pistachio nuts lower blood cholesterol, finds new US study

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New York: As few as two pistachio nuts can prevent heart disease through lowering cholesterol and keeping arteries healthy, a new report reveals.

The US study carried out by Pennsylvannia State University found the risk of heart disease was significantly lowered by eating only three ounces of the nut. It is thought that they contain nutrients that help prevent hardening of the arteries – one of the main causes of heart attacks and stroke.

The volunteers who took part in the study ate either 1.5 ounces of the nuts a day or double that amount or none. After just a month, cholesterol levels were significantly lower among the pistachio-eaters. Those who ate the most nuts experienced the biggest decrease in cholesterol. The nuts in the trial were of the non-salty variety since too much salt can increase blood pressure.

Eating three ounces of pistachios a day cut cholesterol levels by 8.4 per cent, with LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol dropping by 11.6 per cent. The study was carried out by researchers at Pennsylvania State University.

Pistachios are particularly rich in an antioxidant called lutein, usually found in green leafy vegetables and brightly coloured fruit. It helps prevent cholesterol from furring up arteries.

Cosmetics companies forced to withdraw misleading ads in Australian market

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Sydney: Five top cosmetics manufacturers have been ordered to withdraw advertisements after complaints to Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration.

They include Lancome, Clinique, Estee Lauder, L’Oreal and Payot. The TGA’s complaints panel found while the creams, peels and serums were only cosmetics, they were making claims that were therapeutic, or which would make a physiological difference.

In one case, Estee Lauder argued that because they were known as a cosmetics firm and their product Perfectionist Correcting Serum was being advertised in a fashion magazine “readers could not reasonably expect the product to have a therapeutic use”.

They told the TGA the product used optical technology among other things to blur the effect of wrinkles.

This was despite promising in their advertisement their Aus $160 product could fill in and smooth out expression lines instantly and “helps the skin amplify its natural collagen production”.

The complaints panel said it was unable to accept the claim was merely cosmetic and had “no doubt” it was a therapeutic claim.

In another complaint, the panel said it was concerned about the comparison Payot made between its $175 Payot Rides Relax to injections of the wrinkle-relieving toxin Botox.

The panel ordered Payot to withdraw its claims that the serum was “wrinkle correcting”.

The Australian Consumers Association would like to see the TGA having the power to fine the cosmetics industry instead of merely ordering them to withdraw their ads.

ACA health policy officer Viola Korczak said the companies were continually trying to push the boundaries when making claims about their products.

“It is in the companies’ interests to put out an ad with a misleading claim because if someone does lodge a complaint, by the time it is processed, the ad could have run for weeks or months,” said Ms Korczak.

“There is little incentive for them to follow the rules.”

She said a breach of the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code was no more than a slap on the wrist. The ACA has a member on the complaints committee, along with representatives of doctors, pharmacists and alternative health care professionals.

Ms Korczak said the committee was under-resourced, had a backlog of complaints and did not monitor advertisements itself but relied on complaints.

However, in what is a multi-million dollar dirty tricks war, most complaints are made by rival companies and few by genuine consumers.

Unless the product is registered as therapeutic, cosmetic companies can only use terms relating to the appearance or look of the skin, hair or nails.

Once a year 15 minute therapy cuts risk of broken bones in post-menopausal women, new study finds

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San Francisco: A study published today for a treatment that is given just once a year has been shown to significantly decrease the risk of broken hips and other broken bones, caused by post-menopausal osteoporosis.1

The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on 3rd May found that the active treatment zoledronic acid 5mg (Aclasta) cut the risk of broken hips by 41% and the risks of breaks to the spine (vertebrae) by 70% compared to patients on no treatment (placebo). Broken bones at other parts of the body, such as wrists, were cut by 25%.

Zoledronic acid 5mg was given as a short infusion (at least 15 minutes) once a year in the three year study. All patients received daily calcium and vitamin D supplements which are essential for good bone health.

The authors state: “A once-yearly infusion of zoledronic acid (5mg) during a 3-year period was associated with a significant and sustained decrease in the risk of vertebral, hip, and other fractures. An annual infusion of zoledronic acid (5 mg) may provide a promising approach to reducing fracture risk. “1

The three-year study was carried out in 7,765 post-menopausal women, aged 65 to 89, from 27 countries including the UK. Approximately half received zoledronic acid 5mg and half placebo.

British women who took part in the study were treated at centres in Aberdeen, Sheffield, Liverpool and Glasgow.

The pharma, Novartis, is currently seeking a licence for zoledronic acid 5mg (Aclasta®) for post menopausal osteoporosis in the UK.

Over the three years, 88 (2.5%) of the women in the placebo group suffered a hip fracture compared to 52 (1.4%) of the women in the zoledronic acid 5mg group.

The researchers, led by Professor Dennis Black, of the University of California, San Francisco, said “During a 3-year period, an annual infusion of zoledronic acid 5mg significantly reduced the risk of fracture at all key osteoporotic fracture sites, including the two primary end points, vertebral and hip fractures.” 1

“A regimen of infusions once a year appears to ensure that patients will have a full treatment effect for at least 12 months.1

Despite the availability of effective treatments for osteoporosis, poor adherence to drug regimens reduces the benefits and presents a major challenge for health professionals. 4

Figures from the National Osteoporosis Society say that over 60,000 hip and 120,000 vertebral fractures take place each year in the UK. 22

The UK’s National Osteoporosis Society says that around one in five (18%) people die within three months of having a broken hip accounting for around 14,000 deaths per year in this country alone. A woman with a vertebral fracture has a four times higher risk of death than a woman with no vertebral fractures. 2

One of the authors of the study, Professor Richard Eastell, Professor of Bone Metabolism at Sheffield University’s School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, said the findings provided potential good news for thousands of women suffering from osteoporosis.

Professor Eastell pointed out that “The ability to only have the treatment once a year does mean that it simplifies the whole regimen. You don’t have to remember every day to take this medication. There is no doubt that Aclasta reduces vertebral fracture, hip fracture and other breaks.”

Professor David Reid, Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Aberdeen, who led one of the UK centres involved in the study said that the hip fracture data was particularly relevant.

“Preventing hip fractures remains the holy grail of treating osteoporosis, as we know that six months after a hip fracture, nearly a fifth of patients will be dead. Reducing hip fractures by 41% is therefore highly clinically significant.”

Study Details

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 3889 patients were randomly assigned to receive a single 15-minute 5mg infusion of zoledronic acid and 3876 were assigned to receive a placebo infusion at baseline, at 12 months, and at 24 months; the patients were followed until 36 months. 1 All patients in the study also received daily calcium and vitamin D supplementation.

Primary end points were new vertebral fractures (in patients not taking concomitant osteoporosis medications) and hip fracture (in all patients). Secondary end points included bone mineral density, bone turnover markers, and safety outcomes.

Treatment with zoledronic acid 5mg reduced the risk of vertebral fracture by 70% over a 3-year period, as compared with placebo (3.3% in the zoledronic-acid 5mg group vs. 10.9% in the placebo group; relative risk, 0.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24 to 0.38) and reduced the risk of hip fracture by 41% (1.4% in the zoledronic-acid 5mg group vs. 2.5% in the placebo group; hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.83).

Over the three years, 88 (2.5%) of the women in the placebo group suffered a hip fracture compared to 52 (1.45%) of the women in the zoledronic acid 5mg group.

The figures for vertebral fracture were 310 women (10.9%) in the placebo group versus 92 (3.3%) on zoledronic acid 5mg.

Secondary fracture endpoints of nonvertebral, and clinical (symptomatic) vertebral fractures were reduced by 25% and 77%, respectively (P<0.001 for all comparisons). Zoledronic acid 5mg was also associated with a significant improvement in bone mineral density and bone metabolism markers.

The majority of adverse events seen with the active treatment, including flu-like symptoms, were transient and resolved shortly after the treatment. Adverse events were similar in the two study groups. However, serious atrial fibrillation was seen more frequently in the zoledronic-acid 5mg group (1.3% vs. 0.5% patients, P<0.001). The observed association might be due to chance but is being further studied in other trials of zoledronic acid 5mg.

Risks of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a long-term disease with consequences such as broken bones that only become apparent long after the condition starts. 2

Osteoporosis, which literally means “porous bone,” is a disease in which the density and quality of bone are reduced. As the bones become more porous and fragile, the risk of fracture is greatly increased. 2

One in two women will suffer a fracture after the age of 50. 2

The lifetime risk of fracture in women at age 50 years is greater than the risk of breast cancer or cardiovascular disease. 2

On the basis of current trends, hip fracture rates in the UK may increase from approximately 46,000 in 1985 to 117,000 in 2016. 2

The most common osteoporotic fracture sites are: lower vertebral fracture (120,000), hip (60,000) and wrist (50,000). 2

Compliance Issues

The total number of women prescribed medication for osteoporosis in the UK is approximately 480,000. 2

One year after an osteoporotic fracture, the majority of patients are not prescribed any pharmaceutical agents for the prevention of a further fracture. 2

A retrospective analysis of a large US population of bisphosphonate users (>35,000 women) who were followed for 2 years demonstrated a significant association with adherence to bisphosphonate therapy and risk of osteoporotic fractures3.

About Novartis

Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) is a world leader in offering medicines to protect health, cure disease and improve well-being. Our goal is to discover, develop and successfully market innovative products to treat patients, ease suffering and enhance the quality of life. We are strengthening our medicine-based portfolio, which is focused on strategic growth platforms in innovation-driven pharmaceuticals, high-quality and low-cost generics, human vaccines and leading self-medication OTC brands. Novartis is the only company with leadership positions in these areas. In 2006, the Group’s businesses achieved net sales of USD 37.0 billion and net income of USD 7.2 billion. Approximately USD 5.4 billion was invested in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 101,000 associates and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.novartis.com

References

1. Black et al. Once-yearly Zoledronic Acid 5mg for Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis. New England Journal of Medicine 2007 356;18; 1809-1822
2. National Osteoporosis Society. Osteoporosis facts and figures (version 1.1). www.nos.org.uk (Accessed April 2007)
3. Siris et al. Adherence to bisphosphonate therapy and fracture rates in osteoporosis women: relationship to vertebral and nonvertebral fractures from 2 US claims databases. Mayo Clin Proc 2006; 81 (8): 1013 – 1022.
4. Compston. Treatments for Osteoporosis- Looking beyond the HORIZON. New England Journal of Medicine 2007 356; 18; 1878-1880

LOOK TEN YEARS YOUNGER – WIN A MAKEOVER WITH THE LEADING NAMES IN AESTHETIC BEAUTY

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The leading names in aesthetic beauty and anti-ageing rejuvenation treatments are offering one reader a makeover using the latest treatments on the market. This wonderful package is worth up to $3,984 (£2,000, €2,931).

The reader makeover will include a consultation with experts at the Skin Health Spa www.skinhealthspa.co.uk at top London store Selfridges where they will receive a divine anti-ageing facial, a BriteSmile teeth whitening treatment (only offered as a suitable treatment for those without veneers or caps) or alternatively a Botox wrinkle erasing; a hair makeover consultation and a restyle cut and colour by with Tracey Gallagher, superstar stylist at Saks www.saks.co.uk . A look younger consultation at aesthetic specialists Collagenics www.collagenics.com and a remedial treatment package of treatments. Reform Surgical www.reformsurgical.co.uk which is headed by top surgeons Dai Davies and Nick Percivial is offering a free consultation to discuss any further areas of concern.

All the treatments will take place in London and the winner will have her look ten years younger transformation pictured in ELIXIR.

To win this wonderful prize please email us at makeover@elixirnews.com with your name, address and daytime phone number by 31 May 2007 and you will be entered into the draw.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

1) There is no cash equivalent offered

2) To be eligible to take part the entrant must be over 21

3) Since all the treatments take place in London, the winning entrant must meet all their own travel and / or accommodation costs.

4) Only one entrant per household address

5) The winning entrant must be able to take the prize before July 2007.

6) The editors decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into

7) The winner must be willing to take part in before and after photos

8) The Editor’s decision is final

Wine drinkers live longest, says new research from Finland

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Helsinki: Wine drinkers are healthier than drinkers of beer and spirits, according to new research conducted on men living in Finland. That’s not too much of a surprise considering the lifestyles associated with each of the beverage types, but the study also suggested that moderate consumption of wine may contribute to a better, longer life.

Over the course of the nearly three-decade study, wine drinkers had a lower mortality rate than drinkers of other alcoholic beverages. The study, published in the February 2007 issue of the Journals of Gerontology, sought to determine if one’s drinking habits affected longevity when measured over a long period of time.

The study was led by Timo Strandberg, a researcher at the University of Oulu, Finland. His subjects, all male residents of Finland, were all born between 1919 and 1934 and all had health checkups at the Institute of Occupational Health in Helsinki during the 1960s and 1970s. The men had their alcohol intake recorded during these examinations and were asked how they felt about their health. All of the men also had “leading positions” in private companies, which the scientists concluded came with some of the highest incomes in Finland (although exact amounts were not made available).

“This setting,” the study authors wrote, “offers a clearer test for the effects of alcoholic beverages because the influence of social class on beverage preference is decreased.”

By tracking down the men in 1974 and repeating the exam of them in 1985 and again in 2000, the scientists hoped to determine if alcohol consumption is related to both the quality–as well as the length–of life.

At the first examination, in 1974, 2,468 men reported if they preferred wine, beer or spirits, or if they didn’t drink, or if they had no particular favorite alcoholic beverage. By the time of the second stage of the study, in 1985, only 1,369 men were available to be reassessed. Some dropped out of the study, some changed alcohol habits and 93 of the men had died. There was another examination in 2000, and by the time of the final calculations, in 2002, the scientists were left with a pool of 1,127 men who consumed an average of three drinks a day or less, and who also did not change their drinking preferences over the course of the study.

“Preference of wine was associated with decreased mortality when compared with preference for beer or spirits over a follow-up of 29 years,” the scientists reported. Wine drinkers had a 34 percent lower rate of mortality, when compared to spirits drinkers, and beer drinkers had a 9 percent lower rate compared to spirits drinkers.

Wine drinkers were also in better health at the end of the study and had performed better on mental health tests. However, wine drinkers also tended to exercise more and smoke less, which leaves the researchers still with the possibility that wine is simply one piece of the happy, long-life puzzle, as opposed to a deciding factor.

“Is it the drinker rather than drink characteristics, as healthier men preferred wine?” asked Strandberg of the results. “That is what is important. The same applies for differences between beer and spirit drinkers,” he added. “Spirit preferrers may lead a more dangerous life, with more risk factors, and all hidden aspects may not be culled in an epidemiologic study.”

Moderate alcohol increases breast cancer risk

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New York: Drinking just two glasses of wine a day raises a woman’s risk of breast cancer, say researchers at the University of Mississippi Medical Centre.

In an animal experiment, female mice given the human equivalent of two alcoholic drinks a day, developed breast tumours twice the size of those given none.

The six-week old mice were fed moderate amounts of alcohol over a four week period.

Lead researcher Jian-Wei Gu said alcohol consumption is the most important avoidable risk factor for women in contracting breast cancer.

The conclusion is based on the fact that studies in mice mimic the results in humans. It is thought that the increase in tumour size is a result of an increase in blood flow through vessels caused by the alcohol.

Is 50 the new 25 – new UK report?

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London: The over 50s are living the lives of 25 year olds, according to a new report from the UK’s Future Foundation.

The second flush of youth is the result of improved health and longer life expectancy with men expecting to live 15 years after retirement and women 22.

Martin Lloyd-Elliott, a psychologist, who contributed to the report said that there had been a shift in expectations with over 50s expecting doors to open rather than close in the second phase of life. With more wealth and more free time older people are taking the time to do more with their leisure such as travel.

Unlike their predessesors who spent their time doing domestic chores over 50s now spend their time socialising and shopping. In fact over 50s spend twice as much time shopping as their counterparts did 50 years ago. They also go to the shops for longer than today’s twentysomethings.

They are also keen on keeping fit, spending the same amount of time as on sport and exercise as 25-year-olds did in 1957.

Sex and diet pill on way, say researchers

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Edinburgh: Earlier research by Scottish scientists indicates that it may be possible to create a combo pill that increases a woman’s sex drive at the same time as supressing appetite.

So far the pill has only been tested on animals – shrews and monkeys, but the results so far indicate that the pill could go on sale within ten years.

Professor Robert Millar, director of the Human Reproductive Sciences Unit at the Medical Research Council in Edinburgh, said they discovered the double benefit while developing a hormone to treat loss of libido, a problem which affects millions of women.

He noted that the animals in the test demonstrated an increased desire for sex at the same time they were less interested in food.

Female musk shrews and marmosets were injected with the Type 2 Gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which provoked an mating response towards their males.

In the shrews, this was shown by ‘rump presentation and tail wagging’, while the monkeys began ‘tongue flicking and eyebrow raising’ said the scientist. The animals cut their food intake by up to a third.

Type 2 Gonadotropin-releasing hormone is distributed to parts of the brain that scientists believe may affect reproductive behaviour.

Professor Millar believes that the results indicate the hormone could be useful in treating both low libido and obesity at the same time. He is now working on reproducing it in the form of a pill, which could prove extremely profitable given the amount of interest pharmaceutical companies have shown in enhancing libido.

Neurotic men likely to die earlier, says new US report

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Mellow men live longer, according to o new research from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana in the US.

“We found that neurotic men whose levels (of neurosis) dropped over time had a better chance at living longer,” said Dan Mroczek, an associate professor of child development and family studies at Purdue

“They seemed to recover from any damage high levels of the trait may have caused. On the flip side, neurotic men whose neuroticism increased over time died much sooner than their peers.”

Researchers defined a neurotic personality as “a person with the tendency to worry, feel excessive amounts of anxiety or depression and to react to stressful life events more negatively than people with low levels of the trait.”

While researchers tracked 1,663 men — more than 90 per cent of whom were white — for 12 years, Mroczek believes the results would be similar for women or other ethnicities.

“You can find the full range of personalities in any ethnic or gender group,” he said. “There are those who are laid-back and then there are those who worry, who react very poorly to stress, who are always on edge.” Mroczek suspects a contributing factor behind early death in neurotic men may be high levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. Later this year, he will study the link.

The study’s results will be published in the Psychological Science in late May.

Skipping breakfast makes you fat, says Kelloggs’ survey

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London: Do you skip breakfast most mornings? If yes then you’re not alone, as almost half (45%) of the UK admits to skipping breakfast regularly.

If you think this doesn’t effect you then read on to find out why you really should Mind the Gap……

Seven great reasons to make time for breakfast

· FACT: Studies show that people who eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight. If you’re trying to shed some unwanted pounds then you may think you can save a few calories by skipping breakfast. Whilst this may sound like a good idea, in fact what happens is that people who skip breakfast tend to overcompensate for the calories they miss at breakfast and end up eating MORE calories throughout the day, not less.

FACT: For people of all ages breakfast cereal provides key nutrients that improve the nutritional balance of the overall diet. A bowl of fortified cereal provides 25% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for the vitamins folate, thiamin, niacin, B6, riboflavin and B12 and 17% of the RDA for iron. And because cereal is usually eaten with milk you’re also getting a good dose of calcium. Research shows that if you miss the opportunity to stock up on these important nutrients at breakfast you will struggle to make them up during the rest of the day. Some nutritionists even suggest that missing breakfast leads not just to a ‘nutrient gap’ but a huge great nutrient chasm.

· FACT: After fasting overnight blood glucose levels are at an all-time low and may explain why people who don’t refuel with breakfast have difficulty concentrating and struggle to get through the morning.

· FACT: People who eat breakfast in the morning are less likely to fall victim to the mid morning snack attack

· Starting the day with a bowl of wholegrain cereal is an easy way to boost your fibre intake. A bowl of Kelloggs All-Bran provides a massive 45% of the Guideline Daily Amount for fibre.

· Surveys show that 4 out of 10 women under the age of 35 are low on iron. A 30g bowl of fortified cereal in the morning provides 17% of the RDA for iron and ensures you are starting the day as you mean to go on.

· Breakfast is the perfect opportunity to get a head start on your 5-A-Day target. A small glass of fruit juice counts as one of your recommended minimum 5 servings of fruit and vegetables and if you have a chopped banana, two tablespoons of raisins, dried apricots or fresh berries with you cereal, this can count as another. If you can tick off two servings of fruit at breakfast, then squeezing in three more during the rest of the day should be a doddle!

So, if you do just one thing this week…set the alarm to wake you up 10 minutes earlier than normal tomorrow and make time for a bowl of cereal. So whether you’re 16 or 66 you’ll reap the rewards throughout the rest of the day!

Aspirin does not prevent mental decline in women

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Boston Taking low dose aspirin does not protect older women against cognitive decline, finds a large study published on www.bmj.com today.

Identifying ways to prevent dementia is a public health priority. Evidence suggests that aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs may protect against dementia, but data from randomised studies to date have been inconclusive. So researchers in the US decided to test the effect of long term use of low dose aspirin on overall cognitive decline among a large sample of women.

Jae Hee Kang and colleagues at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts identified 6,377 women aged 65 years or more, who were taking part in the Women’s health study between 1998 and 2004.

The women were randomly divided into two groups. Over a period of nearly 10 years, the first group took low dose aspirin (100 mg on alternate days) and the second group took a placebo pill. Each woman had three cognitive assessments at two year intervals to measure general cognition, verbal memory, and category fluency.

At the initial assessment (after 5.6 years of treatment) cognitive performance in the aspirin group was similar to that of the placebo group. Average performance across all tests from the first to the final assessment (after 9.6 years of treatment) was also similar in the aspirin group compared with the placebo group. The risk of substantial decline was also comparable between the groups.

There was some suggestion that women in the aspirin group performed better in the category fluency test than women in the placebo group. However, the authors stress that this result should be interpreted with caution.

They conclude: “In this study, we observed no apparent benefit of low dose aspirin in slowing cognitive decline over four years. Other methods for preserving cognitive function in older people need to be investigated.”