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Mary-Kate Olsen’s Anorexia?
Olsen twin Mary-Kate (the one with brown hair) is seeking treatment for a “health-related issue”. Unfortunately she’s no longer coming to Australia for the premier of her new film starring the twins

The word on everyone’s lips is that Mary-Kate Olsen has anorexia. Her increasingly slender figure and protruding bones certainly suggest an eating disorder. The disease is most common in teenage girls but also affects boys.

The Hollywood crowd is notorious for its emphasis on keeping a slender body. The pressure to conform to these ideals is understandable for an 18 year old who is constantly in the celebrity spotlight.

Some of the signs of anorexia are:
• Weighing less than 85% of what is expected for age and height.
• In women, menstrual periods stop. In men levels of sex hormones fall.
• Young girls do not begin to menstruate at the appropriate age
• Person denies the dangers of low weight.
• Is terrified of becoming fat.
• Is terrified of gaining weight even though s/he is markedly underweight.

Anorexia is a mental condition that often coincides with other mood disorders. These usually include depression, irritability, withdrawal, and peculiar behaviors such as compulsive rituals, strange eating habits, and division of foods into "good/safe" and "bad/dangerous" categories. It is thought this may be an attempt to cope with the demands of a new life stage often involved in adolescence.

Let’s hope she gets better soon.

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"Women complain about premenstrual syndrome, but I think of it as the only time of the month that I can be myself."
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 2mins with Hippocrates

Lactose intolerance
If you commonly experience digestive complaints such as nausea, cramps, bloating, gas or diarrhea, it may be worth checking for lactose intolerance. This is the inability to digest significant amounts of lactose, a type of sugar found in milk.

Most people tend to become less able to digest lactose as they get older. Between 30 and 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant. Certain ethnic groups are more widely affected than others. 90 percent of Asian Americans and as many as 75 percent of African Americans and American Indians are lactose intolerant. The condition is least common among persons of northern European descent.

There are tests available for lactose intolerance, but you may be able to work it out for yourself. Try and see if your symptoms begin about 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating or drinking foods containing lactose. The severity of symptoms varies depending on the amount of lactose each individual can tolerate. Make sure you read the ingredients on all foods you eat as many foods have lactose or milk derivatives in them.

 Your Health

Cell Phones Might Decrease Sperm Production

Could men who carry their cell phone in their pocket be zapping their sperm?
One study has found a reduction in sperm count in men who place their cell phone near their groin on a belt or in a pocket

The study by Hungarian researchers found that not only did the quantity of sperm reduce but the remaining sperm showed abnormal movements, further reducing fertility. Researchers from the University of Szeged studied 221 men for 13 months and compared the sperm of those who used their cell phones heavily with those who did not.

Many other fertility experts are saying it’s too early to tell people to throw away the cell phone yet. The number of people studied is relatively small and other factors such as smoking and stress did not appear to be taken into consideration.

Unlike previous studies, the researchers believe cell phones may cause damage while in stand-by mode, when they are not in use but still make regular transmission to maintain contact with radio towers. It had been assumed such transmissions were too short to cause harm.

 Lifestyle Tip

Go Take a Walk
Do it regularly for improved circulation, mental alertness, healthier heart, improved moods and more restful sleep. You will probably find that your endurance and fitness will improve after a week or two of walking. In general, the longer the walk, the more benefits to your overall health.

Here are some fun and easy ways to increase walking in your everyday life:
* If you feel sluggish when the alarm goes off, wake up with a brisk walk.
* Walking is fun with company, so take a two- or four-legged friend with you.
* Go the distance: next time you go shopping, park as far away as you can from the store entrance.
* Get a walking partner and stick to a regular schedule together.
* When the weather is bad, bring your walking shoes to the mall and put in a few laps while window -shopping.

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