Amalan yang boleh merosakkan otak

source : http://www.ohbelog.com/read/29308/0/

Antara perkara yang boleh rosakkan otak adalah :


1. Terlebih makan
Makanan memang perlu untuk otak kita bekerja. Tapi kalau terlebih makan, ia akan membebankan pembuluh darah otak dan akan mengurangkan kuasa mental otak. Amalkan lah sunnah Rasulullah yakni berhenti makan sebelum kenyang.

2. Tutup muka ketika tidur
Amalan menutup muka ketika tidur akan mengakibatkan otak menerima lebih banyak karbon dioksida berbanding oksigen. Amalan ini boleh membawa kepada kerosakan otak.

3. Merokok
Asap rokok boleh mengakibatkan sel-sel otak terjejas atau terbakar dan boleh mengakibatkan penyakit 'Alzheimer'. Jadi, mulai sekarang, SAY NO TO ROKOK!!!

4. Banyak tidur
Tidur bagus untuk merehatkan otak. Akan tetapi, jika tidur terlebih-lebih boleh mengakibatkan sel-sel otak kita mati. Jadi, amalkan tidur enam jam sehari. Itu dah cukup untuk merehatkan otak kita.

5. Pencemaran udara
Otak kita merupakan organ yang paling banyak guna oksigen. Jadi, jika adanya pencemaran udara, ia boleh menyebabkan pengurangan bekalan oksigen ke otak dan otak menjadi kurang aktif.

6. Kurang berimaginasi
Kurangnya berimaginasi boleh menyebabkan tahap kecerdasan dan keaktifan otak menurun. Berfikir merupakan salah satu cara yang terbaik untuk melatih otak kita.
 

7. Tidak mengambil sarapan pagi

Apabila kita skip sarapan kita, paras gula dalam darah akan jadi rendah. Makanya, akan mengakibatkan kekurangan bekalan nutrisi pada otak dan menjadikan otak kurang aktif. Jadi, kepada sesiapa yang on diet, jangan sesekali skip sarapan ye.

8. Jarang berfikir
Jarang berfikir menyebabkan otak kita kurang aktif. Oleh itu, adakan perbincangan dengan rakan-rakan tentang topik yang boleh menjana kecerdasan otak kita. Make sure topik yang dibincangkan itu boleh menambah keberkesanan otak kita. Jangan dok fikir benda-benda yang negatif. Tak moh tak moh. Itu boleh menyebabkan otak kita tidak sihat.

kesimpulannya, selalu lah amalkan perkara-perkara yang boleh menambah keberkesanan untuk otak kita bekerja. Jauhkan perkara-perkara yang boleh merosakkan otak kita.

Cirit-birit Jadi Petanda Maut

sumber :  http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2012&dt=0306&pub=Kosmo&sec=Rencana_Utama&pg=ru_01.htm 

JIKA anak anda mengalami cirit-birit yang kerap dan muntah-muntah, jangan berlengah dan segeralah membawanya ke hospital untuk mendapatkan rawatan lanjut. Mereka mungkin dijangkiti rotavirus yang boleh membawa maut.

Awal Februari lalu, negara dikejutkan dengan wabak gastroenteritis akut (AGE) yang telah menyerang dua daerah di Perak. Dua kes kematian tersebut masing-masing melibatkan bayi berusia 10 bulan dan dua bulan.

Virus tersebut dipercayai merebak melalui air. Perak mencatatkan jumlah pesakit yang paling tinggi bagi jangkitan tersebut dengan rekod setakat 16 Februari lalu ialah seramai 3,444 kes.

Jangkitan rotavirus biasanya bermula dengan demam dan diikuti dengan tiga hingga lapan hari cirit-birit dan muntah-muntah. Cirit-birit yang dimaksudkan itu lazimnya menyingkirkan lebih banyak cecair daripada tubuh.

Hampir setiap kanak-kanak akan dijangkiti rotavirus sekurang-kurangnya sekali sebelum menginjak usia lima tahun.

Virus ini telah dikenal pasti sebagai punca utama masalah cirit-birit dan 600,000 kematian akibat rotavirus dicatatkan setiap tahun di seluruh dunia.

Menurut laporan Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO), sekitar tahun 2000 hingga 2003, sebanyak 10.6 juta kematian berlaku setiap tahun dalam kalangan kanak-kanak berusia kurang lima tahun. Semuanya disebabkan masalah cirit-birit.

Di Malaysia, data Kementerian Kesihatan mendedahkan bahawa di antara tahun 1999 hingga 2000, dianggarkan satu daripada 37 kanak-kanak berusia bawah lima tahun dirawat sebagai pesakit luar akibat rotavirus, manakala satu daripada 67 orang ditahan dalam wad, sementara satu daripada 15,000 orang berdepan dengan kematian.

Dua hari

Sebaik sahaja kanak-kanak dijangkiti virus tersebut, merka akan jatuh sakit dalam tempoh dua hari. Jangkitan tersebut mungkin menunjukkan simptom-simptom ringan ataupun tiada langsung.

Kanak-kanak boleh dijangkiti virus beberapa kali dalam hidup mereka dan jangkitan kali pertama selalunya paling teruk.

"Beberapa simptom yang biasa adalah seperti cirit-birit berdarah, muntah-muntah dengan kerap melebihi tiga jam, suhu badan mencecah 39.4 darjah Celsius ke atas dan tidak bermaya.

"Mereka juga menunjukkan simptom dehidrasi seperti mulut kering, menangis tanpa air mata, kencing sedikit atau tiada langsung serta mengantuk yang luar biasa.

PENCEGAHAN jangkitan rotavirus sebahagian besarnya adalah melalui amalan kebersihan diri. - Gambar hiasan

---

"Rotavirus mudah berjangkit. Ia merebak melalui sentuhan dengan najis dan seterusnya dijangkiti melalui makanan tercemar, air dan titisan pernafasan," kata Pakar Perunding Pusat Pediatrik dan Gastroenterologi Hospital Pantai Kuala Lumpur (PHKL), Dr. Chai Pei Fan.

Tambahnya, rotavirus boleh bertahan selama beberapa hari pada permukaan keras dan kering dan ia boleh hidup selama berjam-jam di tangan manusia.

"Cirit-birit yang teruk boleh mengundang dehidrasi terutamanya dalam kalangan kanak-kanak kecil. Jika tidak dirawat, dehidrasi boleh menjadi suatu keadaan yang mengancam nyawa, tanpa mengira puncanya.

Tidak ada rawatan ubat yang khusus untuk jangkitan rotavirus, walaupun terapi dehidrasi oral disyorkan. Cecair rehidrasi boleh menggantikan kehilangan mineral lebih berkesan daripada air mahupun cecair lain.

Pei Fan mencadangkan agar kerajaan meneliti keperluan pemberian vaksin rotavirus kepada bayi berumur enam bulan ke bawah sebagai suntikan wajib.

"Sudah tiba masanya kerajaan melihat kepentingan vaksin bagi rotavirus di negara ini seperti pemberian vaksin-vaksin lain.

"Pada masa yang sama ibu bapa perlu lebih serius tentang penjagaan kebersihan anak-anak sepanjang masa," katanya.

Ibu-ibu yang menyusukan bayi pula disarankan meneruskan proses penyusuan kerana ia dapat membantu mencegah jangkitan rotavirus.

Sungguhpun begitu, Pei Fan memberitahu, pemberian vaksin rotavirus kepada bayi di peringkat awal merupakan pencegahan terbaik.

Jangkitan umum

Dalam pada itu, Pakar Perunding Pediatrik dan Kardiologi Pediatrik, Pusat Perubatan KPJ Selangor, Datuk Dr. Zulkifli Ismail memberitahu bahawa rotavirus ialah suatu jangkitan umum yang menyerang manusia terutamanya bayi dan anak kecil.

Menurut beliau, penyelidikan yang dibuat di Jabatan Pediatrik, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya sepanjang 15 tahun lalu dan kaji selidik seluruh negara selama setahun menunjukkan bahawa rotavirus menjadi punca utama AGE teruk yang menimpa kanak-kanak Malaysia.

"Beberapa zarah virus sudah memadai untuk menyebabkan penularan. Virus ini dapat hidup dalam masa seminggu di luar tubuh manusia.

"Kematian akibat jangkitan rotavirus lazimnya disebabkan kehilangan cecair dan elektrolit berpunca daripada muntah dan cirit-birit yang teruk," terang Zulkifli.

Pemberian cecair dan elektrolit secara mencukupi dan segera merupakan teras utama dalam rawatan kes rotavirus gastroenteritis.

"Pencegahan jangkitan rotavirus sebahagian besarnya adalah melalui amalan kebersihan diri. Ini termasuk membasuh tangan dengan air dan sabun, minum air yang telah dimasak dan makan makanan yang telah dimasak dengan sempurna.

"Memandangkan sifat rotavirus yang sangat mudah berjangkit, maka amalan kebersihan diri semata-mata mungkin tidak memadai untuk mencegah penularan jangkitan," ujar beliau.

Rawatan vaksin

Sejak tahun 2006, dua jenis vaksin rotavirus telah disediakan sebagai pencegahan jangkitan rotavirus. Kedua-dua vaksin tersebut didapati sungguh mujarab dan selamat untuk mencegah jangkitan rotavirus bagi anak-anak kecil.

Banyak negara di dunia termasuk negara-negara Eropah, Amerika Syarikat, Australia, beberapa negara di Afrika dan Amerika Selatan telah memperkenalkan vaksin rotavirus sebagai sebahagian daripada program pelalian negara bagi semua bayi.

"WHO menggalakkan semua negara untuk menimbangkan kemasukan vaksin rotavirus dalam program pelalian negara sebagai strategi mencegah penyakit cirit-birit pada anak-anak kecil.

"Kedua-dua vaksin rotavirus ini boleh didapati di Malaysia sejak tiga tahun lalu. Buat masa ini, ia belum menjadi sebahagian program pelalian negara," jelasnya.

Vaksin ini boleh didapati dalam pasaran swasta namun pengambilan vaksin ini dalam kalangan bayi Malaysia masih sangat rendah.

"Kami menggesa semua ibu bapa di Malaysia agar menimbangkan untuk memberi pelalian kepada bayi mereka berusia kurang daripada enam bulan dengan vaksin rotavirus untuk mencegah jangkitan rotavirus.

"Kami juga ingin menggesa kerajaan Malaysia untuk menimbangkan kemasukan vaksin rotavirus dalam program pelalian negara," sarannya.

About Cancer??

The Johns Hopkins University

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal,Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soya milk cancer cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains,seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment.. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts)and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine.Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence,Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells

CANCER UPDATE FROM JOHN HOPKINS HOSPITAL , U S - PLEASE READ

1. No plastic containers in micro.

2. No water bottles in freezer.

3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well.

Dioxin chemicals causes cancer, especially breast cancer.

Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.

Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

Recently, Dr.. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers.

This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else.

Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

Sumber :  http://anadinmu.blogspot.com/2011/06/about-cancer.html#more

Degupan kencang tanda tidak normal

Oleh ZUHAYATI YAZID
Gambar RASHID MAHFOF

Kadar degupan jantung yang tidak normal adalah sebahagian daripada simptom serangan strok. - Gambar hiasan

SERANGAN strok atau angin ahmar boleh mengubah kehidupan seseorang sepanjang hayat.
Ini kerana mangsa serangan strok yang terselamat daripada maut kebiasaannya akan mengalami lumpuh dan lemah anggota badan sama ada sebelah tubuh atau keseluruhan badan.

Ini menyebabkan pesakit memerlukan rawatan dan penjagaan berterusan lebih-lebih lagi jika terlantar di katil.
Di Malaysia, strok merupakan punca kematian yang ketiga terbesar selepas sakit jantung dan kanser.
Malangnya hanya segelintir sahaja yang mengetahui tanda amaran tentang apa yang patut dilakukan sekiranya disyaki mengalami strok.

Satu masalah paling kerap menyebabkan strok ialah Fibrilasi Atrium (FA) iaitu keadaan degupan jantung tidak normal berpunca daripada kegagalan impuls elektrik jantung semula jadi.
Apabila ia berlaku, jantung berdegup dengan lebih laju.

Menurut Perunding Kanan Pulmonori dan Penjagaan Kritikal Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Prof. Datuk Dr. Jeyaindran Sinnadurai, FA merupakan rentak jantung tidak normal yang paling kerap berlaku. Ia memberikan kesan terhadap keupayaan jantung menjalankan tugasnya.

"Keadaan itu disebabkan wujudnya aktiviti elektrikal yang tidak terkawal di atrium kiri jantung dan mengganggu pusat isyarat elektrik yang berfungsi untuk mengawal kadar denyutan jantung.
"Keadaan ini menyebabkan kadar denyutan jantung dan nadi menjadi luar biasa dan tidak stabil," ujarnya.
Kadar denyutan jantung seseorang yang normal katanya, ialah 60 hingga 100 kali seminit.
Manakala dalam keadaan FA ruang atas jantung berdegup antara 350 hingga 700 kali seminit.
Keadaan ini mengakibatkan aliran darah berkurangan antara 20 hingga 30 peratus dalam sesetengah keadaan.
Kata beliau, FA memberikan kesan yang berbeza kepada para pesakit.

Malangnya ramai yang tidak sedar mereka mengalami masalah FA dan penyakit itu sebenarnya lebih mencabar daripada pesakit jantung yang lain.Katanya, keadaan itu menyebabkan proses mengepam darah dari jantung ke seluruh badan akan terjejas."Pesakit akan berasa letih dan lemah. Sebahagian darah mungkin tertinggal dan bertakung dalam atrium dan akan membentuk darah beku.


Menurutnya, darah beku akibat FA mungkin terpecah dan bergerak ke otak serta bahagian tubuh yang lain, Ini yang menyebabkan strok atau kerosakan serius kepada organ lain seperti jantung (lemah jantung).
Tambah beliau, pesakit FA mempunyai risiko lima kali ganda untuk mendapat strok berbanding mereka yang tidak mempunyai penyakit struktur atau organik jantung.

Ditanya mengenai simptom-simptom penyakit itu, beliau menegaskan seseorang yang menghidapi FA biasanya mudah berdebar secara tiba-tiba, merasa cepat letih, lemah dan juga sukar untuk bernafas.
Selain itu, penglihatan juga mungkin kelihatan kabur dan leher mudah berdenyut serta berpeluh selain panas badan.
Satu cara untuk mengetahui sama ada degupan jantung normal atau tidak ialah dengan mengira dan merasa denyutan nadi di pergelangan tangan.

Jika denyutan terlalu cepat atau tidak sekata, segera berjumpa doktor untuk pemeriksaan.
Bagaimanapun pesakit FA kini tidak perlu gusar kerana terdapat penemuan baru di mana syarikat farmaseutikal, Bayer Healthcare baru-baru ini, melancarkan ubat terbaru yang dinamakan Xarelto sebagai perlindungan terhadap ancaman penyakit tersebut.

Xarelto yang juga dikenali sebagai rivaroxaban adalah ubat antipenggumpal oral yang dicadangkan pengambilannya sekali sehari pada dos yang ditetapkan tanpa perlu melakukan pemeriksaan darah secara rutin.
Pengurus Besar Bayer Healthcare Malaysia, Singapura dan Brunei, Dr. Axel Bouchon berkata, Malaysia adalah negara pertama di Asia dan yang ketiga di dunia meluluskan penggunaan pil itu.

source :http://utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2012&dt=0131&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Kesihatan&pg=kn_02.htm

Diet Tetap Gemuk Kerana Rendah BMR

Source: http://www.sihatselalu.com.my/2010/09/diet-tetap-gemuk-kerana-rendah-bmr.html

Seringkali mereka yang mengidap obesiti terpaksa berpura-pura gembira dengan keadaan diri mereka. Adakalanya golongan itu cuba menunjukkan obesiti adalah jalan hidup pilihan mereka. Cepat-cepat mereka memberi alasan mengapa jadi begitu sambil di hati berazam untuk menjaga diet dan cuba kembali kurus. Namun azam dan diet sahaja tidak mencukupi sekiranya tidak diikuti dengan usaha gigih dan kaedah yang betul untuk merealisasikan impian.

Tak kurang juga yang sudah enggan melakukan sebarang usaha untuk kurus. Antara alasan yang sering kedengaran :

* Lepas bersalin badan naik dan susah nak turun.
* Badan memang tak boleh kurus sebab keturunan.
* Tiada masa untuk bersenam.
* Suami tidak kisah gemuk.

Kitaran menahan makan diikuti dengan patah azam dan gelojoh makan membawa kesan yang tidak baik kepada badan dari segi kesihatan.

Kitaran Lapar dan Kenyang

Pada otak kita terdapat saraf pusat yang mengawal rasa lapar dan kenyang. Badan seseorang yang menahan lapar akan mengeluarkan hormon dantransmitter dari otak sebagai tindak balas terhadap pengurangan makan. Dengan kata lain otak kita seolah-olah menuntut kembali kesedapan yang biasa diperolehi oleh tubuh kita. Ia mahukan jumlah kalori dan gula yang tinggi untuk berasa sedap dan selesa. Ini adalah sistem tubuh yang cuba menghalang lemak daripada digunakan.

Apabila perut tidak diberi makanan yang biasa diperolehi dalam tempoh tertentu, otak akan mengeluarkan signal bahawa ia lapar. Badan akan memberontak dan mengeluarkan enzim dan hormon tertentu. Ini menyebabkan berlakunya keinginan tidak terkawal atau craving terhadap sesuatu makanan. Keinginan tersebut bukan disebabkan oleh nafsu makan tetapi merupakan signal dari otak kita yang tidak mampu dikawal oleh kita sendiri.

Badan akan memberontak dan mengeluarkan hormon dan enzim tertentu menyebabkan seseorang itu menjadi ghairah untuk makan. Ia ibarat seekor harimau ganas yang sukar untuk dikalahkan. Berperang dengan nafsu makan boleh menjadikan seseorang resah dan lemah.

Akhirnya dia mengikut kehendak nafsunya. Dia makan tanpa sedar bahawa makanan itu sudah berlebihan. Jadi pusingan berlapar yang diikuti dengan keghairahan untuk makan berterusan sehingga akhirnya menyebabkan seseorang tersepit dan tidak berdaya untuk keluar daripada belenggu obesiti.

Kurus Demi Kesihatan

Umum mengetahui adalah sangat perlu untuk mengekalkan berat badan yang sepatutnya bukan saja supaya agar kelihatan cantik tetapi juga demi kesihatan. Kesihatan merupakan sebab yang terpenting agar seseorang memperolehi berat badan yang sesuai dengan ukuran rangka badan iaitu berat badan unggul.

Kebanyakan teknik yang ditawarkan oleh pusat pelangsingan memperlihatkan kejayaan sementara.

Banyak kajian telah membuktikan prinsip-prinsip bagi mengurang berat badan dan mengawal daripada berlakunya pertambahan berat badan bukan hanya dengan berdiet semata mata. Ia perlu mengikut kaedah saintifik dan bukanlah secara paksaan sehingga mendera tubuh badan anda.

Anda perlu menyayangi diri anda dan mendengar bisikan hati nurani anda. Jika anda memberi tubuh anda apa yang ia perlukan ia akan selesa dan anda akan merasa gembira melalui hari-hari berdiet dengan penuh nikmat.

Apakah BMR?

BMR adalah Basal Metabolic Rate, iaitu penggunaan tenaga bagi tubuh semasa kita berehat. Tenaga tetap diguna meskipun kita berehat atau tidur kerana pergerakan jantung, usus dan lain-lain tetap mengguna tenaga. Namun BMR yang rendah membuatkan banyak tenaga dikumpul menjadi lemak.

Mereka yang mempunyai kadar BMR yang rendah perlu menyedari hakikat ini dan mengambil langkah-langkah meningkatkannya. Antara yang boleh dilakukan adalah dengan mengamalkan senaman, mengambil makanan beralkali tinggi dan sentiasa mengamalkan gaya hidup sihat dengan pengambilan makanan yang mempunyai nilai glysemic rendah dan rendah kalori.

Sila perhatikan keadaan berikut. Jika anda mengalaminya, maka anda mengalami masalah BMR yang rendah.

* Apabila berdiet, berat tidak turun
* Berat naik mendadak apabila makan lebih
* Sukar senaman kerana berasa terlalu letih bila bersenam
* Gemarkan makanan berkarbohidrat dan manis
* Mudah lapar
* Makan sedikit tetapi cepat gemuk
* Tekak inginkan makanan yang manis
* Lapar pada waktu malam

Punca BMR rendah

# Tidak cukup senaman. Senaman yang dimaksudkan adalah senaman ringkas merenggangkan tubuh badan.

# Hypothyroid. Fenomena ini melanda hampir separuh penduduk dunia. Apabila hypothyroid menyerang, seseorang akan mengalami peningkatan berat badan, berasa malas, keletihan, berat badan tidak turun meskipun berdiet, setiap pergerakan menjadi lambat, rambut juga mudah berkelemumur dan fungus mula menyerang.

# Kekurangan insulin. Insulin merupakan hormon paling penting dalam penukaran gula kepada tenaga. Dalam kes ini lemak yang terhasil cenderung berkumpul pada perut dan belakang badan.

# Kesilapan memilih makanan dengan glycemic indeks tinggi menyebabkan kadar metabolisme menjadi rendah.

Coke - The Recipe?

Did ‘This American Life’ discover Coke’s secret formula?
By Brett Michael Dykes
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110215/ts_yblog_thelookout/did-nprs-this-american-life-discover-cokes-secret-formula



One of the most closely guarded trade secrets in the history of commerce may be a secret no more: the radio show "This American Life" thinks it has found the exact recipe for the world's most popular soft drink in a 1979 newspaper article.

According to the show's host, Ira Glass, the drink's secret flavoring component, which was created by pharmacist John Pemberton in 1886, is something called "Merchandise 7X." The show's staff recently stumbled across the February 8, 1979 edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which published an article on page 28 about a leather-bound notebook that once belonged to Pemberton's best friend, another pharmacist in the Atlanta area named R. R. Evans. The notebook contained a number of pharmacological recipes--but the main entry, for students of commercial history, was what's believed to be the exact recipe for the soft drink: all of the ingredients listed with the exact amounts needed to whip up a batch.

The Journal-Constitution piece also featured a photo of the page in Evans' notebook detailing Coke recipe--essentially revealing the recipe to the world. But since 1979 well antedated the explosion of digital media, the photograph of the recipe didn't travel far beyond the Atlanta area.

Coke's recipe is one of the most closely guarded secrets in American commerce, steeped in cloak-and-dagger lore. After businessman Asa Griggs Candler bought out Pemberton--who also conjured up cough medicines and blood purifiers, among other things--in 1887 for $2,300, the exact recipe for 7X was placed in the vault in an Atlanta bank. It's been reported that only two company employees are privy to its ingredients and how they're mixed at any given time--and that those two aren't allowed to travel together out of fear that a traveling accident might take both of their lives.

According to company historian Mark Pendergrast, Candler was so paranoid about the recipe leaking out of his proprietary control that he would go through the company mail himself to prevent any employees from seeing invoices that might tip off its ingredients.

"It's this carefully passed-on secret ritual," Pendergrast told Glass, "and the formula is kept in a bank vault at Sun Trust, which used to be the Georgia Trust Company."

After Pendergrast reviewed the recipe in the 1979 newspaper photo, he concluded that it could well be the real deal: "I think that it certainly is a version of the formula," he said, adding, "It's very similar to a formula that I found" in one of John Pemberton's notebooks when he was doing research for the book. Coke, for its part, denies that the security of its secret formula has been breached. "Many third parties, including 'This American Life,' have tried to crack our secret formula," company spokeswoman Kerry Tressler said. "Try as they might, they've been unsuccessful." Coke's archive director Philip Mooney told "This American Life" that the recipe may well have been a "precursor" to the prized formula, but probably wasn't the version that "went to market."

So what's the secret to making Coke? Well, here's what was written in the notebook:

The recipe:

Fluid extract of Coca: 3 drams USP
Citric acid: 3 oz
Caffeine: 1 oz
Sugar: 30 (unclear quantity)
Water: 2.5 gal
Lime juice: 2 pints, 1 quart
Vanilla: 1 oz
Caramel: 1.5 oz or more for color

The secret 7X flavor (use 2 oz of flavor to 5 gals syrup):
Alcohol: 8 oz
Orange oil: 20 drops
Lemon oil: 30 drops
Nutmeg oil: 10 drops
Coriander: 5 drops
Neroli: 10 drops
Cinnamon: 10 drops

Pemberton had reportedly hit upon the formula for Coke in an attempt to overcome the addiction to morphine he contracted after the Civil War, so it's perhaps not surprising that, in addition to alcohol, the drink originally contained Coca leaves laced with cocaine. After Atlanta passed a local prohibition ordinance in the 1890s, the company took the booze out of the formula, and the company has used cocaine-free coca leaves since 1904.

When the beverage debuted in Atlanta-area pharmacies owned by friends of Pemberton, marketers pronounced it "a shot in the arm"-- while Pemberton himself hailed it as a cure for cure pain, impotence and headaches. In our more enlightened age, of course, we know that Coke "adds life"--together with a dollop or two of neroli and nutmeg oil.

CORRECTION: This post originally called "This American Life" "NPR's 'This American Life'." However, while the show does air on NPR, it is produced by Chicago Public Radio and distributed by Public Radio International.

(Photo: AP/Coca-Cola)

OTITIS MEDIA

sumber : http://www.kumpulanperubatanelektronikterengganu.blogspot.com/


FUNGSI TELINGA

Telinga terdiri dari tiga bahagian iaitu telinga luar, tengah dan dalam. Telinga luar mengandungi struktur tulang rawan, kulit dan daun telinga. Telinga tengah mengandungi gegendang yang membantu mengarahkan suara masuk ke saluran pendengaran manakala telinga dalam mengandungi satu ruangan yang sangat kecil yang bertemu dengan tengkorak. Di dalam ruang ini ada tiga tulang kecil.

Ketiga bahagian ini bekerjasama menangkap gelombang suara dan menjadikannya bunyi yang jelas dan nyata.

Biasanya, gelombang suara diterima oleh telinga luar. Telinga luar sendiri terdiri dari daun dan liang telinga. Daun telinga menampung suara, yang kemudian disalurkan ke liang telinga.Dari liang telinga, suara kemudian masuk ke telinga tengah melalui gegendang telinga. Di belakang gegendang telinga, terdapat tulang pendengaran yang bentuknya menyerupai rantai. Tulang-tulang ini saling berhubungan pada sendi dan berfungsi menghantar gelombang suara sehingga menggetarkan gegendang dan sampai ke telinga dalam.

Di telinga dalam terdapat alat penerima yang disebut rumah siput. Di dalam rumah siput terdapat saraf-saraf halus, cairan, dan organ yang mengembang. Gelombang suara yang dihantar ke gegendang dan tulang telinga akan menggetarkan cairan dalam rumah siput, sehingga membuat organ yang mengembang bergerak dan menyentuh saraf-saraf kecil pendengaran. Proses yang tadinya menggunakan tenaga mekanik kemudian diubah menjadi tenaga elektrik, dan disampaikan ke otak sehingga kita mendengar suara.


Sementara itu, sebagai alat keseimbangan tubuh, prosesnya lebih kompleks. Proses ini terjadi di telinga dalam. Telinga dalam juga bekerjasama dengan organ lain seperti mata, hidung, otak dan sebagainya. Jika ada organ telinga yang tidak berfungsi, maka keseimbangan tubuh kita juga turut akan hilang.


Kadang-kadang telinga kurang mendapat perhatian jika dibandingkan dengan jantung atau otak, namun fungsi telinga sebenarnya sangat penting kepada kita. Jika organ tersebut terganggu kerana jangkitan kuman contohnya, ia akan menjejaskan pendengaran kita dan jika tidak dirawat akan mengancam nyawa kita seperti meningitis atau barah otak.

Otitis Media Akut (OMA) atau telinga yang berair dan mengeluarkan bau tak sedap, merupakan penyakit yang membuat telinga sengsara.Otitis Media Akut merupakan radang yang menyerang telinga tengah. Untuk mengetahui apa yang dimaksud dengan telinga tengah, cuba perhatikan organ pendengaran kita.

Otitis Media Akut (OMA) boleh diakibatkan karena alergi, pembesaran adenoid atau boleh juga akibat dari resdung, batuk dan selesema.

RAWATAN DI KUMPULAN PERUBATAN ELEKTRONIK DAN CARA MEMBUANG KOTORAN TELINGA

Ketika salah seorang pengidap otitis media mengeluh kerana telinganya sering berdesing atau bernanah dan ketika dia bertanya tentang puncanya, biasanya kami di Perubatan Elektronik akan bertanya cara beliau membersihkan telinga sebelum ini.Dalam jawapannya beliau mengatakan bahawa beliau sering membersihkan telinganya hampir setiap hari menggunakan cotton bud. Beliau melakukanya setiap hari kerana telinganya sering terdapat lendir dan kotoran. Oleh itu, beliau mengorek telinganya sehingga ia benar-benar bersih dari abuk.

Adakah tindakannya itu benar? Biasanya orang ramai menganggap tahi telinga itu bersifat kotor dan jijik. Adakah benar tahi telinga itu harus dibersihkan setiap hari dan adakah kotoran yang terdapat di dalam telinga tidak memiliki sebarang fungsi?Memang benar, lubang telinga itu hendaklah dibersihkan dari sebarang kekotoran, namun ianya hendaklah dilakukan dengan cara yang betul.

Jika anda mengorek lubang telinga anda menggunakan cotton bud hendaklah tidak terlalu dalam kerana ia akan menjejaskan gegendang telinga, kerana daun telinga diciptakan untuk menghalang segala kotoran bahaya. Daun telinga juga dicipta khas supaya segala abuk atau serangga tidak boleh menembusi ruang dalam telinga dengan mudah.Tugas menghalang segala kekotoran pula dilakukan oleh rerambut kecil yang berada disekitar lubang telinga.

Sebenarnya, tahi telinga berfungsi sebagai perangkap kotoran dan anasir jahat yang ingin memasuki lubang telinga. Biasanya, orang sering salah anggap dan menyangka tahi telinga sebagai kotoran yang perlu dibersihkan setiap hari.

Padahal, fungsinya sangat penting kerana secara semula jadi segala kotoran yang masuk ke dalam telinga akan kering dan akan keluar sendiri.

Sebaik-baiknya, anda dikehendaki hanya membersihkan di bahagian luar telinga sahaja. Kerana dengan mengorek terlalu dalam akan menyebabkan pembengkakan atau pendarahan. Ini akan menyebabkan pendengaran menurun kerana gelombang suara tidak dapat disalurkan dengan baik.


Mengorek telinga terlalu dalam juga akan menyebabkan saraf telinga yang berhubung dengan saraf tubuh akan terjejas. Sebab itu, kadangkala seseorang itu mengalami batuk-batuk atau telinga berdesing bahkan keadaan muka menjadi senget ketika mengorek telinga terlalu dalam.

Salah satu saraf yang terdapat di telinga ialah saraf muka. Saraf ini berada di belakang liang telinga. Fungsinya menggerakkan otot muka dan sebagai sebahagian yang mengawal pendengaran.

Walaupun saraf ini dilindungi tulang rawan, namun jika ia dijangkiti kuman atau gangguan lain sudah mengenainya, maka boleh mengakibatkan muka menjadi serot, mata sukar untuk ditutup, dan sebagainya yang disebut kelumpuhan saraf muka (Bell Palsy).

Infeksi akibat mengorek terlalu kuat dan dalam boleh menyebabkan bisul atau nanah. Biasanya, Infeksi boleh terjadi di liang telinga, kelenjar rambut, bahkan sehingga ke bahagian telinga tengah di belakang gegendang.

Selain itu, jika mengorek telinga terlalu kuat dan dalam boleh menyebabkan saluran pernafasan dan hidung terjejas dan akhirnya akan menyebabkan resdung.Di dalam telinga terdapat banyak saraf yang halus. Sebab itulah telinga sangat sensitif. Ketika kita mengidap sakit gigi atau resdung, telinga juga akan berdesing, kerana telinga kita dipenuhi dengan pelbagai saraf deria rasa. Saraf ini akan mengalihkan rasa sakit di daerah lain sehingga ke telinga.

Antara penyebab pendengaran menjadi lemah adalah kerana mendengar muzik terlalu kuat terutama yang sering menggunakan eyephone dan kerap ke disko sehingga menyebabkan sel-sel rambut menjadi mati dan tidak berfungsi.

Penyakit seperti darah tinggi dan diabetes juga boleh menyebabkan pendengaran terjejas, kerana pembuluh darah yang berada di sekitar telinga menjadi rosak sehingga oksigen dan tenaga tidak dapat dibekalkan dengan secukupnya.


Biasanya, jika anda mengalami Otitis Media dan mendapat rawatan di Kumpulan Perubatan Elektronik, kami akan membekalkan anda ubat yang mampu memperbaiki fungsi saraf telinga dan fungsi rerambut yang ada di sekitar lubang telinga supaya fungsi kedua belah telinga kembali seperti sediakala.


Di samping itu, kami juga akan membekalkan ubat penawar elektromagnetik dalam bentuk pil untuk dimakan dan dalam bentuk air yang perlu dititikkan ke dalam telinga sebanyak tiga kali sehari. Ini bertujuan supaya segala gelombang penyakit dapat dimusnahkan dan kerosakan DNA tubuh dapat diperbaiki dengan seberapa segera.

Cancer Warning for Talcum Powder

Source : http://www.sihatselalu.com.my/2009/02/cancer-warning-for-talcum-powder.html


GEORGE TOWN, 17 Feb 2009 : Be careful the next time you sprinkle yourself with talcum powder or inhale it as it has been found to cause cancers and tumours, said the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP).

Magnesium silicate hydroxide, also commonly known as talc, is the main ingredient in baby, medicated and designer perfumed body powder.

CAP president S.M. Mohamed Idris said the latest findings from the United States suggested that women who used talcum powder were 40% more likely to suffer from ovarian cancer.

"Talc particles are capable of moving up the reproductive system and becoming embedded in the ovary lining. Researchers have found talc particles in ovarian tumour and they have also discovered that women with ovarian cancer used talcum powder on their genitals more frequently than healthy women," he told a press conference at the CAP headquarters here Tuesday.

He said that researchers from Harvard Medical School in Boston studied over 3,000 women and found that those using talcum once a week had a 36% chance of getting ovarian cancer, while those using talcum daily had a 41% chance.

Talcum, Mohamed Idris added, was also a health risk when exposed to the lungs as the puffy white cloud of powder ended up being inhaled by babies.

"Talc can cause the baby’s airways to swell and lead to pneumonia, and has been linked to asthma in children. Statistics show that several thousands infants die or become seriously ill each year due to inhalation of baby powder," he said.

He urged the Health Ministry to place a warning on products containing talc and to stop the marketing of baby powder containing talc.

"Consumers should revert to using the traditional ‘bedak sejuk,’ which is made of rice flour or powder made from corn flour," he added.

Source : The Star

Kenapa Lama Tak Update?

Hmmm...sori sangat...sebab saya busy melawat dan menyertai komuniti dalam web lain....

saya sebenarnya dalam usaha menurunkan berat badan...beberapa bulan yg lalu berat saya adalah 64-65kg....maybe nampak cam tak berat sangat...tapi saya nampat terlalu tembam dan besar...so saya pergi mendapatkan komuniti yg boleh menyokong saya berdiet...

so saya leka di sana dan terlupa di sini...sekarang berat saya adalah 58kg...saya lost almost 7kg...skang saya amalkan pemakanan sihat dan senaman...saya suka pilates dan stepper..

so...apakah laman web inspirasi saya tu?

www.kelabdiet.com

www.sususejat.com

www.jomkurustoday.blogspot.com


kepada pembaca yg nak turunkan berat badan,saya sarankan join kelabdiet.com ni...byk sgt suka duka kwn2 di sini yg kami kongsi bersama.....yg paling utama kami sentiasa menyokong satu sama lain walaupun saling tidak mengenali...best kan?

Is Soy HealThy?

SOURCE: http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/soy.htm

Soy is not the health food that you think it is.
From tofu and tacos to baby formula and burgers, soy products have swept the nation as a healthy source of protein, with a reputation for being all natural and good for you. New studies have however raised questions over whether the ingredients in soy might increase the risk of breast cancer in some women, affect brain function in men and lead to hidden developmental ab-normalities in infants.

The core of their concerns rests with the chemical makeup of soy: in addition to all the nutrients and protein, soy contains a natural chemical that mimics estrogen, the female hormone. Some studies in animals show that this chemical can alter sexual development. And in fact, 2 glasses of soy milk/day, over the course of one month, contain enough of the chemical to change the timing of a woman’s menstrual cycle.

Isoflavones in soybeans
Soybeans contain an impressive array of phytochemicals (biologically active components derived from plants), the most interesting of which are known as isoflavones. Isoflavones are the compounds which are being studied in relation to the relief of certain menopausal symptoms, cancer prevention, slowing or reversing osteoporosis and reducing the risk of heart disease.

Soy critics point to the fact that soybeans, as provided by nature, are not suitable for human consumption. Only after fermentation for some time, or extensive processing, including chemical extractions and high temperatures, are the beans, or the soy protein isolate, suitable for digestion when eaten.

Soybeans also reportedly contain an anti-nutrient called "phytic acid", which all beans do. However, soybeans have higher levels of phytic acid than any other legume. Phytic acid may block the absorption of certain minerals, including magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc. Epidemiological studies have shown that people in 3rd World Countries who have high consumption of grains and soy also commonly have deficiencies in these minerals. It must also be noted that this may be of particular concern with regard to babies who are using soy-based infant formulas.

What is the truth when it comes to soy?
So how does one get to the truth when it comes to soy? Usually, the first question I ask is… "Where is the money? Who has something to be gained from one side or the other?" With the soy issue, there does not seem to be an easy answer here either… and that's because there appear to be strong financial incentives on both sides of the argument.

Who has something to gain from the consumption of soy? Perhaps companies like Monsanto which produce the genetically modified soybean seeds. Perhaps companies like Cargill Foods or SoyLife which produce countless soy-based foods. Or soybean councils in several states which represent farmers who grow this new, emerging bumper crop. And, of course, all of the companies which are constructing factories all over the world to do the processing which is necessary to make soybeans edible.

Soy - more negatives than positives
I feel the positive aspects of the soybean are overshadowed by their potential for harm. Soybeans in fact contain a large number of dangerous substances. We already mentionned "phytic acid", also called "phytates". This organic acid is present in the bran or hulls of all seeds and legumes, but none have the high level of phytates which soybeans do. Phytic acid blocks the body's uptake of essential minerals like magnesium, calcium, iron and especially zinc. Adding to the high phytate problem, soybeans are highly resistant to phytate-reducing techniques, such as long, slow cooking.

Soybeans also contain potent enzyme-inhibitors. These inhibitors block uptake of trypsin and other enzymes which the body needs for protein digestion. Normal cooking does not de-activate these harmful antinutrients, which can cause serious gastric distress, reduced protein digestion and can lead to chronic deficiencies in amino acid uptake.

In addition, soybeans also contain hemagglutinin, a clot-promoting substance which causes red blood cells to clump together. These clustered blood cells cannot properly absorb oxygen for distribution to the body's tissues, and are unable to help in maintaining good cardiac health.

Hemagglutinin and trypsin inhibitors are both "growth depressant" substances. Although the act of fermenting soybeans does de-activate both hemagglutinin and trypsin inhibitors, cooking and precipitation do not. Although these enzyme inhibitors are found in reduced levels within precipitated soy products like tofu, they are not completely eliminated. For this reason, if you are going to consume soy, I would recommend limiting your soy use to fermented products only, like tempeh or miso.

Only after a long period of fermentation (as ocurs in the creation of miso or tempeh) are the antinutrient and phytate levels of soybeans reduced, making their nourishment available to the human digestive system. The high level of harmful substances remaining in precipitated soy products leaves their nutritional value questionable at best, and potentially harmful.

Soy and hormonal balance
Just because tofu is of vegetable origin does not necessarily make it healthy.

Health-conscious Americans believe in the benefits of tofu, infant formula and other food products made from soybeans and soy extract. But their assumption is now being called into question by Jill Schneider, associate professor of biological sciences at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

In a study of hamsters completed under Schneider's direction, it was recently found that a component of soy beans - isoflavones - significantly accelerated the onset of puberty in the rodents.

These findings, which are similar to the results reported by labs which have experimented with rats, might be relevant to humans, Schneider says. She points out that many babies who are allergic to cow's milk are fed soy-based formulas which contain isoflavones. Isoflavones, she says, can act like estrogen, a natural hormone important in the development of both male and female humans.

It is child abuse to feed a baby soy formula. A baby fed soy will receive, through the phytoestrogens, the equivalent of approximately 5 birth control pills per day! The damage is incalculable.

There are other reasons to stay away from soy
A very large percentage of soy - over 90% - is genetically modified and it also has one of the highest percentages contamination by pesticides of any of the foods we eat.

Soy processors have worked hard to get these anti-nutrients out of the finished product, particularly soy protein isolate (SPI) which is the key ingredient in most soy foods which imitate meat and dairy products, including baby formulas and some brands of soy milk.

SPI is not something you can make in your own kitchen. Production takes place in industrial factories where soybeans are first mixed with an alkaline solution to remove fiber, then precipitated and separated using an acid wash and, finally, neutralized in an alkaline solution.

Acid washing in aluminum tanks leaches high levels of aluminum into the final product. As a result, soy-based formula also has over 1000% more aluminum than conventional milk based formulas. Breast milk is best, but if one, for whatever reason, cannot breast feed, then Carnation Good Start until six months and Carnation FollowUp after that seem to be the best commercial formula currently available. The milk protein is hydrolyzed 80% which tends to significantly decrease its allergenicity.
Finally, the resulting curds are spray-dried at high temperatures to produce a high-protein powder. A final hardship to the original soybean is high-temperature, high-pressure extrusion processing of soy protein isolate to produce textured vegetable protein.

Nitrites, which are potent carcinogens, are formed during spray-drying, and a toxin called "lysinoalanine" is formed during alkaline processing.(1) Numerous artificial flavorings, particularly MSG, are added to soy protein isolate and textured vegetable protein products to mask their strong "beany" taste and to impart the flavor of meat.(2)

Yet soy protein isolate and textured vegetable protein are used extensively in school lunch programs, commercial baked goods, fast food products and diet beverages. They are heavily promoted in 3rd world countries and form the basis of many food giveaway programs.

Marketing and soy
All soybean producers pay a mandatory assessment of 0.5% to 1% of the net market price of soybeans. The total - something like US $80 million annually(3) - supports United Soybean's program to "strengthen the position of soybeans in the marketplace and maintain and expand domestic and foreign markets for uses for soybeans and soybean products".

State soybean councils from Maryland, Nebraska, Delaware, Arkansas, Virginia, North Dakota and Michigan provide another $2.5 million for "research".(4) Private companies like Archer Daniels Midland also contribute their share. ADM spent $4.7 million for advertising on the TV shor "Meet the Press" and $4.3 million on "Face the Nation" during the course of a year.(5)

Public relations firms help convert research projects into advertising copy and newspaper articles, and law firms lobby for favorable government regulations. IMF money funds soy-processing plants in foreign countries, and free-trade policies keep soybean abundance flowing to overseas destinations.

Soy milk has posted the biggest gains, soaring from $2 million in 1980 to $300 million in the US in 2001.(6) Recent advances in processing have transformed the bitter, gray, beany-tasting Asian beverage into a product that Western consumers will accept - one that tastes like a milkshake, but without the guilt.

What about soy offering protection against cancer?
Some sources claim that "soy has demonstrated powerful anticancer benefits...the Japanese, who eat 30 times as much soy as North Americans, have a lower incidence of cancers of the breast, uterus and prostate."(7)

Indeed they do. But the Japanese, and Asians in general, have much higher rates of other types of cancer, particularly cancer of the esophagus, stomach, liver and pancreas.(8) Asians throughout the world also have high rates of thyroid cancer.(9) The logic which links low rates of reproductive cancers to soy consumption requires attribution of high rates of thyroid and digestive cancers to the same foods, particularly as soy causes these types of cancers in laboratory rats.

In 1991, Japanese researchers reported that consumption of as little as 30 grams or 2 tablespoons of soybeans/day for only 1 month resulted in a significant increase in thyroid-stimulating hormone.(10) Diffuse goiter and hypothyroidism appeared in some of the subjects and many complained of constipation, lethargy and fatigue, even though their intake of iodine was adequate.

25 grams of soy protein isolate, the minimum amount claimed to have cholesterol-lowering effects, contains from 50 to 70 mg of isoflavones. It took only 45 mg of isoflavones in pre-menopausal women to exert significant biological effects, including a reduction in hormones needed for adequate thyroid function. These effects lingered for 3 months after soy consumption was discontinued.(11)

In 1992, the Swiss health service estimated that 100 grams of soy protein provided the estrogenic equivalent of the Pill.(12)

Soy formula: Birth control pills for infants
But it is the isoflavones in infant formula which give the most cause for concern. In 1998, investigators reported that the daily exposure of infants to isoflavones in soy infant formula is 6 to 11 times higher on a body-weight basis than the dose that has hormonal effects in adults consuming soy foods. Circulating concentrations of isoflavones in infants who were fed soy-based formula were 13,000 to 22,000 times higher than plasma estradiol concentrations in infants on cow's milk formula.(13)

Approximately 25% of bottle-fed children in the US receive soy-based formula - a much higher percentage than in other parts of the Western world. It is estimated that an infant exclusively fed soy formula receives the estrogen equivalent (based on body weight) of at least 5 birth control pills per day.(14) By contrast, almost no phytoestrogens have been detected in dairy-based infant formula or in human milk, even when the mother consumes soy products

References:(1). Rackis, et al., ibid., p. 22; "Evaluation of the Health Aspects of Soy Protein Isolates as Food Ingredients", prepared for FDA by Life Sciences Research Office, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20014), USA, Contract No. FDA 223-75-2004, 1979.
(2). See www/truthinlabeling.org.
(3). See www/unitedsoybean.org.
(4). These are listed in www.soyonlineservice.co.nz.
(5). Wall Street Journal, October 27, 1995.
(6). Urquhart, John, "A Health Food Hits Big Time", Wall Street Journal, August 3, 1999, p. B1
(7). Natural Medicine News (L & H Vitamins, 32-33 47th Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101), USA, January/February 2000, p. 8.(8). Harras, Angela (ed.), Cancer Rates and Risks, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, 1996, 4th edition. (9). Searle, Charles E. (ed.), Chemical Carcinogens, ACS Monograph 173, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 1976.
(10). Ishizuki, Y. et al., "The effects on the thyroid gland of soybeans administered experimentally in healthy subjects", Nippon Naibunpi Gakkai Zasshi (1991) 767:622-629.
(11). Cassidy, A. et al., "Biological Effects of a Diet of Soy Protein Rich in Isoflavones on the Menstrual Cycle of Premenopausal Women", American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (1994) 60:333-340.
(12). Bulletin de L'Office Fédéral de la Santé Publique, no. 28, July 20, 1992.
(13). Setchell, K.D. et al., "Isoflavone content of infant formulas and the metabolic fate of these early phytoestrogens in early life", American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, December 1998 Supplement, 1453S-1461S.
(14). Irvine, C. et al., "The Potential Adverse Effects of Soybean Phytoestrogens in Infant Feeding", New Zealand Medical Journal May 24, 1995, p. 318.
.