Germany says sprouts source of killer bacteria outbreak

BERLIN: Germany blamed vegetable sprouts for a bacteria outbreak that has killed at least 33, left some 3,000 ill and cost farmers across Europe hundreds of millions of euros in lost sales.
After a weeks-long hunt for the elusive source of the contamination, German officials said they were confident they had found the origin.
"It's the sprouts," Reinhard Burger, the president of the Robert Koch Institute, the national disease centre, told a news conference on the outbreak of enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) in northern Germany.
"People who ate sprouts were found to be nine times more likely to have bloody diarrhoea or other signs of EHEC infection than those who did not," he said, citing a study of more than 100 people who fell ill after dining in restaurants.
Test results on a packet of vegetable sprouts recovered from the rubbish bin of two sick people living in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia later provided the first direct trail evidence for the virulent bacteria.
The sprouts, which showed traces of the EHEC strain 0104, were grown at a farm in the northern village of Bienenbuettel on which suspicion had fallen last weekend. The farm has been closed and all its products recalled.
The government had earlier lifted a warning against eating raw tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers which had dealt a stinging blow to farmers at the peak of the fresh produce season in Europe.
All 33 confirmed fatalities, three of which were reported Friday, have been in Germany except for one woman who died in Sweden after visiting Germany.
The warning against raw salad vegetables, first issued two weeks ago, has cost growers in Europe hundreds of millions of euros (dollars) in lost sales and sparked diplomatic spats across Europe.
The Netherlands welcomed the development as "excellent news".

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Why smokers gain weight when they quit

WASHINGTON: Scientists say they've finally discovered why smokers tend to gain some weight when they kick the habit.
It turns out that nicotine can rev up brain cells that normally signal people to stop eating when they're full, researchers report in Friday's edition of the journal Science.
The weight connection isn't huge: On average, quitters gain less than 10 pounds. Still, it's a worry that many smokers cite when asked why they don't try to quit. Now the question is whether the discovery might lead to better treatments to help them quit without worrying about weight.
Yale University associate research scientist Yann Mineur stumbled onto the connection while studying a nicotine-related substance in mice - and the animals suddenly started eating less.
Nicotine hooks onto a variety of receptors, or docking sites, on the surface of cells. That's how it triggers addiction in one part of the brain.
But when it comes to weight, the Yale research found that both nicotine and the related drug cytisine were activating a different receptor than the one involved in addiction. This one is located on a small set of neurons in the hypothalamus, a region that regulates appetite.
When they gave nicotine to mice without that cellular pathway, it didn't help them lose weight like it did normal mice.
Smoking causes cancer, heart attacks and a host of other ailments so worry about modest weight gain shouldn't deter someone from quitting. But smokers who do have that concern should try nicotine-based smoking-cessation treatments, said study senior author Marina Picciotto, a Yale professor of psychiatry and neurobiology.
The other drug used in the mouse experiments, cytisine, is sold in Eastern Europe for smoking cessation but not in the U.S., and she'd like to see if there's data on the weight of smokers abroad who've used it.
Developing a drug to target only these specific receptors would be difficult, she cautions, because they're also involved in the body's stress responses in ways that could lead to such side effects as high blood pressure.

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7 Worst Summer Drinks

What if you could turn this ongoing heatwave into an opportunity to lose weight without exercising or changing what you eat?
Here's all you have to do: Think before you drink. A lot of what's offered at the supermarket and the corner convenience store is likely to make this summer only more miserable by adding inches to your waistline.

#1: WORST MILKSHAKE
Cold Stone Creamery Oh Fudge! Shake (Like It size, 16 oz)
1,250 calories
70 g fat (45 g saturated)
127 g sugars

At Cold Stone, "Like It" is the small size. If you upgrade to "Gotta Have It," which denotes a large, you're facing 1,920 calories—nearly a full day's energy in one cup. The truth is, milkshakes represent some of the most concentrated calories that will ever cross your lips, so when you find a good one, you should take notice. Outside of what you might make in your own kitchen, the shake below from Baskin-Robbins is about as good as you're going to find. Order it with Premium Churned Chocolate Milk Ice Cream and it floats in at just 500 calories. That's a lot, to be sure, but it's better than the alternatives. Just save it for an occasional treat, and always offer to split with a friend.

Drink This Instead!
Baskin-Robbins Chocolate Shake (with Premium Churned Milk Chocolate Ice Cream) (small, 16 oz)
500 calories
16 g fat (10 g saturated)
73 g sugars

#2: WORST SMOOTHIE
Smoothie King The Activator Strawberry (32 oz) 
834 calories
1.5 g fat (0 g saturated)
134 g sugars

Judging solely by name, you'd think this beverage were some sort of metabolism-boosting superfruit, but in reality it's a hyper-sweetened smoothie filled out with 550 calories of pure sugar. In Smoothie King's defense, it also delivers nearly 30 grams of protein, but that's not nearly enough to justify the caloric impact. Unless you you're a body builder looking to maximize your caloric intake, leave this blended beverage behind the counter where it belongs.

Drink This Instead!
Jamba Juice Strawberry Nirvana (Power size, 30 oz)
300 calories
0.5 g fat
58 g sugars

#3: WORST FROZEN COFFEE DRINK
Dairy Queen Caramel MooLatte (medium, 16 oz)
660 calories
19 g fat (15 g saturated, 0.5 g trans)
90 g sugars

How is it that such a simple, healthy beverage like coffee can be so mistreated by fast-food purveyors? Dairy Queen's MooLattes, for example, are essentially fat-bloated milkshakes with a little coffee blended in, and the caramel version has nearly as many calories as five White Castle sliders. Want a caffeinated indulgence? Switch to Starbucks' Coffee Frappuccino. It's plenty sweet but saves you more than 400 calories. But be warned: While the Coffee Frappuccino is safe, some of Starbucks' other Fraps aren't so forgiving.

Drink This Instead!
Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino with 2% milk (Grande size, 16 oz)
230 calories
2 g fat (1 g saturated)
49 g sugars

#4: WORST LEMONADE
Orange Julius Lemon Julius (medium, 20 oz) 
360 calories
0 g fat 
94 g sugars

If you were drinking straight lemon juice, you could tip back 15 cups, or 120 fluid ounces, and still not reach the sugar impact of this icy, lemon-esque beverage from Orange Julius. So save yourself from sugar's flabby impact by switching to Chick-fil-A's low-cal lemonade. It blunts the typical sugar tariff with a dose of sucralose, which eliminates a clean 340 calories of added sugars.

Drink This Instead!
Chick-fil-A Diet Lemonade (medium, 20 oz)
20 calories
0 g fat
2 g sugars

#5: WORST BOTTLED TEA
SoBe Energize Green Tea (1 bottle, 20 oz)
240 calories
0 g fat
61 g sugars

Leave it to an "edgy" American beverage company to corrupt green tea, a natural wonder of the nutritional world. SoBe's product is merely a saccharine simulation of green tea, with "natural flavor" preceding "green tea extract" on the nutrition label. Gulp down one of these bottles and you've taken in the sugar equivalent of seven Popsicles. Go with Honest Tea instead—it has more than 80 percent less sugar and uses organic, fair trade green tea.

Drink This Instead!
Honest Tea Community Green Tea (1 bottle, 16 oz)
34 calories
0 g fat
10 g sugars

#6: WORST SODA
Sunkist (1 can, 12 oz)
190 calories
0 g fat
50 g sugars

Soda is one of the more condemnable sources of calories in the American diet. It doesn't even bother with the pretense of nutrition—it's pure sugar, plain and simple. But among the throngs of terrible sodas, Sunkist is the worst. A better option: Izze. 70 percent of this bottle is filled with real fruit juice, completely eliminating the need for added sugars. It's still not as healthy as real fruit, but it's a sizeable upgrade from carbonated high fructose corn syrup.

Drink This Instead!
Izze Sparkling Clementine (1 bottle, 12 oz)
120 calories
0 g fat
27 g sugars

#7: WORST WATER
Vitaminwater Multi-V (1 bottle, 20 oz)
125 calories
0 g fat
33 g sugars

As long as companies continue to sell multivitamin pills and your sink's faucet keeps spitting out tap water, you have no excuse to ever uncap one of these faux health drinks. This bottle has more sugar than a Snickers bar, so if you must indulge, opt for something from Vitaminwater's calorie-free Zero line. Or better yet, try Smartwater. It contains electrolytes that can help keep you hydrated when you're sweating out in the sun.

Drink This Instead!
Glaceau Smartwater (1 bottle, 24 oz)
0 calories
0 g fat
0 g sugars

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Seven ways to lose fat faster than ever

Tired of plugging away at the gym without seeing the pounds disappear? We found simple tricks that will transform your usual regimen into the ultimate fat-blasting routine. Whether you use just two of these strategies or all seven, our insider tips will help you get the calorie-burn you deserve.

1. Know this: “You’ll be able to comfortably work out longer and harder if you’re cool,” says Len Kravitz, PhD, coordinator of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. “Being too hot stresses your body out, so you don’t perform as well.” Translation: You burn less fat.

Do this: When exercising at home, put a fan in front of your workout area. Hitting the gym? Wait to use the treadmill that has a fan built into the console.

2. Know this: “Wearing a heart-rate monitor makes it easier to burn more body fat by showing just how hard you’re really working,” Kravitz says. “Keeping your heart rate in the right zone prevents you from slacking off, so you make the most of every minute.”

Do this: Invest in a heart-rate monitor and wear it every time you exercise. We love Life Fitness’s new Dual Watch and Heart Rate Monitor ($60; at CVS stores nationwide). It’s simple to program and use. It doesn’t require an uncomfortable chest strap—just touch the face with your fingertips. And it comes in a variety of sizes too.

3. Know this: “Warming up for five minutes before each workout helps you lose more weight,” says Heather Dillinger, an IDEA Health and Fitness Association elite-level personal-fitness trainer. “It not only makes your muscles more pliable but also increases their range of motion, so you end up using more muscle fibers as you exercise.”

Do this: Choose a warm-up routine that hits all of your muscles, not just your legs. The easiest option: Do three to five minutes of low-intensity walking while pumping your arms back and forth.

4. Know this: “Saving your energy for the end of your cardio workout may prevent you from losing as much weight as you can,” says metabolism expert Dixie Stanforth, of the department of kinesiology and health education at the University of Texas at Austin.

Do this: Instead of starting out slow and then finishing up strong, do your high-intensity cardio early in your workout. After doing your warm-up, try exercising at a high intensity for 15 minutes before slowing down to a more moderate pace for the last 15 minutes.

5. Know this: “Two smaller workouts can be more effective than one,” Stanforth reveals. That’s because every time you do high-intensity exercise, your metabolism stays revved for an hour or more afterward. Splitting up your workout boosts your metabolism twice, giving you additional calorie-burning time from the exact same routine.

Do this: Divide your workout into two smaller, high-intensity sessions preferably, doing one in the morning and one at night.

6. Know this: If you’re convinced that you’re melting fat while exercising, you’ll make a mind-body connection that will actually help you lose fat faster, Dillinger explains. In a 2007 Harvard study, participants who believed they were getting a good workout showed greater reductions in body fat than subjects who performed the same activities but didn’t feel like they were really exercising.

Do this: The next time you do anything active, remind yourself every few minutes that you’re giving it your all. This little mental move may motivate you to push yourself harder, leading to even greater fat loss.

7. Know this: “The less time you rest between sets when strength training, the more calories you’re likely to burn,” Dillinger notes. “Keeping rest periods short keeps your heart rate at a higher rate, which naturally increases the number of calories you’re using.”

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Health Benefits of Coconut Water

Coconut water is one of the best natural drinks Mother Nature has packed for us within the kernel of coconut, this natural water is not only tasteful refreshing drink but can be considered as one of the best natural health drinks from herbal world. Here are some health benefits of coconut water:-

Health Benefits of Coconut Water

Drinking coconut water keeps the body cool and at the proper temperature.

Coconut Water is an Antibacterial. Coconut water contains monolaurin, an antiviral, antibacterial and antiprozoal monoglyceride that is used to kill lipid-coated viruses such as HIV, Herpes, cytomegalovirus, flu and various pathogenic bacteria.

Coconut water is great at reducing vomiting. People who have typhoid, malaria, fevers or other ailments that are known to induce vomiting drink coconut water to settle the stomach. As such, coconut water is also a good thing to drink during a hangover.

Coconut helps in keeping check over urinary infections. It is very effective in treating kidney and urethral stones.

Coconut water is very effective in treating intestinal disturbances in infants. It kills intestinal worms.

Making coconut a part of the daily diet is recommended for those who have been troubled by kidney stones. When taken along with mediation, it helps break up the stones, making it easier for the body to push them out.

For all those people who are trying to lose weight, drinking coconut water would prove quite useful. This is because the drink increases the rate of metabolism, thus aiding weight loss.

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The real reason water helps you lose weight

Water was a very hot topic indeed last week when the results of a study linked water drinking to weight loss. The research showed that adults who drank two cups of water before each meal consumed fewer calories and lost more weight than those who didn't have the water. But it's not because there's a magic ingredient in water that sheds pounds or flushes away fat. There's more to the story on how water may ease girth control.

First a quick recap of the study: The scientists divided overweight and obese individuals into two groups. Both were given low-calorie diets but one group had to drink two eight-ounce glasses of water before each meal. At the end of the 12-week study, while both groups lost weight, the water drinking subjects lost an average of about five pounds more than their non-water drinking counterparts.

Some of the clues as to how the water may have helped the weight loss came from the study subjects who reported feeling more alert and less tired than usual. So what does that mean? If drinking water makes you feel more alert, then chances are that you're mildly dehydrated.

While this mild dehydration isn't dangerous, being slightly dehydrated can have consequences when it comes to how much you eat. It can interfere with hunger signals and leave you confused as to whether you are hungry or thirsty. Just think of how good having a juicy peach or two sounds if you're thirsty. But drink a glass or two of water and they may not seem as appealing.

Now think of this concept as it applies to meals. If you drink water when you're mildly dehydrated then chances are that you'll eat a little less - maybe just a little - but still less. In the study, the calorie difference between the two groups was less than 100 calories - nothing earth shattering but significant enough to impact weight loss.

In other words, it's not that drinking water flushes fat out of your body or offers some miracle way to lose weight - even if some bottled water companies would like you to believe it. After all, the water drinking dieters in this study were on a calorie-controlled eating regime. And in fact, other studies have shown that drinking water alone as a way to eat less doesn't aid in weight loss.

But water incorporated into a food can have much more of an impact on how much you eat. Think of high water content fruits and vegetables and how full you feel after eating them. It's one of the reasons that meeting your quota of these foods is linked to being at a healthier weight.

In a study at the University of Pennsylvania, researchers tested three different appetizers on subjects to determine the effect of water on calorie consumption - a chicken rice casserole, a chicken rice casserole with a glass of water alongside and then the same chicken rice casserole with the water incorporated into the casserole to make it a soup. When the subjects ate the casserole with or without drinking the water, they consumed the same number of calories at lunch. But when they had the soup, they ate less at lunch and didn't make up the calories at dinner.

Loading up on high water content produce will not only offer you the assorted disease-fighting benefits of fruits and vegetables, but, as with the chicken soup, they will also help to make you feel fuller. What's behind this is a term called caloric density. It refers to the number of calories in a gram or ounce of a particular food. A high caloric density food will supply many calories in a small serving compared to a low-density food, which offers plenty of bulk but at a lower caloric cost. Think one tablespoon of peanut butter at 94 calories versus one half cup cooked cauliflower at 15 calories. Eating 2.5 cups of cauliflower would still be fewer calories but it would definitely be more filling. As there is only so much room in your stomach, eating more foods with a lower caloric density can help you to take in fewer calories overall. Simply put, you will feel less hungry, making waist management an easier task.

But one instance where water alone can offer some real weight control perks is when it replaces calorie-containing beverages. Obviously if you have water instead of a sugar-containing soft drink or fruit juice, you will consume fewer calories. Switch to water over one can of regular pop on a daily basis and you'll save the caloric equivalent of about 15 pounds a year.

Here's a nifty trick, though, to help you save calories if you are a wine drinker. Always be sure to have a glass of water alongside your glass of wine. While years ago, spritzers, where the wine and water was combined, were popular, nowadays, wine drinkers tend to enjoy their vintages and would never dilute them with water. But if you make it a practice to have water to drink to quench your thirst and sip your wine for taste, then you will consume much less wine and consequently fewer calories. Just how often have you finished a glass of wine off too quickly because you were thirsty?

Keep in mind that staying well hydrated isn't just a warm weather issue. It certainly may be more pronounced when outdoor temperatures soar, but exercise and your environment can make it a year-round matter.

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The ugly truth about soft drinks

The perils of pop - both regular and sugar-free - have long been a hot topic in nutrition circles. But lately, the dialogue has reached a boiling point as scientific research has come up with some startling revelations- ones that should make you think twice before you reach for that can of pop.

A study, published in the October issue of the journal Obesity, assessed the types of sugars in a number of soft drinks and found that in those that contained high fructose corn syrup, fructose levels were far higher that what most people, including many nutrition experts, had previously believed.

We keep hearing from health researchers and soft drink companies alike that regular pop contains similar amounts of fructose and glucose. This means regardless of the type of sugar listed on the can, the health impact of regular pop would be the same. The study in Obesity blows that claim out of the water.

You may be wondering what the big deal is - sugar is sugar, right? High fructose intakes have been linked to an increase risk of developing insulin resistance and diabetes along with high blood pressure, fatty livers, high triglyceride levels in the blood and even easier weight gain - a pretty gruesome list.

In addition, fructose may boost the production of compounds called advanced glycation end products (AGEs) - substances that have a growing file of ill effects. One of their adverse effects is that they promote inflammation which may at the root of a host of diseases including heart disease, some cancers, diabetes and Alzheimer's. (The caramel colouring in both regular and diet colas also boosts AGEs production, according to research - how's that for a one-two punch?)

It's interesting to note that the makers of high fructose corn syrup recently changed the name to corn sugar as they said it was a more accurate reflection of what it is and to avoid all the implications of a high fructose ingredient. While there has been some criticism about the sample size used in the Obesity study, the new research showing that a number of brands contained as much as 65 per cent fructose - nearly 20 per cent more than was believed - you have to wonder about the health toll of consuming these soft drinks on a regular basis.

No matter what sugar is used, though, these sweetened beverages are not faring well under scientific scrutiny.

A new review study from the Harvard School of Public Health, which was published in the journal Diabetes Care, showed that drinking one to two sugary drinks per day increased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 26 per cent compared with those who consumed less than one sugary drink per month.

The risk of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of disease risks including high waist measures, high blood pressure, elevated levels of triglycerides, a potentially artery-clogging blood fat, low levels of the protective HDL-cholesterol, abnormal glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, also rose by 20 per cent in group that drank more pop.

Diet soft drinks haven't been given a clean bill of health either. But here it appears that the waters are muddier, as scientists try to separate the causes and effects of drinking diet beverages from the behaviours of people those who consume diet drinks in the highest amounts.

For example, diet pop drinkers may weigh more to start. After all, people who weigh too much may be more likely to be concerned with their calorie counts.

One comprehensive scientific paper, published in 2009, looked at the theory that arti?cial sweeteners may increase the desire for sweets and lead to greater consumption of food and weight gain. This research was based on animal studies, but when it comes to humans, results have been conflicting. What's needed are clinical studies where two groups of identical people either consume a certain number of diet drinks or have none at all. Then scientists can finally come up with a verdict.

When it comes to diet drinks, the concerns go beyond whether they can increase your propensity to gain weight. In Canada, acesulfame-K and aspartame are the two artificial sweeteners used by major soft drink makers. How safe are they, you may wonder?

The consumer advocacy group Centre for Science in the Public Interest calls the testing on acesulfame-K "mediocre" as they were not comprehensive enough. They also point to research that shows that large amounts of a breakdown product of acesulfame-K affects thyroid function in some animals. How this impacts humans in the doses present in diet soft drinks is unclear.

As for aspartame, they cite a number of studies that show possible links to cancer and as a result, suggest that people - especially young children - should avoid foods and beverages that contain the sweetener (they recommend switching to products sweetened with sucralose - Splenda - if they are consuming artificially sweetened foods).

And then there's the issue of your pearly whites. Because of their acidic content, soft drinks such as colas, lemon-lime and orange flavours have been linked to erosion of the enamel - not a prescription for maintaining a dazzling smile. The phosphoric acid in pop has also been the centre of investigations into the impact on bone health. However, the link to poor bone health may simply be due to the soft drinks replacing calcium-rich options like milk. Stay tuned for the verdict.

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Dumbbells: the best choice for chest training

Dumbbells are recommended for performance of chest exercises as they allow for a greater range of motion and a deeper stretch at the bottom of the movement. Besides they provide for a better isolation and muscle contraction at the top of the movement, helping to recruit more muscle fibres within the chest and surrounding musculature.

Also, as they are harder to control and hold than Barbell, they help to strengthen and develop the important antagonistic and synergistic muscles of the chest and Shoulder.

Flat bench press is the best Chest muscle builder. It is a power exercise and is one of the Big 3 (other 2 being Squats and Deadlifts) By changing the angle of the bench you can hit hard both the upper chest ( Incline press) and lower chest (Decline press) giving a complete chest development. Dumbbell flys will build the inner chest giving it a clear separation.

Lifting the right way The following sequence of movements will ensure that you learn how to properly lift a dumbbell off the ground and into position to start many of the exercises, all the way till you have completed 
When picking up dumbbells make sure to bend at the knees, while you lift the weight with your legs.    
Lift with your legs, not with your back! You can easily injure your lower back by bending over to pick up the weight.

While standing, place the bottom plate of the dumbbells against your thighs and keep them there as you sit on the bench seat. You will find that by keeping the dumbbells against your thighs as you sit, it will allow you to easily manipulate them to the top of your thighs.    

Begin positioning your body into the correct postural alignment, starting from the bottom of your body and moving to the top.   

Space your feet about shoulder width apart.   
Make sure your knees are pointing straight ahead throughout the movement.    
As you raise the dumbbells to the starting position on top of your thighs, do not try to muscle them up with your arm muscles. This will only drain your strength and can easily cause an injury. You need 100 percent of your strength for the exercise itself and cannot afford to waste it on something that you can easily avoid. To properly raise the dumbbells from your thighs into exercise position, follow these guidelines; you will be using your leg muscles and momentum to help place you and the dumbbells into position. While sitting in an upright position, with the dumbbells on your thighs, thrust one leg up, leveraging one dumbbell up to around your chest level.

Dumbbells: the best choice for training the chestImmediately thrust the second dumbbell upward, while simultaneously allowing momentum and the dumbbells to guide you back into the lying position while your abdominal muscles help safely ease you into the position. The reason for lying back immediately when the second dumbbell is thrust upward is so you do not injure your shoulder joints or lower back from having to hold the dumbbells in that otherwise awkward position. Lying back immediately following the dumbbell's momentum while allowing the abdominal muscles to ease you into position will help ensure your safety and keep your strength at its peak for the exercise. This may sound difficult, but it's not. It is the safe and easiest way of getting the dumbbells into position (especially if you're using heavy dumbbells ).

Once you've gotten the dumbbells up, lay back, until your back touches the bench. 

The dumbbells should now be in position at the sides of your chest.    

Again, make sure your feet are shoulder width apart, and that they are flat on the ground at all times.    

Make sure your knees are straight. 

Your lower back should be flat against the bench at all times, with no excessive arch in the lower lumbar region (small of the back).    

Make sure your back is flat against the bench, with the arms and elbows out to the sides and the forearms perpendicular to the floor. When you're correctly positioned, retract or squeeze the shoulder blades together. At first it may seem uncomfortable or odd, but do not underestimate the significance of this technique. You must learn to hold this position throughout the movement, and consistent practice will ensure this. By squeezing the shoulder blades together and keeping your entire back in constant contact with the bench, you will actually be taking the anterior shoulder out of the exercise. The chest muscles lifting the weight.

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Cell phone use ‘possibly carcinogenic’, says WHO

LONDON: Using a mobile phone might increase the risk of developing certain types of brain tumors and consumers should consider ways of reducing their exposure, World Health Organization (WHO) cancer experts said.
A working group of 31 scientists from 14 countries meeting at the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) said a review of all the available scientific evidence suggested cell phone use should be classified as "possibly carcinogenic."
The classification, which puts mobile phone use in the same broad IARC cancer risk category as lead, chloroform and coffee, could spur the United Nations health body to look again at its guidelines on mobile phones, the scientists said.
But more lengthy and detailed research is needed before a more definitive answer on any link can be given.
The WHO had previously said there was no established evidence for a link between cell phone use and cancer.
"After reviewing essentially all the evidence that is relevant ... the working group classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans," Jonathan Samet, chair of the IARC group, said in a tele-briefing.
He said some evidence suggested a link between an increased risk for glioma, a type of brain cancer, and mobile phone use.
Cell phone use has risen hugely since they were introduced in the early 1980s, with 5 billion in use today. And since phones have become such a key part of daily life -- used by many for Web surfing as well as talking -- industry experts say a health threat will not stop people using them.
Instead, concerned consumers might opt to buy more accessories such as headsets to reduce the risks, Avian Securities analyst Matthew Thornton said.
"It's going to take some compelling argument to change behavior," he said.
The WHO's position has been keenly awaited by mobile phone companies and by campaign groups who have raised concerns about whether cell phones might be harmful to health.
Industry groups immediately sought to play down the decision, stressing the "possibly carcinogenic" category also includes substances such as pickled vegetables and coffee.
"This IARC classification does not mean that cell phones cause cancer," said John Walls, vice president of public affairs for the United States-based wireless association CTIA.
He noted the IARC working group did not conduct any new research, but reviewed published studies, and said other regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have stated that "the weight of scientific evidence has not linked cell phones with any health problems."
John Cooke, executive director of the British-based Mobile Operators Association, said IARC had only found the possibility of a hazard.
"Whether or not this represents a risk requires further scientific investigation," he said in a statement.
PREVIOUS STUDIES INCONCLUSIVE
The IARC remarks follow a study published last year that looked at almost 13,000 cell phone users over 10 years and found no clear answer on whether the mobile devices cause brain tumors.
Many previous studies have also failed to establish any clear cancer link, but a U.S. study in February found that using a mobile phone can change brain cell activity.
IARC director Christopher Wild said it was important that more research be conducted, particularly into long-term and heavy use of mobile phones.
"Pending the availability of such information, it is important to take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure such as hands-free devices or texting," he said.
Malcolm Sperrin, director of medical physics and clinical engineering at Britain's Royal Berkshire Hospital, said he thought the IARC move was appropriate because it reflected the "anecdotal evidence that cancers may be associated with phone usage." But he added: "It is vitally important to fully understand that there is no definitive correlation."

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Worst ever outbreak of HUS kidney disease

PARIS: The deadly kidney disease reported in a quarter of the recent E. coli cases in Germany and 11 other nations is the worst ever outbreak of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a top expert said Friday.
"This is the largest epidemic of HUS to have occurred anywhere in the world," said Francois-Xavier Weill, head of France's National Reference Centre for Escherichia coli (E. coli).
More than 550 cases of the kidney-wrecking condition have been reported since the outbreak in northern Germany of a virulent strain of enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Twelve of these HUS cases -- eleven in Germany and one in Sweden -- have proven fatal as of midday Friday, the ECDC said.
More than 2,000 people are known to have been infected by the rogue bacteria, whose origins continue to elude German and international health officials.
"Until we have discovered exactly what food stuff is responsible and withdrawn it, there will be new cases. Finding it is the absolute priority," Weill told.
Weill confirmed that the culprit strain of E. coli identified independently by several laboratories -- while exceedingly rare -- is not "entirely new" as claimed by a Chinese laboratory that sequenced the genome in cooperation with a German hospital.
"It has been identified on one previous occasion, in Korea. The Chinese lab only compared the genome to others that had also been completely sequenced, but that would be not even 10 of the 70 known types of EHEC," he said by phone.
Antibiotics are not only generally ineffective against the strain, but can actually aggravate the infection, Weill explained.
"When you destroy the bacteria with an antibiotic, you liberate something called Shiga-toxins, which are responsible for the destruction of blood cells and small blood vessels," leading to bloody diarrhoea, he said.
The best treatment, he added, is to boost the deficiencies caused by the toxins: loss of red blood cells and platelets, along with kidney failure.
"You do transfusions, you do dialysis. If it's really bad, you change the plasma," Weill said.
For less serious cases, it is a matter of treating diarrhoea, the other major symptom of E. coli infections, by rehydration and monitoring.
Taking anti-diarrhoetics is a bad idea, however, because "the body needs to quickly eliminate the bacteria and its toxins."
Normally meat -- especially ground beef -- and raw-milk cheeses are the primary suspects for an illness-inducing E. coli outbreak, but in this case experts think raw vegetables are to blame after interviews conducted with the first wave of patients.
Three vegetables in particular top the list: lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers, Weill said.
Another clue is the profile of the victims, who have been 80 percent adults, and 70 percent women.
The deadly bacteria must have been present in significant quantities, Weill said, because E. coli has to surmount two barriers to make someone really sick. One is the gastric juices in our gut, which kill many foreign bugs, and the other is the human immune system.

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Experts advise people to get swine flu vaccine

PESHAWAR: Health experts at a seminar urged the masses to vaccinate themselves against avian and pandemic influenza. They said that such people are at a high risk who do not get vaccinated against the virus.
The seminar held titled, ‘H1N1’ by National Programme for Prevention and Control of Avian ad Pandemic Influenza in collaboration with WHO and UNICEF here at local hotel on Thursday.
While addressing the awareness seminar, Dr Salma Kausar Ali, National Program Manager- NICP briefed media persons and identified symptoms of influenza.
The health expert said after hitting many parts of the world the first victim of avian influenza was reported in district Charsadda back in 2007 and till 2009 fifty people died of the virus in the country with reported 702 cases that in turn propel World Health Organization (WHO) to declare level-6 emergency in the region during the same year.
So far 300 cases of H1N1 were reported till 2011 in the country and most of it was in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
Dr Salma said that swine flu vaccines should be provided to the various areas of KP and that the vaccination is imperative for minors and older people.

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Shark fin: A soup with bite

HONG KONG: First a golden ladle is laid on its own gleaming stand. The steaming dish is brought out from the kitchen and a dedicated waitress decants it into individual bowls, without spilling so much as a drop of the precious liquid.
For the Chinese diners in a specialist Hong Kong restaurant, smiling with anticipation, it is the highlight and centrepiece of the meal, but for environmentalist critics it is one of the worst foods in the world -- shark's fin soup.
"It's full of nutrition," said Lisa Lau, a housewife, who was marking her birthday with friends. "In Chinese culture, when a family go out to eat together or when we treat friends we will eat something good. If we want to order something good, most times we will order shark fin."
To a Western palate, it is nothing special, a slightly chewy morsel devoid of a flavour of its own, and benefiting from the vinegary dressing served alongside.
But for the Cantonese who consume it, shark's fin has an appeal that is all its own -- a culinary experience in which taste is among the less important factors.
Being seen to be eating it, said Lau, gives "face", the all-important Chinese concept of status and social standing, while hosts offering it to guests demonstrate their wealth.
"Because shark fin is expensive, when you serve shark's fin at a party, the party will be better."
It is the look of the fins that matters, and their size. Bigger is better, so that dorsal fins are preferred to ventral or pectoral -- although retailers say the tail also commands a premium.
Fibre width varies by species, with thicker ones, such as from tiger sharks, denoting higher -- and more costly -- quality.
In the kitchen, the dry fins are first soaked for hours, developing a rubbery appearance, before being flash-fried with assorted spices and condiments on one of five giant burners.
The soup -- which includes other ingredients such as chicken for flavour -- is then assembled and cooked in an oven for four hours, by which time the fins are soft, translucent, and reduced to a fraction of their original size.
Environmentalists object to shark finning as cruel and wasteful on the grounds that the fins are often cut from live sharks which are then dumped back into the sea to die.
They also say it is leading to a rapid decline in shark populations, pointing out that as apex predators they have a vital role in the marine ecosystem.
The demand is such that Hong Kong is the global focus of the shark fin trade, with the WWF estimating that between 44 and 59 percent of the world's fin catch passes through the territory.
According to Hong Kong government figures for 2009, the most recent available, that came to more than 9,000 tonnes with a value of HK$1.9 billion at wholesale prices -- around HK$200 per kilogram.
Retail is another story. The centre of the shark fin business on the island is Des Voeux Road West, where shops are packed with assorted dried foods from sea and land.
The largest is Wing Yue Marine Food, where large presentation shark fins for gifts, with the skin still attached, sell for HK$12,800 (US$1,600) per catty, a local measure of weight equivalent to 604 grammes, and basic cooking fins can cost more than HK$6,000 per catty.

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Top 10 a-must Healthy Seeds in your diet

A seed is the part of a plant that contains the embryo of a future plant. To provide the embryo with a good source of energy, the seed often contains stored nutrients and oils that make the seed high in fat (good). Seeds are excellent sources of fiber, selenium and vitamin E, and fairly good sources of protein, zinc, and iron. Because they contain a concentrated source of fat and calories, it is best to enjoy them in small amounts (1/8 - 1/4 cup), 3-4 times a week. 

There are several varieties of seeds, which come in all different colours, shapes, and sizes.

Here we cover top 10 needs a must in your diet.

1. Flex Seed:  Also known as linseed, is noted to have high nutritional value, making it a priority choice of food for health conscious people. Flax seed has the natural properties of fiber, lignans and omega-3 fatty acids that provide preventative and restorative abilities to your diet. There are two types of flax seed. One type is grown for the seed use and considered an oil seed variety. The other is grown specifically for fiber production to be utilized in the texture industry. The immune-enhancing omega fatty acids 3, 6, and 9 are balanced in flaxeed in the combination your body requires for optimal health. Also loaded with vitamins and phyto-nutrients, and an excellent source of protein and fiber, flaxseed is nature's gift to health! They can be ground or baked, sprinkled on cereal, in a smoothie, on top of salads, or added to granola. Also use them to replace eggs in baking recipes.

2. Cumin Seed: Cumin is a seed that has been used since antiquity. It’s health benefits and medicinal uses were well known even then. The health benefits of cumin for digestive disorders has been well known throughout history. It can help with flatulence, indigestion, diarrhea, nausea, morning sickness, and atonic dyspepsia. Recent studies have revealed that cumin seeds might also have anti-carcinogenic properties. In laboratory tests, this powerful little seed was shown to reduce the risk of stomach and liver tumors in animals. It is rich in iron and thus very good for lactating mothers as well as women who are undergoing menses or who are pregnant, since they are more in need of iron than others. Moreover, cumin is said to help ease and increase secretion of milk in lactating women due to presence of Thymol, which tends to increase secretions from glands, including milk which is a secretion from mammary glands. It is more beneficial if taken with honey. Cumin has remarkable amount of calcium (above 900 mg per 100 grams) which accounts to over 90% of our daily requirement of calcium. This calcium is an important constituent of milk and hence cumin is very good for lactating mothers.

3. Sunflower Seed: They are very low in cholesterol and sodium, thereby protect your heart. These seeds are a good source of vitamin B6, B12 thiamin, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, manganese and selenium, and are rich in vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol). To keep your daily nutrition upright, you should opt for these seeds. Sunflower seeds are also very good for your digestion and brain health. Iron in sunflower seeds distributes oxygen to your muscles, while zinc strengthens your immune system and helps you to stay away from cough and cold. Magnesium is also essential for strong bones and energy production. Almost two-thirds of the magnesium in the human body is stored in the bones. Magnesium aids the bones to have their physical structure, the remaining magnesium is found on the surface of the bones, which is used up by the body as required. High magnesium content in sunflower seeds lowers your blood pressure; thus it reduces the possibility of a heart attack. If you buy unshelled seeds, make sure that they are not broken or dirty. They should be strong and not limp in texture. When you buy shelled seeds, avoid the yellowish ones as they probably have become rancid. Sunflower seeds have high fat content that can go sour, thus it is always advisable to store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also store them in the freezer. You can eat the seeds raw, roasted, or use it for flavor and texture in your selected recipes. Today, most of the people prefer taking sunflower seeds as a healthy snack between meals.

4. Pumpkin Seed: They support the function of the immune system, assists prostate health and helps lower cholesterol levels. They are also a useful source of omega 3 fatty acids and zinc. They should be eaten in moderation, however, as they are high in calories. Pumpkin seeds are also very good source of beta carotene, Omega 3, minerals magnesium and manganese, zinc and copper. In addition, pumpkin seeds are a good source of vitamin K. The seeds contain phytosterols, compound found in a plant that is believed to reduce cholesterol level and prevent some cancers. Pumpkin seeds are best purchased raw, unroasted and unsalted. In the winter months, low toasting increases their flavour and digestibility. Otherwise, use them raw on salads and in soups, or blend them into salad dressings and smoothies.

5. Sesame Seed: They contain sesamin and sesamolin, substances that is believed to prevent high blood pressure and protect the liver against damage. These seed is a good source of Vitamin E, that is why it can help strengthen the heart and the nervous system. Sesame oil can help remove wrinkles and other skin diseases when applied externally. A half cup of sesame seeds contains 3 times more calcium than half cup of whole milk, but watch out excess intake can lead to weight gain. Just a hand full of sesame a day provides enough recommended levels of phenolic anti-oxidants, minerals, vitamins and protein. You may choose from whole, husked or air-dried seeds in the stores. There may be black, brown, yellow or white color seeds packed in air-seal packs as well as in bulk bins. Husked seeds appear white.

6. Fennel Seed: They are 4-8 cm long, thin and slightly curved with colors that vary from brown to light green. Iron, and Histidine, an amino acid found in fennel, are helpful in treatment of anemia. Where iron is chief constituent of haemoglobin, Histidine stimulates production of haemoglobin and also helps forming other components of blood. Fennel is also an Emenagogue, i.e. it eases and regulates menstruation by regulating hormonal action properly in the body. Fennel is most popular as an anti flatulent, laxative. also effective in curing diarrhea.  The juice of fennel leaves and the plant can be externally applied on the eyes to reduce irritation and fatigue of eyes.  
So nothing wrong in popping some of these beneficial seeds after meal .At least one can say they have better properties than our chewing gum right.

7. Hemp Seed: One of the most important features of hemp seed is that is a superior source of protein. It also contains a wide variety of minerals and vitamins, but its most distinctive property is that it provides both omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids, or EFAs. These acids are known as linoleic and alpha-linolenic, respectively. Hemp seed oil is highly emollient and can be used directly on the skin to nourish and regenerate. Consumption of hemp oil and hemp seed is ideal for people with low essential fatty acid intake, and also perfect for athletes. It is of course particularly valuable to the veggie/vegan population, and even more so for veggie/vegan athletes, who are always looking for complete protein sources. One of the easiest ways of consuming hemp is in smoothies. Just mix a handful of organic hemp seed (whole or de-hulled) with fruit and juice of your choice in a blender. Perfect for children too.

8. Watermelon Seeds: The seeds are very high in protein, with 1 cup of dried seeds containing 30.6g, which is 61 percent of the daily recommended value. The protein in watermelon seeds consists of several amino acids, one of which is arginine. Watermelon seeds are also loaded with several of the B vitamins. The American Cancer Society reports that B vitamins are necessary for converting food into energy and other important bodily functions. The most prevalent B vitamin in watermelon seeds is niacin, with 1 cup of dried watermelon seeds containing 3.8mg, which is 19 percent of the daily value. Other B vitamins in watermelon seeds include folate, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid. The most surprising thing about watermelon seeds is the amount of fat they contain. In 1 cup of dried seeds, there are 51g of fat, with 11 of those being saturated fat. The other fats are monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, and omega-6 fatty acids. The American Heart Association reports that mono and polyunsaturated fats reduce blood cholesterol, and omega-6 fatty acids can help reduce high blood pressure. Magnesium is the most abundant mineral, weighing in with 556mg, or 139 percent of the recommended daily value, in 1 cup of dried seeds.

9. Mustard Seed:  Being a great source of selenium and magnesium, mustard seeds can decrease inflammation and reduce the symptoms of such diseases as rheumatoid arthritis or asthma. The seeds also contain isothiocyanates, known for their anti-cancer effects. Other useful elements and nutrients which can be found in mustard seeds and mustard greens are calcium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, dietary fiber and very valuable omega 3 fatty acids, which can lower cholesterol levels and protect us from having heart disease. Mustard products have been used also to speed up metabolism and this way to improve the function of digestive system. One of the most important health benefits of mustard seeds is being helpful in reducing the frequency of migraines. Mustard products and mustard oil have been effectively used for centuries for lowering high blood pressure and preventing atherosclerosis. Massaging your scalp with mustard oil will help you to substantially improve your hair quality and prevent hair loss. Another interesting property of mustard seeds and mustard green is stimulating salivation and improving appetite. They  are considered to be a great source of power and bioenergy, and mustard seeds products can also help you to improve your immunity and assist in fighting against insomnia. 
 

10. Grape Seed: Vitamin E, flavonoids, linoleic acid, and OPCs are highly concentrated in grape seeds. They can be one of the best antioxidant, which may help prevent or relieve symptoms of certain conditions, such as vision problems associated with diabetes and wound healing. The safety of long-term use of grape seed is unknown, and more studies are needed to provide definitive answers. Some research shows that consumption of grape seed and grape skin in combination, such as in red wine, grape juice or a commercially available vitamin supplement products, may be more beneficial than grape seed alone. Further research is needed. A commercial form of grape seed called Activin may help reduce the inflammatory response in patients with systemic sclerosis. Pregnant or breast-feeding women should avoid grape seed. People actively bleeding, those with blood disorders and those taking blood thinners should also avoid grape seed.

All these seeds needs to consumed in moderation, for they are high in nutritional content.

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