Battle of the sexes

INTERESTING!!!


Have a burger and chips before getting pregnant and you're more likely to have a baby boy - whereas a girl is more likely if you eat chocolate or ice cream. It may sound about as convincing as puppy-dogs' tails, but this is the latest cutting-edge science as reported in New Scientist.

Researchers at the University of Pretoria in South Africa found that mice given drugs that reduced their blood-sugar levels produced more female than male pups. And the finding fits with traditional wisdom that mothers should feed on red meat and salty snacks if they want a boy and chocolates and sweets if they want a girl, according to lead researcher, Professor Elisa Cameron.

The team used a steroid called dexamathasone that inhibits the transport of glucose into the blood to study the impact of raised or lowered blood sugar level. "It is very interesting that meat raises blood sugar levels for a sustained period of time while sugar-based snacks are asso-ciated with a slump in blood glucose," she explains.

Cameron's study adds to the evidence that a baby's gender is not simply down to whether the father delivers an X or a Y chromosome. The environment of the womb, it is claimed, can be manipulated to favour either male or female sperm.

Over the last half decade, animal research has come up with the same kind of results. Rats fed a low protein diet prior to conception in a Japanese study had more females in the litter, while American researchers reported that a diet rich in animal fat led to more male mice pups.

For Professor Richard Sharpe, head of the Medical Research Council's Human Reproductive Sciences Unit at Edinburgh University, however, the findings are not necessarily good news. "There is a global trend that more girls are being born than boys and the number of girls are increasing," he says. "It's a fractional increase. But all the evidence suggests that the underlying trend is an increase in physiological stress in women that causes the low blood sugar levels that is being reported in the New Scientist."

A major cause of this stress appears to be pollution, particularly from the chemical dioxin. One of the biggest leaks of the chemical, from a factory in the Italian town of Seveso in 1976, had a dramatic impact on the sex ratio of babies born in the area: in the seven years after the accident, births totalled 46 girls and only 28 boys.

A similar impact was reported in October (2007) from airborne dioxins: a Canadian study published in the journal of the American Chemical Society found that the sex ratio of newborns was 54 females to 46 males in a 25-mile radius of sources of dioxin pollution - compared with the normal 51 boys born for every 48 girls.

Such an effect makes sense from an evolutionary viewpoint, says Michel Odent, director of the Primal Health ResearchCentre (www.birthworks.org). "In a population facing an adverse situation where survival is paramount, it makes good evolutionary sense to increase the number of females and to eliminate the weakest males. In that way, the healthiest males survive."

It also makes biological sense, says Professor Sharpe. Male Y chromosome sperm are more fragile than the X chromosome and the male of the species is more vulnerable both at the point of fertilisation and for the difficult first few weeks of life in the womb.

"We know that the process of masculinisation is a cascade of events over a period of seven weeks and culminates in the switching on of a key gene on the Y chromosome at seven weeks," says Professor Sharpe. Until that time, he explains, both sexes have "indifferent" gonads and "the female gender is the blueprint".

As well as pollution, the weight of the mothermay also play a part, he says. "Women's weight is increasing at the same time as the ratio of female babies. Women with an above average BMI [body mass index]are more prone to gestational diabetes and have lower blood sugar levels and this seems to explain why they have a higher chance of having a girl baby. It could even explain why some researchers claim that single mothers are more likely to have girls, as they may be subject to more physiological stress," he says.

Thousands of couples are yearning for a baby of a particular sex, but Professor Sharpe warns that "messing about" with diet is not a good preparation for conception. "There are a few simple steps that are worth taking to prevent harm to the baby - stopping smoking and drinking, eating a healthy diet, cutting out irritants including cosmetics. That's the responsible way to prepare for parenthood."
How to choose: the theories

* Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis The gold standard method is the only accurate method of gender selection and the one that is used when gender selection is carried out for medical reasons in the UK.

* Sperm sorting Known as the Ericcson technique, it's based on the idea that Y chromosome sperm can be separated from X chromosome sperm because they swim faster. "In my view, companies that claim to be able to do this are charlatans," says Professor Richard Sharpe.

* Timing Have sex three or more days before ovulation and you're more likely to have a girl, according to a routine first described by Dr Landrum B Shettles more than two decades ago. Sex closer to ovulation increases the chances of a boy as Y chromosome. Websites still encourage this - and a new edition of Shettles' book, How to Choose the Sex of Your Baby, was recently published - but there is no proof it works.

* Acid or alkaline This popular theory promotes the view that X chromosome sperm is better able to survive in a harsher acidic environ-ment in the female reproductive tract while the Y-chromosome is comfortable in alkaline. Go online to buy pH (measure of acidity or alkalinity) testing kits as well as acid and alkaline douches. However, experts say there is little chance of this method working.

haiyok

I am so pissed off…How can someone be so insensitive?isk2…I have a very bad headache today which might due to drizzles or post-menstrual syndrome.. I took a nap after my dinner and before I slept I did sumting to ensure that when I wake up I can do ‘thing’ that I wanna do..but to my surprise, when I woke up I cant do thing that I wanna do due to excessively high hormone of insensitivity of sum1…haish..she really annoyed me..huhu..umiii saye nak balik pleaseee..saye x suke tinggal kat sini….xbesttt pleaseeee…pagi tadi pon same..saye selalu tunggu die b4 saye pegi selambat mane pon die tapi isk2…xpe2…

ngeh2

-i baked a choc brownies today..and it is delicious(kasi can laa..rupe die buruk xnak la ngaku rs die buruk jugak..hahahha...angkat bakul sendiri sekali sekala la).ahahahaha
-se'ton' gula tumpah in my bag lantas menjadikan my school bag as sarang semut(naseb baek semut x wujud sangat kat ireland..ngeh2)
-terbeli groceries terlebih lantas x termuat beg lantas xleh letak notes during opthalmo kelas so mintak nang tolong simpankan dlm file die.hahahahha...(anyway for the opthalmology lecture today, i was the 26th students and i think its less than 50 students present during the lecture..but its kinda interesting actually..at least i didnt fall asleep!!!)
-tersakit lutut..kinda terseliuh..then terbunyi "krekkk" n lepas tu dh ok..(tulang saye dh reput..osteoporosis)..(fracture but it heals spontaneously..biasela..saye kan superhero.hahah..angel katekan..hahahahha..boleh blah)...
-ponteng modern arts punye class lagi..(rsnye ths yr 4 kali je kot g class tu..huhu)
-owh rs sangat worthless pegi clinic pagi tadi..should just stay on bed like what milah did..hehehe...didnt do anything..took history from ET and bace case notes and borak ngan gillian
-chat ngan mat min yg dh lame xckp..he wants to b my bro in law.hahahahha
-sangat clumsy and sangat careless...ingt appointment on wed, 5th..tp rupenye wed 12th..ngeh2..hampeh betol..
-mek yaya aka suraya busuk terseliuh kaki jatuh kat tangga..hahahaha..mek jojah cakap die nangis on the spot tapi mek jojah ckp angis bukan sebab sakit tapi cover malu.hahahha..tapi seriously mek dodik, nangis lagi la malu...form 1 sudah kamu ittew..hahahah..anyway, congrates mek ya for ur excellent results!! sila lah dapatkan number 1 dlm tingkatan lak pasni..number 2 dh dekat dh tu..hehe n silalh jadi dentist sebab saye sangat memerlukan khidmat dentist..dentist sangat mahall!!!!!
-ok tamat sudah utk hari ini.

Ngeh2..this is sooo interesting..silalah bace..hehe

How to get your brain up to speed

Cold meat and chocolate will get your mind fit ... and sex is handy too, according to a new book

• Denis Campbell, health correspondent
• The Observer
• Sunday December 2 2007

Forget Sudoku, crossword puzzles and computer games. If you really want to train your brain, then eat dark chocolate, have plenty of sex and follow the Scandinavian example of having cold meat for breakfast.

The growing numbers of people who are trying to strengthen their mental ability through 'brain training' should also avoid cannabis, watching soap operas, hanging out with serial complainers or pursuing fat-free diets, according to a new book on getting 'brain-fit'.

Many of the suggestions in Teach Yourself Training Your Brain are surprising, such as cuddling a baby, cheating at school, reading out loud and doing your university degree in business studies. Co-authors Terry Horne and Simon Wootton say their recommendations are based on and backed by the latest research by leading experts around the world.

'For decades we have thought that the cognitive capacity of our brains is genetically determined, whereas it's now clear that it's a lifestyle choice. What we eat and drink, how we learn at school and what type of moods we have are all crucial,' said Horne, a business lecturer at the University of Central Lancaster and an authority on thinking and learning.

'People can make lifestyle choices that will not only prevent what used to be seen as an inevitable decline in cognitive [ability] after the age of 17 - something that IQ tests seemed to bear out - but will constantly increase our cognitive capacity throughout our adult lives. Our far-reaching suggestions will empower people to develop their cognitive capacity or just let it decline.'

The book details the most up-to-date thinking in science about how diet, the environment, stress and other aspects of modern life affect our mental capacity and distils them in the form of chunks of advice as well as exercises.

It also points out that of the seven different chemical reactions that the brain undergoes in the sexual process, from contemplating intercourse to achieving orgasm, four help the thinking process. The ensuing increase in levels of the 'trust' hormone, oxytocin, for example, increases readiness to think of novel or risky solutions.

Similarly, the post-coital rise in serotonin levels aids both creative thinking and calm, logical decision-making.

The authors praise the plethora of useful elements in dark chocolate, such as magnesium and antioxidant flavonols, which benefit everything from the supply of oxygen to the brain to the reduction of the chances of brain damage through a stroke.

The book comes as more and more Britons are spending increasing sums on a fast-expanding market in books, DVDs, subscription websites and computer games which claim to supercharge people's memory to improve their performance at work, enhance their brain's ability to store information and ward off the effects of dementia.

Nintendo's Brain Age electronic brain training game, which includes memory, number and intelligence tests, has sold 10 million copies globally. In the United States, some insurance companies have begun giving older clients computer software programmes featuring such exercises to encourage them to stay as mentally sharp as possible. And some nursing homes there have set up 'brain gyms' for the same purpose.

Horne believes that many Britons need to make dramatic changes to their lifestyles to increase their cognitive capacity because of the switch to a 'knowledge economy' from one based on manual labour, and because of the fast-expanding number of over-65s. Happiness, confidence and an optimistic nature help the brain, he added.

'So mix with people who make you laugh, have a good sense of humour or who share the same interests as you, and avoid people who whinge, whine and complain, as people who are negative will make you depressed, which means you won't achieve things,' said Horne.

The book recommends that, instead of trying to find perfect happiness, people should instead seek a new concept the authors have called BLISS, which involves Body-based pleasure, Laughter, Involvement, Satisfaction and Sex, all of which enable the brain to think well.

Most people use only three to four per cent of their total supply of brain cells. But research among undergraduates has shown that those following the book's advice can experience a big enough increase in cognitive fitness to make the difference between getting a top job and a merely average one, said Horne.

Is this the recipe for a sharp mind?

Cheating

Children should not do homework on their own. Their minds will function better if they have help from parents or work with classmates.

Eating the right food

Have eggs, fish or cold meat at breakfast. Stick to protein-based foods at lunchtime such as oily fish with dark green vegetables.

Avoid bread, pasta or pizza and drink tea, ideally green or herbal, not coffee. Snack on nuts, not biscuits or other sweet things. Ideally, eat carbohydrates in the evenings only. Avoid caffeine, alcohol and red meat.

Speaking aloud

The old practice of getting pupils to speak in front of their class helps the brain because of the repetition involved. Adults can boost their memory by counting aloud to 99 in threes as fast as they can.

=)

The wound grows deeper and deeper and becomes infected somehow..but dont worry..its not contagious..it can b cured easily with the right amount of antibiotics...=)
Ohoo...what a waste!!!i watched movies all the weekend and didnt study at all..adeh2...should change my lifestyle-start focusing on my studies..ive been so lazy-ass ths yr...wake up aina!wake up!!!!
Merapuness:-
1. my brain is dying...need to give great drugs to prevent it from dying..haha..ectasy?lalala
2. the short-term memory's pathway in my brain is malfunction currently...ngeh2..i cant create any new pathway and i think the long-term memory's pathway is broken too...so anyone, my apology in advance for forgetting ur bday, ur phone numbers, ur emails etc...
3. my mood is currently unstable(dysthymic to b specific..ngeh2)..
4. poor attention..(definitely not attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder)...i cant pay any attention to the lectures, tutorial or anything academically anymore...i will fall asleep during the tutorials/lectures or worthlessly, i wil b playing games in my pda during lectures...ngeh2..(pretending to read something in pda but the fact is im playing games..ngeh2..penah terkantoi ngan liz..lalala)
5. ive got so many pimples in my face skang ni!!!!!!!!thanks to MARA and thanks to my medschool....

:P

seriously...

hmm..seriously, i dont knw..did i regret of what ive said or not...seriously aina..
seriously!!!
seriously, some things r better left unsaid..
eventho people dont like it but they would never knw if u dont tell them..huhu....

Things to ponder :
.::Love isn't finding a perfect person. It's seeing an imperfect person perfectly::.
.::Love is when the other person's happiness is more important than your own::.
.::Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but falling in love with you I had no control over::.

Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid

seriously...some things r better left unsaid...
and seriously..
jangan kasi hope kat org len...
and seriously..
think of the consequences b4 bwat sumting//
SERIOUSLY...