57 replies to this topic

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Positive thinkers 'avoid cancer'

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Mammography
The role of mental outlook in cancer is controversial

Women who have a positive outlook may decrease their chances of developing breast cancer, say Israeli researchers.

The small study, published in the BioMed Central journal, also found that getting divorced, or being bereaved could increase the risk.

But the researchers admitted that women were questioned after their diagnosis, which might significantly change their outlook on life.

UK experts said it was hard to compare different women's emotional stresses.


Emotional stress is highly subjective and is difficult to measure accurately
Dr Sarah Cant
Breakthrough Breast Cancer

The role of mental outlook on cancer remains controversial, with some studies suggesting that it might play a role.

Meanwhile, others have found no significant effect, either on the likelihood of developing the illness in the first place, or on your chances of surviving it.

The latest study looked at 255 women with breast cancer and compared their answers in a questionnaire on mental outlook and life events with 367 healthy control subjects.

They found that a generally positive outlook appeared to reduce the chance of breast cancer by a quarter.

In addition, exposure to one or more of the traumatic "life events" such as loss of a parent or a spouse increased the risk by more than 60%.

Lead researcher Dr Ronit Peled, from Ben-Gurion University, said that women who had been exposed to a number of negative events should be considered an "at-risk" group for breast cancer.

"We can carefully say that experiencing more than one severe and/or moderate life event is a risk factor for breast cancer among young women.

"On the other hand, a general feeling of happiness and optimism can play a protective role."

'Complex disease'

But Dr Sarah Cant, from Breakthrough Breast Cancer, maintained that there was no clear evidence that positive or negative experiences could affect breast cancer risk.

"Emotional stress is highly subjective and is difficult to measure accurately.

"Women in this study were interviewed after breast cancer was diagnosed when they may be more likely to recall feeling depression and anxiety.

"The researchers also didn't account for other factors known to affect breast cancer risk such as family history or weight.

"Breast cancer is a complex disease and there is unlikely to be one single cause."
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bbc news

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Happiness cuts breast cancer risk

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Feeling happy and optimistic may decrease a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer.

According to a study of more than 620 women, negative life events such as the loss of a spouse or parent, increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

According to the researchers from Israel, ‘experiencing more than one severe life event is a risk for breast cancer among young women’.

“On the other hand, a general feeling of happiness and optimism can play a protective role,” they said.

More than 1,700 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in Irish women each year and approximately 650 women die from the disease annually.

Little is known about the role that stress plays in the development of cancer or the progression of a tumour once developed. Yet, several studies conducted in the early nineties, demonstrated a link between life events, social support and social networks, and breast cancer.

The increased risk of breast cancer in women who experience negative life events may be linked to the central nervous system, the immune system and hormonal system. But the study authors said the relationship between happiness and these three systems is still not understood and needs to be examined further.
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irishhealth

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Ear wax issues?

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Cotton-tipped swabs’ use for routinely cleaning out ‘earwax’ may prove harmful because the wax actually plays a critical protective function for the ear, say health care experts.


Earwax is not actually wax, but a water-soluble mixture of secretions produced in the outer third of the ear canal, along with hair and dead skin.


In the first published guidelines about removing wax from the ear, health care professionals say that the mixture serves a critical protective function for the ear and should not be removed unless it is causing symptoms or interfering with assessments of the ear.


"Unfortunately, many people feel the need to manually remove earwax, called cerumen, which serves an important protective function for the ear," said the guidelines'' lead author, Dr. Peter Roland, chairman of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center.


"Cotton swabs and some other home remedies can push cerumen further into the canal, potentially foiling the natural removal process and instead cause build-up, known as impaction," Dr. Roland added.


The guidelines say that wax-dissolving agents, irrigation or ear syringing, and suction devices or other specialty instruments should always be used under supervised care to avoid damaging the ear or further impaction.


They also warn against using cotton-tipped swabs, and the home use of oral jet irrigators.


There also a recommendation that people with hearing aids be checked for impaction during regular check-ups because cerumen can cause feedback, reduced sound intensity or damage the hearing aid.


The guidelines were created with input from family practitioners, paediatricians, internists, nurses, audiologists and emergency room doctors, and have been endorsed by the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.


The analysis of the inputs suggests that there are not proven methods for avoiding impaction.


"When cerumen builds to the point of causing symptoms such as pain, ringing, itching or hearing problems, it''s a sign you should see a physician," said Dr. Roland, who also serves as chief of paediatric otology at Children''s Medical Center Dallas.


"The complications from cerumen impaction can be painful and include infections and hearing loss. It is hoped that these guidelines will give clinicians the tools they need to spot an issue early and avoid serious outcomes," Dr. Roland added.

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Plastic bottles are deadly for brain


Plastic containers may be deadly for your brain

Plastic containers may be deadly for your brain. Canadian researchers have found that Bisphenol A (BPA), the chemical used in making plastic containers, might be responsible for impairing many brain functions such as learning and remembering.

They also fear that it could be a factor behind Alzheimer's, schizophrenia and depression.

BPA is globally used in making plastic water bottles, baby food bottles, food containers and dental prostheses.

In their study, the researchers found that BPA might be leaking into the solid or liquid foods kept in the plastic containers.

When these foods and liquids are consumed, they said, the chemical might be getting into the human system, disrupting communication between brain neurons which is vital in understanding and remembering.

According to researcher Neil MacLusky, the slow doses of this chemical badly impair the formation of synapses in the areas of the human brain linked to learning.

As part of their study, the researchers fed African green monkeys at St. Kitts Island with foods containing low levels of BPA for a month.

After that period, they found that the chemical had slowed down the synapses in the monkey brain.

MacLusky said this process was linked to the hormone oestrogen.

"Oestrogen enhances the rate at which some types of synapses are formed and is vital in maintaining normal neuronal structure in regions of the brain that control learning, memory and mood state," he said in a TV interview.

When monkeys had BPA in their system, he said, it seriously impaired this process, affecting their ability to remember.

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Regular exercise can cut cancer risk

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Walking, playing sport, going to the gym or even housework can help keep cancer at bay, according to a new study.

In a study lasting 10 years, researchers have found that exercise can stave off a number of common cancers, including colon, liver, pancreatic and stomach cancers.

And the more active people are, the more they are protected against the disease, the study found.

According to the research team, the most active men are 13 per cent less likely to get cancer than the least active men. For women, exercise is even better at beating off the disease, reports the Daily Express.

The most active women have a 16 per cent lower cancer risk than their couch-potato counterparts.

To reach the conclusion, the study followed nearly 80,000 people over a decade. They were all aged between 45 and 74, a time of life when cancer is most likely to strike.

Volunteers were asked how much physical activity they undertook, what they ate – and how much – and about their other habits, such as smoking and drinking.

Scientists at Japan’s National Cancer Centre in Tokyo then checked them for cancer. More than 4,300 new cases were diagnosed.

But researchers found with active people the incidences of cancer dipped dramatically.

The link held true when the researchers accounted for a range of other factors, including participants’ age and weight.

Reporting his findings in the American Journal of Epidemiology, Dr Manami Inoue said: “Our results suggest that increased daily total physical activity – not only exercise – may be beneficial in preventing the development of cancer among men and women.”
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When Something In Your Eye
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Filed Under Health, Helpful Tips |

eye



How to get dust, an eyelash or other particles out of your eye without hurting yourself:


    * First wash your hand before examining your eyes.

    * To examine the eye in a mirror to locate the particle, look up, down and side to side

    * avoid rubbing your eyes

    * if you can’t see the particle, pull the lower lid and lift the upper lid as well

    * Rinse the eye or eyelid with fresh water

    * If any damage occurred seek immediate medical attention

[mahendra]

for a cut wound where blood is flowing out for immediate aid pl apply turmeric powder on it & instantly it would stop

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Health Tip:  Healthy and safe food


Prevent food borne infections:

    * Wash your hands thoroughly
    * Remove jewellery from hands/wrists
    * Keep kitchen work surfaces clean
    * Rinse fruit and vegetables before eating
    * Throw away food that does not smell right, has fungus on it or is past its use-by date

[mahendra]

while eating never view TV or computer for avoiding distractions
never use phone while eating let it wait for few minutes nothing would turn upside down in tht time
just be relaxed & enjoy eating every gulp of it to have proper digestive values
after every eating pl gargle moth thoroughy to remove food particles for bacteria avoidances

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Ten food variations to help you fit into that treasured 'hope' couture:
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1. Water your flab away: Drinking water is the easiest way to put your body in the weight losing mode. It boosts your metabolism, and higher metabolism helps you lose weight even while you sleep. Water acts as a natural appetite suppressant and replaces false sensation of hunger. Drink a good amount of water during the day, especially in the evening to raise your metabolism while you sleep.

2. Let high-calorie foods be moderated: Want to eat fruit cream or fruit salad with ice cream? Let a spoonful of ice cream be the jewel and a bowl of fruit the crown. In case of salad, make veggies the crown and cheese the jewel. When munching on chips, pair each bite with veggie dip and fresh salsa.

3. Instead of three, eat five or six small meals: Distributing the same number of calories into six meals
keeps you full through out the day.

4. Go for restaurant eating even at home: Keep those bowls off and stick only to the plate and as the plate goes empty, don't reach for second round.

5. Most calories before noon: Go heavy in the morning so that you don't crave for food at night. Following this routine will help you ensure that the body consumes the morning calories rather than working on the evening ones.

6. Fruit instead of fruit juice: Eating whole fruits not only keeps you satisfied for longer hours than a mere glass of milk but also adds fibre to your diet.

7. Go for loads of vegetables: Another way to include water in your diet is to gorge on water-rich veggies. Start eating tomatoes, soups
, salads and cucumbers during meals to reduce your overall calorie consumption.

8. Don't eat by time, but by feeling the hunger: Eating should be induced by actual hunger rather than boredom, nervousness, habit or frustration. So, the next time you plan on eating wait until your stomach is growling.

9. Avoid white foods: Chuck the white flour, white breads, white rice and sugar from your diet and indulge in plenty of whole grain breads and brown rice.

10. Carry a notebook: Do this for 10 days. Write down every single thing that you eat or drink - even water in your diary. By the end of ten days you'll know why you are putting on weight.

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10 Ways to Control Your High Blood Pressure
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1. Know your blood pressure. Have it checked regularly.


2. Know what your weight should be. Keep it at or below that level.


3. Don't use too much salt in cooking or at meals. Avoid salty foods.


4. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole-grain high-fiber foods according to American Heart Association recommendations.


5. Control alcohol intake. Don't have more than one drink a day if you're a woman or two a day if you're a man.


6. Take your medicine exactly as prescribed. Don't run out of pills even for a single day.


7. Keep appointments with the doctor.


8. Follow your doctor's advice about physical activity.


9. Make certain your parents, brothers, sisters and children have their blood pressure checked regularly.


10. Live a normal life in every other way.



Following the recommendations of your healthcare professionals is essential to lowering your high blood pressure. Contact your nutrition coach at NutritionVista


Normal: 120/80

Pre-hypertension 139/89

Stage 1 hypertension 159/99

Stage 2 hypertension 160/100

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7 Tips to a Healthier You
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Regular exercise is a critical part of staying healthy. People who are active live longer and feel better. Exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight. It can delay or prevent diabetes, some cancers and heart problems.

Most adults need at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least five days per week. Examples include walking briskly, mowing the lawn, dancing, swimming for recreation or bicycling. Stretching and weight training can strengthen your body and improve your fitness level. Also

The key is to find the right exercise for you. If it is fun, you are more likely to stay motivated. You may want to walk with a friend, join a class or plan a group bike ride. If you've been inactive for awhile, use a sensible approach and start out slowly.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

7 Tips to healthy eating and physical activity for you.


1. Start your day with a good breakfast. Breakfast fills your "empty tank" to get you going after a long night without food. And it can help you do better in school. Easy to prepare breakfasts include cold cereal with fruit and low-fat milk, whole-wheat toast with fruit jelly, yogurt with fruit, idli sambhar, or even last night's vegetable with two rotis!


2. Get Moving! It's easy to fit physical activities into your daily routine. Walk, bike or jog to see friends. Take a 10-minute activity break every hour while you read in the evenings, do homework. Avoid watching TV for long periods. Climb stairs instead of taking an escalator or elevator. Try to do these things for a total of 30 minutes every day.


3. Snack smart. Snacks are a great way to refuel. Choose snacks from different food groups - a glass of low-fat milk and a few graham crackers, an apple or low-fat yogurt and raisins, or some dry cereal. If you eat smart at other meals, cookies, chips and candy are OK for occasional snacking.


4. Work up a sweat and get fit with friends or family. Being active is much more fun with friends or family. Encourage others to join you and plan one special physical activity event, like a walk in the park or neighborhood, with a group each week. Vigorous work-outs- help your heart pump better, give you more energy and help you look and feel best. Start with a warm-up that stretches your muscles. Include 20 minutes of aerobic activity, such as running, jogging, or dancing. Then cool-down with more stretching and deep breathing.


5. Balance your food choices - don't eat too much of any one thing. You don't have to give up foods like pizzas, French fries and ice cream to eat healthy. You just have to be smart about how often and how much of them you eat. Your body needs nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, fat and many different vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C and A, iron and calcium from a variety of foods. Balancing food choices from the Food Guide Pyramid and checking out the Nutrition Facts Panel on food labels will help you get all these nutrients.


6. Get fit with friends or family. Being active is much more fun with friends or family. Encourage others to join you and plan one special physical activity event, like a walk in the park or neighborhood, with a group each week.


7. Eat more whole grains, fruits and vegetables. These foods give you carbohydrates for energy, plus vitamins, minerals and fiber. Besides, they taste good! Try breads such as whole-wheat, bajra and methi rotis. Bananas, strawberries and melons are some great tasting fruits. Try vegetables raw, on a sandwich or salad.

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Am I at risk of developing diabetes?
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Researchers don't fully understand why some people develop type 2 diabetes and others don't.

It's clear that certain factors increase the risk, including:


# Weight. Being overweight is a primary risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The more fatty tissue you have, the more resistant your cells become to insulin.


# Inactivity. The less active you are, the greater your risk of type 2 diabetes. Physical activity helps you control your weight, uses up glucose as energy and makes your cells more sensitive to insulin.


# Family history. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases if a parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes.


# Race. Although it's unclear why, people of certain races are more prone to developing diabetes- Indians are at the greatest risk of developing type 2 diabetes.


# Age. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases as you get older, especially after age 45. Often, that's because people tend to exercise less, lose muscle mass and gain weight as they age. But type 2 diabetes is increasing dramatically among children, adolescents and younger adults.


# Gestational diabetes. If you developed gestational diabetes when you were pregnant, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes later increases. If you gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds, you're also at risk of type 2 diabetes.

Developing diabetes also puts you at greater risk of developing Heart Disease and Stroke

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Exercise for busy people
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Don't have time to exercise? Try these tips to work a little extra physical activity into each day to tighten muscles and burn calories.

Balancing a hectic work schedule and family life afterwards can be draining for the most energetic person. No matter how sincere our good intentions, sometimes it seems impossible to make time for a routine physical fitness program. Sure, you might take a weekly walk with the dog, but that isn't enough to keep your stamina up and your blood pressure down. Here are a few suggestions for building physical activity into a typical busy day. Get your doctor's
permission before increasing your physical activity, however:


1. Walk the extra mile. Not literally, perhaps, but walk whenever you can to get a little extra movement out of your schedule. For example, jaunt up two flights of steps instead of taking an elevator. Deliver a message in person down the hall instead of calling or emailing it. Walk to the mailbox at the end of the driveway instead of sending your ten-year-old. Explore every aisle at the grocery store rather than stopping only at the ones on your list. We're on our feet all day, so put them to good use wherever they take you.



2. March in place. Even during stationary activities you can get rid of extra calories and tone leg muscles. Stand rather than sit before the television during your favorite sit-com and walk or march in place. During commercials, pick up the beat a bit until you feel warm or breathe a little heavier. Don't push yourself to the point where you can't easily talk, however. You may even want to add a few arm stretches as you move in place.



3. Rock and roll. If you must sit for certain activities, such as knitting, choose a rocking chair and move it back and forth. Even gentle rocking movements can eliminate a few calories from your legs, abdomen, and hips, and rocking actually helps the digestive system
work more effectively than if you were sitting still. True, this is a low-energy way to exercise, but it may be better than nothing.



4. Fidget at work. While sitting at your desk, jostle your feet up and down rhythmically to keep them moving. This can help improve blood circulation and tighten calf muscles. Every hour or so, stand up and stretch gently without tearing your muscles, reaching arms high and bending from side to side a moment or two. (You may want to do this out of your coworkers' sight.) Even slight movements can add up over the course of a few days.



5. Have fun. Get outside and shoot some hoops with your kids. Play tag with the dog. Plant seeds in the garden. Take a walk with your spouse. It needn't be strenuous when you start doing these things; a little at first will help you become more active and perhaps even develop an appreciation for physical movement.


Don't worry about joining a health club or taking up jogging. Make your transition from a sedentary lifestyle to a more active one in small steps. Enjoy the feeling of movement and gentle exercise of your muscles, and soon you may be doing it more often, and with good results!

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Heart Attacks And Drinking Warm Water
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  Heart Attacks And Drinking Warm Water



    This is a very good article. Not only about the warm water after your meal, but about

  

. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating.


    

    For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.


    C ommon Symptoms Of Heart Attack...
    A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting . Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line .
    You may nev er have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.
    A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this message sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this & Send to a friend. It could save a life. So, please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about.

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What is heart disease and what causes it?
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"Day by day, I see my patients get younger and younger. This is not good news at all! Lifestyle, stress and diet are the main reasons for this disease afflicting younger people these days," says Dr Manjeet Juneja, a practicing cardiologist at the Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai.

He explains, "If someone around you is having any symptoms of a heart attack, rush him to the nearest hospital as soon as possible. There is nothing you can do to help him more than this. Also, as far as possible, call an ambulance instead of using your private vehicle to take the patient to the hospital, as chances of the patient collapsing en route are high."

"If, for some reason, you can't rush the patient to a hospital right away, give him an aspirin immediately. Or put a tablet of nitrate under his tongue. It is likely that the patient will be panicking, so reassure and calm him down until arrangements can be made to take him to a hospital."

What is heart disease?

The heart is a muscle that is nourished by the arteries that run through it. These arteries provide food and oxygen that the heart needs to thrive. If the arteries get blocked, some part of the heart doesn't get the nourishment it needs, and this causes a heart attack. If the condition is not treated immediately, that part of the muscle dies, leaving the heart weaker.

What causes heart disease?

And why are we seeing the victims get younger and younger each decade? The answer lies in a mix of genetics and lifestyle. If you have a history of heart disease in your family, watch out. It means your risk of developing it has been increased by a couple of notches.

Have diabetes? That's a silent killer. It means you need to monitor the health of your heart very closely. Diabetic people risk a 10 percent chance of heart disease anyway. And they can have a heart attack with no symptoms at all!

While you can't do much if you are genetically predisposed to heart disease, you can certainly try to balance it out with your lifestyle choices. Exercise is your best friend. And the good news is that thirty minutes of brisk walking everyday is all your heart asks of you. No elaborate cardio regimes need to be planned! Diet is another thing you need to be careful about -- cut down on salt and fats, pump up the veggies and fiber, and your heart will thank you for it.

Smoking and alcohol intake are bad lifestyle choices that your heart might have to pay the price for. If possible, don't drink at all; if you must, keep it to one or two drinks a day. Smoking is a big no-no, especially if you fall in the high-risk category.

Women are luckier than men when it comes to prevention of heart disease. The female hormones of progesterone and estrogen are natural protectors against heart trouble, but if your lifestyle isn't a healthy one, there's not much those hormones can do for you. Smoker? Man or woman, the chances of your being assailed by heart disease just went up by a whopping six times! According to Dr. Juneja, "In India, women tend to overlook symptoms of heart disease, which leads to irreversible damage. Also, the female hormones act as natural protectors only till they menopause. After that, the risk levels are the same for men and women."

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Simple lifestyle changes to ensure heart health          


Washington, Jan 25 (ANI): A few simple lifestyle changes can keep your heart healthy by reducing the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes, according to researchers at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.

Fitness expert Karin Richards, director of the exercise science and wellness management program at the University has revealed changes that people can incorporate in their lifestyle to remain heart healthy, and they are:


Exercise Daily

Engage in cardiovascular exercises such as running, walking, or swimming, at least 20-30 minutes a day, every day.

Gauge your exercise intensity with the sing/talk test- If your pace is meeting your target heart rate, you should be able to talk without being breathless. If you can't catch your breath to talk, your exercise intensity is too great. If you can sing while you exercise, it's not vigorous enough.

Walk everywhere-skip the elevator and the escalator and take the stairs.


Manage Stress

Spend at least 10 minutes each day doing an activity you find relaxing, such as yoga, meditation, reading, or walking. Consume stimulants such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, and chocolate in moderation.

Caffeine can increase the body's levels of cortisol, the "stress hormone," which has been linked with higher body fat percentages and increased stress.


Know Your Numbers

Resting Heart Rate- Find your resting heart rate in the morning before getting out of bed. With your index and middle finger on your radial artery on the wrist or at the carotid artery in your neck. Over three days, count how many beats occur within 60 seconds to get an average. For adults, a normal resting heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute. An unusually high or low heart rate may indicate an underlying problem. Consult your doctor if your resting heart rate is consistently above 100 or below 60.

Target Heart Rate-Target heart rates vary by age, but they are the range, which enables one's heart and lungs to receive the most benefit from a workout.

Cholesterol Levels- High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke and should be checked by your healthcare provider at least once a year. (ANI)

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6 common diet anxieties  
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Eating habits that you suspect may not be right but still carry on with anyway.

1. Can I drink diet soda every day?

A can or two isn't likely to hurt you. There's no credible evidence that the artificial sweeteners and chemicals in these cause cancer. But diet soda is not a health drink, although it saves you calories. One soda a day-regular or diet-increases your risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Go for fruit juice or skimmed milk. Or sip water through the day, with a squirt of lemon added for variety.



3. Is coffee good or bad for me?6 common diet anxieties            Buzz Up Share
Twitter Delicious Myspace Digg Stumble Upon Facebook Tue, Feb 2 06:24 PM

Eating habits that you suspect may not be right but still carry on with anyway.

1. Can I drink diet soda every day?

A can or two isn't likely to hurt you. There's no credible evidence that the artificial sweeteners and chemicals in these cause cancer. But diet soda is not a health drink, although it saves you calories. One soda a day-regular or diet-increases your risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Go for fruit juice or skimmed milk. Or sip water through the day, with a squirt of lemon added for variety.

2. Are chicken eggs good or bad for cholesterol?

If you are healthy, the recommended dietary cholesterol limit is about 300 mg a day (200 mg if you have heart disease, diabetes or high blood cholesterol). One large egg has about 213 mg of cholesterol-all in the yolk. So it's perfectly fine if you eat an egg on a given day and limit other sources of cholesterol for the rest of the day. If you like eggs but don't want the extra cholesterol, use only the whites. They contain no cholesterol.

3. Is coffee good or bad for me?

Coffee doesn't seem to hurt and actually may help. No, it doesn't raise cancer or heart attack risk if consumed in moderation (no more than two cups a day). Four to seven cups a day, however, can cause restlessness, anxiety, irritability, sleeplessness and headaches. Coffee is believed to protect against Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes and liver cancer.

4. Is microwaving food in plastic containers harmful?

Although stories have circulated for years that microwaving plastic food containers or wraps causes them to release cancer-causing dioxins, this isn't thought to be true. Still, it's important to follow general safety guidelines: use containers or wraps labelled as "microwave-safe"; don't use carryout tubs, or paper or plastic grocery bags.

5. Does drinking water during or after a meal disturb digestion?

No. Water doesn't dilute the digestive juices or interfere with digestion. In fact, drinking water during or after a meal can actually improve digestion. It helps break down the food in your stomach and keeps your digestive system on track.

6. How long can I safely keep leftovers in the fridge?

Eat refrigerated leftovers within four days to reduce the risk of food poisoning. For food safety, never allow perishable foods (meat, poultry, fish, dairy products and eggs) to sit more than two hours at room temperature. Your goal should be to minimise the time a food item is in the 'danger zone'(between 4 deg C and 60 deg C) when bacteria can multiply. Before eating leftovers, reheat them thoroughly. Cover foods with a lid or a microwave-safe plastic wrap to hold in moisture and provide safe, even heating.

Coffee doesn't seem to hurt and actually may help. No, it doesn't raise cancer or heart attack risk if consumed in moderation (no more than two cups a day). Four to seven cups a day, however, can cause restlessness, anxiety, irritability, sleeplessness and headaches. Coffee is believed to protect against Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes and liver cancer.



4. Is microwaving food in plastic containers harmful?

Although stories have circulated for years that microwaving plastic food containers or wraps causes them to release cancer-causing dioxins, this isn't thought to be true. Still, it's important to follow general safety guidelines: use containers or wraps labelled as "microwave-safe"; don't use carryout tubs, or paper or plastic grocery bags.



5. Does drinking water during or after a meal disturb digestion?

No. Water doesn't dilute the digestive juices or interfere with digestion. In fact, drinking water during or after a meal can actually improve digestion. It helps break down the food in your stomach and keeps your digestive system on track.



6. How long can I safely keep leftovers in the fridge?

Eat refrigerated leftovers within four days to reduce the risk of food poisoning. For food safety, never allow perishable foods (meat, poultry, fish, dairy products and eggs) to sit more than two hours at room temperature. Your goal should be to minimise the time a food item is in the 'danger zone'(between 4 deg C and 60 deg C) when bacteria can multiply. Before eating leftovers, reheat them thoroughly. Cover foods with a lid or a microwave-safe plastic wrap to hold in moisture and provide safe, even heating.