Ponmo consumption is dangerous to health- Leather Scientist says

The Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Leather Science & Technology (NILEST), Zaria, Dr Isuwa Adamu, has said that consumption of animal hides and skin, popularly known as Ponmo is dangerous to human health. Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, today in Abuja, Adamu said scientific research has shown that ponmo doesn't have any nutritional value to human health and that some of the animals where ponmo is gotten from are usually sick & harbor dangerous chemicals.

"In fact, it is not advisable for you to consume ponmo in the sense that some of the animals killed and used for ponmo actually have skin diseases. Some of these skin diseases are such that boiling them ordinarily,

US may start screening air passengers for Ebola

Looks like the US is considering screening passengers from Ebola hit countries before they enter the country. This is coming about a week after a Liberian man entered the country with Ebola. President Obama said yesterday that though the likelihood of an Ebola outbreak in the US is "extremely low' but they have to react.

"We're also going to be working on protocols to do additional passenger screening both at the source and here in the United States. Countries that think that they can sit on the sidelines and just let the United

13 Ways to cure acne/blemish and pimple

See that giant blemish growing on top of your nose, or those countless zits that make your forehead look like a cheese grater? Don’t worry. The problem of acne isn’t forever. There are many natural remedies that can help you say goodbye to these unsightly spots that make you never want to face the mirror. Here are the top remedies for acne that you should definitely try.

Acne Remedy # 1 – Baking soda

Many people attest to the teeth whitening powers of baking soda. But that’s not its only benefit. It can also be used for treating acne. To use baking soda as an acne remedy, mix baking soda and water. Dip a Q tip on the mixed paste and apply gently on the effected area. Let it stay for about 10 minutes. Rinse off with cold water. Cold water helps ensure that the pores are closed. Repeat twice daily, unless skin irritation or excessive oiliness occurs.

Ibrahim Babangida reportedly hospitalized in Germany

According to Sahara Reporters, former Head of state, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida popularly known as IBB is currently in a hospital in German. He was reportedly rushed to Germany about 10 days ago from his hilltop mansion in Minna, Niger State. SR reports that the former military dictator who is 73 years old is severely ill and that his ailment relates to a chronic back ailment for which he earlier had surgery in Germany.

Port Harcourt records 2nd Ebola death - Health Minister

 

The Nigerian Ministry of Health has announced the death of another Ebola patient in Port Harcourt. The victim is said to be an elderly woman who contracted the deadly virus while on admission in the same hospital where late Dr Enemoah died. The Minister's spokesman, Dan Nwomeh announced this on twitter today. Continue to see more of his tweets...

How I survived Ebola – Late Nurse fiance, Dennis Akagha speaks

Dennis Akagha, the fiance of Justina Ejelonu, the First Consultant Hospital nurse who died after being infected with the deadly Ebola virus by Liberian Patrick Sawyer, in this exclusive interview with Vanguard spoke about how his late fiancee contracted the deadly disease, how she lost their unborn child while battling with Ebola, and also revealed that Justina had just landed the job at the hospital and met Sawyer on her first day there. He also spoke on how he got infected with the virus and how he finally got discharged. Fimd the in-depth interview below..

On his relationship with the late Justina, Dennis said;

Nigerian Nurse who had physical contact with Liberian Ebola victim speaks out

Obi Justina Ejelonu is from Mbaise in Imo State, a graduate of Ebonyi State University Abakaliki and was previously working at Otunba Tunwase National Pediatric Centre Ijebu Ode in Ogun state before relocating to Lagos to work at First Consultant Hospital Obalende. Here’s a post she shared on Facebook group – Igboville last week:

“I never contacted his fluids. I checked his vitals, helped him with his food (he was too weak)…..I basically touched where his hands touched and that’s the only contact. Not directly with his fluids.

Ebola: 2Fresh cases confirmed in Lagos, GEJ summons emergency meeting

The Federal government has confirmed two more cases of Ebola virus disease in Lagos. This brings to a total of 9 confirmed cases in Nigeria, seven infected with the disease and two dead. 

The federal government also said about 139 persons who have had direct or indirect contact with the confirmed cases are currently under surveillance.

Meanwhile President Jonathan has summoned an emergency meeting at the State House Abuja over the virus outbreak in the country.

EBOLA: Juliet Ibrahim calls out OAPs making a joke of the Ebola crisis

This salt and hot water curing Ebola is BS and the lady who supposedly sent it out as a joke yesterday has since apologized.

Ebola: How Liberian, Patrick Sawyer’s denied carrying the virus in Lagos

The death of Liberian Ebola victim, Patrick Sawyer in a Lagos hospital,has opened up a floodgate of Ebola cases as it’s been revealed he came in contact with about 70 people directly or indirectly. One of the Nigerian nurses who attended him died on Tuesday and others are still in isolation .Yesterday, the minister of Health said he was aware he had the virus before embarking on his journey to Nigeria and some have claimed it was ‘an intentional act of biological warfare’.



A new and extensive report by Front Page Africa chronicles his last hours in Lagos. Read below

Ebola, now a matter of national emergency, FG declares

The Federal government has declared the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria a matter of national Emergency, adding that everyone is now at risk of being infected.


Speaking with State House correspondence at the end of today's Federal Executive Council meeting, the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu said the Nigerian government has written to the Director of the United State Centre for Disease Control to request for the release of some of the unapproved ZMAG drug which has proven to be useful in the treatment of the Ebola disease. He said the Federal government awaits a response from the United state government and hopeful if the drugs are released, they could be used to treat the confirmed cases of the Ebola virus disease in Nigeria. Continue...



The Minister advised Nigerians to avoid handshake as much as possible, stating that the virus is both contagious and infectious. He  also said the virus could also be contacted through the sharing of bedspreads, pillow cases and towels among other personal effects with infected person. He said the disease is not airborne but at close range of a 1meter from an infected person, the disease droplets can be transmitted.






The Minister also revealed that Isolation tent for each confirmed case cost the government as much as N20million. As regards the corpse of a Nigerian brought in from Liberia last week into Anambra state which caused Ebola scare in the state, the Minister said thorough examination on the corpse showed the man did not die of the deadly disease.




As part of strategies to rise to the national emergency, Chukwu said a website, www.ebolaalert.org, has been designed to offer information on the virus.

Benefits of Eating More Plantain

1,Plantains are very reliable sources of starch and energy.




2, Plantains contain a high amount of dietary fibre which helps ensure healthy bowels and
reduces constipation.




3, Plantains have more vitamin C than bananas. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen- free radicals.




4, Plantains have more vitamin A than bananas. In addition to being a powerful antioxidant, vitamin A plays a vital role in the visual cycle, maintaining healthy mucus membranes, and enhancing skin complexion.



5, As in bananas, they too are rich sources of B-complex vitamins, particularly high in
vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine).


Pyridoxine is an important B-complex vitamin that has a beneficial role in the treatment of neuritis, anemia, and to decrease homocystine (one of the causative factors for coronary artery disease (CHD) and stroke episodes) levels in the
body.




6,Plantains also contain folates, niacin, riboflavin and thiamin. Folates (folic acid) are
essential for healthy pregnancy. 




7, Plantains also provide adequate levels of minerals such as iron, magnesium, and
phosphorous. Magnesium is essential for bone strengthening and has a cardiac-protective
role as well.




8, Plantains have more potassium than bananas. Potassium is an important component of
cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure, countering negative
effects of sodium.




9, Plantains are famed to be diuretic and can help prevent kidney and bladder problems.




10, Plantains ease the discomfort associated with the menstrual period.

Amazing Health Benefits Of Papaya (paw-paw)

Papaya benefits are not just limited to skin and hair care. Several researches conducted on papaya also showed a lot of its medicinal properties. Many scientists have successfully concluded that papaya is beneficial for health related problems and some diseases too. Let’s find out what else papaya can do other than benefiting skin and hair.




1. Papaya acts as an antidote for hypertension. This is one of the most popular health benefits of papaya.

The rich amount of potassium in papaya helps keeping the blood pressure in check along with improving the mental alertness.




2. Another of the most important papaya health benefit is that can help improve eyesight. Consuming 3 or more servings per day may keep your eyesight normal, along with improving and lowering the primary cause of vision loss in older adults.


3. Papaya also helps in boosting the immunity system of our body. The presence of Beta-carotene in papaya is required for the proper functioning and boosting of the immune system.


4. Papaya also prevents the body from recurrent ear infections, cold and flu.



5. Papaya also provides protection against heart diseases. As it is rich in nutrients too, it helps in preventing the oxidation of cholesterol, which helps preventing the cause of heart attacks or strokes.



6. Papaya can also heal external wounds. The pulp of this fruit can be applied directly on the wounds. 



7. Papaya is also able to cure chronic ulcers on skins. All you need to do is to take papaya juice and mix some butter in it. Apply it on the affected area for quick drying and healing of long standing ulcers.



8. If one suffers from respiratory disorders like cough, bronchitis and breathlessness, then papaya can be helpful as it contains latex which is useful in the respiratory disorders.



9. Papaya despite being sweet in taste is also good for diabetic patients.



10. Papaya can also help you from cancer. Papaya’s fiber is able to bind to cancer-causing toxins in the colon, thus keeping them from harming healthy colon cells.



So we saw how papaya is good for health too. Till now we were talking about the papaya fruit, ripe papaya, mashed papaya and papaya peels. Now we will discuss about the benefits of its juice and also find out how it is helpful to us.


These are the numerous skin, hair and health benefits provided by papaya and its juice. Though the results are not instant, once they are achieved, they are permanent. Papaya indeed is a fruit of the angels, as it protects every possible body part and provides positive visible results.The uses of papaya are simple outstanding in number and efficacy!

Principle	Nutrient Value	Percentage of RDA
Energy	39 Kcal	2%
Carbohydrates	9.81 g	7.5%
Protein	0.61 g	1%
Total Fat	0.14 g	0.5%
Cholesterol	0 mg	0%
Dietary Fiber	1.80 g	4.5%
Vitamins
Folates	38 µg	9.5%
Niacin	0.338 mg	2%
Pantothenic acid	0.218 mg	4%
Pyridoxine	0.019 mg	1.5%
Riboflavin	0.032 mg	2.5%
Thiamin	0.027 mg	2%
Vitamin A	1094 IU	36%
Vitamin C	61.8 mg	103%
Vitamin E	0.73 mg	5%
Vitamin K	2.6 µg	2%
Electrolytes
Sodium	3 mg	0%
Potassium	257 mg	5%
Minerals
Calcium	24 mg	2.5%
Iron	0.10 mg	1%
Magnesium	10 mg	2.5%
Phosphorus	5 mg	1%
Zinc	0.07 mg	0.5%
Phyto-nutrients
Carotene-ß	276 µg	–
Crypto-xanthin-ß	761 µg	–
Lutein-zeaxanthin	75 µg	–

Health Benefits of Fresh Tomatoes

1.       Ward off Cancer 



Numerous studies have concluded that the more tomatoes people eat the lower their risks of certain cancers, especially lung, stomach and prostate cancers.  A substance called lycopene, which is responsible for tomatoes red color, is thought to be the reason for this cancer protective effect. Processed tomatoes contain even more lycopene than raw ones. The process of cooking breaks down the cell walls, helping to release the lycopene. Eating tomatoes with a little bit of fat, such as olive oil, helps lycopene to be better absorbed by the body.



2.      Prevent DNA Damage


Tomatoes are high in important antioxidants such as vitamin C and Vitamin A. These vitamins work to fend of DNA damage from free radicals. Consequently, tomatoes may help to ward off age related diseases such as atherosclerosis and diabetes.



3.      Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease


Tomatoes contain important nutrients, such as niacin, folate and vitamin B6, that have associated with the reduction of heart disease risk. One study found that women who ate 7 to 10 servings of tomato products per week had a 29 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease than women who consumed less than a serving and a half of tomato products each week. Results were even more impressive when the women ate oil-rich tomato products.



4.       Protect Against Thrombosis 



Another study showed that drinking 8 ounces of tomato juice daily reduced platelet aggregation significantly, among study subjects. Those drinking a placebo showed no benefit. It’s important to drink low-sodium tomato juice if you are trying to protect against thrombosis (blood clots in the blood vessel) , as high sodium levels can cause negative effects for this type of disease.



5.      Ward off Inflammation


A double blind study found that drinking a glass of tomato juice a day can reduce blood levels of TNF-alpha by 34 percent. TNF-alpha causes inflammation. High levels have been found in individuals with most chronic, degenerative diseases such as heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s.

MUST READ: Reasons Why Junk Food Is Bad For You

Over the past few decades, vada pav, samosas, doughnuts, pizzas, burgers, rolls, wraps, frankies, french fries, etc have penetrated every corner our country. You step out of your house and you’ll see them being served everywhere from malls, restaurants and roadside corners to office and college canteens. 

 
But have you ever thought why are they called ‘junk’? The word ‘junk’ refers to something that is extra and useless. And all your delicious, favourite foods do complete justice to what the name signifies. The consequences that these junk food have on your health are terrible, irrespective of whether you have them once in a while, twice in a week or every day. 



Take a look at how these junk play a crucial role in deteriorating your health. 

1. Junk food may be the reason behind your fatigue: Although junk food and fast food makes you feel full and satisfied, they lack all the necessary nutrients like proteins and carbohydrates to keep your body energized and healthy. 

If you eat junk food every time you’re hungry, you may feel chronically fatigued. It can lower your energy levels to an extent that it may become difficult for you to even perform your daily tasks. Read more about the difference between tiredness and fatigue. 

2. Junks food may lead to depression in teenagers: A lot of hormonal changes take place in teenagers which makes them susceptible to mood swings and behavioural changes. And a healthy diet plays an important role in maintaining that hormonal balance. Because junk food lack those essential nutrients, the likelihood of teenagers to suffer from depression is increased by 58 percent. Try these tips to treat depression 

3. It impairs digestion: Those who are addicted to fatty junk food are bound to have digestive problems like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). That’s because junk food is deep fried. So, the oil from the junk food gets deposited in the stomach causing acidity. They cause irritation of the stomach lining because they are too spicy, and they also lack fibre which is important for proper digestion. Try these yoga poses to improve digestion. 

4. It causes fluctuations in blood sugar levels: Junk food is high in refined sugar which puts your metabolism under stress. Refined sugar causes the pancreas to secrete more amount of insulin in order to prevent a drastic spike in your blood sugar levels. Because junk food lacks sufficient levels of good carbohydrates and proteins, the levels of blood sugar drop suddenly after you eat. This makes you feel irritable and further increases you craving for more junk food. 

5. It affects the brain function: A study published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity shows that one week of eating junk food is enough to trigger memory impairment in rats. Recent research suggests that bad fats (trans fats) from junk food tends to replace healthy fats in the brain and interferes with its normal signalling mechanism. Studies in animals have also shown that fats from junk food slow down the ability to learn new skills. Have these foods to boost your brain power. 

6. It increases the risk of heart disease: Junks food increases cholesterol and triglyceride levels which are major risk factors for the development of heart diseases. Moreover, fats from junk food accumulate over the time in your body to make you obese. The more weight you put on, the higher your risk of suffering from heart attack. Refer to these 10 tips for a healthier heart. 

7. It can cause kidney disease: The reason why you can never say no to fries and chips is because they contain high amount of finely processed salt which increases salivation and secretion of enzymes that enhances your cravings. High amount of bad fats and sodium from salt increases blood pressure and affects the kidney function. 

8. It can damage your liver: High levels of trans fats found in a number of junk food can cause deposition of fats in the liver, which can cause liver dysfunction. 

9. It can cause type 2 diabetes: When you eat a healthy diet, your body gets a steady supply of glucose which helps to maintain insulin sensitivity. But when you eat only junk food, the excessive stress exerted on your metabolism can affect the ability of your body to use insulin properly. This can lead to diabetes. Here are 10 tips to prevent diabetes. 

10. It increases your risk of cancer: A study published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention revealed that consuming too much of fast foods that are high in sugar and fat can increase your chances of developing colorectal cancer. Another study from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle showed that men who ate fried foods more than twice in a month had increased risk of developing prostate cancer.