Healthtips , Health News, Health Care and Fitness,Health and Nutrition Tips

New research suggests that a daily helping of cheese could increase the risk of bladder cancer. Eating more than 53g – roughly the same size as a small chocolate bar – raises the chance of the disease by 50 per cent. On the other hand, a daily portion of olive oil, can more than halve the risk of getting the disease. --> Researchers set out to discover if saturated fats, such as those found in meat and dairy products, made cancer more likely and healthier fats, such as olive oil, offered some protection. They studied the eating habits of 200 bladder cancer victims and compared them with 386 volunteers who had not developed tumours.

There's nothing like waking up in the morning to a steaming cup of coffee, is there? For some, a cup ofcoffee along with the news paper is a mandatory morning ritual. Needless to say, millions of people around the world are hooked to coffee — whether it is the first thing that they have in the morning or the last thing that they do before going to bed.  Contrary to popular belief, experts insist that coffee is indeed good for health. It is known to be a powerful stimulant and also helps to improve performance in physical and mental activities. It also serves as an energy booster. "I drink a lot of coffee as I study late into the night. This helps me concentrate on my work and keeps me awake, especially before an important exam," says student Uma S, a self-professed coffee freak. 

Two new studies have suggested that taking diet sodas as healthy alternatives to control weight gain might be a self-defeating behaviour.  Epidemiologists from the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio found that diet soft drink consumption was associated with increased waist circumference in humans, and a second study found aspartame raised fasting glucose (blood sugar) in diabetes-prone mice. "Data from this and other prospective studies suggest that the promotion of diet sodas andartificial sweeteners as healthy alternatives may be ill-advised. They may be free of calories but not of consequences," said Helen P. Hazuda, Ph.D., professor and chief of the Division of Clinical Epidemiology in the School of Medicine. To examine the relationship between diet soft drink consumption and long-term change in waist circumference, the Health Science Center team assessed data from 474 elderly Mexican Americans and European Americans. 

Here are some simple ways to get rid of dry scalp - Get rid of the soap. If you are still using soap to wash your hair, you could be doing it more harm than you realise. It is very harsh on the hair, and also strips the scalp of essential oils, resulting in itching. - Choose a good shampoo. A pH-balanced shampoo is required to keep your scalp from drying out. Try a sample pack, before buying the whole bottle. - Using olive oil helps. Massage some warm oil into your scalp and wait for 20 minutes before you shampoo it off.  A mixture of equal parts of water and vinegar is also helpful. Rinse your hair in clear water and apply this mixture on to the scalp with cotton balls. Rinse with cool water.

If your receeding hairline and bald spot are giving you sleepless nights, here are a few dietary modifications to help keep your mane and its sheen Men are as touchy about hair as women are about their backsides. It's a sensitive subject, one that raises many concerns and results in paranoid treatments and extreme measures. However, until the problem begins, there is little thought put into nourishing hair other than the lather and rinse routine. Before you start losing sleep over  hair loss and book appointments with trichologists, take a closer look at what you're eating. Chances are that even slight modifications made to what you eat by incorporating ingredients that aid hair growth and health will have a drastic impact. While genes and lifestyle will always have the upper hand, here's what you could eat to help curb that receding hairline. 

For skin that feels like rose petals, here are some quick care tips.  - Boil cabbage in water. Strain it and use the water to wash your face to make your skin look radiant. - Mix yoghurt with cucumber water. Apply on your face and wash it off. - Coconut milk is excellent for skin care, especially in winter. Take half a cup of coconut milk. Use half of it to apply it over the face and body. Mix the rest with red sandalwood powder, apply the paste on the face. It can also be applied all over the body. It exfoliates your skin. 

There are many reasons why you should exercisein the morning and not late in the evenings as some people may be doing...  - Early mornings are one of the best times to workout. Though it may seem tough at first, once you start, you'll feel exhilarated. - Getting done with your workout first thing in the morning means you are less likely to use job or family obligations as an excuse to skip it. - It's proven that working out bright and early boosts metabolism and gives additional energy, making one more productive throughout the day. To motivate yourself...  - Change is the name of the game. Ensure that your workout is a little different every morning. Vary your walking route or the pace of your exercise. Don't let boredom be an option. 

A successful trial has led scientists to believe that a 2-month low-calorie diet could free nearly 2.5 million Britons of the 'type two' diabetes.  The diabetics, by consuming just 600 calories a day for eight-weeks, (the same amount many people would eat at lunch alone), were able to throw away their tablets. Even after 18 months, some of them are still free of the disease, which is linked to obesity and usually attacks in middle age, reports the  Daily Mail  . Researchers from the Newcastle University have described the results as remarkable, proving that the condition need not be a life sentence. 

If you've been  trying  to  lose  weight  and suspect your body is working against you, you may indeed be right.   "When obese people reduce their food intake too drastically, their bodies appear to resist their  weight  loss efforts ," said Gregory G. Freund, professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.  "They may have to work harder and go slower in order to outsmart their brain chemistry," added Freund, who led the study.  He particularly cautioned against beginning a diet with a fast or cleansing day, which appears to trigger significant alterations in the immune system that work against weight loss.  "Take smaller steps to start your weight loss and keep it going," he said, the journal Obesity reports. In the study, the scientist compared the effects of a short-term fast on two groups of mice. For 12 weeks, one group consumed a low-fat diet (10 percent fat); the other group was fed a high-fat diet (60 percent fat) and had become

Hectic schedules, stress and excess workload have made sound sleep a luxury for many. But a few lifestyle changes can make for a restful night, say experts. Helpful wind-down routines include a bath, a hot milky drink, switching off the television and computer, getting clothes ready for the morning, listening to soothing music and planning the next day's schedule, help in relaxing minds which leads to sound sleep, reports express.co.uk. Experts say the surroundings could be rearranged to create an atmosphere more suited to sleep. Sleeping with the television on should be avoided as the waves disrupt sleep patterns. To sleep well, there needs to be a fractional temperature difference between our body and our brain, a warm body and a cool head. If a person prepares for sleep well before midnight (between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.), he stands a much better chance of getting a good sleep.

Swimmer's ear occurs when water builds up in the ear, causing an infection of the outer ear canal. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, redness and draining pus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests how to help prevent swimmer's ear: Keep water out of your ears while swimming by using ear plugs or a bathing cap. Thoroughly dry your ears when you're finished swimming. Tilt your head in each direction, pull gently on your earlobe and pat dry with a towel. Never insert anything (such as a finger or cotton swab) into the ear. Use a blow-dryer on its lowest setting to completely dry your ears. Don't try to remove any ear wax yourself. Seek the help of a physician.

As the weather heats up, illnesses ranging from heat exhaustion to heatstroke become more common. The U.S. National Library of Medicine suggests how to help prevent heat-related medical emergencies: Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing. If working outdoors, take frequent breaks in the shade or indoors. When weather is particularly hot or humid, avoid heavy exercise or physical activity. Increase your fluid intake. Avoid becoming overheated, especially if you're elderly, overweight or taking a medication that affects your body's heat regulation. Let your car cool down before you get inside.

The near death of a German teenager who consumed huge amounts of energy drinks mixed with vodka highlights the largely unrecognized danger of such beverage combinations, researchers report. The 17-year-old boy suffered acute kidney failure and was hospitalized for 10 days following the incident, when he drank one liter of vodka combined with three liters of energy drinks. He told authorities he was trying to improve the outcome of two 100-meter races he ran at school, after which he experienced vomiting and dizziness and was rushed by ambulance to the hospital. The case study is published in the July print issue of  Pediatrics . "This is another classic case of teenage binge drinking and another warning for parents that . . . it can go to extremes and be fatal or near-fatal," said Cecile Marczinski, whose similar research on alcohol's interaction with energy drinks is published online and in the July 2011 print issue of  Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Re

Natural healing Apple cider vinegar  kills germs  and  nourishes the body  at the same time, so have a look at some of the many different ways people have been benefiting from the external and internal application of this  folk medicine. Note:  If you take ACV between meals or before going to bed, always rinse your mouth to avoid any prolonged vinegar contact with the enamel on your teeth. Any acid food or drink however, such as citrus fruit, soda pop, and apple cider vinegar can erode tooth enamel if it is allowed to stay in contact with the teeth for long periods of time. ACNE BLEMISHES Apply a solution of apple cider vinegar and water (three tablespoons to one four ounce glass of water) with a cotton ball several times a day. This will help reduce infection and dry out inflammation. Another natural healing home cure calls for the every day application of apple cider vinegar which has been infused with horseradish. Prepare the solution by adding cups of ACV to pound of grated h