Eating 10 Grams of Nuts or Peanuts Per Day Gives You A Long and Healthy Life

Peanuts can actually enhance your lifespan, says a study. The study confirms a link between peanut and nut intake and lower mortality rates, but finds no protective effect for peanut butter.Men and women who eat at least 10 grams of nuts or peanuts per day have a lower risk of dying from several major causes of death than people who do not consume nuts or peanuts, the study said. "It was remarkable that substantially lower mortality was already observed at consumption levels of 15 grams of nuts or peanuts on average per day," said project leader professor Piet van den Brandt from Maastricht University, in the Netherlands. 

The effects are equal in men and women. Peanuts show at least as strong reductions in mortality as tree nuts, but peanut butter is not associated with mortality, researchers found. This study was carried out within the Netherlands Cohort Study, which has been running since 1986 among over 120,000 Dutch 55-69 year old men and women. 

Nut consumption was assessed by asking about portion size and frequency of intake of peanuts, other nuts (tree nuts) and peanut butter. 

The researchers analyzed the relationship with overall and cause-specific mortality since 1986. 

The associations between nuts and peanut intake and cardiovascular death confirm earlier results from American and Asian studies that were often focused on cardiovascular diseases. 

However, in this study, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, it was found that mortality due to cancer, diabetes, respiratory, and neurodegenerative diseases was also lowered among users of peanuts and nuts. 

"A higher intake was not associated with further reduction in mortality risk," den Brandt added. 

Peanuts and tree nuts both contain various compounds such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, various vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, and other bioactive compounds, that possibly contribute to the lower death rates. 
Source: IANS
 

 

Yoga Helps Prevent and Reverse Brain Anatomy Changes Due to Chronic Pain

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice or discipline that has its roots in India. A new study has found that brain anatomy changes and impairment caused due to chronic pain can be prevented or even reversed with the help of yoga.

 he study conducted by National Institutes of Health explained that chronic pain patients go through anxiety, depression, deficits in cognitive functions and reduced gray matter volume and white matter integrity in the brain, but yoga and meditation, can counteract these brain anatomy affects of chronic pain. 

M. Catherine Bushnell, scientific director said, "Yoga practitioners have more gray matter than controls in multiple brain regions, including those involved in pain modulation as gray matter increases in yogis correspond to duration of yoga practice. Assessing the impact of brain anatomy on pain reduction, gray matter changes in the internal structures of the cerebral cortex are most significant for pain tolerance." 

The study concluded that patients with chronic pain can go for mind-body practices that can exert a protective effect on brain gray matter that counteracts the neuroanatomical effects of chronic pain.


 

Indian Universities Asked to Hold Yoga Demos and Exhibitions on International Yoga Day

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2014 to observe International Yoga Day on June 21 every year. The University Grants Commission has directed all universities in India to organize a demonstration by yoga practitioners, an exhibition on yoga postures and an online competition on the occasion of International Day of Yoga, 2015.

 The University Grants Commission (UGC) secretary, Jaspal S. Sandhu, in a letter to the vice chancellors of all state/deemed/private universities has directed them to observe the International Day of Yoga in a befitting manner and listed activities to be held during the celebration. 

In the directive, Sandhu has suggested, "In the morning, a demo by yoga practitioners may be organized on Yoga Day. The willing students and faculties of the universities may practice yoga as shown by the practitioners. The other students/faculties may, however, observe the same. The best participants of the yoga session may be awarded prizes and certificates at a function to be organized on that day. An exhibition on yogic postures may be organized, for which banners may be displayed for awareness on the campus. Online essay competition may be organized and the best students may be awarded with prizes and certificates. Accordingly, you are requested to kindly observe the International Day of Yoga on June 21 by adopting the above mentioned activities in your esteemed university and affiliated colleges and send action taken to UGC by email (ugc.yoga@gmail.com)." 

 

Incidence Of Diabetes Increases In Developing Countries Like India, China and Mexico

Over the past two decades, diabetes has emerged as a major disease burden for India. Globally, diabetes rate has increased by 45%, in India; it has shot up to 123% between 1990-2013.

 Data based on a global study conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington shows that the trend, which was common in developed countries, is now emerging in developing nations such as India, China and Mexico. 

The top ranking diseases in India in both 1990 and 2013 include depressive disorder, iron deficiency anemia, low back pain, migraine. Diabetes, which did not feature among top ten diseases in India in 1990s, ranked eighth in 2013. 

The study based on the analysis of 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries shows that diabetes is now among the top ten reasons for various other disorders among both men and women. 

"Diabetes is an escalating problem in India and has major socio-economic dimensions. Rapid dietary changes coupled with decreased level of physical activity have resulted in increasing obesity and diabetes in rural and semi-urban areas," said Dr Anoop Misra, Endocrinologist and Chairman of Fortis-CDOC for diabetes and allied sciences. 

Misra emphasized that increased stress level, irregular working hours, lack of exercise and consumption of alcohol and fast food were some of the significant contributors for the increasing incidence of diabetes in India. 

"The influence of globalization and urbanization are the single biggest factors for India's diabetes epidemic," said V. Mohan of Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialties Center, Chennai, and founder of Madras Diabetes Research Foundation. "Our eating habits now resemble the west and we've adopted sedentary lifestyles." 

 

Evidence supports therapeutic potential of plant-based terpenoids for skin diseases

 A review of clinical studies that used terpenoids to treat a variety of dermatological diseases demonstrated that this diverse class of phytochemicals may benefit patients with actinic keratosis, cutaneous candidiasis, hyperpigmentation, photoaging, and wounds. Evidence supporting the use of terpenoids in these disorders and linking the significant anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties of terpenoids to the pathogenic mechanisms underlying many cutaneous diseases is presented in a Review article published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free onThe Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicinewebsite until July 15.

In 'Novel use of terpenoids for treatment of dermatological diseases: a systematic review of clinical trials' authors William Tuong and Raja Sivamani, M.D. M.S. CAT, University of California, Davis, and Lauren Walker, University of California Riverside, provide a detailed discussion of promising terpenoids in the area of dermatology and point to the recent approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of ingenol mebutate for the treatment of actinic keratosis as an example of the growing clinical relevance of this class of plant-based compounds.

Source:The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Make Yoga a Mass Movement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for making yoga a mass movement to connect people and strengthen the bonds of humanity. Modi will share a post on various aspects of yoga daily till June 21.

 In a post on Facebook, Modi said the global community had come together in support of celebrating the first International Day of Yoga on June 21. 

"Now that strong support has also turned into immense enthusiasm, I am seeing (that) several people and organisations across the world are working towards making the first International Day of Yoga a memorable event," he said. 

Source: IANS

 

Mass Public Events to Mark the First International Yoga Day in Belgium

June 21 has been declared as International Yoga Day following a UN resolution piloted by India and co-sponsored by 177 countries. Mass public yoga sessions in collaboration with Indian embassy will take place across several Belgian cities to mark the very first International Yoga Day on June 21, 2015.

 Several thousand people are expected to participate in these free yoga events in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent, among other cities. 

Yoga teacher and practitioner Sreemati, who will be moderating Belgium's largest public yoga session in Brussels' Bois de la Cambre park said, "Yoga is more than a healthy practice or an exercise, it is an attitude, a wellness of the mind and body." 

These yoga sessions in Belgium are being hosted by a range of regional yoga associations in collaboration with the Indian embassy.
 

Traditional Indian Herbal Medicines a Natural Therapy for Osteoarthritis L

OPTM Healthcare in West Bengal, India, has devised a remarkable alternative to treat osteoarthritis with phytomedicines.

 ts team of professional physicians has scientifically developed plant-originated Indian herbal medicines, known as phytomedicines, to use as an excellent cure for this disease along with many others. 

Phytomedicine is formed on the basis of an ancient, traditional yet scientific, global system and is highly effective, particularly in the case of Osteoarthritis. 

This is the most natural treatment ensuring a complete result with no harmful side effects. Applying an extremely natural, simple treatment and one with minimum impact on the human body is what makes OPTM Healthcare different from others of its league. 

The major beneficial highlights of this treatment are that patients completely and permanently recover from all pain and discomfort; knee symmetry is achieved anatomically, not achievable otherwise even through surgery; use of harmful steroids, having severe affects, withdrawn from day one of treatment; symmetry of knee joint movement achieved with flexion in supine position within days of treatment; and others like stiffness of muscles reversed, muscular wasting reduced, inflammation of joints reduced and muscle strength increased. 

Source: ANI