Protecting yourself from the swine flu

THE FOUR MINUTE WORKOUT? Can four minutes of exercise a day make a difference? Yes, but only for some. High-intensity training is characterised by two to three sets of intense aerobic exertion for 20 seconds each, interspersed with two-minute intervals of low-tempo work. Fitness experts believe these short, extreme bursts work on upto 80 percent of the body's muscles, increasing aerobic levels. Also, HIT breaks down the bodys glycogen, creating room for more glucose, thus increasing insulin sensitivity by 20-25 per cent. Unfortunately it only works for people who are genetically predisposed to benefitting from aerobic exercise. Consult your doctor if you want to give it a shot.

Fatimah Dawood, a CDC scientist, believes poor data collection procedures in many countries is to blame. Even the US-where data collection is far more organised-released its own numbers only a few months ago. CDC researchers compiled infection and mortality rates from places with reliable data and extrapolated these to locations that reported poor data.

We now know swine flu was far deadlier than initially believed. However, with global travel, even in the shadow of a pandemic being impossible, this has implications for all of us. There is no alternative to caution. Early treatment saved many lives. Learn the symptoms for diseases that are prevalent in areas you are visiting. Be extremely careful about personal hygiene. Wash your hands often. Better yet, keep hand sanitisers in your bag. Cover your nose and mouth in crowded areas. If you do find yourself coming down with symptoms, consult a doctor immediately. Finally, always carry travel insurance that includes medical cover. Don't become a statistic!

DESSERTS FOR BREAKFAST Researchers at Tel Aviv university believe a small dessert at breakfast may help weight loss. Participants in their study lost an average of 15 kilos over 16 weeks. They were allowed just 1,600 calories a day. Most of it was high-protein, low-carb food. So how did the breakfast dessert help? Participants reported increased satiety and fewer cravings for sugar right at the start of the day. So here are some simple, low-cal desserts you can try out. Frozen yogurt Mix fruit and nuts into low-fat yogurt and freeze overnight. This delicious, nutritious addition will be ready by breakfast. Baked apples with dried fruits Core an apple and fill it with chopped dry fruits. Bake it in an oven for 30 minutes at 180 celsius. Occasionally spoon the juices collecting in the tray back on the apple. Serve hot. Lemon Sorbet Mix 250 gms of sugar with 375 ml water in a pan. Heat until the sugar dissolves, then simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in 125 ml lemon juice and let it cool. Place in an ice cream machine overnight. Scoop it out for a zesty breakfast. GERM WARFARE IN YOUR OFFICE Researchers at San Diego State University found more than 500 species of bacteria in the average office. Interestingly, men's offices had more species than women's. The study conducted collected samples from 30 offices in three climactically-different cities. Scientists found that most bacteria werent from the environment but from employees. When they studied why men's offices were more bacteria-prone, they had two hypotheses. First, that men are generally less hygienic. Other studies have shown men to wash their hands and brush their teeth less often than women. However, it is also likely that men just present larger a surface area for bacteria to collect than women, and therefore they carry more germs. Chewing Gum Is More Than Candy Chewing gum may have made the cowboys look cool but it turns out this simple, centuries-old confectionery is more than just a movie prop. Chewing gum increases alertness, wards off fatigue and can even improve memory. Experts reckon the act of chewing itself revs up blood flow and brain activity. When deadlines approach, chewing gum improves focus and takes the edge off of stressful situations. No wonder so many sportsmen are chomping away at crunch time. While gum wont replace meals, it can temporarily stave off hunger. Gum helps mimic the act of eating, which in turn releases chemicals that tell your brain you're getting full.. ..And a fun one. When dry, chewing gum has a rubber-cement-like bond, which is useful as a water-proof glue.