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Here is an enlightening piece of information I came across recently, and it is particularly relevant if you participate in contact sports, are a member of a Gym, or participate in a sport involving rapid exercise.

According to a new study in the British Journal of sports medicine, the hepatitis B virus can be passed from one person to another through sweat during contact sports. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) apparently is environmentally stable. In other words it can survive for a long time out of the body in blood and bodily fluids. What was not known previously is that it can survive in sweat.

The implications of this finding are frightening and the discovery came about after eight Olympic wrestlers tested positive for HBV.

Most people have heard of hepatitis B and it is usually only people such as public service workers, emergency service workers, doctors and nurses who have routinely to take special precautions against contracting the virus in addition to becoming vaccinated.

However the implications of this discovery imply that should you for example handle sweaty gym equipment, or lie on a sweaty weights bench after someone who carries the hepatitis B virus, you may be at risk. Equally rugby players, football players, and other high activity sports participants, may also be at risk in the shower room or sauna, especially if in contact with sweaty towels or sports gear from an infected person.

This also has implications for schools and universities. Awareness is needed and a system of basic hygiene should be examined. The information is particularly relevant to parents who may now need to educate their children to the dangers of possible infection from sweaty sports gear and towels.

Personally I think it would be prudent for everyone including students who find themselves at possible risk, to seek vaccination at the earliest convenience as
a sensible preventative measure.

Tags: hepatitis b, sweat, bodily fluids, blood, basic hygiene



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Rebecca Burn Dip RNT MBANT

It’s that time of year again when thoughts turn from the party season’s overindulgence to dusting down our tracksuits and renewing the gym membership. A drastic diet and gruelling exercise regime are considered the only course of action to take, however this can be extremely stressful and even detrimental to health. At this time of year we need nutritious foods to repair and rebuild the body after Christmas which a detox often does not provide.

Eating nutritious foods whilst ditching the junk is the first step. Whole foods such as wholegrains, fruit and vegetables, are usually easier to digest and contain far fewer toxins for the body to process. Toxins along with fats and alcohol are all processed by the liver meaning over Christmas the liver is under great strain. By simply reducing our intake of these villains we are reducing the stress on our digestive system which encourages it to detox naturally.

The B vitamins are key for liver function and overall health. When we are under stress B vitamins get used up incredibly quickly, another reason not to put yourself through a gruelling new exercise regime and a raw food only diet! Not only that, a diet of the usual junk we eat over the festive season means our diet is likely to be lacking in these essential nutrients. B vitamins are found in abundance in fish, chicken and most vegetables so stock up on fresh natural whole foods.

Too much sugar at Christmas is also inevitable. Sugar is really detrimental to health not only because of the excess calories it easily provides, but sugar can suppress the immune system meaning we are more susceptible to colds and flu. In fact eating too much sugar whilst suffering from a cold can even prolong the length of an infection. Instead sweeten up with fresh fruits which contain natural fruit sugars plus all important nutrients such as vitamin C which is crucial for staving off winter time bugs.

All the sugar and alcohol from the festive season can also disrupt the delicate balance of bacteria in the gut. Try some probiotics or switch to a multi vitamin with probiotics such as Multi-Pro (Healthy Direct) which will boost the good bacteria and restore healthy digestion.

So, let’s admit we may have over indulged, and yes our digestive system and liver have taken a hammering over the Christmas period, but give yourself a break this year, still stick to reducing your intake of alcohol, saturated fats and sugar but work towards nourishing the body rather than depriving it. See below for some further ideas for post Christmas recovery.

Rebecca’s Top Tips for Getting Back on Track this Winter

Healthy fats
Switch from saturated fats found in red meat and dairy products to healthy fats. Nuts, seeds and plenty of oily fish are tasty and provide omega fats which are essential for healthy skin and hormone balance. Try a mixed omega supplement such as Healthy Direct Omega 3, 6, 9.

Energising Gentle Exercise
Not only can a lack of exercise contribute to weight gain it also means that our circulation is more sluggish which results in a build up of toxins. Even gentle exercise gets the circulation going, so wrap up warm and try a 30 min walk at least twice a week. Exercise also releases hormones into the brain called endorphins which help us to feel good.

H20
We all know the benefits of keeping hydrated but when the weathers cold it’s hard to imagine we need to drink gallons of water. Rich fatty and salty foods can in fact be very dehydrating and so although the weather may be cold we still need to keep hydrated. Water is also key after any overindulgence as it can help to flush out toxins. Start the day with a large mug of hot water with the juice of half a lemon.

Herbal Help
Cutting out the junk food and alcohol is certainly a step in the right direction. However you may also benefit from Milk Thistle. This is wonderful herb with liver supportive properties, which may help to restore liver function faster. Healthy Direct Milk Thistle extract would be ideal.

For more information, visit www.healthydirect.com

photo credit: colros

By Jim Lange

In this article I will discuss the primary factor that causes obesity. How the cycle of obesity starts, and what you can do to regain control of your health. In order to understand obesity and what is probably the most important factor effecting obesity, you have to understand the mechanics of how the body functions when you put fuel into it .

You eat, Let’s say, a chicken sandwich on wheat bread with mayonaisse and a 20 oz. soft drink . The protein from the chicken is broken down into amino acids, the fat from the mayonaisse into fatty acids and the carbohydrates from the bread into simple sugars (glucose). So far so good, as long as you are not consuming more calories than your body needs you will not gain weight, but here comes the soft drink. A 20 oz. drink with 45 grams of sugar. Your blood sugar level spikes rapidly, this causes your pancreas to respond by releasing an equal spike of insulin. Insulin forces glucose into the cells at an alarming rate, this in turn causes the release of Free radicals from the cells. The Free Radicals cause the capillaries of your muscle tissue to become inflamed. Your muscle tissue utilizes 80-90% of the calories that you consume but because the tissue is inflamed by the spike in blood sugar, your muscle has just lost most of its’ ability to process those calories.

Insulin also blocks fat from being released. Fat is nothing more than a “ Reserve Energy Storage Facility” This energy reserve will only be released if it is needed. As long as there is plenty of available energy in the form of incoming calories, that fat is going to stay right where it is. Insulin is only released when food energy is being processed, when the body senses the release of Insulin it knows that the fat reserves are not needed and blocks the release of energy from those fat stores. Now that the tracks on your glucose train have been switched from your muscle cells to your fat cells, these calories are now Uber-calories. They are going right to your Storage Facility.

The calories are now stored as fat because your muscle tissue has lost it’s ability to utilize them. After a short period of time, perhaps 30 minutes, your blood sugar level and Insulin level come crashing down as your body tries to balance things out. You are left with a feeling of not only being tired, but a feeling of being hungry again. This is that “carb craving”, you just have to eat something, usually another high glucose meal and the cycle starts all over again .

Most of what we think of as “emotional eating” is really just this vicious cycle.Normally when you want to lose weight you go on a diet, you restrict the amount of calories you take in, but the problem is that this cycle is never really broken. So you fight these cravings while trying to eat less food, it becomes a contest of Biology against Phsycology .The game then becomes, how long can you stand the torment before you eventually give up. It takes 5 days of low glycemic meals to break this cycle. The first three days require some real determination to get through the withdrawal symptoms, by the fourth day youre’ feeling much better and on the fifth day the cravings are gone, you feel great, and you can learn to eat properly without the daily torment. There are certainly other factors that effect obesity that I will discuss in future articles. It is my sincere hope that this article has shed some light for you on this problem of obesity. You can beat this, you can be free to eat normally, you can change your whole life , just never give up until you get where you want to be. It really is worth it. YOU are worth it.

Before beginning any diet or weight loss program always consult your physician.

To find out how to RESET your metabolism in 5 days and end the cycle of obesity you can go to http://ourdreams.usana.com/mystory_en.cfm

Jim Lange is a health and fitness enthusiast. This year he lost 72 lbs in 9 months by resetting his blood sugar levels and adopting a consistent exercise program. You can check out his blog at http://resetyourweight.blogspot.com/ to get more information, motivation, and tips on weight loss and fitness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Lange