Forex scarcity: Banks cut customers’ limit on forex spending

Following the continuous reduction in foreign exchange supply by the  Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), commercial banks have also notified their customers of a drastic reduction in their forex limit.
The new development implies that customers’ annual and daily limit on the use of their ATM cards and online transaction forex-denominated transactions have been drastically limited.
The CBN has been rationing dollar supply to banks, importers and Bureau de change in a desperate bid to curtail the nation’s foreign exchange reserves which has  continued to deplete and currently standing at about   $29bn.
The Naira in the last two weeks has maintained steady decline against major foreign currencies like the Dollar, the the British Pound Sterling and the Euro, with the Naira testing over N275 to the Dollar at the close of business last friday.
The cut by the banks on customers’ card spending in foreign currencies ranges from the annual $50,000 allowable  by the CBN to as low as  $5,000.
Skye Bank Plc, in an email notification which was also recieved by this reporter  slashed its international card spending limit from $50,000 to $12,000 annually, a maximum of $1,000 monthly and $100 daily.
Finding from our reporter also revealed that Standard Chartered Bank  notified its customers that from January 1, 2016, they will not be able to use their Naira de-nominated ATM cards for transactions that are de-nominated in foreign currencies, either locally or when they travel abroad. The bank blamed the development on  the limited foreign exchange supply in the financial market.
Reacting to this development, Barrister Ken Ukaoha, National President of the National Association of Nigerian Traders described the development as unfortunate.
He said: “the CBN is making it increasingly impossible to do anything outside the boundaries of this country. What has happened since the introduction of all the draconian restriction by the CBN is that we have moved from bad to worst which simply implies that what ever we are doing is simply not working.”
Kingsly Ibaji, an operator of a travel agency said: “what the CBN and the commercial banks are doing is to kick us out of business and completely destroy the hospitality business.”
Professor Ikechukwu Kelekume , a development economist with the Pan Atlantic University  in an exclusive interview with our reporter warned that the actions of the CBN is encouraging the breeding of an underground economy.
He said: “ people are piling up  their funds and routing them through the boarders in an apparent bid to find alternative ways to survive.

SOURCE: DAILY TRUST

Photos: Nigeria’s Collette Nwadike Wins Face Of The Universe Crown

Fashola addresses the press, reveals his plans to revitalize Power, Housing and Roads projects

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, today addressed a press conference in Abuja where he reeled out his plans for the revitalization of Power, Works and Housing projects in Nigeria. He said the focus on roads is to complete those already at some level of completion.

According to him, 200 road contracts were stopped and revitalizing them would bring 20,000 jobs. Regarding power, Fashola said efforts are on to improve on National output. He said the Ministry of Petroleum is constructing new pipes to transport gas to power generation company. This construction could be concluded in 15 months and would potentially add 2,000 megawatts to the current power situation. Fashola added that government would support local manufacturing of meters as an opportunity for entrepreneurship.

“We have more power generation than is been transmitted. The Transmission Company of Nigeria says it has 142 transmission projects on-going; 45 of them at 50% completion, 22 of them can be completed within a year. This will improve power. We need to reconfigure our roots for us to be able to install solar panels.”he said
On government plans to construct 40 blocks of 12 flats per block, in each state of the federation, Fashola said“this will give 480 flats per states. States will however, have to provide 5 to 10 hectares of land for the project. Government priority is on refinancing the outstanding 200 road contracts before we bring in new contracts”.

On climate he said:

“Nigeria made pledges at the climate change conference COP 21 and we pledge to fulfil these agreements. However, it will be in accordance with national priorities. Government is standing down slowly but surely to allow the economics of supply and demand to take place.

SOURCE : http://nigeriana.org/

Unveiling: Bovi & Kaffy - Hosts for the Headies 2015!

The Oldest Person With Sickle Cell Disease In The World, Alhaja Asiata Onikoyi-Laguda Clocks 90 | Read Her AMAZING Story!

Photo Credit – SCD Journal caption

At 90, Asiata Onikoyi-Laguda is believed to be the oldest person with sickle cell disease in the world.

She was born in November 1925, the same year as Margaret Thatcher, first female British prime minister and Malcolm X, the African American civil rights activist. At that time, the average life expectancy of children born with sickle cell disorder was just five years, but she has defied the odds to live up to 90.

Due to the high level of illiteracy at the time of her birth, she was never diagnosed with sickle cell. She endured years of pain, which kept her away from school till she was 12 years old. Her pain was so severe and frequent that she would beg God to let her die. After primary school, she enrolled at Queens College Lagos, where she met her husband Bolaji Alakija, who later became a doctor.

She did not know she had the sickle cell disease until after she had given birth to five of her six children. Her husband, Dr Alakija, gave her pills including folic acid to take every day, but kept the nature of her illness away from her for a long time. Dr Alakija had 10 wives and 27 children, when he died, she married Alhaji Laguda, but she never had a child with her second husband. She is the second of four children born from AbdulYekeen Ishola Onikoyi, a prince of the Onikoyi ruling house, and Aishat Alake Onikoyi from Kudeti, Ibadan. In spite of her illness, she has outlived her parents, husbands and siblings except one.

According to SCD Journal, in spite of the disease:

– She is under no dietary restrictions whatsoever: eats salt, eggs, meat, sugar, fried food, etc as she likes

– Her blood pressure hovering around 160/90

–  She has performed the holy pilgrimage to Mecca 13 times and Umrah half a dozen times

– She observed the annual 30-day Ramadhan fast until she was over 88 and pressured to discontinue by her children

– She reads Bible, Quran everyday with glasses but moves around without glasses

– She takes public transport in super-c,haotic Lagos

– She gave birth to six children, all by normal delivery. When only son passed away in August 2014 aged 59, she accepted the will of Allah but prayed, “Please let the rest of the children you gave me outlive me.”

SOURCE: http://woman.ng/

Coco Austin and Ice T's baby's first photo shoot

Photos: Funmi Iyanda gets honorary fellowship from University of Cumbria

 Nigerian Media Entrepreneur, Funmi Iyanda, she is the first Africa Woman to receive  an honorary fellowship from the University of Cumbria . This award is in recognition of her significant global contribution to human rights Congrats. More pics after the cut

PHOTOS: Tuface honored with a Chieftaincy title “Tafindan Kudenda” in Kaduna

 2face Idibia was honored with  Tafindan Kudenda which means ‘Ambassador for Peace’  Chieftaincy title by HRH Bagudu Galadima of Kudenda Kingdom at Kudenda Palace on November 24th . See more photos after the cut 

Dubai To Host 200 Nigerians On Paid Trips For Shopping Festival

The Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing on Tuesday said it had concluded plans to host 200 Nigerians on paid trips for 2016 Dubai Shopping Festival in January.

Mrs Stella Obinwa, the Regional Director, Africa International Operations of the corporation, made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the ongoing Akwaaba Travel Expo in Lagos.

Obinwa said that the trips were for the corporation’s frequent Nigerian customers and consumers.

She said the idea was to strengthen the tourism and cultural relationship between Nigeria and Dubai, United Arab Emirate.

“This is our first time of attending Akwaaba Travel Expo and our aim is to highlight Dubai as a shopping and family destination of choice.

“Dubai is a must-visit destination in 2016 with incredible new shopping and family fun experiences at the shopping festival scheduled for January,’’ the regional director said.

She said that Dubai had significant investments increasing tourism from Africa and all around the world.

“We are ready to support and work with Nigerian travel agencies and all airlines on a friendly bargaining for the 2016 Shopping Festival.

“Dubai is ready and willing to receive high influx of Nigerians and foreigners to grace the festival and also to experience the best tourism and hospitality treatment,’’ Obinwa said.

She said that corporation’s appearance at the expo was to create awareness about the shopping festival to the world, particularly to those who love shopping, entertainment and family fun.

“We are here to show that Dubai is going to out-do itself in this regard in 2016, with incredible new attractions and opportunities that can’t be missed,’’ she told NAN.

Obinwa said that Nigeria is one of Dubai’s best-performing African markets, with over 300,000 visitors arriving in Dubai from the region in 2014.

“Emirates operate three flights daily out of Nigeria, augmented by additional flights from within the region operated by Ethiopian Airlines.

“Etihad Airways, Rwanda Airways, Kenya Airways, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Royal Air Marco also operate flights from Nigeria.

“When it comes to shopping, nobody does it better than Nigerians and Dubai do shopping like no other city,’’ she added.

Obinwa said that shopping was a major attraction among African travellers and Dubai was highlighting its incredible retail offering to Nigerians in several innovative ways. (NAN)



SOURCE: Leadership News

Top emerging market infrastructure projects

Real Estate market is sprouting to be one of the world attractive area  for investment .As a result, leading to the country's robust economy outlook, creating more employment,attracting more investor and making more property valuable.

The number one property portal, Lamudi Nigeria looks at five key infrastructure projects now under development in the country and the emerging markets – and the flow-on effects for real estate.

Centenary City Nigeria

Location: Abuja, Nigeria

Cost: $18 billion

This 1300-hectare, master planned community, being developed by the Nigerian government, is the largest of its kind in Africa. Billed as a smart city along the lines of Dubai and Singapore, the plan for Abuja Centenary City includes a central business district, a financial center, a museum and cultural center, 13 hotels, and business and technology parks. The development will also be home to the highest tower in Africa, the 308m-tall Africa Tower. For residents, there will be ample housing, an 18-hole golf course, sports and leisure facilities, and community amenities. The impact for the local property market will be considerable, with about 60 percent of the development set aside for residential accommodation to help address Nigeria’s growing demand for housing. Once complete, Centenary City will house 137,850 residents. Moreover, the project is forecast to contribute about five per cent of Abuja’s gross domestic project.

King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)

Location: Saudi Arabia

Cost: US$100 billion

This mega city built on unoccupied desert land is being constructed completely from scratch. It includes the King Abdullah Port and Industrial Valley, which will be home to more than 80 global and local manufacturing and logistics companies. The project aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economy away from oil and will also help address a considerable housing deficit. Seven residential communities will house more than two million residents once the development is complete in 2035, with 50,000 people set to move in within the next five years.

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

Location: From Gwadar, Pakistan to Xinjiang, China

Cost: Over $46 billion

This 3000km project will connect Pakistan’s Gwadar Port with northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. A network of highways, railways and energy projects will connect the two countries to transport oil and gas, and is expected to generate billions in revenue. The Pakistani government recently announced that the project has seen China become the top foreign investor in the South Asian nation.

Clark Green City

Location: Central Luzon, the Philippines

Cost: 200 billion Philippine pesos (about US$4.25 billion)
Billed as the country’s next big metropolis, this 288-hectare development will be the Philippines’ first technologically-integrated city. The development combines residential, commercial, industrial and information technology developments, while still offering a green and sustainable lifestyle for residents. The development will include about 2000 affordable housing units for employees of the city. According to Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president and chief executive officer Arnel Casanova, Clark Green City is set to become “the center of economic development in the country”.

Bogota Urban Renewal

Location: Colombia

Cost: About $50 billion

Approved in 2007, Plan Centro aims to improve living conditions in Colombia’s capital city. The goal is to encourage Bogota’s residents to live downtown through improved safety, better housing and a boost to commercial activities. Projects such as the renewal and pedestrianisation of Séptima between Plaza de Bolívar and Calle 26 have already been completed. Other key projects, including the ambitious Estación Central on Calle 25 at Caracas, a multi-modal transit station that is expected to take 10 years to complete.

Culled from: Naija247news

GORGEOUS EX-BEAUTY QUEENS

Ex beauty queens - Ezinne Akudo, Erica Okundaye, Omowunmi Akinnifesi, Munachi Abii, Osas Ighodalo-Ajibade and Sylvia Nduka

Ugboro crisis: Warring factions embrace peace

Peace has finally returned to the war-torn Ode-Ugborodo community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The peace was facilitated by Pa J.O.S. Ayomike, Olaja-Orori Benson Omadeli and Eghare-Aja, Pa Wellington Ojoghor, recently at a reconciliation meeting with the warring factions.
It will be recalled that the internal feud was between two factions of the Ugborodo Trust Fund led by Mr David Tonwe and Dr Ayo Ayomike, over who controls funds accruing to the community spanning over five years.
The community played host to the multi-billion naira Chevron Tank farm and the Gas City Project hosting the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) projects.
Pa  Ayomike, while mending fences, listed the disadvantages brought about by the feuding parties to include underdevelopment and loss of direction.
To ensure a lasting peace, the octogenarian at the meeting suspended the two community factional executives of the Ugborodo Trust Fund who had been at centre of the crisis.
He called for unity of  the factions in order to, in one voice, fight and demand their legitimate rights from the companies operating in their area.
He traced the origin of the Ugborodo crisis to too much money and the greed by oil multinationals which lured some community youths into signing a Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) which was rejected in 2001 by leaders and elders of the community.
He alleged that they often colluded with outsiders to abandon well-meaning project that could benefit their people.
Ayomike cited the Koko and Escravos Shore Protection project and the Ogidigben Grammar School project, alleging that in spite of the only 10 per cent job done, executors of the project had already drawn and squandered about 98 per cent of the projects fund.
Meanwhile, the Ugborodo community leader, Mr Isaac Botosan, has said that the reconciliation meeting was the greatest thing that has happened to the community in recent years.
He added that all the warring factions have sheathed their sword, while exiled indigenes of the community are begging to return home.
The Chairman of the EPZ Interface Committee, Mr Austin Oborogbeyi, charged elders and youths to sustain the new-found peace and unity.


SOURCE: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

WOW! David Beckham Is People Magazine's 'Sexiest Man Alive' For 2015

.
 The 40-year-old former soccer star  married to designer and Spice Girl Victoria Beckham revealed on "Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday night that he had been honored to be named  Sexiest man alive by People magazine.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PSQUARE!!!!

The dual Artist PSquare, Peter and Paul Okoye are a year older today. Peter's wife, Lola Omotayo  sent a shout out to her Husband and his twin brother. See what she wrote after the cut...

Here's wishing my husband @peterpsquare and our very own uncle Paul, papa André@rudeboypsquare a very Happy Birthday.�� We celebrate you two today������. ������May the Lord remain a constant in both your lives and may you continue to have good health, long life, peace, prosperity and happiness all the days of your lives. May your bond ☝��remain unbreakable ������IJN. We love you ❤❤��������to the moon and back and pray that you continue to inspire us and your fans and make good music that unites the world. Peter & Paul forever!God bless you two.

Happy Birthday PSquare!! 

Charlie Sheen reveals his HIV Status Today

Sheen said he made the announcement to end a smear campaign and extortion efforts.

"I have to put a stop to this onslaught, this barrage of attacks and of sub-truths and very harmful and mercurial stories that are about me, threatening the health of so many others that couldn't be further from the truth," he said.

Sheen said he's trusted the diagnosis with people he thought he could confide in, but has paid out upwards of $10 million to keep the illness a secret.

"What people forget is that it's money taken from my children," he said about the "shakedowns" he has experienced. "I trusted them and they were deep in my inner circle, and I thought they could be helpful. My trust turned to their treason." He said appearing on TODAY will help put a stop to those payouts."That's my goal. That's not my only goal. I think I release myself from this prison today," he said.

Charlie Sheen revealed he is HIV positive Tuesday in an exclusive TODAY interview with Matt Lauer.

"It's a hard three letters to absorb. It's a turning point in one's life," the 50-year-old actor said.

Charlie Sheen reveals he's HIV positive in TODAY Show exclusive

Source: Today.com

Amazing Body Routine

Yello it's been really long time!

Anyway ! I am back for real and to stay
Ladies in the house
I stumbled  on below Video so insightful 

Patricia Bright shares her body routine with us in the video above: Enjoy !



Source ; Patricia Bright channel

$400 Million Networth

 Be inspired  Please Read 

Source: Internet

Acupuncture effective for reducing hypertension

Some people swear by acupuncture as a cure for pains such as migraine and back pain. Other remains sceptical, dismissing the ancient practice as a fluke. Now, scientists investigating actions of acupuncture have substantiated its age long usefulness in reducing blood pressure significantly in hypertensive patients.

In a new study, the scientists suggested that with regular use, electroacupuncture could help people manage their blood pressure and reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke in the longer term.

Electroacupuncture is a form of acupuncture that applies low-intensity electrical pulses through needles inserted at specific points on the body.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is an indicator that a person has a high risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease or heart attacks. If this pressure stays high or rises over time, it can cause damage to organs. But the drugs used to treat it must be taken daily, usually for a lifetime. And they may have side effects, such as fatigue, depression and dizziness, which often make many patients discontinue their treatment.

 Lifestyle interventions, such as exercise, weight loss, and salt intake restriction, can also lower blood pressure(BP), but these practices can be difficult to achieve and maintain. Therefore, there has been a growing interest in acupuncture as a treatment for hypertension.

Acupuncture is an ancient treatment technique anchored in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has been used to treat symptoms related to hypertension for centuries. Physicians and patients in China, South Korea, and Japan have considered it as an effective adjunctive treatment, while, in the west, its use has been increasing.

The efficacy of acupuncture for lowering BP was suggested by many published case reports and uncontrolled trials that have shown significant associated reductions. However, other reports have not shown significant effects in comparison to control subjects.

An acupuncturist, Dr Bade Adewale of the Subol Hospital, Egbeda-Ikotun, Road, Idimu, Lagos, remarking that although many people link acupuncture with curing pain, described acupuncture as a credible form of treatment for hypertension.

Adewale, saying that acupuncture, an ancient mode of Chinese’s treatment, has a way of regulating body processes back to normalcy, said “with 20 minutes of treatment, the blood pressure can be regulated back to normal.”

The alternative medicine expert, stating that the treatment course is usually determined by the cause of hypertension, the person’s body constitution and lifestyle, assured that acupuncture can be used solely or in combination with other forms of therapy and lifestyle modifications to ensure the treatment of hypertension.

One of the ways that acupuncture can help, he added, was that it can help relax a patient or correct inability to sleep, thus relieving the stress that might be the root of high blood pressure in some individuals.

This single-blind trial was conducted at the University of California-Irvine (UCI). It was also the first to “scientifically confirm” that the ancient Chinese practice was beneficial in treating mild to moderate hypertension. It recruited 65 patients with hypertension who were not taking any drugs to treat their condition. Each patient was randomly assigned to one of two groups.

Both groups were treated with electroacupuncture, except that one group (the treatment group) had it applied to both sides of the inner wrists and slightly below each knee (acupoints thought to reduce blood pressure). The other group had it applied to other acupoints along the forearm and lower leg (the control group).

The results published in the journal Medical Acupuncture showed that 70 per cent of the 33 patients in the treatment group experienced a noticeable drop in blood pressure.

On average, the reduction was between six and eight mm/Hg for systolic blood pressure and 4 mm/Hg for diastolic blood pressure. These improvements persisted for six weeks after treatment.

They also experienced several other improvements including reductions in dizziness, pain of the knees and waist, and palpitations. This can mean less intense and less frequent headaches, clearer vision, less irritability, and more consistent energy throughout the day.

There was also an average drop in blood concentration of norepinephrine (also called noradrenaline), a hormone that constricts blood vessels and increases blood pressure and blood sugar in the treatment group by 41 per cent.

The treatment group also showed a 67 per cent drop in renin - an enzyme released in the kidneys that helps control blood pressure - and a 22 per cent drop in a hormone that regulates electrolytes (aldosterone).

However, there were no significant blood pressure changes in the 32 patients in the control group.

Although the blood pressure reductions were relatively small – mostly with four and 13mmHg range – the researchers said they were clinically meaningful and claimed the technique could be especially useful in treating hypertension, especially in people in their 60s and older with high systolic blood pressure.

Given that electroacupuncture decreases both peak and average systolic blood pressure over 24 hours, they indicated it might also help to decrease their risk for stroke, peripheral artery disease, heart failure and myocardial infarction.

Several randomised controlled trials of acupuncture to treat hypertension had been conducted. In 2013, a multicentre randomised controlled trial conducted in 11 hospitals in China published in the journal, Trials, indicated a significant decrease in blood pressure.

For this study, 428 men or women aged between 40 and 75 years with mild hypertensive were, recruited from 11 hospitals in China. They were not taking any antihypertensive drugs.

Also, the 2013 edition of Acupuncture Electrotherapy Research on the effect of acupuncture on high blood pressure of patients using antihypertensive drugs reported that acupuncture facilitated a significant reduction in blood pressure and reduced the patients’ complaints.  Due to this, they strongly suggest that acupuncture should be in the hypertension treatment guidelines and widely used for blood pressure regulation.

Why does acupuncture lower blood pressure? In acupuncture, invisible pathways connecting one body part to another are called meridians. They are located over major [nerve] pathways that are accessed when you put a needle in. Stimulating the pathway “sends impulses to the brain, activating different areas.” Some affect pain, which explains why acupuncture can control pain and others regulate the cardiovascular system.

SOURCE: NIGERIA TRIBUNE

D&C much more than abortion!

Often times, women are told to plan their families appropriately and refrain from resorting to abortion as a family planning option. Rather than have an unplanned pregnancy, experts advise use of contraceptive devices and condoms because of the untoward effects abortion could have on a woman.

Unlike family planning methods, experts warn that when women resort to abortion with a common gynecological surgical procedure, known as dilatation and curettage (commonly called D&C), it could be a reason for them in future to have premature babies.

In a new study, experts found that women who have undergone dilation and curettage who later become pregnant may be at increased risk of giving birth before the baby reaches full term.

They end up with premature babies because of damage to the cervix, the opening at the bottom of the womb that normally stays closed during pregnancy but opens during labour.

In understanding more the risks of D&Cs, the scientists analysed 21 previously published studies that included more than two million women.

They found that compared with women who had never had a D&C, women who had undergone the procedure prior to giving birth were 29 per cent more likely to deliver their babies before the 37th week of pregnancy. Pregnancies are generally considered to reach full term at 37 weeks.

Also, women who had not undergone a D&C had a six per cent chance of having a preterm delivery, compared with 7.6 per cent for those who had undergone the procedure.

In addition, the procedure also increased women’s risk of preterm births, or those occurring before 32 weeks of gestation, by 69 per cent. The risks were higher for women who had multiple D&Cs.

According to the World Health Organisation, about 15 million babies are born before 37 weeks of gestation and complications arising from premature birth kill one million children a year worldwide. This makes it the leading cause of death for children under the age of five.

Professor Dapo Olayemi, a consultant obstetrics and gynecologist, however, linked the increase in possibility of women who have undergone dilation and curettage in their future pregnancies giving birth before the baby reaches full term to cervical incompetency.

He declared: “The weakening of the mouth of the womb of a woman makes her unable to carry a pregnancy to term. As a result of the neck of the mouth of the womb been loose, when pregnancy comes to put pressure on it, it opens up.”

“Also a complication of D&C is the puncture, adhesion or scarring of the walls of the womb.” When the linings of the womb stick together, this usually leads to infertility and may be a reason for the womb repeatedly aborting any implanted baby. These abortions take place early after conception,” he added.

Professor Olayemi, who assured that improvement in the conventional way D&C is done had made it far safer than before, stated that the use of D&C exceeds abortion purposes as many presume.

Sometimes a D&C is medically necessary. If a woman has unusually heavy bleeding as a miscarriage complication, a D&C can even be lifesaving because it stops the bleeding at the source.

In other cases, a D&C might be used if the doctor feels the miscarriage is unlikely to complete without intervention. In other cases, some women request a D&C because they prefer to get over the miscarriage rather than waiting for it to begin naturally.

A D&C may also make it easier to collect a usable tissue sample for couples who want to pursue chromosomal test on the baby.

D&C is one of the most common surgical procedures performed for abortion and miscarriage. During the 15-minute procedure, doctors dilate, or open, the cervix, then scrape the wall of the womb using either an implement called a curette or a vacuum suction tube.

Professor Olayemi, however, declared that many things aside miscarriage and abortion can predispose a woman to premature births, including infections, genetic problems and birth defects.

Common causes of preterm birth include multiple pregnancies, infections, bleeding in pregnancy, and chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure; however, often no cause is identified. There is also a genetic influence.

Also, women with certain abnormalities of the reproductive organs are at greater risk for preterm labour and birth than are women who do not have these abnormalities.

 More than 60 per cent of preterm births occur in Africa and South Asia, but preterm birth is truly a global problem. In the lower-income countries, on average, 12 per cent of babies are born too early compared with nine per cent in higher-income countries. Within countries, poorer families are at higher risk. Babies born prematurely have reduced chances of survival and even when they survive, they are forced to contend with life-long ailments and conditions.

SOURCE: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

Lack of sleep increases common cold risk, say researchers

A NEW study published in Sleep has reinforced the importance of getting a good night’s sleep. Researchers have demonstrated that not getting enough sleep could increase the risk of catching a cold.

The team reports that people who only get six hours sleep a night or less are four times more likely to catch a cold after exposure to the virus than people that get seven or more hours sleep a night.

“Short sleep was more important than any other factor in predicting subjects’ likelihood of catching cold,” says lead author Aric Prather, assistant professor of Psychiatry at the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF).

“It didn’t matter how old people were, their stress levels, their race, education or income. It didn’t matter if they were a smoker. With all those things taken into account, statistically sleep still carried the day.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have previously referred to insufficient sleep as a “public health epidemic,” linking it with motor vehicle crashes, industrial disasters and occupational errors.

In the past, Medical News Today have reported on studies finding that poor sleep may be linked to poor metabolic health and could raise the risk of heart attack and stroke.

While Dr. Prather had previously found that people who get insufficient sleep are less protected from illness after vaccination than people who get adequate sleep, the aim of his team’s new study was to learn how sleep affects how the body responds to real infection.


SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Liver-healthy foods

Maintaining the health of the liver and the need for liver cleansing. The liver is the most important organ in the body as it relates to the issue of detoxification. Detoxification is the physiological process of waste elimination from the body thereby reducing the risk of diseases from acids, toxic substances, heavy metals, other chemicals and microorganisms that may have found their way into the body.

The sources, which these pollutants come from have not only increased, the amount of wastes generated by each one has more than doubled in the past hundred years or so. No thanks to civilization, and the negative effects that have come with it; which have affected man adversely over the years. The increase in the number of cars in the big cities of the world today together with the increase in the number of factories all around us have perfected the case of air pollution every where. The air all around has become severely polluted by carbon monoxide from these cars and factories.

The human population has so increased that farmers all over the world now use fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides to increase their yield to meet the food needs of the teeming population of the world. This was not so some 50 or more years ago in this part of the world.

The food that we ate as little children in the 50s and 60s were organically grown, without fertilizers or any other kind of chemical. Furthermore, our food was fresh, straight from the farm to the kitchen. There were no preservatives, colourants, or other such chemicals added.

The water human beings drink is also contaminated by the chemicals farmers use. These chemicals are washed into streams and rivers by rainwater. They also sip down into the under ground water from where we get drinking water. These chemicals will eventually get to our drinking water.

Microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites etc.) are now a common finding in the water we drink. This is so because every body is now producing and selling drinking water in this country. Such water is loaded with all sorts of particles in them because their purification processes are suspect and there is no proper supervision by the government agency that is in charge. Drug manufacturers have also contributed their quota to the load of contaminants that must pass into and through the body. These drugs are all chemicals and together with all other contaminants mentioned, they will have to be detoxified by the liver.

Whatever passes through the stomach, food, water, beverages, alcohol and drugs have to be carried in the blood after absorption to the liver for detoxification. Detoxification is one of the primary functions of the liver.

Specifically, the blood from the intestines to the liver is loaded with the following items: nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and fats), acids, toxins from the intestines, acid stored in fat tissues and other toxins generated by the metabolic processes that take place in the body. The toxins that are stored in the fat tissues can be released during exercises, fasting and stressful moments in ones life.

The need to store toxins in fat tissues is the genesis of obesity and one who is obese may have to contend with liver problems as a result of excess toxins in circulation. Other items coming from the intestines to the liver are microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. These could be coming from contaminated water and food prepared in unhygienic conditions. Along with the bacteria are bacterial endotoxins, antigen-antibody complexes and other toxins.

How the Liver Detoxifies
The liver is the first port of call of all these pollutants and microorganisms. As a major organ of detoxification and the first organ to be exposed to toxins, acids, chemicals, heavy metals and microorganisms, the liver plays a very critical role in maintaining the wellbeing of the human body. It is of utmost importance that the liver itself is in a state of optimal performance and protected from the negative effects of all that pass through it.


SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Experts Advocate Nutrition, Lifestyle Modification for Disease Prevention

Following increased rate of  Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) in the country, experts have called on Nigerians to maintain adequate nutritional diets, as well as abstain from lifestyle that predisposes one to health issues like diabetes, cancer, respiratory disorders, among others.

The experts who spoke at a one-day workshop organised by Coca Cola Nigeria in Lagos recently, tagged: 'Adequate Nutrition and Lifestyle : Essential for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases,' said Nigerians must make deliberate attempts to prevent the numerous health issues in the country.

Speaking at the workshop, a Consultant Nutritionist and Dietician, Dr Chika Ndiokwelu, said eating unhealthy diets have been implicated to cause a number of preventable diseases, adding that, processed foods contain more harmful elements than the well known African foods and vegetables which the country was used to.

While stating that poor food intake, smoking, harmful use of alcohol and sedentary lifestyle were risk factors responsible for NCDs, she advised that eating of fruits, legumes, vegetables, engage in regular physical exercise, reduction of salt intake, reduction in alcohol intake, as well as quitting smoking, would help a long way in preventing NCDs.

She described NCDs as chronic but non-contagious medical conditions which could lead to deformity or death. "NCDs represent a major threat to health and development in the 21st century, as they account for 60 per cent of all deaths and 43 per cent of disease burden globally," she said.

She listed four major NDCs to include; cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes mellitus, adding that, these four were the world's biggest killers as they account for 36 million deaths annually.

"With the increasing level of NCDs, if proper measures are not taken, the country may be forced to allocate more than three per cent of its healthcare cost for the management of the diseases within the next 10 years," she said.

Ndiokwelu, called on the Federal Government to develop a national policy and action plan on food and nutrition, including the control of diets related to non-communicable diseases. Statingthat, manufacturers and producers of food products should provide accurate nutritional information on their products to help consumers make informed choices.

In his speech, a Research Fellow, National Institute for Medical Research, Dr. Bartholomew Brai said with improved healthy lifestyle and right diets, NCDs will reduce drastically in the country, adding that, Nigerians must shun risky factors that predisposes them to various kinds of health issues.

He charged health writers to continue to educate the public on ways to preventing diseases and general health education.

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Affairs and Communication, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Mr. Clem Ugorji, said that the company has been striving to provide clear nutritional values, offer low calorie or non-caloric beverages to the public.

Ugorji said the workshop was organised to educate the public on issues of nutrition as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR).

"The recipe of coca-cola has remained unchanged for 129 years, with more than 3,600 products in several countries and over 500 brands. ''This was achievable due to our acceptance by the public. We shall continue to support and provide the public with health information because a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.

''The only way to reach the public is through the media which is why we are organising this workshop for them to relate and know our level of acceptance in the public. The media also have a role to play by ensuring that they publish accurate and factual information so as not to misinform the public, '' he said.

The forum had in attendance over 40 health journalists across the country, who also had a tour of the company's plant facility in Ikeja.

Anna Ebiere cute daughter with Nigeria Finest singer Flavour(Photo)

Photos from the swearing in ceremony of new SGF, NSA & Adesina

Your diet can turn you to a dullard

The ultimate reason we eat is to achieve good health and retain it. Good health also suggests being in good mental state; because, as psychiatrists note, there is no good health without mental health.

When we eat good foods, our bodies get nourished from the head down. On the other hand, wrong foods can affect the way our brain works.

Scientists say our brains need sugar every day to function, as brain cells require two times the energy needed by all the other cells in the body – roughly 10 per cent of our total daily energy requirements.

This energy is derived from glucose (blood sugar), the gasoline of our brains, scientists say. In other words, sugar is not the brain’s enemy; rather, added sugar in foods is.

Research indicates that a diet high in added sugar reduces the production of a brain chemical known as Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor. Without BDNF, they note, our brains can’t form new memories and we can’t learn (or remember) much of anything. Levels of BDNF are particularly low in people with an impaired glucose metabolism such as diabetics and pre-diabetics; and as the amount of BDNF decreases, sugar metabolism worsens.

So, what foods are likely to injure your brain? These ones…

Sugary products

The list is endless, and they include biscuits, canned and bottled drinks, canned fruits in syrups, sweetened ‘fruit’ juices, dissolvable powdered drinks, candies (sweets), cakes, dried fruits, jams and other sweetened spreads, energy bars, milk shakes, etc.

Experts say it isn’t that you don’t eat any of these foods at all; what they are concerned about is their percentage to the content of your entire daily meal intake, and also if your entire meal chain revolves around these foods.

A group of researchers, led by the University of California Los Angeles biology professor, Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, discovered that bingeing on soft drinks, sweets and sugary snacks for as little as six weeks may impair brain function.

The study shows that a diet high in fructose (sugar) slows down the brain, and hampers memory and learning.

Gomez-Pinilla says, “Our findings illustrate that what you eat affects how you think. Eating a high-fructose diet over the long term alters your brain’s ability to learn and remember information.”

Scientists regularly warn that sugar harms the body through its role in diabetes, obesity and liver problems. A study published in Psychology Today states that overeating, poor memory formation, learning disorders and depression have all been linked to too much consumption of sugar.

So, instead of feasting on sugary snacks, try wholesome fruits.

Junk foods

As far as some people are concerned, patronising fast food outlets is status symbol. But scientists say the bad fats in junk foods can actually clog up the brain and interfere with the way it sends messages. The effects are even worse in growing children, they warn.

A study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health states that the IQs of children who ate fatty, sugary, processed foods appeared to suffer years later, while the IQs of those who ate healthy foods improved.

Again, researcher, Dr. Alex Richardson, of the University Laboratory of Physiology in Oxford and co-director of the Food and Behaviour Research Charity, says trans fats displace healthy fats in the brain.

She warns, “Every time children eat crisps, biscuits or cakes, they are filling themselves with what are essentially toxic fats. There are no health benefits to these hydrogenated fats, yet they are all that some children and adults are eating.

“They are replacing the essential fats that would make their brain and body work properly with ones that are clogging up the machinery. In layman’s terms, the brain gets thicker,” Richardson says.

Fried foods

Besides the fact that regularly eating fried foods can give men aggressive prostate cancer, scientists warn that their effects on brain function are as terrible.

A study by researchers at the University of the Basque in Spain, published in the journal Food Chemistry, reveals that compounds released from common cooking oils significantly increase the risk of neurologic degenerative diseases and a variety of different cancers. They conclude that toxic compounds from fried foods cause cancer and deteriorate brain health.

Foods such as French fries, crispy fried shrimp and classic fried chicken, among numerous others, could only fry your brain.

In the United States, for instance, many schools have cut out fried foods in the café, all in a bid to help kiddies’ brain power. Instead, they serve baked chicken, baked chicken wraps, strawberries, peaches, sweet potatoes, carrots and kale.

Experts also recommend alternate food preparation methods such as roasting, steaming and broiling.

Salty foods

Again, scientists say too much salt and too little exercise are hard on the heart. However, new research suggests that they can be hard on the brain, too.

A three-year study of more than 1,200 people, led by Carol Greenwood, a nutrition scientist and interim director of the Baycrest Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied and Evaluative Research in Toronto, has linked a salty diet and sedentary lifestyle to cognitive decline in old age.

In fact, scientists say salt affects your brain the same way hard drugs do!

Of course, we don’t cut off salt from our diets totally; rather, what we need is a balance between things. A physician, Dr. Louise Chang, notes that the iodine in iodised salt helps the body make thyroid hormone, which is critical to an infant’s brain development.

So, a little salt is essential to good health.

The bottom line

Eat your foods as naturally as possible.

SOURCE: PUNCH

Man City signs De Bruyne

Manchester City on Sunday announced the signing of Belgium playmaker Kevin De Bruyne from German side Wolfsburg on a six-year contract.

City did not disclose how much they had paid for the 24-year-old former Chelsea player, but British media reports said the fee was a club record in the region of £58 million ($89.3 million, 79.8 million euros).

“I want to reach the highest level possible as a player and I think the most important thing is that at the end of the season we can be happy and maybe have some titles,” De Bruyne said in a statement on the City website, alongside a photo of him holding the number 17 shirt.

“I think this is the most important for the club, the players and for the fans of course.”

The deal eclipses the £49 million that City paid Liverpool to secure Raheem Sterling’s services and smashes the Bundesliga transfer record of 41 million euros, which Liverpool paid Hoffenheim for Brazil forward Roberto Firmino in July.

It also represents a three-fold increase on the fee of £18 million that Wolfsburg paid Chelsea to sign De Bruyne in January 2014.

“We are very happy to have added Kevin to our team and I have no doubt that he will be a big success on his return to the Premier League,” said City manager Manuel Pellegrini.

“It takes a special footballer to improve our squad and I have no doubt that Kevin is certainly one of those -– he has all of the mental, physical, tactical and technical attributes required to fit straight in.

“We like to play attractive, attacking football and bringing in a player like De Bruyne will only aid us as we fight on four fronts.”

As well as Sterling and De Bruyne, City have also signed defender Nicolas Otamendi and midfielder Fabian Delph as they look to reclaim the Premier League title lost to Chelsea last season.

SOURCE:kokomansion

Pregnant and malnourished? Your baby risks ill health

 

Pregnancy is a trauma to the body; or so physicians want us to know and, I dare say, they know better.

Indeed, when you remember that pregnancy takes a whopping nine months to mature into the delivery of a healthy baby if everything goes well, you will appreciate the physical and psychological changes that attend it, as well as their implications on the health of the expectant mother.

Head of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chris Isokpunwu, says pregnancy leads to increased oxygen consumption due to the rising metabolic needs of the mother and the developing baby.

He notes that the growth of the size of the uterus, alongside the increase of the progesterone levels, leads to increment of the respiratory rate, resulting in lower level of carbon dioxide in the blood, or what is medically known as hypocapnia – a state of reduced carbon dioxide in the blood that can lead to brain injury.

“When this condition is in a mild stage, the pregnant woman can experience constipation, nasal blockage, constant coughing, etc. She may also have visual disturbances, anxiety, transient dizziness, muscle cramps, blackouts, shortness of breath and vomiting,” experts warn.

Consultant Paediatrician at the Calabar General Hospital in Cross River State, Dr. Friday Odey, warns that the health of the unborn baby and his very life hang on the mother’s wellbeing; hence, whatever affects the expectant mother is very likely to affect her unborn baby.

Indeed, the United Nations Children’s Fund laments that the diets of women often lack nutrients, which endanger womanhood; and that when dietary deficiency extends to pregnancy period, it could lead to irreversible damage on both the mother and her baby.

“And that is why pregnant women are counselled to eat well and to also observe other healthy habits while the condition lasts,” Isokpunwu enthuses.

At the UNICEF workshop warning the nation on the effects of malnutrition on children and the need for pregnant women to imbibe good dietary and other habits that will ensure mother-child wellbeing, experts agree that the effects of nutritional deficiency in pregnant women have been identified as the major causes of unsafe pregnancy and maternal mortality in Nigeria.

Gynaecologists say good management of a pregnancy will improve the foetal status too, noting that it is one of the reasons why pregnancy care is two-pronged: caring for mother and her unborn baby at the same time.

Isokpunwu says no matter the level of care available to a pregnancy woman, nothing will work positively if the expectant mother does not eat balanced diet.

He counsels, “Healthy diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle at any time, but it is especially vital if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Eating healthily during pregnancy will help your baby to develop and grow, and will keep you fit and well.”

Nutritionists add that while a pregnant woman doesn’t necessarily have to go on a special diet, it’s important to eat a variety of different foods every day in order to get the right balance of nutrients that you and your baby need.

Experts recommend eating fruit and vegetables; as well as foods that contain carbohydrates, protein, dairy (eggs, cheese and yoghurt); and moderate quantities of foods that contain sugar and fat such as butter, oils, salad dressings, chocolate, biscuits, pastries, etc.

Nutritionists say fruit and vegetables provide vitamins and minerals; as well as fibre, which helps digestion and prevents constipation. They add that starchy foods such as bread, potatoes, breakfast cereals, rice, pasta, noodles, maize, millet, oats, sweet potatoes, yams, etc., are important sources of vitamins and fibre, and are satisfying without containing too many calories.

Protein-rich foods such as meat (avoid liver), fish, poultry, eggs, beans, pulses and nuts are also recommended.

However, physicians say though it is best to get vitamins and minerals from the foods you eat, when you’re pregnant, you need to take some supplements as well to make sure you get everything you need.

They note that the main reason for this is because no matter how much we try, cooking, storage and the way we handle foods generally are capable of destroying some of the nutritional elements derivable from them.

This is supported by experts at the United States Department of Agriculture, who note that during pregnancy, the mother’s needs for several vitamins and minerals increase.

“You need enough for your growing baby’s needs as well as your own needs. This makes it difficult to get all that you need from food. This is especially true for folic acid and iron: During pregnancy, mothers need to consume enough nutrients to meet their increased needs as well as those of their growing baby,” Isokpunwu submits.

Again, the authorities at the United Kingdom-based National Health Service agree that while it is best to get vitamins and minerals from the food you eat, when pregnant, you will need to take some supplements as well to make sure you get everything you need.

A Professor of Pharmacognosy, Maurice Iwu, notes that naturally-prepared food supplements, otherwise called nutraceuticals, contain ingredients that promote health and wellness, maintain weight and fight diseases.

Iwu says nutraceuticals contain food products such as zinc, magnesium, iodine, copper, iron, calcium, folic acid, vitamins B12 and B6, anti-oxidants, vitamin K and selenium.

Experts say a dietary supplement that contains all these nutritional elements in balanced proportion will help in nurturing both mother and child during pregnancy; and, after delivery, during the breastfeeding period.

SOURCE:PUNCH