Children exposed to cigarette smoke have lower levels of antioxidants, chemicals which help defend against many biological stresses.

A study looked at the levels of antioxidants versus the amount of smoke exposure in more than 2,000 children. The study showed that secondhand smoke exposure is associated with lower levels of antioxidants.

The children's exposure to tobacco smoke was determined by the level of cotinine in their blood -- cotinine is a byproduct of metabolizing tobacco smoke. The higher the level of cotinine in a child's blood, the lower the antioxidant level.

Too much sunlight in places like Greenland, where long summer days often cause insomnia, appears more likely to drive a person to suicide.

In many regions of the world, suicides tend to rise in late autumn and early winter months because of darkness. But new findings suggest that places where there is constant sunlight in summer seasons may be just as dangerous. During long periods of constant light, it may be crucial to maintain circadian rhythms to get enough sleep and sustain mental health.

Scientists have previously linked sleep disturbances to increased suicidal risk in people with psychiatric disorders and in adolescents.

The birth control pill was first introduced to the American public for contraceptive use in 1960. By 2002, 11.6 million U.S. women were on the Pill, making it the nation's leading method of contraception.

But oral contraceptives can have negative health effects. The Pill’s relationship with blood-clot risk and stroke is well-documented, and that risk increases when a woman is smoker, particularly a smoker over age 35. In addition, studies in recent years have found that birth control pill use impairs muscle gains in young women, increases the risk of breast cancer in pre-menopausal women, and increases the risk of cervical cancer.

And the Pill may interfere with a protein that keeps testosterone unavailable for women's physiologic needs, thus causing long-term health problems, including sexual dysfunction.

Since 2000, death rates have increased in women between the ages of 35 and 44. All other age groups, meanwhile, have seen a decline. Research on this fact cites the significant increase in the use of birth control pills as a possible contributing factor.

In the autumn of 2000, a graduate student held a workshop for local farmers in the Sierra Norte de Oaxaca in southern Mexico. The student, David Quist, hoped to show the farmers how to test their seeds for GM. To do this, he thought he would show them the difference in the purity of the local maize compared to the maize that had been shipped in from the U.S., where some 40 percent is GM. He thought the U.S. maize would test positive for GM and the Mexican maize would be negative -- but instead of the local maize being negative, it kept coming up positive.

Quist’s supervisor, Dr Ignacio Chapela, had been working with the campesinos or peasant farmers in Oaxaca for over 15 years, assisting them in community sustainable agriculture. Quist was told by Chapela to bring the samples back to the U.S., where the two would repeat the experiments and test the native maize for contamination by GMOs.
Contamination threatens Mexico's unique maize genetic diversity; Mexico is the traditional home of corn, where the plant was first domesticated some 10,000 years ago.

Quist and Chapela found that GM contamination had occurred in Mexican maize, and also that the GM DNA seemed to be randomly fragmented in the genome of the maize, suggesting that the transgenic DNA was not stable. Quist and Chapela knew that if the research was published it would cause an international outcry, so they made sure that their research was correct, repeating the tests multiple times.

Soon Chapela found himself being threatened. He received a letter from an agricultural under-secretary, saying that the government had 'serious concerns' about the 'consequences that could be unleashed' from his research. Moreover the government, would 'take the measures it deems necessary to recuperate any damages to agriculture or the economy in general that this publication's content could cause'.

After that, the situation only intensified. Chapela soon found his credentials and objectivity being questioned -- accusations that were eventually traced back to the Bivings Corporation, a PR company that has been assisting Monsanto on internet PR ever since 1999, when the company decided that the net had played a significant part in its PR problems in Europe. Evidence suggests that Bivings, or those who have had access to its email accounts, has covertly smeared biotech industry critics via a website called CFFAR (Center for Food and Agricultural Research), although no such organization appears to exist.

Many in the U.S. are losing their jobs in the current economic climate, and it could be even worse news than many people think. Researchers recently made public a large study with an unsettling finding -- losing your job may make you sick.

A researcher analyzed detailed employment and health data from more than 8,000 individuals surveyed between 1999 and 2003. Workers who lost a job through no fault of their own were twice as likely to report developing a new ailment like high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease over the next year and a half.

The risk was just as high for those who found new jobs quickly as it was for those who remained unemployed.

As U.S. health officials consider rolling out a plan to inoculate the nation against swine flu in the next several months, they should consider the events that unfolded the last time the government stepped in to head off a surprise flu outbreak.

In the fall of 1976, dozens of Americans died within 48 hours of receiving a swine flu vaccine. To allay public fears, president gerald ford received his shot in front of television cameras. more than 40 million others followed his lead.

Two months later, the campaign was abruptly stopped: more deaths had followed, and hundreds were reporting serious side effects, including paralysis.

If there was a single factor that led to the debacle three decades ago, it was the speed of the decision-making, fueled by a political climate in which dissenters were chastised and punished. Production and field-testing of the vaccine was rushed. The single-shot doses did not work on children, and by the time the error was caught, and it was too late to produce second doses.

Watchdog groups fear a repeat, particularly because laws passed after the terrorist and anthrax attacks of 2001 allow for accelerated production and field tests of a vaccine in an emergency.

Researchers are attempting to develop a new treatment for type 2 diabetics with the help of a special african tea used as a treatment in traditional nigerian medicine. The tea is produced from the extract of rauvolfia vomitoria leaves and the fruit of citrus aurantium.

Scientists have recently tested the tea on patients with type 2 diabetes, and the results are promising.

The researchers have harvested the ingredients for the tea in africa, and produced the tea exactly as local healers would. The recipe is quite simple: boil the leaves, young stalks and fruit, and filter the liquid.

The researchers have recently completed a four month long clinical test on patients with type 2 diabetes, and found that there was a significant increase in glucose tolerance.

Chevron, America's third largest company, may have to pay up to $27 billion in damages in a lawsuit arising from oil-drilling related pollution in the Amazon rain forest. Chevron dumped over 18 billion gallons of toxic wastewater in the Ecuador. The damage is the result of 23 years of oil extraction by Texaco, which Chevron bought in 2001, and Petroecuador, the national oil company.

The oil company fought for the trial to be held in Ecuador -- and now they find themselves facing judgment in a small court in lago agrio.

Unfortunately, even if the court does order the company to pay the full requested amount, chevron is determined not to fork over any cash. In a news report-style video of their own that questions every aspect of the case, they say that, "... If the verdict goes against it, it will appeal in ecuador and, if needed, will fight its enforcement."

Thirteen year old Rebecca Ramagge, who has had three doses of the anti-HPV vaccine Cervarix in the past six months, suffers agonizing joint pains, fatigue, nausea and sight problems. Her consultant pediatrician, Majeed Jawad, has linked her problems to the drug, which is being given to girls from the age of 11 in the UK.

A group of teenagers are currently suing drug company GlaxoSmithKline. They have suffered symptoms ranging from paralysis and seizures to fatigue, joint and muscle pain since being given the vaccine.

A spokeswoman for GlaxoSmith­Kline said that, “The government drug watchdog MHRA has reviewed all reported adverse events and believes the balance of risks and benefits for the vaccine remains positive.”

Have you ever tried topical over-the-counter products for muscle pain?  If you read the interesting New York Times article linked below, you might conclude that they don't work. According to the article, studies have found only limited evidence that over-the-counter topical analgesics are helpful for pain, and the research is so minimal and inconclusive that doctors from the Sports Medicine Center at the Mayo Clinic refused to comment even comment on the efficacy of topical analgesics, saying that, “There is no science to either support or refute the effectiveness” of the products. some doctors have attributed any benefits to the placebo effect.

Well, from a personal perspective i could not more strongly disagree.  I have struggled with nagging back pain that is precipitated by standing or walking for several hours. However, when in Maui a few years ago and i did not have access to my regular tools, my naturopathic girlfriend at the time suggested I purchase some tiger balm.  I reluctantly purchased it as i did not believe it would work at all but i was shocked at how effective it was.

I have never tried the products mentioned in the New York Times article, but i know for certain that tiger balm works very effectively for me.  A few warnings on its use though:

I don't mind the smell at all but some people find it offensive.  More importantly though if you apply it to your body you use your hands. It is very important to wash your hands after applying it (to the best of my knowledge the bottle doesn't warn you of this)

If you fail to wash your hands and you are a male and decide to urinate your hands will transfer some of the cream or liquid to the very sensitive and thin tissue on your penis and i can assure you from personal experience that this is not something you ever want to repeat.

In the U.S., over 70 million people -- one in four -- have diabetes, and the conventional medical treatments currently being provided are killing people. However, there are natural, effective treatments that can control, and in the case of type II diabetes, even reverse the disease. You can also check out Dr. Ron Rosedale’s excellent views and advice on the topic here.

Probiotic supplements during the first trimester of pregnancy can help women lose weight after their child’s birth, according to new findings.

Researchers report that supplements containing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were associated with less central obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more or a waist circumference over 80 centimeters.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer a health benefits when consumed.

Previous research found that microbial populations in the gut are different between obese and lean people, and that when the obese people lost weight their microflora changed.

Common drugs used to treat ulcers and heartburn can pose a problem for people taking the blood thinner Plavix.

Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec and Protonix, known as proton pump inhibitors, are enormously popular. But they can be dangerous in heart patients taking the anti-clotting medication.

The proton pump inhibitors interfere with Plavix's effectiveness, boosting the risk of heart and stroke by 50 percent in patients taking both drugs.

Testosterone gel can cause serious harm to children, federal health officials have warned. The FDA said adults using prescription testosterone gel must be careful not to get any of it on children to avoid causing serious side effects. The agency ordered its strongest “black box” warning on the products' labels.

Side effects can include enlargement of the genital organs, aggressive behavior, early aging of the bones, premature growth of pubic hair, and increased sexual drive. Boys and girls are both at risk.

The problems arise if adults do not wash their hands well. Also, since testosterone gel is usually applied to the upper arms or shoulders, adults must cover up to keep kids from accidentally touching a spot that has the medicine on it.

Do you ever feel like you’re drowning in work? Some people say they “work well under stress”, but most people are happier, healthier and more productive when they’re we’re on top of things. Here are ten tips to help you stay on top of your work:

Don’t Take On Too Much

All the time management tips in the world won’t give you more than twenty-four hours in a day. When you’re offered an exciting new project to be part of, when a colleague asks for a favor, stop and think about your other priorities.

Minimize Meetings

Many time-management writers advocate avoiding meetings if at all possible. If you’re obliged to be in regular meetings, try cutting the frequency or the duration. If you can possibly avoid meetings, do so.

Make A To-Do List The Day Before

If you normally work on whatever catches your attention, you’re working ineffectively. Each evening before you stop work for the day, make a “to do” list for the following day.

“Big Rocks First”

There’s an oft-cited time management adage “Big Rocks First”. If you had to fill a jar with sand and rocks, it’s hard to do it by pouring in the sand first then trying to fit in the rocks. But if you fit all the rocks first, the sand can simply flow into the gaps. Fit your “big rocks” -- the major things you want to work on -- into your day first.

Work In Timed Bursts

No one can sustain their concentration for hours at a time. Work in timed bursts: for example, work on that big report that’s been hanging over you for thirty solid minutes. You’ll be surprised how much you can get done in a short space of time.

Develop Good Systems

If a particular aspect of your job is always causing you headaches, chances are that you need to fix the system you use for dealing with it. For example, if you find that you’re always forgetting to follow up on action points for meetings, develop a framework to help you do this.

Limit Email Checking

Reading and replying to emails can often be a distraction from getting on with more important work. Try “batching” your emails: instead of replying as soon as one arrives, set certain times of day when you’ll read and reply to all your emails.

Set Your Own Deadlines

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could set your own deadlines? Well, you can, of course: just make your deadline before the one that you’ve been given. If you aim to get each project finished a few days in advance of the “real” deadline, you’ll feel considerably less stressed, and you’ll also be able to cope with any genuine emergencies that crop up.

Delegate

One great way to stay on top of your work is to pass on low-level tasks to someone else. If you’re in management, you’re wasting your time and your company’s time when you perform tasks that a junior colleague could have carried out. If you’re self-employed, perhaps you can pay someone else to do tasks for you.

Ask For Less

Depending on your job, you might be unable to delegate anything. If this is the problem, don’t be afraid to say that you're being given too much to do. Don’t moan about having too much work, but mention your concerns that some aspects of your work aren’t getting done, or are being rushed, because you have too much else to work on.