Flu vaccine shows low effectiveness this season

Flu vaccine shows low effectiveness against the main circulating strain this season.

New research from Public Health England in UK has found that the seasonal influenza vaccine has provided low protection this winter against flu infection caused by one particular subtype, H3N2. This is because of a mismatch between the A(H3N2) strain selected for the vaccine this year and the main A(H3N2) strain that has been circulating in the UK this winter.

The UK findings follow the recent publication of the US and Canada’s mid-season vaccine effectiveness estimates, both of which also revealed the vaccine had unfortunately provided little protection against circulating A(H3N2) viruses this season in these countries. This was also linked to drift observed in H3N2 viruses.

It is not possible to fully predict the strains that will circulate in any given season and so there is always a risk of a drift occurring.

In addition to the occurrence of virus drift and hence its low effectiveness, concerns regarding vaccinations continue to increase in light of all of the information and documentation that has surfaced over the past few years.

There has been some medical research that indicates the many dangers associated with vaccines. For example, the vaccine-autism debate has been going on for years.  There are a number of studies that link vaccines to a possible autism connection. And it is known that vaccine manufacturers suppress harmful data regarding their product.

Time flies

Life can be as short as 1 minute long like the artist draws.  

 Life seems very long. Every day we get up and lie down, up and down unconsciously. But one day when we look up, life has already come to the end. And so take good care of every minute in life.

Weight loss effect of coconut oil

Anything that reduces our appetite can make us take in fewer calories and hence has weight loss effect. It appears that coconut oil has this effect. This is because coconut oil belongs to a group called medium chain fatty acids.

Many studies on medium chain fatty acids show that, compared to the same amount of calories from other fats consumed, they increase feelings of fullness and lead to an automatic reduction in calorie intake.

This may be related to the way these fats are metabolized. It is well known that ketone bodies (which the liver produces when eaten coconut oil) can have a powerful appetite reducing effect.

There are also other studies showing that medium chain fats lead to weight loss, reduced waist circumference and various improvements in metabolic health.

And so coconut oil can help lose fat, especially the abdominal fat (also called visceral fat or belly fat). This is the fat that tends to lodge around our organs and cause inflammation, diabetes and heart disease.

And so any reduction in abdominal fat is likely to have very positive effects on our metabolic health, longevity and drastically reduce your risk of chronic disease.

But coconut oil is still fat. It can add more weight to our body if consume more. It is only about replacing some of other cooking fats with coconut oil that can help us lose weight.

It is also important not to go overboard and think we need to add tons of coconut oil to our diet to reap the benefits. The studies above used about 30 grams per day, which equals 2 tablespoons… 

The Functions of Salt

Salt plays a role in all our bodily activities.

The special properties of salt enable it to take over vital functions in our bodies. Osmosis, the basis of cell metabolism, is regulated exclusively by the concentration of salt in the cells of our body. All our actions are steered by our brains and the central nervous system and the nerve fibers can only transmit impulses when elements contained in salt such as potassium and sodium are present. Thus salt is important to our nerves. As it stimulates muscle contraction, it helps prevent our muscles from cramping.

Salt is always present in its ionized form when in water. The electrolytes trigger thirst mechanism, which causes us to consume adequate amounts of water.

Salt also keeps calcium and other minerals in the bloodstream and stimulates the adrenal glands. Salt is also very important in the prevention of heat prostration and sunstroke.

Salt plays a primary role in the processes of digestion and absorption. It activates an enzyme in the mouth called salivary amylase. Salt also plays a role in digestion by helping to break down food. Salt creates hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid is a very important digestive secretion, which lines the stomach walls.

If there is insufficient in salt consumption, it can lead to sodium deficiency, which can become extremely prevalent in excessive temperatures, which cause the body to perspire heavily and patterns of dehydration will set in.

Sodium deficiency can lead to shock if the blood pressure is decreased too severely. Salt is also important to good nutritional status. Too little can cause disturbances in tissue-water and acid-base balance.

Like table sugar, nowadays, table salt is only a chemical compound. It has nothing in common with natural salt. It is a chemical concoction made with about 98% sodium chloride and a 2% mixture of random chemicals like moisture absorbents and iodine. In fact, it is natural salt, with all its elements, that our bodies need in order to function as they should.

However, diets too high in sodium can lead to high water retention and hypertension.

Actually, we only require the minute quantity of under 0.035 ounces of salt a day. But our average daily per capita consumption of common salt lies between 0.42 and 0.7 ounces—due to the large quantities of sodium chloride “hidden” in prepared products. As our kidneys are only capable of eliminating 0.175 to 0.245 ounces per day, our excretory organs are permanently overburdened. 

Fat-Burning Foods

These are foods that start winnowing your waistline the moment they leave your fork and enter your mouth. They build muscle and promote fat/calorie burning.

Almonds and other nuts (with skins intact)
Build muscle, reduce cravings

Eggs
Build muscle, burn fat

Turkey and other lean meats
Build muscle, strengthen immune system

Berries
Improve satiety, prevent cravings

Peanut butter
Boosts testosterone (a good thing even in women), builds muscle, burns fat

Fatty fish (such as salmon, tuna, mackerel)
Trigger fullness, fire up fat burning

Grapefruit
Lowers insulin, regulates blood sugar and metabolism. Be sure to eat the fleshy white membranes

Green tea
Fires up fat burning

Chili peppers
Spikes metabolism

Spinach and green vegetables
Fight free radicals and improve recovery for better muscle building

Whole grains (quinoa, brown rice, whole grain cereal)
Small doses prevent body from storing fat

Beans and legumes
Build muscle, help burn fat, regulate digestion

Whey
Builds muscle, burns fat

 

Cancer causing ingredients in foods

There are some ingredients in processed foods that are known to cause cancer or other ailments:

 

Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

 

Soups, sauces, gravies, baby formula, low-fat and no-fat milk, candy, gum, and processed foods all could have this additive known for causing reproductive, nervous system and brain disorders. It can even be found as a wax or pesticide on non-organic fruits and vegetables.

 

Nitrates

 

Preservatives that are potentially carcinogenic and found in processed foods or meat.

 

Potassium bromate

 

Banned worldwide, except in the United States and Japan. This is found in baked goods and can cause cancer and kidney and nervous system disorders.

 

Rapeseed Oil

 

This emulsifier and stabilizer found in baked goods, dairy products and processed meats which can cause cancer, heart disease and vision loss.

 

Saccharine

 

Artificial sweetener found to cause cancer. 

 

Artificial Color, FD & C food color

 

Potentially a carcinogenic, this can also contain traces of lead and arsenic and it’s derived from coal tar. Actually, you may use beats, carrots, chlorophyll, saffron or grapes instead for coloring alternatives.

 

Butylated Hhydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytolune (BHT)

 

Unlike many antioxidants, this one can cause cancer, birth defects and infertility. It is commonly found in baked goods, canned items, powdered soups, bacon and food containing artificial color or flavoring.