Low-cost multivitamin pills improve the chances of survival for
people living with HIV, according to a new study from Thailand.
The research found that cheap supermarket vitamins enhanced the survival of HIV positive people with low CD4 counts of less than 200 even when the patients were not able to access antiretroviral combination therapy.
The study carried out by the Thai Ministry of Health, in co-operation with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, found that HIV patients taking simple multivitamins twice a day with food lived longer than those who did not take the vitamins.
And the scientists suggested that cheap supermarket vitamins were just as effective as expensive alternatives. But they stressed that the pills should be taken with an adequate, varied and balanced diet.
People living with HIV and Aids are known as big consumers of vitamin pills, particularly Vitamin B to offset the pains of peripheral neuropathy and Vitamin C as an antioxidant, and the Thai study suggests that this is practical and healthy option.
The research also backed long-standing claims that selenium supplements also reduce mortality among people with HIV who have CD4 counts of less than 200.
Being in love is physically similar to taking drugs and also has acute withdrawal
symptoms, according to research from the UK’s National Addiction Centre
(NAC).
When you meet someone you are attracted to, your heart pounds three times faster than normal, blood is diverted to the cheeks and sexual organs and the body releases vast amounts of dopamine, which has a similar effect on the body and brain as cocaine or amphetamine. Dr Marsden, Head of NAC, said: “We all know you can have sex without falling in love but if you have enough sex with the same person there’s a good chance you will hit the body’s booby trap which is there to tip you head over heels into love.” He also warned that love is highly addictive and can lead to strong physical and emotional pain if withdrawn in much the same way as withdrawal from strong narcotics.
Fighting the winter blues
The MHF suggests a range of simple tips for SAD sufferers including getting out of doors during the daylight, decorating your home in light colours, and staying near the windows during the day at both home and work. It also advises postponing major projects until the spring and concentrating on staying well during the long winter months. Fibre ‘controls fat build-up’
The research said that a high intake of dietary fibre is linked to reductions in blood sugar as well as reduced levels of the hormone insulin and lipids in the blood. Good sources of fibre include whole grains, fruit and vegetables. Listening to music ‘reduces pain’Scientists from Florida have found that listening to music for as little as 20 minutes a day can greatly help ease the pain of osteoarthritis. The research, carried out by the Atlantic University School of Nursing, found that pain levels in elderly people were cut by as much as 50 per cent simply by listening to relaxing music. And the study suggests that music could also help people with other chronic conditions. “The group that listened to music experienced a significant decrease in pain,” Professor Ruth McCaffrey told the US Journal of Advanced Nursing, “with the amount of natural pain relief increasing over the 14-day listening period. “This is because music is thought to release endorphins, which reduce pain, decrease blood pressure, the heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen consumption.” |
Over-indulgence season over, it’s time to start the new year with cries of ‘Never Again!’ and ‘What must I do to be cleansed and fit again?’ Keith Bishop guides us through the wreckage
Edited by Rose De Freitas
It’s as easy and fun to look after ourselves as it is to over-indulge on food, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, and sex. But for the successful detox you need a plan and to start with the right attitude. Many diets and exercise programmes fail simply because they are so full of rules, limitations and self-denial from the beginning that they feel punitive and miserable.
Having decided to do a detox, where should you start? Rather than waking up with a hangover and deciding that today is the day you become a teetotal vegan marathon runner, I would suggest you sit down and make a plan about what it is you need to change in your lifestyle and how you can go about changing it. Be as specific and realistic as you can. The areas you might want to consider include:
Food: Are you eating the right foods in the right balance? This will depend
on your gender, age, body type and activity level. There are many, many books
available on dieting. Some are quite extreme, not particularly healthy, and
all about self-denial. We are what we eat, so an inappropriate diet will have
a profound effect. Before changing your diet, discuss your plans with your
doctor and ask for a referral to a local nutritional advisor. This is particularly
important if you are dealing with lipodystrophy.
Fluid intake: It’s a simple equation: too much alcohol is bad for you!
But if you’re a regular drinker, going cold turkey will feel horrendous.
Instead, set up goals for slowly reducing your alcohol intake. We all also
need to be drinking at least two litres of natural water a day. That sounds
like a lot all at once (and would be a huge strain on your kidneys if drunk
all at once) but spread throughout the day you’ll hardly notice it. If
in doubt, keep a two-litre bottle somewhere handy and make sure you’ve
emptied it by the end of the day.
Smoking and other substances: You don’t need me to tell you that cigarettes and drugs are not good for your well-being. We are surrounded by toxins that we have little choice over (from urban pollution to the side effects of anti-retrovirals). Why add to the problem? Giving up can be hugely difficult, so, again, set yourself small goals for slowly cutting down and get help if you need it.
Sex: Only you can decide whether the sex you are having is making you happy and keeping you safe. If it’s not, decide what needs to change and, if necessary, talk with a counsellor or health advisor.
Exercise: Again, I’m not going to preach, but we should all be getting
at least twenty minutes of raised heart rate exercise at least three times
a week. Many of us carry painful memories of gym-class torture, so find an
exercise or sport that you know you are going to enjoy, and vary how you do
it regularly to keep motivated. Working out with a friend can make all the
difference.
Breathing: An essential and often missed aspect of good health. Whether you just sit on your bed first thing in the morning and take ten long, slow, deep breaths, or go to a yoga, meditation or t’ai chi class, you’ll feel the benefits immediately.
Sleep: A deep, natural sleep is vital for restoring your body and mind to
balance. Alcohol, caffeine, drugs and certain foods can all interfere with
our natural sleep cycle, and conventional sleeping pills may knock you out,
but they don’t allow you go through the full range of normal sleep stages.
There are also many good natural ways to help you sleep, including herbal remedies,
essential oils, yoga and regular exercise.
Whether you see doing a detox as a quick fix to be done over a weekend (see Pamper Yourself for a good product), or as a permanent change in your lifestyle, doing it with the right attitude, preparing yourself before hand, and getting the right support are really going to help you succeed. Talk to your doctor, or make an appointment with a nutritional advisor or trainer at a gym, and make a plan that is going to meet your very individual needs and that won’t interfere with your anti-HIV treatment. Above all, really commit yourself to the process and make sure those special people around you are supportive and encouraging.
Happy New Year!
Book suggestions:
“Detox Yourself” by Jane Scrivner. ISBN 0749917660 Waterstones. £6.99
“Slim 4 Life” by Jason Vale. ISBN 0091877997 Waterstones. £6.99
As we enter the darkest and deepest winter months, the Mental Health Foundation
(MHF) has offered some hope to those affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder
(SAD). The condition is a winter depression affecting as many as half a million
people in Britain alone and leads to sleep problems, lethargy, loss of libido,
anxiety and eating problems.
A study from Harvard University has shown that increasing dietary fibre levels
lowers blood fat levels. The research found that people living with HIV and
Aids on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) who accumulated fat in
their blood ate less fibre in their diets than people who did not have fatty
build-up.