CANCER SURVIVOR DR TOM WU'S RECIPE FOR GOOD HEALTH

1. Have at least three bowel movements a day.

Other health experts may advise one bowel movement a day, but Dr Wu says that's not enough. You need three to four bowel movements a day in order to excrete all the accumulated faeces from your intestine. Your liver will not be overburdened and it also helps reduce cholesterol in your body.

2. Drink at least three glasses of fruit or vegetable smoothies each day.

This is a way to ingest enough phytochemicals to strengthen the body's cells and immune system. Use not only the flesh, but also the skin and seeds of fruits and vegetables to make smoothies, as they are rich in phytochemicals. Most of the fruit seeds have small amounts of cyanide which kill bacteria and viruses without damaging the body.

Actually the recommended smoothie diet is six glasses a day, two in the morning, one before lunch, two more in the afternoon, and one more before dinner. However, if that's too much, you may start with three glasses a day. Use a high powered blender (at least three horsepower) as it can release phytochemicals from the fibre. It's best to choose sour fruits like green or red apples, grapes, pineapple3. Sunbathe 30 minutes daily.

We often hear that the Sun's UV rays will damage our skin, and many people apply sunblock before going out. But Dr Wu says the opposite. He says the UV rays will help convert cholesterol underneath the skin into vitamin A which helps moisten the skin and
prevent skin cancer, and also vitamin D that helps prevent colds, osteoporosis, and certain kinds of cancer.

"Therefore, use the Sun. Expose yourself to sunlight about one-half hour a day, at noon or another appropriate time based on your local climate. The Sun will make you healthier," says Dr Wu.
3. Sunbathe 30 minutes daily.

We often hear that the Sun's UV rays will damage our skin, and many people apply sunblock before going out. But Dr Wu says the opposite. He says the UV rays will help convert cholesterol underneath the skin into vitamin A which helps moisten the skin and
prevent skin cancer, and also vitamin D that helps prevent colds, osteoporosis, and certain kinds of cancer.

"Therefore, use the Sun. Expose yourself to sunlight about one-half hour a day, at noon or another appropriate time based on your local climate. The Sun will make you healthier," says Dr Wu.

4. Exercise 30 minutes a day.

Don't exercise for more than 30 minutes. If you go beyond that, your body will be overworked. "If you do it more than half an hour, that will become labour, not exercise. Your heart and your body will be working too hard," he says.

5. Shower with hot, then cold water.

Try an alternating cold and hot water shower: Three minutes of hot water followed by 30 seconds of cold water, then repeat twice more. This process will bring a rush of blood and energy to your body. It helps increase your immune system, blood circulation, and metabolism.

6. Drink a lot of water, in the correct way.

How much water you need to drink each day depends on your specific situation. If your office is air-conditioned, drinking six glasses of water a day is enough. If your work involves lots of walking, you have to drink 8-10 glasses a day. If you work under the hot sun, then 10-12 glasses of water are required.

The way you drink is also important. The correct way is to sip it little by little, to give your body cells time to absorb the water. If you drink the whole glass down at once, your cells can't absorb it all, and the water will be excreted as urine.

7. Eat according to your blood type.

Your blood type determines what you should eat. Eating the wrong foods will make you sick.

People with blood type O have to eat a certain amount of meat. If they eat only vegetables for a long time, their body won't absorb all the substances they need to strengthen their immune system. The recommended diet for this group is 75% vegetables, 10% fruits, 10% meat, seafood and goat's milk (avoid cow's milk), and 5% grains.

People with blood type A, however should avoid milk and meat, while increasing grains and fruits. People with blood type B should also avoid meat, while those with blood type AB should avoid chicken and beef.

8. Eat according to your biological clock.

Every human being has a biological clock that tells us when to eat, sleep, and wake up. If you don't follow your biological clock, the organs will lose their balance. Toxins and wastes won't be excreted from your body, and soon you'll get sick.

According to Dr Wu, the biological clock is divided into three phases.

From 4am to noon is the time for bowel movements, so in the morning you should eat foods with lots of fibre. Fruit and vegetable smoothies are recommended.

From noon to 8pm, your body will absorb food so lunch is the most important meal. A vegetable salad with grains is recommended. Fish or boiled eggs can be added to your lunch. Avoid meat at dinner as the amino acids in the meat will disturb your sleep. Try to finish dinner by 6pm.

From 8pm to 4am, the nutrients and energy from food will be distributed throughout your body organs. The golden time for your sleep is between 10pm and 2am, as your immune and self-healing system will function at its best.
s, kiwi and lime.

7 Easy Ways to Lower Creatine Levels (and Improve Kidney Function) Naturally

Alrighty here they are, what I have put together is some really easy tips you can put into practice straight away to help boost your kidney function, while having a direct impact on your creatinine levels.

1. Vegetarian diet: By consuming a largely plant based diet you will be helping your body in a few distinct ways
- Dietary sources of creatine and creatinine are only found within animal products, therefore you will be reducing the burden of “extra” creatine and creatinine circulating through your blood by eating a largely plant based diet.
- Clinical studies show that the consumption of red meat is detrimental to the health of kidneys, see my article here.
- Plant based diets have show to reduce all the major risk factors of kidney disease. E.g. diabetes, and high blood pressure (hypertension).
- Dairy products (milk, cheese, cream, yoghurt, ice cream, butter) have been shown in clinical studies to exacerbate kidney disease.
- Among many other reasons…

2. Avoid creatine supplements: not only do high doses of this large molecule cause kidney problems (because of its large size it can cause the kidneys to swell), but by supplying the body with extra creatine, you will cause more creatine to be spontaneously converted to the by-product creatinine.

3. Avoid strenuous physical activity: thereby decreasing the breakdown of creatine into creatinine.

4. Nettle leaf tea: drink 1 to 2 cups a day. Nettle leaf tea is a simple yet powerful kidney tonic that can improve kidney function and reduce serum creatinine levels. (Tip: Double check that it is the leaf and not the root, the leaf if for your kidneys, the root is for male prostate disorders)

5. Avoid the over consumption of Vanadium: Although very beneficial for the body, particularly for diabetes and blood sugar problems, over consumption of the mineral vanadium has been linked to increased blood creatinine levels (stay under 100mcg a day).

6. Alpha lipoic acid: This is a fantastic nutrient! And one that I recommend every kidney disease sufferer begin right away. It helps provide energy to the kidneys, it helps nutrialise toxins to make them harmless to the body (so elimination does not damage the kidneys), it helps improve kidney function, and of course helps lower creatinine levels. If you would like to know more info on alpha lipoic acid, please check out my article here. I recommend a dosage of 300mg a day.

7. Chitosan: Chitosan maybe be better known for weight management, but believe it or not it has another trick up its sleeve. Chitosan supplementation in clinical studies reduced urea, creatinine and cholesterol levels in the blood, and increased haemoglobin production in patients with chronic kidney disease. I recommend a dosage of 1000-4000mg a day.

So there you have it, 7 great tips on how to lower creatinine levels naturally. I hope that these really help you. If you would like further tools to increase your kidney function and lower creatinine levels, then please check out my kidney healing program and book here:

The Anti-Cancer Diet

Are you interested in doing all you can to improve your health and fight off cancer? Maybe you have a history of cancer in your family or a loved one who’s battling the disease. Maybe you’re dealing with cancer yourself or trying to prevent a recurrence.

Whatever the situation, your dietary choices matter. Some foods actually increase your risk of cancer, while others support your body and strengthen your immune system. By making smart food choices, you can protect your health, feel better, and boost your ability fight off disease.

What you need to know about cancer and diet

Not all health problems are avoidable, but you have more control over your health than you may think. Research shows that a large percentage of cancer-related deaths—maybe even the majority—are directly linked to lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking, a lack of exercise, and an unhealthy diet. Avoiding cigarettes, minimizing alcohol, and getting regular exercise are a great start to an anti-cancer lifestyle. But to best support your health, you also need to look at your eating habits.

What you eat—and don’t eat—has a powerful effect on your health, including your risk of cancer. Without knowing it, you may be eating many foods that fuel cancer, while neglecting the powerful foods and nutrients that can protect you. If you change your diet and behaviors, you can minimize your risk of disease and possibly even stop cancer in its tracks.

Cancer prevention diet tip #1: Focus on plant-based foods

The best diet for preventing or fighting cancer is a predominantly plant-based diet that includes a variety of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. A plant-based diet means eating mostly foods that come from plants: vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, and beans.

The less processed these foods are—the less they’ve been cooked, peeled, mixed with other ingredients, stripped of their nutrients, or otherwise altered from the way they came out of the ground—the better.

There are many ways to add plant-based foods to your diet. A nice visual reminder is to aim for a plate of food that is filled at least two-thirds with whole grains, vegetables, beans, or fruit. Dairy products, fish, and meat should take up no more than a third of the plate. Keep in mind that you don’t need to go completely vegetarian. Instead, focus on adding “whole” foods, which are foods close to their original form. Just as important, try to minimize or reduce the amount of processed foods you eat. Eat an apple instead of drinking a glass of apple juice, for example. Or enjoy a bowl of oatmeal with raisins instead of an oatmeal raisin cookie.

Simple tips for getting more plant-based foods in your diet

• Breakfast: Add fruit and a few seeds or nuts to your whole grain breakfast cereal (oatmeal!).
• Lunch: Eat a big salad filled with your favorite beans and peas or other combo of veggies. Always order lettuce and tomato (plus any other veggies you can!) on your sandwiches. Order whole grain bread for your sandwiches. Have a side of veggies like cut up carrots, sauerkraut or a piece of fruit.
• Snacks: Fresh fruit and vegetables. Grab an apple or banana on your way out the door. Raw veggies such as carrots, celery, cucumbers, jicama, peppers, etc. are great with a low-fat dip such as hummus. Keep trail mix made with nuts, seeds and a little dried fruit on hand.
• Dinner: Add fresh or frozen veggies to your favorite pasta sauce or rice dish. Top a baked potato with broccoli and yogurt, sautéed veggies, or with salsa. Replace creamy pasta sauces, with sautéed vegetables or tomato sauce made with healthy olive oil.
• Dessert: Choose fruit instead of a richer dessert. Or a single square of dark chocolate.

Cancer prevention diet tip #2: Bulk up on fiber

Another benefit of eating plant-based foods is that it will also increase your fiber intake. Fiber, also called roughage or bulk, is the part of plants (grains, fruits, and vegetables) that your body can’t digest. Fiber plays a key role in keeping your digestive system clean and healthy. It helps keep food moving through your digestive tract, and it also moves cancer-causing compounds out before they can create harm.

Fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. In general, the more natural and unprocessed the food, the higher it is in fiber. There is no fiber in meat, dairy, sugar, or “white” foods like white bread, white rice, and pastries.

Simple ways to add more fiber to your diet:

• Use brown rice instead of white rice
• Substitute whole-grain bread for white bread
• Choose a bran muffin over a croissant or pastry
• Snack on popcorn instead of potato chips
• Eat fresh fruit such as a pear, a banana, or an apple (with the skin)
• Have a baked potato, including the skin, instead of mashed potatoes
• Enjoy fresh carrots, celery, or bell peppers with a hummus or salsa, instead of chips and a sour cream dip
• Use beans instead of ground meat in chili, casseroles, tacos, and even burgers (bean burgers taste great!)

Cancer prevention diet tip #3: Cut down on meat

Research shows that vegetarians are about fifty percent less likely to develop cancer than those who eat meat. So what’s the link between meat and cancer risk? First, meat lacks fiber and other nutrients that have been shown to have cancer-protective properties. What it does have in abundance, however, is fat—often very high levels of saturated fat. High-fat diets have been linked to higher rates of cancer. And saturated fat is particularly dangerous. Finally, depending on how it is prepared, meat can develop carcinogenic compounds.

Making better meat and protein choices

You don’t need to cut out meat completely and become a vegetarian. But most people consume far more meat than is healthy. You can cut down your cancer risk substantially by reducing the amount of animal-based products you eat and by choosing healthier meats.

• Keep meat to a minimum. Try to keep the total amount of meat in your diet to no more than fifteen percent of your total calories. Ten percent is even better.
• Eat red meat only occasionally. Red meat is high in saturated fat, so eat it sparingly.
• Reduce the portion size of meat in each meal. The portion should be able to fit in the palm of your hand.
• Use meat as a flavoring or a side, not the entrée. You can use a little bit of meat to add flavor or texture to your food, rather than using it as the main element.
• Add beans and other plant-based protein sources to your meals.
• Choose leaner meats, such as fish, chicken, or turkey. If possible, buy organic.
• Avoid processed meats such as hotdogs, sausage, deli meats, and salami.

Cancer prevention diet tip #4: Choose your fats wisely

A major benefit of cutting down on the amount of meat you eat is that you will automatically cut out a lot of unhealthy fat. Eating a diet high in fat increases your risk for many types of cancer. But cutting out fat entirely isn’t the answer, either. In fact, some types of fat may actually protect against cancer. The trick is to choose your fats wisely and eat them in moderation.

• Fats that increase cancer risk – The two most damaging fats are saturated fats and trans fats. Saturated fats are found mainly in animal products such as red meat, whole milk dairy products, and eggs. Trans fats, also called partially hydrogenated oils, are created by adding hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid and less likely to spoil—which is very good for food manufacturers, and very bad for you.
• Fats that decrease cancer risk – The best fats are unsaturated fats, which come from plant sources and are liquid at room temperature. Primary sources include olive oil, canola oil, nuts, and avocados. Also focus on omega-3 fatty acids, which fight inflammation and support brain and heart health. Good sources include salmon, tuna, and flaxseeds.

Tips for choosing cancer-fighting fats and avoiding the bad

• Reduce your consumption of red meat, whole milk, butter, and eggs, as these are the primary source of saturated fats.
• Cook with olive oil instead of regular vegetable oil. Canola oil is another good choice, especially for baking.
• Check the ingredient list on food labels and avoid anything with hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, which are usually found in stick margarines, shortenings, salad dressings, and other packaged foods.
• Trim the fat off of meat when you do eat it, and avoid eating the skin of the chicken.
• Choose nonfat dairy products and eggs that have been fortified with omega-3 fatty acids.
• Add nuts and seeds to cereal, salads, soups, or other dishes. Good choices include walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, hazelnuts, pecans, and sesame seeds.
• Use flaxseed oil in smoothies, salad dressings, or mixed in snacks such as applesauce. But do not cook with flaxseed oil, as it loses its protective properties when heated.
• Limit fast food, fried foods, and packaged foods, which tend to be high in trans fats. This includes foods like potato chips, cookies, crackers, French fries, and doughnuts.
• Eat fish once or twice a week. Good choices include wild Alaskan salmon, sardines, herring, and black cod. But be conscious of mercury, a contaminant found in many types of fish

Cancer prevention diet tip #5: Choose cancer-fighting foods

Your immune system keeps you healthy by fighting off unwanted invaders in your system, including cancer cells. There are many things you can eat to maximize the strength of your immune system, as well as many cancer-fighting foods. But keep in mind that there is no single miracle food or ingredient that will protect you against cancer. Eating a colorful variety gives you the best protection.

• Boost your antioxidants. Antioxidants are powerful vitamins that protect against cancer and help the cells in your body function optimally. Fruits and vegetables are the best sources of antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium.
• Eat a wide range of brightly colored fruits and vegetables. Colorful fruits and vegetables are rich in phytochemicals, a potent disease–fighting and immune–boosting nutrient. The greater the variety of colors that you include, the more you will benefit, since different colors are rich in different phytochemicals.
• Flavor with immune-boosting spices and foods. Garlic, ginger, and curry powder not only add flavor, but they add a cancer-fighting punch of valuable nutrients. Other good choices include turmeric, basil, rosemary, and coriander. Use them in soups, salads, casseroles, or any other dish.
• Drink plenty of water. Water is essentially to all bodily processes. It stimulates the immune system, removes waste and toxins, and transports nutrients to all of your organs.

Cancer prevention diet tip #6: Prepare your food in healthy ways

Choosing healthy food is not the only important factor. It also matters how you prepare and store your food. The way you cook your food can either help or hurt your anti-cancer efforts.

Preserving the cancer-fighting benefits of vegetables

Here are a few tips that will help you get the most benefits from eating all those great cancer-fighting vegetables:

• Eat at least some raw fruits and vegetables. These have the highest amounts of vitamins and minerals, although cooking some vegetables can make the vitamins more available for our body to use.
• When cooking vegetables, steam until just tender using a small amount of water. This preserves more of the vitamins. Overcooking vegetables leaches the vitamins and minerals out. For an extra vitamin boost, use the vegetable cooking water in a soup or another dish.
• Wash or peel all fruits and vegetables. Use a vegetable brush for washing. Washing does not eliminate all pesticide residue, but will reduce it.

Cooking and carcinogens

Carcinogens are cancer-causing substances found in food. Carcinogens can form during the cooking or preserving process—mostly in relation to meat—and as foods start to spoil. Examples of foods that have carcinogens are cured, dried, and preserved meats (e.g. bacon, sausage, beef jerkey); burned or charred meets; smoked foods; and foods that have become moldy. Here are some ways reduce your exposure to carcinogens:

• Do not cook oils on high heat. Low-heat cooking or baking (less than 240 degrees) prevents oils or fats from turning carcinogenic. Instead of deep-frying, pan-frying, and sautéing, opt for healthier methods such as baking, boiling, steaming, or broiling.
• Go easy on the barbecue. Burning or charring meats creates carcinogenic substances. If you do choose to barbecue, don’t overcook the meat and be sure to cook at the proper temperature (not too hot!).
• Store oils in a cool dark place in airtight containers, as they quickly become rancid when exposed to heat, light, and air.
• Choose fresh meats instead of cured, dried, preserved, or smoked meats.
• Avoid foods that look or smell moldy, as they likely contain aflatoxin, a strong carcinogen. Aflatoxin is most commonly found on moldy peanuts. Nuts will stay fresh longer if kept in the refrigerator or freezer.
• Be careful what you put in the microwave. Use waxed paper rather than plastic wrap to cover your food in the microwave. And always use microwave-safe containers.

The domino effect in Europe's debt crisis

The sovereign debt crisis continues to unfold in Europe, with every country appearing to get sucked in.

In October European leaders reached another deal to try to stop the contagion. But which countries are most at risk and why?

Three nations in the eurozone - the 17 nations that use the euro - have been recipients of bailouts as attempts to solve the crisis keep stalling.

Italy became the latest to feel the domino effect of the markets when its debt rating was lowered, the latest in a series of downgrades.

Greece, Spain, the Irish Republic and even Cyprus have also had their ratings cut this year. The future of the euro is being questioned in a way it never has since 1999.

Which countries have fallen, and which are feared to be next?

GREECE

The problem: Greece's huge debts, about 340bn euros (£297bn; $478bn).

In late 2009, after months of speculation and sovereign debt crises in Iceland and the Middle East, Greece finally admitted its debts were the highest in the country's modern history.

Since then, a 110bn-euro bailout was passed by the eurozone last year and a second bailout of roughly the same size was agreed earlier this year - but not yet passed.

Most observers remain highly sceptical of Greece's ability to ever repay its huge mountain of debt. Talk persists of an unprecedented default or of Greece leaving the eurozone.

Because of the interconnectedness of the European economy, this would cause huge losses for French and German banks.

Thus, though Greece has been bailed out, fears of it running out of money continue to plague investors.

International credit markets remain wary of Greece because of its sovereign debt rating.

Ratings: Greece is now considered to be "junk" by the ratings agencies, meaning it has a very high chance of defaulting. S&P has cut its debt seven times since 2009, from A to CC, the third-lowest rung on its rating scale.

ITALY

The problem: Italy has the highest total debt in the eurozone, amid stagnant growth.

In the summer, the country was charged record levels to borrow, which prompted renewed calls to pass spending cuts.

The alternative, selling more debt, was unsustainable at rates that reached 6%.

Rome laid out 60bn euros of austerity measures and aims to balance its budget by 2013, but markets have been concerned over its growing debt load in relation to GDP - the second-highest behind Greece in the eurozone.

If Italy was to be bailed out, few think that the eurozone (or Germany in particular) could actually afford it.

But Italy has the advantage of having most of its debt owed to its own people rather than external investors. This buys it more breathing room than, say, Greece.

Ratings: Italy was last triple-A in 1995. Since then, its rating has been fairly stable near the top of the investment grade rankings.

SAPIN

The problem: The housing boom turned to bust, leaving the country's banks loaded with bad debt and the highest unemployment rate in the eurozone.

Spain has also seen record borrowing costs recently, forcing its government to adopt numerous austerity measures to get its finances under control.

Spain, like Italy, is considered too expensive a proposition for the eurozone to realistically bail out.

This is why the eurozone has tried to help lower its cost of borrowing, rather than give it loans as it did to its neighbour, Portugal.

Ratings: Last at the highest rating in 1992, the Iberian nation has been cut twice since 2009.

FRANCE

While France's public finances have not yet been questioned heavily by the market, its banks have seen sharp falls on the stock market.

In September, Moody's downgraded Credit Agricole and Societe Generale after reviewing their exposure to Greek debt.

Credit Agricole and Societe Generale have seen their share prices fall by about two-thirds since February, while BNP has fallen by more than half.

France has also announced plans to cut spending by 45bn euros over the next three years.

Ratings: France was given the top rating by Moody's in 1988, and kept it ever since, despite anaemic growth.

GERMANY

The problem: Most of its neighbours are broke.

Unlike many of its neighbours, Germany enjoyed vigorous economic growth - GDP rose by 3.6% in 2010. Unemployment is lower than before the 2008 crisis.

And the government plans to cut the budget deficit by a record 80bn euros by 2014.

While that growth has slowed, the main problem is that Europe's largest economy is the biggest contributor to the bailout fund used to help stricken nations.

And Germany's banks have a heavy exposure to debt from Greece, Europe's biggest headache.

This means in the event of a Greek default, Germany would probably have to bail out its own banks.

But having taken the lead in bailing out three nations - Greece twice - how many more can the country afford?

Ratings: Following reunification, the country was given the highest possible creditworthiness by S&P in 1992 and Moody's in 1993.

UK

The problem: UK banks have a heavy exposure to Irish debt.

Other than that, the UK has been relatively unscathed, while its eurozone neighbours endure turmoil.

The coalition government has announced the biggest cuts in state spending since World War II.

UK gilts are viewed as one of the safest investments in the world, with the country's borrowing costs falling to recent lows.

But the situation remains precarious. The country's budget deficit was 10.3% last year - this is just behind Greece, greater than Spain's and more than triple that of Germany.

Ratings: In 2009, S&P lowered its outlook on British debt to "negative" from "stable" for the first time since the agency started rating its public finances in 1978. But the triple-A rating has been affirmed since 1993.

IRISH REPUBLIC

The problem: The country's banking system collapsed.

The country's biggest banks were taken under government control in the financial crisis and recapitalised. The cost of doing that has been about 70bn euros.

The Irish received a bailout worth 85bn euros from the eurozone and IMF, then passed the toughest budget in the nation's history.

Since then, the IMF has said the Irish Republic is "showing signs of stabilisation" and there is a sense that the worst has now passed.

Ratings: The Irish Republic held the highest triple-A rating as recently as 2001. S&P has cut it five times since 2009.

PORTUGAL

The problem: A shrinking economy straining its budget.

The country has been the third to get a bailout, worth 78bn euros. The previous government fell after failing to pass austerity measures, which the subsequent government had passed.

Investors have since moved on to ongoing worries about Greece, Spain and Italy.

Ratings: Portugal has been cut four times since 2009. It was once triple-A, way back in 1993.

World population "could hit 15 billion"

The world's population of seven billion is set to rise to at least 10 billion by 2100, but could top 15 billion if birth rates are just slightly higher than expected, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

In a report ahead of ceremonies on October 31 to mark the seven billionth human alive today, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) warned demographic pressure posed mighty challenges for easing poverty and conserving the environment.

New estimates see a global human tally of 9.3 billion at 2050, an increase over earlier figures, and more than 10 billion by century's end, UNFPA said.

But, it added, "with only a small variation in fertility, particularly in the most populous countries, the total could be higher: 10.6 billion people could be living on Earth by 2050 and more than 15 billion in 2100."

The 126-page document, "The State of the World Population 2011", highlights a surge that began with the post-World War II baby boom -- a numbers "bulge" that shows up in following generations as they in turn grow up and have children.

In contrast, prosperity, better education and access to contraception have slashed the global fertility rate to the point that some rich countries have to address a looming population fall.

Over the past six decades, fertility has declined from a statistical average of 6.0 children per women to about 2.5 today, varying from 1.7 in the most advanced economies to 4.2 in the least developed nations.

Even so, 80 million people each year are added to the world's population. People under 25 comprise 43 percent of the total.

"Our record population can be viewed in many ways as a success for humanity -- people are living longer, healthier lives," said Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA's executive director.

"How did we become so many? How large a number can our Earth sustain?" he asked.

"These are important questions, but perhaps not the right ones for our times. When we look only at the big number, we risk being overwhelmed and losing sight of new opportunities to make life better for everyone in the future."

The report highlighted these challenges:

- HELPING YOUTH: Having large numbers of young adults offers many poor countries the hope of rising from poverty.

But, warns the UNFPA, "this opportunity of a 'demographic dividend' is a fleeting moment that must be claimed quickly or lost." Finding jobs for this swelling sea of youngsters is essential.

The report notably quotes from a report by the UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO) which suggests the 23.4-percent youth unemployment in the Arab world was a major contributor to the uprisings there.

- GREEN WORRIES: The report cites environmental problems that are already pressing and set to intensify as demand grows for food, energy and homes.

Referring to a yardstick of sustainability used by the environmental thinktank Global Footprint Network, the report said it now takes the Earth 18 months to regenerate the natural resources that we use in a year.

"Climate change and rapid population growth are among the many factors contributing to the current drought and famine in the Horn of Africa, which has affected more than 12 million people," it says.

Future concerns focus especially on water stress. "Analysis suggests that the world will face a 40-percent global shortfall (in water) between forecast demand and available supply by 2030," says the report, citing Egypt -- hugely dependent on the Nile -- as a particular example.

- CITY FUTURES: The balance between rural and urban populations "has tipped irreversibly" towards cities in today's world of seven billion. The biggest urban agglomeration, as defined by the UNFPA, is Tokyo, with 36.7 million people, followed by Delhi, with 22 million, Sao Paulo, 20 million and Mumbai, with 20 million.

As the world's population expands, better urban planning, with closer involvement of residents, will be essential. Adequate housing, sanitation and green spaces should be incorporated in the shaping of cities rather than ad-hoc growth that leads to shanty towns.

- IMMIGRATION: In rich countries where populations are becoming top-heavy with the elderly, the task will be to meet growing demands for labour. Immigration, one of the options, needs to be orderly and managed so that migrants are better integrated and protected.

- FAMILY PLANNING: Dozens of countries are lagging in achieving the UN's Millennium Development Goal of providing universal access to reproductive health, said the report.

"A stable population is a sine qua non for accelerated, planned economic growth and development," said Osotimehin.

Vitamin E "ups prostate cancer risk

US researchers warned Tuesday of an alarming link between vitamin E supplements and a 17 per cent increased risk of prostate cancer, describing the findings as an "important public health concern".

Ten years after the start of a randomised trial of more than 35,000 men, researchers discovered the spike in prostate cancer among those assigned to take vitamin E rather than selenium or a placebo.

"Dietary supplementation with vitamin E significantly increased the risk of prostate cancer among healthy men," said the study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Selenium, a trace mineral found in foods like Brazil nuts, tuna and beef, is often deficient in areas such as China and Russia where it is lacking in the soil.

The study was launched based on previous research that had suggested that selenium or vitamin E might reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer.

The latest data emerged three years after a preliminary study of the findings, published in 2008, showed a slightly higher but statistically insignificant risk of prostate cancer among those taking vitamin E.

However, since the risk was approaching statistical significance, a safety committee called for a halt to the randomised Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico in 2008.

A longer-term follow up, concluded in July of this year, has revealed the higher cancer incidence in men assigned to the vitamin E portion of the trial.

"Based on these results and the results of large cardiovascular studies using vitamin E, there is no reason for men in the general population to take the dose of vitamin E used in SELECT as the supplements have shown no benefit and some very real risks," said Eric Klein, a study co-chair for SELECT, and a physician at the Cleveland Clinic.

"For now, men who were part of SELECT should continue to see their primary care physician or urologist and bring these results to their attention for further consideration."

The study began in 2001 and broke participants into four groups: one would receive selenium, another would get 400 international units of daily vitamin E, another group would take both, and the fourth was prescribed a placebo.

A total of 620 men in the vitamin E group developed prostate cancer, as did 555 in the combined selenium and vitamin E group.

Those taking selenium only saw 575 develop prostate cancer, compared to 529 on the sugar pill.

"The observed 17 per cent increase in prostate cancer incidence demonstrates the potential for seemingly innocuous yet biologically active substances such as vitamins to cause harm," said the study.

Men entering the trial had no signs of prostate cancer and were considered to exhibit average risk of developing the disease, which is the second most common cancer among US men, after skin cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, 240,890 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2011 and 33,720 men will die of prostate cancer in the United States.

The study found no biological explanation for why vitamin E was driving the risk higher, but warned that the effects of the pills may continue even after the patient stops taking them.

"The fact that the increased risk of prostate cancer in the vitamin E group of participants in SELECT was only apparent after extended follow-up... suggests that health effects from these agents may continue even after the intervention is stopped," it said.

The findings also "underscore the need for consumers to be sceptical of health claims for unregulated over-the-counter products in the absence of strong evidence of benefit demonstrated in clinical trials," it said.

The trial was funded by the National Cancer Institute, the National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute of Aging and the National Eye Institute.

World population expected to reach 10.1 billion in 2100

World population levels are projected to reach 10.1 billion at the end of the century, according to a new UN report released on Tuesday.

According to the report, titled "2010 Revision of World Population Prospects," the bulk of the expected increase in global population is projected to come from 58 "high-fertility countries" in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Latin America. The report was prepared by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) .

Fertility is "the main driver of population rates in the world, " Hania Zlotnik, director of the DESA's Population Division, told reporters here.

"The world hasn't collapsed by adding so many people, but what is important is that most of these people are being added in the poorest countries of the world," said Zlotnik.

Based on the medium projection, the number of people in the world -- currently close to 7 billion -- should pass 8 billion in 2023, 9 billion by 2041 and then 10 billion at some point after 2081, the report said.

Between 2011 and 2100, the population of high-fertility countries is expected to more than triple in size, going from 1.2 billion to 4.2 billion, the report noted. During the same period, the report projected, the population of low-fertility countries will decline by around 20 percent -- from 2.9 billion to 2.4 billion.

Early risers get ahead of the game

Those who fight the urge to ignore the alarm clock complete morning chores faster, pack their children off to school earlier and thrive in the workplace, researchers concluded.

But people who can't resist a lie in have a higher chance of feeling depressed or stressed and becoming overweight.

Researchers questioned 1,068 adults about their levels of happiness and anxiety, their physical health and their eating and sleeping habits in an online survey.

They found that "morning people" were out of bed by 6.58am on average, while "evening people" waited until 8.54am to start their day.

During weekends, both groups enjoyed about an extra hour under the covers, with early risers waiting until 7.47am to get up and night owls lying in until 10.09am.

Dr Joerg Huber of Roehampton University said: "There are morning people and evening people, and morning people tend to be healthier and happier as well as having lower body mass indices."

The reason early risers do better in life could be down to the fact that getting the chores out of the way and the children out of bed in good time helps people fit in better with hectic modern life, he told a British Psychological Society conference.

"Maybe morning types are just better suited to this industrial world we are in than late risers", he said.

The differences between the two groups are small and there can be certain advantages to being an evening person, for example in jobs that require you to work late, he added.

The survey also found that people who watch a lot of television are more likely to skip breakfast.

This could be because they snack more while spending their evening on the sofa and are less hungry in the morning as a result, Dr Huber said.

Colon cancer advances faster in men

Men with colon cancer tend to have more advanced tumors than women of the same age, said a study out Tuesday that suggested screening guidelines may need to be adjusted for sex and age.

Currently, men and women age 50 and older are urged to get a colonoscopy to screen for growths or polyps that could form into tumors. Colorectal cancer is the fourth leading cancer killer worldwide, taking 610,000 lives per year.

The study in the Journal of the American Medical Association examined 44,350 participants in a national screening colonoscopy program from 2007 to 2010 in Austria.

The screenings look for adenomas, which are polyps or benign tumors as well as for particularly advanced adenomas and colorectal cancer.

The analysis found "a significantly higher rate of these lesions among men compared with women in all age groups, suggesting that male sex constitutes an independent risk factor for colorectal carcinoma," according to the study.

For instance, five percent of men age 50-54 had advanced adenomas compared to just 2.9 percent of women.

The rate of colorectal cancer in 55-59-year-old men (1.3 percent) was about the same as in women a decade older (65-69-year-old women were diagnosed at a rate of 1.2 percent).

The prevalence of colorectal cancer overall was twice as high among men, at 1.5 percent, compared to 0.7 percent in women.

The researchers noted that "deciding whether to adjust the age at which screening begins also requires considering whether the recommended age for women should be older or the recommended age for men younger."

However, the study stopped short of saying what that new age should be, saying further studies "are needed to demonstrate the relative clinical effectiveness of screening at different ages."

Eyelid marks warn of heart attack

Yellow markings on the eyelids are a sign of increased risk of heart attack and other illnesses, say researchers in Denmark.

A study published on the BMJ website showed patients with xanthelasmata were 48% more likely to have a heart attack.

Xanthelasmata, which are mostly made up of cholesterol, could be a sign of other fatty build-ups in the body.

Cardiologists said the findings could be used by doctors to help diagnose at-risk patients.

The research team at the Herlev Hospital in Denmark started following 12,745 people in the 1970s.

At the start of the study, 4.4% of patients had xanthelasmata.

Yellow alert

Thirty three years later, 1,872 had had a heart attack, 3,699 had developed heart disease and 8,507 had died - and the data showed that those with the yellow markings around the eyes were at greatest risk.

Those with the markings were 48% more likely to have a heart attack, 39% more likely to have developed heart disease and 14% more likely to have died during the study.

The authors believe patients with xanthelasmata may be more likely to deposit cholesterol around the body.

A build up of fatty material in the walls of arteries - known as atherosclerosis - leads to stroke and heart attack.

For both men and women in several age groups, the data said there was a one in five chance of developing heart disease in the next decade if the patient had xanthelasmata.

The authors said such patients were "generally considered to be at high risk" and should have "lifestyle changes and treatment to reduce [bad] cholesterol."

However they warned that: "Today, most people with xanthelasmata are seen by dermatologists, when they want their xanthelasmata removed for cosmetic reasons.

"Some of these people may not have been managed according to their increased risk of cardiovascular disease."

A review of the study, by US cardiologists Antonio Fernandez and Paul Thompson, concluded that: "Xanthelasmata could be used by general clinicians to help identify people at higher risk of cardiovascular disease."

Judy O'Sullivan, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "There are many different techniques to predict someone's risk of developing heart disease in the future, none of which are perfect. The most important thing is that any one of these techniques is used in the first place."

Coffee shown to reduce risk of skin cancer

Coffee has been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer by helping kill off damaged cells that could otherwise turn into tumours, according to a US study published on Monday.

The findings indicate that moderate caffeine drinking, or perhaps even applying coffee to the skin, could be useful in warding off non-melanoma cancer, the most commonly diagnosed of all skin cancers.

Using mice that had been genetically altered to suppress a protein enzyme called ATR, researchers showed that the mice were able to fend off cancer even when exposed to ultraviolet light.

Previous studies have suggested that drinking about a cup of caffeinated coffee per day has the effect of suppressing ATR and triggering the die-off of cells harmed by UV rays.

The altered mice eventually did develop cancer, but three weeks later than normal mice, according to the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

After 19 weeks of ultraviolet light exposure, the engineered mice showed 69 percent fewer tumours and four times fewer invasive tumours than the control group.

However, the protective effects only went so far. After 34 weeks of UV exposure, all the mice developed tumours.

"Eventually, if you treat them long enough, the mice will develop cancer so it is not 100 percent protection forever," Allan Conney, one of the study's authors, told AFP.

"Really, with almost any carcinogen, eventually all the animals will develop tumours," added Conney, who is director of the Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Conney and his team were able to confirm their hypothesis that caffeine - when consumed or applied to the skin - works by inhibiting ATR. Now they say more studies are needed to see how it may work on humans.

"We want to see whether caffeine has an effect in people when you give it topically," he said.

"Caffeine might become a weapon in prevention because it inhibits ATR and also acts as a sunscreen and directly absorbs damaging UV light."

Skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the United States, with more than one million new cases each year, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Non-melanoma types of skin cancer, including basal cell and squamous cell types, are the most commonly diagnosed and are often treatable if detected early.

Previous studies have shown coffee drinkers tend to have fewer incidences of breast, uterine, prostate and colon cancers, but the beneficial effects are not seen in people who drink decaffeinated coffee.

What is tuberculosis?

TB most commonly affects the lungs, but can affect almost any part of the body. It can be spread when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes or talks and another person breathes in the bacteria. However, prolonged contact is usually needed for infection to occur.

Some people develop a minor infection, which then settles as their immune system fights it and evidence is only found later incidentally as a scar on a chest x-ray. For others, active TB flares up many years after the initial infection. If the initial infection isn't fought off, it can progress to serious ongoing infection a few weeks after the first contact.

Tuberculosis symptoms

Initially, there may be no symptoms. When symptoms develop, they will vary depending on which part of the body is affected. However, they commonly include:

• A persistent cough, usually for more than three weeks - it may be dry to start with and progress to blood-streaked sputum
• Night sweats for weeks or months
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• High temperature
• Shortness of breath.
  

  Tuberculosis causes

  It's estimated that one-third of the world's population is infected with the bacteria that causes TB. Each year about nine million people develop the disease and up to nearly two million people worldwide are killed by it. Figures from the Health Protection Agency show there were 8,417 cases in the UK in 2007.

  Anyone can get TB. People at greater risk of developing it include:

• Children and older people
• Smokers
• Those living in overcrowded conditions
• Those who have a poor diet
• People with HIV
• The homeless
• Those who have a weakened immune system because of other medical conditions, such as diabetes, or because of other medical therapy, such as immuno-suppressant medication

Tuberculosis treatments

TB is difficult to treat - normal antibiotics don't kill TB bacteria. Combinations of several special antibiotics treat the infection in the majority of cases. These must be taken for long periods, usually at least six months, to avoid becoming ill with TB again and developing a drug-resistant form of the disease.

Even with treatment, some people develop long-term complications from infection.

Travellers to countries where TB is prevalent are at greater risk. A vaccine is available, which is offered to those at high risk of contracting the disease. Check with your doctor whether your travel plans put you at risk of TB and discuss possible vaccination.

Express Bus From Sungai Petani .

Sungai Petani express bus terminal located at Jalan Kuala Ketill and Jalan Market, near to Sungai Petani intercity train station.

Address of Terminal:

STATE		LOCATION		TERMINAL ADDRESS
KEDAH		SUNGAI PETANI		JALAN KUALA KETIL, SUNGAI PETANI EXPRESS BUS TERMINAL

Express buses depart from this terminal:

SUNGAI PETANI
OPERATOR:				KONSORTIUM TRANSNASIONAL BERHAD
DEPARTING FROM		DESTINATION		TIME		ADULT FARE		CHILDREN FARE
SUNGAI PETANI		KOTA BHARU		10.15AM		RM29.80		RM22.40
				10.45PM		RM29.80		RM22.40
		IPOH		4.15PM		RM16.90		RM12.60
				10.15PM		RM16.90		RM12.60
		KUALA KANGSAR		2.15PM		RM12.30		RM9.30
				7.30PM		RM12.30		RM9.30
		LUMUT		2.15PM		RM22.90		RM17.20
				7.30PM		RM22.90		RM17.20
		TELUK INTAN		4.15PM		RM24.50		RM18.30
				9.15PM		RM24.50		RM18.30
		KUALA LUMPUR		9.30AM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				11.00AM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				1.45PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				4.00PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				6.00PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				11.00PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				11.59PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
		SEREMBAN		11.30AM		RM39.60		RM29.70
				11.15PM		RM39.60		RM29.70
		MELAKA		11.30AM		RM46.30		RM34.80
				11.15PM		RM46.30		RM34.80
		JERTEH		11.15PM		RM37.30		RM28.00
		KUALA TERENGANNU		11.15PM		RM46.30		RM34.80
		KAJANG		1.45PM		RM42.90		RM32.20
OPERATOR:				PLUSLINER
DEPARTING FROM		DESTINATION		TIME		ADULT FARE		CHILDREN FARE
SUNGAI PETANI		KUALA LUMPUR		10.00AM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				12.00PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				2.00PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				4.00PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				11.30PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
		PUTRAJAYA		2.00PM		RM38.30		RM28.70
		PUCHONG TESCO		2.00PM		RM37.40		RM28.00
OPERATOR:				SUPERNICE EXPRESS
DEPARTING FROM		DESTINATION		TIME		NORMAL FARE		ONLINE FARE
SUNGAI PETANI		KUALA LUMPUR		9.30AM		RM35.00		RM30.00
				11.15AM		RM33.00		NA
				12.00PM		RM35.00		RM30.00
				1.30PM		RM35.00		NA
				3.00PM		RM35.00		RM30.00
				3.30PM		RM35.00		NA
				4.30PM		RM35.00		NA
				10.45PM		RM35.00		NA
				12.30AM		RM35.00		NA
		KLANG		11.15AM		RM35.00		RM32.00
				12.00PM		RM37.00		NA
				3.00PM		RM37.00		RM32.00
				10.45PM		RM37.00		NA
		SHAH ALAM		11.15AM		RM35.00		RM32.00
				12.00PM		RM37.00		NA
				3.00PM		RM37.00		RM32.00
				10.45PM		RM37.00		NA
		KAJANG		11.00AM		RM37.00		NA
				3.30PM		RM37.00		NA
		SEREMBAN		9.30AM		RM37.00		NA
				11.00AM		RM37.00		NA
				9.30PM		RM37.00		NA
				10.30PM		RM37.00		NA
		MELAKA		10.30PM		RM43.00		RM37.00
		MUAR		10.30PM		RM60.00		RM53.00
		BATU PAHAT		10.30PM		RM60.00		RM53.00
		JOHOR BAHRU		9.30AM		RM65.00		NA
				7.00PM		RM65.00		NA
				8.30PM		RM65.00		NA
				9.00PM		RM65.00		NA
				10.30PM		RM65.00		NA
		SINGAPORE		7.00PM		RM65.00		NA
				8.30PM		RM65.00		NA
				9.00PM		RM65.00		NA
OPERATOR:				CEPAT EXPRESS
DEPARTING FROM		DESTINATION		TIME		ADULT FARE		CHILDREN FARE
SUNGAI PETANI		ALOR SETAR		4.30AM		RM5.10		RM3.80
				6.00AM		RM4.90		RM3.70
		BUKIT KAYU HITAM		4.30AM		RM8.70		RM6.50
				5.30AM		RM9.00		RM6.80
				6.00AM		RM9.00		RM6.80
		BATU PAHAT		10.30PM		RM54.30		RM40.80
		BALING		10.30PM		RM19.50		RM14.60
		BUTTERWORTH		12.30PM		RM3.90		RM2.90
				10.15PM		RM3.90		RM2.90
				10.30PM		RM3.90		RM2.90
		DUNGUN		10.30PM		RM52.00		RM39.00
		IPOH		12.30PM		RM16.80		RM12.60
				10.15PM		RM16.80		RM12.60
				10.30PM		RM16.80		RM12.60
		JELI		10.30PM		RM28.50		RM21.40
		JERTEH		10.30PM		RM39.80		RM29.80
		KUALA TERENGGANU		10.30PM		RM42.00		RM31.50
		KOTA TINGGI		10.15PM		RM68.00		RM34.00
		KUALA LUMPUR		12.30PM		RM34.20		RM25.60
				10.15PM		RM34.20		RM25.60
				10.30PM		RM34.20		RM25.60
		KANGAR		5.30AM		RM16.80		RM12.60
		KEMAMAN		10.30PM		RM60.00		RM45.00
		KLUANG		10.15PM		RM55.00		RM41.00
		KUANTAN		10.30PM		RM66.80		RM50.10
		MELAKA		12.30PM		RM46.30		RM34.70
				10.15PM		RM46.30		RM34.70
				10.30PM		RM46.30		RM34.70
		MERSING		10.15PM		RM68.00		RM51.00
		MUAR		10.30PM		RM54.30		RM40.80
		PONTIAN		10.30PM		RM60.60		RM45.50
		SEGAMAT		12.30PM		RM56.80		RM42.60
				10.15PM		RM56.80		RM42.60
				10.30PM		RM56.80		RM42.60
		SEREMBAN		12.30PM		RM39.60		RM29.60
				10.15PM		RM39.60		RM29.60
				10.30PM		RM39.60		RM29.60
OPERATOR:				MAJU EXPRESS
DEPARTING FROM		DESTINATION		TIME		ADULT FARE		CHILDREN FARE
SUNGAI PETANI		ALOR SETAR		6.30AM		RM8.70		RM6.90
		BUKIT KAYU HITAM		6.30AM		RM9.00		RM6.80
		KANGAR		6.30AM		RM9.00		RM6.80
		KUALA PERLIS		6.30AM		RM9.00		RM6.80
		KLANG		5.00PM		RM31.50		RM23.65
		SHAH ALAM		5.00PM		RM32.20		RM24.15
OPERATOR:				MARALINER
DEPARTING FROM		DESTINATION		TIME		ADULT FARE		CHILDREN FARE
SUNGAI PETANI		ALOR SETAR		11.00AM		RM5.60		RM4.00
		PARIT BUNTAR		9.15AM		RM7.30		RM5.50
				3.15PM		RM7.30		RM5.50
				5.30PM		RM7.30		RM5.50
		IPOH		9.15AM		RM16.90		RM12.50
				3.15PM		RM16.90		RM12.50
				5.30PM		RM16.90		RM12.50
		KUALA LUMPUR		10.00AM		RM34.00		RM25.50
				11.15AM		RM34.00		RM25.50
				5.15PM		RM34.00		RM25.50
				7.15PM		RM34.00		RM25.50
OPERATOR:				UTAMA EXPRESS
DEPARTING FROM		DESTINATION		TIME		ADULT FARE		CHILDREN FARE
SUNGAI PETANI		KUANTAN		8.00PM		RM54.20		RM40.70
				8.30PM		RM54.20		RM40.70
		TEMERLOH		8.00PM		RM43.50		RM32.60
				8.30PM		RM43.50		RM32.60
OPERATOR:				SANI EXPRESS
DEPARTING FROM		DESTINATION		TIME		ADULT FARE		CHILDREN FARE
SUNGAI PETANI		KUALA LUMPUR		11.00PM		RM37.00		RM28.00
		KLANG		11.00PM		RM40.00		RM30.00
		SHAH ALAM		11.00PM		RM40.00