Look Ripped

Pig Flu!

Another twist in the unfolding epidemiological nightmare for governments around the world is not just their concern that the swine flu virus could mutate to a more virulent form, but the very real possibility that a vaccine may not be available for the northern hemisphere’s flu season. While those in the southern hemisphere are feeling the brunt of the swine flu those in the northern hemisphere are pinning their hopes on a vaccine due for distribution in September. There’s the nub, 70% of the worlds vaccines are made in Europe, the US having only a limited capacity to produce vaccine they are heavily dependent on European supplies and rely on their contractual agreements with pharmaceutical companies to deliver.

 Pandemic vaccine is a valuable and a scarce resource; history has shown during the pandemics of 1957 and 1968 countries that produced vaccines never exported until their own population had adequately been supplied; As for contractual obligations, under international law private agreements are voided during extraordinary circumstances and a pandemic fits those criteria, leaving many countries not just without a vaccine but also little legal recourse. So it would appear that any government that assert to have a well defined schedule for the implementation of a vaccine is very poorly informed.

Eat less, live longer and healthier

Eating fewer calories in an effort to extend our lives has been an issue that has been kicked around by the experts for a number of years, now once again a new study using rhesus monkeys has highlighted the positive benefits of eating less. But how does a study on monkeys translate into longer lives for us? It may seem like monkey business but researchers are confident they’re on the cusp of finding out why we age and possibly how we can slow the process down.

 

Love handles free zone

The study carried out on rhesus monkeys in a Wisconsin primate centre identified a striking difference in the physical appearance and overall wellbeing of primates that had been on a 30% restricted calorie diet compared to those that were on a normal diet. Rhesus monkeys live for approximately 27 years; the lean mean fighting machines were found to suffer less from age related diseases and in large outlived their unrestricted calorie mates.

Lifestyle disease free

Another very interesting finding was the rhesus monkeys on the restricted diet had lower incidents (less than 50%) of cancerous tumours and heart disease, age related muscle atrophy and less brain shrinkage  something we all face as we age.

Metabolic rebooting

It is hypothesised that by restricting calories somehow reboots and reprogram the metab olic processes, not just reducing the rate of ageing but also the incident of age related disease. So it would seem that unless our closest relative gets hit by a low flying plane or slips on a banana skin, caloric restriction it would appear will make their lives longer or at the, least seem longer.