The high social cost of downsizing the state | Letters

In your report on the mayoral elections in Greater Manchester (Manchester mayor puts focus on homelessness, 9 May) you highlight the financial challenges facing the region, including that local authorities have undergone cuts of around £2bn since 2010. We have just completed a study of the impact of austerity on devolution and growth in Greater Manchester and we find that, in addition to local government cuts, the post-2015 welfare reforms will take almost £13bn from claimants in the region by 2020-21 as a result of benefit cuts and changes. This is the equivalent of £690 per working-age adult per annum. And there are other cuts which devolution has to manage, such as to adult skills and health and social care, where there is a £2bn funding gap.

Andy Burnham’s intention to prioritise homelessness is important and is to be welcomed, but to donate some of his salary to a new fund can send out the wrong message. It is austerity which is reinforcing social inequalities and homelessness in Manchester and elsewhere. We propose that Andy Burnham should argue for a different type of devolution model that is not about devolving austerity, but genuine local control over policies, finances and resources that will realistically address the economic and social problems of Manchester. We argue for a public services and investment case for addressing both growth and social disadvantage, which, combined with more local control over finances, will go some way to addressing not only homelessness, but also poverty and inequality.
Dr David Etherington Middlesex University
Professor Martin Jones Staffordshire University

• The concerns of Hartlepool residents at reductions in police numbers are well founded and regularly featured in over 430 community meetings I have attended in the area since my election in 2012 (Voices and votes, 9 May). The simple facts are that since 2010 the Cleveland area has lost £39m, or 36% of our policing budget, and the government, despite comments on ringfencing police spending, has taken another £1.2m off our grant settlement for this coming year (2017-18). We have implemented economies and efficiencies to maximise investment in neighbourhood policing, and to protect vulnerable people, but it is within a context of seven gruelling years of government-imposed austerity for communities like Hartlepool that impacts on the quality of life here.
Barry Coppinger
Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland

• While Polly Toynbee and David Walker are right to bemoan the cuts in services (Disparage, downgrade, downsize, G2, 9 May), surely the underlying issue is how to revive the local state – and in the process restore faith in building a fairer future? This means finding better ways of funding local services, rather than depending on unpredictable government grants. Most of the countries in the OECD do this by raising significantly more funding locally, from cities that cover much larger areas.

This can be achieved quite easily by reforming our anachronistic property rating system. Those with large land ownerships need to pay more, while small businesses, for example, should pay less. As a start councils can use parking charges to shift behaviour, as Nottingham has done in funding a third of the costs of its tram extensions through its workplace parking levy. Similarly, by building many more homes on public land, councils could plough the increases in land value back into improved local services, as Croydon, for example, is starting to do. People may no longer trust the national state to build utopia, but they will support measures that make sense locally.
Dr Nicholas Falk
Executive director, Urbed Trust

• Polly Toynbee and David Walker’s article on shrinking the state was right to mention evidence of rising child poverty. Our recent research shows that Britain has the third worst relative poverty of 21 developed countries, the fourth highest child mortality rate (CMR, 0-4 years) and an underfunded health service, as health expenditure fell from 9.4% of GDP in 2010 to 9.1% in 2015.

While CMR fell in every developed country, nine other nations had significantly bigger reductions than the UK, so we have an excess of child deaths. If we had the same CMR as Portugal, which previously had the highest rate, but which is now considerably lower than Britain, then we would have 1,300 fewer grieving parents. The link between relative poverty and CMR is again confirmed by our and other international research. Every parliamentary candidate should be asked what will they do to reverse relative poverty in Britain and perhaps match Portugal’s child mortality rate.
Professor Colin Pritchard
Bournemouth University

• It is government policy to reduce state spending, but billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money being channelled into private hands. Would a government really committed to lowering taxes and an economy based on free-market competition, spend £10bn a year to subsidise wages in private companies? Why would it be willing to give about £27bn a year to landlords, rather than imposing rent controls or building more homes? Why would it pay through the chancellor’s nose for private finance initiatives, now crippling NHS trusts? Plainly the government is only against state spending when it is on public services, not when it increases the private sector’s ability to make bigger profits.
Derek Heptinstall
Westgate-on-Sea, Kent

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The high social cost of downsizing the state | Letters

High court orders UK government to explain clean air plan delay

The government has been ordered back to the high court to explain its last-minute bid to delay publication of the UK’s clean air plan.

Politicians and environmental groups had complained that ministers were “hiding behind the election” after they said they could not publish the proposals because of election purdah.

The high court said on Tuesday that there would be a new hearing on Thursday where ministers will have to defend their application.

James Thornton, CEO of the environmental lawyers ClientEarth, who brought the original case against the government, said they would present their response at the hearing on Thursday.

“This is a public health issue and not a political issue. Urgent action is required to protect people’s health from the illegal and poisonous air that we are forced to breathe in the UK.

“This is a matter for the court to decide once the government has made its arguments because it is the government which has not met, and instead seeks to extend, the court’s deadline for the clean air plan, to clean up our air.”

Ministers had been under a court direction to produce tougher draft measures to tackle illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution, which is largely caused by diesel traffic, by 4pm on Monday. The original plans had been dismissed by judges as so poor as to be unlawful.

But after the announcement by Theresa May of a general election on 8 June, ministers lodged a lengthy application to the court late on Friday. It asked judges to allow them to breach the Monday deadline to “comply with pre-election propriety rules”.

Politicians and environmental groups reacted with anger, claiming ministers were “hiding behind the election” to justify delaying publication of the government’s long awaited proposals instead of tackling the UK’s air pollution crisis. Health experts warned the lack of government action had potentially put thousands of lives at risk.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It is frankly outrageous that the government thinks it can continue to bury its head in the sand about the serious health impacts of air quality in London and across the country. The prime minister has once again missed this golden opportunity to show real leadership in tackling and improving the air we breathe, which should have been done well before the pre-election period.”

Andrea Leadsom, the environment secretary, was summoned to parliament on Monday to answer urgent questions. During the debate she said she was “personally deeply committed to the importance of ensuring clean air” but had been told by officials in the Cabinet Office that it would breach purdah rules to publish the plans in the run-up to the election.

The government has applied to publish draft plans on 30 June followed by the full policy in September, she said.

Leadsom, who also revealed that it was the second application to delay publication that her department had submitted to the courts, insisted the move would not postpone the rollout of the proposals.

The scale of the air pollution crisis was revealed in a joint Guardian-Greenpeace investigation this month showing hundreds of thousands of children were being educated within 150 metres of a road where levels of nitrogen dioxide from diesel traffic breached legal limits.

Last week figures obtained by Labour showed that more than 38 million people, representing 59.3% of the UK population, were living in areas where levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution were above legal limits.

Research consistently shows that exposure to traffic fumes is harmful to children and adults. Children are more vulnerable because their lungs are still developing and exposure to nitrogen dioxide reduces lung growth, causes long-term ill health and can result in premature death.

ClientEarth’s lawyers will attend the hearing, which has been listed by the court for Thursday at 10.30am. The court has set aside two and a half hours.

High court orders UK government to explain clean air plan delay

Simon Stevens" NHS gamble is probably the right choice - but price could be high | Richard Vize

The NHS plan for the next two years represents a perceptible contraction of the health service’s offer to the public.

The proposals in Next steps on the NHS Five Year Forward View, published on Friday, are shaped by shortages of money and staff.

Simon Stevens, the NHS England chief executive, has burned through much of his political capital in disputing government claims about whether the NHS has been given all the money it asked for, so this was not an opportunity to push for further cash.

So in the face of the unrelenting pressure of the government’s austerity programme and barely controlled hospital debt, he is gambling that politicians and the public will stomach longer waits for routine surgery if the health service can deliver better performance on cancer treatment, A&E waits, mental health services and GP appointments.

In the wake of slipping cancer treatment times and the recent outcry over the death of a child waiting for urgent surgery, this is probably the right choice. But the price could be high.

Allowing elective surgery times to slide over many years was what led to hundreds of thousands of patients waiting months for operations by the time New Labour came to power in 1997, elected partly on its pledge to slash waiting lists. It would be a serious blow if the NHS returned to the days of people dying while waiting months for heart surgery, and many more forced to endure avoidable pain and disability.

Access to some of the latest approved drugs is also to be delayed – in breach of a commitment in the last Conservative manifesto to speed up access.

Stevens is anxious to reassure the public that performance will not slide back to that of the 1990s, but it is difficult to see how growing waiting times will be arrested and reversed in the coming years.

The plan makes some brave assumptions about the ability of the NHS to expand its workforce, including 4,000 more nurses through improving staff retention – turning round a recent trend – and up to 2,000 more nurses returning to practice.

There is yet another pledge to increase the number of GPs substantially, despite little discernible progress. However, concerns are growing that staff shortages will be exacerbated by EU staff heading back to the continent in the wake of the Brexit vote.

More promisingly, the plan may well mark the beginning of the end of the internal market. It names nine areas being considered as pioneering “accountable care systems”, with NHS organisations and local authorities working together as an integrated health system.

These areas will have considerably more control over how they deliver their healthcare, and will be effectively freed from the endless focus on contracts rather than patients imposed by the purchaser/provider split.

However, doing so will require ever greater legal contortions to simultaneously stay within the law while circumventing it. This is a necessary bodge, as it will be years before anyone attempts another NHS reform bill, but these workarounds cannot be sustained indefinitely.

Everyone will now be working in Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships, and NHS England makes clear that anyone who fails in their duty to collaborate can expect to be handled roughly.

In the absence of more money, the alternative to Stevens’ plan would be a steady atrophying of performance across the entire health service. Instead, NHS England is pushing forward on the key priorities of emergency care, cancer treatment, mental health and primary care, and allowing routine surgery to pay the price.

But many of its promises look optimistic, and there is a danger that the slide in surgical performance will eventually reverse years of progress.

For the time being this can be portrayed as a tactical move, but with austerity set to last well into the next decade, there is a risk that the NHS will cease to be a comprehensive service.

Join the Healthcare Professionals Network to read more pieces like this. And follow us on Twitter (@GdnHealthcare) to keep up with the latest healthcare news and views.

Simon Stevens" NHS gamble is probably the right choice - but price could be high | Richard Vize

Prison study reveals high rate of self-harm after release and mental health failures

One in 15 newly-released prisoners attend hospital for self-harm but emergency departments are failing in their obligations to conduct comprehensive mental health assessments, new research shows.

A groundbreaking study of former prisoners, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry this month, has revealed high rates of self-harm following release from prison.

The post-release period is often seen as one of high risk for prisoners. It can be a time of significant upheaval and difficulty, leaving them without the intensive support services offered in prison, and exacerbating isolation, anxiety and other mental health issues.

The study examined the experiences of more than 1,300 prisoners by linking in-depth, pre-release interviews to emergency department and state correctional records.

The researchers found 83, or 6.4%, of the prisoners presented to emergency departments for self-harm. Twenty were hospitalised for self-harm twice and 14 presented three or more times.

Self-harm accounted for 5% of all emergency department presentations by the prisoners. That is 10 times higher than the proportion for the general population.

Eight had self-harmed within three months of release, 27 between three months and a year, and 48 after more than a year.

The study also revealed that only 29% of prisoners who had self-harmed were given a comprehensive mental health assessment.

The study’s authors described that as “extremely concerning” and as potentially in breach of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists’ guidelines.

One of the report’s authors, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute research fellow and psychologist Rohan Borschmann, said the guidelines required those assessments to be conducted when a patient presented with signs of self-harm.

“They state clearly that every person who presents to an emergency department following self-harm should be given some form of psychiatric assessment,” Borschmann said. “Our finding that only three in 10 people were receiving that was quite disturbing.”

Before this study, there had been no published data about rates of self-harm among newly-released prisoners.

Borschmann said the data showed the need for the provision of continuous healthcare services to prisoners before and after release.

“First and foremost there needs to be a better link-up between the healthcare provided in prison and the healthcare provided after release from prison,” he said.

“Ideally, that would involve continuity of healthcare beginning before they’re released from prison … and working with them through that often difficult period of transition.”

Borschmann urged governments to avoid making moral judgments on who should or should not receive proper healthcare.

“People who end up in prison typically have very complex lives and they’re often victims of things themselves,” he said. “It’s a moral issue to comment on who deserves treatment more than others. There really needs to be a shift away from that ‘they’re just bad people’ style of thinking.”

• Crisis support services can be reached 24 hours a day: Lifeline 13 11 14; Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800; MensLine Australia1300 78 99 78; Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

Prison study reveals high rate of self-harm after release and mental health failures

Families will pay high price for more fruit and veg to improve health | Letters

The idea that 10 items of fruit or veg a day will seriously improve your health is a bit intimidating (Five a day? Try 10 to live longer, say scientists, 23 February). I priced the array pictured with your article. In Sainsbury’s it came to around £2.16; in Lidl £1.88. These amounts don’t seem very big until you multiply by seven for a week (£15.12 and £13.16 respectively), and they start to look frightening. For a family of four, £60.48 and £52.64, respectively.

And buying them would be a logistical nightmare, since few of the items can be bought singly; they all come in different quantities, so you would run out of them at different intervals and probably have to shop several times a week. I wonder how a family on below average income is supposed to come by such large amounts of money, let alone the shopping time? The differences in health between rich and poor families begin to be more easily explained. (Incidentally, you’d have to be very careful about the orange juice since most varieties are loaded with sugar.)
Jeremy Cushing
Exeter

• Dr Jenny Goodman (Letters, 21 February) describes vitamin D2 as synthetic and far less useful than vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). She is right in that it is less useful to humans than D3, which is the animal form of the vitamin. D2 is present in some lichens, fungi and alfalfa. This means strict vegans would be unable to get D3 into their diet and must make do with D2. We do get most of our vitamin D from sunlight, but in the UK the winter sun is never high enough to provide this. If your shadow is longer than you are tall, you won’t be getting vitamin D.

Goodman mentions the effect of vitamin D on our immune system. Another nutrient we need for this is zinc, which has been found to shorten cold symptoms. Again, vegans and some vegetarians will struggle to get enough, especially if they avoid dairy products and wheat.
Brian Curwain
Christchurch, Dorset

• While I try and eat plenty of fruit most days, the intake proposed by the Imperial College study of 800g a day of fruit and vegetables is far beyond my capacity. It is roughly my total daily food input. And why no potatoes, and where are the proteins and fat we need – albeit in smaller quantities than most of us should eat? Please don’t tell me I have to eat another half a kilo of stuff; to eat that much food I’d be grazing like a rabbit. Isn’t a bit of kale and quinoa with my burger and chips enough?
David Reed
London

• There is a serious problem with Dr Goodman’s proposal that food should be fortified with vitamin D3 as opposed to D2. Most D3 is currently produced from animal sources (lanolin and fish oils), making it unsuitable for vegans and, in some cases, vegetarians too. At present, many foodstuffs simply state that they are fortified with “vitamin D”, with no indication as to whether this is animal-derived D3, non-animal derived D3 (which is much rarer and comes from lichen) or D2. This forces many vegans to err on the side of caution and avoid such products. If more foods are to be fortified with vitamin D3, I would urge manufacturers to switch to the plant-derived version and that this be clearly stated on the product packaging so that vegans may also benefit from it.
Ben Martin
Animal Aid

• I feel sorry for Tony Naylor (How the shops spoiled posh pizza, 22 February) if he thinks that “no one will ever improve on Heinz baked beans by cooking their own”. Of course it’s subjective, and children will usually go for those that are laden with sugar and salt. But having cooked my own baked beans for years, the industrial varieties taste horrid to us – mushy and sweet.

It reminds me of the story about my hero Jane Grigson who, when Elizabeth David suggested she gave her daughter baked beans for tea, replied: “But they take so long to make.” (Even if it’s not true, it ought to be). I’m with Jane. I like to include molasses for sweetness, mustard rather than salt, and onions. Tony Naylor is welcome to try mine any time.
Jill Bennett
St Albans 

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Families will pay high price for more fruit and veg to improve health | Letters

Families will pay high price for more fruit and veg to improve health | Letters

The idea that 10 items of fruit or veg a day will seriously improve your health is a bit intimidating (Five a day? Try 10 to live longer, say scientists, 23 February). I priced the array pictured with your article. In Sainsbury’s it came to around £2.16; in Lidl £1.88. These amounts don’t seem very big until you multiply by seven for a week (£15.12 and £13.16 respectively), and they start to look frightening. For a family of four, £60.48 and £52.64, respectively.

And buying them would be a logistical nightmare, since few of the items can be bought singly; they all come in different quantities, so you would run out of them at different intervals and probably have to shop several times a week. I wonder how a family on below average income is supposed to come by such large amounts of money, let alone the shopping time? The differences in health between rich and poor families begin to be more easily explained. (Incidentally, you’d have to be very careful about the orange juice since most varieties are loaded with sugar.)
Jeremy Cushing
Exeter

• Dr Jenny Goodman (Letters, 21 February) describes vitamin D2 as synthetic and far less useful than vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). She is right in that it is less useful to humans than D3, which is the animal form of the vitamin. D2 is present in some lichens, fungi and alfalfa. This means strict vegans would be unable to get D3 into their diet and must make do with D2. We do get most of our vitamin D from sunlight, but in the UK the winter sun is never high enough to provide this. If your shadow is longer than you are tall, you won’t be getting vitamin D.

Goodman mentions the effect of vitamin D on our immune system. Another nutrient we need for this is zinc, which has been found to shorten cold symptoms. Again, vegans and some vegetarians will struggle to get enough, especially if they avoid dairy products and wheat.
Brian Curwain
Christchurch, Dorset

• While I try and eat plenty of fruit most days, the intake proposed by the Imperial College study of 800g a day of fruit and vegetables is far beyond my capacity. It is roughly my total daily food input. And why no potatoes, and where are the proteins and fat we need – albeit in smaller quantities than most of us should eat? Please don’t tell me I have to eat another half a kilo of stuff; to eat that much food I’d be grazing like a rabbit. Isn’t a bit of kale and quinoa with my burger and chips enough?
David Reed
London

• There is a serious problem with Dr Goodman’s proposal that food should be fortified with vitamin D3 as opposed to D2. Most D3 is currently produced from animal sources (lanolin and fish oils), making it unsuitable for vegans and, in some cases, vegetarians too. At present, many foodstuffs simply state that they are fortified with “vitamin D”, with no indication as to whether this is animal-derived D3, non-animal derived D3 (which is much rarer and comes from lichen) or D2. This forces many vegans to err on the side of caution and avoid such products. If more foods are to be fortified with vitamin D3, I would urge manufacturers to switch to the plant-derived version and that this be clearly stated on the product packaging so that vegans may also benefit from it.
Ben Martin
Animal Aid

• I feel sorry for Tony Naylor (How the shops spoiled posh pizza, 22 February) if he thinks that “no one will ever improve on Heinz baked beans by cooking their own”. Of course it’s subjective, and children will usually go for those that are laden with sugar and salt. But having cooked my own baked beans for years, the industrial varieties taste horrid to us – mushy and sweet.

It reminds me of the story about my hero Jane Grigson who, when Elizabeth David suggested she gave her daughter baked beans for tea, replied: “But they take so long to make.” (Even if it’s not true, it ought to be). I’m with Jane. I like to include molasses for sweetness, mustard rather than salt, and onions. Tony Naylor is welcome to try mine any time.
Jill Bennett
St Albans 

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Families will pay high price for more fruit and veg to improve health | Letters

Top 17 Foods That Increase Magnesium To Prevent Fatigue and High Blood Pressure

Top 17 Foods That Increase Magnesium To Prevent Fatigue and High Blood Pressure

Addiction Recovery: High Time for Change

6 Breakthrough Therapies for the 21st Century

The Status Quo is Not Working

There has been a distinct disconnect between the “mind” and “brain” sciences when it comes to addiction recovery. In her ground-breaking book, Unbroken Brain: A revolutionary new way of understanding addiction, Maia Szalavitz states:

“Our brains are embodied – much of the problem with the debate over addiction and psychiatry more generally is a refusal to accept this and our ongoing need to see “physical”, “neurological”, and “psychological” as completely distinct.”

We can now see a fundamental flaw with this outdated thinking; a flaw that has in part led to skyrocketing heroin usage (particularly in those ages 18-25) and overdose rates that have quadrupled since 2010[1]. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, illicit drugs cost the US nearly $ 200 billion annually; just behind alcohol and tobacco use ($ 224 and $ 295 billion, respectively)[2].

Residential, intensive outpatient, step-down, 12-step, and sober living programs abound in this nation and grow in numbers daily. One thing is certain; things are getting worse, not better, and substance use is becoming harder than ever to treat!

Why is this? This simply should not be when our understanding of the human brain and behavior is greater than it has ever been. Why are substance users kept in a constant cycle of recovery and relapse while many programs and providers are fiercely committed to ending these cycles under the current model? What is missing in an industry that has been largely unchanged for the past half-century? As a result of my relentless search, I believe that answer is near.

The True Cause of Addiction and Substance Use Disorders

It is no secret that those with substance use disorders also suffer from lifelong struggles with learning and behavior. Some have attention and focus issues due to ADHD and OCD. While others battle anxiety and depression, whether independently or as part of a larger disorder such as PTSD or bipolar. Because of this, addiction recovery will never be truly attainable until the underlying brain-based issues are addressed.

A Paradigm Shift is Needed

A fundamental understanding of how learning impacts behavior is of the highest importance if we are to truly break the relapse-recovery cycle. I offer the following simple equations to illustrate what needs to change:

1. Learning + Environment = Behavior


2. Impaired Learning + Environment = Undesirable Behavioral Patterns (Addiction)

Most often we cannot change one’s environment, which is the basis for many residential treatment programs as we know them. Taking an individual out of their environment = behavior change. Changing this one variable alone is simply not enough to break the cycle of addiction. This is especially true as many residential treatment programs move towards shorter and shorter time of stay (i.e. 30 vs. 180 days or more).

Beyond environment, most recovery programs are focused on elimination of problem behaviors (the end result). The treatment norm for the past half-century has been varied aspects of mental health counseling; both in individual and group settings.

Based on the equations above, a critical component of the addiction cycle is being overlooked. The root of the problem. The only component that can truly impart lasting change…

Learning (the cause)…

The brain learns through many avenues of input from our environment (sight, sound, balance, etc.). These functions can be measured[3] and changed through appropriate, brain-based intervention strategies. Hence, Brain Training for the learning and behavioral disorders that lead to addiction and substance use.

Disruption of the Status Quo – Brain Training for Addiction Recovery

1. Brainwave Optimization. Treatment programs across the nation are seeking out biofeedback and neurofeedback. This highly sophisticated set of tools can help those with addiction improve self-regulation and learning.


2. Temporal Processing is the rate at which we process sounds in our brains. As you might imagine, learning is significantly impaired when sounds are not interpreted effectively by your brain. We can improve this ability through training of brain-body timing.


3. Balance Therapy. Our ability to maintain balance is directly connected to our more ‘human’ frontal brain[4]. Therefore, any improvement in balance and spatial awareness will have a positive impact on learning and behavior.


4. Visual Integration Therapy. 70-80% of learning occurs through our eyes. Those with learning and behavioral disorders have distinct challenges with eye movements that can be corrected when properly assessed.  


5. Neurological Rehabilitation is a ‘catch-all’ category that contains a host of treatment modalities to improve motor skills, fight-or-flight responses, strength and coordination, cognitive function, and more. All which impact behavior.


6. Metabolic Therapies. For any addiction recovery program to be truly successful, we need to pay attention to what fuels our bodies. From blood sugar handling to neurotransmitter production, nutritional intervention will ensure your brain functions at the highest level possible.

We’ve Always Done it That Way (is not working anymore!)

While mental health therapies have been an integral component of a sound addiction recovery strategy; it is necessary for us to understand that we need more. What we need are evidence-based strategies to address the underlying learning and behavioral issues that are the hallmark of addiction and substance use disorders.

Enter Brain Training… Measuring ‘biomarkers’ of brain function with sophisticated testing, and creating positive change in these markers through progressive neurological training modalities. This, along with more traditional mental health options, is what offers the greatest hope to those looking to move past addiction; and to achieve complete recovery!

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/heroin.html

[2] https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics

[3] http://apexbraincenters.com/blog/5-important-tests-to-consider-when-seeking-treatment-for-addiction/

[4] http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnint.2014.00059/full

Addiction Recovery: High Time for Change

11 Fruits and Veggies High in Vitamin C

Oranges, also called sweet oranges, are among the world’s most popular fruits and popular for their vitamin C content. Juicy and sweet, oranges make the perfect snack and add a special tang to many recipes.

Studies have shown that consuming vitamin C can’t actually prevent colds.  However, I am sure some of you have experienced yourself that the consumption vitamin C-rich fruits when you have colds or flu can actually reduce the duration and severity.

Renowned for its concentration of vitamin C, a medium orange 131 g contains 69.7 mg vitamin C, equivalents to 116% Daily Values (DV), which is actually less compared to that of many other common fruits and veggies.

Compare: 100 g contains 53.2 mg vitamin C and 88% DV

Ridiculous Measurements

The followings are 12 fruits and veggies containing vitamin C. Most writers compare the vitamin C contents of fruits and veggies by using per serving quantities, which may vary greatly as some serving can be so large that it is hard to be considered as standard serving.

The large serving quantities used seemed to have purposely been designed so that the fruits and veggies used to compare their vitamin C contents with that of oranges always show higher levels of vitamin C.

For that reason, I also include vitamin C content and DV for a hundred gram of each item so that you can draw your own conclusions.

Papaya

Papaya, is a lozenge tropical fruit, often seen in orange-red, yellow-green and yellow-orange hues, with a rich orange pulp.

This deliciously sweet with musky undertones and butter-like consistency fruit was reputably called the ‘fruit of the angels’ by Christopher Columbus.

The fruit is packed with all sort of nutrients that act as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory.

A one-cup serving (145 g) of ripe papaya delivers 88.3 mg of vitamin C, equivalents to 144% Daily Values (DV).

Compare: 100 g contains 60.9 mg vitamin C with 101% DV

Pineapple

If you have a chance to visit Thailand, try eating some pineapple before or after breakfast as the sweetest pineapple you might have ever tasted is grown in this country. In most major cities of the country, it is sold in early morning until late night by local street peddlers.

Pineapple contains bromelain, a digestive enzyme that helps digest food especially proteins. It helps promote overall digestion and reduce bloating.

Bromelain acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial that can help you recover faster from sore throats or coughs. A study has shown that bromelain may have the potential in treating asthma.

A cup, chunk (165 g) pineapple contains 78.9 mg vitamin C with 131% DV.

Compare: 100 g contains 47.8 mg vitamin C with 79% DV.

Kiwi

This fruit is typically associated with New Zealand, maybe due to its similar name to the native bird of that country, but is actually the national fruit of China. Besides being a great source of vitamin C, it also contains fiber and a high amount of

Besides being a great source of vitamin C, it also contains fiber and a high amount of beta-carotene, vitamin E as well as magnesium.

A serving (about 2 fruits, 148 g) delivers 137.2 mg vitamin C with 228% DV

Compare: 100 g contains 92.7 mg vitamin C with 154% DV.

Chili peppers

Chilli peppers are one the most important veggies used in almost all Thai cooking which is thought to be the reasons why Thai people maintain good health.

Capsaicin, the chemical compound that makes chili peppers hot, promotes digestion and better blood circulation. It also helps relieve joint and muscle pain. Its antioxidant properties are thought to help detoxification.

A half cup, chopped/diced of chili peppers offer 107.8 mg vitamin C with 180% DV.

Compare: 100 g contains 143.7 mg vitamin C with  239% DV.

Green Bell Pepper

Green bell pepper contains bioflavonoids, carotenoids, and hydroxycinnamic acid, all of which are potent antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer. It also contains capsaicin as in chili peppers. Vitamin C and carotenoids are said to increase when the fruit ripens.

A cup of chopped green bell pepper contains 119.8 mg vitamin C with 199% DV.

Compare: 100 g contains 80.4 mg vitamin C with 134% DV.

Strawberries

Besides having high vitamin content, strawberries have many beneficial compounds, including fiber, bioflavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and hydroxybenzoic acids, all of which act as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer. They are also exceptionally high in vitamins and minerals.

A cup (whole 144 g) of the superfruit contains 84.7 mg of vitamin C with 144% DV,

Compare: 100 g contains 58.8 mg vitamin C with 97% DV.

Broccoli

Brocolli is the most studied veggie for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties that are attributed to glucosinolate contents.

It provides 132 mg of vitamin C and 220% DV for a NLEA serving (148 g).

Compare: 100 g contains 89.2 mg vitamin C and 148% DV.

Brussel sprouts

Brussel sprouts are cousins to broccoli and also packed with glucosinolates. They contain 74.8 mg vitamin C and 124% DV for every cup of 88 g.

Compare: 100 g contains 85 mg vitamin C with 141% DV.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is another cruciferous veggie that has medicinal properties similar to Brussel sprouts.

1 head small 4” diameter (265 g) contains 127.7 mg vitamin C with 212% DV.

Compare: 100 g contains 48.2 mg vitamin C with 80% DV.

Kale

Kale or borecole in one of its kind, unique leafy greens rich in polyphenolic bioflavonoids as well as carotenoids such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene as well as many minerals and vitamins. Like other cruciferous veggies, it also contains glucosinolates.

A one-cup (67 g) serving of kale provides 80.4 mg of vitamin C with 134% DV.

Compare: 100 g contains 120 mg vitamin C with 200% DV.

Mango

The world production of mango is 18 million tons annually and considered a popular tropical fruit. Besides vitamin C, it also contains bioflavonoids, organic acids, beta-carotene and other carotenoids, B vitamins, and minerals such as copper.

It contains a 122.3 mg of vitamin C with 203% DV for every 336 grams (a fruit without refuse).

Compare: 100 g contains 36. 4 mg vitamin C with 60% DV.

Take Home Message

Each type of fruits and veggies offers diverse nutrients with its unique nutrient density. Therefore, in order to achieve balanced nutrients, it’s better to buy and serve different types of fruit and vegetables.

When buying fruits and veggies that are in season, make sure you always choose freshness and quality as top priority. You should let colors guide you (to get a different combination of nutrients), try something new (try new recipes and buy new fruits and veggies), and eat with the seasons (to make sure your body get a healthy mix of nutrients and phytochemicals).

 

11 Fruits and Veggies High in Vitamin C

15 Signs of High Blood Sugar (Stabilize it with 2 TBSP of coconut oil)

15 Signs of High Blood Sugar (Stabilize it with 2 TBSP of coconut oil)

Effective Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure That You Should Know

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a condition that results to your heart having to work extra hard to pump blood through your body. It is regarded by medical experts as a “silent killer” due to its characteristic of being symptomless. Here is the rundown of the causes, signs, and natural remedies for high blood pressure.

 What causes hypertension?

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that elevation of blood pressure can be triggered by certain risk factors highly associated with lifestyle, nutrition, and other conditions, mainly:

• Adrenal and thyroid disorder


• Chronic kidney disease


• Emotional stress or tension


• Excessive sodium and fat in diet


• Excessive alcohol intake


• Familial history or genetics


• Overweight and obesity


• Age of 35 and above


• Pregnancy


• Sedentary lifestyle


• Sleep apnea


• Smoking

What are the signs and symptoms of hypertension?

Although it normally doesn’t show any signs and symptoms, here is the list of something to look out for:

• Blood in urine


• Chronic chest pain


• Difficulty breathing


• Fatigue and confusion


• Irregular heartbeat


• Severe headache


• Vision problems

Natural remedies for high blood pressure

1. Herbs

Expensive treatment and medication can cost you a small fortune in the long run. There are many traditional and healthy options available to maintain blood pressure at normal levels – lifestyle changes, dietary discipline, and herbal supplements. If you will take herbal medication, take note if you have any known allergies. Consult your healthcare specialist if you have an existing current medication to avoid undesirable effects to your body.

1. Basil. Basil is used to complement a variety of dishes. Its extract helps to lower blood pressure.


2. Cinnamon. Adding cinnamon in your everyday diet such as your favorite breakfast meals (coffee and cereal) can be a good way of enhancing the flavor while lowering your blood pressure and blood sugar level at the same time. This is highly beneficial to diabetics.


3. Flaxseed. Flaxseeds are rich in omega-3, which is known to be good for the heart as it reduces body cholesterol. Lowering your cholesterol effectively decreases blood pressure, preventing the risks for severe cardiovascular diseases.


4. Garlic. Garlic is proven to be an effective kitchen remedy to combat a variety of diseases and conditions, including hypertension. Garlic causes your blood vessels to dilate, which eases blood flow.


5. Ginger. Ginger is widely used in Asian cuisine. It prevents the elevation of blood pressure by improving blood circulation. (Ginger: An Amazing Spice That Promotes Healthy Life)


6. Hawthorn. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is rich in flavonoids that help prevent certain heart diseases.

2. Healthy Diet and Nutrition

• Reduce the amount of sodium intake. Too much salt can cause fluid retention, resulting to the rise of blood pressure. The high volume of fluid forces the heart to exert more effort in pumping blood. Try to limit the amount of your salt intake by:-Checking the nutritional facts of the food you buy, especially the processed goods.
  -Avoiding pre-cooked meals as much as you can.
  -Reducing the amount of salt you add to your dishes.


• Consume foods rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids DHA. Fatty fishes like tuna and salmon are known sources.


• Herbal Tea. Green tea and hibiscus tea contain high concentrations of enzymes that are good for lowering blood pressure.


• Chocolate or cocoa. Research says that dark chocolate and any cocoa products are rich in flavanoids that keep blood pressure at normal level.


• Fruits and vegetables. Control your protein, carbohydrates, and fat intake by resorting to a more-vegetarian diet (mostly dark green leafy veggies). Fruits rich in vitamin C are proven to be effective in stabilizing the blood pressure.


• Coconut water. It replenishes potassium in the body and its magnesium content is good for regulating blood flow. (6 Reasons to Include Coconut Water in your Diet)


• Boost your potassium. Potassium counterbalances the effects of sodium in the blood. Potatoes, tomatoes, and bananas are rich sources of potassium.

3. Lifestyle Change

• Exercise frequently. This is essential. Engage in at least 30 minutes of exercise like brisk morning walks, jogging, or active sports to promote good circulation. This is also effective in reducing weight.


• Lessen alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol is known to drastically affect your organs, like your liver. Alcohol also suppresses the effectiveness of medications in your body.


• Smoking cessation.


• Choose decaffeinated coffee. Studies show that caffeine can raise blood pressure as it causes constriction of the blood vessels.

• Avoid self-diagnosis. Should you experience any of the signs and symptoms mentioned above, have yourself checked by a healthcare professional. It’s highly advisable to regularly check your blood pressure level to prevent this silent killer from striking. Maintain good health by adapting a healthier lifestyle. Prevention is always better than cure.

Additional Sources: rd.com , blogs.naturalnews.com,

Related Reading: Lower Blood Sugar, Enjoy Your Diet: 8 Amazing Spices and Herbs

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Effective Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure That You Should Know

How to Treat High Blood Pressure Naturally with This Tasty 4-herb Tea

One of the most common health issues in the US, high blood pressure affects more than 70 million people and only half of them can control it to a certain extent. Don’t underestimate the risk of high blood pressure, it even killed 1000 people in 2013. And if not being treated properly, it will increase your risk for many other health problems.

High Blood Pressure May Results In Other Diseases:

If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you should find the reasons for that before you take mesures to treat it. Some risk factors for high blood pressure are including:

• Alcohol overuse


• Stress


• Age ( The risk increases for women over 55 and men over 45 years old)


• Lack of exercise


• Obesity


• Smoking


• Family history


• Excess sodium use


• Too little potassium in your diet


• Vitamin D deficiency


• Sleep apnea


• Some other chronic conditions

To control high blood pressure, it’s suggested to eat a healthy diet that rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and also limit a certain of foods. (Top Foods to Avoid with High Blood Pressure)

Keep in mind of that try natural remedies as possible as you can, as those numerous medications for high blood pressure may make you feel even worse than illness itself, and they contain many side effects normally.

Some herbs are powerful agents to treat high blood pressure,following is an effective herbal tea you can make with 4 healing herbs to aid in healthy blood pressure.

Homemade 4-herb Tea for Heart Health

Ingredients:

• 1 part mistletoe


• 2 parts hawthorn


• 2 parts yarrow


• 2 parts lime blossom

Simply added them into boiled water and drink it 3 times a day.

Mistletoe

Mistletoe treats cardiovascular and there is evidence that this herb can be used to cure hypertension. Mistletoe also works well to strengthen your immune system to help you against several illnesses.

It’s also believed that it can be used to treat other ailments thanks to its healing properties:

• Treats respiratory complains


• Improves sleep and eases anxiety


• Prevents diabetes


• Relieves arthritis


• Treats cancer

Hawthorn

There are studies about the positive effects of hawthorn for controlling blood pressure. It contains good amounts of antioxidants that improve blood flow and dilate blood vessels.

Lime Blosom

Lime blosom tea is useful in the treatment of high blood pressure as it maintains the fluidity of the blood.

Consume 1-2 cups per day, lime bloom tea also helps prevent diabetes, detox your body, reduce inflammation and also stimulate the immune system.

Yarrow

Yarrow has been proven to slower blood pressure. A mixture of yarrow, nettle, lime blossom, peppermint and elderflower in a tea makes a better natural remedy for high blood pressure.

Additional sources: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/healthyfocus.org

Related Reading:

10 Foods That Will Lower Your Cholesterol

Healing Benefits of Celery and Natural Ways to Use it

Top 5 Ways To Use Parsley As A Natural Remedy

How to Treat High Blood Pressure Naturally with This Tasty 4-herb Tea

CQC to investigate as mental health detentions hit 10-year high

The health and social care watchdog is to launch an investigation after government figures revealed the number of detentions for mental health treatment had risen to its highest level in at least a decade.

Patients were detained in England for treatment under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 63,622 times in the year to April 2016, the statistics from NHS Digital showed, a rise of 47% since 2006, the year comparable records began, when there were 43,361 detentions.

Dr Paul Lelliott, the deputy chief inspector of hospitals and lead for mental health at the Care Quality Commission, said the figures were concerning, particularly given a national commitment to reduce the number of mental health detentions.

“The causes of the rise in the use of the act are likely to be complex, but the increase in detentions needs to be examined carefully,” he said. “We do not know, for example, the extent to which the rise is due to repeated detentions, it could signal a lack of support in the community for people with serious mental health problems or if people are being detained repeatedly, it could be a sign that some services are operating ‘revolving door’ admissions.

“To get to the bottom of this, we are launching an investigation into the reasons why detentions under the Mental Health Act in England continue to rise. We expect to publish our findings from this next year.”

Much of the rise in detentions came recently, with a 31% increase in the past five years, the statistics showed. Detentions under section two of the Mental Health Act, which allows for people to be held against their will for up to 28 days for diagnosis and treatment, were up 36% over that period. Detentions under section three, which allows for patients to be held for up to six months of compulsory treatment, were up 7%.

Marjorie Wallace of Sane says doctors are being forced to use the act to obtain an inpatient bed for treatment. Photograph: Richard Saker for the Observer

A snapshot figure, taken on 31 March, found 20,151 people were being detained under the act, 30% of whom were being held in private hospitals.

Peter Kinderman, the president of the British Psychology Society, said the figures were “tragic and shocking, but not terribly surprising”. Cuts to health budgets, combined with widening inequality, social turmoil and economic austerity were leading to an ever tighter squeeze on the poor, he said.

“If there are pressures on the service from cutting community support, various forms of psychotherapeutic support or social support for people, you could see how the pressures would build up and the people who are on the edge of coping might be pushed into feeling as if there was no support for them and feeling as if they might want to take their own lives,” said Kinderman.

“It doesn’t take much of a threat to social support for people in crisis for them to feel like there’s no point in carrying on living, and at that point you need to step in and take quite drastic action to help them.”

Marjorie Wallace, the chief executive of the mental health charity Sane, speculated that the rise could be the result of situations where patients or their doctors felt detention was the only way to get proper mental health treatment. “We know that community mental health services are overstretched and in many cases unable to provide the early treatment that could prevent people becoming so desperately ill,” she said.

“Moreover, without available local psychiatric beds, doctors are being forced to use the act in order to obtain an inpatient bed for treatment, which may involve sending patients to unfamiliar hospitals where they cannot be easily visited by professionals they know, let alone their friends and family. It is a scandal that you have to be sectioned in order to get treatment. What we need is more rather than fewer beds, so that those who need sanctuary and healing can receive help without having to be deprived of their liberty.”

A Department of Health spokesperson said: “People with mental illness need the best possible care and local areas are investing £693m more to make sure the right services are in place. Decisions about detention under the Mental Health Act are clinically led but the Care Quality Commission will be looking into the rise in cases.”

CQC to investigate as mental health detentions hit 10-year high

This May Be The Number ONE Food to Prevent Stroke, High Cholesterol, and Blood Pressure

This May Be The Number ONE Food to Prevent Stroke, High Cholesterol, and Blood Pressure

Billion people have high blood pressure, mostly in poorer countries

The number of people with high blood pressure has almost doubled in 40 years to more than 1.1 billion worldwide, scientists have said, with the burden of the condition shifting from the rich to the poor.

In the largest study of its kind analysing blood pressure in every nation between 1975 and 2015, the scientists say it has dropped sharply in wealthy countries – possibly due to healthier diets and lifestyles – but risen in poorer ones.

The increases are especially significant in Africa and south Asia, the researchers say, and could be partly due to poor nutrition in childhood.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, puts extra strain on the blood vessels and major organs such as the heart, brain and kidneys. It is the world’s top cause of cardiovascular disease, which leads to strokes and heart attacks, and is estimated to cause 7.5 million deaths a year worldwide.

Led by World Health Organisation researchers working with hundreds of scientists internationally, this study covered blood pressure measurements from nearly 20 million people and was published in the Lancet medical journal.

In Europe, Britain had the lowest proportion of people with high blood pressure in 2015. South Korea, the United States and Canada had the lowest hypertension rates in the world.

More than half the world’s adults with high blood pressure in 2015 lived in Asia, the study estimates. Some 226 million people in China have high blood pressure, it says, as do 200 million in India.

“High blood pressure is no longer related to affluence – as it was in 1975 – but is now a major health issue linked with poverty,” said Majid Ezzati, a professor at Imperial College London’s school of public health.

He said that while he could not be sure why the data showed high blood pressure as more of a problem in poorer countries, it may be partly due to overall better health and more consumption of fruit and vegetables in wealthy societies.

In rich countries the condition was also caught more frequently and earlier, and managed more effectively with medicines, Ezzati said.

Blood pressure is defined by two numbers: systolic pressure, which represents the force with which the heart pumps blood into the blood vessels, and diastolic pressure, a measure of the resistance to the blood flow in the body’s blood vessels.

Both numbers are measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). High blood pressure is defined as 140/90 mmHg or higher.

The condition is caused by a number of factors including having a diet high in salt and low in fruit and vegetables, and not taking enough exercise.

Billion people have high blood pressure, mostly in poorer countries

15 Signs You Have High Estrogen Levels and How To Lower it Immediately

15 Signs You Have High Estrogen Levels and How To Lower it Immediately

High court rules UK government plans to tackle air pollution are illegal

The government’s plan for tackling the UK’s air pollution crisis has been judged illegally poor at the high court, marking the second time in 18 months that ministers have lost in court on the issue.

The defeat is a humiliation for ministers who by law must cut the illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide suffered by dozens of towns and cities in the “shortest possible time”.

Legal NGO ClientEarth, which brought the case, argued that current plans ignore many measures that could help achieve this, placing too much weight on costs. On Wednesday Mr Justice Garnham agreed. He also said ministers knew that over-optimistic pollution modelling was being used, based on flawed lab tests of diesel vehicles rather than actual emissions on the road.

The government said it would not appeal against the decision and agreed in court to discuss with ClientEarth a new timetable for more realistic pollution modelling and the steps needed to bring pollution levels down to legal levels. The parties will return to court in a week but if agreement cannot be reached, the judge could impose a timetable upon the government.

Air pollution causes 50,000 early deaths and £27.5bn in costs every year, according to the government’s own estimates, and was called a “public health emergency” by MPs in April.

James Thornton, CEO of ClientEarth, said: “The time for legal action is over. I challenge Theresa May to take immediate action now to deal with illegal levels of pollution and prevent tens of thousands of additional early deaths in the UK. The high court has ruled that more urgent action must be taken. Britain is watching and waiting, prime minister.”

He said the increased action required would very likely include bigger and tougher clean air zones in more cities and other measure such as scrappage schemes for the dirtiest vehicles: “The government will have to be tougher on diesel.”

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who took part in the case against the government, said: “Today’s ruling lays the blame at the door of the government for its complacency in failing to tackle the problem quickly and credibly. In so doing they have let down millions of people the length and breadth of the country.”

A spokeswoman for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “Improving air quality is a priority for this government and we are determined to cut harmful emissions. Our plans have always followed the best available evidence – we have always been clear that we are ready to update them if necessary. Whilst our huge investment in green transport initiatives and plans to introduce clean air zones [in six cities] around the country will help tackle this problem, we accept the court’s judgment. We will now carefully consider this ruling, and our next steps, in detail.”

ClientEarth defeated the government on the same issue at the supreme court in April 2015. Ministers were then ordered to draw up a new action plan, but now that new plan has also been found to be illegal.

Documents revealed during the latest case showed the Treasury had blocked plans to charge diesel cars to enter towns and cities blighted by air pollution, concerned about the political impact of angering motorists. Both the environment and transport departments recommended changes to vehicle excise duty rates to encourage the purchase of low-pollution vehicles, but the Treasury also rejected that idea.

Documents further showed that the government’s plan to bring air pollution down to legal levels by 2020 for some cities and 2025 for London had been chosen because that was the date ministers thought they would face European commission fines, not which they considered “as soon as possible”.

There had been a draft government plan for 16 low emission zones, which polluting vehicles are charged to enter, in cities outside London but the number was cut to just five on cost grounds.

All these proposals will now be revisited. Thornton said a national network of clean air zones needed to be in place by 2018. “If you put in clean air zones, it works overnight.”

Dr Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: “We urgently need a new clean air act that restricts the most polluting vehicles from our urban areas and protects everyone’s lung health – air pollution affects all of us.”

Sam Hall, at conservative thinktank Bright Blue, said there should be more power and funding devolved to local authorities to enable all English cities to set up clean air zones and more support for electric cars.

Keith Taylor, Green party MEP, said: “The failure highlighted by the judge today is as much moral as it is legal: ministers have displayed an extremely concerning attitude of indifference towards their duty to safeguard the health of British citizens.”

Air pollution table

High court rules UK government plans to tackle air pollution are illegal

Our children are paying a high price for society’s vision of success

Yet another report has been published showing frightening levels of mental illness among children and young people in England. The figure now stands at about a quarter of a million. I have written before, downplaying the phenomenon, usually along the lines of “children have never had it so good” and pointing to the increase in child-centrism, the boons of technology and the growth in living standards for most.

I can’t keep my head in the sand any longer. Something is going seriously wrong. Owen Jones, in an article in this newspaper, recited the usual suspects – overcrowded and poor housing, poor diet, lack of exercise, family conflict, the stresses of poverty and lack of state support. I am dubious about most of these explanations, largely because such matters have long been with us without an accompanying crisis of mental illness.

My explanation is that our children are having their childhood stolen from them, and at some level they know it. They kick against this with rage and frustration. But it is important to note that this is a rise in mental illness, not unhappiness. They are different things. Mental illness is an unhappiness that is unsanctioned, denied essentially. It is unhappiness that does not know itself. It is unhappiness that arises from confusion and double standards. Why this confusion? Chiefly, it is down to the idea that achievement and competition are all important. There is nothing wrong with this as an ethos, but achievement of what? Competition for what? And when does it end?

In the world I grew up in, when mental illness among young people was largely unheard of, achievement, although desirable, was not considered particularly important. Many people from my very ordinary background didn’t pass any important exams. Few went to university. And it wasn’t thought a big deal, because it was recognised that not everyone could be outstanding or high achieving. It wasn’t a failure to get a job in a local shop or factory, find somewhere OK to live and have a couple of kids. It was normal and many people embraced it.

But things have changed in the world of societal expectation. The myth seems to have arisen that individual striving and effort will always get you what you want – money, status or a satisfying career. A few generations ago, we were more realistic. The class structure of society, and our own individual limitations – such things were acknowledged then – meant that few of us could hope to hit the heights. But it didn’t matter as long as we had a reasonable job, our community, our homes, our families. Expectations were in line with reality.

Now that middle-class aspirational values have seeped and bled everywhere, this is no longer the case. Not only are we told that we can do anything if we want to, but that we should. We must all become middle class, or count ourselves a failure. Competitive narcissism runs rampant.

It is bad enough for those who come from a background that invests in this – the ambitious middle class. To get sucked in from a culture that does not invest in it, or have much of a chance in the race – well, no wonder some children are either rejecting education, or experiencing mental illnesses.

Achievement is healthy, but we don’t all have to hit the heights to feel good about ourselves. Society is made up of mostly low- or medium-achievers, and to make us feel ashamed of who we are is a great burden. Success should be redefined as achieving what you feel capable of, and what lies within the realm of possibility – not what society tells you that you must achieve in order to conform to a fantasy that, for most, only exists in glossy magazines and university prospectuses.

@timlottwriter

Our children are paying a high price for society’s vision of success

Drink Hibiscus Tea To Reduce High Blood Pressure and Protect Against Heart Disease!

Hibiscus flowers are widely known for their tropical beauty. These large red, orange, pink, or yellow flowers can be worn in the hair or in bright leis around the neck. But many people may not realize that hibiscus also makes a wonderful tea. For example, hibiscus tea (or sour tea) is very popular in Mexico because it is medicinal, delicious, and easy to make.

Hibiscus tea has gained attention in the scientific community too. This is because hibiscus is rich in antioxidants, which protect against cell damage and heart disease, in turn. Considering the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease, hibiscus tea could be beneficial to many people who are interested in natural remedies for heart problems. In this article, I discuss studies, which have shown that hibiscus tea reduces high blood pressure and may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. I also provide a recipe for making hibiscus tea.

The research

A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology was carried out to determine whether hibiscus tea reduces blood pressure among patients at risk for heart disease. Researchers tracked the blood pressure of patients who drank hibiscus tea vs. patients who drank ordinary tea for 12 days. Results showed that patients who consumed hibiscus tea had significantly lower blood pressure than those who drank the ordinary tea. The investigators concluded that hibiscus tea is an effective natural remedy for reducing high blood pressure and for preventing future heart conditions.

Similarly, an investigation from the journal of Circulation demonstrated that daily consumption of 3 cups of hibiscus tea reduced the blood pressure of pre-hypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults. Therefore, incorporating hibiscus tea into a daily routine may protect against the development of hypertension.

Yet another article from the Journal of Human Hypertension reported that drinking hibiscus tea two times a day for a month lowered the blood pressure of patients with mild hypertension and type II diabetes. As such, consuming hibiscus tea is a natural medicinal approach to regulating blood pressure, particularly for people who are managing serious physical health problems.

Taken together, this body of research suggests that incorporating hibiscus tea into a regular dietary routine can reduce high blood pressure and may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Safety and doses

Hibiscus is generally considered safe when consumed as a tea. However, we need more research to determine the exact amounts that are safe for pregnant women, children, and people with liver or kidney disease. Additionally, an article from the journal of Phytomedicine pointed out that more research is needed to understand the long-term effects of hibiscus tea on heart health.

How to make hibiscus tea

There are several recipes for making your own hibiscus tea. Here is one that I like. Hibiscus tea is naturally sour, so you can play around with healthy ways to sweeten it, such as adding raw honey or organic coconut sugar.

References:

Faraji, M. H., & Tarkhani, A. H. (1999). The effect of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on essential hypertension. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 65(3), 231-236.

McKay, D. L., Chen, C. O., Saltzman, E., & Blumberg, J. B. (2010). Hibiscus sabdariffa L. tea (tisane) lowers blood pressure in prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults. The Journal of nutrition, 140(2), 298-303.

Mozaffari-Khosravi, H., Jalali-Khanabadi, B. A., Afkhami-Ardekani, M., Fatehi, F., & Noori-Shadkam, M. (2009). The effects of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on hypertension in patients with type II diabetes. Journal of human hypertension, 23(1), 48-54.

Wahabi, H. A., Alansary, L. A., Al-Sabban, A. H., & Glasziuo, P. (2010). The effectiveness of Hibiscus sabdariffa in the treatment of hypertension: a systematic review. Phytomedicine, 17(2), 83-86.

Hibiscus tea recipe: simplyrecipes.com/recipes/agua_de_jamaica_hibiscus_tea/

About the author:

Dr. B is a health psychologist who writes for the health and medical website pdrmed.com. She is an expert in the effects of stress and nutrition on mental and physical health. Follow: @pdrmed and Contact: drb@earthlink.net

Drink Hibiscus Tea To Reduce High Blood Pressure and Protect Against Heart Disease!

Junior doctors fail in high court challenge of new contract"s legality

Junior doctors have lost a judicial review challenging the legality of a controversial new contract, which is now set to be introduced by Jeremy Hunt next week.

In a judgment published on Wednesday, Mr Justice Green rejected arguments presented at the high court by five junior doctors that the health secretary had exceeded his powers.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “We welcome this clear decision by the judge that the secretary of state acted entirely lawfully. We must now move on from this dispute to the crucial job of making sure patients get the same high standards of urgent and emergency care every day of the week, which involves more than the junior doctors’ contract.

“We urge the BMA to remove all threat of further industrial action so we can work constructively with junior doctors to address their wider concerns and better recognise their vital importance to the NHS.”

The junior doctors nevertheless claimed the judgment as a victory. They said it showed the contract was not being imposed, which they argued meant junior doctors were not legally compelled to sign the new agreement and could continue to negotiate the terms and conditions.

The Department of Health said it would be seeking repayment of taxpayers’ money spent defending the case up to the previously agreed cap of £70,000 and would use the funds to make a charitable grant to NHS charities.

The doctors had argued that the health secretary had no power, whether solely or with others, to take a decision as to the terms on which junior doctors were employed, only to make recommendations, that Hunt had acted in breach of the requirements of transparency, certainty and clarity and that he had acted irrationally.

But Green rejected all three grounds. He further said he did “not accept the claimants’ argument that the evidence base upon which the minister acted was inadequate”, and he rejected the suggestion that Hunt had misled parliament.

In a two-day hearing last week at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Jenni Richards QC, for Justice for Health, asked the court to quash Hunt’s decision to bring in the new contract, which she maintained he had no power to do, especially since the Health and Social Care Act 2012 reduced the scope of the health secretary’s powers.

The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, is now set to impose the new contract next week. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

But Gavin Sheldon QC, appearing for Hunt, rejected the doctors’ arguments and said that their case was without substance. The health secretary had not decided to “compel” NHS trusts to use the new contract, he had merely approved it, Sheldon said.

“The secretary of state has not gone outside the scope of his powers,” he told the court. “The secretary of state has been clear about what his powers are.”

The five doctors’ high court legal challenge was crowdfunded by £300,000 from about 10,000 donors, most of them fellow junior doctors. They hoped that the court’s ruling would embarrass Hunt, and make it difficult for him to execute his threat to impose the contract, by finding that he had acted outside his powers or the law.

Many junior doctors, frustrated that eight days of strike action between January and May had failed to force Hunt to lift his threat of imposition, hoped that the lawsuit might delay or even scupper altogether Hunt’s plans.

The British Medical Association is facing a backlash from its members after first announcing, and then last Saturday calling off, plans for a series of four all-out strikes by junior doctors as a way of increasing the pressure on Hunt.

As things stand, NHS trusts across England will start phasing in the contract from next week in a process that will take about 18 months to put all 54,000 doctors below the level of consultant on to the altered terms and conditions.

This week Sir David Nicholson, who was the chief executive of the NHS in England until 2014, criticised ministers’ handling of the year-long junior doctors’ dispute.

“Clearly the government overall got it wrong,” Nicholson said. He said given that today’s generation of junior doctors wanted to work more flexibly and have more control over their lives, “it seemed to me that the way the conversation was going … I was really worried that it was less to do with the issues around that particular problem and more to do with a general idea that somehow we needed to put the junior doctors in their place.”

Junior doctors fail in high court challenge of new contract"s legality