The Plain Truth's: Your Health Today ONLINE

Breakthrough breast cancer drug can extend life of sufferers who have one of disease's most deadly forms

A new ‘magic bullet’ drug to be unveiled today will offer hope for thousands of women suffering one of the most deadly forms of breast cancer.
The medicine, aimed at an aggressive form of the disease, is expected to offer several months of quality ‘extra’ life and drastically cuts the debilitating side effects of traditional therapy.
It could be available in Britain within a year, provided it passes regulatory checks. But experts predict that a clamour for the drug, codenamed ‘T-DM1’, will put added financial pressure on the NHS.
Dr Eliot Sims of King George Hospital, Ilford, in Essex, who was part of a trial of the drug, said: ‘Is the emergence of T-DM1 going to cause funding problems? You bet it will.’

Breakthrough: The medicine is expected to offer several months of quality ¿extra¿ life for breast cancer sufferers

The clinical consultant oncologist added: ‘It’s been the holy grail of oncology to find magic bullets – treatments which attack breast cancer without causing side effects. This is a huge breakthrough, and it is unusual to see such dramatic improvements.’
Pharmaceutical giant Roche is due to present the results of its latest major trial of the drug.
In earlier trials, patients found that remission time was on average five months longer when given the drug as ‘first-line’ treatment at an early stage of the incurable advanced HER2-positive form of the disease.
The latest study involved women suffering from HER2-positive who had already been treated with Herceptin, but whose cancer had spread elsewhere. In those cases remission was extended ‘significantly’.
There are also fewer side effects with the drug. Fewer than five per cent of the women given T-DM1 in the earlier study lost their hair, compared with 65 per cent in the control group using traditional chemotherapy.
Other side effects such as diarrhoea were also reduced. And half as many of the most serious side effects, requiring hospitalisation, were reported among those given the drug.
T-DM1 teams up the Herceptin antibody with a powerful chemotherapy agent DM1. The two are fused in a way that is more effective.

Side-effects: Fewer women lost their hair on T-DM1 and it was found to ease diarrhoea

DM1 chemotherapy was used in the Eighties but was withdrawn because it was too toxic for healthy cells.
But the new drug combination seeks out and attaches itself to cancerous cells, switching off the growth signals that encourage cancer to spread, while calling on the body’s immune system to attack and remove it.
The drug then penetrates the cell’s outer layer and delivers the chemotherapy directly inside the cell to destroy it from within.
Once the drug is licensed, it will be up to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to decide whether T-DM1 – the cost of which is not yet calculated – can be used on the NHS. But Dr Sims warned: ‘Herceptin costs £20,000 a year. The Government’s Cancer Drugs Fund is there to pay for drugs before NICE approve them, but this will put enormous pressure on it.’

Dr Caitlin Palframan, of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, welcomed the new development. ‘For women, the side effects of chemotherapy can be severe,’ she said.
‘There’s no cure for metastatic [spreading] breast cancer, so we’re looking for things to delay progression or alleviate symptoms.’
Pippa Bannister, 42, who has HER2 and is now in remission, was happy to hear of the drug. The mother of three, from Great Missenden, in Buckinghamshire, said: ‘Anything that offers a more targeted approach than chemo, which kills everything dead, is to be welcomed.’
A NICE spokesman said last night: ‘We comment only on licensed drugs.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2153799/Breakthrough-breast-cancer-drug-extend-life-sufferers-diseases-deadly-forms.html#ixzz1wjjab04T

FIFTH victim has emergency surgery as flesh-eating bacteria strikes again

A South Carolina grandmother has become the fifth victim of the flesh-eating bacteria that has sparked terror across Georgia.
Louise Thompson underwent emergency surgery to remove infected flesh from her leg and was in a coma for five days.
Until being diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis she had never even heard of the bacteria, which attacks soft tissue and muscle.
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Victim number five: Louise Thompson is recovering after being in a coma for five days and having surgery on her leg

Recovery: On Friday Thompson stood up for the first time in months. She said she hopes the next step will be getting home

Thompson had gone to a Simpsonville doctor reporting a pain in her leg that she said felt ‘like pins sticking in my skin’ but no visible signs of infection.
She ended up in hospital undergoing surgery to remove ‘a place the size of a regular football’, myfoxcarolina.com reported.

Inside the Beehive: Nature's Secret for Better Health

By Bee-Alive, Inc.

CBN.com – Nature is full of surprises. When the Psalmist declared, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it" (Ps. 24:1a), he surely understood the awesome, complex beauty and mystery of God's creation. Nowhere is this more evident than inside the beehive -- where a complex system of orderliness and efficiency continues to produce some of the most beneficial natural products known to man: honey, pollen, propolis, and the "crown jewel" of bee products, Royal Jelly.
For centuries, people around the world have used natural products from the beehive for a variety of health and beauty benefits. Bee products are created in a natural environment. Bee products are remarkable in consisting of essential nutrients and important amino acids -- and none more so than Royal Jelly.

Royal Jelly: A Hidden Treasure, A Natural Wonder
Hidden deep inside the beehive, in one single cell, is a rare treasure: a natural food substance found only in minute amounts -- yet responsible for a magnificent transformation. It's not honey, pollen or propolis… it's Royal Jelly. This rare and precious food substance is a nutritional wonder produced by worker bees as the exclusive diet of the Queen Bee. While the life span of the average worker bee, feeding on honey and pollen, is roughly six weeks, the Queen Bee, feeding only on Royal Jelly, undergoes an amazing transformation that allows her to live up to six years. Without her exclusive diet of Royal Jelly, the life span of the Queen Bee would revert to that of the worker bees -- about six weeks. Nowhere else in nature is a food substance responsible for a creature's longevity.

Royal Jelly: What's in the Mix?
Chemical analysis of Royal Jelly began approximately 115 years ago. Over the years, science has examined the components in Royal Jelly to try to determine what mix of ingredients could make such a vital difference in a creature's life. They've found that Royal Jelly consists of intact protein molecules, peptides and free amino acids; carbohydrates, as monosaccharides and disaccharides; lipids including fatty acids, neutral fats and phospholipids; vitamins, minerals, and a variety of biochemical cofactors; nucleic acids; and a distinctive 'marker' compound: trans-10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10HDA), which is absolutely unique to Royal Jelly. Although many compounds found in Royal Jelly are in microgram quantities, they can still act as catalysts with co-enzymes or act synergistically as intended by God. It's believed that the action of these compounds combined as they are naturally in Royal Jelly is far greater than the sum of their actions taken separately.
But there's something else. Also in the mix is something that science has yet to comprehend or replicate. In fact, 4 percent of Royal Jelly components defy analysis. Because of this "mystery compound," Royal Jelly can never be recreated by man in a laboratory. It truly is a mysterious wonder and gift of nature.

Royal Jelly: Nature's Secret for Man
It's no secret that Royal Jelly is good for the bees… but many people don't realize that this precious food substance is also highly beneficial for man. Millions of people throughout the world supplement their diets with Royal Jelly, for energy, stamina and vitality.* Additionally, research suggests Royal Jelly may play a role in metabolic processes involved with the production of cellular energy in the form of ATP.*

Noted nutritionist Robert Crayhon says: "Royal Jelly is one of those truly rare gifts of nature, a nutritional wonder from the beehive that is unlike any substance we have ever known. It is neither a vitamin nor a drug… but a remarkable dietary food substance that helps nourish the body… keeping it energized and nutritionally strong."*

As science uncovers more and more of God's "secrets of nature" for the good of all mankind, people around the world are continuing to discover the health and beauty benefits of natural substances like those found in the beehive -- and especially nature's greatest wonder, Royal Jelly! Truly, "the earth is the Lord's… and everything in it!"
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. As with any natural product, individual results will vary.
For more information about Bee-Alive or Royal Jelly, please visit www.beealive.com.

Your Bottled Water May Not Come From a Spring

By IVAN PENN
St. PETERSBURG TIMES

Published: Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 3:42 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 3:42 a.m.

ST. PETERSBURG | If you buy a bottle of Zephyrhills Brand Natural Spring Water, it may not come from Zephyrhills.

It may not even be "natural spring water," it may be well water.

Better read the fine print.

People identify with their waters.

In the Tampa Bay area, it's Zephyrhills and the spring in Pasco County. Northeasterners love their Poland Springs water, the product of a retreating glacier in Maine some 20,000 years ago. In the mid Atlantic region, Deer Park of Oakland, Md., was king. It was from a boiling spring at a vacation resort and spa in the Appalachian Mountains of Maryland, a spa visited by four U.S. presidents.

Out west, it was Arrowhead from the San Bernardino mountains. The Midwest gave us Ice Mountain and Ozarka.

But over the years, Nestle Waters North America, the largest water-bottling corporation in the country, has bought them all.

The subsidiary of the Swiss company that brought us the Crunch bar and Quik chocolate milk says consumers look for a brand based on its quality. That's what the company delivers with water products.

"What you find, people are loyal to the taste and the brand," said Jim McClellan, a spokesman for Nestle Waters. "They associate a brand with a taste, not necessarily a location. Most people don't know where Deer Park is located."

THE NAME GAME

Taking advantage of the power of its brands, Nestle has remade the bottled water industry. In some cases, the source of the water no longer fits the name on the bottle.

The 'new AIDS of the Americas': Experts warn of deadly insect-borne disease that can cause victims' hearts to explode

A little-known life-threatening illness caused by blood sucking insects has been labelled the ‘new AIDS of the Americas’ by experts.
The parasitic illness called Chagas Disease has similarities to the early spread of HIV, according to a new study.
Similar to AIDS, Chagas is difficult to detect and it can take years for symptoms to emerge, according to experts writing in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

The new AIDS? A parasitic illness called Chagas disease has been dubbed the 'new AIDS of the Americas' by experts. It is usually transmitted from the bite of blood-sucking insect species called Triatome bugs, which include 'Kissing bugs' (Triatomids)

An estimated 10 million people worldwide are infected with most sufferers in Bolivia, Mexico, Columbia and Central America, as well as approximately 30,000 people in the U.S., reported the New York Times.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2151815/Chagas-disease-New-AIDS-Americas-cause-victims-hearts-explode.html#ixzz1wNlmffb2

Sunscreen and Vitamin D Facts

More and more studies show that people don’t have enough vitamin D, which is produced when sunlight hits our skin. Does this mean we should stop using sunscreen? Should we decrease the SPF (sun protection factor)? Or should we continue using sunscreen and take vitamin D supplements?

The truth about vitamin D and sunscreen is complicated. I don’t believe the heated rhetoric of this debate, and I believe that moderation is the best approach. Humans have evolved to live outside and get sun. The problem is that our skin has evolved in several parallel pathways so that it can get more or less sun depending on the latitude it has adapted to live in. Darker skin has evolved for more sun exposure, while lighter skin has evolved for more northern latitudes. If a light-skinned person is put in a sunny environment, their skin won't have the protection it needs and will tend to get burned. Over the long term this exposure will manifest as skin cancers, precancers, and premature aging including wrinkles.

Very few light-skinned Americans are getting enough vitamin D. This can and should be measured on an annual basis, especially for those that live in a climate that does not expose them to much sun light. If you have a low vitamin D level, you can plan a strategy that supplements it with oral vitamin D, and this can be done with your physician. There are a few different forms of vitamin D, and the one that you should monitor is called 25 (OH) D. According to the National Institute of Health, a level of about 20 ng/ mL is appropriate for most people. Having a level higher than this can predispose to formation of kidney stones because vitamin D will increase calcium absorption. Less than this level can affect bones and other vital structures.

Read more: Sunscreen and Vitamin D Facts
Important: At Risk For A Heart Attack? Find Out Now.

11 Reasons Laughter Really May Be the Best Medicine of All

We’ve all heard the old saying that laughter is the best medicine, but new research is demonstrating that there may be some serious weight behind the adage. Numerous studies have shown that laughter can have a powerful effect on your well-being, happiness, and overall health and longevity, often in ways of which you aren’t even aware. Want to learn more? Read through our list of the health benefits of laughter to get a quick education on the matter. You may just find yourself wanting to watch a comedy, call up a funny friend, or even take a laughter yoga class after learning all the amazing benefits a good laugh can offer your overall health.

The 11

Home Cooking Increases Longevity, Cambridge Study Shows

For those of you who use your stove for shoe storage, nota bene: all that wasted time with an inactive kitchen could be shortening your lifespan. In fact, a new study found that people who cook up to five times a week were 47 percent more likely to still be alive after 10 years.

“It has become clear that cooking is a healthy behavior," said lead author Professor Mark Wahlqvist in a statement. "It deserves a place in life-long education, public health policy, urban planning and household economics."

The research team, made up of Taiwanese and Australian researchers, published their work in Public Health Nutrition, a Cambridge University journal after looking at a group of 1,888 men and women over age 65 who lived in Taiwan. At the start of the study, they interviewed each participant about several lifestyle factors, including cooking habits, household circumstances, shopping habits, diet, education, transportation and smoking.

During the initial survey, researchers found that 43 percent of participants never cooked, while 17 percent cooked one to two times per week, 9 percent cooked three to five times in a week and 31 percent cooked five or more times a week.

After 10 years............ More>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Royal Jelly Royally Problematic for Evolutionists

I’m sure you’ve all tasted honey. I like to put honey on my rolls at dinner along with a little butter. I also like to substitute honey for the jelly in a peanut butter sandwich. But more than anything, I like to take a spoon full of honey and just eat it plain.
Did you know that honey is made from the pollen and nectar of flowers? The worker bees fly about busily collecting all of the pollen and nectar they can and return it to the hive, where other bees convert it into the sweet sugary liquid we all love.
Did you also know that honey is the only food known to man that never goes bad? When honey sits very long, the sugar in it starts to crystalize and it gets thick and hard to use. Sadly, many people throw sugared honey away thinking it is no longer usable. But if you heat the honey up by placing the container in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes, the sugar crystals dissolve and your honey thins out like it was when you first got it. If you remember this, you will never have to throw honey away ever again.

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Caffeine fix it: How a regular cup of coffee could help you live longer

Too much caffeine used to be considered a bad thing. Now researchers say drinking coffee could extend your life.
They found following a study of 400,000 aged between 50 and 71, the more coffee you drink, the less likely you are to die from a number of different ailments.
These include heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, injuries, accidents, diabetes and infections, but not cancer.

Experts say moderate coffee consumption of 4-5 cups of coffee per day is safe and may be associated with certain health benefits

The US research published in The New England Journal of Medicine adds to evidence that coffee drinkers appear to enjoy better health.

More...

Researchers at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Maryland, say they cannot establish whether coffee is the cause of a lowered risk of death, but they found a link.
The research followed a large number of people, 229,000 men and 173,000 women, taking part in a diet and health study between 1995 and 2008.

Researchers say drinking coffee could extend your life as you are less likely you are to die from a number of different ailments

Participants were classified according to the amount of coffee they drank at the start of the study, into groups drinking up to six cups a day or more, and non-coffee drinkers.
There were 52,000 deaths during the period, with an ‘inverse association’ between coffee consumption and death.

This means those drinking greater amounts of coffee had an ever reducing risk of dying.
About one third of coffee drinkers were consuming decaffeinated coffee and the findings held for this group.
Experts say for this reason it is unlikely it is the caffeine ingredient giving health benefits, but there are known direct biological effects from antioxidants and magnesium contained in coffee.
Dr Euan Paul, executive director of the British Coffee Association said ‘This important research adds to the overwhelming weight of evidence which demonstrates that moderate coffee consumption of 4-5 cups of coffee per day is safe and may be associated with certain health benefits.
‘Whilst more research is required to determine whether the inverse association seen in this study is causal, these results are particularly encouraging because they build on previous research which has also suggested an inverse association between coffee consumption and total and cause-specific mortality.
‘Pregnant women should continue to moderate their caffeine intake to 200mg per day in line with NHS guidelines.’