Know your Chakras - The 7 chakras in your body

According to Hindu and/or Buddhist belief, chakras are vast (yet confined) pools of energy in our bodies which govern our psychological qualities. There are said to be seven main chakras in all; four in our upper body, which govern our mental properties, and three in the lower body, which govern our instinctual properties. They are:

• The Muladhara (root) chakra. 
• The Svadhisthana (sacral) chakra. 
• The Manipura (solar plexus) chakra. 
• The Anahata(heart) chakra. 
• The Visuddhi (throat) chakra. 
• The Ajna (third eye) chakra. 
• The Sahasrara (crown) chakra.

According to Buddhist/Hindu teaching all of the chakras should contribute to a human's well-being. Our instincts would join forces with our feelings and thinking. Some of our chakras are usually not open all the way (meaning, they operate just like when you were born), but some are over-active, or even near closed. If the chakras are not balanced, peace with the self cannot be achieved.

Read on to discover the art of becoming aware of the chakras:

1.  Root Chakra:

The Root Chakra deals with fear and survival and is located at the base of the spine.  Actively doing things in your life to face your fears is the quickest way to overcome the struggles in this chakra.  The color red is linked to the root chakra and can actually give you a boost in that area.  If you are feeling nervous or scared try wearing more red.

Another trick is to surround yourself with crystals that resonate with the vibration of the root Chakra.  Some of these crystals are Hematite (grounding and stabilizing), Red Jasper (activating), Rhodochrosite (clearing), Black Tourmaline (protective and healing), Garnet (balancing), Red Carnelian (balancing) & Smokey Quartz (protective and healing).

Meditating on your fear and recognizing that they are mostly in your own mind is another way that you can better prepare yourself to face them.

2. Sacral Chakra:

The Sacral chakra is strongly linked with relationships, guilt and blame.  If we want to actively fix our blocks with this chakra we need to be real, open and honest in our relationships.

The color Orange is linked with this chakra and surrounding yourself in that color can powerfully charge it.  The Sacral Chakra is located below your navel.

Also using the following crystals can also help you be more open to healing this Chakra.  Orange Calcite (cleansing and activating), Coral Calcite (amplifier), Moonstone (balancing), Orange Carnelian (healing), Snowflake Obsidian (calming), Citrine (cleansing and energizing), Orange Aventurine (opening) & Leopardskin Jasper (protecting) are the crystals linked with this energy.

When you meditate on the Sacral Chakra try to dig deep into what bothers you in your relationships.  Figure out what you need to to to be more respectful of others and what you can do to be more true to yourself.  If you get gut feelings that something is wrong it is typically linked to this chakra.

3. Solar Plexus Chakra:

The Solar Plexus Chakra is linked with pride, confidence and the ego.  We need to be aware of our deep motivations for why we do the things we do.  Are we or people around us seeking approval?

Have you ever met someone who was shy or seems to have low self confidence?  What about someone who came across as arrogant?  These are low and high extremes of the Solar Plexus Chakra energy.  With balance we will be able to be confident in what we are doing and seek to empower others to be their best.

This chakra is Yellow and it is located above your navel.  Check out these crystals to help you charge the Solar Plexus Chakra. Citrine (cleansing), Sunstone (activating), Topaz (healing), Tiger’s Eye (balance and healing) & Amber (protective and energizing).

4. Heart Chakra:

The heart chakra is linked to love, compassion and grief.  Love and understanding for others, the caring of a pet,  and the healing of the earth are all linked to this chakra.  Learning to truly serve and be selfless is the key to actively opening up this chakra.

This chakra is green and is located in the center of the chest.  The crystals that can help you open and energize this chakra are Green Aventurine (healing), Emerald (opening), Jade (balancing), Rose Quartz (healing and opening), Lithium Quartz (balancing, activating and healing), Chrome Diopside (healing and opening), Ruby (opening and activating), Peridot (awakening), Green Kyanite (connects third-eye to heart), & Green Tourmaline (opening and activating).

When you meditate on love recognise that all living things are connected and deserve our respect.  The secrets we are looking for to heal the people around us are sometimes are contained in their opposites.  For example if someone you know is mean and everything they do seems to push you away perhaps what they need the most is love.

5. Throat Chakra:

The Throat Chakra is linked to communication and expression.  Art and other forms of expression also come from this energy.  To actively heal this chakra we need to practice being honest with ourselves and those around us.  We also can engage in hobbies that inspire us such as writing, painting or making something new.

This chakra is blue and is located in the throat.  The crystals that are associated with it are Apatite (opening and activating), Aqua Aura (activating and balancing), Blue Lace Agate (balancing), Blue Tiger Eye (soothing), Turquoise (stimulating and balancing), Blue Kyanite (opening), Blue Calcite (clearing), Aquamarine (clearing and activating), Angelite (healing and clearing), Lapis Lazuli (opening, activating, and balancing), & Sodalite (stimulating).

When meditating on this chakra ask yourself if you have said things that could hurt others.  Also ask yourself if you aren’t saying things that you need to express.  Sometimes throat chakra imbalances can be linked to things such as sore throats and it is important to have health expression.

6. Third Eye Chakra:

The third eye chakra is located in the center of our heads, is linked to the pineal gland and is about seeing truth.  When this chakra is blocked we are unable to hear our own intuition as well as see the patterns all around us.  We are all connected to everyone and everything.

Indigo is the color linked to this chakra.  The following crystals can aid you in balancing and opening your third eye:

Amethyst (opening, balancing, and stimulating), Moldavite (clearing, opening, and activating), Herkimer Diamond (activating), Howlite (opening and activating), Iolite (clearing and opening), Indigo Aura (stimulating), Pietersite (activating), Labradorite (regulates), Ruby Zoisite (opening), Stilbite (stimulating), Unakite (grounding, aligning, and balancing) & Azurite (opening).

When you are meditating on this chakra focus on oneness.  Recognise that we all come from the same source.  We must wake up and remember who we really are.  Is it possible that this is all just a dream?  We must open our minds and listen to truth even if it is hard to understand at first.

7. Crown Chakra:

The crown chakra is your link to the divine oneness that we all stem from.  This is where our inspiration and guidance comes from.  It is located on the top of the head and once it is in balance we will be able to control our thoughts and be aware of our life purpose.

The crown chakra is often represented with either purple or white. The crystals associated with it is: Celestite (opening, aligning, and balancing), Clear Topaz (activating), Amethyst (clearing and balancing), Danburite (clearing, opening, and stimulating), Phenacite (opening and activating), Optical Calcite (stimulating), Clear Quartz (clearing, aligning, balancing, and activating), Rutilated Quartz(clearing, balancing, and activating) & Selenite (balancing).

When you meditate on this chakra you need to be aware that the biggest block is your attachments here on earth.  Not only do material possessions cause a block but ideas can too.  If you are stuck on your life working out a certain way you will not be able to be guided to what is best for you because you will be attached to a specific result or outcome.

How we can avoid this is to state what it is we really want and then be open to that manifesting however it needs to.  For example instead of saying “I want this specific thing for dinner” say “I would like to eat something that makes me feel wonderful.”  Then you can be open to all ideas and ways that you can receive the wonderful feeling and nutrition that comes with it.  And who knows, you might even end up trying something new or ending up at a restaurant that you were meant to go to.

Here how you may get a good night's sleep, also know what spoils your sleep

Eating fiber can improve the quality of sleep while higher intake of saturated fat and sugar leads to lighter, disrupted sleep

What you eat affects your sleep enormously. 

A new study suggests that the quality of your sleep can be improved with eating fiber while higher intake of sugar and saturated fats lead to lousy, disrupted sleep.

Researchers from Columbia University have found that fiber can help get better as it extends the duration of deep sleep, also known as slow wave sleep.

"Our main finding was that diet quality influenced sleep quality," said lead author Marie-Pierre St-Onge, assistant professor at Columbia University Medical Center."It was most surprising that a single day of greater fat intake and lower fiber could influence sleep parameters."

Researchers recruited 26 adults with a normal weight and an average age of 35 for the study. During 5 nights in sleep lab, all the participants went to sleep at 10 p.m. and woke up at 7 a.m., sleeping for 7 hours and 35 minutes on average per night.

During the first 4 days, participants consumed controlled diet but on day 5, they ate the food of their own choice. The sleep data was observed after the third night after eating pre-selected meals and on fifth night after they consumed self-selected food.

Sleep duration did not change when data was obtained after third and firth night. But researchers found that participants fell asleep faster after eating pre-selected meals which were provided by a nutritionist and were rich in protein and low in saturated fat. In contrast, participants took a while to get into sleep when they ate their own selected meals and beverages. 

On average, it took 29 minutes for participants to fall asleep with self-selected food compared to just 17 minutes after eating pre-selected meals. Eating meals with less fiber, more saturated fat and more sugar can cause lighter, less restorative and more disrupted sleep.

“The finding that diet can influence sleep has tremendous health implications, given the increasing recognition of the role of sleep in the development of chronic disorders such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.” St-Onge said.

The results can also help improve the quality of sleep in people suffering from insomnia and other sleep disorders.

“This study emphasizes the fact that diet and sleep are interwoven in the fabric of a healthy lifestyle,” said Dr. Daniel Watson American Academy of Sleep Medicine President, who was not involved in the study. “For optimal health it is important to make lifestyle choices that promote health sleep, such as eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly.”

Eating fish in pregnancy aids baby's brain growth

Eating fish during pregnancy ensures a balanced intake of fatty acids essential for the normal brain formation of the unborn child, a new study has found.

The findings provide an explanation for the correlation between eating fish during pregnancy and the health of the baby's brain, researchers said.

Dietary lipid contains fatty acids such as omega-6 and omega-3, which are essential nutrients for many animals and humans.

Researchers led by Noriko Osumi from Tohoku University in Japan found that a balanced intake of lipids by pregnant women is necessary for the normal brain formation of the unborn child.

In an animal study, the researchers found that when female mice were fed an omega-6-rich/omega-3-poor diet, their offsprings were born with a smaller brain and showed abnormal emotional behaviour in adulthood.

This is significant because people in many countries these days have similarly poor dietary patterns and tend to consume more seed oils that are rich in omega-6 fatty acids and less fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

The brain abnormality found in the offsprings of mice used in the study, was caused by a premature ageing of foetal neural stem cells that produce brain cells, Osumi said. The premature ageing was promoted by an imbalance of oxides of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. The offsprings also showed higher anxiety levels, even though they were raised on nutritionally optimised diets from an early lactation period.

A diet that contains a good balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids is known to improve the development of brain functions; this is based on earlier researches that evaluated the effects of maternal intake of an omega-3-poor diet on brain function in children.

The study took this premise further and focused on the effects of dietary lipids on the brain formation.

The results show why omega-6 and omega-3 balance is important for future brain function, and reinforces earlier suggestions that more fish intake by women during pregnancy can advantageously affect the child's health.

Health Benefits Lemon Water

Calcium, potassium, vitamin C and pectin fiber are among some of the health benefits you take in when drinking lemon water.

A glass of lemon juice contains less than 25 calories. It is a rich source of nutrients like calcium, potassium, vitamin C and pectin fiber. It also has medicinal values and antibacterial properties. It also contains traces of iron and vitamin A.

Blood Purifier:

Lemons are a blood purifier and help the body to remove toxins.

Blood Sugar Balance: 

The acidity of raw lemon juice lowers the impact of any meal on your blood sugar.

Detoxification: 

Raw lemon juice cleanses the kidneys and the digestive system. It helps the body in the removal of toxins and provides you with a great overall detox.

Weight Loss: 

The pectin in lemon peel is a great source of fiber that is thought to help overweight people lose weight

Aids digestion:

Lemon juice not only encourages healthy digestion by loosening toxins in your digestive tract, it helps to relieve symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, burping, and bloating

Reduces inflammation:

If you drink lemon water on a regular basis, it will decrease the acidity in your body, which is where disease states occur. It removes uric acid in your joints, which is one of the main causes of inflammation.

Osteoporosis:

Lemon juice is rich in Vitamin C and helps the body to absorb calcium and fight osteoporosis. Two tablespoons of raw lemon juice diluted in a glass of warm water is good for pregnant women, as it helps build the bones in the unborn child.

Insomnia:

In case of insomnia, raw lemon juice helps improve sleep.

Cough and Cold:

Lemon added to a little hot water with some honey is one of the most effective remedies known for a cough and cold.

Asthma: 

Having half-teaspoonful of fresh lemon juice, washing it down with luke-warm water before each meal provides quick relief to Asthma. Repeating it as the last dose of the day and starting the day with it also gives very positive results.

Hair:

The external use of raw lemon juice makes hair shinier and stronger.

Low Vitality:

People suffering from low vitality should have lemon and honey mixed water for an immediate cure.

Radiation:

As lemon juice is excellent at cleansing the blood and removing toxins, it is a great way of removing radiation from the body. If you have had Chemotherapy, regular lemon juice drinks can help rid the body of any remaining radiation.

Nutritional Facts Of Spinach

Dark leafy greens like spinach are important for skin and hair, bone health, and provide protein, iron, vitamins and minerals.

The possible health benefits of consuming spinach include improving blood glucose control in diabetics, lowering the risk of cancer, lowering blood pressure, improving bone health, lowering the risk of developing asthma and more.

Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, copper, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin E, calcium, potassium, and vitamin C. It is a very good source of dietary fiber, phosphorus, vitamin B1, zinc, protein, and choline. Additionally, spinach is a godo source of omega-3 fatty acids, niacin, pantothenic acid, and selenium, according to whfoods.com.

In terms of flavonoids, spinach is a unique source of methylenedioxyflavonol glucuronides, and in terms of carotenoids, its difficult to find a more helpful source of lutein and zeaxanthin. The epoxyxanthophyll carotenoids neoxanthin and violaxanthin are also welcomed constituents of spinach leaves, according to whfoods.com.

Fresh 100 g of spinach contains about 25% of daily intake of iron; one of the richest among green leafy vegetables. Iron is an important trace element required by the human body for red blood cell production and as a co-factor for oxidation-reduction enzyme, cytochrome-oxidase during the cellular metabolism.

Fresh leaves are rich source of several vital anti-oxidant vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin C, and flavonoid poly phenolic antioxidants such as lutein, zea-xanthin and beta-carotene. Together, these compounds help act as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a healing role in aging and various disease processes.

Zea-xanthin, an important dietary carotenoid, is selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea in the eyes where it is thought to provide antioxidant and protective light-filtering functions. It thus helps protect from "age-related macular related macular disease" (ARMD), especially in the elderly.

In addition, vitamin A is required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin and is essential for normal eye-sight. Consumption of natural vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin A and flavonoids also known to help the body protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.

Spinach leaves are an excellent source of vitamin K. 100 g of fresh greens provides 402% of daily vitamin-K requirements. Vitamin K plays a vital role in strengthening the bone mass by promoting osteotrophic activity in the bone. Additionally, it also has established role in patients with Alzheimer's disease by limiting neuronal damage in the brain.

This green leafy vegetable also contains good amounts of many B-complex vitamins such as vitamin-B6, thiamin (vitamin B-1), riboflavin, folates and niacin. Folates help prevent neural tube defects in the offspring.

100 g of farm fresh spinach has 47% of daily recommended levels of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, which helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals.

Its leaves also contain a good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, magnesium, copper and zinc. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese and copper are used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme,superoxidedismutase. Copper is required in the production of red blood cells. Zinc is a co-factor for many enzymes that regulate growth and development, sperm generation, digestion and nucleic acid synthesis.

It is also good source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Precautions:

If you are taking blood-thinners such as Coumadin (warfarin) it is important that you do not suddenly begin to eat more or less foods containing vitamin K, which plays a large role in blood clotting.

Consuming too much potassium can be harmful for those whose kidneys are not fully functional. If your kidneys are unable to remove excess potassium from the blood, it could be fatal.

Coconut Oil Health Benefits

Some coconut oil products are referred to as "virgin" coconut oil. Unlike olive oil, there is no industry standard for the meaning of "virgin" coconut oil. The term has come to mean that the oil is generally unprocessed. For example, virgin coconut oil usually has not been bleached, deodorized, or refined.

The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, cholesterol level maintenance, weight loss, boosted immune system, proper digestion and regulated metabolism, according to organicfacts.net.

It also provides relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV, and cancer, while helping to improve dental quality and bone strength. These benefits of oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and their respective properties, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-fungal, antibacterial and soothing qualities.

Cardiovascular disease:

In a randomized clinical trial, 40 participants were given either 2 tablespoons of coconut oil or 2 tablespoons of soybean oil once a day for 12 weeks. The coconut oil group did not experience a significant change in their cholesterol numbers but were more likely to have a higher HDL level.

Diabetes:

Diets high in MCTs have been shown to improve glucose tolerance and reduce body fat accumulation when compared to diets high in LCTs. MCFAs have also been shown to preserve insulin action in, and insulin resistance in rat studies. Coconut oil may also improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetics.

Liver:

The presence of medium chain triglycerides and fatty acids helps in preventing liver diseases because those substances are easily converted into energy when they reach the liver, thus reducing the work load of the liver and also preventing accumulation of fat.

Kidney:

Coconut oil helps in preventing kidney and gall bladder diseases. It also helps to dissolve kidney stones.

Bones:

As mentioned earlier, coconut oil improves the ability of our body to absorb important minerals. These include calcium and magnesium which are necessary for the development of bones. Thus, coconut oil is very useful to women who are prone to osteoporosis after middle age.

Dental care:

Calcium is an important component of our teeth. Since coconut oil facilitates absorption of calcium by the body, it helps in developing strong teeth. Coconut oil also stops tooth decay.

Skin care:

Coconut oil is an excellent massage oil for the skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skin, including dry skin. The benefit of coconut oil on the skin is comparable to that of mineral oil. Fortunately, unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin from the application of coconut oil. Coconut oil therefore is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays the appearance of wrinkles and sagging of skin which normally accompany aging. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections.

Immunity:

Coconut oil is also good for the immune system. It strengthens the immune system because it contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Digestion:

Internal functions of coconut oil occur primarily due to it being used as cooking oil. Coconut oil helps to improve the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion-related problems including Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have antimicrobial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, and parasites that can cause indigestion. Coconut oil also helps in the absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

Coconuts Can Help you control your sugar craving

Sugar can be very hard to eliminate from one's diet, especially if it has been programmed and conditioned to be a necessity in one's diet at an early age. However, minimizing if not completely eliminating sugar can do wonders to the health and can help lower diabetes risk, stave off growing infections, and many more.

Artificial sweeteners aren't any better too. Research has found that the aspartame in artificial sweeteners is harmful and can contribute to problems like memory loss and Alzheimer's. Thankfully, nature has provided us with coconut, a good substitute to sugar.

According to health writer Sarah Wilson of Mind Body Green, who quit sugar herself four years ago, coconut helps tremendously in dealing with sugar cravings. As coconut oil is made up of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), a myriad health benefits are in store for those who turn to coconut. MCFAs are small enough to infiltrate the cell membranes. They do not require special enzymes to be broken down, making coconut easy to digest and immediately converted into energy, preventing it from being stored as fat.

Coconut oil does not spike insulin levels in the blood stream unlike carbohydrates. This prevents the usual energy slump dreaded after a usual sweet treat. Using coconut as an alternative to sugar can give you sustained energy, an overall sense of vitality, minus the side effects.

Infusing coconut into your diet is easy. One way to do this is to have a glass of coconut water, as it is three times more hydrating than water. Coconut water is also a good electrolyte and a diuretic, guaranteeing to flush out toxins.

Coconut can also be added to smoothies. One tablespoon of coconut oil added to your smoothie blend will give it sufficient sweetness and taste. Coconut milk and flesh also tastes great when infused in a smoothie.

Add coconut oil in coffee. As a sugar substitute, coconut oil's sweetness complements the coffee's strong flavor. This is not only a delightful treat but a great way to take a healthy yet simple step.

Here is how robots could help boost fertility in men

Sperm that don’t swim well rank high among the main causes of infertility. To give these cells a boost, women trying to conceive can turn to artificial insemination or other assisted reproduction techniques, but success can be elusive. But now, scientists have developed motorised ‘spermbots’ by attaching tiny metal helices to sperm cells that can aid poor swimmers to reach an egg, an advance that could improve fertility treatments.
In the artificially motorised sperm cells, customised microhelices serve as motors for transporting sperm cells with motion deficiencies to help them carry out their natural function.

“Our results indicate that metal-coated polymer microhelices are suitable for this task due to potent, controllable, and non-harmful 3D motion behaviour,” researchers said.

Sperm that do not swim well rank high among the main causes of infertility. To give these cells a boost, women trying to conceive can turn to artificial insemination or other assisted reproduction techniques, but success can be elusive.

Artificial insemination is a relatively inexpensive and simple technique that involves introducing sperm to a woman’s uterus with a medical instrument.

Overall, the success rate is on average under 30%, according to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority of the UK.

In vitro fertilisation can be more effective, but it is a complicated and expensive process. It requires removing eggs from a woman’s ovaries with a needle, fertilising them outside the body and then transferring the embryos to her uterus or a surrogate’s a few days later. Each step comes with a risk for failure.

Researchers from the Institute for Integrative Nanosciences at IFW Dresden in Germany wanted to see if they could come up with a better option than the existing methods.

Building on previous work on micromotors, the researchers constructed tiny metal helices just large enough to fit around the tail of a sperm. Their movements can be controlled by a rotating magnetic field.

Lab testing showed that the motors can be directed to slip around a sperm cell, drive it to an egg for potential fertilisation and then release it.

The researchers say that although much more work needs to be done before their technique can reach clinical testing, the success of their initial demonstration is a promising start.

“Our results indicate that metal-coated polymer microhelices are suitable for this task due to potent, controllable, and non-harmful 3D motion behaviour,” researchers wrote in the study published in the journal Nano Letters.

“We manage to capture, transport, and release single immotile live sperm cells in fluidic channels that allow mimicking physiological conditions,” they wrote. 

Checkout this video on youtube on Spermbots  - Spermbots

Dads-to-be Eat these 6 foods to boost your sperm quality and count

What you eat has a direct effect on your physical health- including the health of your sperm.
If you want to to become a dad, some of these foods suggested by well-known nutritionist Priya Kathpal can lead to more, as well as, healthier sperm.

• Dark chocolate contains the powerful amino acid L-Arginine that is shown to boost sperm count.Just make sure that you limit its intake as too much chocolate can lead to excess weight gain that,can cause an imbalance in testosterone levels and further reduce sperm count.

• Eating a handful of walnuts a day can improve the quality of your semen.

• Scientists believe that the omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts is behind the sperm’s quality boost.

• Tomatoes are rich in lycopene that can improve the quality, mobility and volume of sperm.

• Rich in vitamin E and protein, eggs are considered to be helpful in the production of strong and healthy sperm. They are also believed to protect your sperm from harmful effects of free radicals.

• Leafy greens such as spinach are rich sources of folic acid that is an essential nutrient for supporting your hormonal health and improving fertility if you have a low sperm count.

• Garlic contains the compound allicin that can be effective in improving blood flow to your sexual organs increasing semen volume and sperm production.

Checkout how Cancer may be treated with Preservatives

A naturally occurring food preservative that grows on dairy products may be used to treat cancer and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a study has claimed.

Researchers in US found that feeding rats 'nisin milkshake' killed 70-80% of head and neck tumour cells after nine weeks and extended survival. Moreover, the highly purified nisin ZP nearly doubled its effectiveness.

Nisin, a colourless, tasteless powder, is typically added to food at the rate of .25 to 37.5 mg/kg. Many foods contain nisin, but nowhere near the 800 mg/kg needed to kill cancer cells. Nisin also fights deadly bacteria such as ethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. Nisin is lethal to bacteria because it binds to a static area of bacteria, which gives nisin the opportunity to work before bacteria changes into an antibiotic-resistant superbug.