Eating broccoli may help fight heart disease

Eating broccoli may help fight heart disease, according to a new study. Eating steamed broccoli reduces the risk of a heart attack by boosting the body?s ability to fight off cell damage. – Wishing your Valentine good heart health on February 14 – and throughout 2008″ Then consider the food some people love to hate, and hand over a gift bag of broccoli along with that heart-shaped box of chocolates. Researchers in Connecticut are reporting impressive new evidence that eating broccoli may protect against heart disease.

Maternity care in UK varies – Healthcare Commission review

The Healthcare Commission assessed NHS’ maternity services in three areas – clinical focus, women-centred care, and efficiency and capability – using 25 indicators of performance. – The Healthcare Commission has ranked one in four NHS maternity services as “best performing” in a national review published today, but the comparative review, the most comprehensive assessment ever of maternity services in England, also found significant variations in the quality of care across the country.

Oral contraceptive pills can protect against ovarian cancer

The longer a woman uses the oral contraceptive pill, the lower her risk of getting ovarian cancer later in life. Oral contraceptives give substantial long-term protection against ovarian cancer. – Use of oral contraceptives during a woman’s life-time gives substantial long-term protection against ovarian cancer and the longer they are used, the greater the reduction in risk. These are the conclusions of authors of an Article in this week’s edition of The Lancet – a medical journal in the United Kingdom.

Pancreatic stem cells may cure diabetes

An international team of scientists has isolated pancreatic stem cells in adult mice, a breakthrough that could lead to treatment for juvenile or Type 1 diabetes. – Just as many scientists had given up the search, researchers have discovered that the pancreas does indeed harbor stem cells with the capacity to generate new insulin-producing beta cells. If the finding made in adult mice holds for humans, the newfound progenitor cells will represent “an obvious target for therapeutic regeneration of beta cells in diabetes,” the researchers report in the Jan. 25 issue of Cell, a publication of Cell Press.

Stricter warnings for botox, myobloc botulinum injections

Botox and a similar injection Myobloc should come with stronger warnings following reports of 16 deaths after the botulinum toxin spread inside the body, a U.S. consumer group Public Citizen said.
– The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should immediately increase its warnings and directly warn patients and doctors about the use of botulinum toxin ? available as Botox and Myobloc ? because of serious adverse reactions, including deaths, linked to the drug, Public Citizen said in a petition filed with the FDA.

Climate change a threat to human health

Climate change will have potentially devastating consequences for human health, outweighing global economic impacts, researchers calling for urgent action to protect the world’s population. – Climate change will have a huge impact on human health and bold environmental policy decisions are needed now to protect the world’s population, according to the author of an article published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

Reduced Salt Butter for high blood pressure patients by Amul

Amul’s Reduced Salt Butter will be a boon for high blood pressure patients for whom salt intake is restricted. – Keeping in mind the inherent need and convenience of the consumers and taking into account the changing lifestyles, Amul is all set to expand its product portfolio with Amul Reduced Salt Butter. Amul Reduced Salt Butter has almost 50% less salt than table butter.

A good fight with spouse good for health & marriage

Fighting with your spouse can actually be good for your health with people who bottle it all up found to die earlier. – A good fight with your spouse may be good for your health, research suggests. Couples in which both the husband and wife suppress their anger when one attacks the other die earlier than members of couples where one or both partners express their anger and resolve the conflict, according to preliminary results of a University of Michigan study.

Consumer group criticizes nyc menu labeling bill

The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) criticized the New York City Board of Health for mandating that chain restaurants incorporate nutrition labels on their menus. – The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) criticized the New York City Board of Health for mandating that chain restaurants incorporate nutrition labels on their menus. This morning the Board unanimously supported the proposal, even though similar legislation had been previously struck down in court.

Toronto Public Health investigating rabies exposures

Toronto Public Health officials issued a health alert Wednesday night after hundreds of flea market shoppers may have been exposed to three rabid puppies for sale. – Toronto Public Health is investigating human exposure to rabies from dogs purchased at a Toronto flea market. One puppy purchased at booth #1513 at Dr. Flea’s Hwy 27 and Albion Rd. Flea Market on Sunday, January_13 tested positive for rabies after being brought to the Toronto Humane Society.

Health Newstrack