Andhranews

Scientists have found cases of virtually untreatable tuberculosis across the globe including in the US, Eastern Europe and Africa.Researchers are worried about the emergence of TB strains that are resistant to drugs, reported the online edition of BBC News. TB, a disease of the respiratory system spread by coughing and sneezing, causes about 1.7 million deaths a year worldwide.

Extreme drug resistant TB (XDR TB) is defined as strains that are resistant to not only frontline drugs but also three or more of the six classes of second-line drugs. A recent survey of 18,000 TB samples by the US-based Center for Disease Control and the WHO between November 2004 and November 2005 found 20 percent of them were multi-drug resistant and a further two per cent were extreme drug resistant.

Further detailed analysis of several countries found the prevalence was even higher. In the US, four per cent of all multi-drug resistant TB (MDR TB) cases met the criteria for XDR TB; in South Korea, the figure was 15 percent, according to WHO expert Dr Paul Nunn. In Latvia and other areas of the Baltics and the former Soviet Union, 19 percent of all multi-drug resistant cases were extreme drug resistant too.

XDR TB was present across several strains, Dr Nunn said, but added it was not yet clear how transmissible it was or whether it was limited to isolated pockets. “XDR TB is very serious - we are potentially getting close to a bacteria that we have no tools, no weapons against.” He added that it was key that new drugs were developed in future and said work was underway looking at new drugs, including research into TB vaccines. TB experts have convened in Johannesburg, South Africa, to discuss how to address the problem.

Regularly eating a handful of nuts, including peanuts, could keep your heart healthy, says a major study spanning 10 countries. But scientists warn that it would not make up for an unhealthy lifestyle. Just two portions of nuts a week cuts the risk of dying from a heart attack by 11 per cent, said British researcher Elio Riboli, who along with others studied almost 400,000 people from 10 countries, including 90,000 from Norfolk and Oxford.

The participants were asked to complete food questionnaires, reported the online edition of Daily Mail. The participants gave blood samples in the early 1990s, which were followed up to establish links between dietary habits and disease. In the latest analysis, nut consumption was studied in 1,200 people who died of a heart attack and compared with people who are still alive. The study found that a small amount of nuts in the diet could help beat heart disease.A classic aperitif accompanied by a dish of nuts at least twice a week would be an ideal combination, Riboli said.

The results were presented this week at the World Congress of Cardiology in Barcelona. Riboli, professor of cancer epidemiology at Imperial College, London, said all nuts were counted in the assessment, including peanuts, which are actually legumes. Earlier studies have found eating nuts was linked to a lower risk of bowel cancer. Studies have also shown that nuts can lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation and improve the functioning of arteries. “The important thing is that very modest consumption is associated with protection. A small plate of nuts with a glass of wine would be a healthy amount,” Riboli said.

He believes the benefits come from the high concentration of Omega-3 fatty acids in nuts and says that unsalted nuts are best. He, however, warned that there was no point sitting in front of the TV, being obese and having high blood pressure, and expecting a handful of nuts to protect you from heart disease.

There’s more to food than its calorific value. Calorie counting is a very superficial way of looking at food. Instead of looking at its calorific value, look for its health benefits. One should choose food based on its positive attributes such as colour, flavour, nutrients, fibre and hundreds of other compounds that take the food and health connection to an exiting new level.

For example, garlic contains sulphur compounds that act as a natural antibiotic and helps get rid of worms. It also helps improve the bacteria flora in the intestines. It is usually children who suffer from worms. Therefore, it is a good idea to give them garlic toast in the morning for their breakfast. Use whole wheat bread. You could lightly sauté crushed garlic (1-2 cloves) in one teaspoon of butter or olive oil and pour it on toasted whole grain bread. In this way it becomes highly palatable.

Methi seeds: The seeds of methi can be taken in the sprouted form and mixed with a salad or they can be roasted powdered and added to curries. They contain phytoestrogen (plant estrogen), which is beneficial for menopausal women. During menopause the body reduces its production of estrogen. This affect calcium uptake by the body and eventually leads to osteoporosis if the body’s calcium supplies have been poor over a long period of time.

Soya bean, most whole pulses, and methi seeds contain plant estrogen, which help prevent osteoporosis if other lifestyle factors are followed correctly. Folklore suggests that if you take one cup of sprouted methi seeds during your teens they may even help in breast enlargement. This is because methi contains diosgenin a compound which is used in making synthetic estrogen. The naturally occurring estrogen in methi seeds has many effects on the body. One of them possibly is breast enlargement. About 50 per cent of the methi seed is fibre.

This fibre contains about six compounds that can help regulate blood sugar. Methi sprouts should be consumed by diabetics. In addition, it helps to reduce cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease.

Turmeric: Fresh, raw turmeric is rich in vitamin C, E, beta-carotene and other carotenoids. It is used for its medicinal properties in a whole lot of disorders. It is known to help prevent cataracts, strokes; it is used for treating amenorrhea (lack of menstruation). It contains a compound called curcumin that increases solubility of bile, which helps prevent gallstones.

About 1-2 teaspoons of the powder in a curry may also help reduce gallstones. Turmeric helps reduce pain and swelling and helps protect the liver. It has an anti-parasitic action and helps get rid of worms. It is also a potent antibiotic. The best way to take turmeric is in the form of curries. You could also make a tangy soup or rasam with 1-2 teaspoons of turmeric powder to make use of its healing benefits. One should eat a variety of foods as each has its own set of known and unknown nutrients, which work in subtle ways to help our bodies become healthy.