The Kind Of Food You Eat Could Determined Your Mental Health

According to Mental Health Foundation, one of the most obvious, yet under-recognised factors in the development of major trends in mental health is the role of nutrition. The body of evidence linking diet and mental health is growing at a rapid pace. As well as its impact on short and long-term mental health, the evidence indicates that food plays an important contributing role in the development, management and prevention of specific mental health problems such as depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Nearly two thirds of those who do not report daily mental health problems eat fresh fruit or fruit juice every day, compared with less than half of those who do report daily mental health problems. This pattern is similar for fresh vegetables and salad. Those who report some level of mental health problem also eat fewer healthy foods (fresh fruit and vegetables, organic foods and meals made from scratch) and more unhealthy foods (chips and crisps, chocolate, ready meals and takeaways).
A balanced mood and feelings of wellbeing can be protected by ensuring that our diet provides adequate amounts of complex carbohydrates, essential fats, amino acids, vitamins and minerals and water.
While a healthy diet can help recovery, it should sit alongside other treatments recommended by your doctor.

What we are eating now is very different from that of our recent ancestors. Food production and manufacturing techniques, coupled with changing lifestyles and increasing access to processed foods, mean that our intake of fresh, nutritious, local produce is much lower, at the same time as our intake of fat, sugar, alcohol and additives is much higher. It has been estimated that the average person in the UK and other industrialised countries will eat more than 4 kilogrammes of additives every year. Same goes for cities in Africa, and Nigeria in particular where rich elites live. Over the last 60 years there has been a 34% decline in developed countries vegetable consumption with currently only 13% of men and 15% of women now eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables per day. People in such countries eat 59% less fish than they did 60 years ago - decreasing the consumption of essential omega-3 fatty acids.

A healthy diet can be more expensive. Fish, fruit and vegetables can be particularly pricey. However, by cutting down on sugary drinks and snacks, takeaways and alcohol, you can save money so you can buy healthier foods.
Take care to buy only as much as you know you can use within the next few days, to reduce waste. You can also cut your costs by taking advantage of special promotions and by shopping at market stalls, which are often cheaper than supermarkets. If you live alone you could save money by splitting purchases with friends (buying bulk is usually cheaper) or by cooking several portions of a dish and freezing some of them. This also saves energy and saves you the effort of preparing meals every day.
Frozen fruit and vegetables are often cheaper than fresh produce and are usually just as good nutritionally (with no wastage). Fresh fruit and vegetables are usually cheapest when they are in season. Beans, lentils and soy mince are also cheaper than meat and just as nutritious...
(To be continued tomorrow)

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"Forgiveness Prevent High Blood Pressure, Heart Problems, Others" - Sammy Nickalls, Content Manager, Inspiyr

Natural health is not just about herbs, foods, fitness gears and body massaging machines. If the WHO definition of health as the totality of one's well being (including physical, mental, emotional, an spiritual well being) is anything to go by, then emotional intelligence should be a vital part of natural health. Today, we present an article on forgiveness sent in by Sammy Nickalls, the Content Manager at Inspiyr. 
A sage once said, “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”
Most of us equate this “burn” to psychological distress; after all, holding a grudge causes you more mental pain than the person who did you wrong.
But do you know that holding a grudge can cause you physical pain as well? You would be doing your body as well as your mind some good if you took the path of forgiveness instead. There are many health benefits of forgiveness that may make you rethink whether that grudge is really worth it. But first…

Some confuse forgiving with just verbally accepting an apology, but that’s not true. Although saying “it’s okay” often goes hand in hand with forgiveness, these things are not one in the same.
In order to forgive you must let go of your anger and negative thoughts and forgive the person deep within yourself as well as outwardly. You can even do this without a true apology, if the person doesn’t feel they are wrong or has too much pride.
Forgiveness is not just a formality, but a state of mind. And that loving, accepting state of mind can lift you from a lot of burdens—mentally and physically.

5 Health Benefits of Forgiveness

1. Lowers stress levels

According to a study done by Hope College reseachers, one of the benefits of forgiveness is lower amounts of cortisol.
Researchers examined 71 participants and their physical responses when they spoke about grudges as opposed to when they spoke about forgiveness and empathy. Those who exhibited more forgiving perspectives had lower physiological stress responses.

2. Keeps your heart healthy

Forgiveness is good for the heart—literally. One study suggests that people who hold on to grudges tend to have higher heart rates, while those who are more empathetic and able to forgive tend to have lower heart rates.
Why hold onto anger when it will make your heart do more work than it needs to do?

3. Lowers pain

Having a forgiving heart may lower both emotional and physical pain, according to a study done by Duke University Medical Center researchers. Out of 61 subjects who suffered from chronic back pain, those who were more likely to forgive reported lower levels of pain, leading researchers to believe that “a relationship appears to exist between forgiveness and important aspects of living with persistent pain.”

4. Lowers blood pressure

Letting go of that anger you’ve been harboring might lower your blood pressure. Studies show that forgiveness is linked to lower blood pressure.

5. Extends life

Your grudges might be shaving years off your life. According to one study, after testing adults ages 66 and older and determining their ability to forgive, those who were more forgiving in nature tended to live longer. Forgive, and you’ll live!

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The Environment: Health Effects Of Noise Pollution

Today, the world marks the World Environment Day and we cannot but focus on an aspect of environmental hazard that is not usually touched when environmental issues come up on a day like this. Noise health effects are the health consequences of elevated sound levels. Elevated workplace or other noise can cause hearing impairment, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, annoyance, and sleep disturbance. Changes in the immune system and birth defects have been attributed to noise exposure^.
Although some presbycusis may occur naturally with age, in many developed nations the cumulative impact of noise is sufficient to impair the hearing of a large fraction of the population over the course of a lifetime. Noise exposure also has been known to induce tinnitus, hypertension, vasoconstriction, and other cardiovascular adverse effects.
Beyond these effects, elevated noise levels can create stress, increase workplace accident rates, and stimulate aggression and other anti-social behaviors. The most significant causes are vehicle and aircraft noise, prolonged exposure to loud music, and industrial noise. In Nigerian cities, road traffic has been demonstrated to cause almost 80% of the noise annoyances reported. Other major causes include megaphones use by religious bodies like churches and mosques, and sounds made by traders hawking their products with public address systems.
There may be psychological definitions of noise as well. Firecrackers may upset domestic and wild animals or noise-traumatized individuals. The most common noise-traumatized persons are those exposed to military conflicts, but often loud groups of people can trigger complaints and other behaviors about noise. Infants are easily startled by noise.
The social costs of traffic noise in EU22 are more than €40 billion per year, and passenger cars and lorries (trucks) are responsible for bulk of costs. Traffic noise alone is harming the health of almost every third person in the most cities in Nigeria.
Noise also is a threat to marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
As we mark the World Environment Day today, we can only hope that the government at various levels will come up with policies and programs that will stem the tide of noise pollution in Nigeria, especially the urban areas.

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The Importance Of A Healthy Breakfast To The Day's Productivity

Life in Nigerian cities could be very hectic. On a busy working day, it is common for many workers to skip breakfast and replace a healthy meal with a strong dose of caffeine. What they fail to realise is that a healthy breakfast will, in fact help to boost their concentration and, in turn, maximise their productivity.
It is also common for us to avoid food when we are nervous, for example, before an interview for a job we have our heart set on. However, if we are not focused due to having an empty stomach, we are less likely to succeed in the interview and could consequently miss out on the chance of a lifetime.
By keeping hunger pangs at bay, we are able to work more effectively and are more attentive; we all want and, indeed, need to work at our best in order to achieve results and achieve for ourselves. If we do not perform at our best, we risk losing business for our companies and, in turn, will not progress in our chosen career.
Eating healthily will help us avoid making mistakes and will help to ensure that we are successful. Essentially breakfast provides the fuel we need to function, much like a car needs petrol to run. By skipping breakfast, we are literally running on empty tank.
Research has shown that if the key nutrients the body needs such as calcium, iron B vitamins, protein and fibre are not consumed as part of a healthy breakfast they are less likely to be compensated for later in the day.

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How Genetically Modified Foods Are Made - Expert

Yesterday, we ran the story of how Genetically Modified Foods have infiltrated the Nigerian market and the potential adverse effects they may have on health. In today's follow-up, we present an expose of how GMOs are made. It was sent in by an expert from International Service For The Aquisition Of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA).
A GM or transgenic crop is a plant that has a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology.
For example, a GM crop can contain a gene(s) that has been artificially inserted instead of the plant acquiring it through pollination.
The resulting plant is said to be “genetically modified” although in reality all crops have been “genetically modified” from their original wild state by domestication, selection, and controlled breeding over a long periods of time.
GM crops are made through a process known as genetic engineering. Genes of commercial interest are transferred from one organism to another. Two primary methods currently exist for introducing transgenes into plant genomes. The first involves a device called a ‘gene gun.’ The DNA to be introduced into the plant cells is coated onto tiny particles. These particles are then physically shot onto plant cells. Some of the DNA comes off and is incorporated into the DNA of the recipient plant. The second method uses a bacterium to introduce the gene(s) of interest into the plant DNA.
Most of the research on GM crops has been carried out in developed countries, mainly in North America and Western Europe. However, many developing countries, Nigeria included, have also established the capacity for genetic engineering or a market for GMO foods.
 With every new emerging technology, there are potential risks. These include:

• The danger of unintentionally introducing allergens and other antinutrition factors in foods
• The likelihood of transgenes escaping from cultivated crops into wild relatives
• The potential for pests to evolve resistance to the toxins produced by GM crops
• The risk of these toxins affecting nontarget organisms.

Where legislation and regulatory institutions are in place, there are elaborate steps to precisely avoid or mitigate these risks. It is the obligation of the technology innovators (i.e., scientists), producers, and the government to assure the public of the safety of the novel foods that they offer as well as their benign effect on the environment.

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Genetically Modified Foods Now In The Nigerian Markets - Survey

A market survey carry out by Nigeria Natural Health Online www.kimekwu.blogspot.com has revealed that Genetically Modify Foods otherwise known as GMOs are now in various Nigerian market spread across cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, Benin city, and some few others. Our findings show that these GMO foods are sold in high brow super market and shops patronised by mostly the elite in the society.
Our investigations also review how to identify these GMOs from the normal organic foods. These distinctions can be in terms of the colour, outer lining, size and taste of such foods which are mostly vegetables and fruits.
A shop owner at lekki in Lagos, who wanted to remain anonymous, told our reporter: "It is not difficult distinguishing genetically modified foods from the normal foods. The colour of GMO foods are often more brilliant and attractive, their outer lining is thicker their size is more than the normal size. If you see an orange or an apple or a cucumber that is much bigger in size than the normal ones you have, then know it is a GMO food. Also, GMO foods are not as tasty as normal foods and the fruits among them do not usually have seeds inside of them."
Genetically modified foods have come under serious attacks and condemnations by various research scientists who say they are capable of causing chronic diseases in the body. Below are some research result of GMO foods.

1. Multiple Toxins From GMOs Detected In Maternal and Fetal Blood

Research from Canada (the first of its kind) has successfully identified the presence of pesticides -associated with genetically modified foods in maternal, fetal and non-pregnant women’s blood. They also found the presence of Monsanto’s Bt toxin. The study was published in the Journal Reproductive Toxicology in 2011.

2. DNA From Genetically Modified Crops Can Be Transferred Into Humans Who Eat Them

In a new study published in the peer reviewed Public Library of Science (PLOS), researchersemphasize that there is sufficient evidence that meal-derived DNA fragments carry complete genes that can enter into the human circulation system through an unknown mechanism.(2)

In one of the blood samples the relative concentration of plant DNA is higher than the human DNA.  The study was based on the analysis of over 1000 human samples from four independent studies. PLOS is an open access, well respected peer-reviewed scientific journal that covers primary research from disciplines within science and medicine. It’s great to see this study published in it, confirming what many have been suspected for years.

“Our bloodstream is considered to be an environment well separated from the outside world and the digestive tract. According to the standard paradigm large macromolecules consumed with food cannot pass directly to the circulatory system. During digestion proteins and DNA are thought to be degraded into small constituents, amino acids and nucleic acids, respectively, and then absorbed by a complex active process and distributed to various parts of the body through the circulation system. Here, based on the analysis of over 1000 human samples from four independent studies, we report evidence that meal-derived DNA fragments which are large enough to carry complete genes can avoid degradation and through an unknown mechanism enter the human circulation system. In one of the blood samples the relative concentration of plant DNA is higher than the human DNA. The plant DNA concentration shows a surprisingly precise log-normal distribution in the plasma samples while non-plasma (cord blood) control sample was found to be free of plant DNA.” (2)

This still doesn’t mean that GMOs can enter into our cells, but given the fact GMOs have been linked to cancer (later in this article) it is safe to assume it is indeed a possibility. The bottom line is that we don’t know, and this study demonstrates another cause for concern.

3. New Study Links GMOs To Gluten Disorders That Affect 18 Million Americans

This study was recently released by the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT), and uses data from the US department of Agriculture, US Environmental Protection Agency, medical journal reviews as well as other independent research. (3)(4) The authors relate GM foods to five conditions that may either trigger or exacerbate gluten-related disorders, including the autoimmune disorder, Celiac Disease:

• Intestinal permeability
• Imbalanced gut bacteria
• Immune activation and allergic response
• Impaired digestion
• Damage to the intestinal wall

The Institute for Responsible technology is a world leader in educating policy makers and the public about GMO foods and crops. The institute reports and investigates on the impact GM foods can have on health, environment, agriculture and more.

4. Study Links Genetically Modified Corn to Rat Tumors

In November 2012, The Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology published a paper titled ‘Long term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified maize’ by Gilles-Eric Seralini and his team of researchers at France’s Caen University. (5)

It was a very significant study, which obviously looks bad for the big bio tech companies like Monsanto, being the first and only long term study under controlled conditions examining the possible effects of a diet of GMO maize treated with Monsanto roundup herbicide.

This study has since been retracted, which is odd, because the journal it was published in is a very well known, reputable peer reviewed scientific journal. In order for a study to be published here it has to go through a rigorous review process.

It’s also important to note that hundreds of scientists from around the world have condemned the retraction of the study. This study was done by experts, and a correlation between GMOs and these tumors can’t be denied, something happened.

The multiple criticisms of the study have also been answered by the team of researchers that conducted the study. You can read them and find out more about the study here.

GM Crop Production is Lowering US Yields and Increasing Pesticide Use

5. Glyphosate Induces Human Breast Cancer Cells Growth via Estrogen Receptors

A study is published in the US National Library of Medicine (4) and will soon be published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology. Several recent studies showed glyphosate’s potential to be an endocrine disruptor. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can interfere with the hormone system in mammals. These disruptors can cause developmental disorders, birth defects and cancer tumors. (6)

Glyphosate exerted proliferative effects only in human hormone-dependent breast cancer. We found that glyphosate exhibited a weaker estrogenic activity than estradiol. Furthermore, this study demonstrated the additive estrogenic effects of glyphosate and genisein which implied that the use of contaminated soybean products as dietary supplements may pose a risk of breast cancer because of their potential additive estrogenicity. (6)

Researchers also determined that Monsanto’s roundup is considered an “xenoestrogen,” which is a foreign estrogen that mimics real estrogen in our bodies. This can cause a number of problems that include an increased risk of various cancers, early onset of puberty, thyroid issues, infertility and more.

So, when next you want to buy that orange, apple, water-melon, cucumber or any other kind of fruits and vegetables in a super market, be sure to look very carefully before you buy.

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