The Benefits of Flax Seeds

Flax (also known as common flax or linseed) (binomial name: Linum usitatissimum)  is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was extensively cultivated in ancient Ethiopia and ancient Egypt.
Some call it one of the most powerful plant foods on the planet. There’s some evidence it may help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. 

Uses

Flax is grown both for its seeds and for its fibers. Various parts of the plant have been used to make fabric, dye, paper, medicines, fishing nets, hair gels, and soap. Flax seed is the source of linseed oil, which has uses as an edible oil, as a nutritional supplement and as an ingredient in many wood finishing products. It is also grown as an ornamental plant in gardens.

Flax seed

Flax seeds come in two basic varieties: (1) brown; and (2) yellow or golden. Most types have similar nutritional characteristics and equal amounts of short-chain omega-3 fatty acids. The exception is a type of yellow flax called solin (trade name Linola), which has a completely different oil profile and is very low in omega-3 FAs. Although brown flax can be consumed as readily as yellow, and has been for thousands of years, it is better known as an ingredient in paints, fiber and cattle feed. Flax seeds produce a vegetable oil known as flaxseed or linseed oil, which is one of the oldest commercial oils, and solvent-processed flax seed oil has been used for centuries as a drying oil in painting and varnishing.


What's It Made Of

Flaxseed contains several phyto (plant) compounds that may be beneficial in humans, including:

• Fiber (including soluble and insoluble)
• Protein -- approximately 20%
• Lignans
• Essential fatty acids (ALA) -- flaxseed is approximately 35% oil, of which 55% is ALA.

The laxative effect of flaxseed is due to its fiber and mucilage content. As described earlier, phytoestrogens, known as lignans, appear to play a role in the cancer protective effects of this plant. Other health benefits of flaxseed (such as protection from heart disease and arthritis) are likely due to its high concentration of the omega-3 fatty acid ALA.

Health Benefits

Flaxseeds are rich in alpha linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fat that is a precursor to the form of omega-3 found in fish oils called eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA. Since the fats are found in their isolated form in flaxseed oil, it is a more concentrated source of ALA than the seeds themselves (although it doesn't have the other nutrients that the seeds do). ALA, in addition to providing several beneficial effects of its own, can be converted in the body to EPA, thus providing EPA's beneficial effects. For this conversion to readily take place, however, depends on the presence and activity of an enzyme called delta-6-destaurase, which, in some individuals, is less available or less active than in others. In addition, delta-6-desaturase function is inhibited in diabetes and by the consumption of saturated fat and alcohol. For these reasons, higher amounts of ALA-rich flaxseeds or its oil must be consumed to provide the same benefits as the omega-3 fats found in the oil of cold-water fish.

Yet research indicates that for those who do not eat fish or wish to take fish oil supplements, flaxseed oil does provide a good alternative. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that flaxseed oil capsules providing 3 grams of alpha-linolenic acid daily for 12 weeks—an amount that would be provided by 3 tablespoons of flaxseed oil a day—increased blood levels of EPA by 60% in a predominantly African-American population with chronic illness.

A recent MedLine check (MedLine provides access to the published peer-reviewed medical literature) revealed 1,677 research articles on linolenic acid, investigating its effects on numerous physiological processes and health conditions.

Cancer
Recent studies have suggested that flaxseed may have a protective effect against cancer, particularly breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. At least two of the components in flaxseed seem to contribute, says Kelley C. Fitzpatrick, MSc, director of health and nutrition with the Flax Council of Canada.
In animal studies, the plant omega-3 fatty acid found in flaxseed, called ALA, inhibited tumor incidence and growth.
Further, the lignans in flaxseed may provide some protection against cancers that are sensitive to hormones without interfering with the breast cancer drug tamoxifen. Some studies have suggested that exposure to lignans during adolescence helps reduce the risk of breast cancer and may also increase the survival of breast cancer patients, Thompson says.
Lignans may help protect against cancer by:

• Blocking enzymes that are involved in hormone metabolism.
• Interfering with the growth and spread of tumor cells.

Some of the other components in flaxseed also have antioxidant properties, which may contribute to protection against cancer and heart disease.

Cardiovascular Disease
Research suggests that plant omega-3s help the cardiovascular system via several different mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory action and normalizing the heartbeat, Fitzpatrick says. New research also suggests significant blood pressure-lowering effects of flaxseed, which may be due to both the omega-3 fatty acids as well as the amino acid groups found in flaxseed.
Several studies have suggested that diets rich in flaxseed omega-3s help prevent hardening of the arteries and keep plaque from being deposited in the arteries, partly by keeping white blood cells from sticking to the blood vessels’ inner linings.
"Lignans in flaxseed have been shown to reduce atherosclerotic plaque buildup by up to 75%," Fitzpatrick says.
Because plant omega-3s may also play a role in maintaining the heart’s natural rhythm, they may be useful in treating arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and heart failure, although more research is needed on this.
Eating flaxseed daily may help your cholesterol levels, too. Small particles of LDL or "bad" cholesterol in the bloodstream have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. A French-Canadian study in menopausal women reported a decrease in these small LDL particles after the women ate 4 tablespoons of ground flaxseed daily for a year. Fitzpatrick says the cholesterol-lowering effects of flaxseed are the result of the synergistic benefits of the omega-3 ALA, fiber, and lignans.

High cholesterol

People who follow a Mediterranean diet tend to have higher HDL ("good") cholesterol levels. The Mediterranean diet consists of a healthy balance between omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 (found in olive oil) fatty acids. It emphasizes whole grains, root and green vegetables, daily intake of fruit, fish and poultry, olive and canola oils, and ALA (from flaxseed, flaxseed oil, and walnuts), along with discouragement of ingestion of red meat and not much use of butter and cream.

Flaxseed and flaxseed oil have been reported to possess cholesterol-lowering properties in laboratory studies. Human studies have used flaxseed products and measured effects on cholesterol, with mixed results. A human study found that dietary flaxseed significantly improved lipid (cholesterol) profile in patients with high cholesterol, and may favorably modify cardiovascular risk factors.

Diabetes

Preliminary research also suggests that daily intake of the lignans in flaxseed may modestly improve blood sugar (as measured by hemoglobin A1c blood tests in adults with Type 2 Diabetes).

Inflammation
Two components in flaxseed, ALA and lignans, may reduce the inflammation that accompanies certain illnesses (such as Parkinson's disease and asthma) by helping to block the release of certain pro-inflammatory agents, Fitzpatrick says.
The plant omega-3 ALA has been shown to decrease inflammatory reactions in humans. And studies in animals have found that lignans can decrease levels of several pro-inflammatory agents.
Reducing inflammatory reactions associated with plaque buildup in the arteries may be another way flaxseed helps prevent heart attack and strokes.

Hot Flashes
One preliminary study on menopausal women, published in 2007, reported that 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed mixed into cereal, juice, or yogurt twice a day cut the women's hot flashes in half. And the intensity of their hot flashes dropped by 57%. The women noticed a difference after taking the daily flaxseed for just one week, and achieved the maximum benefit within two weeks.
But at the 2011 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Mayo Clinic researchers reported there was no significant reduction in hot flashes between postmenopausal women and breast cancer patients eating a bar containing 410 milligrams of phytoestrogens from ground flaxseed and the group eating a placebo bar.

Omega-3-rich Flaxseeds Protect Bone Health

Alpha linolenic acid, the omega-3 fat found in flaxseed and walnuts, promotes bone health by helping to prevent excessive bone turnover—when consumption of foods rich in this omega-3 fat results in a lower ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in the diet.(Griel AE, Kris-Etherton PM, et al. Nutrition Journal)
Other studies have shown that diets rich in the omega-3s from fish (DHA and EPA), which also naturally result in a lowered ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats, reduce bone loss. Researchers think this is most likely because omega-6 fats are converted into pro-inflammatory prostaglandins, while omega-3 fats are metabolized into anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. (Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances made in our bodies from fatty acids.)
In this study, 23 participants ate each of 3 diets for a 6-week period with a 3 week washout period in between diets. All 3 diets provided a similar amount of fat, but their ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats was quite different:
Diet 1 provided 34% total fat with omega-6 and omega-3 fats in amounts typically seen in the American diet: 9% polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) of which 7.7% were omega-6 and only 0.8% omega-3 fats, resulting in a pro-inflammatory ratio of 9.6:1.
Diet 2, an omega-6-rich diet, provided 37% total fat containing 16% PUFAs of which 12% were omega-6 and 3.6% omega-3, a better but still pro-inflammatory ratio of 3.3:1.
Diet 3, which provided 38% in total fats, was an omega-3-rich diet, containing 17% PUFAs, of which 10.5% were omega-6 and 6.5% omega-3, resulting in an anti-inflammatory ratio of 1.6:1.
After each diet, subjects' blood levels of N-telopeptides, a marker of bone breakdown, were measured, and were found to be much lower following Diet 3, the omega-3-rich diet, than either of the other two.
The level of N-telopeptides seen in subjects' blood each diet also correlated with that of a marker of inflammation called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Diets 1 and 2—the diets which had a significantly higher ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats—also had much higher levels of TNF-alpha than the Diet 3, which was high in omega-3 fats from walnuts and flaxseed.Practical Tip: Protect your bones' by making anti-inflammatory omega-3-rich flaxseed and walnuts, as well as cold water fish, frequent contributors to your healthy way of eating.

Other uses

Although further research is needed, preliminary evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may help protect against certain infections and treating a variety of conditions, including ulcers, migraine headaches, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, addiction, eating disorders, preterm labor, emphysema, psoriasis, glaucoma, Lyme disease, lupus, and panic attacks.

Available Forms:

Flaxseed oil should be refrigerated. Use whole flaxseeds within 24 hours of grinding, otherwise the ingredients lose their activity. Flaxseeds are also available ground in a special mylar package so that the components in the flaxseeds stay active. Ripe seeds, linseed cakes, powder, capsules, and flaxseed oil are all available at health food and grocery stores.

How to Take It

Pediatric

Flaxseed oil may be added to a child's diet to help balance fatty acids. If an infant is breastfed, the mother may ingest oil or fresh ground seed to increase fat content in breast milk. See adult dosage below.

Children (2 - 12 years): 1 teaspoonful (tsp) daily of ground flaxseeds, or 1 tsp of fresh flaxseed oil for constipation.

Adult

Flaxseed: Take 1 tablespoonful (tbsp), 2 - 3 times daily or 2 - 4 tbsp, 1 time daily. Grind before eating and take with lots of water.

Flaxseed oil: Take 1 - 2 tablespoonfuls daily, or 1 - 2 capsules daily. Flaxseed oil is often used in a liquid form, which contains approximately 7 g of ALA per 15 mL tbsp, and contains approximately 130 calories.

As a substitute for fish oil, a dose of 7.2 grams of flaxseed is approximately equivalent to 1 gram of fish oil.

Precautions

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain components that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a health care provider qualified in the field of botanical medicine.

• Although studies have found that regular consumption of fish (which includes the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA) may reduce the risk of macular degeneration, a recent study including two large groups of men and women found that diets rich in ALA may increase the risk of this disease. Ask your health care provider.
• Flaxseed may slow down the absorption of oral medications or other nutrients if taken at the same time. Therefore, flaxseed should be ingested several hours before, or after medicines or supplements. Talk to your health care provider before taking flaxseed if you regularly take any prescription or nonprescription medications, or dietary supplements.
• People with either diabetes or schizophrenia may lack the ability to convert ALA to EPA and DHA, the forms of omega-3 fatty acids that are generally made from ALA and are more readily used by the body. Therefore, people with these conditions should obtain their omega-3 fatty acids directly from dietary sources rich in EPA and DHA, such as cold water fish (including mackerel, salmon, or whitefish).
• Do not use flaxseed products or ALA if you have diabetes, prostate problems, breast cancer, or schizophrenia without the advice and supervision of a qualified health care provider.

Possible Interactions

Flaxseed supplements may alter the effects of some prescription and nonprescription medications. If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use flaxseed without first talking to your health care provider:

Blood-Thinning Medications -- Omega-3 fatty acids may increase the effects of blood-thinning medications, including aspirin and warfarin. While the combination of aspirin and omega-3 fatty acids may be helpful under certain circumstances (such as heart disease), they should only be taken together under the guidance and supervision of a qualified health care provider.

Diabetic Medications -- If you are taking medicines for diabetes, including insulin, you should only use flaxseed (ALA) under the supervision of a qualified health care provider.

Oral Contraceptives or Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) -- Flaxseed may alter hormonal levels and alter the effects of oral contraceptives or HRT. Only use flaxseed under the supervision of a qualified health care provider if you are taking hormonal altering medications such as oral contraceptives or HRT.

Other -- Avoid taking flaxseed at the same time of day as medications and other supplements, as it may slow down the absorption of oral medications or other nutrients if taken at the same time. Take the flaxseed either 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine or dietary supplement.

Sources:
Does ground flaxseed have more health benefits than whole flaxseed? http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/flaxseed/AN01258
Case: This Single Food Helps Your Cholesterol, Heart, and Weight
The Benefits of Flaxseed http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-flaxseed?page=3

Listerine Linked to an Increased Risk of Oral Cancer

Using Mouthwash Could Increase Risk of Cancer by Nine Times, claim Scientists

                  Studies have linked the high alcohol content of some mouthwashes to oral cancer. Now Oral Cancer Prevention International (OCPI), a New York company, has filed a law suit in New Jersey claiming that Johnson & Johnson, one of the world’s biggest companies, interfered with a distribution contract it had for the test as it did not want to lend credence to the link between mouthwash and the disease.

       According to the lawsuit, in February 2010 OCPI signed a contract with a company called OraPharma – which was then a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson – to distribute its cancer test, called the Oral CDx Brush Test. The test is designed to identify pre-cancerous cells in people’s mouths.

However OCPI alleges that Johnson & Johnson grew “extremely concerned about the implications” of an Australian study that linked mouthwashes to cancer.

       OCPI said that the multi-national did not want to “lend credence to the link between Listerine and oral cancer” by selling both products. The company went on to allege that Johnson & Johnson “induced OraPharma to breach the sales agreement” to suppress sales of the test “in order to protect sales of its mouthwash, Listerine”. 

Johnson & Johnson has said: “The company is confident that we have engaged in proper business practices and we look forward to the opportunity to resolve this matter through the legal system.”

             The lawsuit by the company, Oral Cancer Prevention International Inc., claims J&J worried that consumers might link Listerine with oral cancer, a disease that affects 30,000 Americans every year, because of a 2008 study published in Australia.
According to the National Cancer Institute, the symptoms of oral cancer can include bleeding inside of the mouth and loss of teeth.
             "The potential that could have to sales of Listerine for J&J would be absolutely devastating," said Philip Hoffman, an attorney for the plaintiff company, OCPI.
On July 6, OCPI sued J&J for at least $60 million for protecting the sales of Listerine over the distribution of its product, the OralCDx Brush Test, which helps to detect and prevent oral cancer, according to the OCPI lawsuit. 
             The OCPI website says that the BrushTest is used to determine if a common oral spot contains abnormal cells that may develop into oral cancer. The company claims that in the last 10 years, the BrushTest has helped to prevent more than 21,000 cases of oral cancer.
Johnson & Johnson spokesman Marcus Boston refused to comment on the case beyond a prepared statement emailed to ABC News.

                In 2008, The Australian Dental Journal published an article on a study that found, "there is now sufficient evidence" that "alcohol-containing mouthwashes contribute to the increased risk of development of oral cancer."
                The same article added, "It is inadvisable for oral healthcare professionals to recommend the long-term use of alcohol-containing mouthwashes."
Although the study did not mention Listerine or any specific brands, Listerine antiseptic mouthwash may contain up to 26 percent alcohol, according to the Listerine website.

Sources:

• Listerine Cancer Worry? Company Claims Johnson & Johnson Killed Product abcnews.go.com/Business/listerine-cancer-worry-company-claims-johnson-johnson-killed/story?id=14116356&page=1

• Listerine cancer claim triggers court battle http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/wellbeing/5526228/Listerine-cancer-claim-triggers-court-battle#share

Blueberries faked in cereals, muffins, bagels and other food products

The blueberries found in blueberry bagels, cereals, breads and muffins are REAL blueberries right? Wrong! Award-winning investigative journalist Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, exposes the deceptive chemical ingredients and dishonest marketing of "blueberry" products from big-name food and cereal companies. The blueberries, it turns out, are made from artificial colors, hydrogenated oils and liquid sugars. See more episodes at www.FoodInvestigations.com 

Blueberries have long beentouted as a superfood, high in antioxidants,vitamin C, and manganese. And unlike other superfoods like acaiberries, bee pollen, and wakame seaweed, blueberries are accessibleand attractive, so they're an easy sell to anyone skeptical ofhealth food.
So this reputation could be why blueberries are in so manypackaged foods, from muffin mixes to salad dressings. They appearto add nutrition and deliciousness that might otherwise be lacking.Nevermind that actual, fresh blueberries are only in season about 2to 3 months out of the year -- the blueberry harvest goes on allyear at the grocery store.

But have you actually read the labels on those supposedlyblueberry-filled products?
Some of them, like Target Blueberry Bagels and General MillsTotal Pomegranate Blueberry Cereal, might be fooling consumers intothinking the food has something it doesn't. While manufacturers state they're still within the U.S.'sadmittedly loose labeling laws, many of those blueberry-promotingproducts are made without genuine blueberries.
The Consumer Wellness Centerrecently produced a Food Investigations videothat looked at the actual blueberry content of several widelyavailable packaged foods. This expose shows how Kellogs, GeneralMills, Betty Crocker, and other brands advertise plump, wholeblueberries in their cereals and mixes, but deliever dextrose, cornflour, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, sugar, citric acid,artificial flavor, and food colorings Blue #1 and Red #40instead.

Breastfeeding . Why Human milk is irreplaceable?

World Breastfeeding Week  1–7 August 2011

      World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 120 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration made by WHO and UNICEF policy-makers in August 1990 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

      Breastfeeding is the best way to provide newborns with the nutrients they need. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding until a baby is six months old, and continued breastfeeding with the addition of nutritious complementary foods for up to two years or beyond.

Introduction to Breastfeeding

          Breast milk is thought to be the best form of nutrition for neonates and infants. The properties of human milk facilitate the transition of life from in utero to ex utero. This dynamic fluid provides a diverse array of bioactive substances to the developing infant during critical periods of brain, immune, and gut development. The clinician must be familiar with how the mammary gland produces human milk and how its properties nourish and protect the breastfeeding infant.

             Clinicians play a crucial role in a mother's decision to breastfeed and can facilitate her success in lactation. Although a mother may not be aware of the evidence indicating that breast milk contributes to her baby's short-term and long-term well-being, she has developed certain attitudes and cultural beliefs about breastfeeding. The issue of bonding between mother and newborn may be a strong factor; however, stronger cultural or societal barriers may result in the decision to formula feed. Such issues must be understood for successful counseling. The mother makes her decision regarding breastfeeding prior to delivery in more than 90% of cases; therefore, her choice of infant nutrition should be discussed starting in the second trimester and continue as part of an ongoing dialogue during each obstetric visit.

          Breastfeeding or bottle feeding your newborn baby is a personal decision. If you choose to breastfeed, it will be helpful if you are in a supportive environment and have resources to assist you with questions you may have or problems that may develop. 

• Consider attending a series of La Leche League meetings or reading La Leche League's book on breastfeeding (The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding) before the birth of your baby.
  
  
• Ask other breastfeeding mothers for advice.
  
  
• A supportive network including other like-minded mothers helps with the commitments of this style of feeding.
  
  
• If you are undecided at birth time, consider a one-month trial. It is easy to go from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding.
  
  
• The first month of breastfeeding is the most difficult, so if you get through that period, the rest will be easier.

Campaign Video : "Breastfeeding: First food for champions!"  

Comparison with Formula-Feeding

• The ideal food for human infants is human milk. Human milk contains all the right ingredients—protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water—in just the right balance. No formula can make that claim. Infant formula manufacturers attempt to artificially duplicate human milk. Formula feeding is a practice that is relatively recent—about 60 years—compared to the beginning of humankind (not to mention all other mammals) relying on breast milk.
  
  
• Formula does not contain the disease-fighting factors or the digestive enzymes that breast milk has. The nutrients in formula are more difficult for a baby to digest and absorb than the nutrients in human milk, requiring the baby to handle excess waste. Some formulas may have a less than optimal composition by containing too much salt and/or not enough cholesterol, fats, lactose, zinc, and iron, among other nutrients.

• Some infants fed a cow's milk-based formula may develop allergies to the proteins in the cow's milk. Infants who are allergic to cow's milk often are also allergic to "hypoallergenic" (non-allergy-causing) soy formulas.
  
  
• During the early months, a formula-fed baby may develop signs of allergy to or intolerance of a particular formula. These signs may include the following:
  
  
  • Bouts of crying after feeding
    
    
  • Vomiting after most feedings
    
    
  • Persistent diarrhea or constipation
    
    
  • Colic with a distended tense painful abdomen after feeding
    
    
  • Generally irritable behavior
    
    
  • A red, rough sandpaper-like rash especially around the face or anus or in both places
    
    
  • Frequent colds and ear infections
    
    
  • Red itchy rash especially in the folds of the elbow and knee joints
    
    
• These signs, or the baby's preference, may lead you through a series of different formulas, often each more expensive than the last.
  
  
• Formula-fed infants may be exposed to a variety of environmental substances used during the preparation of the formula or carried as a minor contaminate from which breastfed infants are protected. 

Benefits of Breastfeeding

• With rare exceptions, breast milk is the preferred feeding for infants and confers unique benefits.
  
  Breastfed babies (for at least 6 months) may be at reduced risk for many acute and chronic diseases, including gastrointestinal tract infection (like diarrhea), lower respiratory tract infections (like a cold), urinary tract infections, otitis media (ear infections), and allergic reactions (like atopic dermatitis and asthma).
  The effect of breastfeeding in protecting against infection is well established. Infants who were fully breastfed for 6 months or more seem to have higher mental development when compared with infants who were never breastfed. Some studies show that the effects of breastfeeding may carry over and also protect young children and adolescents from becoming overweight.
  
  
• Milk has biologic specificity—meaning that every species of animal who breastfeeds their babies makes a milk that is unique for the young of that species.
  
  
• The amounts of nutrients change to match your baby's rapidly changing needs.
  
  
• The fat content increases during a feeding so that the baby gets the right amount of fat. Human milk contains the right kinds of fats along with an enzyme (lipase) that helps digest the fat.
  
  
• Cholesterol is high in human milk, lower in cow's milk, and very low in formulas. Cholesterol promotes brain growth and provides basic components of hormones, vitamin D, and intestinal bile.
  
  
• Milk (cow's, formula, and human) contains two main proteins: whey and casein. Whey is easier for humans to digest and is found in higher concentrations in human milk.
  
  
• Around 6 months of age, the baby's intestines mature and become less open to proteins that may harm the body as allergenic proteins (allergens). Giving only human milk until the intestines mature is the best way to keep potentially allergy-causing proteins out of baby's blood.
  
  
• Human milk includes helpful proteins not naturally found in milk made by cows or companies.
  
  
• Human milk is fresh and contains more lactose (sugar) than cow's milk. Formulas add sucrose or glucose (other types of sugars).
  
  
• Vitamins and minerals have a higher bioavailability in human milk. In other words, the body uses most of what is in the milk. There is very little waste.
  
  
• The germs in the baby's environment, to which the mother has been exposed, cause the mother to produce antibodies to that germ, which are passed on to the breastfeeding infant.
  
  
• Breastfeeding relaxes mother and baby.
  
  
• Women who breastfeed have a lower incidence of breast cancer.
  
  
• Breastfed babies tend to be healthier.
  
  
• Breastfeeding is less expensive.

Prepare for Breastfeeding

• There is really no physical preparation that is necessary for breastfeeding. Education about the benefits and practice of breastfeeding is the best preparation. Contrary to some popular beliefs, it is not necessary to "toughen up" or prepare the nipples in advance for breastfeeding. Some techniques of stimulating the nipples may actually be harmful.
  
  
• Sometimes women prepare for breastfeeding by exposing the nipples to air for a certain amount of time each day; while this has not been shown to be medically useful, it is likely not harmful either.
  
  
• Take a breastfeeding class. Your hospital may offer breastfeeding classes as part of the childbirth class. These classes can put you in touch with a lactation specialist who may later be your personal breastfeeding consultant.
  
  
• Join your local La Leche League or other breastfeeding support group. Call (800) LA LECHE to find your local leader.
  
  
• Talk with supportive friends who encourage your feeding choices.
  
  
• Learn proper positioning and latch-on techniques.

First Feedings

• Within a few minutes after birth, most babies can be introduced to breastfeeding. Relax. Most babies take a few licks, sucks, and pause. Sucking in frequent bursts and pauses is the usual pattern for the first few hours and sometimes even the first few days. The first milk the mother produces, colostrum, is the best food.
  
  
• Breastfeeding also helps the uterus contract, which helps stop uterine bleeding.
  
  
• Try to room-in with your baby. When you see your baby begin to open its eyes, look around, and put his or her fist into his or her mouth, then it is time to offer your breast.
  
  
  • Try to make the nurses understand that you wish to breastfeed and that your baby should not be given sugar water or formula without you and your health care provider being aware and consenting.
    
    
  • You may need to have the nurses actually put a sign on your baby's bed restricting bottle-feeding.
  
  
• Try latching the baby on at the first signs of hunger. Do not wait until the baby cries, or you will teach the baby to cry to get your attention. The baby will get upset more quickly the longer you take to respond.

  Conclusion :
 
          Human milk, in addition to its numerous nutrients that make it an ideal food source for the growing term infant, is a bioactive fluid that evolves from colostrum to mature milk as the infant matures. This bioactive fluid contains numerous factors and live cells that, in concert, promote the growth and well-being of the breastfeeding infant. Oliver Wendell Holmes said it best when he stated, "A pair of substantial mammary glands has the advantage over the two hemispheres of the most learned professor's brain, in the art of compounding a nutritious fluid for infants." With the ever-expanding knowledge resulting from current research, commercial formula clearly cannot replicate all of the valuable properties that are inherent in human milk.

Source:
world_breastfeeding_week
breastfeeding/article
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1835675-overview       
 http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/healthyliving/childfamily/Pages/CommonQuestions.aspx
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/healthyliving/childfamily/Page  /EducationalMaterialsforBreastfeedingFamilies.aspx
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/baby-food-nutrition-9/default.htm
http://www.happybabyfood.com/health-nutrition/47/210-happybaby-nutrition-guide
 Age by age guide to feeding your baby  http://www.babycenter.com/0_age-by-age-guide-to-feeding-your-baby_1400680.bc

In China 1.3 million websites have been shut in 2010

Chinese web users are frequently blocked from accessing sites such as Youtube...

More than one million websites closed down in China last year, a state-run think tank has said. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said there were were 41% fewer websites at the end of 2010 than a year earlier.
Chinese officials have tightened regulations on the internet in recent years, and they launched a crackdown on pornography websites in 2009.
The academy's researcher said there was no link, insisting China had a "high level of freedom of online speech".
Liu Ruisheng said that despite the declining number of sites, the number of web pages had risen to 60 billion during 2010 - a 79% increase on the previous year.
"This means our content is getting stronger, while our supervision is getting more strict and more regulated," he said.
Civil rights campaigners have long railed against China's web censors, who impose controls known as the Great Firewall of China.
A number of websites are routinely blocked, such as the BBC's Chinese language service, and social media sites like Facebook, Youtube and Twitter.

What Color Eyes Would Your Children Have?

           What Color Eyes Would Your Children Have? is an interactive eye color calculator which allows visitors to explore and learn about genetic inheritance. Using this online exhibit visitors can see the probabilities of their children's eye color or that of their parent's children. In addition, adjustments for populations that have predominantly brown or green eyes can be made.
          Working closely with The Tech Museum of Innovation, Ideum designed and developed this interactive application as part of the Understanding Genetics online exhibition. The program was developed using Macromedia Flash.