Diet

 

Dedicated cannabis expo at Sun Exhibits at GrandWest in Cape Town this April

Posted on Leave a comment

The Cannabis Expo, a trade and consumer exhibition dedicated to the cannabis industry, is set be held at Sun Exhibits at GrandWest in Cape Town from 4 to 7 April.

Headlined by multinational healthcare group, Go Life International, the Cape Town event follows the official launch of The Cannabis Expo in Pretoria last year.

According to the organisers, this is the largest exhibition of its kind on the African continent, and due to a number of reasons – including SA’s liberal laws, geographic climate, population demographics, and the wide array of cultures – the country is “expected to become one of the largest cannabis industry marketplaces in the world”.

The Cannabis Expo Cape Town includes an exhibitor hall, networking and entertainment spaces. It also features as a convention stage and workshop hosting local and international experts from across the industry every half-hour throughout the expo.

With a variety of cannabis-related products and services
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital:- Possible link between baby formula, deaths in Joburg hospital

Posted on Leave a comment

Two types of bacteria were found in baby formula tested at the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, but toxicology tests haven’t been done.

A possible link between baby formula and necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in premature babies could explain the deaths of nine babies recently at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Johannesburg, an expert has suggested.

But Stasha Jordan, director at SA Breastmilk Reserve, warned that while studies suggest a correlation between the use of formula in new-born babies and NEC – a medical condition – several factors had to be considered when such outbreaks occur.

After several infant deaths in hospitals around the country this year, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases couldn’t find the cause of the outbreak.

According to the institute, the presence of two types of bacteria were found in the baby formula they tested at the hospital. The testing revealed the presence of Bacillus and Streptococcus
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

The Sugar Industry Regulations have been gazetted

Posted on Leave a comment

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry has welcomed the gazetting of the Sugar Industry Regulations.

“The Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry welcomes the gazetting of the Sugar Industry Regulations on transitional arrangements in terms of the Constitution of the South African Sugar Association (Sasa) and the Sugar Industry Agreement,” said the Committee on Thursday.

The regulations were gazetted on 9 October 2018 and the committee subsequently met with the Sasa and South African Farmers Development Agency (Safda).

The meeting was held so that the committee could be briefed on transitional arrangements with respect to incorporating Safda into Sasa and to discuss sugar tariffs.

Committee Chairperson Joan Fubbs said the incorporation is a step in the right direction, particularly for black small-scale farmers.

Safda is a member-based, voluntary non-profit association of like-minded farmers who believe in the development and sustai
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

MEDICAL RESEARCH:- Are probiotics boosting SA’s digestive health industry growth?

Posted on Leave a comment

Increasingly, health-conscious consumers are starting to follow their gut when looking for ways of mitigating the negative health effects of increasingly stressful lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits. A growing number of consumers are using probiotics to prevent and manage their digestive, as well as general, health issues.

Insight Survey’s latest SA Digestive Health (Probiotics) Industry Landscape Report 2018 uncovers the global and local markets based on the latest information and research. It describes the market drivers and restraints as well as the relevant global and local market trends to present an objective insight into the South African Probiotics industry environment, market dynamics and its future.

The Global Probiotics market is valued at US$45.7 billion in 2018 and is predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2% between 2018 and 2024. Asia-Pacific is the largest regional Probiotics market in 2018, with US$24.4 billion, foll
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Will artificial intelligence change the face of patient care? The question remains … How!!

Posted on Leave a comment

There is no doubt that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will change the way healthcare is managed and delivered, particularly in helping patients in tangible and life-saving ways.

A recent Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) report found that the potential for both AI and robotics in healthcare is vast and that they are increasingly becoming immersed in the modern healthcare system. They allow for more seamless treatments, better decision making for doctor and patient alike, more effective diagnoses and even early detection of diseases.

Looking for a affordable Medical Aid or Hospital Plan, just click here Medical Aid or just send your Name, surname, age and email address to 082 738 5586

Dispensing medication

“A superb example of how AI is changing the face of healthcare on the ground level is in the prescr
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Hospices close doors nationwide after funding cuts: Dying of the light

Posted on Leave a comment

Hospice isn’t just a place to die but funding cuts – and that perception – could be killing our chances of a kinder death as refuges close. The morning sun cuts through half-open blinds and filters into a deserted ward at HospiceWits, the Soweto branch.

Outside, the August wind chases dust around the property.

The rays illuminate a room with five single beds. Bright orange curtains — once drawn to give patients and their families privacy — are roughly knotted or draped over the rails around each bed.

Against the wall above a small porcelain basin, a frozen clock reads 12:40.

Looking for a affordable Medical Aid or Hospital Plan, just click here Medical Aid or just send your Name, surname, age and email address to 082 738 5586

It’s been like that for more than a year.

“We had to retrench more than 20 people,” she says
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Some common skin cancer can signal increased risk of other cancers

Posted on Leave a comment

Frequent skin cancers due to mutations in genes responsible for repairing DNA are linked to a threefold risk of unrelated cancers, according to a Stanford study. The finding could help identify people for more vigilant screening.

A new study from Stanford University School of Medicine shows that people who develop six or more basal cell carcinomas during a 10-year period are more likely to develop other, unrelated cancers such as, including blood, breast, colon and prostate cancers.

The increased susceptibility is likely caused by mutations in a panel of proteins responsible for repairing DNA damage, the researchers found.

Looking for a affordable Medical Aid or Hospital Plan, just click here Medical Aid or just send your Name, surname, age and email address to 082 738 5586

Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

A New class of drug could reduce cardiovascular risk

Posted on Leave a comment

A new class of drugs has the potential of reducing cardiovascular risk by targeting a specific microbial pathway in the gut.

Unlike antibiotics, which non-specifically kill gut bacteria and can lead to adverse side effects and resistance, the new class of compounds prevents microbes from making a harmful molecule linked to heart disease without killing the microbes, which are part of the gut flora and may be beneficial to overall health.

In the study in mice, the new drugs reversed two major risk factors for cardiovascular disease – increased platelet responsiveness and excessive clot formation – by lowering levels of TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide), a gut bacteria byproduct that forms during digestion.

Looking for a affordable Medical Aid or Hospital Plan, just click here Medical Aid or just send your Name, surname, age and email address to 082
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Do Artificial Sweeteners Raise Odds for Obesity?

Posted on Leave a comment

Artificial sweeteners may be less helpful than many believe in helping people lose weight and avoid health problems associated with extra pounds, a new evidence review suggests.

Aspartame, saccharin, sucralose and other artificial sweeteners did not lead to any significant weight loss in more than 1,000 participants in seven clinical trials, said lead researcher Meghan Azad. Clinical trials are considered the “gold standard” of medical research, added Azad, an assistant professor of pediatrics with the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada.

At the same time, the combined data from 30 observational studies involving more than 400,000 participants showed that artificial sweeteners are associated with obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and heart health problems. Observational studies cannot prove a cause-and-effect relationship, however.

These results are “kind of the opposite of what these products are intended for,” Azad said. “It should make pe
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

The Real Truth: Antidepressants Actually Deplete These 3 Crucial Nutrients for the Brain !!

Posted on Leave a comment

Antidepressants are one of the most prescribed medications out there.
One in six Americans takes antidepressants or other psychiatric medications, most of them (84.3%) on a long-term basis. (1) This is especially concerning when using addictive drugs like Valium and Xanax. (2)

That number is more than double what it was in 1999….
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

A first for South Africa:- Biosimilar oncology drug authorised for use

Posted on Leave a comment

Cipla, South Africa’s third-largest pharmaceutical manufacturer, in collaboration with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, has announced the launch of the country’s first biosimilar for the oncology and haematology markets.

Filgrastim Teva, manufactured by Teva and distributed in South Africa by Cipla, paves the way for more affordable treatments to aid in the fight against dread diseases such as cancer, according to Paul Miller, CEO of Cipla South Africa.

“This landmark development for the South African pharmaceutical industry only happened after a thorough approval process. Not only does the approval of Filgrastim Teva hold major significance for the advancement of affordable supportive oncology treatments, but the learnings from this process will assist in faster approvals for more biosimilar medicines in future.”

Looking for a affordable Medical Aid or Hospital Plan, just click here Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

16 Foods That Boost Your Immune System

Posted on Leave a comment

Elderberry
It’s an old folk remedy. This fruit is loaded with nutrients called antioxidants, and it may help fight inflammation. In some lab studies, an extract from the berries appears to block flu viruses. But scientists caution that more study is needed. You definitely still need to get a yearly flu vaccination!

Button Mushrooms
They give you the mineral selenium and the B vitamins riboflavin and niacin. That helps you in several ways. If you’re low on selenium, you may be more likely to get a more severe flu. Riboflavin and niacin play a role in a healthy immune system.

Acai Berry
Its dark color is a sign that it’s got plenty of nutrients called anthocyanins.
There isn’t any research that shows acai is good for any specific condition. But in general, antioxidants from foods are a key part of a healthy lifestyle.
Enjoy these berries in juice or smoothies, or try them dried and mixed with granola.

OystersContinue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

We must ensure new food retail technologies are to better health pathways not barriers

Posted on Leave a comment

Imagine a world where smart pantries sense when you are running out of your favourite food and order more of it, without you lifting a finger. Where intelligent robots roam your grocery store, ever at your service. Where dynamic food pricing changes minute-to-minute depending on the weather outside, or what the store down the road is offering.

It may sound like a seismic shift in our food retail world, but these technological frontiers are real and the food sector is gearing up in a big way.

What is less certain is what impact such changes will have on our health. Just as entrepreneurs must capitalise on future trends when building a business, health professionals must delve into the future of retail technology to identify barriers and opportunities for the achievement of good health.

The retail technology frontier is already here

Amazon is one company leading the way with its nascent attempts to revolutionise convenient shopping.

Amazo
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

Vitamin D Deficiency

Posted on Leave a comment

If you shun the sun, suffer from milk allergies, or adhere to a strict vegan diet, you may be at risk for vitamin D deficiency. Known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is produced by the body in response to skin being exposed to sunlight.

It is also occurs naturally in a few foods — including some fish, fish liver oils, and egg yolks — and in fortified dairy and grain products.

Vitamin D is essential for strong bones, because it helps the body use calcium from the diet. Traditionally, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with rickets, a disease in which the bone tissue doesn’t properly mineralize, leading to soft bones and skeletal deformities. But increasingly, research is revealing the importance of vitamin D in protecting against a host of health problems.

Symptoms and Health Risks of Vitamin D Deficiency

Symptoms of bone pain and muscle weakness can mean you have a vitamin D deficiency. However, for many people, the symptoms are
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!

 
 

South Africans are urged by dietitians to ‘Eat Fact Not Fiction’ June 2017

Posted on Leave a comment

Nutrition advice promising all sorts, from weight loss to healthier living and even cures for diseases, spread like wildfire across social media. In the era of ‘alternative facts’ and post-truth, ‘the latest, greatest nutrition advice’ from dubious sources can unfortunately tempt many away from accepted dietary guidelines and recommendations based on years of evidence.

‘Eat Fact Not Fiction’ is the theme of Dietitian’s Week 2017, highlighting the important role of dietitians who are able to interpret nutrition science and dietary guidelines in order to customise nutrition advice for each individual. This is vital because from weight loss to a disease like diabetes, there is no ‘one size fits all’ best eating plan. Dietitians happen to be health professionals trained and qualified to do this.

Dietitians and evidence

In the course of earning their degrees in the science of dietetics, dietitians are specifically taught the skills re
Continue reading…

Enjoyed this post? Share it!