Take a pinch of salt
Up until the late 1800's, salt was considered to be an aphrodisiac, and was thus consumed or bathed in quite regularly for reasons other than to satisfy the taste buds or cleanse the skin! Today, however, salt is rarely used in the kitchen or bathroom for this particular reason, yet this popular mineral is not without its own air of potency: a high intake of salt can be responsible for various chronic illnesses, many of which are life-threatening.
Most people are aware that too much salt can have a detrimental effect on their health, but the problem lies in the fact that the majority of us are unsure just how much salt we are consuming. The reason this is difficult to calculate is because up to 70% of the salt we ingest is "hidden" in the foods we eat on a daily basis, such as bread, biscuits, canned foods, ready-made meals and sauces, etc. (Indeed, salt is an ingredient used in the processing of most food, as it acts as a preservative as well as taste enhancer.) The salt that we then add ourselves during the cooking and preparation stages accounts for a further 20% of our intake, with the remaining 10% being found in the food naturally.
In theory the human body only requires 4 grams of salt a day, which is approximately just less than half a teaspoon. Unfortunately, a person's average salt intake is 10 grams, when the maximum should be no higher than 6. Unfortunately those who do not have large, regular amounts of salt are making themselves more susceptible to strokes, osteoporosis, cancer of the stomach, high blood pressure, or heart attacks.
Of course, those who don't have enough salt, or lose a great deal due to sweating or prolonged vomiting or diarrhea, etc, are susceptible to be more immediate, major health problems, so it is a question of getting the balance right. Ideally, as a nation, we should be eating more wholemeal foods and less processed ones - something that would significantly reduce the likelihood of diet-induced illness that are becoming increasingly common in today's society.
Bee stings ease pain of arthritis
Thousands of people worldwide are turning to bee venom as a means of treating conditions such as rheumatism, arthritis and multiple sclerosis. However, "Apitherapy" (taken from apis, the Latin word for bee) is not a modern whim: the ancient Egyptians applied bee stings to treat rheumatism and Europeans in the Middle Ages rubbed to a concoction of oil and the ashes of burnt bees to areas of the body that were in pain.
It is even believed that Charlemagne and Ivan the Terrible used bee venom to treat their joint problems. Researchers are not sure how or why bee venom works, but studies carried out in the 1920s and 1930s established that bee venom stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, a hormone that has anti-inflammatory properties. Others believe that the sting triggers the release of the body's natural painkillers, endorphins. In China, acupuncturists apply venom to acupuncture points which is said to speed up the healing process. But Dr Harry Riches commented: " The trouble is that most of the people who appear to have benefited from this treatment have suffered from relapsing remitting diseases - arthritis, rheumatism and multiple sclerosis. This means that by the very nature of the illness, the symptoms come and go - so it is difficult to know if the treatment helped or if they were entering a period of remission anyway."
Vanilla patches set to be new diet craze
Scientists have discovered that patches scented with vanilla can reduce cravings for chocolate and other food high in calories. Studies revealed that after a month, the participants' desire for sweet food and drinks were significantly reduced, resulting in an average weight loss of 3kg.
The researchers at St George's Hospital, London, are not sure how the vanilla works, but it is believed the smell may have an influence on brain chemistry. Catherine Collins, the hospital's chief dietitian who led the study said it was possible that the scent of the vanilla altered serotonin levels which play a significant role in appetite. The patches are likely to be launched as a slimming aid later this year.
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