CNN-IBN
TimePublished on Sat, May 31, 2008 at 20:05 in Sports section
THE ONLY ONE: Kapil Dev led the Indian team to its only World Cup title win in 1983.
New Delhi: Could strained relations between India's only World Cup winning skipper Kapil Dev and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) be on the mend?
On the 25th anniversary of the greatest moment in Indian cricket - the 1983 World Cup win, the BCCI has decided to honour all 22 members of that squad in a special ceremony in New Delhi on June 22.
Kapil, who was removed as chairman of the National Cricket Academy after he joined the Essel Group promoted Indian Cricket League (ICL) has been invited to the ceremony.
Other members of that team who are now in the ICL include Madan Lal, Balwinder Singh Sandhu and Sandeep Patil.
The felicitation ceremony may be the first step in mending of relations between the BCCI and India's greatest all-rounder.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Joke
Hillary Clinton's OB-GYN
Hillary Clinton went for her annual exam. After the exam, the OB-GYN told her that she was pregnant, and in great shape. Hillary couldn't believe the news and stormed out of the office. She rushed to her limo and picked up the phone to call the Oval Office. "You got me pregnant! How could you be so careless?" There is a silence on the other end. Finally, she hears Bill's voice. "Who is this?''
Hillary Clinton went for her annual exam. After the exam, the OB-GYN told her that she was pregnant, and in great shape. Hillary couldn't believe the news and stormed out of the office. She rushed to her limo and picked up the phone to call the Oval Office. "You got me pregnant! How could you be so careless?" There is a silence on the other end. Finally, she hears Bill's voice. "Who is this?''
Just 10 minutes of talking may help improve memory and intellect
“In our study, socializing was just as effective as more traditional kinds of mental exercise in boosting memory and intellectual performance,” said Oscar Ybarra, a psychologist at the U-M Institute for Social Research (ISR) and a lead author of the study with ISR psychologist Eugene Burnstein and psychologist Piotr Winkielman from the University of California, San Diego.
During the study, funded in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation, the researcher examined ISR survey data to see whether there was a relationship between mental functioning and specific measures of social interaction.
The survey data included information on a national, stratified area probability sample of 3,610 people between the ages of 24 and 96. Their mental functions were assessed through the mini-mental exam, a widely used test that measures knowledge of personal information and current events.
Participants’ level of social interactions was assessed by asking how often each week they talked on the phone with friends, neighbours and relatives, and how often they got together.
The researchers also looked at the connection between frequency of social contact and level of mental function on the mini-mental exam.
The study showed that the higher the level of participants’ social interaction, the better their cognitive functioning. The relationship was reliable for all age groups, from the youngest through the oldest.
In another experiment, the researchers conducted a laboratory test to assess how social interactions and intellectual exercises affected memory and mental performance.
They assigned 76 college students, ages 18 to 21, to one of three groups-social interaction group, intellectual activities group, and control group.
Participants in the social interaction group engaged in a discussion of a social issue for 10 minutes before taking the tests, while those in the intellectual activities group completed three tasks before taking the tests, which included a reading comprehension exercise and a crossword puzzle.
Participants in a control group watched a 10-minute clip of “Seinfeld”.
Thereafter, all participants completed two different tests of intellectual performance that measured their mental processing speed and working memory.
“We found that short-term social interaction lasting for just 10 minutes boosted participants’ intellectual performance as much as engaging in so-called ‘intellectual’ activities for the same amount of time,” Ybarra said.
“To our knowledge, this experiment represents the only causal evidence showing that social interaction directly affects memory and mental performance in a positive way,” he added.
As per the findings, he says, visiting with a friend or neighbour may be just as helpful in staying sharp as doing a daily crossword puzzle.
Ybara also said that social isolation might have a negative effect on intellectual abilities as well as emotional well-being. (ANI)
During the study, funded in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation, the researcher examined ISR survey data to see whether there was a relationship between mental functioning and specific measures of social interaction.
The survey data included information on a national, stratified area probability sample of 3,610 people between the ages of 24 and 96. Their mental functions were assessed through the mini-mental exam, a widely used test that measures knowledge of personal information and current events.
Participants’ level of social interactions was assessed by asking how often each week they talked on the phone with friends, neighbours and relatives, and how often they got together.
The researchers also looked at the connection between frequency of social contact and level of mental function on the mini-mental exam.
The study showed that the higher the level of participants’ social interaction, the better their cognitive functioning. The relationship was reliable for all age groups, from the youngest through the oldest.
In another experiment, the researchers conducted a laboratory test to assess how social interactions and intellectual exercises affected memory and mental performance.
They assigned 76 college students, ages 18 to 21, to one of three groups-social interaction group, intellectual activities group, and control group.
Participants in the social interaction group engaged in a discussion of a social issue for 10 minutes before taking the tests, while those in the intellectual activities group completed three tasks before taking the tests, which included a reading comprehension exercise and a crossword puzzle.
Participants in a control group watched a 10-minute clip of “Seinfeld”.
Thereafter, all participants completed two different tests of intellectual performance that measured their mental processing speed and working memory.
“We found that short-term social interaction lasting for just 10 minutes boosted participants’ intellectual performance as much as engaging in so-called ‘intellectual’ activities for the same amount of time,” Ybarra said.
“To our knowledge, this experiment represents the only causal evidence showing that social interaction directly affects memory and mental performance in a positive way,” he added.
As per the findings, he says, visiting with a friend or neighbour may be just as helpful in staying sharp as doing a daily crossword puzzle.
Ybara also said that social isolation might have a negative effect on intellectual abilities as well as emotional well-being. (ANI)
Active social life helps prevent memory loss in older adults (Re-issue)
Washington, June 1 (ANI): Older people who love to interact and socialise in parties, are less likely to experience memory loss, a problem long been associated with aging, says a new study.
While memory loss is feared to have devastating effects on the quality of life among older people, researchers at Harvard School of Public Health have proved that elderly people with active social lives may have a slower rate of memory decline.
“We hope this study adds to and advances our growing understanding of the important role that social forces play in shaping health,” Live Science quoted researcher Karen Ertel, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Society, Human Development and Health at HSPH, as saying.
In earlier studies it was mentioned that an active social life may cut the risk of dementia and cognitive decline among the elderly. While memory loss is considered to be a strong risk factor for dementia, researchers wanted to know if memory loss is also linked with social connectedness.
For the study, researchers collected data from 1998 to 2004 from the Health and Retirement Study, a large, nationally representative population of U.S. adults 50 years and older.
In 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004, the memory was examined by reading a list of 10 common nouns to survey respondents. They were then asked to recall as many words as possible immediately and after a five-minute delay. Also, the researchers took into account social integration in relation with marital status, volunteer activities, and contact with parents, children and neighbors.
It was found that those with the highest social integration had the slowest rate of memory decline from 1998 to 2004. In fact, memory decline among the most integrated was less than half the rate among the least integrated. All these findings were irrespective of age, gender, race and health status in 1998.
Also, the protective effect of social integration was found to be largest among individuals having less than 12 years of education. There was no evidence that the results could be due to reverse causation, that is, poor memory or memory decline causing social withdrawal.
“Social participation and integration have profound effects on health and well-being of people during their lifetimes. We know from previous studies that people with many social ties have lower mortality rates. We now have mounting evidence that strong social networks can help to prevent declines in memory. As our society ages and has more and more older people, it will be important to promote their engagement in social and community life to maintain their well-being,” said Lisa Berkman from HSPH.
“We need to understand more about how social integration reduces the risk of memory decline in order to target interventions that can help slow the decline. Future research should focus on identifying the specific aspects of social integration most important for preserving memory,” said Ertel.
The results are detailed in the upcoming issue of the American Journal of Public Health and in a May 29 advance online edition. (ANI)
While memory loss is feared to have devastating effects on the quality of life among older people, researchers at Harvard School of Public Health have proved that elderly people with active social lives may have a slower rate of memory decline.
“We hope this study adds to and advances our growing understanding of the important role that social forces play in shaping health,” Live Science quoted researcher Karen Ertel, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Society, Human Development and Health at HSPH, as saying.
In earlier studies it was mentioned that an active social life may cut the risk of dementia and cognitive decline among the elderly. While memory loss is considered to be a strong risk factor for dementia, researchers wanted to know if memory loss is also linked with social connectedness.
For the study, researchers collected data from 1998 to 2004 from the Health and Retirement Study, a large, nationally representative population of U.S. adults 50 years and older.
In 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004, the memory was examined by reading a list of 10 common nouns to survey respondents. They were then asked to recall as many words as possible immediately and after a five-minute delay. Also, the researchers took into account social integration in relation with marital status, volunteer activities, and contact with parents, children and neighbors.
It was found that those with the highest social integration had the slowest rate of memory decline from 1998 to 2004. In fact, memory decline among the most integrated was less than half the rate among the least integrated. All these findings were irrespective of age, gender, race and health status in 1998.
Also, the protective effect of social integration was found to be largest among individuals having less than 12 years of education. There was no evidence that the results could be due to reverse causation, that is, poor memory or memory decline causing social withdrawal.
“Social participation and integration have profound effects on health and well-being of people during their lifetimes. We know from previous studies that people with many social ties have lower mortality rates. We now have mounting evidence that strong social networks can help to prevent declines in memory. As our society ages and has more and more older people, it will be important to promote their engagement in social and community life to maintain their well-being,” said Lisa Berkman from HSPH.
“We need to understand more about how social integration reduces the risk of memory decline in order to target interventions that can help slow the decline. Future research should focus on identifying the specific aspects of social integration most important for preserving memory,” said Ertel.
The results are detailed in the upcoming issue of the American Journal of Public Health and in a May 29 advance online edition. (ANI)
HIV highest among youth; 40% of victims women
BANGALORE: The incidence of HIV/AIDS among youth in the country is on the rise. Of the 35 lakh people living with HIV, 30%are in the age group of 15 to 29 years and 40% are women, Sujatha Rao, Director General of National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), said on Sunday.
Rao was speaking at the two-day religious Hindu leaders' caucus 'Faith In Action', organized by the Art of Living in association with United Nations Aids Control (UNAIDS) and Asian Interfaith Network on Aids.
Rao also highlighted concerns over increasing cases of youngsters taking to drugs. She attributed this to breakdown in families, lack of direction in life and low self-esteem.
Calling HIV/AIDS a "developmental problem that has become a social problem", she said it is emerging as a behavioural and moral issue. "But we are better off when compared to Durban, where every fourth person is infected with HIV. The lifespan of people in some places in Africa has come down from 65 years to 42 years. We have been able to contain the disease to some extent," she said.
Dr Denis Broun, UNAIDS country coordinator, India, said 33.2 million people are living with HIV worldwide. Around 7,000 people are infected every day. He focussed on the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS. "There is a need for people with HIV to lead a normal life and contribute to society, regardless of their HIV status. Here comes the importance of religious leaders and groups to support them," he said.
J V R Prasada Rao, director of UNAIDS, Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, said it has been 25 years since scientists identified the virus but there is no vaccine and no cure for HIV/AIDS. "About 90% of the women get infected with HIV/AIDS from their husbands. Thus, there is a need for behavioural control and change in attitude among men. They need to be like a drop of water on a lotus leaf. Hinduism can help as it advocates virtues, value in life and tolerance," he said.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder, Art of Living, called upon people to take up the responsibility of educating youth about healthy living and instil a stigma-free attitude towards AIDS victims in young minds.
Dinesh Ghodke, director of World Alliance for Youth Empowerment, spoke on the four ABCD approaches of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar that should be followed. It includes awareness, breath, care and compassion and de-addiction. The youth programme so far has been able to reach nearly 55,000 youths, he said.
The caucus intends to mobilize religious leaders to use their trust and authority to provide an emotional and moral support to the afflicted population. The meet saw 68 saints and over 200 delegates come together for the first time to jointly draw up an action plan to combat HIV/AIDS. Among the gathering were leaders from Iskcon, Manipur and Vrindavan; Mata Vaishnoo Devi, chief priest of Kamakhya temple, Assam; saints from Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and the southern states.
Rao was speaking at the two-day religious Hindu leaders' caucus 'Faith In Action', organized by the Art of Living in association with United Nations Aids Control (UNAIDS) and Asian Interfaith Network on Aids.
Rao also highlighted concerns over increasing cases of youngsters taking to drugs. She attributed this to breakdown in families, lack of direction in life and low self-esteem.
Calling HIV/AIDS a "developmental problem that has become a social problem", she said it is emerging as a behavioural and moral issue. "But we are better off when compared to Durban, where every fourth person is infected with HIV. The lifespan of people in some places in Africa has come down from 65 years to 42 years. We have been able to contain the disease to some extent," she said.
Dr Denis Broun, UNAIDS country coordinator, India, said 33.2 million people are living with HIV worldwide. Around 7,000 people are infected every day. He focussed on the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS. "There is a need for people with HIV to lead a normal life and contribute to society, regardless of their HIV status. Here comes the importance of religious leaders and groups to support them," he said.
J V R Prasada Rao, director of UNAIDS, Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, said it has been 25 years since scientists identified the virus but there is no vaccine and no cure for HIV/AIDS. "About 90% of the women get infected with HIV/AIDS from their husbands. Thus, there is a need for behavioural control and change in attitude among men. They need to be like a drop of water on a lotus leaf. Hinduism can help as it advocates virtues, value in life and tolerance," he said.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder, Art of Living, called upon people to take up the responsibility of educating youth about healthy living and instil a stigma-free attitude towards AIDS victims in young minds.
Dinesh Ghodke, director of World Alliance for Youth Empowerment, spoke on the four ABCD approaches of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar that should be followed. It includes awareness, breath, care and compassion and de-addiction. The youth programme so far has been able to reach nearly 55,000 youths, he said.
The caucus intends to mobilize religious leaders to use their trust and authority to provide an emotional and moral support to the afflicted population. The meet saw 68 saints and over 200 delegates come together for the first time to jointly draw up an action plan to combat HIV/AIDS. Among the gathering were leaders from Iskcon, Manipur and Vrindavan; Mata Vaishnoo Devi, chief priest of Kamakhya temple, Assam; saints from Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and the southern states.
Gut nutrition
Nutritional therapist Julia FitzGerald offers easy tips for healthier living. This week: how to look after your gut
We each carry more than two pounds of bacteria in our digestive systems. Most of it is "friendly", lining the gut and acting as a filter that allows nutrients through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream, while keeping undigested food and waste out.
A woman buys bananas
Bananas are excellent for promoting good bacteria
These bacteria produce vitamins B and K and other nutrients that nourish and protect the gut lining, helping to reduce the risk of colon cancer. They also counterbalance the "bad" bacteria, which could otherwise cause diarrhoea.
The growth of parasites, yeast and harmful bacteria in the gut are stimulated by diets high in sugar or alcohol. Antibiotic use, stress and air travel can disrupt this delicate balance, which leads to bloating, diarrhoea, constipation and food sensitivities.
(Interestingly, healthy gut flora in babies is linked with a reduced incidence of eczema.) To avoid these symptoms and look after your gut flora, follow these simple dietary tips:
Eat foods such as onions, leeks, chicory, Jerusalem artichokes, bananas, asparagus, beans, peas, oats and soybeans, which contain inulin, a fibre that good bacteria feed on.
advertisement
Click to learn more...
Add garlic to your diet: it is an antimicrobial that kills certain types of bacteria and reduces the level of yeast in your gut.
Avoid so-called probiotic drinks - yogurt marketed as dietary supplements - because they contain added sugars or sweeteners. They're expensive, too.
Instead, choose cultured foods such as live yogurt, which contains good bacteria; try Yeo Valley Organic Whole Milk Natural Yogurt (£1.39, 500g, available from supermarkets nationwide).
Reduce your intake of refined carbohydrates and sugar (white bread, pasta, pastries, cakes) as they promote yeast growth. Replace them with high-fibre alternatives, such as vegetables, seeds and whole grains.
We each carry more than two pounds of bacteria in our digestive systems. Most of it is "friendly", lining the gut and acting as a filter that allows nutrients through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream, while keeping undigested food and waste out.
A woman buys bananas
Bananas are excellent for promoting good bacteria
These bacteria produce vitamins B and K and other nutrients that nourish and protect the gut lining, helping to reduce the risk of colon cancer. They also counterbalance the "bad" bacteria, which could otherwise cause diarrhoea.
The growth of parasites, yeast and harmful bacteria in the gut are stimulated by diets high in sugar or alcohol. Antibiotic use, stress and air travel can disrupt this delicate balance, which leads to bloating, diarrhoea, constipation and food sensitivities.
(Interestingly, healthy gut flora in babies is linked with a reduced incidence of eczema.) To avoid these symptoms and look after your gut flora, follow these simple dietary tips:
Eat foods such as onions, leeks, chicory, Jerusalem artichokes, bananas, asparagus, beans, peas, oats and soybeans, which contain inulin, a fibre that good bacteria feed on.
advertisement
Click to learn more...
Add garlic to your diet: it is an antimicrobial that kills certain types of bacteria and reduces the level of yeast in your gut.
Avoid so-called probiotic drinks - yogurt marketed as dietary supplements - because they contain added sugars or sweeteners. They're expensive, too.
Instead, choose cultured foods such as live yogurt, which contains good bacteria; try Yeo Valley Organic Whole Milk Natural Yogurt (£1.39, 500g, available from supermarkets nationwide).
Reduce your intake of refined carbohydrates and sugar (white bread, pasta, pastries, cakes) as they promote yeast growth. Replace them with high-fibre alternatives, such as vegetables, seeds and whole grains.
Playing golf 'adds five years to your life'
By Kate Devlin, Medical Correspondent
A round of golf means being outside for four or five hours, walking at a fast pace for six to seven kilometres
But golf could have greater health benefits than walking and even more strenuous forms of exercise, according to research in Sweden which shows that playing the game adds an average of five years to your life.
The study's authors, from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, calculate that this adds an extra five years on to the average player's lifespan.
Professor Anders Ahlbom, who led the study of 500,000 golfers, said that many aspects of the game were beneficial to health.
"A round of golf means being outside for four or five hours, walking at a fast pace for six to seven kilometres, something which is good for the health," he said.
"People play golf into old age, and there are also positive social and psychological aspects to the game that can be of help."
Prof Ahlbom said that other factors outside the golf course, such as the fact that people who enjoy sport also generally lead a healthier lifestyle, could play a part in the findings, published in Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports yesterday.
However, he said that it was "likely" that playing the game itself had a significant impact on health.
The effect was stronger for golfers from blue collar backgrounds than players with professional jobs, the study found.
The lowest death rates were found among players with the lowest handicaps.
They are 47 per cent less likely to die at any time than non-golfers of the same age.
"Maintaining a low handicap involves playing a lot, so this supports the idea that it is the game itself that is good for the health," Prof Ahlbom said.
A round of golf means being outside for four or five hours, walking at a fast pace for six to seven kilometres
But golf could have greater health benefits than walking and even more strenuous forms of exercise, according to research in Sweden which shows that playing the game adds an average of five years to your life.
The study's authors, from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, calculate that this adds an extra five years on to the average player's lifespan.
Professor Anders Ahlbom, who led the study of 500,000 golfers, said that many aspects of the game were beneficial to health.
"A round of golf means being outside for four or five hours, walking at a fast pace for six to seven kilometres, something which is good for the health," he said.
"People play golf into old age, and there are also positive social and psychological aspects to the game that can be of help."
Prof Ahlbom said that other factors outside the golf course, such as the fact that people who enjoy sport also generally lead a healthier lifestyle, could play a part in the findings, published in Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports yesterday.
However, he said that it was "likely" that playing the game itself had a significant impact on health.
The effect was stronger for golfers from blue collar backgrounds than players with professional jobs, the study found.
The lowest death rates were found among players with the lowest handicaps.
They are 47 per cent less likely to die at any time than non-golfers of the same age.
"Maintaining a low handicap involves playing a lot, so this supports the idea that it is the game itself that is good for the health," Prof Ahlbom said.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
