Health

CUTTING Your Risk of Diabetes

Diabetes is more common now than you probably realize. And it is neither just overweight people nor those who have a sweet tooth who are at risk.

This long-term medical condition can afflict anyone whose blood glucose levels remain higher than normal all the time. It happens when one’s pancreas does not produce enough insulin (a hormone that reduces the blood glucose levels), or when insulin does not work properly.

Prevention is better than cure, though this is easier said than done, especially when early symptoms of diabetes can be easily missed.

But by taking charge of your health, you can make positive changes to improve your quality of life in the long run. Remember, every step counts.

Watch your Diet

Start by keeping a closer watch on what you consume every day, without compromising on taste. Portion control is key, and you can follow the My Healthy Plate guide by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) to plan well-balanced meals.

Make sure that a quarter of your plate is filled with brown rice or wholemeal bread, and the other quarter with meat and other foods such as fish and tofu. The remaining half of your plate should contain fruits and vegetables.

As the HPB encourages eating two servings of fruits and two servings of vegetables daily, you can replace one serving of fruits or vegetables with juices that have no added sugar.

For instance, one glass of (250ml) MARIGOLD PEEL FRESH No Sugar Added Powerberries can replace one serving of fruits, while one glass of No Sugar Added Kale & Veggie can replace one serving of vegetables.

Smart Food Choices

Establishing what and how much to eat is equally

important. Go for healthier choices such as low-fat yogurt instead of ice cream, and use low-fat milk in place of coconut milk in curries.

When you go grocery shopping, look out for products with HPB’s Healthier Choice Symbol as they are lower in saturated fat, sodium or sugar, higher in calcium or whole grains, or free from trans-fat.

For maximum benefits, include a “rainbow” of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Phytonutrients, which are natural chemical compounds responsible for the pigments in fruits and vegetables, provide vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which are good for the body.

Ideally, you should aim to consume fruits and vegetables categorised under each of the seven rainbow hues.

For instance, purple foods like blueberries contain antioxidants such as anthocyanin and polyphenols that supports heart health, and orange types like carrots contain vitamins A and C that are beneficial for the eyes and skin.

Don’t like the crunch?

Then drink up with MARIGOLD PEEL FRESH No Sugar Added juices made from fruits and vegetables from various colour groups such as purple (Powerberries, Powerveggies), green (Kale & Veggie), yellow (Orange) and red (Cranberry & Apple).

Find a Balance

When it comes to quenching your thirst, water is your best option. But on days when you need an extra pick-me-up, packaged fruit and vegetable juices with no sugar added are healthier than high-sugar carbonated drinks.

After all, many children and some adults do not enjoy the bland taste of plain water. Some of them even dislike eating vegetables and fruits.

So when they are thirsty after an active sport, for instance, they are likely to opt for carbonated sodas or energy and sports drinks rather than plain water. It is therefore important to bring to their awareness that while such drinks appeal to their sweet tooth, consuming them may load their bodies with excessive sugar and may not offer nutritional value.

A refreshing and healthier alternative could be juices with no added sugar that offer some nutritional value and give the satiation of a sweet beverage.

Try, for instance, MARIGOLD PEEL FRESH No Sugar Added range of juices that are made from 100 per cent juices from fruits and vegetables and have less than 10g/100ml of fructose.

Found naturally in fruits and vegetables, fructose (also known as fruit sugar) is twice as sweet as sucrose (or more commonly known as table sugar).

So less fructose can achieve the same level of sweetness — and a lower calorie count — than sucrose.

Some packaged juices with no extra sugar also come fortified with fibre, which is a convenient way to feed your body vitamins, fibre and antioxidants on the go.

On your journey to good health, remember to indulge sparingly and consume everything from food to beverages in moderation. This way, you will reach your goals in good shape and high spirits.

By Goh Hwee Koon

Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP