Eid Mobarak

I would like to wish All Happy Eid Mobarak

Don't forget to take care of your healthy

Shally!

Alternative medicine: Grapefruit

Grapefruit, the 'forbidden fruit' of Barbados is recommended for lowering blood cholesterol levels due to its fat metabolism effects. Botanical: Citrus paradisi Family: N.O. Rutaceae Habitat: Grapefruit is believed to be native to Jamaica. Description: It is a sub-tropical citrus tree, originally named as the 'forbidden fruit' of Barbados. The evergreen grapefruit tree can grow to a height of 5-6 meters. Grapefruits are round with thin yellow or yellow with a pinkish hue peel. It is more or less acidic, sweet, and fragrant. Part Used Medicinally: Fruit Constituents: Grapefruit is a rich source of many nutrients and phytochemicals; it is a good source of vitamin C, pectin fiber, and the beneficial antioxidant lycopene. A cup of unsweetened grapefruit juice has 95mg of vitamin C. It contains considerable amounts of carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron and fiber. Pink and red varieties are high in beta carotene, a vitamin A precursor. Grapefruit seed has low antioxidant properties. Medicinal Uses: Grapefruit lowers cholesterol.
It contains bioflavonoids and other plant chemicals which protect the body against cancer and heart disease. Grapefruit seed extract is a strong antimicrobial. Grapefruit flower essence helps overcome insomnia. Grapefruit pulp is an effective treatment for urinary disorders. Leaf extractions have antibiotic activity. Grapefruit stimulates the appetite and is used for its digestive, stomachic and diuretic qualities. Daily consumption of grapefruit helps alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other inflammatory disorders. Caution : Allergic individuals to citrus fruits are likely to react to grapefruit. Scientists believe the daily consumption of a quarter of grapefruit is associated with a 30% increase in breast cancer risk in post-menopausal women. Grapefruit often increase the effective potency of several drugs by blocking a special enzyme in the intestines, which may lead to toxicity and other side effects. Taking such medications along with grapefruit juice can damage organs or impair their normal function. Reported drug interactions with the fruit include: Statins (Baycol (Cerivastatin), Mevacor (Lovastatin), Lipitor (Atorvastatin), Zocor (Simvastatin)), Antihistamines (Ebastine, Seldane (Terfenadine)), Calcium Channel Blockers (Blood Pressure Drugs) (Nimotop (Nimodipine), Nitrendipine, Plendil (Felodipine)), Psychiatric Medications (Buspar (Buspirone), Halcion (Triazolam), Tegretol (Carbamazepine), Valium (Diazepam), Versed (Midazolam)), Intestinal Medication (Propulsid (Cisapride)), Immune Suppressants (Neoral (Cyclosporine), Prograf (Tacrolimus)), Pain Medication (Methadone).

Vyakula Vilivyoungua Vinasababisha Kensa!

Wanasayansi wanasema kuwa wanawake ambao hula chips au 'crips' kila siku wanaweza kuongeza mara mbili hatari ya kensa ya kizazi na ya ovari. Hatari hiyo inatokana na mada iitwayo acrylamide, ambayo hupatikana wakati wa kukaanga, kuoka au kuchoma vyakula mbalimbali. Wataalamu wa Kidachi wamewafanyia uchunguzi watu 120,000 juu ya tabia yao ya ulaji na kugundua kuwa wanawake ambao wanakula vyakula vyenye acrylamide, wanaonekana kukabiliwa na hatari zaidi ya kupatwa na aina hizo za saratani. Vyakula ambavyo vinapata rangi mbalimbali au kuungua wakati wa kupikwa vinaonekana kuwa na uwezekano mkubwa zaidi wa kuwa na acrylamide. Wataalamu wa vyakula wanasema kuwa, ni wazi kuwa haiwezekani kuondoa aina hizo za vyakula moja kwa moja katika lishe yetu. Uchunguzi kuhusiana na masuala hayo umeonyesha kuwa, wale ambao wanakula mikrogram 40 za acrylamide kwa siku ambayo ni sawa na nusu ya pakiti ya biskuti, sahani ya chipsi ya paketi moja ya crisp, basi wanakabiliwa na hatari ya kupatwa na kensa mara mbili zaidi ikilinganishwa na wale wanaokula acrylamide kwa kiasi kidogo zaidi ya hicho. Hata hivyo wataalamu wa uchunguzi huo wanawatoa shaka watu kwa kusema kuwa, matokeo ya uchunguzi huo yanapaswa kuthibitishwa zaidi na uchunguzi mwingine.

Maambukizo ya Ukimwi Yapungua, tuzidi Kufanya Juhudi!

Takwimu mpya zilizotolewa leo na Umoja wa Mataifa zimeonyesha kuwa idadi ya watu wanaoishi na virusi vya ugonjwa hatari wa Ukimwi pamoja na idadi ya maambukizo mapya ya ugonjwa huo imepungua. Shirika la Afya Duniani (WHO) pamoja na Mpango wa Kupambana na Ukimwi Duniani (UNAIDS) kwa pamoja yamesema mjini Geneva Uswisi kwamba inakadiriwa kuwa zaidi ya watu milioni 33 bado wanaishi na virusi vya Ukimwi duniani katika mwaka huu wa 2007, ikiwa ni asilimia 16 pungufu kutoka milioni 39.5 iliyokadiriwa mwaka 2006. Katika mwaka huu wa 2007 karibu watu milioni 2.6 wameambukizwa upya virusi vya HIV, AIDS huku wengine milioni 2.5 wakifariki dunia kutokana na ugonjwa huo. Shirika la UNAIDS linaamini kuwa kupungua kwa maambukizo ya ugonjwa huo hatari wa UKIMWI katika miaka miwili liyopita kumetokana na kufanikiwa mipango ya kupambana na ugonjwa huo. Nchi za kusini mwa Jangwa la Sahara barani Afrika zimeendelea kuwa na idadi kubwa ya waathiriwa ambapo inakadiriwa kuwa watu milioni 1.7 wameambukiwa virusi vya UKIMWI katika mwaka huu wa 2007 katika eneo hilo.

Sigara Inavyoathiri Uzazi wa Wanaume

Wataalamu wanasema kuwa kuvuta sigara wakati wa mimba kunapunguza uwezo wa kuzaa kwa watoto wa kiume kwa kuathiri jeni muhimu za umbo la kiume ambapo gameti za kiume hutengenezwa au mapumbu. Tayari imeshajulikana kuwa kuvuta sigara kunaathiri uzazi wa watoto wa kiume hapo baadaye, lakini bado haijajulikana ni vipi suala hilo hutokea. Wataalamu wa chuo kikuu cha Aberdeen wamegundua kuhusiana na kupungua kwa kiwango kikubwa cha jeni iitwayo DHH ambayo ina nafasi muhimu katika ukuaji wa maumbo hayo ya kiume, katika watoto wa kiume wanaozaliwa na mama wanaovuta sigara wakati wa ujauzito. Jarida la Kliniki ya Endocrinoloy na Metabolism limeripoti kuwa pumbu ndogo zinahusiana na utengenezwaji wa manii kwa kiasi kidogo suala lenye umuhimu mkubwa katika uzazi wa mwanamume. Uchunguzi umeonyesha kuwa, watoto waliotumboni ambao mama zao huvuta sigara 10 au zaidi kwa siku , kiwango chao cha jeni ya DHH hupungua, zaidi ya watoto ambao mama zao hawavuti sigara.

Lishe Nzuri Hupunguza Hatari ya Magonjwa ya Usahaulifu Uzeeni

Wataalamu wameonyesha ushahidi zaidi kwamba chakula chenye mafuta ya samaki na mboga mboga kinaweza kupunguza uwezekano wa kupata magonjwa ya usahaulifu baadaye katika maisha. Uchunguzi uliotolewa na jarida la Marekani unaonyesha kwamba, 'vyakula vya Mediterania' au utumiaji wa muda mrefu wa vyakula vyenye beta-carotene kunaweza kuzuia magonjwa hayo. Aina zote hizo za vyakula vina antioxidanti ambazo ni chembe chembe zinazozuia vitu au vyakula kuoza vinapoungana na oksijeni. Antioxidanti huuepusha ubongo kuharibika. Taasisi ya Alzheimer imesema kuwa watu wengi wanaweza kupunguza hatari ya magonjwa hayo kwa kula vyakula bora. Uchunguzi wa kwanza uliofanywa na jarida la Neurology umechunguza vyakula vya watu 8,000 wasio na magonjwa wanawake na wanaume walio na umri wa zaidi ya miaka 65. Uchunguzi huo umeonyesha kwamba, wale wanaokula vyakula vyenye mafuta yenye omega-3, ambayo hupatikana katika baadhi ya mafuta na samaki, watu hao wameonekana kuwa hawaweza kupata magonjwa hayo katika kipindi cha miaka minne inayofuata. Watu wanaokula samaki kwa akali mara moja kwa wiki wana punguza uwezekano huo kwa asilimi 40 huku wale wanaotumia mbogamboga mara moja kwa siku hupunguza uwezekano huo kwa asilimia 35.
Beta-carotene ni kemikali ambayo huipa rangi karoti ambayo ni aina ya ant-oxidanti.

HOPE

Never Loose HopeIf you can look at the sunset and smile,then you still have hope
If you can find beauty in the colors of a small flower,then you still have hope
If you can find pleasure in the movement of a butterfly,then you still have hope
If the smile of a child can still warm your heart,then you still have hope
If you can see the good in other people, then you still have hope
If the rain breaking on a roof top can still lull you to sleep,then you still have hope
If the sight of a rainbow still makes you stop and stare in wonder,then you still have hope
If the soft fur of a favored pet still feels pleasant under your fingertips,then you still have hope
If you meet new people with a trace of excitement and optimism,then you still have hope
If you give people the benefit of a doubt,then you still have hope
If you still offer your hand in friendship to othersthat have touched your life, then you still have hope

If receiving an unexpected card or letter still bringsa pleasant surprise, then you still have hope
If the suffering of others still fills you with pain and frustration,then you still have hope
If you refuse to let a friendship die, or accept that it must end,then you still have hope

If you look forward to a time or place of quiet and reflection,then you still have hope
If you still buy the ornaments, put up the Christmas tree or cook the turkey,then you still have hope
If you still watch love stories or want the endings to be happy,then you still have hope
If you can look to the past and smile,then you still have hope.
If, when faced with the bad, when told everything is futile, you can stilllook up and end the conversation with the phrase yea. BUT.. Then you still have hope
Hope is such a marvelous thing. It bends, it twists, it sometimes hides, but rarely does it break It sustains us when nothing else can It gives us reason to continue and courage to move ahead, when we tell ourselves we’d rather give in

Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage
Hope puts our feet on the path when our eyes cannot see it
Hope moves us to act when our souls are confused of the direction.
Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished and nurtured, and something that will refresh us in return and it can be found in each of us, and it can bring light into the darkest of places
Never lose hope!!!

Operesheni ya Lakshmi Yafanikiwa!

Mtoto wa Kihindi Lakshmi Tatam aliyekuwa akifanyiwa operesheni ya kupunguza viungo vilivyozidi mwilini, anaendelea vizuri. Mtoto huyo alizaliwa na miguu minne na mikono minne. Timu ya madaktari wa mji wa Bangalore imetumia masaa 27 katika operesheni hiyo ambapo walitenganisha uti wa mgongo wa Lakshmi na figo za mtoto huyo na pacha wake ambaye waligandana lakini hakukua. Madaktari hao wameelezea matumaini yao kuwa kwa kufanyiwa operesheni hiyo, Lakshmi ataweza kuishi mpaka wakati wa kubalehe.

Mtoto wa Miguu Minne na Mikono Minne!

Mtoto wa India aliyezaliwa na mikono minne na miguu minne afanyiwa operesheni. Mtoto huyo mwenye miaka miwili ajulikanaye kama Lakshimi Tatma viungo vyake hivyo vimeungana toka kiunoni katika kile wataalamu wanachokitaja kuwa ni athari za pacha ambao hakuwa na kichwa na hakuendelea kukua. Timu ya upasuaji katika mji wa kusini mwa Bangalore wamesaidia katika kutenganisha viungo vya mtoto Lakshimi. Imeripotiwa kuwa mpaka sasa operesheni hiyo inaendelea vizuri. Operesheni hiyo inatarajiwa kuchukua masaa 40 mpaka kumalizika. Kwa kawaida mapacha wa kuungana hawatokei sana ambapo kunatokea kesi moja katika watoto laki mbili wanaozaliwa. Historia ya kuhifadhi data inaonyesha kuwa katika kipindi cha miaka 500 iliyopita kumerikodiwa kesi 600 za mapacha wa kugandana ambapo zaidi ya asilimia 70 ya mapacha ho walikuwa watoto wa kike.

Jeni Inayohusisha Maziwa ya Mama na IQ

Kwa mujibu wa wachunguzi wa mjini London kuna jen moja (single gene) inayoathiri uwezo wa kiakili (IQ) katika watoto walionyonya maziwa ya mama. Watoto wenye jeni aina mojawapo ya FADS2 wanapata namba kubwa zaidi ya IQ katika vipimo vya IQ, iwapo walinyonya maziwa ya mama zao. Katika uchunguzi zaidi uliofanywa na Nationa Academic of Sience imegundulika kuwa, maziwa ya mama hayana athari yoyote katika uwezo wa Kiakili wa IQ kwa watoto ambao wana aina nyingine za jeni hiyo ya FADS2. Geni hiyo inaonekana kuwa husaidia katika kuvunja vunja chembe ndongo za mafuta zijulikanazo kama Fatty Acids katika vyakula, ambazo zimekuwa zikihusishwa na ukuaji wa ubongo. Imeonekana kuwa kuna asilimia 90 ya watu wenye aina hiyo ya jeni ambayo ina uhusiano na kupata namba kubwa katika vipimo vya IQ. Wachunguzi kutoka Kitengo cha Magonjwa ya Akili cha King College mjini London wametoa takwimu hizo katika chunguzi mbili zilizofanywa huko nyuma za unyonyeshaji maziwa ya mama kwa watoto wa Uingereza na New Zealand, zilizowashirikisha zaidi ya watoto 3,000. Profesa Terrie Moffitt mwandishi msaidizi wa makala hiyo anasema kuwa, kupakana taarifa hizi kumetoa taswira mpya katika mijadala kwa kuonyesha kuwa utaratibu wa kifiziologia ambao unaweza kutegemeae katika kuonyesha tofauti kati ya watoto wanaonyonya maziwa ya mama na watoto wanaonyonya maziwa ya chupa.

Afya ni Nini?

Katika katiba yake ya mwaka 1984 Shirika la Afya duniani (WHO) limeielezea "afya" kama ni hali ya kuwa mzima kimwili, kiakili na kiajamii na wala sio tu hali ya kutokuwepo na ugonjwa. Katika miaka kadhaa ya hivi karibuni sentensi hiyo imekuwa ikifanyiwa marekebisho na kujumuisha uwezo wa kuishi maisha yenye faida kijamii na kiuchumi..

Je, wewe kwako afya ni nini?

Karibu Kona Ya Afya

Assalam Aleykum wana blog wa Kiswahili,

Napenda kuwakaribisheni rasmi katika blog yangu ya Kiswahili ya Kona ya Afya Nikiwa kama Mtanzania, nimekuwa nimekuwa siridhishwi na hali ya maisha ya Watanzania katika masuala mbalimbali kama vile uchumi, elimu, siasa, afya na mengineyo. Katika miaka ya hivi karibuni tumekuwa tukishudia mmiminiko wa blog za aina mbalimbali za lugha ya Kiswahili. Kwa hakika suala hilo limekuwa likifurahisha na kuridhidhisha wengi nikiwemo mimi binafsi. Nachukua fursa hii nami pia kujiunga na wanablog wa Kiswahili duniani kwa kuanzisha Kona ya Afya. Natumai mtajumuika nami katika kutoa maoni yenu kusoma na hata kunitumia posts na makala mbalimbali ili kufanikisha blog hii. Mnakaribishwa wote!