Breakthroughs Today

WHEN my first article came out in FIT in mid-2005, my expectation for the scope of writing was limited to physical health. But then years taught me that illness comes to our body through many avenues—the body, the mind, and the soul. A sick mind eventually breaks down the harmony of bodily processes. A soul in darkness slowly destroys the mind, and eventually manifests itself in physical symptoms. In short, we cannot take care of our physical health unless we, too, nourish our mental and spiritual well-being. American gynecologist Jeff Miller ( Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics , 1931) said: “Body and soul cannot be separated for purposes of treatment, for they are one and indivisible. Sick minds must be healed as well as sick bodies.” In the last five years in Breakthroughs... [ Read more .] This article appears in SunStar Cebu newspaper on 26 January 2011.

GERMAN philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote: “I teach you the Superman. Man is something that should be overcome.” For centuries, man has searched for ways to obtain power beyond the mortal limits. That impulse for the ultimate however is not exclusively humans. Bugs too have it. Last month, I hinted on the appearance of more serious drug-resistant strains of microorganisms. These are the multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. These groups of bacteria, which scientists call the “superbugs,” pose much greater risk to public health because they have developed resistance to many antibiotics. And admittedly, according to Karthikeyan Kumarasamy of the University of Madras (UM), Department of Microbiology (Chennai, India), “there are fewer new and developmental antibiotics active against Gram-negative bacteria.” Because of that, drug development programs cannot provide us with therapeutic cover in the next 10 to 20 years. Kumarasamy and a team of 20 other physicians from the univers

THIS WEEK we will cover reviews that may not have reached you: cancer-causing substances that can have you exposed as you have your hair done either by a hairdresser or a barber, or even from your personal use of hair dyes. The Lyons, France-based International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) facilitated a meeting between 17 scientists from seven countries in February 2008 in order to address new studies on compounds, scientifically referred to as “aromatics,” a name given because of their pleasant scents. Ortho-toluidine (OTD) is a biological stain used in the production of dyes and pigments. Exposure to this compound happens mainly through skin contact. So check your skin and hair coloring products if you have this in the label. Heightened risks toward developing bladder cancer continue with regular exposure to OTD. The longer the exposure, the higher the risk. IARC classified OTD as “carcinogenic to humans.” 4-Chloro-ortho-toluidine (COTD), a known metabolic byproduct of ch

WITH the holidays behind, and the new year on, it will be a healthy year to go forward when you start it with good trim in your body fat, the natural way, or least a program geared to it. Here’s how: Be more housework involved.  The Banwell study in 2009 found that obesity related closely with little housework and gardening as well as spending more than... [ Read more .] This article appears in SunStar Cebu newspaper on 5 January 2011.