Mexico flu outbreak

The virus is an influenza A virus, carrying the designation H1N1 and is spreading from person to person.

It contains DNA from avian, swine and human viruses, including elements from European and Asian swine viruses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease .

Virus samples have been sent to laboratories in Canada for testing, they said.

The government also decided to close all schools in Mexico City and the center of the country to avoid spreading of the virus.

The World Health Organization, which has identified swine influenza as a potential source of a human flu pandemic, has also activated its global epidemic operations center.

Genetics food allergy

Allergic reactions to foods are an important medical problem throughout the industrialized world. The occurrence of food allergy appears to be strongly influenced by genetics, but the basis of the genetic predisposition to food allergy has not been differentiated from that for atopy in general.

In addition, genetic susceptibility alone does not explain the prevalence of food allergy satisfactorily, leaving ample room to consider the importance of environmental influences (external, maternal, and gastrointestinal environment) and interactions between the host and the environment.

Several features of food allergy are highlighted in this review:
1) patients with severe food allergies are overwhelmingly atopic, but food allergy occurs only in approximately 10% of patients with other atopic diseases;
2) most patients are clinically reactive to a single food, and although a substantial minority have multiple food allergies, the variety of bonefide food allergies in a given individual is limited;
3) foods contain multiple proteins whereas only a small subset are allergenic;
4) there is likely an important contribution of the environment, becoming manifest in genetically susceptible individuals.

source : http://www.springerlink.com.

Coffe - Is it good for our health ???

For many of us the day does not begin until we have enjoyed our first cup of coffee.

We know it helps increase our energy and alertness, but there is increasing scientific evidence to show that coffee may also help provide significant protection against the development of liver disease.

• In this post we'll try to show how coffee drinking specifically could be protective against:
  Cirrhosis of the liver (a disease causing progressive damage and scarring of the liver tissue and function)


• Gallbladder disease - by reducing the risk of gallstone formation.


• An increase of liver enzyme activity.
  A high liver enzyme activity is a recognised indicator that there has been deterioration in the functioning of liver cells and possible development of disease in the liver.

More recent studies confirmed the findings that it is specifically coffee, but not other beverages containing caffeine, that may be the key factor in inhibiting the onset of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.

In another large study, results showed that men who regularly drank two to three cups of coffee per day – filtered, instant or espresso - had about a 30-40% reduction in risk of gallstone disease.

For men who drank four cups per day, the reduction was even more significant – the risk was cut in half.

Other study results have demonstrated a similar positive effect in women.

We cannot live without a functioning liver – so here is some good news – that cup of coffee we all enjoy is not bad for us at all.

In moderation, drinking coffee not only helps increase our energy and alertness but may also be helping to keep our liver healthy.

Brown fat - New kid n the block !!!

Currently, the only safe way to activate brown fat is to stay cold , however, the only safe way to activate brown fat is to remain cold enough to be on the verge of shivering… for a long period of time.

This recreates the scenario that led to the evolution of brown fat: life-threatening cold in creatures that couldn’t put on clothes to stay warm.


It’s important to maintain a proper balance of brown fat in the body.

If you’re carrying too much or too little weight, not only are the calorie-burning benefits mostly negated, but you become more vulnerable to diseases such as Type 2 diabetes.

Generally, a lean form is most ideal to maintain the body’s energy balance, yet according to Brown, it is unclear whether brown fat is the cause of leanness or its result.

Food poisoning

food poisoning is caused by consuming food contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, toxins, viruses, prions or parasites.

Such contamination usually arises from improper handling, preparation or storage of food.

Food borne illness can also be caused by adding pesticides or medicines to food, or consuming or by accidentally consuming naturally poisonous substances like poisonous mushrooms or reef fish.

Contact between food and pests, especially flies, rodents and cockroaches, is a further cause of contamination of food.

What is Eczema?

Eczema is a term used for a group of skin conditions having several things in common: dryness, itching, inflammation and thickening of skin, and recurrence.

What Causes It?
Nobody knows exactly why some people are affected by these rashes and others with the same exposure aren’t.

Those with atopic dermatitis often have non-skin allergies (like hay fever and asthma) but their rashes aren’t caused by skin allergies.

On the other hand, those with contact dermatitis do have true skin allergies, but usually not other allergic problems like someone with atopic dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis occurs at all ages, whereas atopic dermatitis is most often a problem in kids. Hand dermatitis is caused by skin irritants such as detergents or chemicals.

Dry (chapped) skin occurs because of lack of water in the stratum corneum (see diagram).

If your skin surface doesn’t have enough oil, there’s more evaporation of water which contributes to the dryness.

Eczema health tips