How Alcohol Affect Your Health

How Alcohol Affect Your Health

 

 

What is alcohol?

Alcohol usually refers to drinks such as beer, wine or spirits that contain ethyl alcohol (ethanol). It is a mood-changing legal drug that belongs to the class of drugs known as 'depressants'.

This doesn’t mean that alcohol makes you depressed (although it can have this effect). It means that alcohol slows down the central nervous system and inhibits many of the brain’s functions. It also affects almost all of the body’s cells and systems.

When a person drinks alcohol it is absorbed into the blood stream through the walls of the stomach and small intestine, and then rapidly distributed to all parts of the body – including the brain.

Although the rate of absorption can differ depending on a number of factors, including sex, body size and composition, age, experience of drinking, genetics, nutrition and individual metabolism, it generally only takes a few minutes for alcohol to reach the brain.
The liver is the main body organ responsible for removing alcohol from the bloodstream.

It is processed at a fixed rate, and it generally takes about one hour to break down the alcohol content of one standard drink. You cannot remove alcohol from your blood by vomiting, having a cold shower or drinking coffee or other caffeine drinks.

 

What is a standard drink?

operating out exactly what a general drink is may be elaborate. In a nutshell, one trendy drink contains 10g of pure alcohol (equivalent to twelve.5ml of natural alcohol), regardless of glass size or alcohol kind (such as beer, wine or spirits).

as an instance, a 250ml can of high strength pre-blend spirits (7-10% alc. vol) equals 1.four-1.9 preferred liquids, even as a 285ml glass of full electricity beer (four.8% alc. vol) equals 1.1 wellknown drinks. consequently, those  liquids represent nearly three trendy drink measures in keeping with their alcohol content. that is why you must measure preferred drinks with the aid of the quantity of alcohol they incorporate, and no longer by way of the range of glasses that you eat.

In Australia, all bottles, cans and casks containing alcoholic beverages are required by using law to nation on the label the approximate variety of widespread beverages they comprise.

How much alcohol can different people drink safely?

There is no amount of alcohol that can be said to be safe for anyone as it impacts humans in exclusive approaches. factors which include gender, age, mental health, drug use and current clinical situations can exchange how alcohol influences different people.

For healthful ladies and men, drinking no greater than two wellknown drinks on any day reduces their threat of harm from alcohol-associated sickness or damage over a life-time. The danger of cancer will increase with any alcohol consumption and the advice is avoid ingesting altogether. Don’t drink more than 4 wellknown liquids at a time to avoid the chance of alcohol-related damage.

Pregnant women must now not drink alcohol because it increases the danger of damage to the child. that is due to the fact alcohol can cross the placental barrier and locate its way into the fetal blood.

Breastfeeding girls have to additionally keep away from alcohol due to the fact it could input their breast milk.

Alcohol and children

It’s illegal for anyone to drink alcohol if they are under 18 years of age. The body also doesn’t cope as well with alcohol when people are younger because their brain, heart and liver aren’t fully developed enough to process it. This means it can seriously damage their health.
Alcohol is responsible for numerous hospitalisations and deaths in teenagers aged 14-17 each week in Australia.
Some useful tips for dealing with teenagers and drinking include:

• Setting a good example in your own consumption of alcohol.
• Talking to your teenager about alcohol laws and the potential consequences for breaking them.
• Rewarding good behaviour if they show a responsible attitude towards alcohol.
• Talking to your teenager about how to deal with peer pressure related to alcohol or binge drinking.

 

What is binge drinking?

Binge drinking manner ingesting heavily on a single event, or drinking continuously over some of days or weeks. a person might be more likely to interact in this behaviour if they experience peer strain to do so, or if they’re feeling awkward or uncomfortable at a celebration.

Binge consuming additionally has adverse quick-time period outcomes which include nausea and ability damage to the individual ingesting, and to others around them. it is able to also motive lengthy-time period consequences on their fitness and well-being. these consequences encompass full-size harm to the mind and liver, physical and psychological dependence on alcohol, and the chance of growing emotional and mental fitness troubles inclusive of depression and anxiety.

Tips on how to drink responsibly

 

• Keep an eye on what you’re drinking, set limits for yourself and stick to them.
• Know what a standard drink is and find a way to keep track of what you’re drinking.
• Start with non-alcoholic drinks and alternate with alcoholic drinks, or try drinks with a lower alcohol content.
• Eat before or while you are drinking.
• Don’t drink and drive.
• If you are going out in a group, work out who will drive everyone home. If no one wants to be the nominated driver, bring enough money for a taxi.
• Avoid mixing alcohol and other drugs/medications.
• Understand that your blood alcohol will continue to rise after you have consumed your last drink. You generally won’t reach your maximum BAC until 45-90 minutes after consuming it.

Health benefits of sex and love

Health benefits of sex and love

Besides putting a spring in your step, romance can bring some positive health benefits.

Some scientific studies suggest that a loving relationship, physical touch and sex can bring health benefits such as lower blood pressure. Of course, no relationship can guarantee health and happiness, but cupid's arrow can send you some health boosts.

Sex is good for your heart

 

Want to get healthy and have fun at the same time? Anything that exercises your heart is good for you, including sex.

Sexual arousal sends the heart rate higher, and the number of beats per minute reaches its peak during orgasm. But as with most exercise, it depends how vigorously you do it. Some studies show that the average peak heart rate at orgasm is the same as during light exercise, such as walking upstairs. That's not enough to keep most people fit and healthy.

It's recommended adults do at least 150 minutes (two-and-a-half hours) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as cycling or fast walking, every week.

Unless you're lucky enough to have 150 minutes of orgasms a week, try cycling, brisk walking or dancing.

Embracing someone special can lower blood pressure, according to researchers.

Having heart disease doesn't have to hold you back in the bedroom. Experts advise that you can usually have sex as long as you can do the everyday activities that have the same impact on your heart without causing chest pain, such as walking up two flights of stairs.

A hug keeps tension away

 

Embracing someone special can lower blood pressure, according to researchers. In one experiment, couples who held each other's hands for 10 minutes followed by a 20-second hug had healthier reactions to subsequent stress, such as public speaking. Compared to couples who rested quietly without touching, the huggers had:

• lower heart rate 
• lower blood pressure
• smaller heart rate increases.

So give your partner a hug - it may help to keep your blood pressure healthy.

Sex can be a stress buster

 

Workload too high? Hot and bothered after the morning commute to work? Sex could help you beat the stresses of 21st century living, according to a small study of 46 men and women.
Participants kept a diary of sexual activity, recording penetrative sex, non-penetrative sex and masturbation. In stress tests, including public speaking and doing mental arithmetic out loud, the people who had no sex at all had the highest stress levels. People who only had penetrative sex had the smallest rise in blood pressure (this shows that they coped better with stress).
Plenty of people find that intimacy or orgasm without penetration helps them feel relaxed, as does exercise or meditation. It doesn't have to be penetrative sex; it's whatever works for you.

Weekly sex might help fend off illness

 

There's a link between how often you have sex and how strong your immune system is, researchers say. A study in Pennsylvania found that students who had sex once or twice a week had higher levels of an important illness-fighting substance in their bodies. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) was 30% higher in those who had sex once or twice a week than in those who had no sex at all. However, the lowest levels were in people who had sex more than twice a week.
But don't feel the need to start your sex calendar just yet, although initial studies are positive; more research is needed before it can be proved that weekly sex helps your immune system.
Another study found that stroking a dog resulted in raised IgA levels in students (resting quietly or stroking a stuffed dog didn't).

People who have sex feel healthier

 

It could be that people who feel healthier have more sex. But there seems to be a link between sexual activity and your sense of wellbeing. A study of 3,000 Americans aged 57-85 showed that those who were having sex rated their general health higher than those who weren't.
And it's not just sex, it's love too. People who were in a close relationship or married were more likely to say they felt in 'very good' or 'excellent' health than just 'good' or 'poor'. It seems that emotional and social support can boost our sense of wellbeing.

Loving support reduces risk of angina and ulcer

 

A happy marriage can help to fend off angina and stomach ulcer – at least it can if you're a man.
One study of 10,000 men found that those who felt 'loved and supported' by their spouse had a reduced risk of angina. This was the case even if they had other risk factors, such as being older or having raised blood pressure.
Similarly, a study of 8,000 men found there was more chance of them getting a duodenal ulcer if they:

• had family problems 
• didn't feel loved and supported by their wife
• didn't retaliate when hurt by colleagues. (In other words, they repressed their anger. Researchers called this their 'coping style'.)

Researchers suggest that stress, lack of social support and coping style can affect a man's likelihood of developing an ulcer.

And if you're single

 

Spending an evening with friends is good for your health too.
One 10-year study of 1,500 people over 70 years old found that those with stronger friendship networks lived longer than those with fewer friends. Researchers thought this could be due to friends having a positive influence on lifestyle choices, such as smoking or exercise, and offering emotional support.

Or celibate.

 

A life without sex is no bar to excellent health. A long-term study into the health and ageing of a group of nearly 700 older nuns found that many are keeping active and well into their 90s and past 100.
Since 1986, participants in The Nun Study have had yearly checks on their physical and mental abilities. Researchers have used convent records to obtain their social, family and educational background. While they've found some links between lifestyle and dementia (for example, higher education or positive emotions in early life might cut the risk of dementia), this isn't linked to sexual activity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How HIV Kills Immune Cells

How HIV Kills Immune Cells

HIV infects immune cells and kills them, discovered by the scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.  This research suggests that preserving the immune systems of HIV-infected individuals is very important. HIV causes harm to CD4+ cells (infection-fighting human immune cells) through complex processes, such as inserting its genes into cellular DNA.

It has been found that in the integration step, a cellular enzyme called DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) becomes activated. Generally, this enzyme manages the repair of simultaneous breaks in both strands of molecules that comprise DNA.  When HIV integrates its genes into cellular DNA, single-stranded breaks occur, where viral and cellular DNA meets.

Scientists discovered DNA activates DNA-PK when attacked by HIV. DNA-PK performs an unusually destructive role, eliciting a signal that causes the CD4+ T cell to die. The cells that die are the very ones mobilized to fight the infection.

Scientists believe that these new researches suggest that it is better to treat HIV-infected individuals with drugs. These drugs help in blocking the early steps of viral replication-up to and including activation of DNA-PK. The medications also can prevent viral replication and may improve CD4+ T cell survival and immune function.

Things to know about sex after delivery

Things to know about sex after delivery

Most couples resume their sex life within a month after delivery. While some take two to three months to come back to their normal sex life. Below mentioned is list of ten things that one must know about sex after delivery. Post-delivery women need some time to come back to their normal self, both on emotional and physical front. Most of the women are worried about their body-image after pregnancy. New mothers may feel reluctant and not interested in sex due to various reasons. The possible reasons can be soreness due to stitches or surgery and sensitive perineal area. It does make sense to let the wound heal before you have intercourse.

Sex after delivery is often interrupted by baby’s fuss. When you are really getting into the mood your baby may need you and start crying. Take care of your baby and leave your love for the next time. Sex after delivery can be uncomfortable for some women. Psychological factors are the main hurdle faced by such women. Their state of mind influence the nervous system and effect lubricate produced in aroused state. Delivery not only effect mother. Even some men lose interest in sex after having a baby. This is because he witnessed your harrowing and labour room scene. However, this doesn’t last for long.


Production of vaginal lubricant greatly depends on the oestrogen level in body. Post delivery the oestrogen level stays low, especially if mother is breast feeding. Therefore, during sex woman may become sexually aroused but her vagina will not be naturally lubricated. As a result sex becomes uncomfortable.


A good water based lubricant is helpful in sex after delivery. Use good amount of lubricant till your hormonal level settles down and everything comes back to normal. An important thing to know about sex after delivery is that sex drive of women significantly drops down. Initially your libido may fall down and you never want to have sex. But the good news is that it is only a temporary phase.


Medications can cause vaginal dryness. If you are on treatment for urinary tract infection, and taking tamoxifen and anti-histamine/oral nasal sprays then you are more likely to experience vaginal dryness. They directly affect mucus production by effecting mucus membranes.


Sex after delivery is affected by the new schedule of women. Taking care of baby for 24 hours leaves you emotionally and physically exhausted.

Food colours and hyperactivity

Food colours and hyperactivity

 

 

Introduction

If your child shows signs of hyperactivity or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), eliminating some colours from their diet might have beneficial effects on their behaviour.

These colours include:

•     sunset yellow (E110)
•     quinoline yellow (E104)
•     carmoisine (E122)
•     allura red (E129)
•     tartrazine (E102)
•     ponceau 4R (E124)

These colours are used in a number of foods, including soft drinks, sweets, cakes and ice cream.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published a list of manufacturers with food ranges free from the six colours.

What are E numbers?

All food additives, whether natural or artificial, must go through a rigorous safety assessment and approval procedure, and must comply with European Union (EU) legislation. They're only allowed to be used if experts decide they're necessary and safe.

If a food additive has an E number, this shows it's passed safety tests and has been approved for use throughout the EU.

If colours are used in food they must be declared in the list of ingredients as 'colour', with either their name or E number.

If any of the six colours listed above are in food or drink, the food label must also have a specific warning saying that the colour 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children'.

You can avoid certain additives by checking the label. If you buy foods without packaging, you'll need to check with the manufacturer or the person selling the product.

The advice about food additives and hyperactivity was issued after being evaluated by the independent Committee on Toxicity and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) following research commissioned by the FSA.

The FSA is encouraging manufacturers to work towards finding alternatives to these food colours. Some manufacturers and retailers have already taken action to remove them. The FSA website has more information about where to find products free from the colours associated with hyperactivity.

You should also be aware that certain additives, such as sulphites, can cause allergic reactions.

The difference between hyperactivity and ADHD

In the context of this advice, hyperactivity is when a child is overactive, can't concentrate and acts on sudden impulses without thinking about alternatives.

Experts think hyperactivity affects 2-5% of children in the UK. There's no single test for diagnosing it.

It's important to remember that hyperactivity is also associated with factors other than additives, including premature birth, genetics and upbringing.

ADHD is more than just hyperactive behaviour. It's linked to a specific pattern of behaviour, including reduced attention span and difficulty concentrating, to the extent that the child’s ability to learn and function at home and school is affected. Children with ADHD often have learning difficulties and behavioural problems.

Benefits of Drinking Green Tea

Benefits of Drinking Green Tea

1. Nutritional Support for Health Challenges

While not a remain solitary cure by any methods, thinks about have indicated green tea can possibly battle many types of disease. One lab concentrate done at the McGill University in Montreal found that the cell reinforcements in green tea could effectively contract prostate tumors in mice. [1] Another meta-investigation of information observed that high green tea utilization could bring down lung tumor chance by up to 18%. [2]

Chinese reviews have even demonstrated a connection between green tea utilization and brought down odds of stomach, pancreatic, esophageal, prostate and colorectal disease. This is certainly an energizing to begin for more research to come.

2. Promotes Heart Health

Possibly because of its capacity to lower blood cholesterol, green tea has been appeared to help the body in its capacity to blaze off hurtful types of fat, keeping them from laying stagnant in the circulation system. Vast scale concentrates done on green tea have related it with long haul coronary illness counteractive action. A Japanese trial found that drinking no less than some green tea every day could bring down the seriousness of coronary illness in men. [3]

3. Antioxidants

Green tea is stacked with cell reinforcements. These free-radical battling substances increment the body's capacity to avoid sickness and back off the degenerative procedures of maturing. Green tea contains cell reinforcements called catechins [4] and polyphenols, types of cell reinforcements known to stop the reaction connected with harmed DNA, elevated cholesterol, and much malignancy. These cancer prevention agents go about as dilators on our veins, enhancing their flexibility and diminishing the possibility of stopping up. Besides, green tea experiences almost no preparing, permitting the regular cancer prevention agents to stay in place and thought.

4. Weight reduction Aid and Metabolism Booster

Green tea remove has been appeared to be successful in both the counteractive action and diminishment of weight pick up. One review found that green tea's fat oxidation properties helped members in weight reduction over a time of three months. A Japanese review found that members utilizing green tea concentrates were most effectively ready to get more fit, lower circulatory strain levels and dispose of destructive LDL cholesterol. Clinical reviews recommend that green tea's polyphenols make a fat-blazing impact in the body, and also increment digestion system. In any case, and this is a major at the same time, some exploration has demonstrated that green tea concentrate may offer a lot of something to be thankful for to the point it can contrarily influence liver wellbeing. In spite of the fact that we can't discuss the advantages of green tea without saying green tea concentrate and weight reduction, we additionally can't say that without the admonition against green tea extricate.

5. Supports Digestion

Green tea is a notable stomach related stimulant. It decreases intestinal gas and may even offer support for stomach related disarranges, for example, Crohn's sickness and ulcerative colitis, the two sorts of IBD.

6. Encourages Normal Blood Sugar

Green tea has been utilized as a part of customary drug to keep glucose levels balanced out. This might be because of the way that it manages glucose in the body. [5]

7. Support for Arthritis

Examines demonstrate that green tea neutralizes the reaction ordinarily connected with sicknesses like joint pain. It does this by moderating the irritation reaction and additionally the breakdown of ligament in joint people.

8. Helps the Immune System

Green tea may go about as a general resistant supporter. Chemicals in green tea have been utilized to advance great wellbeing in such a variety of ways. A few reviews on research center creatures even show promising proof that green tea can moderate the maturing procedure and even keep us alive longer!

Fast Wieght Loss Tips & Tricks

Fast Wieght Loss Tips & Tricks

These days everyone including men, women, young and old alike, want to lose weight and they want results now. Although the healthiest way to lose weight may be to take things slow and naturally, such as traditional exercise 3-5 days a week, a healthy diet put together by a doctor, nutritionist or another professional. Yet there are still some people that step outside of the lines of traditional weight loss by trying fad diets, starvation, extreme exercise routines that are too hard on the body, and things that can end up doing more harm than good. Some people even go as far as to pay thousands of dollars to have surgery even though the risks associated with this method of weight loss have proven to be dangerous. Despite the risks, there are safer methods of achieving quicker weight loss. Here are some tips and tricks that you can use, that when done safely, may help you to weight faster:

1. Eat 4-5 Small Meals Per Day - Eating many small meals per day can safely increase your metabolism and encourage your body to burn fat quicker without having to starve your body. In fact, eating multiple times daily, you may even find yourself more satisfied and fulfilled than before you went on the diet. Your meals can consist of almost any healthy foods: raw or cooked vegetables, fruit, chicken, beef, as long the portions are small (about the size of your fist) for each meal. Make a schedule for yourself on paper, of what you will eat for that day, the times you will eat, even pre-make your meals! That will make it easier to stick to.

2. Exercise Lightly but Don't Over-do It - Exercise for a few minutes daily to help your body burn more fat and calories. Tip: If you dont like to exercise, at least do so right before bed time to help get rid of accumulated calories from that day. Also, if you prefer, work on only your target body areas (example - your abs) for now. Then when the results start to show, you'll be more determined to get the rest of your body looking great.

3. Take Vitamins and Supplements - Take Vitamins and Supplements that are specifically meant to aid in weight loss. They will help keep your body healthy and nourished throughout the weight loss process.

4. Keep a Diary - Keep a notebook, journal, even a piece of paper with the dates, times, foods that you ate and when, exercise, any weight that you have lost, etc. so that you can keep close track of your progress.

5. Visualize Your Goal Body - See yourself at your goal weight in as many ways as possible. For example, find old pictures from when you were thinner. Save pictures of people who have the exact body that you want. Get creative and pull from different sources of inspiration.

6. Give Yourself Incentives - Set a date to go out to a movie, treat yourself to a dinner, buy that new outfit you've had your eye on for the past week, or spoil yourself, after you have lost weight and met your goal. Just be sure to try and maintain your new weight.