Married or intimate first cousins have healthy babies.

Australian researches are now calling the belief that chilren born to married first cousins are at danger of some grave deformities, a myth.In his study he has come come up with a fact that most children born to first cousins are healthy. This is in contradiction to a study published in 2001 which said that babies born to first-cousins are nearly three times more likely to have serious birth defects.
Professor Alan Bittles, director at the Centre for Comparative Genomics at Murdoch University, reviewed 48 studies from 11 countries and found that the risks of birth defects rose from about 2% in the general population to 4% in consanguineous or same blood couples. He found that only 1.2% suffered higher infant mortality rates, a find similar to another review from 2002 that suggested first-cousin children are less than 3% more likely to have genetic deformities.

The Health Benefits of Sex | sex good for health

The Health Benefits of Sex - sex makes us feel good AND improves overall health?! Did we all miss a meeting? One minute,sex good for health and its effect upon our health is literally transforming this former'taboo topic' into a legitimate medical necessity when it comes to maintaining peak mental and physical health.

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Cocoa is BENEFICIAL in diabetes!!!

Cocoa is harmful to diabetics. This has been the popular belief till date. A research publication in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has proved it wrong. According to the study the cocoa consists of special compounds called flavonols which play a role in improving the function and condition of blood vessels.
In their study, two groups of diabetes patients were served low and high dose flavonol respectively in the form of cocoa servings. The blood vessel function was calculated before and after cocoa consumption at the beginning of the study and 8 and 30 days after the start of the the study.
The study concluded that the group receiving the high dose of flavonols showed significant improvement in their blood vessel function as opposed to the group which was served low dose flavonols that did not show any significant improvement in blood vessel function.
The study also stressed upon the fact that the dose of flavonols showing improvements in blood vessel function far exceeds typical dietary intake of flavonols in the US and its also not possible to buy it in stores. The researchers are now looking up to flavonol-diets as an approach to prevent heart disease.
Sources:
1. Campia, U. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, June 3, 2008: vol 51; 2150-2152.
2.Balzer, J. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, June 3, 2008: vol 51; 2141-2149.

Albuterol inhalers for asthma containing CFC (chlorofluorocarbons) replaced by HFA (hydrofluoroalkane) versions.

US FDA has banned the marketing of CFC containining asthma inhalers from January next year as the CFC's are known to cause depletion of OZONE layer. Albuterol inhalers that contain CFC's will not be sold any longer in the United States of America. The CFC propelled inhalers are being replaced by HFA(hydrofluorolkane) propelled inhalers. The FDA has asked the doctors to start recommending the patients to switch the type of inhaler they have been using to the HFA propelled ones. Since the CFC inhalers will not be available from January 2009, the patients need to familiarize themselves with the taste and consistency of the HFA versions which may taste different and feel softer.According to FDA most patients have already switched, but still there is one company that is still selling the CFC brand. The HFA versions are costlier than their CFC counterparts and may cost up to $65 approximately.The FDA-approved albuterol HFA inhalers are Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd's ProAir HFA, Schering-Plough Corp's Proventil HFA and GlaxoSmithKline Plc's Ventolin HFA.Sepracor Inc's Xopenex HFA is another option, the FDA said. It contains levalbuterol.Fusco-Walker said many patients without health insurance are eligible for discounted, or in some cases, free inhalers. People with insurance may see co-payments rise, or their insurers covering only one of the four HFA inhalers, she said. Her group is pushing for broader coverage.

Vitamin C increases the absorption of Iron in the intestines

Vitamin C is an antioxidant and thus converts iron into its ferrous form. Iron when present in the ferrous form is more easily absorbed through the intestinal membrane than the ferric form. Hence doctors often recommend citrus foods along with foods rich in iron to anemic patients. A lot of commercially available iron tablets in the market are coupled with vitamin C which is chemically known as Ascorbic acid.

Vitamin E protects against heart attacks and cancer

Vitamin E, also known as tocopherol protects against heart attacks and cancer through its potent antioxidant action. Through its antioxidant action it acts as a free radical scavenger in the human body. Free radicals are produced as a result of various oxidation reduction reactions and modify the DNA and proteins in various cells of the human body. Free radical induced damage to DNA results in a number of diseases like cancer, autoimmune diseases, SLE etc. It also protects against heart attack by the same mechanism by preventing oxidation of LDL by free radicals.Some physicians prescribe a weekly tablet of Vitamin E to their above 45 yrs of age patients.

Condom: Today's necessity

A condom provides a physical barrier between 2 sexual partners involved in the sexual act. A remarkable invention of the 20th century, its primary function was supposed to be birth control. In addition it serves a wonderful function of protection against sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS, infections and birth control. It bears a slight disadvantage of decreased sensations but still the benefits outweigh the disadvatage by miles. Moreover, it offers an economical advantage over a number of other modes of contraception. In the worldwide campaign against AIDS, the use of condoms has been promoted with all the force by major agencies of the world like the WHO so much so that a large number of free distribution campaigns have been organised.

GOLDEN RULE: Have safer sex, use condoms. Join the campaign against AIDS and STDs(sexually transmitted diseases).