It seems that the list of things being affected by the credit crunch just goes on and on. Experts are now warning that investment in biotech firms is on the slow down, meaning there will less funding for the inventing and development of new drugs.

It’s not just the drug companies that are going to suffer from a lack of investment either. Most charities throughout the world expect to be hit by reduced donations as people feel the squeeze on the costs of living – as the old saying goes ‘charity starts at home’.

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It’s a fact that fat people cost health services worldwide millions, if not billions, each and every year. Relatively recent figures show that in central and eastern Cheshire (just one small part of the UK) the cost to the NHS in 2007 on treating weight related ailments was £111.4 million. Just imagine what that figure escalates to nationwide.

There is a very good reason why that figure is so high – being overweight is a common denominator in a whole host of health problems. High Blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, breathing problems, joint pain and cancer are just a few of the increased risks anyone takes by letting their weight escalate. The trouble is so few of us realise it.

If you’re concerned with your weight take a look at our ‘Losing Weight Effectively‘ health article. It’s very basic but then so are most of the best health tips. And you never know – they might just save your life.

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Although a link between breast cancer and alcohol consumption has been established for a number of years, it is reported that most women do not realise it. In an article by Rebecca Smith in the Telegraph she reports that 8 out of 10 women don’t know that alcohol is a cause of breast cancer, while just one large glass of wine a day increases your risk by a fifth.

Dr Sarah Cant, Policy Manager at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: "Drinking moderate or high levels of any type of alcoholic drink has many health consequences, including an increased chance of developing breast cancer.

"Although many factors might affect our risk of getting breast cancer, limiting how much we drink is one thing we can do to try to reduce that risk – it’s never too late to change your drinking habits."

If you like a tipple though it’s not all bad news. Students in the US are working on a beer that will actually protect you against cancer. Now there’s an education system that seems to be flourishing.

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In our last post we commented on the news that mobile phones could give you a skin rash. Well we really should have mentioned at the time when we were sending you off to buy a new mobile phone that we have plenty of natural remedies available to soothe and repair skin rashes. The rash doesn’t have to have been caused by your mobile phone by the way .

You will find rash remedies in amongst our skin care products. Or you can just type things like ‘rash’ or ‘itchy’ into the keyword box and the site will bring back a list of the most suitable products.

Our recommendation for flaky or itchy skin is ClearSkin-E Cream by Native Remedies. It has been formulated for the treatment of eczema and provides fast and effective relief for skin irritations. Just the job.

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Surfing the Internet may be good for brain stimulation but for those of you who like to gas on your mobile phone all day as well then maybe a change is needed. And ‘texters’ could suffer the same problems also.

It is being reported by the BBC that heavy mobile phone users are prone to rashes on their ears and faces due to allergic reactions caused by the nickel on handsets. And as the nickel is found in the casings and buttons it can have an effect on fingers too. With a nickel allergy being the most common contact allergy in the UK, there is the potential for an awful lot of ear scratching nationwide.

The good news is that there is a decent range of phones available that do not contain nickel. So if you  use your phone a lot and have constantly itchy ears or fingers now you know why. Get yourself to the phone shop and find one you like without nickel. If you want to read the rest of this story you can get it here.

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Superb news for those of us who utilise our employers liberal access to the Internet to the max. All in the name of work related research of course.

Research by a team at the University of California reports brain power boosts from Internet usage, especially among people at middle age and upwards. The research has indicated that web surfing stimulates the brain in areas of ‘controlled decision making’ and ‘complex reasoning’.

So now there’s no need to flash your sudoku book in public to show how clever you are. You can just surf the web on your iphone instead.

Lead researcher Professor Gary Small said: "The study results are encouraging, that emerging computerised technologies may have physiological effects and potential benefits for middle-aged and older adults.

"Internet searching engages complicated brain activity, which may help exercise and improve brain function."

As much as we love this concept – especially with the amount of time we seem to spend on the web these days – don’t forget that there are many other things you can do to improve and maintain mental health.

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We have had a few emails this week with people having a laugh at the brain exercise from the last post.

It can be a bit of a giggle trying to do things with a wrong hand but it is exactly the type of stimulus your brain needs to keep it fit. Just as with your body – if you don’t exercise it it will not perform to its potential.

If you’re really keen to sharpen your memory you need to challenge your mind. You could do this radically and take up a new hobby such as playing a musical instrument or learning a new language.

Alternatively you could just buy yourself a monthly logic problems book and work through that in your spare time. My personal favourites though are playing chess and scrabble – there’s nothing like a bit of competitive edge to add to the exercise.

Whatever you choose doesn’t matter – as long as you can maintain and enjoy it. Exercise your brain regularly and your mind will be fitter, stronger, and more resistant to mental illness.

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