Binge Drinking Undermines Immune System

Binge drinking is no longer an uncommon term as such trend is becoming more and more prevalent nowadays. Not only does it grouped in the category of prevalence, but the binge drinkers are affecting younger generations these day, including students.

Among all the possible bad consequences which affect the students are:

Missing class or work due to drinking.

Performing poorly on a test or important project.

Physical effects, including hangovers, nausea or vomiting, and memory loss.

Being sexually harassed or assaulted while drunk, or harassing or assaulting others.

Getting into arguments and fights, or being embarrassed by their own behavior while drunk.

Damaging property.

Getting hurt or injured after drinking.

Driving a car while under the influence of alcohol or being arrested for DUI.

Generally getting into trouble with the police or University authorities.

(Cited from The University Record, October 25, 1999)

As we can see, binge drinking has became a norm in many western countries in the year 1999, a good 10 years ago. In recent years, there are inclination and news indicate that students who dwell in Asia also tend to follow the infamous trend.

A latest study in September 2009, by a group of US researchers indicated that binge drinking, apart from causing common aftermaths such as oily heart, is now ascertained that it could impair the immune system of human as well.

According to the study which is published in the Journal of BMC Immunology, mice had been used as the targets of the experiment. These mice, after being heavily fed with alcohol, stops the body in making pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Since ethanol is suggested that it could suppress the ability of TLR4 (a protein which plays role in responding in appropriate cytokines production) in sending signals which would consequently producing the appropriate cytokines, the immune system could not work properly and thus resulting in the undermined of human immune system.

How Bad Could They Be?

All of us know are very well-awared that physical activities which are practised by some people, including smoking, are terribly bad for our health. Apart from the bad and discouraged activities, awful health conditions such as having high readings of cholesterol in the body, as well as the high reading of blood pressure are also red alerts as far as health is concerned.

But how far could they harm us? Previously, the harmful extent of these activities and health condition were not measurable. But certainly not with today's advanced technologies and sciences.

Recently, a group of UK researchers had conducted a study on this particular matter. Their results pointed out that middle-aged individuals who smoke, have high cholesterol as well as high blood pressure can expect to live 10 to 15 years less than their counterparts who are healthy.

According to Dr. Robert Clarke from Oxford University, men who smoke, have high cholesterol level and high blood pressure are shown to be able to live until 74 years of age, while those who do not have these risk factors are expected to live until 83 years of age.

But it does not mean that the individuals who have such problems are destined to live shorter than the others. If individuals who have these risk factors change their lifestyle, take measure to deal with their blood pressure as well as body weight, life expectancy could be increased.

Size of Your Thigh

The size of thigh has been a taboo topic, especially in the conversation among asians. But as a matter of fact, the size of thighs has already been a great reference topic in the olden days in the history as far as Chinese are concerned.

Ever since very very long time ago, when a female owns a huge size of thigh, the Chinese would certainly referring the huge size of thigh to the great ability of giving labor. They strongly believed that the huge size of thigh in a female is a great indicator on how many children the female would have in the near future, and of course, such assumption is still considered to be true to some people. Is there any scientific evidence to this? Well, we are not really sure about that.

Talking about scientific evidence relating to the size of thighs, here's a piece of news to reveal. Researchers had published a study in BMJ.com, about a shocking news relating to the size of thighs of individuals with certain diseases, and even death.

The research reported that men and women whose thighs are less than 60cm in circumference have a higher risk of premature death as well as heart disease. Apart from that, individuals whose thighs are greater than 60cm in circumference have no additional protective effect.

From the results of their studies, the reason why individuals with relatively smaller thighs are related closely with premature death as well as heart disease, is because those with smaller thighs normally have indications that they have lower muscle mass in the region. The researchers then explained that this could be very problematic as it would next lead to reduction of insulin sensitivity, and eventually triggering the occurrence of heart disease.

OPP ~ 21st Century Breakthrough Health and Beauty (Product Talk)

Knowledge is one of the driving forces of the wellness revolution and in modern societies there is an increasingly health-literate population. Products continually evolve due to technological, cultural and societal change. What was the greatest gift from the advance of biotechnology to health and beauty care in the 21st Century? It should be the GT&F® Milk Powder that mimics mother breast milk.

On 14th September 2009 (Monday), Ms Jessy Lim, a youthful yet eligible nutritionist had shared her knowledge on the GT&F® Milk Powder from all aspects included its history, its published research paper, its health benefits as well as its way to consume to all audiences. Cells group together to form tissues, tissues then group together to form organs and organs will in turn to form body systems. She told the audiences that just as we must have a strong foundation to support a home, so we must have "strong" cells to support good health, and keeping our cells healthy is not difficult, it is just simply as living with GT&F® Milk Powder.

Next up, the night was continued with a motivation talk by one of our crown managers, Mr Sim. He revolved his whole speech around a picture which portrays the relationship between success and motivation. Everyone must have direction in their life. He explained how significant it is in becoming healthy as well as wealthy in order to lead a happy life. Moreover, he also took the opportunity to thank Mr. Lim for providing the entire distributors with full supports in building their own business all the way.

Coming up next, a talk entitled "GTF – 21st Century Breakthrough Health and Beauty" will be presented to you by a doctor, Dr. Lim Li Yi on 28th September 2009 (Monday) and also a motivation talk will be presented to you by Ms Lydia Tung, a crown manager from 8.00pm -10.00pm.

To get rich never risk your health. For it is the truth that health is the wealth of wealth. ~ Richard Baker

C is for Skin

Vitamin C has long being regarded as a kind of vitamin which aids in preventing diseases like scurvy, and vitamin C is also said to be extremely effective in boosting our immune system. Besides all these greatness vitamin C can bring us, a recent study reveals further hidden strength this microelement can bring upon mankind.

This new role of vitamin C, concerns greatly with the health of our skin. Previously, news and studies of vitamin C in skin treatment seemed to be a statement which did not contain any supportive evidence. But for now, Researchers who hailed from the University of Leicester had found that Vitamin C helps in healing skin wounds as well as protecting DNA damage of skin cells.

Researchers mentioned that the ultraviolet rays from the sun might cause skin lesions, and in the long run, might also cause the occurrence of skin cancer, through the free radical formation and DNA damage. Such findings that Vitamin C aids in skin treatment just appear as a great gospel to all who are very much concern about their skins.

GT&F Products have great potentials in maintaining youthful skins in the consumers. In addition, if the consumers simply grab a citrus fruit each day, the skin treatment process as well as the outcome of skin protection will definitely be even greater and synergistic!

With that, further studies will be carried out to determine the relationship between Vitamin C and skin lesions, as well as the potential of Vitamin C in fighting cancers.

OPP ~ 21st Century Breakthrough Health and Beauty (Product Talk)

In the grips of an economic downturn, consumer’s minds are still focused on eating healthy foods. In general, Malaysians today are becoming more health conscious especially during this critical period when the outbreak of H1N1 infection is getting uncontrolled. People place emphasis on achieving health benefits through making specific food choices and look for food products that incorporate nutritional ingredients that provide specific health benefits. This factor is expected to drive the growth of the natural health market in Malaysia.

Mr. Lim Hua San, the managing director of GTF Company had once again talked on the GT&F® milk powder on 7^th September 2009 (Monday). “Mother Breast Milk " Just the word itself sounds comforting! It was a very first food to human being and is a loving link, given and taken between a mother and a baby. It was the baby only path to survival. It is the best food for human beings. Thus, GT&F® milk powder is a very special formulated GTF supplement as well as emulated mother breast milk product. With GTF in its most primal and natural environment, it is readily absorbed by our body. Long term consumption of GT&F® can replenish the GTF stores and helps to regain lost health.

Next up, Mr. Hugo Lim, the crown manager of GTF Company had presented on GTF New Marketing Plan. By using network marketing, the marketing strategy for the 21st century, GTF has opened the door of opportunity to anyone who has the drive, determination and perseverance to start a business. This plan will help the distributors to outsell their competition and it will ease their path to gain even more profits from the business. Their will be able to plan strategically for every next step and know-how should implement it successfully.

The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they'll ease
Your will they'll mend
And charge you not a shilling.

~Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields, What the River Knows, 1990

Hypertension & Memory

Metabolic syndrome is known as the combination of medical disorders that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The risk factors of metabolic syndrome include overweight (obesity), sedentary lifestyle, aging, diabetes mellitus, lipodystrophy and many more. But for now, the true meaning of metabolic syndrome seems to expand further as more and more new researches and studies relate to health are unveiled.

One of the latest studies concerning to one of the metabolic syndromes, is a shocking news which mentioned that people who have high blood pressure records could also possibly encountering a phenomenon where they experience cognitive impairment.

According to the study published in the August 25, 2009, in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology; high blood pressure is linked to people who are over 45 of age. The researchers had conducted a study over approximately 20,000 people whose aged 45 or older, and these people had no history in having a stroke or a mini-stroke.

However, the results showed that 7.6% of the population had cognitive problems, while 9,844 individuals from the population, or 49.6% of them, had high blood pressure.

Researchers suggested that for every 10-point of increment in blood pressure reading (in diastolic pressure), the odds of that person in having cognitive problems are generally 7% higher. Nevertheless, further study and details are required to support such postulation.