Fish oil won't help you lose weight, experts say

While there is some evidence from animal studies that fish oil can aid weight loss, new research on humans states otherwise.

Published on December 15 in the medical journal American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, US researchers tested the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids among a group of 128 overweight and obese adults enrolled in a diet and exercise program.

Participants in the study took five fish oil capsules (about three grams of omega-3 fatty acids) or five placebo capsules every day for 24 weeks. They were also asked to do 150 minutes per week of aerobic activity and 20 to 30 minutes of strength training at least twice a week.

People in both groups lost more than 5% of their body weight, but researchers found no difference between the groups, except in one area: the fish oil group had increased levels of omega-3s in their blood, which produced "a positive cardiovascular effect," the researchers stated in a release.

While omega-3 may not increase weight loss, there are plenty of great reasons to add omega-3 fish oil to your diet, experts say. Fish oil is reported to ward off heart disease, depression, and even psychological disorders. A January 2010 UCLA study concluded that a dietary increase of marine omega-3 fatty acids prolonged the lifespan of patients with coronary heart disease.

Deciding to add marine omega-3 fatty acids to your daily diet may be simple but finding sustainable and mercury-free fish high in omega-3 can be a challenge, so you may turn to supplements. If that is the case make sure you purchase marine omega-3 supplements that are pure, fresh and natural, and contain balanced EPA and DHA.

If you prefer to eat your oils, look to salmon, bluefin tuna, mackerel, herring, rainbow trout, crustaceans, anchovies, and sardines.

Access the study here. 

Weight loss business growing at fast pace

As obesity remains a health concern for most of Europe and especially the UK, the market for weight loss supplements or diet pills has grown strong in the UAE.

"Despite the economic crisis across the globe, the weight management market is still accelerating as the core targets of this market are the consumers for whom health and beauty is of higher importance than the cost. Such impulsive consumers are driving the growth of the market," Dr Safeek Ali, a dietician at Welcare Hospital, told Gulf News.

"The market players are therefore formulating attractive advertisements and brand promotions to gear up their product revenues amongst the numerous other alternatives and substitutes that are available in the market."

Big names

The two biggest players in the UAE weight-loss pills market were Xenical, produced by Swiss giants Roche, and Reductil, made by the US's Abbott Laboratories.

At the beginning of this year, Reductil was recalled from the shelves of 300 licensed pharmacies across the emirates due to risks they carried of increasing the chance of heart attack and stroke. Following this, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched a campaign against weight-loss products that contained certain prescription drugs and chemicals, many of which were being sold as dietary supplements.

They issued warnings about more than 70 products found to contain undeclared chemicals. According to pharmacists, Xenical is the only chemical product on the market. According to recent national statistics, more than 60 per cent of Emiratis are overweight.

The World Health Organisation estimates that more than 25 per cent of men and almost 40 per cent of women aged over 15 in the UAE are obese. Health experts have put it down to diet, lifestyle and education.

Obesity in the UK

More than half of the adult population in the UK is either overweight or obese. About 2 in 5 adults in the UK are overweight while 1 in 5 adults are obese. The number of obese people in the UK is rising, particularly among young adults.

How do you know if you are overweight or obese?

Your BMI (Body Mass Index) relates your weight to your height and describes how much of your body is made up of fat. If your BMI is greater then 25 then you are overweight and if it is greater then 30 then you are obese.

If you have a BMI which is greater than 28 and would like to Buy Xenical Online please click the highlighted link.

Swine flu: The 24 people who died this winter may be only a small percent of the true number, admit experts

According to newspaper reports the 24 people who died this winter from swine flu could be a fraction of the true death toll, medical experts admitted yesterday. The known deaths so far include one pregnant woman and nine children. Last night it emerged that at least one of those killed by swine flu had been vaccinated against the virus.

Over the last seven days the swine flu death rate has risen by 60 per cent and doctors warn it will continue to rise over the next few weeks. In total 27 people have died from flu this winter, with 24 of these victims of swine flu, or H1N1. The others died from a different strain, known as influenza B.

But many victims die from complications such as a heart attack or pneumonia, so the virus is not recorded on their death certificate. Doctors defended the use of the vaccine, which they said was effective in between 70 and 80 per cent of cases – a relatively high success rate compared with other immunisations against flu.

For vulnerable patients at risk of Flu, NICE recommends prescribing Tamiflu for treatment.

At Risk Groups

1.                      patients over 65 years old
2.                      chronic respiratory disease (including asthma and COPD)
3.                      Chronic heart disease
4.                      Chronic renal disease
5.                      Diabetes mellitus
6.                      Immunosuppressed patients
7.                      Chronic neurological conditions
8.                      Chronic liver disease

During the 2009 H1N1A pandemic pregnant women and children under the age of 5 were identified as additional risk groups by the department of health.

Tamiflu is an oral NICE recommended antiviral medicine for treating at risk patients with flu symptoms within 48hrs when influenza is circulating in the community defined by Heath Protection Agency, or equivalent influenza surveillance, whether they are vaccinated or not.

Buy Tamiflu online from Medical Specialists online pharmacy to protect against influenza today.

References: NICE technology appraisal guidance 168, Amantadine, Oseltamivir and Zanamivir for the treatment of influenza.

Swine flu winter: 200 fight for life as number of patients doubles in a week

According to reports in today’s newspapers, nearly two hundred swine flu victims were fighting for their lives last night. The number of patients in intensive care has doubled in a week and many of them are either elderly or pregnant. Fourteen have so far died. Seventeen of the 190 are being kept alive by highly-specialised heart and lung machines – three times the usual number.

It is feared that the swine flu strain may have grown more virulent over the past 12 months with victims quickly becoming dangerously ill. Intensive care units are warned to look out for the illness in new admissions, with medics urged to use antiviral medicines if they have the least suspicion a patient has it. Hospital managers have been holding emergency meetings to draw up plans to tackle a further onslaught of cases. It is thought the cold weather could cause a surge of admissions, putting intensive care units under massive strain. Analysis by SDI Healthcare, which models flu rates based on reports from GPs and chemists, suggests infection rates are at a five-year high.

It estimates that nine million Britons have been struck down – nearly one in six of the population. Twice the level seen this time last year, the infection rate is 36 per cent above normal, making it the worst flu outbreak in five years.

Three strains of influenza are in circulation: H1N1 or swine flu, flu B and H2N3. Swine flu is proving the most deadly and has claimed 14 of this winter’s 17 victims.

Pregnant women, the obese and asthmatics are at greater risk, with the virus far more common in those under the age of 65. GPs blame the surge in cases in part on low vaccination rates, particularly among younger age groups.

For further information on who is at risk this winter with the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) please visit http://www.medical-specialists.co.uk/news/2010/11/19/who-is-at-risk-from-flu-this-winter/

Or for more information on how you can protect you and your family this winter against swine flu, please click the link to Buy Tamiflu Online

Pregnant woman in swine flu coma

 

According to reports in The Sun news paper, Pregnant Fallon Devaney, 25, is in a coma after being rushed to hospital suffering with swine flu, she is also now fighting pneumonia, but the staffs believe the baby, due in April, may be sapping her strength. The parents of Fallon Devaney fear they will have to choose who can be saved - the mother or her unborn baby.

Fallon was taken from home in Kirk Hallam, Derbys, to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham on Tuesday. She had not received the seasonal flu jab, which also guards against swine flu (H1N1 Virus).

Fallons mum Linda said: "All pregnant women should be given the vaccine. If Fallon had it she would not now be lying in a hospital bed almost dead.

Dr Stephen Fowlie, Medical Director at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We encourage all people in at-risk groups to have the seasonal flu vaccine, including pregnant women. They should contact their GP for more advice."

And the Government's Chief Medical Officer, Prof Dame Sally Davies, said: "It is particularly important for pregnant women, no matter what stage they have reached, to get their free flu vaccine as soon as possible."

Meanwhile it emerged that parts of the North were suffering a shortage of swine flu anti-viral drug Tamiflu because of distribution problems.

NHS chiefs said the problem was temporary.

If you or your family have not had your seasonal flu jab or have not taken precautions this year by taking Tamiflu, please visit our website at

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Thousands of fake Viagra and Cialis pills found in US bust

It’s apparently one of the biggest counterfeit busts in recent history. 

Authorities arrested 54-year-old Awni Zayyad. The Wilson, North Carolina resident is accused of trafficking over a thousand fake Viagra and Cialis pills.

“My first reaction when I hear that is, ‘If it’s fake, what is it?’ You have absolutely no clue what could be in these drugs,” says Charles Odell, with the Dilworth Centre for Chemical Dependency.

Odell says he often sees overdoes from fake drugs.

“When you're taking a drug off the street that is a bootleg or fake drug, then you're completely on your own without any assistance from a physician,” he adds.

Agent Delbert Richburg heads up Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Charlotte.

Richburg says the Charlotte area has seen its fair share of counterfeit items from health products, to consumer goods.

“These are some counterfeit Apple products, iPods, and again, you look at this iPod and it doesn't have the Apple, doesn't have the Apple mark on it,” Richburg explains.

Not surprisingly, the Internet has given rise to all sorts of counterfeit merchandise. ICE shut down over 82 websites on Cyber Monday.

“Unfortunately, you might spend $50 or $100 on a typical item that lasts for 30 days before it starts, the stitches come out and it starts to deteriorate,” he says.

Nationally, ICE confiscated over $200 Million in counterfeit items in 2009. $30 Million from health products alone. 

“At the very least it could cause serious health affects, worst it could possibly take your life,” Richburg says.

Officials say Thursday’s bust proves counterfeit items are not only low quality, but can also be risky to your health.

Stolen pies contained a secret ingredient, Viagra

A baker has revealed his pies contained a secret ingredient this year Viagra, which he let slip after a batch of pies were stolen by thieves on the way to a pie eating competition.

The pies were stolen as they were being delivered to the World Pie Eating Championships in Wigan.

Baker Vince Bowen says “they all contained traces of the pharmaceutical sex aid” which he apparently uses as a preservative to keep the potatoes firm.

The event's organiser and bar-owner, Tony Callaghan, told locals to be on the look-out for a group of "hardened criminals".

Mr Callaghan said: "It's a right cock-up. It's going to be very hard to sort this one out."

The world famous pie-eating championships have long made use of special ingredients.

The bakery came up with the idea of using Viagra after over-mushy potatoes led to record-breaking times in 2007.