Dutch government warns about e-cigarettes

The Dutch Health Ministry sounded an early warning about the possible health risks of electronic cigarettes.

The Dutch Health Ministry sounded an early warning on Thursday about the possible health risks of electronic cigarettes, announcing plans to clamp down on labelling ahead of European regulations.

The move followed an analysis of existing scientific research by the National Institute for Public Health, the leading Dutch government health advisory body.

The institute said it was concerned about a lack of evidence on the possible health effects of e-cigarettes, and said that as a precaution, they should not be used by pregnant women or in the vicinity of children.

Some health experts say e-cigarettes – battery-powered metal tubes that turn nicotine-laced liquid into vapour – may be the answer to helping millions of smokers to quit cigarettes and thereby avoid the damaging health effects of smoke.

Smoking tobacco causes lung cancer and other chronic respiratory diseases and is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, the world's number one killer.

May outsell conventional cigarettes

Tobacco has an annual death toll of 6 million people, and the World Health Organisation says that could exceed 8 million by 2030 unless something urgent is done to stop people smoking.

All the top tobacco companies are investing in e-cigarettes, which some analysts have predicted may outsell conventional cigarettes in 10 years.

But they are far from universally accepted as a public health tool - with some critics worried they will not break nicotine addiction and may be a "gateway" to regular cigarettes - and the fast-growing market is largely unregulated.

The Dutch institute also recommended banning flavour and scent enhancers in e-cigarettes that contain nicotine because of concerns they may attract children to smoking.

Citing the institute's findings, Dutch deputy health minister Martin Van Rijn argued that e-cigarettes are as addictive as tobacco cigarettes because they contain nicotine, and he said there was no proof of claims by manufacturers that they help smokers quit.

"There is insufficient scientific evidence to be able to say whether the quantities of toxins in the exhaled air are dangerous for bystanders," Van Rijn wrote in a letter to parliament on Thursday.

Flashing lights

"In advance of European regulations, I will take measures in national legislation in regard to advertising, safety, quality and labelling of e-cigarettes," the letter said.

Additional research will be conducted by the institute to learn more about e-cigarettes, the ministry said.

The warning came as Britain signalled it would force tobacco companies to scrap branded cigarette packaging on Thursday in an attempt to reduce the number of children who may be drawn to smoking by striking and brightly coloured packs.

The Dutch institute raised concerns on its website last week that e-cigarettes are attractive to young people because of bright colours, flashing lights and jewellery-like appearance.

Roughly 11 to 18 percent of Dutch smokers have tried the e-cigarette, while about 5 percent said they use it regularly, the ministry said.

More than $2 billion

Market consultant Euromonitor estimates the world market for electronic cigarettes was more than $2 billion last year, with the United States accounting for a quarter of that.

A few countries have banned them outright – such as Brazil, Norway and Singapore – while others are opting for varying degrees of regulation, in some cases including limits on advertising and curbs on their use in public places.

Big tobacco companies are grappling with declining sales of tobacco in a number of markets due to increasing government regulation and more health-aware consumers, as well as smuggling and an economic downturn.

Philip Morris International Inc, the maker of Marlboro cigarettes, said this month it plans to enter the e-cigarette market next year, saying it is the "greatest growth opportunity".

Imperial Tobacco Group plans to launch two electronic cigarettes in its new fiscal year.

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Perfect Truths about Yoga

Turbaned gurus, sing-song mantras and bodily contortions . . . the promise of true enlightenment and omphaloskepsis (contemplation of the naval) completes the cliche. But don't knock yoga till you've tried it, and then only with respect.

Yoga means to bind together -- variously joining sun and moon, left and right, male and female, and any number of yins and yangs -- through ascetic techniques of meditation and exercise. The goal is physical and mental balance.

Indian Hatha' yoga is best known to Westerners. Double-jointedness isn't a prerequisite, but the classic lotus position, cross-legged on the floor, soles-up on the inner thigh, either comes naturally or doesn't.

Then there are more magical/mystical varieties of yoga for which people quit jobs and polite society and retreat to the Himalayas. But not everyone follows a spiritual guide beyond the Beltway; they'd rather take up the discipline at a local ashram or the Y.

Committed practitioners claim yoga leads to intuitive awareness, spiritual harmony, perfect concentration. Others use it to lose weight or quit smoking. Some just like the lift they get from yoga asanas (positions) better than breaking into a sweat with pushups. In any case, it can't hurt, if done in moderation and with proper guidance.

Facts About Nutrition Labels

The nutrition label located on each and every food item,

will tell you all the information about that food. For

some however, this information isn't exactly that reader

friendly. Fear not, as it's actually easier than you

think.

Serving Size

This size is based on the amount people eat. Similar

food items will have similar serving sizes, thus making

it easier to compare 2 foods of the same category.

% Daily Value

This indicates how food will fit in a 2,000 calorie

diet. This will help you to understand if the food

has a lot, or just a little of the important nutrients.

The middle section

The nutrients you'll find listed in the middle section

are the ones that are most important to your health.

This information can help you to calculate your daily

limit of fat, fiber, sodium, and other nutrients.

Vitamins & minerals

The percent daily value found here is the exact same

as the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance for vitamins

and minerals.

Now that you know what the nutrition label actually

means, it'll be a lot easy to eat healthy. Eating

healthy is a great thing - especially when you use the

nutrition label to assist you with your food choices.

Nine Facts About Fiber

If you've been looking for a way towards a high

octane diet, you'll find fiber to be exactly what

you need. Even though research has shown fiber to

be powerful, many people aren't taking this nutrient

seriously.

To help you fuel your health with fiber, here are

10 facts to help.

1. Fiber fights diseases. A diet high in fiber can

help to prevent colon cancer and heart disease. High

fiber helps the body to eliminate cholesterol by

binding it in the digestive tract. For thousands of

years, fiber has been used to stop constipation.

2. Fiber can actually help with overeating. All high

fiber foods will take longer to chew and digest,

making you feel satisfied longer

3. Most popular foods don't have enough fiber. If

you like the more popular foods, you probably need

to increase your intake of fiber.

4. Grains offer the most fiber. Dietary fiber is

actually plant matter that we cannot digest. The best

sources are whole grains and concentrated grain

products.

5. Kids need fiber as well. Children that are older

than 2 years of age should consume a daily intake of

fiber. Kids are most receptive to fiber found in

fruits, vegetables, and even fortified breakfast

cereals.

6. More fiber needs more water. In order to keep

fiber moving through your digestive tract, you'll

need to consume a lot of water. With your diet of

fiber, you'll need eight or more glasses of water

every day.

7. Fiber cannot be cooked out. When you cook

your fruits and vegetables, don't worry about cooking

the fiber out, as it stays. The fiber found in

fruits and vegetables aren't just in the skin or

in the peel.

8. You can get enough fiber. If you eat more than

50 grams of fiber in a day, you can get diarrhea

and bloating, which can interfere with your body's

absorption of other key minerals.

9. Getting the right amount of fiber in your diet

doesn't have to be hard. Even though you may think

so, getting the amount of fiber you need isn't very

hard to do. All you have to do is eat the right

foods and you'll be well on your way to a fiber

rich lifestyle.

As one of the key ingredients to healthy eating,

fiber is something you don't want to skip. Fiber can

serve many different purposes, which were covered

above. If you aren't getting enough fiber in your

diet - you should do something about now instead

of waiting until it is too late.