魚油對身體有何好處?

魚油促進我們的健康，因為它蘊含身體所需的脂肪酸。魚油裡的EPA和DHA是人體不能自行製造的脂肪酸，因此必需從飲食或營養補充劑的攝取。EPA和DHA已被證實為對人體最具益處的脂肪酸，它們可平衡荷爾蒙分泌，繼而調節身體機能。DHA對腦部、視力，以及中樞神經系統的發展都大有益處；而EPA則有效調節心臟及免疫系統的運作。


成人：用腦過度？魚油可提升記憶力、集中力及視力，並可穩定情緒。而近年的研究更指出魚油中的脂肪酸能有效抗氧力，保持心臟健康，並可預防癌症。

小童：魚油有效提高學習及認知能力，保護視力健康，是令小孩子活潑精靈的秘訣﹗

孕婦、哺乳婦女：研究已確認EPA及DHA對胎兒的腦部，以及嬰幼兒的智能發展具極大的幫助。而魚油補充劑更可預防母親及嬰兒的過敏徵狀。

過敏症患者：魚油裡的EPA可以抗發炎，有效舒緩過敏徵狀，提升身體免疫力。


魚油及魚肝油基本上是兩種產品，但近年部分魚肝油產品聲稱額外加奧米加3脂肪酸，令兩種產品的界線模糊。

	魚油	魚肝油
來源	從深海魚提取	從鱈魚的肝臟提煉
主要成分	奧米加 -3 脂肪酸	維他命 A 及 D
食物來源	深海或高脂魚類： 三文魚、吞拿魚、鯖魚、鯡魚等 某些植物、硬殼果及果仁： 亞麻籽、黃豆、花生等 人體不能自行製造	維他命A： 奶類、肝臟、深綠或深黃色蔬菜和水果 維他命D： 蛋黃、肝臟、魚類。 每日曬太陽約15分鐘，刺激皮膚製造維他命D

長期過量攝取魚油，有機會影響傷口癒合或引致肥胖。另外，魚肝油並非維他命A和D的唯一來源。除非極度偏食，否則不用刻意進食魚肝油。

Fish oil is beneficial to our health as it contains fatty-acids essential to our body. EPA and DHA in fish oil are fatty acids that cannot be synthesized by the human body, thus must be obtained from diet or supplementation. DHA benefits the development of the brain, vision and central nervous system, while EPA supports the cardiovascular and immune system. They are recognized to be the two most beneficial omega-3 fatty acids that help regulating our body functions by maintaining hormonal balance.

Adult: Fish oil merits in strengthening brain function like memory and concentration. Want to fight against aging? A daily intake of fish oil brings you youthful body and skin, keeps heart healthy and helps to reduce cancer risk.

Kids: Sufficient Omega-3 fatty acids help kids learn better by supporting their brain and eye health.

Pregnant or lactating women: Intaking omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation help women to bring good neurological, visual and cognitive development for their kids, and also a positive effect on reducing risk of allergies in infants!

People who suffer allergy: EPA is particularly important in soothing inflammation and the related allergy symptoms, and thus helps our body functions better.

	Fish Oil	Fish Liver Oil
Source	Deep-sea & Fatty fish	Cod’s liver
Ingredients	Omega-3 fatty acids	Vitamin A & D
Food Source	Deep-sea & fatty fish like Tuna, salmon, mackerel and herring and some plants like flaxseeds, soy bean and nuts. Cannot be synthesized by human body.	Food source of Vit-A: Diary, liver, dark green and yellow fruits & veggies. Food source of Vit-D: Egg yolk, liver and fish. A 15-minute daily sunlight exposure is sufficient enough for our skin to generate Vit-D.

Fish liver oil is not the only source of Vit A & D. Supplementation of fish liver oil may not be needed unless you are extremely picky in eating.

益生菌：與我們共生的善良菌種

在人體演化過程中，腸道內菌叢林立，常駐紮的菌種超過四百種。從我們出生的一剎那與外界接觸起，各種微生物開始在體內進行「拓殖」。早期拓殖的細菌會影響個人日後的免疫能力。事實上，這些菌落與我們「共生」的，大家為彼此利益而一起生存，相互提供必需的營養物質或生命功能，通常我們不會察覺它們的存在。


一般而言，腸道內的菌種大致可分為三大類，第一類為「益生菌」，提供對身體有益的服務，例如：促進正常代謝功能及免疫防禦能力、協助蠕動及排便、降低腸內毒素、平衡腸道酸鹼值、促進食物消化吸收、為大腸細胞提供營養、活化抑制腫瘤基因，以及製造維他命(B群、A、K等)。

第二類為「共棲菌」，一起生活但不提供特別服務，亦無害人體，但在「菌叢失衡」時會改變特性，甚至變成害菌。最壞的是第三類，稱為「寄生菌」或「病原菌」，它們會釋放毒素及有害代謝物，引起慢性發炎。某些帶有特殊基因型的人，當腸道寄居某種細菌時，會誘發僵直性關節炎。


事實上，長期的「菌叢失衡」會造成腸道慢性發炎，影響身體健康。此外，某些病原菌甚至會產生致癌物質，或引起神經及免疫系統問題。基本上，發生菌叢失衡的原因，與現今的生活方式有極大關係。長期處於壓力之下與飲食不當是兩個最重要的因素。失衡的狀態還會造成各種健康問題，影響多處器官及系統，包括消化、皮膚、關節、免疫、心臟血管及內分泌等等，當然也就是誘發許多慢性、退化性、衰老性疾病的開端、「病態老化」的來臨。因此我們要注意腸道菌叢的平衡，除了注意這方面的資訊及盡量過敏食物和壞菌外，也可考慮補充益菌、消化酵素，或改變飲食(減少醣類、高脂、增加纖維素)及加強肝臟解毒能力，以改善菌叢失衡的問題。

During the evolution of the human body, there are over 400 resident flora (normal flora) in our bowels. Since our birth, various microbes start to colonize our body. Bacteria that colonize our body earlier on would affect one’s future immunity. In fact, although we do not usually realize their presence, we live with these floras for our mutual benefits by providing the essential nutrients and vital functions for each other.

In general, bacteria in our bowels can be divided into three types. The first type is 'probiotics'. They provide beneficial service for our body, including: boost metabolism and improve immunity, assist peristalsis and defecation, lower toxin levels and balancing the pH value in bowels, facilitate digestion, provide nutrients for colon cells, activate tumor-suppressor genes, make vitamins (B complex, A, K..etc.).

The second type is 'symbiotic bacteria'. They live with us but do not provide any service, and are not harmful to human body. However, when flora imbalance occurs, they might change their character and become harmful bacteria.

The third, and the worst type, is 'parasitic bacteria' or 'pathogenic bacteria'. They would release toxins and harmful metabolites, leading to chronic inflammation. When particular parasitic bacteria occur in bowels of people with certain genes, it would induce Ankylosing arthritis.

In fact, long term flora imbalance would lead to chronic intestinal inflammation, thus affecting health. Moreover, some pathogenic bacteria would produce carcinogen or lead to problems of the nervous and immune systems. In general, the reason of flora imbalance is closely knitted to the modern lifestyle. The two main reasons are long term exposure to stress and imbalance diet. Flora imbalance would also lead to various health problems, affecting different organs and systems, including the digestive, skin, arthrosis, immune, cardiovascular and endocrine systems. It could also induce a number of chronic, degenerative and aging diseases, causing pathological aging. Therefore, we must be aware of the flora balance in our body. Apart from avoiding food that can cause allergy or with bad bacteria, we can also consider taking probiotic and digestive enzyme supplements, changing our eating habits, by reducing carbohydrates and fat and increasing dietary fiber intake, and enhancing our liver detoxification capacity, to remedy the flora imbalance situation.

綠藻：對抗疾病的超級食物(二)

成人：綠藻蘊含珍貴的綠藻成長因子CVE™(Chorella Vulgaris Extract綠藻萃取物)，有助調節體內血糖及血脂水平。服用綠藻有助平衡不良飲食習慣，降低患上心血管病、糖尿病等慢性疾病發生的風險。綠藻同時是豐富核酸來源，能幫助身體製造及修補損耗的細胞。另外綠藻含豐富胡蘿蔔素，因而具強大的抗氧化能力，能阻止自由基對細胞的破壞，發揮抗衰老功效。

兒童：孩子偏食？綠藻富含各種人體所需營養，當中包括孩子成長過程必需的蛋白質、維他命和礦物質。當中，綠藻比牛肝含更高的維他命B12。維他命B12有助提升注意力及記憶力；而CVE™能增強我們的免疫力，幫助孩子對抗流感等疾病入侵。

經常性便秘人士：綠藻含有豐富葉綠素和膳食纖維，研究證實服用綠藻能增加大腸蠕動，幫助身體排清有害毒素，從而舒緩便秘問題。

過敏症患者：CVE™能平衡人體免疫系統功能，而綠藻中豐富的葉綠素能消炎、解毒，將多餘廢物排出體外。研究指出這兩種物質互相配合，功效會更加明顯。服用綠藻能緩和人體對食物的不良反應，有效紓緩及預防過敏症狀。


市面上有很多含有綠藻的產品，但我們應該怎樣選擇最優質的產品呢？首先我們要先了解產品的真正來源地。現時綠藻主要產地包括中國大陸、台灣和日本。部份綠藻產品聲稱於日本製造，但事實上除包裝工序外，其他製作過程都是在日本以外的地方完成。因此，選擇由培植到生產過程都在日本的GMP認證廠房完成的產品，產品質素就有所保證。

部份廠商可能在製作過程添加黏合劑、賦形劑及人工色素等，因此選購綠藻產品時可留意其成份，確保產品採用百分百純正綠藻。除此之外，廠商採用的綠藻品種亦會影響產品功效。我們可選取最易被人體消化和吸收的綠藻品種，確保能發揮最大效用。

綠藻：對抗疾病的超級食物

綠藻能有效對抗都市病，研究顯示綠藻能降低血糖和脂肪水平，對患上肥胖症、二型糖尿病及心血管疾病的人士別具益處。除此之外，綠藻能改善消化，增強體力，同時讓我們紓緩壓力，對抗抑鬱。



綠藻富含營養，可堪稱為完美的食品。它含有大量蛋白質，其含量更是菠菜的2倍、大豆的38倍和白米的55倍。此外，綠藻含有18種氨基酸，以及豐富維他命和礦物質。

綠藻中的萃取物(Chorella Vulgaris Extract, CVE™)
CVE™是一種獨特的綠藻成長因子，能促進新陳代謝，增強人體的免疫功能，同時有助調節體內的血糖及血脂水平，降低患上心血管病、糖尿病等慢性疾病的風險。而研究更指出CVE™能緩和人體對食物的不良反應，有效預防及改善過敏症狀。

葉綠素與膳食纖維
不少研究指出綠藻中的葉綠素與膳食纖維，能吸收並幫助排出體內積聚的毒素，包括二噁英、重金屬、水銀和PCB。另外，綠藻能增加大腸蠕動，舒緩便秘問題。

胡蘿蔔素
自由基破壞我們健康的細胞，是造成衰老、癌症、以及一系列眼部、腦部和神經系統疾病的元兇。綠藻中的胡蘿蔔素具抗氧化力，能阻止自由基對細胞的破壞，有抗衰老的功效。

核酸(RNA/DNA)
綠藻是重要的核酸來源，核酸是細胞構成中不可缺少的物質，有助製造及修補損耗的細胞。

氨基酸
綠藻含有多達18種氨基酸，其中8種更是人體無法自行製造的。豐富的氨基酸是身體合成蛋白及膠原蛋白的重要原料；氨基酸有助重整皮膚細胞，讓肌膚時刻容光煥發。
除此之外，綠藻是自然界裡鹼性最高的食物，能中和容易致病的酸性體質。綠藻同時蘊含16種維他命及14種礦物質，這些都是新陳代謝過程中的必須品。

濕疹＋食物敏感 折磨兒童

濕疹及食物敏感均是本港常見的兒童過敏病症，估計本港有廿萬兒童患有濕疹，其中一成情況嚴重，而這些兒童，有高達七至九成同時有食物過敏問題。然而，公眾對該兩病症有不少誤解，如誤將過敏反應當成傳染病，對患童造成心靈創傷，亦有部分家長誤以為患童需嚴格戒口，反令子女營養不良。香港大學醫學院推出專門探討濕疹及食物敏感的書籍，讓公眾增加對兩症的認識。

七至九成患者打孖上

港大兒童及青少年科學系名譽臨床助理教授何學工估計，本港有近廿萬名兒童患濕疹，其中約兩萬人較為嚴重，患童痕癢難當、影響睡眠，逾九成個案病情可得到控制。約三分之一濕疹病童同時有食物敏感，在濕疹最嚴重組別中，食物敏感風險可高達七至九成，醫學界仍未清楚兩者的相互關係。他建議，若幼童在兩歲前曾有嚴重濕疹，家長可帶子女接受食物過敏測試。

本港整體兒童食物過敏發病率約為百分之五，最普遍致敏原包括海鮮、牛奶及雞蛋，亦曾發現有兒童對燕窩、蜂王漿及蓮子等敏感。嚴重食物過敏可引致血管擴張、血壓下降、氣管收縮等，每年均有五十至六十宗嚴重至休克的過敏個案，甚至「一粒糖也可奪命」，其照顧者需隨身帶備俗稱「救命針」的腎上腺素注射液，一旦病童出現嚴重反應，可即時紓緩徵狀。

該系名譽臨床助理教授李子良稱，一般公眾包括患童家長未必對濕疹及食物過敏有足夠認識，如要濕疹童嚴格戒口，又或抗拒有皮膚炎的濕疹患童，接受必須的類固醇療程。他指出，公眾自「沙士」後對類固醇引致骨枯等副作用心生恐懼，但其實類固醇治療分靜脈注射、口服及外敷多種，醫生會因應病情調節劑量，絕少引致嚴重副作用。

來源；東方日報，2009年5月19日

兒童成長未必脫敏

牛奶是兒童常見的食物致敏原之一，美國約翰霍金斯大學的研究發現，一般人認為兒童在3歲時會自然「脫敏」的觀念並不正確，研究人員分析807名曾在過敏診所接受治療的兒童及青少年，發現只有19%兒童在4歲時對牛奶脫敏，到了16歲仍有近兩成人依然對牛奶產品敏感，逾九成人更對一種以上的食物敏感，包括雞蛋及花生。牛奶敏感的常見病徵為皮膚過敏、嘔吐腹瀉及呼吸困難等。

(來源：香港蘋果日報，2007/12/20，港聞醫學online)

寶寶過敏，是媽媽惹的禍嗎？

    「寶寶自出生以來，吃的食物都很簡單；就算是進食固體食物，也是吃得很簡單，為甚麼寶寶仍會有過敏的問題呢？」

這種情況有機會跟媽媽懷孕時的身體狀況有關。準媽媽身體的過敏問題，很容易會令寶寶產生過敏的體質。所以要避免嬰兒的過敏，媽媽就要在嬰兒出生前做好預防工作。

當準媽媽在懷孕過程出現過敏症狀，意味著身體處於發炎狀態。媽媽自身的免疫系統所發出的G抗體(IgG)，會隨著血液透過臍帶及胎盤進入胎兒體內，影響胎兒的免疫系統。很多孕婦為了補充營養，都特地每天都多喝牛奶；但假若準媽媽本身對牛奶過敏，長期下來，體內就會累積大量對抗牛奶的G抗體。這些抗體經血液傳到胎兒體內，並長期累積。當嬰兒出生後喝牛奶時，就會刺激到其未成熟的免疫系統，引發過敏症狀。

英國修咸頓大學於2004年的醫學研究指出，血液裡的G抗體濃度能反映媽媽進食雞蛋的情況。於懷孕期間戒食雞蛋的孕婦，體內的G抗體濃度會下降。至於患有過敏的母親，所產嬰兒臍帶內的血液，會含有比母體濃度更高的G抗體；而於出生時血液裡有中等濃度抗體的嬰兒，會最有可能於六個月大時患上過敏。

所以不論是預備懷孕的女性，或是已經懷孕的準媽媽，都應特別注意食物過敏，留意自己有沒有持續進食致敏食物，令過敏的體質遺傳到下一代。

Is mom to blame for baby’s allergy?

“My baby has been eating very plain food ever since his birth; even if he had solid food, they were still very plain.  Why does my baby still have the problem of allergies?”

This situation might be relevant to the physical condition of the mother when she was pregnant.  Expectant mothers’ allergies can easily be passed to the baby.  To avoid baby’s allergy, mothers should take preventive measures before the baby was born.

When an expectant mother had allergic symptoms during her pregnancy, her body was infected.  The IgG antibodies from the mother’s immunity system would be passed to the baby’s body through the umbilical cord and the placenta, affecting the baby’s immunity system.  A lot of pregnant women would drink great amount of milk to provide extra nutrients; however, if these women are allergic to milk, her body would accumulate large amount of IgG antibodies to withstand milk.  These antibodies would be passed to the baby through blood and accumulate through time.  When the baby drinks milk after he was born, the milk would stimulate his premature immunity system, leading to allergic symptoms.

Medical research of the University of Southampton, UK (2004) shows that, the blood concentration of the IgG antibodies can reflected by the expectant mothers’ egg intake.  Pregnant women who stopped eating eggs would have lower IgG blood concentration.  Those who had allergic reactions, the blood in their baby’s umbilical cord would have a IgG level even higher than that of the mother’s body.  It is very likely, for babies with medium concentration of IgG antibodies in their blood when born, to have allergic reactions when they are 6 months old.

Women who are preparing for pregnancies or already pregnant should all be alert of food allergies, and be aware of whether they have consistently intaking food that might cause allergies, to prevent passing the allergy to the next generation.

小孩的眼神反映他患上自閉症的風險？

易雁嘉醫生

自然療法醫學博士

您半歲大小孩目前的行為，有機會反映他未來患上自閉症的風險嗎？

一項於2010年9月在《兒童心理治療學報》發表的研究指出，幼童在與人缺乏互動時所展現的眼神注視頻率，是一個反映幼童成長後溝通及社交的早期指標。在這項研究中眼神注視頻率，一批六個月大的幼童被安排專注於某一事物或他們的照顧者身上。那些處於自閉症高危群的組別在照顧者不主動互動時，會出現較少的眼神注視；而這些嬰兒相比起低危險群嬰兒，在社交上的參與性較低及顯得較為被動。儘管這些高危險群的嬰兒在照顧者主動要求互動時，仍會作出反應。

是次研究的其中一位負責人，美國甘迺迪克瑞格自閉症及相關疾病中心總監蘭達博士指出，這個不明顯的差異往往很容易同時被家長及專業人士所忽略。

她建議利用簡單的歌謠，配以簡單及可預計的動作教導幼童，以促進孩子的語言及社交發展；而非只利用可供孩童獨自操控及玩耍的電子玩具。她認為人類是互動的社交動物；任何電子玩具、電視節目以及電腦軟件都不能取代小孩與其他人互動交流的重要性。

Infrequent gazing= higher risk for autism?

Dr. Ardyce Yik

Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Could your six-month-old’s current behaviour indicate a higher risk for autism in the future?

A study published in the September issue of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry has found that an early marker for later communication and social delays in infants at a higher risk for autism is infrequent gazing at other people when unprompted. Six-month-old infants in the study were given the opportunity to pay attention to either an object or their caregiver. Those in the high-risk group were not as engaged or socially interactive on their own as their peers, though they would still respond when prompted by their caregivers. Dr. Rebecca Landa, one of the authors of the study and director of Kennedy Krieger’s Center for Autism and Related Disorders, says this could be ”a subtle difference that could be easily overlooked by both parents and some professionals.”

She recommends teaching infants simple songs paired with easy, predictable gestures to promote language and social learning, rather than using electronic toys that can be enjoyed and operated without engaging with others. Humans are interactive social beings. No electronic toy, TV show or computer software can replace the interaction with another human being!