Thursday, April 17, 2008

The facts about health and beauty

Avian Influenza and Food Safety



Would you eat chicken during a bird flu epidemic? Since the Avian influenza or "Bird Flu" virus was first identified and described, there has been concern among consumers about avian influenza and food safety, and the belief that the virus could be transmitted to humans from eating the meat of infected chickens and birds. Is this a cause for concern for the average American?

Before addressing this question, it's important to understand how the Avian influenza virus is spread. The avian influenza virus is spread by direct contact between birds and through contact with the feces and secretions of birds infected with the virus. There is also the potential for airborne transmission between birds living in close quarters, such as a poultry house. Humans can contract the virus from being in close contact with the feces and secretions from infected birds. Can the virus be transmitted through the oral intake of eggs and poultry from an infected bird? If this is the case, this would present an enormous avian influenza food safety issue for countries affected by the virus.

With safeguards put into place to screen for infected birds, it's highly unlikely an infected bird or egg would enter the food chain to be a threat to consumers. Plus, the literature shows that the avian influenza virus is not transmissible through properly cooked poultry and eggs. What avian influenza food safety precautions should you take in order to protect yourself in the event of an epidemic? The literature suggests you should take the same precautions with eggs and poultry as you would to safeguard yourself against food poisoning. These avian influenza food safety measures would include:

� �1. Washing all utensils and cutting boards that come into contact with poultry or eggs thoroughly with soap and water. For additional protection, you can follow up with a disinfecting agent.

� �2. Wash your hands thoroughly with warm soap and water after handling poultry or eggs.

� �3. Cook poultry and eggs to a temperature of at least 165 degrees before serving.

� �4. If you need to use uncooked eggs in a recipe, be sure to use pasteurized egg products.

These common sense food safety measures can not only protect you against the threat of� avian flu, but also reduce your risk of food poisoning of all types.

It's encouraging to know by using proper avian influenza food safety measures, the risk of transmission of the avian influenza virus through poultry and egg consumption is extremely low. To date, no evidence of such transmission has occurred and is highly unlikely to occur when poultry and eggs are properly cooked.

fitness and health Comments

Pica



Recognizing and Fighting With Adolescent Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are found in all age groups however the highest number is registered in adolescents. Many of those who discover that they have an eating disorder later in life realize that it all started in their adolescence.

What Causes Eating Disorders

There are many causes to eating disorders such as: self-esteem, wanting to fit in a group or team, stress, to desire to stand out in a way or the other and so on. Eating disorders are both when you over eat or when you starve yourself; either way you are putting your health and sometimes even your life at risk.

Adolescent eating disorders are created sometimes without even realizing you are doing so, for example, your girlfriends wear two sizes smaller clothes than you do and you want to look and shop like they do, subconsciously you start starving yourself so you can lose weight faster.
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Anorexia Diagnosis



All About Pica

While the media discusses some of the more commonly occurring eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, few realize that there are actually many other types of eating disorders that one may fall victim to. In this article, we'll discuss a lesser-known eating disorder that is known as pica, helping you to learn more about the disease so that you can be better informed about its possible symptoms and treatments.

Whereas many of the eating disorders that we commonly discuss involve a low-self image and a desire to become thinner, pica is a drastic departure from this standard. Pica is definitely an outlier in the world of eating disorders, and it is described as a disorder in which one constantly feels the need to eat things that are not commonly considered food. The name 'pica' actually was imparted to the disorder since pica is Latin for magpie, which is a type of bird that often has an odd diet. While the cravings may occur a time or two in some individuals, when the symptoms persist for more than a month, a case of pica may be accurately diagnosed. Things that people with pica often desire to eat may include dirt, chips of paint, starch for use in laundry, and the feces of animals, soap, or glue. These are just a few of the things that one may desire to consume, and there are many other things to consider. While some of the things that those with pica desire to eat can be consumed with little to no negative effects on the body, others can have terribly bad effects. There are several different reasons for which one may develop a case of pica, and quite often, it is due to the deficiency of certain minerals such as iron or zinc. Poor diets may also result in a desire to eat non-food items, and malnutrition can sometimes be pointed to as the cause. Mental retardation can also be responsible, as well as certain cases of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Women who are pregnant may also experience a case of pica, as cravings during pregnancy can be intense and odd.

When it comes to treating a case of pica, the treatment often depends upon the individual. In many cases, the disorder can be cleared up by addressing the mineral deficiency that may be causing the urges. Psycho-therapy may also be employed in order to help a person to cure themselves of their pica urges. It's important to address the disorder if it is present, as it can cause malnutrition and lead poisoning. Infections may also occur, and if one is eating certain items, intestinal blockage may occur which can really complicate matters. If you know someone who you suspect is undergoing a problem with the eating disorder known as pica, you may want to ask them to visit a doctor in order to address the problem and determine whether or not a deficiency could be causing it to occur. While it's an odd eating disorder, it's no laughing matter, and it's something that needs to be addressed in order to be treated.
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anorexia statistics

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