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Sun-dried tomatoes linked to outbreak of hepatitis A

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Sun-dried tomatoes linked to outbreak of hepatitis AAlamy


An outbreak of hepatitis A has been linked to sun-dried tomatoes - and the contaminated tomatoes could be lurking in your kitchen cupboards as experts don't know which brand is responsible.

The Daily Mail reports that seven people developed symptoms of hepatitis A, which can lead to fatal liver complications.

Four of them were hospitalised, but all seven have now been given the all-clear.

However, as Health Protection Agency (HPA) officials are unable to test food for the virus, they don't know which brand of sun-dried tomato is responsible, so it's impossible to tell if they - or foods containing them - are still on sale.

Two of the cases were reported last year to the HPA. In both cases, their Hepatitis A was identical to a strain from a previous outbreak in the Netherlands, which was linked to sun-dried tomatoes.

Neither of the patients had travelled to a country with a high risk of hepatitis A in the last three months, but both had eaten 'substantial' amounts of sun-dried tomatoes.

An investigation by the HPA from July to December last year showed that sun-dried tomatoes had been implicated in seven cases of hepatitis A. Four of the patients live in the East of England, two in London and one in the South West.

Hepatitis A is carried by human faeces and can be passed on through contaminated food or water.

Symptoms appear around 28 days after infection and include aches, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort, fever and fatigue. Patients can also suffer from itchy skin and jaundice. In the most serious cases, toxins attack the liver and patients may need a liver transplant to survive.

It is diagnosed by a blood test, but there is no treatment available apart from rest and fluids.

A spokesperson for the Food Standards Agency told the Daily Mail: "Sun-dried tomatoes are being investigated as one possible source of the hepatitis A cases. However, no food source has been conclusively identified and no other relevant cases have been reported in the UK."

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Experts say it's going to be a bad year for hay fever sufferers

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Experts say it's going to be a bad year for hay fever sufferersGetty


Experts have warned that the hay fever season could start earlier than usual this year - and symptoms could be twice as severe.

The Daily Mail reports that the mild winter followed by the brief cold snap has created 'optimum' conditions for an early start to the birch pollen season.

This year the pollen count is predicted to be two or three times higher than usual and levels are expected to rise sharply around March 15 in the south of England.

It is then expected to reach the Midlands by March 29 and northern England and northern Ireland by the first week of April, followed by Scotland by April 11.

Professor Jean Emberlin, from Allergy UK, told The Express: "Relatively high soil temperatures have allowed early function of roots and grout of catkins despite the cold snap in early February.

"Pollen counts are likely to be two or three times higher than last year in many areas including cities, where air pollution causes more potent pollen."

The birch pollen season affects a quarter of hay fever sufferers, and up to 16 million people are expected to be affected.

Symptoms include itchy, watering eyes, runny nose, sneezing and headaches.

Do you suffer from hay fever? Let us know below...

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New safety fears over knee replacements

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New safety fears over knee replacementsGetty


A leading doctor has warned that poor regulation means that the long-term safety and effectiveness of millions of knee implants is unknown.

The Independent reports that there are more than 15 companies producing many different types of knee implants that surgeons can choose from.

Unlike medicines, these don't have to be tested in patients - manufacturers only have to prove that a knee, hip or breast implant is safe and durable outside the body in order to be awarded the necessary kite mark.

Writing in medical journal The Lancet, Andrew Carr, professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Oxford, warns that surgeons aren't being given enough reliable information on knee implants. He says that this is likely to become a bigger problem as the demand for surgery grows. An ageing population and rising obesity rates means that increasing numbers of patients will require knee replacement surgery.

He writes: "Widespread surveillance of existing implants is urgently needed alongside the carefully monitored introduction of new implant designs as part of well-conducted large-scale randomised trials."

According to The Independent, there were 76,780 knee replacements in 2010, which represents a 30 per cent increase in five years, according to the National Joint Registry, which monitors the failure rate of implants from data submitted by surgeons. However, the way this data is organised makes it hard to monitor individual products.

BBC News reports that Professor Carr and his team have not identified a health risk associated with knee implants, but have stressed the need for monitoring.

He told the BBC: "We're not sitting on a metal-on-metal situation, but there could be something not being picked up as there are not the processes going on for monitoring [total knee replacements]."

The medical director of Arthritis Research UK, Professor Alan Silman, told the BBC: "Given the current concerns raised by the metal-on-metal hip hip replacements - although there is no evidence that there are similar implications for knee replacements - it's appropriate to take stock of the advantages and costs of knee joint replacement.

"Undoubtedly it produces major benefits for patients and the need will become greater as the population ages and becomes more obese.

"However it's equally important that we are able to understand and measure the benefits of surgery, and we are currently supporting research to measure the benefits to patients in a more effective way, and also to predict who should have the operation, and when."

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Foods for better sex

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Foods for better sexAP

From sexual aids to tiny blue pills, there are countless ways to spice up your sex life on offer. So why not try eating your way to some sexier between-the-sheets action?

Check out our gallery of top foods for better sex, to get your blood pumping and libido going.



 

Lauren Goodger: "I just want to eat all the time"

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Lauren Goodger: 'I just want to eat all the time'PA


She's a healthy size 12, but TOWIE's Lauren Goodger has revealed that she's desperate to lose weight - and she struggles to stick to a diet.

Lauren has opened up to heat magazine about her weight and has said that her shape makes her feel "so unhappy".

Lauren told Heat: "I think about it all the time - from the moment I get up. But I still struggle to do anything about it.

"It's upsetting me more than anything, it's like I'm punishing myself. When I think about it it all gets too much. I think everyone looks at me and thinks: 'She's fat.' I hate the way I look."

Lauren admits that she's tried lots of different diets and fitness routines, but can't seem to stick to any of them.

She told heat: "I've tried boot camp, had a personal trainer and a nutritionist. But I just start eating again. I have a problem."

She explains that cruel comments about her weight have made the problem worse, as she's started comfort eating.

She says: "It's awful. There are some really unkind bullies out there. They don't even know me. Who do they think they are? They call me a beached whale and a fat c**t. They also call me Miss Piggy."

As a result, she says she's started dressing differently and only buys dresses with sleeves or wears cardigans, as she "hates" her arms.

She admits that she's gained weight since splitting with her boyfriend Mark Wright last year, but now she says she's trying hard to lose weight.

She now drinks champagne rather than white wine when she goes out as it's "less fattening" but she says that she struggles to resist late night snacks of pizza and chocolate.

She explains: "I need to be dedicated and although I really want it I can't seem to put it into action and actually lose any weight.

"I just want to eat all the time. I don't have any willpower. But, I want to change badly. I desperately want to be photographed and have people say nice things about me, that I look good rather than, 'Lauren, what were you thinking?'"

She adds: "I am single now and I should be thinner so I can wear a nice little dress when I go out and have a flirt but at the minute I can't.

"All I can think is what can I wear to cover myself up. It's like if I say it out loud I might stop having a problem and feeling so c**p about myself."

The full interview with Lauren appears in this week's heat magazine, on sale now.

Do you think that Lauren needs to gain confidence rather than lose weight? Let us know below...

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New drug could stop arthritis

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New drug could stop arthritisGetty


Researchers at the University of Newcastle are currently testing a new drug that has the potential to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease in which elements of the immune system attack the body. Sufferers experience chronic pain and inflammation in the joints, as white blood cells, known as T-cells, invade joints and cause damage.

The Daily Mail reports that in early-stage tests, the drug stopped the inflammation that causes the pain, swelling and stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Study leader Graeme O'Boyle told the Daily Mail: "Imagine that the damaged joint is covered in flags which are signalling to the white blood cells.

"Traditional treatments have involved pulling down the flags one by one, but what we have done is use an agent which in effect 'blindfolds' the white blood cells.

"Therefore they don't know which way to travel so won't add to the damage."

The Independent reports that scientists carried out tests on a genetically engineered mouse with a human-like immune system. They discovered that a compound called PS372424 blocked the ability of to T-cells invade joints.

Only the white blood cells implicated in rheumatoid arthritis are affected, so the drug doesn't affect the body's immune system as a whole.

Professor Alan Silman, medical director of Arthritis Research UK, which funded the research, told The Independent: "Although modern treatments have changed the outcome for many patients with rheumatoid arthritis, firstly not all patients respond to them and secondly, even in those patients who do respond in some way, we can't completely get rid of the inflammation that damages their joints.

"This research is very exciting, as although it is in its early stages, if it can be transferred to humans it could shut down the inflammation that causes rheumatoid arthritis."

Researchers will now work on improving the drug-like properties of PS372424 for clinical trials.

Do you suffer from arthritis? Let us know below...

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Do you fancy a desk with a built-in treadmill?

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Do you fancy a desk with a built-in treadmill?Wenn


We all know that spending the whole day sitting down isn't good for your health, and now a US doctor believes he's found a healthier alternative - a stand-up desk with a built-in treadmill.

Dr James Levine from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota has spent the last ten years walking on a treadmill as he works, because he believes that sitting down all day increases the risk of heart disease.

He writes on the Mayo Clinic website: "Researchers have linked sitting for prolonged periods with a number of health problems and premature death from cardiovascular disease."

He also claims that by standing up we burn three times as many calories.

He writes: "Muscle contractions, including the ones required for standing, seem to trigger important processes related to the breakdown of fats and sugars. When you sit down, muscle contractions cease and these processes stall."

This is why, the Daily Mail reports, that he's now trialling Walkstations, which are a cross between an office workstation and a treadmill, enabling users to keep fit in the office.

The quiet treadmill encourages users to walk slowly, so they they can type or carry out their usual work while they are on the move.

He explains: "Over the last 150 years we've become chair imprisoned. We are behind a screen all day at work. We are in a car or bus getting to and from work. And in the evening, we are in a chair watching television or surfing the internet. We've gone from being on our legs all day to being on our bottoms all day."

Would you use a Walkstation? Let us know below...

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Would you use a nose straightener or an exercise mouthpiece?

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Would you use a nose straightener or an exercise mouthpiece?London Media


If you dream of having a straighter nose or fewer wrinkles, a Japanese manufacturer has produced a range of beauty gadgets that are designed to be a cheaper alternative to cosmetic surgery.

The Sun reports that the Hana Tsun straighteners are designed to be worn for 20 minutes a day to give you the "perfect profile".

They are sold at the Japan Trend Shop, where shoppers are told: "Do you have a complex about your nose? Then reach for the Hana Twin Nose, a much cheaper alternative to plastic surgery and it doesn't hurt either! The makers reckon that 20 minutes per day is enough to strength [sic] and straighten your nose to help you achieve that perfect nasal profile you so desire!"

The gadget has two silicone prongs which are inserted into the nose, while the supports on either side help to "push up" the contours of the nose to achieve a sharper, straighter shape.

Would you use a nose straightener or an exercise mouthpiece?London Media


If you're happy with your nose, but fed up with wrinkles, the Face Slimmer Exercise Mouthpiece could be just the ticket.

The, frankly terrifying, mouthpiece is worn for three minutes per day to tone up sagging facial muscles.

The website says: "Just three minutes per day is all you need; pop in the mold [sic] and then make mouth movements. The makers recommend you say vowel sounds out loud over and over again."

The website fails to mention that you will also look ridiculous.

Would you use a nose straightener or an exercise mouthpiece?London Media


If that doesn't tickle your fancy, there's the Eye Slack Haruka, a battery-powered vibrating gadget that warms up your under eye area to combat sagging skin and under-eye bags.

Apparently the "battery-powered vibrations and gentle heat will then start to improve the condition of your skin, seemingly taking years off you while lessening those tell-tell [sic] weary signs of age."

Would you use a nose straightener or an exercise mouthpiece?London Media


But if you've always fancied a higher nose - and let's face it, who hasn't? - then you might not be able to resist treating yourself to the Beauty Lift High Nose.

This nifty little gadget "applies gentle electric vibrations from the bottom, side and front". Use it for just three minutes a day, and it promises to push your nose higher up your face.

It doesn't say how high your nose will go though, so it's probably best to be cautious, just in case it ends up on your forehead...

Would you be tempted to try these beauty gadgets? Let us know below...

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New pill makes alcoholics want to drink less

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New pill makes alcoholics want to drink lessGetty


A new pill has been developed that can help alcoholics fight the urge to drink too much.

The Telegraph reports that the drug, called nalmefene, is designed to be taken when people are going out and might be tempted to drink alcohol.

A study showed that when patients took nalmefene when they were at risk of drinking, the average amount of alcohol consumed dropped from 84g per day - the equivalent of a bottle of wine - to 30g per day, or a large glass of wine. The number of days they drank heavily reduced from 19 to seven in those who took the drug alongside counselling.

The findings were presented at the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) congress in Prague, where it was explained that the drug is thought to work by blocking the mechanisms in the brain that give drinkers enjoyment from alcohol.

Dr David Collier, of Barts and The London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London and an investigator in a nalmefene study, told The Telegraph: "The people volunteering for these trials had real problems with alcohol dependence, most had never sought help before, and others had tried and failed with abstinence strategies - stopping drinking for good. Abstinence is the right option for many people, but not everyone wants to do that, and in those that do try, it helps only about half of them.

"From our experience in these trials, reducing alcohol consumption to safer levels can be a realistic and practical treatment goal for people who are dependent on alcohol, that can bring many short- and longer-term benefits to health. These trial results suggest that the combination of medication and counselling could offer a new option for people in the UK not currently treated for their alcohol dependence."

The Daily Mail reports that the drug is not yet licensed and is in the process of going through clinical trials.

There are thought to be 1.6million people addicted to alcohol who are not currently being treated.

Although there are other drugs on the market that make people ill if they drink alcohol at all, this is thought to be the first aimed at reducing the amount of alcohol consumed.

How many units do you drink each week? Let us know below...

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Celebrities who don't dress their age

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Celebrities who don't dress their agePA/AP/EMPICS Entertainment

There is lots of conflicting advice about age-appropriate dressing, from whether or not it's OK to wear short skirts over the age of 50 (Andie MacDowell says no) to the age limit on wearing leather (if there is one - Nancy Dell'Olio certainly doesn't think so).

In addition to looking like mutton dressed as lamb, celebrities often have the opposite problem, with young Hollywood starlets dressing in a much older fashion.

Check out our gallery below to see the celebrities who don't dress their age. Are these crimes against fashion or should we admire these stars for daring to be different?



 

Could Sudocrem give you perfect skin?

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Could Sudocrem give you perfect skin?Forest Laboratories UK


The latest 'miracle' beauty cream is flying off shelves - and the good news is that it costs just £2.75 and there's probably a pot of it lurking in your bathroom cabinet.

Sudocrem antiseptic healing cream, which is most commonly used to treat babies with nappy rash, has seen a 150 per cent rise in sales since February last year, with celebrities including Cheryl Cole and and TOWIE's Chloe Sims saying that it really helps to blitz blemishes.

Following their recommendations, the Daily Mail reports that the cream is increasingly being used to soothe dry skin and prevent and treat acne.

As a result, Superdrug has revealed that 250g tubs of the antiseptic cream are now one of its best-sellers.

Simon Comins, a spokesperson for Superdrug, told the Daily Mail: "This has been the year when tried and tested beauty classics are must-haves, not just because they cost less, but also because they work.

"With customers trying to cut back on their spending we've noticed a significant rise in customers buying cost-effective multi-purpose products."

In a scene from The Only Way is Essex, Chloe Sims was seen recommending the cream to Joey Essex's mate Diags.

An entry on the official Sudocrem blog reads: "It was a pleasant surprise to see Sudocrem featuring on the show and we are very grateful to the cast for sharing their views on the product."

The Daily Mail reports that Cheryl Cole told a celebrity magazine that Sudocrem "really works" to draw out blemishes.

If nothing else, it should give you skin that's as soft as a baby's bottom, right?

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Does the NHS deny surgery to obese people and smokers to save money?

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Does the NHS deny surgery to obese people and smokers to save money?PA


New figures show that there is increased rationing taking place in the NHS, as more people are being denied treatment based on lifestyle criteria, such as their weight or whether they smoke.

The Telegraph reports that more than a quarter of Primary Care Trusts in England have brought in new lifestyle restrictions in the last year.

Freedom of Information responses from 91 PCTs, obtained by doctor's magazine Pulse, show that 25 have brought in new restrictions on treating obese patients or smokers since April 2011.

One trust, NHS Hertfordshire, imposed a ban on knee and hip operations for anyone with a BMI of over 30, as well as smokers. This has now been extended to cover all routine surgery, with exceptions only for heart or brain surgery and cancer operations.

The Peninsula health technology commissioning group, covering Devon, Cornwall, Torbay and Plymouth, is now banning men and women from IVF treatment unless they have been non-smokers for at least six months, and both must have a BMI of between 19 and 29.9.

In Bedfordshire, hip and knee replacements are denied to patients with a BMI of 35 or over, until after they have lost 10 per cent of the body weight or moved below a BMI of 35.

The Daily Mail reports that these measures are said to be recommended because smokers and obese people are more likely to develop breathing difficulties or suffer heart or kidney problems while they are under anaesthetic.

Hip and knee replacements and IVF are also considered to be less successful in the obese.

Steve Nowottny, deputy editor of Pulse, told the Telegraph: "Rationing in the NHS is nothing new - but PCTs and clinical commissioning groups are increasingly taking the decision to ration care based on patients' lifestyle choices.

"In some cases there may be genuine clinical justification for rationing treatment on these grounds. But there is a growing suspicion that some PCTs are now blocking access to surgery for smokers and the obese simply to help achieve ever greater efficiency savings.

"Such a policy has disturbing implications - and GPs are increasingly uneasy about the NHS providing a second-class service to patients with less healthy lifestyles."

Dr Clare Gerada, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, told the Daily Mail: "It's becoming the deserving and the undeserving. I think it's discriminatory and I find it astonishing. The Government should determine what should be applied universally."

Do you think that it's fair that NHS patients are subject to lifestyle restrictions? Let us know below...

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HRT can reduce breast cancer risk

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HRT can reduce breast cancer risk Getty


A new study indicates that oestrogen-only HRT can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in some women.

The Telegraph reports that HRT has become less popular in the last decade, as research indicated that it could increase the risk of breast cancer.

However, oestrogen-only HRT - which is less common and given to women who have had hysterectomies - appears to have a protective effect.

The new study, published in The Lancet Oncology, took place at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle in 2002. It involved 7,645 women aged 50 to 79, who had had hysterectomies and had no family history of breast cancer.

Half were given oestrogen-only HRT for about six years, while the other half were given a placebo.

The trial was stopped in 2004, as it was found that this type of HRT slightly increased the risk of stroke. However, researchers followed the volunteers for another six years and found that those on the HRT were 23 per cent less likely to have developed breast cancer over a 12-year period.

Those who did develop breast cancer were 63 per cent less likely to die from it than the women who had not taken the HRT.

The Daily Mail reports that the treatment seemed to deter the growth of tumours, but did not seem to protect women who had a family history of breast cancer or had suffered benign breast disease.

Garnet Anderson, author of the study, told the newspaper that the drug has risks as well as benefits, as it it known to increase the likelihood of blood clots and strokes.

Dr Anderson said: "These latest results should provide reassurance about breast safety of oestrogen use for durations of about five years for women with a hysterectomy seeking relief form post-menopausal symptoms."

Rachel Greig, of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, told the Daily Mail: 'This is a strong study which may provide reassurance to women of the effects of oestrogen-only HRT, a certain type of HRT that is used to treat menopausal symptoms in women who have had a hysterectomy.

"However, it's important to remember there are different types of HRT and other large studies have shown these can increase the risk of breast cancer as well as other health problems.

"In the meantime we advise women to speak to their GP if they have questions about treatment for the menopause."

Dr John Stevenson, an menopause expert at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London told The Telegraph that around 100,000 women in the UK are taking the oestrogen-only form of HRT. It helps to prevent menopausal symptoms such as night sweats and hot flushes.

Do you, or would you, take HRT? Let us know below...

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Redheads feel less pain

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Redheads feel less painGetty


A new study indicates that people with red hair are less likely to feel skin pain from injections or pin pricks.

The Daily Mail reports that Professor Lars Arendt-Nielson of the Centre for Sensory-Motor Interaction at Aalborg University has found that people with red hair experience pain differently to blondes and brunettes.

He says: "Our tests showed that redheads are less sensitive to this particular type of pain. They react less to pressure close to the injected area, or to a pinprick. They seem to be a bit better protected, and that is a really interesting finding."

However, the research team have also found that redheads are more sensitive to cold and are more likely to suffer from toothaches.

Previous research has led scientists to speculate about the existence of the 'redhead' gene.

Professor Arendt-Nielson says: "It seems that MCR1 is involved in central functions in the brain, and we know that subgroups like MC2R, MC3R and MC4R, which are also linked in redheads, have considerable involvement in brain functions.

"This could be the key to explaining why redheads are a little different to other people."

The Daily Mail reports that just two per cent of the world's population has red hair. This rises to six per cent in the northern hemisphere and 13 per cent in Scotland.

Are you a natural redhead? Let us know below...

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Could eating with chopsticks help you to lose weight?

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Could eating with chopsticks help you to lose weight?Getty


If you're keen to lose a few pounds before summer, a new diet book suggests that you should forget about using a knife and fork and reach for the chopsticks instead.

The Daily Mail reports that writer Eileen Daspin, author of soon-to-be-released book The Manhattan Diet, believes that using chopsticks encourages dieters to take smaller mouthfuls and eat more slowly - which helps them to feel full more quickly.

Ms Daspin told the New York Post that her slender friends employ several tricks to maintain their sample-size bodies.

These include ordering only string beans and rice from the Chinese takeaway because "the oil on the string beans is enough to moisturise the rice", or indulging in tiny bites of high calorie foods.

The author, who is married to an executive chef at a Manhattan restaurant, says: "I taste everything but eat almost nothing."

She adds: "Really enjoy what you eat, but just eat less of it."

She also recommends diluting alcoholic drinks with water or ice, adding milk to green tea to make it taste like "melted green-tea ice cream", and eating healthy grains like quinoa, spelt and rye.

Other tips include buying small, individual cartons to help control portion size and buying expensive ingredients rather than than budget items, to encourage you to ration servings.

She also suggests roasting a three-day supply of vegetables to eat throughout the week and recommends walking everywhere to burn off calories.

The Manhattan Diet is published on March 27 by Wiley.

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Ovarian cancer risk factors you can control

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Ovarian cancer risk factors you can controlGetty

March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the fifth most common cancer in females in the UK.

Unlike many other cancers, 90 per cent of women who get this disease do not have any family history. Ovarian cancer cannot be detected by smear tests, so it's important to listen to your body and watch out for chronic symptoms like persistent stomach pain, bloating, difficulty eating, feeling full quickly and frequent urination.

While some factors like age and ethnicity are beyond your control, there are some steps you can take to lower your risk of ovarian cancer. Click through the gallery below for more information on ovarian cancer risk factors you can control.

To educate yourself further about the disease, go to Ovarian Cancer Action.

 

Heart disease drug also prevents racism

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Heart disease drug also prevents racismGetty


A beta-blocker drug which is commonly prescribed to treat chest pains and lower heart rates has been found to have an unusual side-effect: it combats racism.

The Telegraph reports that that drug, called propranolol, acts on the nerve circuits that govern automatic functions such as heart rate, as well as the part of the brain involved in fear and emotional responses.

The unexpected 'moral' side-effects of taking the drug came to light when psychologists at Oxford University studied two groups of 18 people, who were asked to take a 'racial Implicit Association Test' (IAT) soon after taking propranolol or a placebo.

The test involved categorising positive and negative words and pictures of black and white people on a computer screen.

The Daily Mail reports that researchers measured the time taken to carry out the tasks and found that it took placebo volunteers longer to associate a black face with a positive word that it took to link a white face with a positive word.

This was taken as proof that they were being racist on a subconscious level.

The time lag disappeared among those participants who had taken the beta-blocker and researchers found that more than a third of these participants had a 'negative' IAT score, meaning that they were biased towards being non-racist at a subconscious level. This was not seen in any member of the placebo group.

The drug was not found to have any effect on explicit prejudice or a racial, sexual or religious nature, only on subconscious feelings that most people might not be aware of.

Experimental psychologist Dr Sylvia Terbeck told The Telegraph: "Our results offer new evidence about the processes in the brain that shape implicit racial bias.

"Implicit racial bias can occur even in people with a sincere belief in equality. Given the key role that such implicit attitudes appear to play in discrimination against other ethnic groups, and the widespread use of propranolol for medical purposes, our findings are of considerable ethical interest."

Researchers believe that their results can be explained by the fact that racism is founded on fear as the drug is also used to treat anxiety and panic.

Co-author of the study, Professor Julian Savulescu from Oxford University's Faculty of Philosopy, told the Daily Mail: "Such research raises the tantalising possibility that our unconscious racial attitudes could be modulated using drugs, a possibility that requires careful ethical analysis.

"Biological research aiming to make people morally better has a dark history. And propranolol is not a pill to cure racism. But given that many people are already using drugs like propranolol which have 'moral' side effects, we at least need to better understand what these effects are."

Would you be happy to take a drug which changes the way you think or behave? Let us know below...

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Rihanna's on a diet because her dad told her she was 'fat'

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Rihanna's on a diet because her dad told her she was 'fat'Getty


We can't imagine how anyone could possibly think that Rihanna looks remotely overweight. But her dad has decided to tell the world how happy he is that she's on a diet because he thought she was "a little fat".

Metro reports that Rihanna's dad, Ronald Fenty, told heat magazine that he loves to "joke" with her about her weight.

He said: "I used to joke with her, 'Robyn [Rihanna's first name], you're getting too fat'."

We bet Rihanna must have thought that was hilarious.

He adds: "I actually thought she was a little fat the last time I saw her. But when I saw her at this year's Grammys, I thought she was back to her normal size."

Her dad's comments obviously bothered RiRi, because she's recently tweeted several pictures of herself working out the gym.

So she'll no doubt be happy to hear that her dad thinks her efforts are paying off.

He said: "I think she's fine. I thought she looked excellent, as everyone saw, at the Grammys. She's dieting, she's working out."

Unfortunately, Mr Fenty's concern for his daughter doesn't seem to extend to her choice of boyfriend.

Rihanna has been spotted out and about with Chris Brown, who was sentenced to five years of probation in 2009 when he admitted assaulting Rihanna, his then girlfriend.

The pair have recently recorded two duets together, amid rumours that they are getting back together.

However, Ronald Fenty seems remarkably laid back about the fact that her daughter is spending time with the man who left her battered and bruised.

He says: "Chris is a nice guy and everybody is entitled to make mistakes in their life - God knows how many I've made. She's her own woman now."

It sounds as if forgiveness runs in the family: Rihanna and her dad had an epic fall out two years ago, when he got drunk on her US tour bus and was sent back home to Barbados.

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Patients could be treated by broadband by 2017

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If you're not yet familiar with the term 'telehealth', the Government is on a mission to change that.

Telehealth systems enable people with long term health conditions, like heart disease and diabetes, to manage their health from home.

They can input details of blood pressure and glucose levels, which doctors can review online, reducing the need for frequent hospital appointments.

Patients are also given personal alarms which they can activate if they have problems, meaning that elderly or infirm people can live at home for longer, rather than staying in hospital.

The Telegraph reports that Paul Burstow, the Care Services Minister, now claims that around three million patients could be consulting their doctors and managing their health online by 2017.

Back in December, the Prime Minster said that he wanted technology rolled out on an "industrial scale" after a Department of Health study of 6,000 people found that it cut A&E visits by 15 per cent, emergency admissions by 20 per cent and mortality rates by 45 per cent.

Mr Burstow told The Telegraph: "By keeping people out of hospital, by reducing the time they're there when they have to be and by being far more targeted and efficient with the use of NHS resources, we estimate the widespread use of telecare and telehealth could save the NHS up to £1.2billion over five years."

Although Mr Burstow admits that there could be "substantial" initial costs, he said that there are no targets for implementation and the focus is on helping local healthcare providers to get the equipment they think they need.

The Guardian reports that Mr Burstow thinks that healthcare providers should be able to pay for equipment though a monthly contract, in the same way that many people already pay for mobile phones or laptops.

This strategy is already being used in Gloucestershire, where the NHS is working with provider Tunstall, who cover the up-front costs.

Mr Burstow also admitted that broadband capacity would also need to be improved as many of the people who would benefit most live in rural areas.

However the government has already promised £530million of funding to improve this.

There are also concerns about adequate staff training, along with fears that this kind of technology could prove problematic for elderly people who might find it difficult to use or would miss having face-to-face contact with doctors and nurses.

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Smokers can waste five weeks a year on smoking breaks

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New research indicates that all those five-minute fag breaks can easily add up to an hour a day spent away from your desk.

The Express reports that this can mean that smokers spend the equivalent of five weeks per year away from their desks, while their non-smoking colleagues are hard at work.

The research, which was carried out by electronic cigarette retailer ECigaretteDirecto.co.uk, revealed that even light smokers spend one-and-a-half hours per week less at their desk.

Heavy smokers, who get through 30-a-day, spend an incredible two-and-a-half hours on smoking breaks.

However, some employers have already realised how much of an impact smoking can have on productivity, and have started to insist that smokers should clock out when they go for a break.

A spokesperson for Breckland Council in Norfolk told The Express: "Non-smokers did not think it was fair that smokers took more time away. Now they clock in and out as they would taking a lunch break."

Do you think it's fair that smokers get more breaks than non-smokers? Let us know below...

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